Seth tries to do his job the best he can. Yes, he’s the head of the company; yes, his meetings include playing poker; and yes, it works out fine. This time is no different, even though the news is more worrying than usual. But he’s going to take it one step at the time and be just fine. It’s more of the same in the end -- talk to these people, arrange that meeting, and don’t panic anybody. The stakes are higher, but it’s nothing he hasn’t done before. And he gets to spend time at the fire station with Connor. Seth should be good.<br><br>And there’s nothing out of the ordinary on Connor’s end. It’s a normal day, spent doing normal things, with the normal people. He happens to love his life and, though some things could be better, they could also be way worse. Connor is satisfied, and nothing is going to change that.<br><br>Everything is going according to plan. There’s no reason to believe that anything has to change. Right?

Out of Nowhere

The machine taking Seth’s vitals keeps showing his heartbeat rising. Seth would like to tell the pile of buttons and cables that it doesn’t help, but he realizes the futility of talking to inanimate objects. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t glare at it, but it means that he doesn’t offend anybody.


Seth sighs, knowing he has to calm himself. He wants to avoid thinking or remembering, but his distraction isn’t exactly the most unimportant thing to consider. Although he knows it isn’t helpful to concentrate on his mental processes, it’s the only subject that’s even a bit neutral. And by that, he means it’s not at all, but still somehow more palatable to think about.


Chapter 11