The Government
Unlike Paul, when Janet got home, she enjoyed a rather lengthy shower, with as much hot water as she could stand. She was really unaware that Paul, restricted as he was like all civilians were, only had hot water occasionally. She was a government employee and had privileges that they simply did not. Janet was not abusing her power; she was simply part of a vastly different culture.
Sometime in the past, civilians and government employees drifted apart to the point that no one ever crossed the line to form any kind of friendship with the other side. This was not a written rule or even a law, but stemmed from the fact that the two groups had become estranged.
For example, Paul lived in a two room apartment, which he paid for with one third of his salary, no matter how much that salary was. In this way, how could he complain? If his salary were to decrease for some reason, he would still only pay one third of his new salary.
Janet, on the other hand lived in a twelve room apartment, complete with every luxury imaginable. She had no reason to look down on Paul for his living conditions, because she was simply unaware of them. She had no idea of the lifestyle Paul and his fellow civilians ‘enjoyed.’
So, where Paul endured a cold, brief shower, for the good of the earth and its environment, Janet had never considered the possibility of taking a cold shower for any reason. The thought that anyone should never occurred to her, or anyone else she knew. On the other hand, Paul was equally unaware of Janet’s living conditions.
Perhaps if they both were aware of their vast differences, they would each understand the other’s side when it came to things like living conditions during remote expeditions, such as the one in Canada they just left. Paul didn’t mind the conditions, for the most part because they were not much different than his home conditions. Janet, however, had no way to know this or come close to understanding it.
So, as she stood for many long minutes, letting the hot water cascade down her body, she thought of Paul. She couldn’t understand why he hated her so much. She did everything she could to encourage him to like her, but it seemed as if everything she did was wrong.
She had secretly formed an attraction to him when they were first thrust together two years ago. She kept her feelings to herself, though, because she knew none of her friends and fellow government workers would understand. After all, Paul was just a civilian and she was Government! Certain things should never mix! But after his assertiveness on the recent dig, she secretly found him even more intriguing.
She dried off and made her way to the kitchen area where she could see what was available for delivery today. Should she choose Vegan, or go all out and try a decadent soy patty? Somehow, she knew Paul would not choose the Vegan option, so she didn’t either. She placed the order and waited rather impatiently for the three minutes it took her meal to arrive. While waiting, she tried to put Paul out of her mind.
This was yet another difference the government employees enjoyed that their civilian counterparts were unaware of. Janet’s meal was delivered via a tiny matter transfer pad, located behind a door on the wall of her kitchen. She had never given any thought as to how it worked, or how the food got to her, or even where it came from. She simply read a menu, ordered the meal and waited a few minutes until it arrived.
Paul, on the other hand, had to trudge off to the Community Distribution Center to obtain food, which was always cold. If he was fortunate, the line that always formed behind the microwave oven his community shared would be short enough to wait in. Otherwise, his meal would remain cold. Usually, he ate cold food and never had a choice as to what it was.
After dinner, Janet decided a massage was in order. She lay on the massage table in her relaxation room and enjoyed the deep massage the table was capable of. However, she couldn’t help but think of Paul.
She finally worked up the courage to contact him and let him know how she felt. She had wanted to call him for quite some time now, but always gave up at the last second. The least he could do was talk to her, right? Mind finally made up, she said “Computer, please locate my co-worker Paul from the last expedition I led.”
The computer responded with “Madam, Paul is not within the city walls at the moment.”
She sat up abruptly, both shocked and deeply concerned. “Well, where is he?”
“He is located twenty-seven kilometers west of Harmony at the moment and has been there for six point nine three hours. Shall I attempt contact with him?”
“What could he possibly be doing there? There are no other digs scheduled that I am aware of. Is he alone?”
“There are no other signals emanating from the area. I would therefore surmise that he is alone.”
“That sounds very dangerous, being that far from the city walls, alone. He could be hurt or in some sort of danger! Maybe I should go there and see if he is okay.” The thought never occurred to her that if she went there as well, she would also be alone, at least for the trip there. She fretted about it for a while longer before finally deciding to be brave and just do it. She would figure out what to say when she found him.
“Computer, please obtain a vehicle for personal use to be delivered here within the half hour” she said.
“As you wish, madam” it replied. “Shall I obtain a driver as well?”
“No, I think I shall drive myself this time. Thanks anyway.”
Now she had only a half hour to decide what to wear. She walked to her closet and proceeded into it several meters. Turning right, she strolled to the far end, deep into the far-reaching depths of her vast collection of clothing. Finally, she chose an outfit that she hoped Paul simply could not resist! She would be stunning in this dress.
