by P. F. White
He took a deep breath, feeling lungs expand and blood pump within veins. It was so odd to have a physical form again. It was so odd to relate to the world as one of it. It was so odd not to see the equations, the symbols, and work carefully at keeping them together. Here, even trying to explain what he did would likely be impossible. Only the others would even hope to grasp it.
At one point his sister had called him: “A man out of time, and with no place yet to be.”
He had liked that. When he asked her what that made her, she had just laughed and said:
“Me? I'm complicated.”
God he missed her. Such an odd expression for someone that he had, in reality, never even met. Still: that was the whole point here wasn't it? In Nodencorp the most successful usually got to pick their own reward. Often this involved a lot of wealth, sex, prestige, or youth.
Alexander, the infamous Man In the Painting, just wanted to see his family again.
For the first time.
“Ah, it's good to be alive again,” he said to no one in particular. The space around him, in truth, was a bit unnerving to him. Whenever he came and went from a two-dimensional representational realm things got a little...difficult to relate to. Sometimes he found himself misjudging depth, pausing too long in conversations, or not quite getting the flow of simple tasks. Over the years he had worked up an impressive array of ways to deal with these problems. Having a good meal was usually the first and most important step.
“I think I will try one of the little eateries up here,” said the man. He heard something that wasn't sound and turned to look at a cartoon on the wall. Evidently his senses hadn't yet made the complete adjustment.
“Did you say something?”
He paused, but to his surprise, found he couldn't quite make out what the representation was trying to communicate. Not perfectly at any rate. They were so alien, so foreign to nearly every aspect of this reality, that even he struggled with being able to bridge the divide. What gift he had for it tended to fade quickly out of the painting. He knew that, but it was always a little unnerving anyway. Alexander looked around and eventually found a few holographic musicians playing music softly. He approached them. The red in the eyes hadn't shown itself, but he was certain the AI that controlled these floors would be easy enough to alert.
“Pardon me?”
The cellist looked up at him and smiled. Its' eyes were instantly red. He smiled back. When his father had first suggested that the AI within the building be hidden, unlisted, and completely autonomous a lot of people had called him crazy. They had pointed at some of the other instances of “evil machines” that had caused so much suffering in other parts of the world. Alexander had stood up beside his father, and so had the rest of the family.
“That's exactly why we have to do it RIGHT,” is what his sister had said. The other executives had finally relented, and now here they were. Or would be or...damn. He leaned against the wall and gripped his head. The holographic cellist watched him without speaking. It wouldn't interfere unless it had to. He knew that. In a moment the wave passed and he was able to stand up straight again.
“I'm sorry about that. Is there a cook on staff right now?”
The hologram shook its' head.
“Ah,” he said. Alexander was at a loss. He couldn't quite place exactly where he was in time anymore, not with any accuracy. It was one of the reasons why he didn't leave the painting much- and certainly not the tower. Let his sister, his mother, and the others hop the world and explore its' possibilities. Alexander had work to be doing. His stomach felt strange, he wasn't sure if he was hungry exactly but, well, he knew he should probably eat. He looked at his watch.
“Hmmm...I know that the blasted security guard said I had to meet with someone at sometime, but...oh, damn it all.”
Alexander threw up his hands and walked towards the elevator.
He still remembered where the Fletchers lived well enough. He hadn't been gone that long after all. Some things were easy to remember.
# # #
Hank was supposed to meet some important executive or another in his office. John had said that what they had to discuss was of vital importance. Hank didn't give a damn right now. He wanted a steak, he wanted a beer, he wanted a joint and he wanted to make sweet sweet love to his wife.
Adriana giggled when he told her that.
“I think I would be down for all of those things,” she said. He snapped her bikini bottom for good measure. She giggled again.
When they got to the apartment they saw Sven and the baby sitting in the living room. Sven was watching the baby, but Claire didn't appear anywhere nearby. The baby looked up when they entered and said: “Hi mom! Hi Dad!” then it raised its' arms for a hug.
Adriana went to the baby and scooped him up. The baby laughed and hugged his mom with all the tender emotion of a child. Hank smiled at the display, though he could already see some of the tell-tale signs that the baby wasn't quite as carefree as he seemed anymore. Whatever had been happening with him had changed him. Hank wasn't sure what it was, but he knew that eventually he would find out. Not right now though. Right now Hank raised a weary eyebrow at Sven. It was time to play the dutiful papa bear.
