But Tharomar was quite unlike the image of superiority he let on to be. He knew just about everyone by name, even though he never let this on. In his mind, information was power. And power was his prized posession.
Being thus, he was always the first to arrive in the board room. He'd called a general meeting of the major executives to see if everything was going, and he appreciated giving everyone the once-over as they would walk into the room.
Tharomar checked his watch as he sat down at the head of the conference table. Wouldn't be long now...
((Let's just say he called a meeting yesterday or something. 
And as with Hal's character, this one most certainly exists. 
))
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
Characters
[ QUOTE ]
"So how have you been doing, Fred?" he asked, wanting to keep a conversation going. Fred was just about the only person on the team other than Khell who talked more than was needed to do his job. This generally led to some interesting conversations, especially when Fred had heard a rumour that Khell hadn't run across yet.
[/ QUOTE ]
Things are humming along pretty well. Sheryl is feeling mighty pregnant, but then again she is seven months along. Shes almost as grumpy as Stoney is, Fred said, glancing at the monitors. Ms. C is safely in her office now, he reported Ms. Calloway was one of the few that Fred didnt have a nickname for. She kept her ear to the pulse of the company too much, would hear the nickname, and she knew who Fred was.
Weve got all sorts of bigwigs powdering their bigwigs for Big Bossy today. Have you heard anything about what he wants? I just want you to know, that comment of paycuts all around makes me very nervous. He grinned.
The short figure of Penny Nicholson sprinted into the building, shown on a few of the monitors. She wore her 'angry' scowl, her hair tied back in a brown ponytail and her green glasses a bit crooked on her nose. She'd found her green suit jacket just in time and her purse flailed out from behind her.
As she sprinted by, the camera noticed that she left a shoe behind. Moments later, she hobbled back, her face livid with silent curses, and tossed it back on.
Penny was an odd case to be sure. She had a blazing temper some days and was sweet as cotton candy on others. Other peoples' stupidity made her furious, but she had one distinct quality. She had an unshakable loyalty and respect for those in service professions. Penny always had a smile and a nod for Khell and Fred, she tipped well at the restaurant in the building, and she was careful not to upset the pervert working at the convenience store. After all, she had worked in Customer Service - she knew what the world was like when faced with waves of moronic humanity day after day.
"Finally, you're here! Call Hannigan back NOW, he's breathin' down my neck!" was Penny's greeting as she rushed into the office on one of the upper floors.
"Wouldja give me a moment to hang up my purse, Tad?" she muttered angrily.
"No time for that." the receptionist, Mary, said, turning towards her. "You're needed in a meeting up top."
"What?" Penny said, turning towards the receptionist with an air of exasperation. "Who the hell could possibly be important enough to yank me offa vacation?"
Mary handed her a memo.
"...Oh."
----------------------------
Taking a moment to freshen up, Penny quietly scurried into the meeting room, laptop tucked under her arm. She may have just been an assistant, but the 23-year old could type an astonishing 93 words per minute, after adjusting for accuracy. She was the best transcriptionist in the building, and her transcripts were always absolutely flawless.
Penny took a seat in the corner of the room, meekly nodding her head to Mr. Tharomar in silent, respectful greeting.
She'd never met him, and was unsure of whether she was supposed to greet him or wait to be spoken to, so she played it safe and remained silent.
Japancakes.
Art - Theme 005 - Seeking Solace
And, shes off! Fred said looking at the monitor Penny Five hurries by the HumVee, loses a shoe like Cinderella, hurries back for it, and is off again. He loved his nicknames for the people who went by. It kept him entertained. Playing with her name Penny and Nickels for Nicholson was a nice play on words. He waved at her as she went by.
He noticed in the monitor from the front that Jason watched Penny rush across the lobby to the elevators. Jason sort half raised his hand to wave, and then lowered it without actually waving. Fred raised his dark eyebrows. Ole Stone Rook was about to have a human moment. Imagine that.
