KC had gotten to work at 10:27, almost a half an hour late. As expected, her boss was waiting for her. He was a short stout man with a young face but old and greedy eyes. His face was painted with upset.

“Katherine. Late again, I see.”

“Yeah, I know.” She said, walking towards him. “Listen, I didn’t sleep in this time. It’s just that, you know.”

“What? I know what?” Her boss said, his face getting pink.

“Well, it’s just…” She grew her voice to a whisper. “I had gotten sick this morning.”

The anger fled from her boss’ face. Her grabbed onto her shoulder and pulled her away from the factory workers who were standing about twenty feet away.

“You’re sick? What do you mean sick? Like…” He said. She nodded. His eyes began to fly around the room. Suddenly, all emotion dropped, and he stared KC straight in the eyes.

“I want you gone.” He said coldly.

“What?”

“You’re sick, Katherine? Sick? Nobody but the Rotten Evil has gotten sick in centuries! It’s not exactly inconspicuous, now is it?” He said. “You’re sure to get the EPoB snooping around here, and I can’t have that. I’m sorry, you can come by to collect your final check, but I need you gone.”

KC’s face began to grow pink. No, it went straight red.

“After all I’ve done for you, you’re just going to throw me away? I’ve been working here almost six goddamn years! How else am I supposed to get money?” She said, her voice rising.

“Listen, that’s your problem, not mine. If you think you’re going to make a fuss about it, I’ll get a hold of EPoB myself.” He said, pointing over her shoulder. “Now get the fuck out of here.”

KC began to clench her fists. Nothing would satisfy her more than to beat this sucker to the dirt, but she knew better. She relaxed, looking at the ground.

“Alright, but I need to go get my things first.”

“Sure.”

KC walked past her boss, down the hall to the right of the factory workers, and into the locker room on the left. On the right was the boss’ office, which he promptly entered behind her.

KC opened her locker, inside was a pair of black shoes, a few hair nets, and a black bag. She put the nets and shoes in the bag and put the bag around her back. As she headed for the door, she heard the sound of the office door opening first.

Her former boss had just swung out of the office, steaming and storming towards the factory. Sure to be giving hell to a worker, KC focused on the office door, slowly closing. She quickly jumped out through the locker room door and put her foot between the office door and its frame, propping it open. She slipped inside.

Looking around the immaculate office, KC began rummaging around everything. In the third drawer of the desk were several envelopes full of food tickets and recreational pay, the factory’s earnings and employee’s salaries, certainly. KC threw it all in her black bag. She jumped up and headed for the door. Opening it, the sound of her former boss screaming at some poor employee echoed throughout the walls.

Heading out of the hallway and through the factory, her boss and KC locked eyes. She winked at him, and his jaw dropped. With that, KC left the factory and never came back.

***

KC got on the Beauland Transportation System on stop 146. She flashed her Citizen’s Card to the Operator, who nodded nonchalantly. She rushed to the closest seat and sat down. Looking around, the booth is completely empty. No more EPOB, no more old ladies, no more dead sleeping man. KC was finally at ease.

The bore of the Transportation System drew her to the window. She observed the beautiful cityscape with its glass high rise buildings that stretched beyond the clouds, its luxurious but identical houses, and the beautifully recreated wildlife exhibits. She stared up into the baby blue sky, watching the ominous clouds move past in slow motion, and that’s when it all became blurry, the clouds. They turned from defined objects in the sky to blurs of white paint upon a blue canvas, slowly getting engulfed in the darkness coming in from above and below, a world for the birds, disappearing before her very eyes…

“NEXT STOP, ONE EIGHTY ONE” says the robotic voice of the Operator. KC Homstov had fallen asleep. She had also missed her stop. She instinctively jumped up from her seat and ran out of the door, giving a quick nod to the operator as she left.

Her intended stop was One Eighty, so although she had arrived to her intended destination, the coastal city of Wheren, but she was a half mile from the heart of the city. Ready for the walk, she adjusted her black bag. She began to head off before a voice yelled from behind her.

“Hey, wait!”

KC stopped dead in her tracks, turning around, she saw two men in tight black clothing approaching her.

“What are you doing out here? All citizens should be at work right now.” The first man said, taller and with dark, well kempt brown hair.

“I tried to get on the bus. I didn’t have my Citizens Card on me. I need to go home and get it.” KC said, lying. The two men looked at each other.

“That’s funny. I didn’t see you get on the bus.” The second man, short with blonde, equally well kempt hair, said.

“I got on at the last stop. The operator said he forgot to check for my card and that’s when I realized I didn’t have it. He let me off here.” She said. The two EPoB looked at each other again.

“You live around here?” Asked the first EPoB.

“Yeah, not too far away, just a few blocks.” She said.

“Do you mind if we escort you home?” Asked the first EPoB again.

Before KC had time to respond, another voice was heard yelling behind her.

“Eh! Samantha!” shouted a strange man in a bright yellow button up shirt, cargo shorts, sandals, green sunglasses, and a straw hat. “I knew I’d find you somewhere around here! Its okay, gentlemen, I have it from here! Hey! Wait!”

The two EPoB agents threw the strange man against the wall.

“Who the hell are you and what aren’t you doing at work?” Demanded the first of the agents. The strange man simply scoffed.

“Listen, listen. Perhaps I came on a little too strong. Here.” He reached into his shirt pocket, pulling out a bright red card. The first agent held it up, and his face went from intimidation to fear.

“I’m… I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” The first agent said. The second agent glanced over at the card and froze up.

“Its fine, these things happen.” The strange man said, grabbing his red card back from the agent and placing it in his pocket. “But just for your own unease, I will indulge you. My name is Estaban Fritz; I work as a Supreme Undercover Agent for The Eternal Protectors of Beauland. This woman you have been harassing is Samantha Rigby, my Recommended Roommate. I thank you for you’re investigating, I will recommend you to your Lot Leaders, err…”

“Protector Harding.” Said the first agent.

“Protector Roswell.” Said the second.

“Right.” Said the strange man. “But because I believe this situation would be a lot easier this way, I’ll escort Miss Rigby home myself.”

“But… You don’t think we could come along?” asked Protector Roswell in a whisper. “I mean, we don’t often get to meet a Supreme Agent, especially one special enough to be working undercover.” Protector Harding seemed equally delighted to the idea.

“I appreciate the sentiment, gentlemen, but you two need to be on patrol, guarding the front line from the Angel renegades. But I’ll give you my card; call me on your free day.” The strange man said, pulling two white cards from his shorts pocket and handing it to the two officers. As if handed a celebrity’s autograph, the two officers walked away, somehow pleased and somewhat happy. KC looked over at the strange man, completely shocked.

“Samantha? Shall we go?” said the strange man, holding out his hand. KC approached him and the two headed off North down the streets of Wheren.