N E V E R E N D I N GI I wake up in front of my call pad. The red light's still blinking from last night's ignored call. I press the button on the pad and the light stops, turning a pale blue. I stand up and walk to the glass walls of the dome, which are congested with several different news feeds for our Channel. It takes me about five minutes before I finally find a blank spot on the walls. I tap my finger on the wall, and a simple white box pops up, with Xane written at the top. I expand the little box until it's about the size of a computer screen, and begin to write.
Just woke up. Send a cart, please.
I put the box back into its original size and say, "To Axle." The box whizzes past on the screen, delivering my message to our President. I sigh and go back to my call pad. I tinker with the settings.
The cart rolls in, halting next to me. I run my hands over the array of rolls and breads and drinks until I finally pick up a cinnamon roll and a mug of hot cocoa. I inhale it. All that's left is an empty mug and a few crumbs.
The cart, having finished its job, rolls off to whoever needs it next. My call pad beeps. I pick up the phone. "This is Xane, Channel 91."
The caller's voice is razor sharp and definitely a man's. "Eron, Channel 56. About twenty of our Troopers are injured from an attack with Channel 30. We have some Aids here, but as you know, we had to station many non-Troopers, since many are already dead. Please send some."
Eron is correct. Recently Channel 56 had been having a hard time fending off attacks, which made them vulnerable targets. Their only solution was to put almost everyone-Runts, Aids, Communicators like me-out in the battlefield. A few other Channels had sent some Troopers to help, but nothing was enough.
I nod. "Okay. So deliver about thirty, thirty-five Aids? In case more fall?"
"Oh, thank you, young man. You don't know how much you're helping us."
"Ah, please. I'm only the one that delivers your message. I don't actually carry it out."
"You do more than you think you do." That punches me in the gut. I stare out the glass walls for a moment, watching the white scenery with my naked eyes.
I shake the thought from my head. "Well, thirty-five Aids to Channel 56, done. Thank you."
"Great. Goodbye." And the call ends. I get up and walk over to the Delivery Director, a girl about twenty with black hair. She looks up from her work. Her bright blue eyes cut deep into my brain.
I put my hands on the desk and lean forward. "Aids, thirty-five, to Channel 56."
She nods, scribbles something on a fresh Delivery Sheet, and slides it in the gap in her desk. "Sent." I start to walk off, but not before she asks me a question.
"Xane, right?"
I stop. "Yes," I say, still not facing her.
"I'm Iya."
I nod, and then walk off again. Iya. Why had I, the one person that visits her most, never known her name?
"I never knew your name," I find myself saying. I turn around and look straight at her. "Why?"
She smiles, her startling blue eyes glistening. "That's a secret you'll soon know." She looks back down at her work.
I stand there, staring blankly. What secret? I slowly walk back to my desk like a robot. I slide into my seat. I pass time by writing her name over and over, then erasing it all.
I'm still doing that when a familiar voice whispers in my ear, "I never knew your name either."
xxTHE Yay! It's begun! So, um, what do you think? I might notify. Check my main account iwishuponawhale.
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