A Cell

"Touch the sun." The words were spoken softly, but they warned of an avalanche of conviction. 

Cole wanted to protest, to bring up how he believed that the virtual enhanced reality, how an escape could make a homecoming feel that much better, how inspirations could carry between realities, but he said nothing. There was no response to her words. They had the feel of someone who used a single mantra to dictate their entire personality.

Cole glanced at Alyx, asking her to take the lead. He still wasn't entirely sure why they were in Harbor.

"How does one join your organization?" Alyx said. Minny looked at Cole, insinuating that she knew he had more to say, before answering. "It is not that difficult. You just have to do some basic tasks, and rent a temporary residence in our headquarters."

"That's it? Nothing else?" Alyx asked with feigned incredulity. Cole held back a smile, Minny's explanation was very vague, basic tasks could involve anything.

"Yep, that's it. You will also gain access to all of this Harbor." Minny waved her hand at the purple sky and it swiftly swirled into a cloudless blue. The hill underneath them rose towards the heavens, and they soon found themselves sitting on the peak of an impossibly tall mountain. 

"Why don't you try?" Minny flicked Cole's forehead. It looked like she had used considerable force, but Cole barely felt the impact. Without saying anything, Cole closed his eyes, allowing an image to spring to his mind.

As he opened his eyes, the mountain melted away, and dark clouds raced into the sky. All around them, dark structures sprouted from the ground, stretching into the sky as rain rushed towards the pavement. Bright lights bounced across the falling droplets, painting the street in streaks of neon colors.

Alyx smiled, and Cole was sure that it was a true smile. The scene was just like the night they had been attacked, except it was before all hell had broken loose, and the evening had been spectacular.

Cole raised his face to the sky, feeling the system desperately trying to simulate rain splashing across his face. Closing his eyes, Cole imagined the small impacts of coldness as real rain, and he became certain in his resolve. Even if technology perfected virtual touch, nothing would be able to compare with the real thing. He would never be able to get over the fact that he knew it was fake and controllable. Knowing there were things he could not direct was comforting, offering a realm of possibilities.

"Is there a uniform or something?" Alyx asked, and Cole looked at her, seeing that the soft nightgown had transformed into a white sundress.

Minny laughed. "You saw how I was dressed. We would never limit what you can wear… Oh do you mean this?" Minny rolled up her suit sleeve, revealing her tattoo. As Cole looked at the sun effigy, his memory finally filled in the missing piece. He had seen that same tattoo before.

It was emblazoned onto the arm of Jam Hardy. 'He is part of Harbor?' Cole froze in shock. Cole finally understood the purpose of their visit, but he did not have much time to ponder the case.

"Don't worry, no one forces you to get inked up. But most members do decide to get the tattoo. It is a sign of commitment and community," Minny rolled down her sleeve. "Unfortunately that is all we have time for today. We will be returning to the ordinary world in ten seconds."

Cole felt light assault his vision, and when it vanished, he ripped off the sleep mask. His eyes screamed for color as they took in the black room that could in no way compare to the scenery he had just witnessed.

"Let's move onto the next part in the process." Minny was already standing by the door. Cole and Alyx returned their sleep masks and let Minny lead them out of the room. Rather than return to the lobby, the trio made their way deeper into the building, walking past countless numbered doors, no doubt housing rooms like the one they had left.

Eventually they reached the end of the hallway, and were led into a large hall. The hall was well lit, with numerous people sitting behind desks, lining the sides of the room.

"This is where I leave you." Minny said, waving to someone behind one of the desks. A tall man stood up. He wore a well kept blue suit, and it only took him a few long strides to reach them.

"I just ran them through the tour. Please get them started on the paperwork." Minny said, turning away. "Oh they are a couple. Bye bye." Minny hurried away.

Cole was reminded of Alyx's introduction at Minny's words, but wondered if Minny even remembered his name. Before he had a chance to think further, the tall man reached out and shook his hand.

In no time the man who had introduced himself as Leth, had Cole and Alyx sitting at his desk. In a daze, Cole barely took in the word vomit coming out of the man's mouth. While he spoke, Leth reached into his desk, pulling out two clipboards. Cole caught something he assumed was legal jargon as a clipboard was shoved in front of him.

"Please go ahead and sign." Leth said. Cole looked at the clipboard, it had a lengthy contract scrolling across it. Cole was instantly wary, but when Alyx signed it without hesitation, he reluctantly put down his signature.

"Ok. Nice job." As Leth spoke some more incomprehensible words, Cole looked around the room again, seeing a pair of armed guards for the first time. They slowly patrolled the room, watching people sign various clipboards at the different desks.

"Now we just need to know your place of employment. We will send notice that you will be back to work in no time. Can't have you lose your jobs." Leth tapped the top of the clipboard. The contract vanished, replaced by a basic questionnaire about employment status. Cole pulled out his keycard, and filled in the form.

"Great, everything is in place. You can head through that door, someone will direct you from there." Leth gestured to a door at the back of the room. 

Cole stood up, following after Alyx. What was happening? Alyx was silent as the pair walked through the door, joining a line of other people, some of whom looked just as confused as Cole.

'Did I just sign my soul away?' Cole thought to himself. The room they were in was not as brightly lit as the hall, and its walls were a plain gray. The lighting combined with the color made it difficult to tell if the walls were actually dirty, but the room felt dingy.

Their line was ushered forward by a few people waving them towards another door. Once through the door, people were called up to a single desk, in the center of the room. Eventually it was Cole and Alyx's turn.

"Take room 324. This bracelet will confirm your rank. Use it to get food, and enter the Harbor." The woman behind the desk did not allow for any questions, quickly handing over two black bands.

Cole put on the bracelet, before following Alyx, who moved towards a doorway that opened into a stairwell. Everyone who had gotten a bracelet was moving up the stairs. Cole and Alyx joined the procession, beginning their climb.

The stairs felt steeper than usual, each step taking extra effort. As if designed to make a person remember the weakness of their body, the stairs were a challenge. Eventually they made it to a door, but it was labeled as the /100s floor/ so Cole and Alyx had to keep climbing.

Cole had never felt so out of shape. The stairs were never ending, until finally the pair reached their floor. During the climb Cole had been too tired to focus on what had occurred, but it appeared he had joined the organization. Once on their floor, it did not take them long to find their room.

Cole raised his bracelet in front of the door to their room, and it slid open. Inside they were greeted with spartan quarters. There were two beds placed next to each other in the gray room. An exposed rack, in a corner of the room, had a few hangers swaying gently from a nonexistent breeze. Lastly there was a door in the side of the room leading to a bathroom.

There was nothing else in the room, besides a printed pamphlet on each of the beds. Once the door slid shut Cole instantly turned towards Alyx.

"What just happened?" Alyx couldn't hold back a smirk. "It seems we just got initiated as new members of Harbor."

"Why do you say it like that?" Cole felt his heart rate increase at Alyx's response. "I honestly thought we were just getting a tour. I had no idea they would be so pushy." Alyx did not dissuade his panic.

Cole closed his eyes. Alyx, who always seemed so prepared, and who he had trusted enough to follow her lead, had not expected them to join Harbor. Cole stood stunned, not sure what to say. 

"How about we go to sleep and figure it out in the morning?" Even with her blank face, Cole sensed a hint of sheepishness in Alyx's voice. Cole wanted to do many things besides sleep, but he bottled them away and climbed into one of the beds.