Movement in the parking garage. The hummer bounced a little. As he watched, one of the women from the secretarial pool got out of it and hurried to the stairs. A few moments later, Stephen VanLoosen got out as well, brushing his awful comb over his head, and took the elevator. Graybeard, you there, HumVan is on way up to his office. Give him a knowing grin for me, would you, and tell him he forgot to zip his fly.
Percy walked quickly into the meeting room, and took a seat next to Penny. He too had his laptop. . . after all, as lead programmer for the company, he was wasting valuable time by ever leaving his cubicle at all. . . and he was still catching up on the work he had been supposed to do. He closed it as he sank into his seat.
He had never seen any of these people before. . . Percy decided there would be time for introductions later. He waited impatiently for the meeting to start. Come on, he hadn't even started on the latest batch of bugs. . .
((I hope Percy qualifies as important enough to come to this meeting. I wasn't really clear on that. . .))
Sarah hurried across the parking lot, her high heels making soft crunching noises in the newfallen snow. She'd gotten here late, and had to park in the backlot again, which meant a fifteen-minute walk to the building. It couldn't be helped-Alec had thrown a tantrum again when she tried to leave him at daycare, and the guilt his angry tears aroused had led her to stay longer than she should have trying to comfort him. she hoped every day wasn't going to be as bad as the last three-they needed this job. Donnie still wasn't paying any of his child support, probably because he hadn't any money to pay.
For the umpteenth time, she thought about Big Falls. It would have been so *easy* to stay there, live with mom and let her mom help with Alec. But of course, she'd have had to look into her mothers face every day and see the accusations of failure written there, endure her mothers constant, patronizing criticisms of her parenting abilities, until she'd been ground to powder by the weight of her contempt...Sarah bowed her head and hurried faster. No. She didn't deserve that. Mom was right, marrying Donnie was a huge mistake, okay, fine, but it was done, And she could never bring herself to regret Alec. He was *everything* to her. This job at Theromar meant a new life for both of them. It was so hard to find management jobs when you had so little experience...she should never have let Donnie persuade her out of looking for work after college...there was so much catching up she had to do...but Alec needed her too...was it wrong to want a career? Was is so much to ask for? Was she a bad mother, as her own mother would have said?
Preoccupied, she barely noticed when the gate guard waved and called her name. At the last minute, she looked up and flashed him a brief smile, hurrying past into the warmth of the main lobby.
Theromar. It was a huge corporation, and Sarah could list all the major products and divisions by rote. It had a hand in everything from nuclear weaponry to dog food. She was junior project manager now, but there were opportunities for all kinds of advancement, if she could play her cards right. but the place still made her uneasy.
When she was a child, her mother and father had owned a large plantation house on the outskirts of Charleston. Entire wings of it had been closed off, filled with furniture covered with dustsheets, like lumpy ghosts. Theromar felt like the old wing...cold, empty, despite all the people bustling through it's enormous halls.
Sarah strode quickly through the lobby, her heels making little "click click" noises on the tile floor. Looking up, she saw that the nearest pair of elevator doors were closing. she made a mad dash for it, her purse streaming out behind her, her heels marking stattaco on the floor. she just made it. As she was trying to rearrange her purse and coat, a male voice said "So good to see you Sarah. I'd've held the door if you'd just asked."
Dread filled the pit of her stomach. [censored], it was VanLoosen. Despite the faint nausea in her stomach, she gave him a sunny smile. "Hi, Mr. VanLoosen. it's okay, made it in the end."
He gave her a smile she didn't entirely like. She'd never been able to decide if Vanloosen was smarmy or just overfriendly. So many male executives didn't seem to be able to grasp the concept of boundaries, and got hurt and sulky when you told them off, however nicely you did it. Men, just little boys at heart...
"Did you see that report on cell phone media?" she asked, anxious to put the conversation on some neutral footing. "I thought there were some really good ideas..."
He made a face. "That thing? Christ, I've never seen such rampant speculation. I read my kid bedtime stories that have more facts in 'em."
