Dina stood with a featureless expression on her face, Chaz and Piggie either side of her underneath the awning of a store. Zeth stood at the edge of the covered sidewalk, closest to the rain, speaking on some sort of phone with his back to her. Though it wasn’t any kind of phone Dina had ever seen. Not that it would do her any good asking about it. She couldn’t quite make out what he was saying with the den of the splattering rain and the thunder that would roll through once in a while.
“…actually there?...picture…gone…I don’t…get… yourself…care…” It was all she could make out without letting on that she was eavesdropping. Then she saw Zeth pocket the phone, and turn slightly to her. He took a deep breath before joining them again.
“Don’t you love storms? The power in the air, the scent of nitrogen filling your body, the roar of the rain?”
Dino rolled her eyes. “And you’re a poet now too? I liked it better when you were selling coffee and cameras.”
Zeth frowned. “Well, as I see it, there’s no need to be rude, in spite of the predicament we now find ourselves in.”
“I’d be happy to agree if you would just tell me exactly what ‘predicament’ we’re in.”
“You’ll know as soon as we finish this little walk. Now,” he turned to Piggie, “I want you to go back to the Design Corner at meet with Captain Panic. Handle it, will you?”
Piggie raised his eyebrows, “Handle…?”
“Panic will fill you in. Just go now, please. Dina, if you’ll come with us, we’re almost there.”
Dina didn’t change her stone mask. “Can’t wait.” Captain Panic? That’s not a policeman I’ve ever heard of. But the name sounds so familiar…
---
Mayor of Mercury Crystal Shards held some papers between her hands and tapped them against the desk, straightening the disorderly pile. Another batch of various assorted forms successfully filled in triplicate. Now to take a bit of a vacation from her office.
The office itself was nicely furnished with all wood furniture and rich fabrics of various shades of blue, green, and pink. The curtains hanging from the windows were a dark blue, and were pulled back, allowed in what little light the overcast sky provided.
What a bleak day. I have a chance to get out of my office and it has to be like this. Figures.
Before she could escape though, a notice flashed up on her computer monitor. At a glance it just looked like an email, but Crystal noticed the odd look and text. And the sender.
And I thought I was going to escape for a while…
Crystal plopped back down in her chair, smoothed the creases in her skirt, and opened the message.
