The Hub

[SinisterSpiders]

Flit followed Scraps's lead and double checked her paperwork on her new data pad before slipping it into her bag and slinging it over her shoulder.

The walk to the cafe was quick, and thankfully the menu wasn't quite as expansive as the one from the previous evening. Flit and Scraps were shown to a table right near the front window. The city outside was still sleeping even though the sun had begun to reflect prettily off the perfectly polished glass windows.

Their meals came out quickly and Flit relished the first chance she'd had in months to eat some real bacon. At least if the rest of the morning was crap, her breakfast would have been good. When they'd finished their food they still had plenty of time to walk to work at a leisurely place.

"I think we might've set our alarm a bit too early." Flit said as she linked her arm through Scraps's before they set off. "So Brian, it looks like we have a choice. Seeing as how we were up so early we have plenty of time to walk to work, or we could drop back to home and take the hovercar. What do you think?".

[DungeonsOfDread]

The small cafe at the corner of their street and featured a much smaller range of breakfast meals compared to the dinner the previous night. He enjoyed the taste of the breakfast roll he ordered and joined Flit in watching the morning light barely peaking around the monolithic buildings surrounding the area.

At the completion of the breakfast Flit made two suggestions for their next step. The morning walk was probably the best idea, it would give them more of an opportunity to map their surroundings. Traveling in the hover car would mean they could miss out on important details.

"Let's walk. We have plenty of time to get there and it will give us the opportunity to get a closer look at the new neighborhood." He replied.

[SinisterSpiders]

"Great!" Flit said, turning them in the direction of the office and beginning their trek.

Flit was surprised at just how close their apartment was to the centre of the city. Their own apartment building soared to neck-straining heights, but it wasn't that much shorter than the centre city buildings that were home to The Government's offices and all of the most important businesses. As they walked the natural light of the sun was filtered and reflected as glare off the towering buildings. The streets in the Hub were mapped out in a basic grid pattern, and as their building was Centre One it wouldn't be hard for them to locate it.

As they walked the city slowly came to life around them. The previously quiet streets were now filling with a steady stream of hover cars, and pedestrians were adding their voices to the noises of a waking city.

"So Brian did you sleep well?" Flit asked, looking up at Scraps with a smile. "It was so nice having so much room to stretch out, don't you think?"

[DungeonsOfDread]

"I slept very well Ava." He answered Flit's question happily

Scraps looked up at the towering spires above them. It seemed almost impossible that buildings so high could remain standing without toppling over. There was nothing new about the sights around them, before coming to the underground he had been patrolling the streets of the different part of the hub. This time it was different, previously he was treated and even felt more like the automated telephone booths that frequently patrolled the streets, helping everyday citizens with general inquiries but now, now he was a citizen.

The people on the street that passed them by didn't give him looks of distaste or disrespect, they didn't see him as a tool or implement to be used. He was one of them, in that instant he spied a Derivate on the opposite side of the road, he stood like a lamp post, never moving, never feeling. A woman dropped her purse accidentally in front of him, though it would have been just as easy for her to reach down and pick it up she coughed irritably at the Registered motioning for him to pick it up for her. With no hesitation he complied. Seeing it now from a different view point angered Scraps greatly. He felt compelled to approach the woman and educate her on the inhumanity of her actions. For now there was nothing he could do. For now.

Scraps growled under his breath and moved on. A few minutes later they reached 'Center One' the prime building right in the middle of the Hub. This building was the highest structure in the whole city and for good reason; this was the main headquarters of The Government. Everything he now stood against loomed ahead.

[SinisterSpiders]

As they rounded a corner and got their first glimpse of the Government's headquarters Flit sensed Scraps's steps falter beside her. Flit looked over to see the look of interest that was on his face being replaced by one of anger. She followed Scraps's line of sight to see a woman dusting her purse off whilst giving a Registered Derivate a withering look. Flit didn't know what happened, but whatever it was had caused Scraps's normally calm exterior to bristle. Flit tugged on his arm gently and guided him towards their destination. As they walked she stuck close by him, hoping that feeling her side against his would be some small form of comfort.

If Flit thought that the building was huge on the outside, the inside seemed to be completely staggering in size. As they walked through the large tinted glass doors, it seemed as though a huge cavern opened up all around them. Outside, surrounded by the soaring buildings, it was hard to think of the city as anything other than crowded. In this building, though, all of the artistry and technology of architecture had come out to play. The glass windows that had been simultaneously bright and protective on the outside were as clear as clear could be on the inside. They had a perfect view of the street beyond, and if Flit hadn't known that there were windows there she might have thought the whole bottom level was open air.