"Ah..." she said, trailing off. Were her instincts wrong? The net was humming about the new media capabilities of cell phones, there could be a vast untapped market...or so she thought.
They passed the marketing department, and through the doorway, Sarah glimpsed morgan Calloway, evidently on her way into her own office. Sarah gave a small sigh. why couldn't she be working for someone like Morgan? Smart, sassy, in control of her own fate, and smart, plugged in...Morgan *got* it. She could learn so much from someone like Morgan, who had survived and thrived playing a man's game and yet hadn't betrayed herself by stooping to their level.
She trailed after VanLoosen, thinking longingly about a job in marketing. Maybe she could transfer, later, when she had some more seniority...
VanLoosen was saying something to her. She put the pleasant fantasy away, reluctantly.
"...couple of us going out for drinks after work...I thought you might like to come along, meet some people."
Innocent invitation? Or innuendo-laden ploy? Sarah still couldn't decide, so she dodged behind the most convenient excuse.
"Oh, I'd love to, but I have to pick my son up from daycare. Maybe some other time."
He smiled (leered?) and moved off with a polite rejoinder. Sarah slumped at her desk. It was 8:15AM and she was already tired. It was going to be a long day...
((Probably. I was vague with the meeting on purpose. I think we'll start when Thomas gets there, as everyone arriving late will be eating stares from three people who apparently all hate to waste time. 
))
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
Characters
Khell chuckled as Fred described Penny's race to her office, causing an office worker to look at him curiously. Khell waved pleasantly at the man and moved on. But when Fred mentioned VanLoosen, Khell's face darkened in a scowl. He had never liked VanLoosen, the man reminded him too much of his boss back in Crey.
"Ten four, Fred," Khell said over the radio. "And lucky me I should be right on top of him."
Turning a corner, Khell saw VanLoosen further down the hallway talking to one of the junior managers, Sarah something-or-other. From what Khell could see, VanLoosen looked as smarmy as ever and Sarah looked preoccupied. Guessing what the conversation was about, Khell sped up a bit to make sure nothing untoward happened. He sighed in relief when Sarah managed to brush the louse off and duck into her office without incident.
"Hello there, Mr. VanLoosen," Khell said amicably as the man tried to hurry by. "Good to see you around today."
"Ah, yes," VanLoosen said, a bit startled. Normally Khell didn't greet him in the hallway randomly. "How are you...Officer Dracan, is it?"
"I'm doing fine, Mr. VanLoosen," Khell said before clearing his throat and pointing downward. "But I think you might have forgotten something."
VanLoosen looked down at his pants and saw that his fly was open. Paling a little, VanLoosen zipped it up and tried to laugh it off.
"Thanks a lot, officer," he said. "I must have forgotten to adjust myself after going to the bathroom."
"Of course, Mr. VanLoosen," Khell said and smiled widely as VanLoosen walked away.
"Yeah, I think he's a bit paranoid now," Khell said into his radio. "And give me a moment to check if his latest 'attempt' victim is alright."
Walking up to Sarah's door, which was open, Khell rapped politely on the doorframe and then leaned in.
"Hello, miss," he said. "Just checking to see if everything is alright."
Statesman said let there be heroes, and there were heroes.
Lord Recluse said let there be villains, and there were villains.
NCsoft said let there be nothing, and there was nothing.
((Bloody frickin' crap. I was gonna be security...But I might just be captain, heheh.))
Omaro Vasquez was late.
"Damndamndamndamndamn..." He muttered to himself as he wheeled his truck into the employee parking lot, stepping out and practically sprinting for the main door.
The guards at the front let him in...
As he was security captain.
Well armed and armored, and a tactical man at heart, Omaro was an ex-Angel of Death Mecernary, and he knew his way around perimeter security. It was a short leap into the corporate security sector, and he had joined Tharomar too long ago for him to remember.
Swiping several keys and making his way through several crowded offices with apologies and nods, he finally arrived at his station - a kiosk labelled "Security Booth E4." Getting inside, he examined himself quickly in the mirror:
A large, well muscled Latino, wearing what looked like SWAT armor and carrying a large rifle. In a world like the one he lived in, the Chief of Security had to bring along a few little friends to actually be a force. Tapping on his desk radio, he sighed.