“Where's Claire?” was all he said, though he couldn't help but put a little growl in his voice for good measure. After the day he had had: it wasn't hard to do. Sven motioned towards the bedroom. For a brief moment Hank's fists tightened and he wanted to pummel this boy. Really beat him to a pulp. The urge passed quickly. It was simply a little aftershock from the emotions of the day. He forced himself to relax his fists.
“Don't you think you should be a little more...discreet?” said Hank. Sven immediately reddened in the face. Obviously Hank had guessed wrong. Or at least wrong for now. It was pretty obvious that if the giant Swede hadn't gotten into his daughter's pants yet, he soon would.
“No no no!” Sven said as he shook his head, “I have done nothing! She- the attack- there was a doctor and...”
The boy stopped himself and started over. Hank actually found that quite charming. He had no doubt that his daughter would prove to be quite the man-eater as she aged, but evidently for her first outing she had decided to start with someone soft. At least it made it easier for her father. Hank had to thank her for that.
“She had a panic attack from the djävulen! Doctor has already come and gone. She is sleeping now. I do nothing! I swear I-”
Hank laughed. He couldn't help it. He raised his hands in supplication and the big lad shut right up. Yeah right, he thought, nothing right now anyway. He knew he should be scared, should be rushing to see his little girl and make sure she was okay...but he didn't and he wasn't. He just felt exhausted, and hungry, and horny.
“You,” he said and pointed at Sven, “Out.”
“I go!” said Sven and practically ran for the door. Adriana giggled at him. Hank looked at her.
“What?”
“You Out- yes sir Mr. scary!” she laughed, “Cut the boy a little slack. He's a darling and you know it.”
“He's much older than Claire. In the old world: it would be illegal.”
“He's a good boy and you don't give a damn about illegal. You approve of him already, I doubt he would get to stay around otherwise.”
“Are you implying-”
“That your daughter would get to date anyone her father didn't secretly approve of? Yes. Or no. I'm not implying that: I'm saying it. I knew when I married you that you would always do whatever it took to help your family. It's one of the things I've always liked about you.”
Hank sighed and leaned back into the couch.
“I glad you think that. Sometimes I'm not so sure.”
His wife joined him, snuggling up beside him. It felt good. It felt right.
“No one is always sure. You do okay though. You got us here. You are working to make here a better place. I'm sure that in time you will even succeed.”
“Well I'm glad you are confident. I
'm not. I wouldn't say this to anyone else but I'm still uncertain I even did the right thing. Part of why I did it was to see if I could. If my will could really go against the establishment here and win. The simple fact that I could do that means this place needs work. In the future, even if it is the wrong decision, they need to be able to carry it through. No man should be able to just go against it all and change it to how it pleases him. That's part of what went wrong in the old world.”
Adriana laughed and nuzzled into him more.
“Whats so funny?”
“You.”
“Care to be more specific?”
“Yes. You are always such a thinker. You are always three steps ahead of everyone. Even when you win you still analyze, plot, scheme, and work on improvements. I think you just need to relax sometimes. Really let go.”
She kissed him. When she went to pull away: he took her head in his hands and kissed her more. Eventually his hands went to her swimsuit, she playfully slapped him away.
“Not now. Claire could walk in at any moment and she's traumatized enough already.”
Hank rolled his eyes.
“Nothing she hasn't seen by now I'm sure.”
Adriana laughed again.
“Jeeze will you let it go? I'm sorry to break it to you, but Claire is growing up. She is going to be into boys- or girls- or I don't know: both! Let her explore! We know that this place is safe sweetie. Today proved it.”
“Today didn't prove anything.”
“Maybe prove is too strong a word. Today made some damn compelling evidence though.”
“I can agree to that. Still not comfortable with some giant Swede taking my daughters virgini-”
“Oh don't even try that. You and I both know she hasn't been a blushing virgin for some time. This boy was watching the baby without even being asked. He is terrified of you, as smart as they come, and dotes on your daughter almost as much as you do. I doubt they will stay together for terribly long- don't tell her I said that- but I think it would do Claire some good to be with a man like him...He's also super hot.”
Hank made a face at that.
“Oh don't give me that,” said Adriana as she rolled her eyes, “I'm allowed to notice a hot young guy. I'm not about to go all Ms. Robinson on you. Still: she could certainly do worse. Rrroaw!”
Hank just shook his head and pulled away a little. Adriana teased him about that and they set to kissing again. When things started to get heavy Hank felt a little dizzy.
“Jesus,” he said eventually, “I...I think I need a little something. Low blood sugar. I can't remember even eating today. Did you eat?”
“I get breakfast before you wake up. There is a French Cafe three floors down that is usually deserted in the mornings. I should take you sometime.”
