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LETTERS FROM HEAVEN The room, with its gold trimmed paintings, deep and worn hardwood floors, its high lofty ceilings and overly used furnishings that begged to tell the tales of those that sought a moments peace in their arms. It all looked distant, unreal, as if she were looking at it through a window, the dusty panes of glass obscuring the true reality inside. Perhaps she felt this way because she was still grappling with those feelings herself. The sense that she wasn't real, or just another figment conjured up in a far-fetched dream of another. A book lay open in front of her, and she reached for it without much thought. The heavy leather bound volume rustled softly as she lifted it from its bed. All the history of her world, the many tiny ripples that had somehow formed a tsunami. Each chapter held the activities of someone, of whom she knew little about, and it chronicled their existence. It seemed a bit trivial to be handling some one's life so absently. In this grand room, surrounded by shelves and shelves of these volumes, her participation seemed to mock the integrity of it all. "How are you?" a voice broke the silence from behind her. She shifted, setting the book back on the table. "Emily," she replied, her own voice small and tender. "It's so nice of you to check in on me. I am fine." She saw another question forming in Emily's eyes and lifted her hand delicately. "I realize that isn't exactly the truth, or perhaps you realize that I'm not entirely sure how to feel right now. The process is a very difficult one to capture." Emily smiled, sweetly, comfortingly. "It is difficult. I am sure you are not the first one that has had to grasp these concepts." She sighed. "But grasp them you will have to do. There isn't much to be done about it. It is the will and judgment of the Council. What they deem necessary, must be done." Amara strolled a few steps towards a tall book shelf, set apart from the main viewing area. "This library is enormous." She said, attempting to change the subject. "So many lives are filed away hear. It seems so daunting." Emily chuckled. "There are easier ways to research. The computer only provides you with this setting to help in your acclimation. You can just ask and the information will be provided." Amara shrugged. "Yes, I know. I mean, I realize that this is only a creation, a very advance hologram. It doesn't quite manage to put me at ease though." Emily waved her hand briefly and the room melted away, leaving them both in a small chamber surrounded by rows of perfectly cut crystals. The way the light caught the facets and sent glisten light throughout the chamber made Amara momentarily speechless. "So lovely," she exclaimed. "Just one of many things we utilize for our job," Emily replied. "Crystal matrix and light databases. Hyper-movement and time devices. It is all very necessary in our line of work." "You mean in cause and effect on Earth?" Emily nodded quietly. Her hands rested gently on her hips as they both stood in the silence. Amara turned towards the door. "Well, I best not keep you any longer. I heard you were leaving soon." "Going down to the surface." Amara smiled. "Yes, I was told you were going to help fix this little problem that started with me and my husband." "Well it wasn't exactly suppose to happen." "Why do you think it did then?" Amara asked suddenly. "I mean if this complex governs the cause and effect of every living creature on the surface, why didn't anyone see this coming. And what exactly is going to happen now that Orin and I have died, or been transferred..." she paused. "Or whatever happened to us?" Emily looked a bit confused. "Why would you want to know that?" she asked. "It is best if you don't wonder about those types of things. It only leads to more mistakes. We who work here live by the motto: 'those that meddle pay the price'." She left the last line hanging in the air as she turned to leave. "What am I suppose to do now?" Amara blurted out suddenly, not wanting to miss her chance to ask. Emily turned slowly back to face her. Amara could see herself standing there, the same confusion, the same distance reflecting back. She knew that Emily wasn't the right person to ask. Perhaps she was asking the same questions, only her position restricted her from blurting things so suddenly. Nothing but unspoken indecision passed between them and with a nod, Emily left. It was the last time Amara saw her. Posted by Happy Potato @ 9:15 PM 04 July 2007 Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch... Amara sat perfectly still. Except for her breathing. And her trembling. And the way she inconspicously chafed her hands in her lap. No, Amara sat as un-still as possible while trying to sit motionlessly and meditate. She couldn't focus; and closing her eyes only filled her with memories, thrusting her back into the painful moment of break when she'd almost been sucked back into the world. She looked down at her hands. Her nails were ragged, cuticles torn and fingertips scuffed. It looked like she had clawed her way out of a stone well. In a way, she knew, she had. Emily had done her best to explain it, but for all of Dr. Nerdy-pants' (it amused her when Emily called herself that) attempts at dumbing down the process - none of it really made sense to her. Emily spoke of a collegue who had been elevated suddenly to Guardian status so that he could attempt to locate Orin and "still the ripples" - whatever that means. Biting