"I'm sorry, I'm very sorry. I am late, men. Any activity?"
(( ))
"Oh!" Milly jumped slightly in surprise, not having noticed the elevator was occupied when the door opend. Biting her lip she riffled through the cart.
"Well, I was sir, but you were the only one down there with anything in the morning batch." She withdrew four envelopes and haded them to the older man before kneeling down and pulling a small, DVD sized, package.
"And this one needed a signature, sir." She smiled shyly as she placed the parcel on a clipboard for Dr. McCourd to sign. She rocked on her feet while he signed it before taking the clip back.
"Thanks Doc." She smiled and gave him a slight wave before backing her cart out of the elevator. "Have a nice day." She called as the doors closed.
...And promptly her face exploded in a red blush. "Stupid, stupid, stupid." Milly muttered to herself as she pushed the cart toward the marketing with the typical bundle of 'important' leters for Miss. Moragn.
Pinnacle
Heroes
When in danger, or in doubt; Run in circles, scream and shout.
Dr. McChourd looked through the letters after the doors closed, then paused as he looked at the DVD sized package. It had no return address. When the doors opened to the R&D lab, he made his way to his office, shutting the door.
The letters he set down on the corner of his desk, the envelope he opened immediately. Sure enough, there was a plain black dvd case. Opening it, he saw blank CD and a small note.
I thought you might need a little help.
C
He popped the CD into his computer and accessed the disc. A single text file was on the CD. Opening the file, his eyes narrowed. There was information on power conversion that he had never thought of. He looked at his equation, then back at the file. He read more, then stood up, erasing half his board.
The chalk clicked loudly as he scratched away at it, the board filling up quickly. He stood back, looking at it, then looking at the file.
"Whoever gave me this hint, it's their loss for letting me complete this V-chip first."
He stormed out of his office and walked over to, Derek Silverman, a timid technician who just got in, and sat at his desk.
"Derek. Get the plant up and running. We've got a Z-chip to make."
"Y-yes... Docter Mc-McChourd. Right away," Derek stood and ran across the room to a bulky piece of machinery with a small terminal on its side. Derek pulled a large lever down, powering it up.
Dr. McChourd walked over to the terminal, and began punching in sequences into the terminal. He laughed as the excitement of his hardest work was about to be complete.
"D-doctor?"
"Yes Derek," Dr. McChourd turned, not wanting his moment to be interrupted.
"The manufacturing sequence will take up to ten hours, sir. Then we have to test the chip, to see if it works correctly."
"Ten hours!?! That is unacceptable. My dream is about to become a reality, and you built this dinosaur of a machine that will take ten hours? You're lucky that I like you, kid. If it were anyone else, I'd have your job for lunch, and your degree for dinner. "
He stormed away from the machine and slammed the door to his office.
Derek stood there, his eyes wide in fear. He let out a sigh of relief that his job was still intact. He sat at his desk and muttered to himself.
"That guy seriously needs to switch to Decaf."
"S-so....time for food!" Kara said to the still silent, still staring girl in the wheelchair.
Kara had to find out more about this girl. The odd thing about Tharomar hospital was that, aside from being incredibly large AND a teaching hospital, hospital policy for patients 'in for the long haul' i.e. longer than a couple weeks, was to have them organized alphabetically, not based on their condition. So, since the charts and file were off limits to her, Kara didn't know if Mina was a hypochondriac, had a birth defect, or had suffered an injury.
Out of curiousity, she looked at her schedule for her.
Taking blood pressure, feeding, measurements...
Not a single blood test for the next several weeks. No physical therapy scheduled either.