The ground floor atrium lobby was light and airy, even with hundreds of people hurriedly making their way to its centre. The building itself was a large square, with dozens of doors that led out of it. The heart of the room was clear for all to see. In the centre of the room was large circular core of elevators. The core was divided into what Flit guessed to be at least twenty sectors, each one a splendid glass elevator.

As Flit watched, the elevator cars zoomed up and down the transparent shaft, making the room feel as though it was nothing more than a tribute to the throbbing vein of the building above. Several meters away from the centre lifts there was a neat row of security scanners. Like everything else in the building they were minimal, and designed so that they didn't detract from the building around them.

Flit slid her arm down Scraps's so that she was holding his hand and she gave him a brave smile.

"First day at the new job!" She said as they joined the tide of people making their way through the scanners.

As she approached the thought of stepping through the flimsy looking threshold became more and more intimidating. As they got closer, Flit could see a team of security sentinels stationed between every second scanner. Their metal casings gleamed in the bright room, and the red light of their eye sensors scanned their surroundings with mechanical precision. Not far to their right there was even a Registered Derivate wearing the black fatigues of the Government's security force team. His face was seemingly indifferent, yet his eyes watched his surroundings with unfailing vigilance. His eyes brushed over her on their search, and her heart began to beat faster. Quickly, Flit thought about their new apartment. Her mind then slipped to the fun that they'd had in the shower. She thought of every detail with painstaking deliberation; if he was a mind reader that ought to keep him out.

They were in Government Territory now, and she had no idea if there were any Registered Mind Readers about. She had to be careful. Very careful.

"Floor Ninety Eight, wasn't it Brian?" Flit asked as the lady in front of them stepped through the scanner.

[DungeonsOfDread]

Scraps had never actually visited 'center one' before. Even though he was a Registered Derivate for The Government, he was always stationed to street patrols and more recently the primary recovery team.

The scanning system they passed through gave a loud audible beep and the surrounding light shifted from red to green as they passed through. Inside the building Scraps was nearly overwhelmed by the hive like activity of employees coming and going throughout the lobby. Even the streets outside on the busiest day were never so crowded, he couldn't even begin to imagine the thousands upon thousands of staff members The Government employed.

Due to his slight hesitation several passerbyers brushed heavily against his shoulder and some even grunted in anger at his change in pace. It was at that point he felt the familiar tingle of another Derviate nearby. Because of the constant nearness of other Derivates in the underground, he'd gotten used to the feeling of continuous psionic energy around him. Here on the surface though, Derviate's were kept separate as much as possible and so the presence of the security guard was quite noticeable.

Scraps kept his thoughts guarded like they trained to so recently, even though the drug masked their psionic aura, it was always better not to use a defensive barrier to block out other Derviate whilst on the surface. Flit queried him for confirmation about their destination and he used the quick reference screen on his briefcase to check through their induction paperwork.

"Yup floor Ninety eight, section 20, subsection 4." He added. Judging by their current location he calculated the best elevator car to use would be '10E'

"This way sweety." He pointed. He gave the Derviate a quick glance before moving on. His face was expressionless and devoid of any emotion, was it only months ago that he himself brandished the same look? It was certainly a thought for another time.

By the time they got to the elevator they only just managed to squeeze in with the other employees starting work. The lift rocketed them to each floor letting people in and out as they made the arduous journey to floor ninety eight. The dull monotonal song set on repeat played relentlessly in the confined space of the elevator.

[SinisterSpiders]

The ride up in the elevator was particularly unpleasant. After spending a month in the Underground Flit had grown used to the luxury of being in an area where her personal space was a staple part of her day. There were so many workers in this lift that they were all pressed up against each other, her only comfort was the fact that it was Scraps who was all along the length of her back. She wanted to talk, just as she usually did when her nerves took over, but there were so many people that she didn't dare. Plus, the music playing in the lift sounded horrible enough without awkward conversation as a bonus track.

It wasn't until the fiftieth floor that the elevator began to empty and Flit could breath properly again. Somewhere between the ground level and this one she had to let go of Scraps's hand, and she decided it was probably best that she didn't grab it again. Instead Flit stood close to him, their arms brushing slightly as they continued to rise. Every level they passed seemed to be designed in a similar open plan way, each one looking as light and airy as the last. There were definite differences in things like lay out and apparent function, but the architecture and interior design of Centre One flowed just as smoothly as the glass lift.

