The large figure stood with his back towards the entry, his hand on the door handle.

  “We’ll see you tomorrow then, Miss Gotier,” Said the gruff voice of the man standing there. He turned to step out the door and saw Alex waiting there. “Evening,” said the gruff voice with a nod of his head as he marched off towards the apartments.

  Alex stared after him for a moment, an unsettling feeling in his gut. Something he wasn't quite sure what it was. Fear? Forbidding? Anxiety? He shook his head and turned to enter the building. “Hey Emily,” he said, spotting her at her desk.

  “Oh, hey Alex,” exhaustion tinted her tone.

  “Everything ok?” Alex asked, he had never heard her speak in anything but a cheerful tone.

  “Yes, no, I don't know. This visit from the Capital is stressing me out. It’s so much to take care of and the other girls are basically leaving me to handle it all,” she said fraustraded. “However, I know you are not here to hear me complain. How can I help you?”

  “Hey, I am always here to lend an ear if you need one, or two,” Alex said, wiggling his ears.

  “Thanks,” Emily giggled. “That is nice to know. I'm usually everyone else’s ear so I am not used to having someone be mine.” Emily stood up from her chair and stretched. “So how can I help you? I am guessing you came for something?”

  “Oh right, two things actually,” Alex said as he reached into his pocket.

  “Whoa, only one ask a day pal,” Emily said, holding her hand, a serious expression on her face.

  “Oh, uh..” Alex stumbled.

  Emily’s face split into a grin as she began to laugh, “I am only kidding!”

  Alex’s cheeks flushed as the heat rose to his face. He dug his note out of his pocket and unfolded it. “So you wanted a list of stuff that could be missing or damaged from my delivery.”

  “Oh yes! Is that it? Did you put an estimated worth for everything as well?” she asked, extending her hand for the note.

  “Yes I did. There wasn't too much, thankfully. A couple of broken things and some things that I couldn't find at all so I am guessing they went missing or were destroyed,” Alex said as he gave her the note.

  “Hey, it doesn't matter if it wasn't expensive! It was yours and you would have it if you didn't give up everything to be here. I will try to either replace the items or I will get it reimbursed for you,” she said solemnly.

  “I appreciate that, and you,” Alex smiled. “Second thing is I guess, just a question. What time do you start working?”

  Emily raised her eyebrows surprised by his question. “I feel like the real question is when do I stop,” she laughed. “Why do you ask?”

  “I was kind of working all night last night, but as I was leaving the lab this morning I saw someone in the garage looking through stuff. The sun was barely up,” Alex answered.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  “Really? Interesting. That wasn't me, but when I came in today I noticed that the garage was out of order.” Emily frowned, raising her hand to her chin and biting the corner of her lip.

  “Maybe it was one of the others who work here?” Alex offered.

  “Maybe,” she said absently. “Anyway, thanks for getting this list to me. I will work on this as soon as I can. Just a little busy with this visit right now. Also, thanks for letting me know about the garage. I will talk to the other ladies about it.”

  “No problem, and no rush. I think we are all busy with this visit. I think my group gets our review the day after tomorrow. Have you heard about anyone who has already been seen?” he asked.

  “A few teams have had some positive feedback about their direction. I think a few teams will be split up and remade. None of that will be officially decided until after everyone is seen of course. It is a lot of money, and the world is on the line,” she answered.

  “That’s true. Not something light to decide for sure,” Alex answered. “Well I am going to get out of your hair. Thanks for everything.” With a small wave, Alex turned and headed back out the door. Grabbing his scooter he rode off towards his apartment. As he approached his building, he stepped off and entered the doors. He walked to his room and reached for the handle and noticed the door was unlocked. I swear I locked this, but I was up all night. Maybe I forgot? he thought as he leaned his scooter against the wall.

  Alex walked to his living room and sat with the bucket in front of him. “Ok, let’s try this some more.” He grabbed a handful of the loose material in his left hand and lifted it carefully. Taking his right hand he hovered it over the top of the mound in his hand. He stared at the material and willed it to solidify. His hands brightened with a yellow glow and he watched as the pile turned into stone. He smiled, feeling the slight buzzing energy from the now rocky material in his hands. “This is so cool,” he said, turning it over in his hands. “Return,” he whispered, his hands glowed again and the rock turned back into the loose material. Alex smiled, dumping the material into the bucket and dusting his hands.

  He got up, stretched and walked to his kitchen. Grabbing a cup of juice he headed to his bedroom. “I am exhausted,” he yawned, he slammed the juice and placed his cup on the night table. He crawled into bed and fell asleep before his head hit his pillow.

  BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! Alex jumped as his alarm clock blared to life. Oh man, he thought as he rolled back over from turning it off, I feel like I just fell asleep. Alex lay on his back staring at the ceiling. Going to be a major coffee day, he thought as he yawned. Dragging himself out of bed he shuffled to the kitchen and started a full pot. He looked over at the boxes in the corner. Need to take those out of here. He yawned again and made his way to his shower. After getting dressed for the day he felt a little more awake and went to pour a cup of coffee. He sat at the kitchen nook and sipped on it as he thought about the day ahead.

  After eating, Alex cleaned up, poured the rest of the coffee into a thermos, and gathered all the trash to take out. Afterwards he grabbed his scooter and headed to the lab. Alex rode slowly enjoying the fresh air. As he passed the recreation center he saw the figure of the large man that was in the administration building the night before. He was wearing a black suit with a bright red tie and he had a salt and pepper buzz cut with a thick horseshoe mustache to match. As Alex rode by, he noticed he seemed to be in an intense conversation with someone. The smaller figure was standing with their back towards Alex. He continued following the path towards the lab and when he looked back again he saw whom he was speaking to.

  It was Zayd. He looked nervous looking up at the towering figure. He looked around and his eyes widened as they locked with Alex’s. He turned and said something frantically to the large man who then turned to look in his direction. Alex gave a half smile to Zayd and continued on. When he arrived at the lab doors he looked back and saw that neither the large man or Zayd were there any longer. Alex looked around but didn't spot them anywhere. Weird, he thought as he entered the building.