Kara had trained to be a nurse to physically injured children, she had little training in psychology or psychiatry, hell she slept through what classes she had that involved it, but even she could tell that Mina had a mental condition. Probably trauma, given her refusal to speak and inability to walk despite not having so much as a bedsore on her legs. Some of the other nurses said Mina would wake up and massage her own legs, and she somehow knew about acupressure and shiatsu, or at least that's what Mr. Sakamoto, the head of the rehab department, claimed after seeing her on his first day.
Kara walked into the room and placed the tray of food on Mina's lap. Since she was focusing so intently on the girl, she noticed that Mina actually moved her legs slightly to adjust the tray. Stranger and stranger...
"So, um, I brought this," Kara took out a sheet of paper with several pictures on it, as well as a speak-type device, "All you do is type what you want to say, or point to the face and resembles what you're feeling...."
Mina picked up the typing device and began typing like a pro. Even more strange.
Thank you, my last one broke. she typed, and smiled.
"Good! Uh, why didn't you just ask for..." Kara began, then stopped when she realized how stupid that sounded. Mina even gave her a look that told her the same thing.
Where are you from? Mina typed.
"Um, well, I grew up in San Francisco," Kara replied, "Where are you from?"
I don't remember. she typed.
"Oh," Kara said, "Did something bad happen? Is that why you can't talk or walk?"
I can.
"Can what?"
Talk and walk
"Then why don't you? Don't you want to go outside and play?" Kara asked, genuinely curious of course.
I'm too old. And it isn't safe.
Kara laughed a little, "Why don't I go out with you? You can see the snow!"
Snow? Mina asked.
"The white stuff outside. You've never been in the snow?"
Can't remember
The whole time they had been talking, Mina had been eating. Just then, she finished.
"Do you want to go outside now?" Kara asked.
There was a long pause.
OK she finally typed.
"Great!" Kara said, grabbing Mina's tray and setting it aside.
She began pushing Mina's wheelchair out the door. Outside was a throng of people milling about. Doctors, nurses, patients, visitors.
Kara was pushing the girl towards the nurse's station to sign the correct papers when she heard a human squeak. Of course, it was Mina.
She was trembling, badly.
"What's wrong?" Kara asked.
Tttttttoo mannyy she typed, making several typos.
"Too many what?"
People. Scared. Room. Go Back.
Kara sighed, "Okay, we'll go out again when there's fewer people. Is that alright?"
Yes.
With that, Kara wheeled the panicking girl back into her room and helped her into bed.
[ QUOTE ]
"I'm sorry, I'm very sorry. I am late, men. Any activity?"
[/ QUOTE ]
Captain! So nice to hear your soothing melodic voice, Fred said. Just a suggestion, though, next time take that final corner on all four wheels. I was afraid that boat you drive was going to tip over, The small man grinned. Things are smooth sailing. Nothing to report.
Jasons deep mournful voice came through on the intercom. Captain, the various heads of departments are all heading towards the board room. Mr. Tharomar is already there.
What Jason is so subtly not saying is
arent you supposed to be at that meeting, too, Cap? Fred grinned even broader. Time to powder your bigwig and play politics with the administration.
Walter arranged a group of papers, putting the finishing touches on before standing up to make some copies of them. Slipping the first page under the lid he hit the print button and waited.
The machine whirred for a little, clicked a couple times and then went silent. Walter shifted nervously, looking around him and then back at the copier. It didn't seem to be starting up again. He hit the button again only to get the same result.
His mind worked desperately to try and come up with some bit of copier-information it may have. Finally deciding that maybe it needed the settings re-entered, he gingerly pushed another button.
The machine suddenly sucked in five papers at once, groaning in protest. Eyes wide in panic, Walter punched at a couple more buttons in a vain attempt to fix it. The machine began to vibrate as more papers were added to the wad already jammed in the thing's workings.
Finally not able to take anymore, Walter grabbed the cord and yanked it from the wall. The machine stopped dead, the sudden silence almost making the poor man more nervous than he was before. Looking around sheepishly at some of the people who'd heard the racket, Walter called for maitenance and shakingly poured himself a cup of coffee.
Howard Tharomar didn't even seem to acknowledge anyone who had entered th room. As far as he was concerned, only when all had arrived could they proceed.