"Floor Ninety-Eight." A pleasant sounding female voice announced as they finally stopped at their floor. Flit and Scraps stepped past a man wearing a suit to exit.

Just as Flit had guessed, this floor was as white, glassy and open as the rest. The area immediately surrounding the lift core was free for a few metres, before a long sleek reception desk encircled the entire area. There was a man standing at the desk, looking at them curiously, as they looked around and tried to gather their bearings.

"New to Ninety-Eight?" The male asked them with a smirk on his face. Flit put on her brightest smile.

"That obvious, huh?" She asked, turning and walking towards where he stood.

"You could say that. What are you both doing here today?" He asked. He seemed friendly enough, but there was a sheen of caution to his curious blue eyes.

"I'm Ava Parkes and this is my husband Brian. We are here for our first day." Flit explained as she approached the desk.

"Ahh, our two newest victims. Great." The man pressed a few buttons on the hidden side of the desk and a retina scanner and finger print reader popped up from the seemingly seamless surface. "I'm sure you both know the drill." He said.

Flit nodded and stepped forward. As she leant over slightly for the retina scan she heard a short beep that she knew was a chip reader, they must have a sensor over head somewhere. She put her finger on the reader pad. A split second later there was another quiet beep and the man nodded in approval. Flit stepped aside and allowed Scraps to go through the same process.

"Perfect. Follow me." Another few touches on his hidden screen and a gap slid open a few metres to their right. "Come on through, I'll take you to Jane."

Behind the desk there was a thick transparent wall that showed rows of desks beyond. However, when they walked through a door in it, they realised that it was actually just a projected picture. Behind this one way screen were rows of glass cubicles. Each of the cubicles was sized to house either two or four desks, and half of them were already full. Flit had lived and worked on the surface for most of her life, but there was something about this that felt so wrong. Her eyes were drawing to a cubicle whose two occupants looked as though they were deep in discussion, but she couldn't hear a thing. Then she realised what felt so wrong. All of the cubicles were soundproof.

Flit was thoroughly impressed, but she decided not to voice her amazement. She was supposed to be a trained worker. This wouldn't surprise Ava, so she couldn't allow it to impress her.

They continued walking until the large external window wall came into view, displaying a view of the city around and below them. The man rapped sharply on the outside wall of a particularly large cubicle that held one desk and several chairs. The woman within looked up from her computer screen and smiled before getting to her feet. The door slid open with the slightest electronic hiss.

"Ava and Brian Parkes." The man said, the woman nodded and reached out to shake their hands.

"Ava, Brian, lovely to finally meet you both. I am Jane White and I am the Leading Supervisor of the R&D department. Please, come in." She stepped aside to make room for them to pass. As they entered her office Jane thanked the man for showing them to her. Christopher. Flit made a mental note to remember the name before she slid into one of the chairs in front of the desk.

"So, I'm afraid that most of the day will be taken up by the fun administration part of your induction to our team. Now I know that you will both most likely know the information by heart, but it is required that I go over it again, so please bear with me."

Then Jane began to talk. Flit had some idea of what she was talking about, they had done a lot of study, but there was so much that Flit didn't know that it was all she could to to keep up with the woman.

[DungeonsOfDread]

Jane hurried them through all the necessary induction protocols involving their first day of work. She rushed through the building at lightning speed rattling out all the relevant information they needed to know while working here. Toilets, lunch room, emergency exits and finally specific office locations.

Scraps had perfected his ability to remember and recall information in a hurry so he found little challenge in retaining everything she was showing him. Compared to learning the vast network of underground tunnels, one section in an office building was quite simple.

During her walk and talk Jane was interrupted many times by calls on her portable communicator and other staff members asking her questions. Mostly she brushed them off and told them she would return, but Scraps got the idea that she was a very important and busy woman. When they reached the final part of their tour and began the signing of documentation she was nearly out of breath. She quickly dismissed herself after they finished with the paper work and directed them to the office they would be working in.

[SinisterSpiders]

The tour of the office was conducted all whilst Jane fielded calls on her portable comm and brushing of requests from several staff members. Flit followed her around with Scraps close at hand and tried to take in as much as she could without putting her mind into overload. She snuck a glance over at Scraps and saw that he seemed to be taking it all on board with ease. She hoped that her guess was right, because she knew she'd have to ask him to clarify a few things with her once they got home.

