28 Hello? (1/2)
The computers have been wiped clean. Sia goes through half of the 3rd-floor desktops before quitting and sitting in the hallway. There is nothing new to connect to, and thus nothing for the synthetic intelligence device to hack into.
”Let's focus on the good and look at all the positives here. We're safe, and when you are lost they say to always stay in the same spot, right? So, we just need to put our…brain together and figure out a way to,” Sia falls over onto her side and grabs her head, ”They don't even know we're missing! They think I'm dead! No one will look for me!”
She lies still on the floor and stares at a burnt antenna. Her eyes cross over. She holds her breath and glares at the antenna. Glaring at it does not compel it to follow her will, so she releases her breath from her mouth and harrumphs. Sia can't think of anything. This entire journey was for nothing.
'We're doomed.'
RIVER CITY EMERGENCY PROTOCOL MENTIONS RADIO PROCEDURES
Sia rolls onto her back.
”I guess, but that's only for ham radio stuff. I'm not certified for that. The supervisor had that job in the case of some event that destroyed the grid.”
Silence.
Sia bangs the back of her head on the floor.
”But the supervisor would have the radio in a safety box in his office…probably in his desk or something. I'd probably have to open it with a crowbar or something, cuz he would definitely have that safety key on his personal house keys. Or she…I don't know the staff here. I don't want to cut out an entire gender for being a supervisor. It's a nuclear apocalypse, not the end of the world.”
Silence.
Sia sets her head down and groans.
”What do we do?!”
Silence.
”Oh.”
She scrambles up and into the chemistry room that has become her new headquarters and grabs her crowbar.
The supervisor's office is dirtier than ever. Sia has rooted through every corner of the supervisor's office and no sight of the ham radio safety box.
”What kind of progress is this? This was supposed to be the end of an epic journey. I can't deal with this place anymore. I can't deal with these people. The things!!”
Sia wields the crowbar two-handed and slams it into the top of the desk.
CRUNCH
She continues to beat the desk over and over. Pieces of splintered wood fly up into the air and Sia closes her eyes as she rages.
The desk is broken and split in half when she finishes with it.
”Okay. Let's move on. Next, Scientist paradise lounge.”
Sia kicks in the door to the scientist lounge area, high maintenance locker room, and sniffs before sliding the crowbar across a countertop and tossing everything to the floor.
CRASH
The coffee machine, the toaster, and all the electronics and cups left up on the counter are scattered across the carpeted floor.
She swings the crowbar wildly and breaks chairs, glazed benches, and even the porcelain sink.
Afterward, she sits down in the blue suede armchair in the corner of the room. She drops the crowbar onto the floor and stands up to pour herself a glass of water. It's been 16 years, but their filtration system still works. They seem to get their water from an independent well site or something similar.
Sia walks over to the counter and opens a few cabinets in search of a clean mug. The first cabinet is empty, the second cabinet is empty, but the third cabinet has a few mugs left. Sia fills the mug and looks at the rest of the cabinets in the room. There is a small cabinet beside the counter with a tea box on top. She assumes that's where they held all their condiments.
”They got friggin beverage choices and additives.”
She drinks her water, wipes at her lips, and bends down to open the small cabinet.
”'lo, and behold.”
Right beside the sugar and agave nectar sits a black safety box.
She pulls the safety box out. She puts it on the counter and gets her crowbar.
”Open ...,” She struggles against the lock until it breaks open, ”Sesame seeds. Ugh.I'm so hungry.”
The ham radio is safely packed inside.
~~~~~~~~~~~~30 minutes later~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
”So, I just sit here and repeat my message until someone contacts me right?”
AFFIRMATIVE
A MESSAGE REPEATED EVERY FEW HOURS HEIGHTENS THE PROSPECTS OF RESCUE
IT WOULD BRING OPTIMAL RESULTS IF SUBJECT 001 MARKED OUT 6 BROADCASTING TIMES
AND SENT A MESSAGE FOR A DURATION BEFORE REPEATING THE EXERCISE AT ANOTHER TIME
Sia sighs and pressed the broadcast button.