Not to mention that Clarence's report was the first item on the agenda, yet the man hadn't arrived yet...
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
Characters
Clarence Thomas stared at the untapped potential in the pictures he had received about Sacred Pass. The entire land was just a wide area for expansion. He gloated in the fact that he was the one who negotiated the contracts for the Pass.
Tharomar Enterprises needed Clarence Thomas.
A sly smile formed over his lips as he stood up from behind his desk. He grabbed the briefcase that sat down next to his chair on the carpet and bisktly walked out of the room.
When the CEO walked, most got out of the way. Any who didn't just hadn't learned yet. His presence commanded respect, whether the other employess liked it or not. They're jobs depended on it. Although most big business types allowed each department to be handled by a number of supervisors and chiefs, Clarence Thomas only allowed it to a certain extent. He helped build this company and he wasn't about to take his hand out now just because it had expanded the way it had.
Clarence used his left hand to adjust the silk white tie and centered it down his shirt. His diamond encrusted elephant cufflinks could be seen. Elephants regulated with their size and power. So did he. His initials were engraved in silver on the cuff of the sleeves. The 5'10" man of fifty three stopped in front of the double doors of the media room where the meeting with Tharomar was being held. Inside was your typical round table for all the execs and a large projector screen at the back of the room. Each chair was paired with a top of the line laptop computer that was password specific for the person that usually sits there.There were wood cushioned chairs that lined along the walls for the secretaries and other members of an Executive's entourage.
Clarence opened the doors to the office. He made eye contact with those that were in the office. It wasn't for the purpose for acknowledgment, but he just reveled in the fear he could muster in people's eyes.
It was all he could do, for now. In here, he wasn't who he wanted to be. In this room, CEO didn't have the same sting of power that is normally would have.
Not while Tharomar was in the room.
Penny Nicholson... survivor, so far, he thougt as he passed her by, Percy Newman, too much starch.
His gaze landed on Howard Tharomar and Clarence froze. It was an unexpected movement, or lack thereof. It lasted for a only a moment before Clarence decided to take his seat. There is a first for everything.
Then it dawned on him - was Clarence Thomas afraid of Howard Tharomar?
Nonsense.
Clarence felt a vibration in his jacket pocket. His Blackberry had a text message waiting for him:
"Tick-Tock."
Clarence's eyes took a greener covertone as he placed the phone back into his inner pocket.
That doctor better have results.
Clarence was here. Tharomar showed his first reaction of the day - a wry and devious smile. Now they just needed Velasquez and they could start the agenda.
Where was he, anyway? he was usually one of the first to arrive.
Regardless, he pushed a button on the intercom embeded into the conference table. Said button connected him to Fred in the monitor room.
"Send up two guards." was all he said before releasing the button once more. he was absolutely certain his instructions would be follwed, as they always were...
((And no, he's not plotting anything sinister yet. He just wants security posted outside the door, as this'll be a very sensitive company meeting. ))
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
Characters
"Ah, yeah!" He clapped his hands. "Okay, Fred, I'm keeping the two-way on in case anything breaks down. Remember, we're on channel seven 'cause of the security threat."
And with that, he clipped on his personal radio and set off for the meeting.
Penny warmed up her laptop, remaining in the corner, silent.
I freakin' wish I were sleeping. she mentally complained. I'm not important enough for this meeting anyway. I just type hella fast.
People she recognized were beginning to turn up. She did vaguely recognize Percy. She'd been in the elevator with him once or twice. And Clarence Thomas - that [censored] - was the guy that her bosses were always snivelling up to.
Quietly she shifted her legs as she rested the laptop down. Her fingers twitched expertly as she got ready to go to work.
Japancakes.
Art - Theme 005 - Seeking Solace
Dr. McCourd made his way out of his office. He looked at Derek, who flinched. Dr. McCourd had to smile.
"Gotta tell the old man, he's got his chip."