When they reached a cubicle closer to the outer edge of the floor Jane ushered them in. When Flit stepped in she couldn't help but feel like one of the animals in the Hub Zoological Garden. The glass walls surrounded them, and even though they were perfectly clear she felt more closed in that she ever had in the Underground.

"From all reports I've heard, you two work exceptionally well together." Jane said, "So we see no reason to give you separate offices. However, if you feel that being with each other is distracting or counter productive let us know and we will be able to reassign office spaces to accommodate a move." Flit was just about to tell Jane that this wouldn't be necessary, but she continued talking. "So, your first assignment has already been sent to your work e-mail addresses. They are the same as they were at your old job. If there are any questions Jack in the next cubicle should be able to handle them. Good luck, we are pleased to have you both on board."

And then, Jane was gone.

"Wow, that was...." Flit trailed off, not quite knowing how to finish that sentence off. She looked at the two desks and then back up at Scraps. "Any preferences?" She asked. One faced a sea of other cubicles, the occupants silent in the confines of their terrariums. The other desk was at a different angle, and over the heads of two other workers was a view through the outer windows.

[DungeonsOfDread]

Scraps looked at the two desk that would become their primary workspace for an unknown amount of time.

"I know how you love a view Ava." Scraps commented and sat down in the other seat. He knew a decision based on prior knowledge would be less suspicious.

"We should probably get started." He suggested and logged into his computer straight away. The email Jane was referring to was highlighted at the top of the inbox. Scraps opened the file and noted the relevant points, it seemed to be about the logistics of food distribution for employees during work hours. Nothing overly sensitive but still it still needed to be done.

"I'll start with section one if you like." Scraps offered.

[SinisterSpiders]

Flit grinned when Scraps conceded the window seat to her. As she settled down at her new desk she was eager to see what their first work assignment would be. She fired up the computer and entered her personal account data. Flit had to stop herself from breathing a sigh of relief that she had remembered the information correctly.

Their first assignment was simple enough. She read through the different sections and what each entailed. Scraps was going to go over the distribution of food based on required temperate, and Flit was going to have a go at looking at the information based on start time of employees. She was somewhat glad that their first day would contain information that was nice and light; it would have been a lot to take in if she had to get straight down to the sensitive side of their new business.

The day went by quicker than Flit had thought. Just before lunch the man in the next cubicle, Jack, knocked on their cubicle and introduced himself. They were invited to lunch with some of the others from their office, and Flit had a hard time remembering everyone's name with all of the other information clogging up her mind. Over a delicious lunch at the cafe in Centre One the other employees asked them about their most recent position. Their new colleagues nodded knowingly when Flit and Scraps politely explained that they were in a similar position, but that the details were on a need to know basis. The others would understand, and their cover allowed this evasion to appear more like professionalism.

One topic that had garnered attention at lunch was how they met. It was already known at the office that they were a couple, or (as Jack had stated) a 'package deal'. Flit had spoken about Ava and Brian's chance meeting at their tertiary institution. At that stage they had been studying different degrees, but by some strange coincidence they had still been picked for similar position within The Governments. Their traineeships were served side by side, and they had been inseparable since. Flit's new female colleagues ooh-ed and ahh-ed in all the right romantic places, and Flit wondered how much sighing and cooing would be going on if she told them how she and Scraps had really met. Flit played the part well though, and by the end of lunch there was no doubt that Ava and Brian were as meant for each other as they were for their positions.

After lunch time continued to pass quickly. Flit and Scraps started writing their reports after gathering all of the information that they needed. Not for the first time Flit was pleased that they had gotten so much practice at this in the Underground. In Flit's old job she had been known to crunch some numbers, but these statistics were so much more intense than the financial digits she was used to juggling. In addition to the numbers they had to sift through qualitative reports.

Jane checked in with them again about half an hour before the end of their day. She took a quick look over each of their shoulders and nodded, apparently pleased.

"I'm pleased to see how much you've both gotten done. " Jane told them. "Can I expect the final reports on my desk before lunch tomorrow?"

Flit looked at Scraps and tried not to let her dismay show. It was fine getting through things at her own time, but now there was a deadline?

"I can't imagine that will be a problem." Flit said with a winning smile, not quite as confident as she appeared. Perhaps a deadline would be a good incentive for her to work harder. She figured that if she spent a little less time gazing out the window she should be able to get it done in that time.