her lower lip, Amara risked opening one eye slightly so that she could peek at the instructor. The man was staring at her. No, not just staring, he was glowering. His annoyance was palpable and Amara quickly shut her eyes tight, praying he'd just ignore her until the lessons were over. "You're not relaxed," came his low voice. He could hear him moving closer as he spoke. "You're not breathing. You're not existing in stillness. Without these things, how can you presume to live in this role?" She had no reply for that. Amara lowered her chin to her chest, clenching her hands together. There was tension in every line of her body as she sat there, suffering through the lecture. But as he droned on, she found herself drifting. Her fingers unlaced, her hands falling apart, then she felt her chest rise and fall. Rise and fall. Slow, steady, deep. She was floating. The sensation was thrilling and she opened her eyes, exclaiming in triumph. Yet even as she opened her eyes, she was blasted back into herself. Suddenly every bone in her body ached as if she really had fallen from the sky. Amara looked up at the instructor with a grimace. "W-what did I-" "You can take nothing for granted here, Amara. And now you know the first, painful truth. If a Guardian is killed inside... he dies here as well." Amara felt her face draw itself into a frown and she nodded. That was a steep price to pay in service of the "bigger picture" ... Posted by Pheenie @ 6:59 AM 02 July 2007 THE TIME DRAWS CLOSE Personal Logs of Emily Vistrought Section Division I heard a group of new recruits talking about orientation today and wondered what section they were being placed into. Within the Section there are more then two dozen different divisions. Sometimes I think it must be hard for the Council to make sure that everyone is placed in a position where they might be the most beneficial. I wonder if I will be beneficial, considering where I am going. The surface. Strange that I should want to disregard the magnitude of my new position, perhaps it's the weight of it all, the intense gravity of it, that elicits such a vague response from me. Truthfully I'm a bit surprised at myself. I have always managed to take any challenge on with sufficient motivation and vigor. Yet, this time, I can't help thinking that perhaps I am not suited for this endeavour. Only the most educated and well trained operatives go into the fray like this. And in this regard, I'm not either. Educated to a point, yes, but trained to handle the delicacy of interaction, I am not entirely sure. Those that have taken up the mantle of Guardian in the past, did so because they rose to the position. Countless years of preparation went into the job of Guardian. I have had little if no time to even wrap my brain around the thought that I have that title. A Guardian is the highest charge in the Section. Those that go to the surface have to play their parts perfectly. Any false move, or botched action could result in a waterfall of catastrophe. Although the car crash that sent Amara back to the Section was akin to that waterfall effect. Now everyone was in scramble-process, trying to stop a flood-gate opening and several more pieces from falling out of phase. Already the war in the Middle East was lasting longer then it was initially intended to. Not to mention the deaths of some celebrities were put on hold until the Guardians assigned to them could wrap up some loose ends. Perhaps I am suppose to help with the overflow, try to plug up the holes. Whatever the case may be, I'm not ready to jump in. In a few hours, however, I won't have much of a choice. My papers are en route, and once I have my assignments, I won't be able to harbor any more misgivings. I just hope I'm up to the task. Emily Vistrought. Posted by Happy Potato @ 10:45 PM 23 June 2007 To Ponder Control Personal Logs of Emily Vistrought Section Employee Our job here is one of great importance. The delicate interactions, the cause and effect of time, is contingent on the quality and accountability of those people who work beside and all around me. An accident, or disease, a marriage or an affair, they are all necessary in order to push the greater story towards absolution. My job, or at least the job that used to be mine, was only a small part of the over all design. I had a few reports that I was responsibility for, only a few individuals that I monitored and documented. It is that way with many sections inside this facility. "The order of things" as the Council has laid down. Just like the lives we govern from afar, our destinies are not our own. We answer to a system, to the council and they answer to another governing body. Everything in its proper place. But like a pebble tossed into still waters, a ripple effect has begun, and I'm not entirely sure how it will play out. On very rare occasions a circumstance happens that throws the balance of things off. Such occasion occurred when a car crash ended the lives of two newlyweds. Now I've been promoted to Guardian, waiting to be shipped down to the surface, to fix the problem. Me? I'm just a desk junky. It all seems a bit more clout then I should be given. The only issue, or one of the main issues I have, seems to be "what I'm suppose to do?" I've created storms to propel certain people to move, and saved loved ones to demonstrate the importance of existence. I've tipped the stock market, depleted oil, started wars, ended them, elected dullards, and turned Communism around. I haven't fixed anything per say, what I've done has all been researched and recorded, simulated and poked from every angle. Nothing that has ever been done inside the Section has ever been carried out haphazardly. I can't question this new direction outright, but inwardly I'm full of apprehension. Like a pebble tossed, I feel like I'm about to start a ripple that will change everything. Emily Vistrought Posted by Happy Potato @ 4:04 PM 24 May 2007 WALK THE LINE She hated the limp piece of lettuce that hung from the prongs of her fork. She twisted the utensil absently watching as the lettuce fell. She looked down, barely interested in what was left on her plate. Lettuce. Hate was such a strong word. At least that was what she had been told several times in the past. 