Chapter 2: Michael

 

वर्तमान हमारे अतीत के कर्मों से निर्धारित होता है, और भविष्य वर्तमान से

 

The present is determined by our past actions, and the future by the present.

 

- Swami Vivekananda

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“Alert! Alert! This is not a drill! Michael, report to the control center, alert!!!"

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Sirens were blaring. Red and white lights were dancing like wildfire. All of this while Apsis Intelligenx’s voice was bleating over and over via the intercom with its clockwork precision,

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“Alert! Alert! This is not a drill! Michael, report to the control center, alert!!!”

 

Michael had been in a deep, deep slumber when the alarm woke him. He was having another strange dream but he couldn’t remember what it was. Michael leapt out of his bed so fast that he smacked his forehead against the bunk bed above him.

 

“Again? Fuck that hurt,” he spat as he rubbed his head in pain.

 

Mumbling and cursing his misfortune, Michael ran his hand along his nightstand until he found his glasses. Michael was well built in a rough and tumble sort of way. He believed himself to be in his late thirties, perhaps early forties, but had conveniently forgotten exactly how old he was. He had dark brown hair, deep blue eyes, and was altogether too wrapped up inside his own head for his own good. He was usually to consumed with his own thoughts to be bothered by obstacles such as the upper bunk of his bed, walls that seemed to appear from out of nowhere, or doors with minds of their own.

 

Michael was often salty and perpetually bruised as a result.

 

“Alert! Alert! This is not a drill! Michael, report to the control center, alert!!!"

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Of course, all of their drills began that way.