"Great! I hope you both enjoyed your first day at C1. Metro Five is like a puddle compared to the ocean that is The Hub, I am counting on you to not to drown!"

And once again, before Flit could respond, Jane was off. Flit looked at Scraps and frowned at the flightiness of their new boss. For Flit the next half hour of work was dedicated to getting as much of her report written as possible. At finish time a window popped up on Flit's screen, telling her that work time was over for the day. She let out a sigh and went through and made sure that all of her work was backed up. Flit got to her feet and stretched her limbs before looking over at Scraps.

"Home time!" Flit said brightly.

Flit was looking forward to relaxing in their new apartment and chatting about their day, but she knew that they would have more work to do before they could rest. They still had to stock their cupboards and cook dinner. Perhaps Flit should have said that they should eat out for their first few nights. However, when she thought back to the enthusiastic look on Scraps's face when she had suggested cooking, she thought that it might be fun.

[DungeonsOfDread]

Scraps and Flit worked through their first assignment efficiently and methodically. He only had to remind Ava a few things to help her with the section she was tackling. During their lunch Brian let Ava do most of the talking, although he was becoming more confident with colloquial speech, Ava was far more natural in her responses and emotional ques.

The way she conveyed their past with such ease almost made him believe that they had spend all that time together before becoming a permanent couple. It seemed hard to believe they had actually met on the opposite sides of the battle. Now that they were working so close together, the memory of their first conflict seemed like a distant event long forgotten.

Although they had worked very well together on something they were both clearly not one hundred percent adept at their new boss seemed very pleased with their work, she even gave them a dead line for a report, it seemed doable even if a bit tight on the schedule.

At the completion of their day Scraps was happy to get moving again, he was no stranger to sitting and studying for hours but the knowledge that they would be doing this full time irked him slightly. He was used to retaining knowledge for use in a physical sense not for more mental skills. He nearly leapt out of his seat when the computer informed them of the completion of the day. Eager for the exercise Scraps suggested that they walk the last 10 flights of stairs.

Scraps and Flit moved with the crowd as they left the building and spilled back out on the street. Just as they were about to cross the street Jack caught their attention. They stopped to allow him to catch up and he huffed in exhaustion as he tried to catch his breath.

"Hey guys sorry to stop you there, but we have an unwritten rule in the office that the new staff are taken out to dinner on their first day in the office. The others all know about it already, so are you guys interested?" He asked.

Scraps was actually looking forward to cooking for the first time in his life but he didn't want to decline something that was apparently a well known custom. He looked at Flit for confirmation of the best response.

[SinisterSpiders]

After descending eighty eight levels on the lift Scraps suggested that he and Flit walk the rest of the way down using the stairs. Flit could tell simply by looking at him that he was a bundle of energy, being in the office all day and having so many new things made both of them anxious. Flit, for one, was thoroughly looking forward to getting home and debriefing while they cooked dinner.

The stairs that led them down ran, camouflaged, around the entire circumference of the building. They were just as steely and glassy as the rest of the compound, and both walls of the twisting stair well afforded interesting views. If Flit wasn't so eager to get home she would have made a point to enjoy the sights a little more. However, she knew that this would be their lair for the foreseeable future, so she decided that the sight seeing could wait.

Just when Flit had had begun to relax, finally out from under the scrutiny of their colleagues, she heard Jack call out Ava and Brian's names. His offer was something that they couldn't refuse. As Flit had seen in her old job on the surface, office traditions like these were where new workers got the chance to socialise and mingle; and for the purposes of those leading double lives- to blend. Even though there was a small flicker of disappointment in Scraps's eyes Flit beamed at Jack.

"Sounds great!" Flit said brightly, looping her arm through Scraps's excitedly. "Where and when?" That seemed to please Jack as he stood there panting.

"Seven." He said between breaths "At a place called Milo's. Eighth Street! See you both there!"

Jack turned and walked off, leaving them to mull over that.

"Looks like we don't have much time to get ready." Flit said, mentally calculating how long it would take them to head home, get changed, and then head out again. "I might take a while to get ready; there are so many wonderful options in my wardrobe." Flit said with a sad shake of her head.

[DungeonsOfDread]

So it seemed the best response was to accept the offer. From a social standpoint it was most certainly advantageous to attend but Scraps was still slightly uncomfortable with social situations, he only hoped that nothing out of the ordinary came about.