'Don't use hate. Don't say hate. Hate is such a strong word'. Emily rested her fork on the plate, letting it sit on the bed of mixed greens like something silver among all that pathetic rabbit food. She realized it was silly to continue this train of thought. Her feelings had little to do with what she was eating, and more to do with who she was thinking about. It was him. The man who called her Candidate. Called her that with such a calm voice, when she knew that what he was putting her through wasn't fully condoned by the Council. Subjected to several various scenarios, a few which made her cringe to think of now, she was finally sitting back in her office, wondering how she had fallen into this to begin with. Amara. The name immediately brought to mind the woman who rested down the hall in the Observation Section. The innocent woman who unbeknownst had shut down half of the Facility due to her untimely demise. Now Emily was forced to undertake a full promotion, one that put her where many others had gone before and where still many desired to go. To the mainland. Pushing the plate of greens away from her work-space, Emily shook her head. She wasn't ready for the trip. She still felt green herself. Maybe that is why she hated the lettuce so much. In some way it reminded her that she was still a child in an adult world. The rules and regulations, the politics and danger involved in becoming a Guardian seemed far to daunting. Just a moment ago she had lost Amara inside the mainframe, running a program to introduce the newcomer to the Sections. Although Emily assumed she was providing the right balance of education and availability, she had misjudged the situation, and Amara became confused and disconnected. If that happened in the real world, Emily could only guess at the mayhem that would ensue. That responsibility scared her. For a moment she thought about the rest of her team. She thought about Matthew and Sara, and about Patrick. They all were bound to run into the same emotional intensity that she was experiencing. Maybe it would take another form, but regrettably they would all have to face these fears. The door to her office opened, causing Emily to look away from her desk. The plate with the untouched greens shimmered and vanished. "Candidate," the calm voice addressed her. "It's time." Posted by Happy Potato @ 6:59 PM 18 May 2007 The Watery Grave Deep breath, Candidate. Deep breath. Emily obeyed, confused and fuzzy. Inhale. Exhale. Air filled her lungs and it was a soothing, warm feeling. She felt her brows knit, then realized she was submerged in some thick, pink-tinged goo. Her eyes blinked rapidly, trying to see through the haze. The tank was at least three feet high and long and wide enough to easily accomodate her body. She wriggled her toes, her fingers. Everything appeared to work. After a moment's hesitation, Emily struggled to sit up. She could not; it was as if a heavy hand pressed against her chest, trying to drown her. Panicking resumed. Candidate, lay still! At the sound of the familiar voice, she tried again to calm herself. Memories began to return to her and she sucked in an eager breath, hungrily devouring the air supply. Posted by Pheenie @ 10:53 AM 15 May 2007 Keeping Tabs The cool water splashed across her face came as a welcomed relief to the stuffy interiors. Although streamlined and very neat, the Section Facility was never what she would refer to as comfortable. Often she found herself duck into the restroom to cool herself with a quick spritz of water, or fan herself outside of watching eyes. Her position as the Senior Internal Affairs Official or SIAO required that she adhere to certain guidelines, one of which suggested that she not fan herself in front of her subordinates. "Silly rules," she spoke quietly to herself. "Sometimes I wonder who comes up with these." She glanced briefly at herself in the mirror, adjusting her hair and straightening her silver trimmed collar. "Perfect," she cooed to the reflection in glass. Her eyes fell on the clipboard sitting next to the sink. "Now let's see, who do I have next?" She traced the electronic pen down the list of names on the clipboard monitor coming to the one she was looking for. Her eyes rolls to the side as she sighed. "Dear gods, it's Sara. I can't believe I have to see her again. Wasn't it just a few days ago I was there?" She tapped her pen a few times, gathering some information. "What's this?" she paused. A notification had popped up on the screen. "Amara is in Emily's care?" She shook her head. "Emily is a Guardian, showing a human around the complex." Another sign. "Well, I figure it's none of my business. If the Council did this they must have had a reason." With one more look in the mirror to make sure she