In an empty breakroom, in the middle of Area 51, there sat a young janitor. This janitor was currently reviewing his life choices and wondering how he could have possibly made so many bad decisions in just a few years. He wasn’t a brooding mess when he joined the military, but that’s what’ll happen to somebody who had expected a lot better out of the government than what he experienced. One might wonder why he would get another government job – and as a lowly janitor, at that – after he spent three years being mad about his first one; but money is a powerful motivator when you don’t want to get stuck in your hometown.

“…I have just one thing I would like to declare to you! -” Musk’s voice abruptly cut off as the radio was silenced with a quick twist of its knob.

“Hey, come on! I haven’t heard Musk’s big declaration, yet!” The janitor yelled as his coworker just rolled his eyes.

“Yah whatever, you can go watch the video online after work. But right now, your break’s over and we still have half the facility to sanitize.” The man was already retreating into the hallway as Grant Miles pulled himself to his feet, but stopped to add, “and how have you not already heard that speech? The press conference happened two days ago.”

Grant knew that his break was over before his coworker dragged him back to the job, but he was already sick of the janitorial work and it was only his third day. It probably wouldn’t have been so bad as a janitor in the civilian sector; but here on a military base it just brought back the suffocating feeling he remembered from his time in the army. It didn’t help that Derek, his coworker, was a former marine and thought that gave him some sort of authority over Grant, even though they both just started at the job. “Yah I know, but my computer is packed on a truck and still being transported here with the rest of my furniture.” Grant grumbled, “and I don’t even get a cell signal at my new apartment – apparently I’m going to have to switch service providers.”

Derek gave a slight snicker in response, “yah that must really suck for a barracks rat like you, no computer games or trashy Japanese cartoons to entertain you while you hole up in your room.” He quickly schooled his grin and said in a more serious voice, “but you really shouldn’t be bothering with that ‘breach Area 51’ crap anyway. If you get mixed up in that stuff, you’ll lose your top-secret clearance, which is the only reason you even have this crap janitor job.”

It was true, Grant had gotten kicked out of the army with an honorable discharge which had allowed him to keep his top-secret clearance from his satcom position and his GI Bill, which would have allowed him to go to college. He could still go to college at any time, but he just didn’t see the point because he had no idea what he wanted to do with his life. So, he pulled up the government job listings and found a contractor position that would utilize his top-secret clearance, which in turn would pay more money because of the requirement. Grant had thought that a top-secret contractor job at Area 51 would have been a lot cooler, but apparently not having a college degree still made him just good enough to clean the facility.

Grant sighed as he responded, “you know that’s not fair man, I just got to this town and haven’t made any friends yet.” That’s what he said, but he really didn’t plan to socialize much at all, if he could get away with it. He was a pretty typical example of a “barracks rat”. “And you really got to cut out the weird military catch-phrases; we’re both regular civilians now and you’re going to creep somebody out.” Grant really didn’t need the constant reminder of military life, that Derek just seemed to embody. “Though you’re right about not getting involved with that stuff. This job is pretty crap, but I’ll need that clearance later in life.”

Derek just grunted as a response, probably salty that he didn’t have a partner he could relive the “glory days” with. The pair eventually made it to a utility closet, where they pulled out their supply cart and proceeded to actually do their job; cleaning the top-secret offices of the facility.

****

Several hours passed as the two worked diligently through their shift; sweeping, mopping, vacuuming and dusting as the need arose, until finally the clock hit 1700 and their workday was over. They then dropped off all the cleaning supplies in its original spot, crammed in the utility closet in the hall, and made their way toward the employee lockers to collect their personal effects before they could head home.

Grant slung his backpack over his shoulder and started the walk to the exit but was stopped by Derek before he could leave.

“Alright, you’re relieved of duty for today, make sure to be in by 0850 tomorrow morning. You know what the military’s policy is on 10-minutes prior.” Derek delivered the impromptu speech with a mocking voice. He probably thought his attempts to make Grant uneasy were hilarious, but after a full workday and several complaints for Derek to knock it off, Grant had finally had enough.

“Fuck off with all that macho-military bullshit! I’m not a soldier and you’re not my fucking boss! If I want to show up and clock in at exactly 0900, that’s exactly what I’ll do, because as a civilian I can do whatever I damn-well please!” Grant felt a rush as he finally told this asshole off. Derek had been a pain since day one and it had been a huge mistake not to set these boundaries at the very beginning. So finally taking the opportunity to cut him down to size, Grant had not controlled his volume at all, enjoying the small jump of surprise his voice had caused in Derek.

Realizing what happened, and processing Grant’s words, Derek’s face fell into a glare and turned bright red before he barked out his response, “you’re right! You’re not a soldier! You’re a fucking failure is what you are. Kicked out of the military on your first fucking enlistment? Pathetic!” He stepped towards Grant and seemed to be just barely holding himself back from throwing a punch.

This time is was Grant’s turn to flush red with anger, “I’m pathetic?! That’s rich coming from the broke-ass janitor playing at being a Marine because he knows he’ll never achieve anything in the real world. Oh, and let’s not forget that you can’t even go back to the Marines because you were stupid enough to get a Bar to Reenlistment right before your contract was up.” Grant chuckled dryly and then snapped to the position of attention, before presenting his most crisp salute. “Captain Broomstick of the Mop Brigade! This lowly sanitation grunt requests to take his leave!” His words turned mocking partway through and he deliberately presented his middle finger to the other man, before turning to go home. He didn’t make it far.

Grant had only taken two steps before Derek grabbed him by his shoulders and slammed him into the nearby lockers. Grant had just hopped to his feet and was about to repay violence with even more violence; but he was forced to halt and cover his ears as a shrieking alarm rang throughout the room. The two were both caught off guard by the random alarm and it took them a moment to remember their orientation brief, which had gone over the various alarms and drills that could potentially occur at Area 51. This particular alarm was very distinctive and was most definitely not a drill – it was actually one of the most serious alarms they had been briefed on. Grant and Derek glanced at each other as they finally recognized the alarm for what it was, and then abruptly sprinted out the door and through various halls of the compound. They ran as fast as their legs could carry them, for that alarm only meant one possible thing here at Area 51: the outer fence has been breached, unknown entities have invaded the inner compound.