Flit was definitely right about their time restriction, by the time they arrived home he calculated a thirty minute allowance to get ready before they needed to depart. For Scraps, this wouldn't be a problem but Flit seemed to think it would take her much longer to get ready.

Scraps hastily donned one of the formal suits in the wardrobe. It took him a few minutes to work out some of the minor details but everything seemed to be in place when he was done. He turned to Flit to see if she approved.

"What do you think?" He asked.

[SinisterSpiders]

It was out of sheer empathy for Scraps's situation that Flit was able to restrain her giggles. She had spent the majority of their time at home picking from the horrible options in their closet and locking herself in the bathroom to find a way to make her chosen dress fit more acceptably. In the end the dress that fit like a tent had been tugged and belted and pinned into something with a bit more shape, something that was at least a little bit pretty. Scraps, however, had gone all out. He looked equisite in his finely cut suit, the dinner jacked and contrastingly light shirt bringing out the colour of his newly changed eyes. However, it would just not do. Flit had been to Milo's before, and while it was fancy Scraps's suit would draw far more attention than they were looking for.

"You look extremely sexy." Flit said with a lopsided grin as she made her way over to him. "Though as nice as you look in this suit, it is a little over the top. Here," Flit reached up and tugged the jacket off Scraps's shoulder, throwing it on the end of their bed. She then grasped his tie, using it to pull him close so she could kiss him.

As their lips met, Flit's fingers untied the knot in the tie swiftly. The tie was the next item to be cast onto their bed. When her tongue slipped between his lips and her stomach pressed against his groin she undid the top three buttons of his shirt.

"There!" Flit said, breaking the kiss and taking a step back. Her eyes ran over Scraps appraisingly and she gave a nod of approval. It was still dressy, but not formal. And, most pleasingly, he still looked just as handsome. "Now, I'm not sure that we'll have time to walk. Shall we drive?"

[DungeonsOfDread]

To Scraps, Flit's apparent 'fix' seemed messy and disorganised but since she was the expert in this field he had to accept her open suggestions especially when they seemed to imply a lot more than style or design. The lust in her kiss and the hunger in her eyes sung deeply into his heart and groin. When she posed her question it took him a few minutes to break out of his heightened state of arousal.

"Ah drive, yes that sounds like a good idea." He finally answered and fished the keys from the rack. With Flit guiding they made it to the restaurant in right on time. Unlike the restaurant they had visited the night before this one had no theme at all, the decor was simplistic and stylish with all the modern technology of the surface well on display.

Countless sensory input monitors lined the walls and even ceilings displaying all manor of different images and colours. Looking around at the other patrons Scraps was immediately glad that Flit had altered his attire, he would have most definitely stuck out against the crowd which was something they had to avoid almost completely.

[SinisterSpiders]

Milo's was just as Flit had remembered it. It was as modern and aesthetically designed as a restaurant was liked to be, and as usual it was packed. Various groups and couples sat around tables all around, with different lighting and music depending on the tone of the occassion. She spotted her new colleagues at a table at the far end of the room before the maitre d' could intercept them. Flit gave her a slight nod before she led Scraps across the room.

There were ten people already seated at their table, including Jack and Jane. When the others saw them they beckoned them over eagerly and shifted over on in the booth to make room for them.

"We are so glad you two could make it!" A woman around Ava's age (but older than Flit) said. Flit wasn't exactly certain, but she thought that her name was Myriel. "Sit! Have you been here before?"

"They only just arrived from Metro Five!" Jack told Myriel rolling his eyes. Flit smiled at the two before sliding into the booth. Even though Brian Parkes was supposed to have grown up in the Hub, Flit didn't feel the need to say anything. The less said the better, the less lies to remember the less likely that the web of deceit would unravel.

As soon as Scraps and Flit sat down the table in front of them changed from plain glossy black to the menu.

"Have you guys ordered yet?" Flit asked, looking up at the group.

"Yeah, but we've put all orders on hold until Chris and Liana arrive." Jane informed them. Flit nodded, at least they weren't the last.

Flit looked through the menu for a minute before making her selection. The touch screen menu would have already picked up her finger print identification when she placed her order, and she knew that the meal would be charged directly to Ava and Brian's bank accounts.

After ordering the conversation quickly turned to how Ava and Brian had enjoyed their first day. With a large number of their colleagues sitting with them, it was a loaded question, but Flit turned on a smile and gave them an answer nonetheless.