was suitable for the halls, she exited the restroom and made her way to Sara's office. Her knock was stiff and firm, announcing her presence. She did not wait for an answer. The gliding motion of her access card, and she was inside within moments. "Sara Neglier." A thin, rather ordinary looking blond woman turn from her computer screen to address her. "Yes, SIAO, may I help you?" "This is a follow-up visit. Your position in the Recycle Section is still under investigation. Not to worry though, you are not being singled out." Sara didn't seem to take any comfort from the words. Naturally the SIAO said the same thing to all those she visited. "Concerning recent affairs, all stations will be investigated for compliance and efficiency. What is your current assignment?" Sara indicated her monitor. "Typical download and placement, SIAO. Incoming souls from the mainland are given new assignments. I'm working on filtering out some regular phenomenons." "Elaborate," the SIAO stated. "I'm looking for outside interference with the two souls recently diverted from their paths. I need to send information up to Processing in order for them to complete their next batch of reports for the Council. I believe Claire and Ryan are also working on the same assignment." "I will be checking in on their progress soon. I would like to know..." Before the SIAO could continue the door opened and Emily walked in, leading Amara into Sara's office. "Excuse us, I'm sorry to bother you," Emily apologized. "I'm currently filling in my charge Amara." She indicated the woman standing next to her. "I'm filling her in on the inner workings of each Section. Getting her up to speed." The SIAO smiled, thin and tight. "This isn't the best time to be doing this, but as I've already been told that the Council has ordered this, I assume it's best that I allow you to do what you must." She looked at Sara. "Miss Neglier, I will return to finish this follow up in the near future. Good day." With that she left. Sara exhaled, obviously relieved. "It's tough with those stiff necks," she commented, sharing an inside joke with Emily. "That's the second time in three days she has interrupted me." She ushered the other two women over to her monitor. "Take a seat you two." She stared quickly at Amara. "Must be pretty overwhelming to be here huh?" Amara nodded. "I'm still adjusting. I woke up, thinking all this was some sort of crazy dream. Emily explained much of what had happened, but I'm still not sure what most of it means." Sara smiled. "Well, you will figure it out eventually. Now," she tapped at a keyboard in front of her, "let's see if we can't shed some light on a few mysteries, shall we?" Emily placed a hand on Amara's shoulder, getting her attention. "As I said before we entered here, this section is all about data processing and recycle. What you refer to as a 'soul' is actually energy." Sara lifted her hand. "It's powerful energy. Like this," she indicated an image on her screen. Amara noticed a young woman in a hospital bed. She looked as if she was prepared to give birth. "What you see here is a normal labor. In most cases my job is to make sure the 'soul' energy is circulated to the newborn at the appropriate time, just as another 'soul' elsewhere is put back into the collective." "It's necessary to keep a certain balance, if you will," Emily explained further. "Death and life are very delicate equations." Amara's brows furrowed. "So you mean to tell me that you have the power over human life?" Sara giggled. "In a manner of speaking, I guess you could say that we do, but we are just carring out the orders from other stations in the processing section. Each soul has to be placed at the right time to affect the course of things to come." "Cause and effect," Emily said. "So in order to keep this 'balance' you speak of, someone dies and someone lives?" "Well," Sara replied touching a series of keys, "it's not that simple. You will get a lot more understanding of things after you visit the rest of the stations, but we here in Recycling tend to call ourselves the First and Last Breath Division. You come here if you are taking one or the other." Amara cocked her head in confusion. "That seems like you are poking a bit of fun at something very serious." Emily didn't look directly at Amara when she replied, instead continuing to look at the monitor. "Well no one actually dies. Gruesome though their ends may be at times, people get several chances to run through the system before they reach recruitment, or go into storage." "What do you mean?" Sara raised her hand again. "Shh," she hushed them. "It's about time to hit enter." She watched as the young woman pushed, the doctor urging her onwards. Push push, he was saying. "And now." Sara hit the enter key at the exact moment when the newborn started to cry. "Ahhh," she said in satisfaction, "another perfect delivery." "Good job Sara," Emily said, then she added. "At least you don't have Doug's spastic fingers." They both laughed. Sara nodded. "I just don't know why they keep him on the job. Just last week there were two botched deliveries and several dozen cats." Amara threw out her arms. "Stop it!" she screamed. "What is going on?" For a moment neither woman looked up, but then she felt pulled, almost yanked backwards, although her body stayed seated in the office room with Sara and Emily. "What's happening," she screamed. But they could not hear her. Posted by Happy Potato @ 5:22 PM |
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