Microstory 483: Floor 2 (Part 2)

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I’m going meta again. For Floor 2? Meta!? Say whaaa—? Let me explain. The thing is that nothing happens on the second floor after Alpha’s death. Why is that? Well, the lobby is actually two stories high. An atrium runs from the bottom, almost all the way to the top, which allows people on the higher floors to conceivably see what’s going on below, but there are still rooms. Everybody works on the outer side of the building, and the atrium is really just to have a nice view, like a courtyard, but without a sky. I’ve talked more about architecture on this site than you ever thought I would, eh? Anyway, like I said, the second floor is different. It doesn’t have rooms on the outer side. It just overlooks the lobby, but doesn’t otherwise serve any real purpose. That’s why there can’t actually be any action here. In the first part, someone happened to be standing there, but once the building went into lockdown, everybody was removed from the first two floors, and ordered to remain away from the view of the atrium. So that explains why I keep bringing up the lockdown without actually depicting the announcement of it. Sorry if that was confusing. Here are a few other things you need to know. I titled each installment in the first half as “Part 1” which sort of locked me into this motif, but now I’m regretting it, because Part 2 wasn’t always a logical continuation of the greater story being told. I came up with the idea of witnessing the events of every floor in a building as a man falls from the roof a long time ago, and did not mean for it to have anything to do with time travel, let alone insert it into the salmonverse. It carries with it a connection to the Serkan Demir series, which was another story originally intended to stand alone. I’ve talked very little about where the hell the thirteenth floor is, and what it does. Obviously, I don’t have space for it here, but I do have plans to explain it in greater detail. But for that, you’ll have to buy (for free) my book. I intend to release it sometime in 2017; I don’t have that in front of me right now. No, I can’t just look it up; I’m on a deadline! I don’t even think I’ll have time to read this agoain and revvise it.

Microstory 473: Floor 12 (Part 2)

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Production Manager: Are you scared?

Shadow: No, of course not.

Production Manager: Ya know, it’s okay to be scared. Adults get scared, just like little kids...just like brave eighth graders.

Shadow: It’s just that...I’ve never seen anyone die before. I mean, I know that I didn’t actually see him die. But just knowing that he’s down there is...

Production Manager: Go ahead. Don’t be afraid to share your feelings. I know that sounds contradictory to what I said about getting scared. Just know that this is a safe space.

Shadow: It’s creepy. Is that bad?

Production Manager: I’m sure you’ve heard that death is a natural part of life, and this is true. But I bet no one’s explained to you what death is really like.

Shadow: I go to church with my family. They talk about death all the time.

Production Manager: Well, they’re talking about the afterlife. I’m referring to the death itself, and how any given loss of life impacts the world around them. One second you’re here, and the next you’re not. Or rather, they’re not. Alpha will never tell a coworker another dirty joke. He’ll never see how his current favorite TV show ends. And worst of all, he’ll never get to meet you. That is creepy. It’s weird to think about a world where you don’t exist. Can you imagine what this planet will be like after you die? Yeah, see, I saw you shudder a bit. Because it’s an uncomfortable feeling. What you’re experiencing right now is an existential examination. You’re questioning your very reality, because a man just left us forever. So when you ask me if it’s bad that you think it’s creepy that his body is just lying down there, all I can say is no. No, it isn’t bad. Death should make you shiver. It’s reminding you how important you are, and how important everyone around you is, and it motivates you to make a difference. That’s what life is; interacting with others.

Shadow: Whoa. No one’s ever said anything to me like that before.

Production Manager: I don’t doubt it. People often underestimate children, but I can see how bright you are. And I want you to know how glad I am that you chose to shadow me for your career day project. I’m sorry this had to happen, but I’ll always remember our time together...interacting. I hope you take this experience, and apply it to something positive in the future. I know I will.

Microstory 472: Floor 14 (Part 2)

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Scientist 1: Hey, do you know where Lead Scientist is?

Scientist 2: I believe that he went upstairs to speak with the president.

Scientist 1: To what end?

Scientist 2: To request we move our offices and labs back to the original facility, because this one isn’t great for us.

Scientist 1: Yeah, it’s a beautiful building, but we really should go back.

Scientist 2: Yeah, we should def go back, but Lead Scientist should not have gone up there asking for that.

Scientist 1: Why not?

Scientist 2: This is a trying time for all of us, for no one more than Alpha. This was his company, his baby. It’s no wonder he faltered...literally, once it all started to come crashing down.

Scientist 1: Are you saying that Lead Scientist pushed him to it? I don’t mean pushed him, pushed him. I mean, do you think their conversation drove him to it?

