Sunday, June 24, 2007

Untitled: Part 9

The thirty seconds went quickly. Leon and Milo parted ways, shaking hands. "It's not your fault, you know," Milo said. "It was bound to happen."

"I know," Leon replied.

Milo undid the latch for the ceiling compartments. A light ladder unfolded. They exchanged glances. "You were always prepared," Leon said.

"As I said. It was bound to happen. We had to be ready."

Leon nodded and started up the ladder. After him, Milo pushed the ladder back up, sealing the compartment. After a second's delay the lighting system flickered on. It was a soft white light illuminating the shiny clean silver metal duct. A constant, weak wind blew past. Leon wasted no time. Moving as silently and deftly as he could, he shimmied down the corridor.

At a fork he turned left and went another hundred feet. He passed a vent in the side and peered into the room. It was empty. He spotted the door to the outside at the wall. With quick movements, he knocked open the panel beneath him and fell to the ground below. Reaching the door, he entered the same twelve-digit code, which was followed by a suction sound. Letting out a breath, he moved to the door to the room and locked it from the inside. Then he jumped to the duct and pulled himself up, shutting the panel after him. The whole process took under two minutes.

With six doors yet to secure, and the security system to reset if Milo did not reach it first, Leon continued without hesitation. He found the next two doors with ease and had no trouble. At the third door he bruised his leg while attempting to get back in the air duct. He misjudged his grip and fell onto his knee. Repressing the desire to scream in pain, he breathed several deep breaths, squeezed the surrounding area, and stood up the moment he felt comfortable. He paced the room a couple times, then attempted the jump again with success. Still wincing, he continued on his path.

The fourth and fifth lockdowns went smoothly, though he moved more slowly and felt pain with every step. Once back in the air duct, he moved as fast as he could to the next door, which was nearby. He turned a corner, then another, and spotted the next panel. Breathing a heavy sigh of relief, he reached it.

Without warning, the lights in the compartment went out. Leon held the latch to the panel, and his breath, afraid to let either go. Through the corresponding vent, Leon could see the room below bathed in blue light. A figure moved through it to the outside door. It was Ralph.

Keeping one hand on the latch, and slowly letting out a restrained breath, Leon reached for his gun.

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Dharma

Written in February of 2006. I was falling asleep on a futon when the poem suddenly came to me. It was sparked by recent related talks in philosophy class. Original titles: 2:11 a.m. and In the Throes of Morning Passion (the latter one I don't like at all anymore).

So many ideas that
just come rushing and
in restraining them I
wrestle with the only true loves;
that is, to read, write and weep
for all the things I've lost in
this world, knowing all the things
I will gain.

Friday, June 8, 2007

Untitled: Part 8 - [EDITS]

At first leaning on Leon's shoulder, Milo regained composure by the time they reached the automatic cafeteria door. "We've gotta find James," Milo said.

"Who's he?" asked Leon.

"The only other trained official here."

The two walked into the hallway lit in the same blue glow. Milo rushed to the nearby door to the courtyard. At the keypad he entered a dozen numbers, resulting in an air locking sound. "At least one door's secure," he said, turning back to Leon, who stood a few feet from him, the first aid kit in one hand and the gun in the other.

"There's no way we can lock all the doors to the outside," Leon protested, following Milo who gave no moment to rest. Milo walked quickly, wincing as his left arm attempted to sway in the usual motion. "And that guy's still inside."

They reached Milo's room and both entered. Milo shut the door behind them and secured the padlock. He ignored Leon's protests. "How well do you know the layout of the building?"

"Very," Leon replied. "Every man has to know his way around without a map."

"Good," Milo said as he shuffled through drawers of a filing cabinet. As a reflex, he used his left arm, stopping each time as the pain came back. Finally finding what he was searching for, Milo turned back. With one motion he wiped his desk clear, knocking various items and documents to the floor, and laid out detailed floor plans. He looked at Leon's face which was studying the schematics. "Your knowledge will help, but the path you have to take, they did not teach you."

Leon looked up at Milo. "These seem to follow the floor plans, but they're different."

"They're air ducts, created for two purposes: to promote ventilation and provide an easy-access security route. It was designed to lead to every major room and exit and include its own lighting system. You've got thirty seconds to memorize it."