0011000100110011 (Accidental Video)

[want_a_vacation]

*It's the middle of the night, a good bit after Dark Hour, but Allen isn't asleep. His phone is recording him sitting at his desk, the glow of both his heavily modified desktop computer and a futuristic holographic screen providing most of the lighting. But even in the low light, it's easy to tell that something's eating at him.*

What the hell did I even mention that out loud for? As if the dreams weren't bad enough already...it's almost like I wasn't even thinking before I spoke up.

*He shakes his head and shuts down the holoscreen before grabbing a pot of coffee off of his desk and topping off a mug of the stuff.*

But why that, of all things? Dammit, this is just what I need...

*He rubs his forehead, then starts emptying packets of sugar into the coffee as the phone flicks off.*

Comments

[papermache]

Basic design theories at caffeine o'clock? Either you're behind or you're bored.

[want_a_vacation]

It's some important stuff I want to get done as quickly as possible. Besides, who can sleep with half the city turning violent?

[papermache]

Not like there's anything else to do.

[want_a_vacation]

I have enough to keep me busy.

[papermache]

Such as?

[want_a_vacation]

I've got some pretty major projects I'm working on.

[papermache]

Sounds like a good time.

[want_a_vacation]

*Shrug.*

It's something productive to do, at least.

[papermache]

If your current project is some big secret, then what did you do back home? *Work sounded like a safe topic.*

[want_a_vacation]

I was a developer. I was the chief of the First R&D Division of a fairly major company.

[papermache]

Really? What'd you do?

[want_a_vacation]

Mostly software, but some basic hardware. Ah...basic for my time, anyway. It's pretty advanced for here.

[papermache]

Sounds like fun. I work on upgrades and design for the Mirrors -- oh, yeah, you probably don't know what that is. Basically, large robots running off power gems that bond with their pilots in some way absolutely nobody gets. Also pretty useful at keeping us from dying.

[want_a_vacation]

*Blink. Blink.*

Those...sound a lot like ESes.

[papermache]

Someone else said that, only without "ES". But she also said her Earth had no orbital ring and Antarctica melted.

[want_a_vacation]

I'm not even from Earth. Ah...do you mind if I ask what year you're from?

[papermache]

Me? About thirty-some years from where this place is. You?

[want_a_vacation]

Around five thousand years ahead of it.

[papermache]

Whoa. Are there flying cars yet?

[want_a_vacation]

Hovering, yeah.

[papermache]

Nice. We could have that stuff, but we never got around to it.

[want_a_vacation]

What about space travel?

[papermache]

Good, but not great.

[want_a_vacation]

So I'm guessing no interplanetary travel?

[papermache]

No one ever funds it.