Scientist 2: Oh, certainly not. In fact, I don’t even think he went up there early enough to say one word to Alpha before he fell. I just mean that it was foolish for him to do it. I don’t want to say he was lucky for having missed his chance, but I do think things could have been worse if he had been there—and I’m not just referring to the emotional trauma from witnessing someone’s death.

Scientist 1: Or he could have stopped it from happening at all, if only due to the butterfly effect.

Scientist 2: That’s true. But then his job would be at risk, even more than it already is. All of ours are.

Scientist 1: Yeah, I get it. I see what you’re saying. But he couldn’t have known how bad things had become for the company. I mean now we’re hearing all sorts of rumors flying around. Alpha dies, the elevator crashes and more people die? Things are getting worse. If none of that had come out, I bet going up there wouldn’t be all that bad of an idea.

Scientist 2: Yeah, maybe. I suppose there’s no way to know. What happened, happened.

Scientist 1: That might not be an entirely accurate assessment of our situation.

Scientist 2: What the hell are you talking about?

Scientist 1: I think maybe it’s time for you to see what my special team has been researching on the thirteenth floor.

Scientist 2: There is no thirteenth floor. This building was designed by superstitious people. Technically, this is Floor 13.

Scientist 1: That’s not exactly how this building was constructed. You’ll see.

Microstory 471: Floor 15 (Part 2)

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Contractor Coordinator: Hey, do you know where Construction Administrator is?

Electrical Contractor: He went upstairs to speak with the president, I guess.

Contractor Coordinator: Oh, he must have gotten stuck during the lockdown.

Electrical Contractor: Yeah, or...

Contractor Coordinator: Or what?

Electrical Contractor: Or he’s the one who caused the lockdown.

Contractor Coordinator: How would he have done that?

Electrical Contractor: He could have pushed Alpha down the atrium.

Contractor Coordinator: That’s ridiculous.

Electrical Contractor: Is it? He was convinced that nothing that happened in your company had anything to do with him. He’s wiped himself clean of all responsibility, and I hear he was pretty vocal about throwing everyone else under the bus.

Contractor Coordinator: That’s not what it’s like. He’s just afraid of losing his job. We all are.

Electrical Contractor: Exactly. The fear of unemployment can drive men to do crazy, sometimes violent, things. I could picture an argument escalating and escalating until it gets out of control. There’s a stronger chance it was an accident than there is that he did it on purpose. I’m not saying he’s a psychopath.

Contractor Coordinator: This building isn’t in the best shape. It’s not surprising at all that Alpha fell down a skylight that was designed by the same windows team that built the known defective products. It’s the same reason the elevator crashed. What’s really weird is that they happened at the same time.

Electrical Contractor: Again, exactly. To your first point. I can’t explain why the happened at the same time. But it does illustrate how poorly this building was constructed. That would only generate further stress on Construction Administrator. In my experience, those who deny that they’re at fault the most passionately are at the ones at fault, at least of something. Maybe he pushed him, maybe he didn’t, but if I see him come back down here before lockdown ends, I’m breaking lockdown myself and getting the hell away from him. Just to be safe.

Contractor Coordinator: I think you’re being paranoid.

Electrical Contractor: No, paranoid would be if I claimed he also caused the elevator to crash. Which, by the way, I would be able to do in about seven different ways. And they’re just the ones I can think of at the top of my head.

Contractor Coordinator: Nice to know what you’re thinking about when you’re bored.

Electrical Contractor: Hey, I’m a professional. I can’t know how to fix elevators if I don’t know how they can break.

Contractor Coordinator: Fair point, and Construction Administrator has as much education as you do. But no, we’re saying that that’s crazy, right? [...] Right?

Electrical Contractor: Shrug. I think it could go either way.

Contractor Coordinator: ...

Electrical Contractor: Chip?

Microstory 470: Floor 16 (Part 2)

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Writer: Windows. What are windows? Well, they’re like doors, but clear. Windows keep us safe, but they also give us access to the outside world. Windows show us endless possibilities. They protect us from an uncertain future, and lift us from blind Plato-cavers to brilliant scientists, reaching for the stars...literally. Elevators. Elevators too lift us. They magically transport us to new worlds. You step into an elevator in one place, and when you next step out, there is no telling what you’re going to find. Unlike windows, which are clear, elevators hide us from the truth. They keep us from knowing what’s going to happen next. They are a mystery. Unless you’re in a clear elevator, those are different. Atriums. I’m not entirely sure what atriums are. An atrium I’ve seen, but I’m not certain I understand what makes an atrium. They are wide open spaces within buildings. They provide an ironic source of warmth and comfort, even while maintaining a great distance between two points. They allow us to see across these great distances, though, to look beyond our own little bubbles, and to question our reality. And buildings. Buildings as a whole. Buildings can be tall, or they can be short. They can be used for math, or they can be used for sports. Some buildings are good, and some are bad. This building is falling apart, which is sad. Buildings hold everything together, and protect us from the cold harsh truth of reality outside across great distances that bring us down to lower levels. Buildings are important, but are they the most important?