"Good!" She said brightly, "Just like Metro Five really, only in a much larger building and with much friendlier people!" She gave the table a cheeky wink and they all laughed appreciatively. Flit had learned that flattery, even joking flattery, went a long way with some people.

"And how about your new apartment? I've heard that the buildings at Metro Five are a lot newer than the ones here." Myriel asked. Myriel's tone and expression teamed with her constant questions gave Flit a feeling that she was the office gossip.

Well The Hub is significantly newer than the Underground, so it is a huge upgrade. Flit thought, but didn't dare say.

"It's lovely actually. We are quite high up so the view is excellent. And we are close enough to walk to work. Can't complain about that!" She said.

"You walked to work?" The question came from behind her and Flit turned around to see Christopher (from the reception desk) and Liana standing beside their booth hand in hand. A couple of people on the opposite side shifted around for the new arrivals.

"Yeah, we're close enough." Flit replied with a casual shrug, and Chris nodded, apparently impressed.

Flit watched as Christopher and Liana slid into the booth and sat just as close as she and Scraps did and couldn't help but smile. Another office romance- how interesting. She tried to recall what it was that Liana did in the R&D department but couldn't.

[DungeonsOfDread]

Scraps allowed Flit to do the talking, they had both agreed that she would be much better at coming up with ad hoc responses should the need arise. The conversation shifted through many points from their former job to their current job and then onto more trivial subjects.

Flit gave the whole table the perfect image of a normal everyday couple that happened to work in a highly classified area of The Government. It wasn't until one of them directed a question at him that Scraps was suddenly brought into the conversation.

"You're awfully quiet there Brian. Everything alright?" Jane asked with mild amusement. Before he could respond Chris jumped in.

"Leave him alone Jane. All us blokes here know how much you girls like to gas bag. It's why we invented fishing and golf." He jested. The whole table including Jane roared in laughter, Scraps quickly joined in, only just catching on with the joke.

"Absolutely, Brian mate, come out with us this weekend. There's plenty of fish out in the big old blue." Jack called out.

"Firstly; big old blue? Its just a little lake and secondly, you guys never catch anything." Jane interrupted. Jack gave her a look of shock and confusion.

"What do you mean we brought home a sixty centimeter barra last week?" Jack replied with annoyance.

"Bought from the fish market." Liana added.

"How would you know? Wait. Chris did you rat us out?" Jack pointed a finger of accusation at him. Chris didn't reply he simply shrugged his shoulders and looked to the side.

"That's it you're out of the club. Brian is replacing you. I'm sure he won't tell his wife." Jack commanded. Scraps detected the sarcasm in his voice, his experience in the underground had taught him the technique of obvious feigned truths.

"I'd be happy to guys. Consider me your new member." Scraps finally replied. All the banter was most probably all for his and Ava's benefit.

The conversation shifted to other fishing stories which in turn seemed to bring up more rivalries between the sexes. Not once however was the topic of work ever brought up again. Everyone seemed quite content avoiding the subject completely, in the underground work and leisure were almost synonymous so the topic were quite frequently intermingled.

When Scraps finally got the chance to order his food, the mention of fish perked his curiosity, the only source of fish in the underground was a self contained fresh water spring that only housed one type. Scraps ordered the seafood platter which he hoped would give him the best opportunity to sample everything.

Whilst they waited for their meal Scraps paid careful attention to the other couple sitting across from them, he wanted to see if there were any differences in the way that surface couples acted as opposed to the underground. Thankfully it was pretty much the same; holding hands, kissing between conversations, playful punches. Though Flit did most of that for him there was nothing he wasn't used to.

He wouldn't have picked up on the sudden change in their mood had the sensory perception monitors not changed colour, when the conversation shifted to the topic of family and children the colour brightened around them; trying in vain to lift the melancholy tone. Flit easy glazed off their inquisitive questions about their plans to have a family but they never asked the other couple. They seemed quite sullen during the whole topic which Scraps found to be very questionable. Before anybody else could notice they seemed to regain their former state bring the colour back to normal.

[SinisterSpiders]

Being asked about their relationship was something Flit had expected. Being asked about their plans to have a family was not. Now that she had a chance to think about it, it was something that her old colleagues used to ask their married friends all the time, as if personal decisions like that were public business.

Children was something that she had talked about with Rook. They were both on the same page. Neither of them had any inclination to bring a child into a world where it would be at risk simply for being itself. Scraps seemed to agree as well, and this put Flit greatly at ease. This didn't make fielding the question from their new colleagues any easier though, and she only hoped that she didn't come across as rude. She made a mental note to ask Scraps when they got home.