“I would like that, I think,” said Hank. He smiled at his wife and they shared a comfortable silence for awhile.
“How about some fried chicken?” suggested Adriana eventually, “There is a little stand one floor up at the cafeteria. It's pretty close to that chicken joint you used to insist on taking us all the time back in Ocala.”
“I'd rather have a steak,” said Hank. Adriana laughed, “Why not have both?”
Hank looked up. It dawned on him that he could do exactly that. There were times when facts like that all but slapped him in the face. Everyone always pictured the apocalypse as being some sort of rationing scenario. All the movies had people eating beans out of tin cans and playing monopoly when they weren't huddled in corners crying or fighting with one another. He couldn't quite get over how different it had all turned out for him. Even the survivors they had just let in would likely spend the rest of their lives in comfort.
It took a lot of getting used to.
“Let's do that,” said Hank, “In fact, the little cafeteria one floor up? Lets have one of everything.”
Adriana giggled and went towards the other room.
“Where are you going?” asked Hank.
“I want to put on some pants. I'm tired of having everyone staring at my ass all day.”
“It's a nice ass though, I'm going to feel bad seeing it go. Can't I at least say goodbye?”
Adriana stuck her tongue out at him and went into the other room to go put on proper clothing. Hank called out to her:
“Can't we get someone to deliver it? I don't want to move right now.”
“Oh you are one to talk!” called back Adriana, “I had to rappel off a building while a giant monster-”
“What's everyone yelling about now?” said Claire from the entrance to her room. She was rubbing sleep out of her eyes, but it was evident that whatever drug the doctor had given her was still in effect.
“Nothing sweetie,” said Hank, “Just who has to go get food.”
“Oh,” said Claire. She rolled her eyes, “Don't you guys read the forum?”
Hank wanted to say yes, but felt he would be mocked. The inter office forum had exploded over the past few weeks. Now it was like some strange conglomeration of the old Internet and an old world village bulletin board. No matter how much he read he always felt like he was still behind.
“No?” Hank said eventually.
Claire rolled her eyes again and went to the living-room's computer. She yawned as she clicked the mouse a few times.
“What do you want?” she asked.
Hank was fishing out some smokes from a little hiding place beside the sofa. Ordinarily he didn't want Claire to see him smoking, but right now, well, he would make an exception. He suspected she knew about the stash anyway.
“I want a steak,” he said with finality, “With a side order of everything else from the cafeteria up there. I want to eat until I burst. Can you do that?”
Claire clicked the mouse a few times.
“Sure, gluttony is back in style you know. Your usual okay on the steak?”
Hank was taken aback. He nodded and lit his joint.
“Yes it is,” he said eventually, “It most certainly is.”
Sometimes, on rare occasions, Hank believed he had actually just died on that first day and everything after had been some elaborate afterlife. Only he never really stuck to that. He still had problems for one, and he had too much hope now. His whole life he had been careful, guarded, and rather negative. He never trusted freely, seldom relaxed, and often had to make what little headway he could against a river of personal and institutional hardship. Everything had changed. The world felt so much smaller now in certain respects, but also paradoxically: it felt so much bigger. No afterlife would do that. Whatever this place was: it was real....also he still had to use the toilet. No self respecting afterlife would have one of those, he decided.
Adriana returned from the bedroom. She was now wearing pajama pants and a baggy tee-shirt. She still looked sexy, thought Hank. She always looked sexy.
“I want fried chicken,” Adriana said to Claire. She smiled at her step-daughter, “What, do they have a delivery guy now?”
Claire rolled her eyes and put in the order.
Hank just watched. He was proud of his family. He puffed his joint. Eventually Claire finished and went to sit in the comfortable chair across from him. She looked at him and yawned again.
“Dad...I don't suppose I could get a puff...”
Hank considered saying no. Then he gave it to her.
“I'm a terrible parent,” he said by way of explanation.
“No you aren't,” said Claire. She puffed the joint a few times then gave it back. She relaxed and stretched a bit, “You are just...odd.”
Adriana sat down next to Hank. They hugged again. She was holding the baby and the Baby hugged them too.
“I guess we are all kind of odd,” said Hank lazily.
Everyone giggled at the understatement.
A moment passed in perfect relaxed contentment. No one said much. Everyone was tired, but happy. There was a knock on the door.
“It can't be here already,” said Claire as she went to answer it.<
br />
Standing in the doorway was a young man wearing a blue suit. He looked somewhat familiar in his features, and his smile contained an innocence to it. She couldn't guess his age, not exactly, but had the nervous excitement of someone trying to contain his excitement. She liked him already.