Audience: I don’t understand what this is.

Writer: It’s my essay. On the state of affairs of our company. It’s a scathing inquiry into our situation in this lockdown.

Audience: I imagine you mean indictment, but either way, you say nothing about the lockdown, and that part where you talk about clear elevators really takes the reader out of the narrative. And this whole thing makes no sense, and serves no purpose.

Writer: Art always fills a purpose.

Audience: And you’re not even supposed to be here. You were fired last week.

Writer: That was meant to be permanent? I thought it was just a suspension.

Audience: You’re not a cop, or a student. Nor are you a writer. I want you back out of here as soon as this lockdown is lifted.

Writer: —

Audience: And if you say one thing about elevators or lifting, I swear to God...

Microstory 460: Floor 26 (Part 2)

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Lawyer: Investigator, I thought you left long ago.

Investigator: I thought I had as well. I’m not entirely sure how I got back here, and now there’s a guard at the elevator making it look like I can’t leave.

Lawyer: That’s weird. And yeah, we’re on lockdown...because Alpha fell down the atrium, and the executive elevator crashed. You didn’t hear?

Investigator: No, like I said, I was at home. But while I’m back, I might as well go over my new findings.

Lawyer: I didn’t think you would have any further findings. We kind of have everything we need to protect the company. The tech upstairs did it.

Investigator: Ah, but you don’t have what you need. There’s another crack in the system of which the company is likely not aware. Take a look at these files.

Lawyer: [...] What is this?

Investigator: Proof. Of what you did. Of several things you did, actually. I’m sure there’s more. These are only preliminary results.

Lawyer: What are you gonna do, call the cops?

Investigator: I carry no loyalty to justice. Analion is paying me, and it is Analion who I’ll inform about this. They can handle it how they choose.

Lawyer: Analion won’t care. I did my job. I protected them. Just because the things I did weren’t legal, doesn’t mean they weren’t right.

Investigator: Well, I guess we’ll see how they feel when I finish my report, won’t we?

Lawyer: I don’t think you wanna do that.

Investigator: I’m sorry?

Lawyer: There are some things you’ve done that weren’t exactly illegal either. Unlike you, I actually do have—as you called it—a “loyalty to justice”. I will contact the authorities about your unorthodox methods of investigation.

Investigator: What are you talking about?

Lawyer: This image on my phone is all you need to know that I’m not lying.

Investigator: That’s a picture of a light fixture, with what looks like a bunch of dead bugs.

Lawyer: Oh, that’s for maintenance. [...] This picture.

Investigator: Where did you get that? Did you have your investigator investigated?

Lawyer: Of course. We needed to know if we could trust you.

Investigator: Did you have the investigator you hired to investigate me investigated as well?

Lawyer: What?

Investigator: No one knows I’m here. I still don’t know what happened, but a dozen people must have seen me leave, and zero people saw me return, including myself. There’s something weird about this building, but I think I’m gonna use it to my advantage, and hope it somehow whisks me away once more.

Lawyer: What are you goin’ on about?

Investigator: It’s not exactly the top floor, but we’re still high enough. I hope you enjoy the express trip down the atrium.

Lawyer: What? Noooooo...!

Microstory 429: Floor 14 (Part 1)

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I worked very hard to get out of the labs, and into this office. I’m sure you hear Research and Development, and you think that it sounds exciting. Why, we must be blowing things up and getting into other crazy situations every week! No, it’s boring, and this is as it should be. We would be shut down by the health department, or some other government division, if we experienced such things on a regular basis. No, we do some experimentation, but this is no chemical lab. We mostly try to figure out what kinds of materials work well together, and which combinations to avoid. We try various glass thickness, and new shapes. We test strength against wind and other trauma. It might have started out fun, but throwing rocks at triple pane windows gets old pretty quickly. I also don’t really like dangerous situations. Even though we take all necessary precautions, I feel much safer in the office, on a different floor. This new headquarters we built is a major problem, though. The lab  technicians need a nice, open, rectangular space. This doughnut shape we got going on is just awkward. The atrium that runs almost all the way up sure is purty, but sure is completely impractical for our needs. I tried to voice my concerns to the construction department, but hell if they ever listen. Far be it for them to take input from anyone else. If they had it their way, the whole company would be absorbed and digested into their one department. They don’t think the rest of us need to exist at all, and would sooner see us gone than admit that it takes a village. I’m about to go upstairs to lobby the president to transfer the R&D labs back to where we were before. I know everybody’s really busy with all this scandal, but I can’t think about that right now. Let the lawyers handle it. We have to move on with business as usual. If they call me up for a deposition, or witness testimony, or whatever, then I’ll deal with it. I don’t see the point in worrying so much about things that have already happened.