The rest of the dinner went well. Their colleagues were a friendly bunch, and after a bit of banter Scraps seemed to warm to the occasion. Watching him interacting with the others, and joining the 'boy's club' made her smile, genuinely pleased to see that he was making social headway. Being able to socialise with these Citizens had been a source of concern for Scraps but, as usual, he had no trouble fitting in. After that the ladies from their office were eager to invite Flit to one of their dinner parties which, if Flit was right, was more about the beverages than the food.

It was quite late when Flit and Scraps finally made their way back down to their hover craft. As Flit pulled it out of the underground parking area and lifted them to Commute Level Three she smiled at Scraps.

"Well," Flit said "that went well!"

[DungeonsOfDread]

"Hopefully they like me." Scraps added.

As the evening progressed he was becoming more comfortable with instantaneous responses and even some jokes. The trip home seemed much faster than the one there and it was well into the evening by the time they arrived home.

"Well I don't know about you but I'm pretty tired. I suppose we should get an early night for work tomorrow." He suggested.

[SinisterSpiders]

"How can they not like you?" Flit asked as she peeled off her clothing, eager to relax. "We can do the shopping tomorrow night. I'm tired too, our bed is looking pretty appealing right about now."

Flit pulled off her underwear and unhooked her bra as she made her way over to the shower. She couldn't believe how tired she was. All in all, it was a quiet day. They did a fair bit of work and met a lot of new people, but compared to the physical strain of the work she did for the Underground this was nothing. She figured that having to stay alert and under cover for such a long time was the culprit, and wondered if it would get easier of it being Ava Parkes was always going to be so tiring.

"I wasn't too hard about the children thing was I?" She asked. She reached over and played with the panel in the shower and was thankful that the Underground had allowed them such a luxurious unit. "Did you see the looks on Chris and Liana's faces? I wonder what was going on there."

[DungeonsOfDread]

Scraps spoke to her whist she showered, without the overwhelming feelings of lust consuming him he could better admire they way the water coalesced around her curvaceous body. Each droplet of water cascading down her body only seemed to accentuate her smooth silky skin. It was still Flit. Of that he was most certain, in a darkened room he would always know her.

"You handled it well sweety, I suppose this wont be the first time well have to dodge the topic. I did notice Chris and Lianna, do you think perhaps they dislike children?" He commented.

[SinisterSpiders]

"I don't know." Flit murmured as she switched the soap spray to clear water. The hot shower felt good, and her entire body felt more relaxed as the jets massaged her skin. "Normally Citizens are better at hiding their disdain for children- that's not something that the Government approves of."

Flit wanted to bask in the downpour of steaming hot water for longer, but it was getting late and it was time that she and Scraps got to bed. So, with a heavy sigh, she changed the water to the air jets and allowed the stinging air to dry her body. When Flit stepped out of the shower she kissed him on the cheek before slipping past him and making her way to their bed.

[DungeonsOfDread]

Scraps knew very well the restriction that The Government placed on citizens living under their rule. During his training he had participated in some extractions of illegally produced children. At the time he only thought it was his job, his existence was only to serve and part of that service was taking children from their parents.

Now though, after his mind had been opened to a greater future for himself and others like him he was even more fearful of bringing up a child in this world. He realised however, that he wasn't simply satisfied with just living in the moment, he wanted to change the future. The night was late and it was not the time to contemplate such a difficult topic.

Scraps operated the shower for himself and quickly washed. By the time he joined Flit in bed she was already fast asleep. He slipped under the covers and gave her a light kiss on the back of her neck. It wasn't long before he fell into a deep sleep.

[SinisterSpiders]

Flit woke the next morning to the piercing wails of the alarm. Her nostrils were filled with the masculine scent of Scraps and her back was hot where their naked skin was pressed together. Scraps's morning erection was pressed firmly into her lower back and she sighed longing. Flit turned carefully in his arms as the window screen changed from black to transparent and their room filled with an obscene amount of light.

Flit yawned as she peaked over Scraps's shoulder and saw the time. Yesterday they had set their alarm earlier than necessary to get to work on time. Last night they had forgotten to reset it to a later time, but now that their room was soaked with the warm rays of morning life there was no way she would get back to sleep.

"Morning sweety." Flit said, planting a soft kiss on Scraps's chest.