Finally emerging, she found the vehicle had been delivered nearly thirty minutes ago. Feeling on top of the world, she got in and headed for the gate.
Her idea of driving herself was much different from what Jack would have thought, had he known what she was up to. She simply got into the back of the Hoverlimo and told the car where she wanted to go. It was up to the vehicle to decide the best route, etc. She wouldn’t be bothered with such trivialities.
As a result of her non-interest in where she was going, when she finally did look out of the window, all she saw was wilderness. With an involuntary shiver, she thought to herself “Who would want to come way out here if they didn’t have to?”
~***~
Meanwhile, Jack and Paul had finally come to the agreement that a second trip to the ice was in order. They were in the workshop trying to plan what they would need for a bare minimum of supplies for the journey. “Do you think there are any shelters such as what we normally use on artic expeditions in that vast warehouse of yours?”
Not really sure, Jack turned to Suzie and asked “You wouldn’t have any idea of what we could use, would you?”
“The only things we had that would be appropriate for such an expedition are the tents, but I have to say they are rather primitive, even by your standards, Jack. Obviously we would need to locate some sort of heaters as well.”
“Well, maybe we should just go down there on a reconnaissance mission and see what we have to work with. What do you think, Paul?”
“Assuming by ‘reconnaissance’ you mean to go exploring, then yes, count me in, sounds good to me, I wanted another chance to explore anyway.” Paul said with an ear to ear grin.
Suzie had already disappeared, possibly to get a head start on them. However, before they could get to the stairway, she reappeared with a concerned look on her face.
“Jack” she said, “There is a government registered hoverlimo approaching a few meters above the access road.”
In all of the ten years he had been living here, Jack had never had anyone approach his hidden home before. He was sure that the only people that knew about it were the people in this very room. “Who would be coming here in a Limo? No one knows about this place but us!”
Paul said, “Jack, maybe they are following your embedded signal.”
With a look of sudden horror on his face, he asked “What embedded signal?”
“You know, the chip imbedded in your brain at birth. Everyone has one and certainly everyone knows about them.”
“Paul, as I said many times today, I was not born in this century. When I was born, no one was embedded with a chip for any reason. People would not stand for it. It’s a violation of your personal liberty and freedom!”
“Jack, it's only for your own good. How would the government keep track of us otherwise?”
“Why would you want them to, Paul?” Jack said with a show of anger and disgust.
~***~
On the surface above them, the hoverlimo came to a stop. Janet finally began noticing her surroundings. She looked out of the windows and seeing nothing but ancient ruins and nature, asked “Why have we stopped? There is nowhere to go here, just a bunch of old junk. Where is Paul?”
The limo’s computer responded “Paul’s signal is coming from a place three meters to your right and twenty meters below the surface.”
With a voice full of great concern, she said “Did he fall into a hole? He must be down there hurt! We have to help him; after all, we are with the government.” Concerned about Paul’s safety, Janet got out of the limo and began looking around.
~***~
Twenty meters below the surface, Suzie said “The occupant of the vehicle has emerged. I’ll put the video surveillance on the screen behind you.”
The cameras that still worked had been virtually unused and un-maintained for the better part of the last two centuries. However, there still existed a scant few in operating condition, of a sort. They no longer moved, and the pictures were grainy and cloudy from the haze on the lenses, but they provided an image.
The image they showed was a young lady in a short party dress, wearing high heels. Her back was to the camera and there was no sound that they could hear, but Suzie was able to pick up something from somewhere. She said “The girl from the limo is looking for you, Paul.”
Jack couldn’t believe his luck. He had lived here alone and undisturbed for ten years now and after one day with a visitor, the government came knocking on his door. “No doubt she followed this ‘chip’ of yours as some sort of homing beacon, Paul. This is just great” Jack said with bitterness in his voice. “Now the government knows this place exists and will no doubt want it back.”
“Now Jack, don’t get too excited. It may just be the one person. Maybe I should go out there and see what she wants. She may not know about you, if you have no chip.”
“Well, I still don’t like it. But okay, your plan makes some sense. But be careful. I’ll follow you to the top of the stairway. Suzie can monitor from here.”
“Okay. I should get going before she hurts herself in those heels she’s wearing. Why would someone come out here dressed like that anyway?” Paul retraced his steps to the stairwell and climbed to the surface. After securing the door, he emerged from beneath the rubble and approached the hoverlimo. As he got closer, the mysterious lady in the high heels and party dress turned and for the first time Paul saw Janet. Needless to say, he was shocked.