36
Minutes In Minutes
“So, Luna, you’re gonna take this and leave us?”
The butler inspected the hypercube between her fingers. Her gaze remained unchanged.
“It won’t be long. Make sure the pitcher is on the mound.”
“Alright. Has Hudson given you the cheat sheet before you board the plane?”
“He did. I hope it works.”
Luna took the cube in her hand, and placed a firm grip until she could feel the cube is almost forcing the same energy back onto her hand. It shook, and shook, and shook until it vibrated itself out of movement. It swiped in a circle on each of its sides, and a timer appeared on the display. It began to count up to five minutes.
“How did you know this?”
“Chance. I mean if this cube can send us practically anywhere, there must be some sort of potential we can unlock.”
Irene stared at the cube herself.
“I don’t get it. The fascination with trying to change the future, or the past for that matter. Why?” Irene tucked her hands back into the front pocket.
“It’s not something I understood. But I don’t think I have a say in the matter.”
“Good luck.” Irene trailed off as the timer approached four and a half minutes.
Luna took one look at the arc that rapidly approached into a circle. She closed her eyes.
The darkness almost seemed like a safe harbor for her until the lights flooded her field-of-view. In the safety of her room that was the largest out of the quarters designated for everyone that works in the uniform. The headphones next to her computer. The posters that are pinned to the cork board behind her. The stacks of documents that sat dormant on her desk, some had their sides painted orange as Barry sorted a few of these for her.
As the ring ticked down to four minutes and forty seconds, she booted out of the warmth of her room to find her second-in-command.
Luna made a right, pushed through a pair of swivel doors, then another right to head through the tiny corridor just next to the door to her cabin. The first door to the right she could see. Two quick knocks.
“Luna?” The orange-band swung the door open. “You’re back?”
The red-band caught her breath, then held out her cube that ticked down to four minutes and fifteen seconds.
“Got it.” The two rushed into the room.
“You made any headway on the pitch?” Luna looked at him as they both caught a seat.
“I think the ball is on its way.” He reached behind him and took a few stapled stacks of paper. He flipped through the various cover pages and showed it to Luna. “Do we need to have Security watch everyone?”
“No need.” She stared off onto the walls, and after a few seconds, looked back at him. “Listen, I’m going to go purchase a few pens for this. Make sure the ink doesn’t run.”
“Did you run into a walk?”
“There was no walk. But I feel like we are close to hitting one. This won’t be good. I have a few things I want you to help me take care of before that ruling happens.” She retrieved some folded papers from her pocket. “Is Miles Hector still here?”
“Yes, Luna.”
“Did he meet with the player while inside the mansion?”
“No. The player didn’t pay a visit.”
“Oh. Alright.” Her gaze turned to the cube that instructed that she have around two minutes remaining. “We need instant replays on Miles. In case the ref needs help.”
“Yes, Luna. I’m just worried about the risk of the ball coming at you.”
“It is not part of our responsibility to ask. Thank you, Barry. We can worry about stray balls later.”
“Okay.” Barry threw the papers onto his desk.
One minute and fourteen seconds.
“Have you made a call to to the fabricator of these ribbons?”
“I haven’t. I couldn’t—“
Luna looked at him like she just saw her pet got gravely injured. She hung her head down.
“I understand. Call him regardless. That’s an order. Barry.”
Her assistant could barely choke out an “okay” underneath his breath.
Thirty-five seconds.
The transceiver on his desk buzzed.
“Hudson, Security here. There has been a visitor who seemed to have arrived via trespassing. He’s at the ground floor reception right now, sir. Should we detain him?”
Barry looked at her. She sprung to the walkie-talkie.
Fifteen seconds.
“Luna Syracuse here. Detain him.” She released the button for the microphone, and looked at Barry. “Time to check if there’s someone uninvited at the field now.”
Barry looked at her.
“This instant.”
He rushed to snatch the transceiver from the desk, and hurried out of the door.
Luna snapped back into California. The hypercube stopped its ticking and displayed zero on its timer with a depleted ring. She searched for the backpack that must be leaning against a wall some corner of this room.
She grabbed it by the strap and she left the bedroom to hail for a Taxi of her own.
The film beckoned.
Approval pending on the site inspection. It might not be the right time to commence check.
You still want to continue?
Yes
No
She tapped “yes” as the Taxi descended onto the front porch of her home. The rotor pulled at her hair. There was a hiss as the hydraulic engine disengaged as the vehicle met the ground and slowed to a complete stop. The door slides open and the few steps unfolded in front of her feet.
Luna looked back at the house as her shoes conquered the first of the three steps. She continued as she turned back as the film called her again.
Airlift Taxi
Where do you want to go
She spoke into the microphone embedded in her headset.
“Los Angeles International Airport.”