He walked out of the lab, and made his way to the elevator. It felt like 20 minutes passed until it came down, though it was only about 3. He pushed the button for the top floor, and waited, trying to ignore the cheesy music playing in the elevator.
[ QUOTE ]
"Send up two guards."
[/ QUOTE ]
Fred jumped and stared at the intercom for a moment. He pressed it down. Affirmative. Guards being sent.
He quickly keyed channel 7. Cap, Mr. Tharomar just asked for two guards in the conference room. Khell, get up to the conference room post haste. He looked quickly around. The front door guard was alone; Jason at the front desk was alone. The garage booth had two men in it. Cap, I'm going to have to pull one of the garage guards.
He clicked on the garage booth intercom. Draw straws, guys. One of you has got to come inside for extra guard duty for the conference room. Not joking now. Something big is going down."
Fred leaned back. Typical. You have a carefully set up system, and some Big Bossy type comes in and makes immediate demands, and the structure slips. A little planning ahead would be refreshing. And more than two minutes notice would have been a true breath of fresh air.
Khell sighed and bid goodbye to Sarah before jogging down the hall to the nearest elevator. A couple of people called out to him as he went past, but he only spared them a wave. Generally, when Jason said that you needed to be somewhere asap, it helped to do what he said.
Sideling into the elevator next to a couple of other people, Khell flashed them a quick grin and pushed the button to take him up to the conference room floor.
"I'm en route," Khell said over his radio. "Any idea why we're needed?"
Statesman said let there be heroes, and there were heroes.
Lord Recluse said let there be villains, and there were villains.
NCsoft said let there be nothing, and there was nothing.
((Okay, thought I'd give this a shot.))
Walter Willis had a routine. He'd come in to work, give his usual nervous nod at the security guard's jovial greeting, head to his cubicle and work until it was time to leave. It may not have been a very enjoyable routine, but it was consistant and safe. And Walter liked 'safe'.
Now this routine shouldn't imply that Walter was a dull man. Oh, he had his little quirks and dreams. Baseball was one of them; music another. He wasn't exactly talented at either, but he enjoyed going to the batting range and listening to his CDs and records.
Walter had been working at Tharomar Enterprises for a little over a decade now, never rising any farther from where he started. Not that he expected to. Walter wasn't cynical, it was just that, at 47, he didn't expect much to change in his life.
He wasn't a very striking man. His glasses were old-fashioned with thick lenses and his usual black suits, while respectable, all showed their age. Walter had begun balding rather young, actually shaving his head for awhile before simply losing the ambition. Now the remaining hair along the back of his head hung down to his shoulders, whether from preference or neglect was hard to tell. His remaining hair and beard were still black, having escaped any graying so far, but had a lifelessness that only prolonged exposure to ultraviolet lights and computer monitors could bring.
He was of average height and a respectable weight. As a matter of fact that word, 'respectable', was often used to describe Walter. Never exceptional, never inadequate; always just 'respectable'. He had a shy, nervous personality that some may have described as mousy and a general air of melancholy that he seemed completely unaware he was emitting.
The routine had gone on perfectly today. Walter rode the train to work, nodded at the guard, rode the elevator and sat down at his cubicle. He didn't carry a suitcase as his old one broke and he never seemed to get around to replacing it. Instead he simply carried a large brown bag slung over his shoulder.
Sitting down at his desk he removed his papers and notebooks from his bag, arranging them around his computer to be dealt with shortly. There were no photographs on his desk. No cartoons pasted to the walls of the cubicle or crayon-scrawled drawings displayed with fatherly pride. The only personal thing that was ever located on Walter Willis' desk was the object he was removing from his bag at that moment.
A small glass globe on a simple wooden stand. He set it on his desk, plugging it into the outlet. A soft blue light sprung up inside the globe, illuminating the small harlequin-like figure inside, frozen in a pose from some whimsical dance. He turned the key, starting up the musical box version of some classical score that probably only Walter could tell you the name of. He watched it for a minute or two, the little figure turning slowly around and around, and gave a little smile before turning to his work. It was what he always did. It was his routine.