Mission Day 6

DATE: 08/31/12119

I was awake long before my escort came to take me to the infirmary. Sleeping in new places has always been a little difficult for me, and while my apartment is in a quieter section of the outer wall, it is far from quiet. Central's docks never sleep, the sounds of machines beeping, cars zooming around, and heavy crates shifting can be heard at all hours. The marketplace doesn't seem to sleep either with the constant thumping of music from the clubs in the alleyways echoing throughout the night. Even without the dock and the clubs there is the constant blanket of sound from the low whirring of the marketplace's main road.

If I am honest with myself the noise was only part of why I couldn't sleep. The past few days have been a lot to take in and I find myself once again not knowing my place. I know I am supposed to consult about seeds and share any knowledge I have to help terraform, but what if I am not able to deliver the results they are hoping for? Am I temporary? As much as I had pushed him away and insisted on being independent, part of me thought Geo would be there to help me along the way. After he walked away yesterday I am not so sure anymore.

My thoughts were interrupted by a beep from my door. My apartment is so small I could see the grainy security camera footage light up on the door's panel while I was still sitting on my bed. A woman with detached cold eyes stared into the camera, and with a cock of her head she gestured for me to come out. I placed my mask on my face and cautiously stepped outside. I looked up at the woman was startled by her appearance. She had two heavy facial scars: one that looked like a compass star on her forehead, the other a single line on her right cheek. She was different from the Arcans I have seen so far with her black hair and dark eyes. She even dressed differently by wearing a form fitting crop top to help emphasize the circle scars on her left arm.

The woman caught me staring at her scars and locked eyes with me as if she was challenging me to say something about them. I sheepishly glanced away after being caught but brought my eyes back to her. We held our gaze for several seconds before a faint smirk reached the corner of her mouth. "Come," she commanded as she turned towards a hover car waiting down the alley.

"Where are we going," I asked. She merely looked over her shoulder and tapped her ear: no earpiece. This was going to be a quiet ride.

There wasn't much to see from the car. It was just tunnels, tunnels, and more tunnels. The scarred woman didn't glance my way once and didn't make a sound. She had an intensity I didn't want to mess with and I couldn't wait for this awkward ride to end. Even though it felt like time was dragging on, it had only been 15 minutes before the car pulled into a smaller tunnel leading to a narrow corridor. It barely had enough room to allow two lanes of traffic and a small walkway for pedestrians but everyone seemed to make due as they darted around each other.

We pulled into a circle and the woman stepped out of the car. She walked over to my side, opened the door and once again commanded me, "Come." My mouth twisted with displeasure after been ordered like a dog for the second time, but I stepped out of the car without complaint. Not like she would have understood anyhow. She gripped my elbow firmly and guided me into a brightly lit waiting room. The benches were filled with people in similar masks, and the sounds of coughing and hacking were everywhere.

The scarred woman pulled me up to the front desk where a sweet looking woman sat, her long, thin arms looking so fragile that they could break with the slightest impact. "Were here for Geo of Novarca. Which room?" the scarred woman asks with an authoritative tone. "Geo of Novarca?" asked the sweet woman. "We don't have any records or holds for Geo today. Are you sure you are in the right place?"

The scarred woman's eyes narrowed. "Don't cross me Arcan," she said with venom in her voice. "Councilman Albin sent me here because she needs to be checked by Geo of Novarca. Councilwoman Thana's orders." The sweet woman leaned to the side to get a look at me and I could see the puzzlement in her face. The scarred woman leaned across the desk making the sweet woman lean back with wide eyes. "And if their orders aren't enough to make you comply, I have other methods," the scarred woman threatened as she leaned in even further with a cruel smile.

"Ppplease, Lena of Navis, I didn't mean any disrespect," the sweet woman stuttered. "Room 108. Go to room 108." Lena let out a frustrated sigh, and a small bitter smile reached her lips before gripping my elbow again and leading me to room 108. In the corner of my eye I saw the sweet woman scrambling to her comms device.

We waited in that room for some time. Lena was getting increasingly agitated with each passing minute, and I was counting myself lucky I could not communicate with her. When I heard the door open I looked up and saw Geo's intense blue eyes. They were filled with worry but quickly went distant and cold. His shoulders relaxed as he tried to catch his breath, making me think he must have rushed over.

"What are you doing here?" he asked Lena, his voice filled with frustration. Lena's jaw was tight but she remained calm, "She needs to be checked." "I specifically said to bring her to the lab!" Geo snapped. Lena's eyes narrowed, "Health checks happen at the infirmary. That is where I was told to go. Now do your tests and let me get on with my work!" she commanded. Geo took a step closer to Lena, and with their equal heights they challenged one another. "Then let me do my work!" he said angrily. "Flora is not used to our illnesses. She is vulnerable! Sending her here with all of these sick people is begging for her to get ill again! I will do my check, but until you agree to bring her to the lab I am not releasing her to you!"

Lena's eye twitched in anger, but the rest of her face was a mask of calm. She glanced over at me before looking back at Geo. "I will talk to Councilman Albin. You may continue with your tests," she said smoothly before exiting the room. When the door closed I released a breath I didn't realize I was holding. Geo was still standing with back was towards me as he calmed down.

"Thank you, Geo," I said. My heart clenched as I waited for his response, and to my relief he finally turned around.