Space Story 13

[MimicFaux]

The unsettling lurch as the shuttle docked threatened to spill Brynn's lunch over the floor. Bluespace travel had become a remarkable feat of technology, and a staple of space exploration. Neatly pinning point A next to point B, folding space-time to conveniently get around the problems with faster-than-light theories. While inertia was technically not involved, the disorientation of suddenly not being where you were last was enough floor even the most stalwart of spacemen.

Swallowing back the bile, she unbuckled herself and staggered to the door.

Clean, if slightly askew metal paneling greeted the latest batch of hopefuls fresh from every corner of the galaxy. Brynn followed the shuffling crowd down the hall as the PA chimed with a monotonous voice.
"Hello. The Automatic Diagnostic and Announcement System welcomes you to the Nanotrasen Research Facility. Remember: have a secure day!"
Eyes wide and curious with her new line of work, Brynn took in the surroundings and her new co-workers most of whom were dressed in the same drab grey jumpsuits as her. A couple however had more colourful uniforms but broke away from the main group at the first hallway, heads already down and in their PDAs as they marched off to work. She unclipped her own PDA from her belt and took a look.

Brynn Macintosh
Assistant

A cheery, smiling woman looked back up at her from the screen. She'd dyed her hair a lovely shade of green for the picture. Hoping that it would make her stand out, something unique against the countless others applying for work aboard Nanotrasen's various stations. Looking up from her PDA she saw a few feet ahead of her a skinny white guy with a neon pink afro. Frowning, she began to feel she probably should have just studied harder to stand out.

The crowd had largely dispersed, a couple had run off to chase after a clown. Several others wandered into the bar, but the majority had stayed together and were now organizing themselves into a queue in front of an impressive looking office. Girded windows ran the length of the wall here, darkened by imposing metal shutters behind them. A line had more or less formed in front of the booth window at the far end of the office. Impatient grey-shirts were pushing each other in line or knocking anxiously on the window.
*Shucka-shucka-shucka-shuck!*
There was a slight bit of theatrics to how the shutters rattled open. A smiling, if tired looking man in a blue suit sat behind the window and waved the nearest of them forward. The man at the head of the line began to curse and shout before storming away angrily. Brynn noticed the man in blue had neatly arranged a stack of papers and three different coloured pens in front of him. The head of personnel called out with just the slightest hint of smugness. "Next~!"

-=+=-

Brynn Macintosh
Cargo Technician

Her PDA looked rather stylish with it's new orange look. Brynn clicked the screen off and reattached it to her belt. The warehouse was bustling with activity when she arrived. A small army of khaki-clad misfits ran back and forth hauling crates. Some labeled, most not.

It was simple but active work. There was always something to do and it felt good to be part of the team. The first order of business was to get the department cleaned out from the previous shift. The quartermaster was firm on that point. More senior staff were trusted to handle the orders from around the station as they began to come in. However newbies like Brynn were sent out into maintenance tunnels to hunt for crates the crew and stashed away. Departments often emptied them of their contents, and when they couldn't be assed to return them, the tunnels were easy places to toss the obstructive crates. She didn't mind the work; it gave her a chance to explore the station and see the various departments at work.

Picking her way through the dark tunnels, with just a scavenged flashlight, Brynn tracked down more crates for her boss. It was then an old pop can hopped into the pool of light cast by her flashlight. "Hello?"
Shadows stirred.
The hairs on the back of her neck began to stand on end when the darkness was split by the flash red light erupting from a hilt. Panic gripped her as she turned to run!
*Fwip!*
Nausea coupled with all of her muscles suddenly seizing up as something struck her back. Brynn tripped over her own unresponsive feet, thudding into the bare plating with a grunt.
Winded, and unable to cry out, she looked up at her assailant in horror. Two large green lenses stared wordlessly back at her from the face of a gas mask, with a large pink afro rising up above it.