Microstory 409: Floor 34 (Part 1)

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My people ain’t got nothin’ to do with what happens outside of the company. I am kidding, of course; not about what I said, but how I said it. Building services is a fancy way of saying maintenance, this is true. But this does not mean that we’re just composed of uneducated or backwards people. It’s true that most of my team members did not have the opportunity to seek higher education, but that does not stop them from being intelligent and thoughtful. It takes a lot of skill to do handiwork. One thing you got right is that they don’t go to school for it. At no point do they get a chance to learn everything they’ll need to know to succeed in maintenance. My people know plumbing, carpentry, painting, electrical work, and a plethora of other things. We’re often given assignments by the office workers who barely know we exist, or what we do. All they know is that they go on their computer, fill out this little form with what their problem is, and it magically goes away soon thereafter. A number of my people have been interrogated regarding their right to be in the building just because they don’t look the part. Far be it for them to stop and have a conversation with someone wearing a tee-shirt so these miscommunications stop happening. Building maintenance isn’t just about poundin’ nails anyway. We also manage all building equipment, and make sure that everyone has what they need. That’s called logistics, and a good logistician, which is what I am, actually does have a decent education. Here’s another thing they don’t realize; the walls have ears, and those ears belong to us. They carry on their conversations while we’re working, surprisingly unaware that we’re there. We know more about this building than anyone else. Why, if they asked me to become the next president, I think I wouldn’t do half bad. What they can’t see is that every team or department complains about other teams and departments. With precious few exceptions, they’re quick to blame someone else for any of the company’s problems. It’s not that they can’t conceive the possibility that they contributed to issues, or even that they don’t see it when it’s happened. It’s just that they’re scared to death of losing their jobs. Nobody wants to assume blame. They do everything they can to push it off to others, and then keep their heads down. If no one notices them, no one will think to let them go. I guess that’s one benefit of being an invisible repair worker. I’ll tell ya what, though, every single thing in this building works perfectly. I’ll fire myself on the spot if I hear something we installed or made turns out to be defective. Except for maybe that atrium skylight. That has to be redone. What was that noise?

Microstory 408: Floor 35 (Part 1)

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On behalf of Alpha, Beta, and the rest of the Analion family, I would like to apologize to any clients who have been negatively affected by the recent developments. We also offer our deepest sympathy to the victims and survivors of the recent tragedies. We would like to assure you that safety is our number one priority here at Analion. We are rigorously investigating all issues and complaints, just as we always have. We are also working closely with the authorities to discover exactly what went wrong. At this time, we are not ruling out any cause. We simply do not have enough information to provide you with an accurate explanation, and do not feel that it is our place to do so. We promise to update the public on new information as it comes. We would like to remind you that rarely, if ever, is there a single cause for any given effect. Any number of circumstances could have led to the recent tragedies. Again, we are heartbroken over the loss of three wonderful people, and will take full responsibility should it be deserved. No further comment.

“A little short, don’t you think?” the spokesperson says. “And repetitive.”

“It’s short and sweet,” the writer tries to explain. “You don’t want to give them too many words to dissect and interpret as accepting blame.” Upon witnessing someone falling down through the atrium, he breathes in casually and adds, “it looks like I’m going to have to rewrite our statement either way.”

Microstory 407: Floor 36 (Part 1)

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Even with our current problems, I believe that I’ve done a fine job keeping up with industry trends, and have successfully piloted my company into the future. It’s my responsibility to see both where other companies are headed, and also what they’re missing, so that I can exploit opportunities for growth. I did not technically go to school for this. I actually earned a degree in art history. Why did I do this? Well, you see, it happened to be one of the smaller programs at my institution. This left me more time to study other subjects. And when I speak of other subjects, I’m talking about nearly all of them. I took an introductory course for almost every single field offered. It was more important to me that I have a working knowledge of all subject matter, and to not be an expert in any one of them. My intention was to rise up the ranks of an organization and become some bigwig executive. I suppose you could say that I succeeded in this, but what I’ve discovered is something so much greater than power. My array of education has allowed me to foster relationships with a multitude of employees. I speak a little bit of everyone’s technical jargon, so that when they have a problem, I can at least understand the gist of it. This has allowed me to direct future projects where they should go. I don’t see departments, divisions, or teams. I just see the whole company, and its many parts, working in tandem to build something beautiful. Yes, the current state of affairs has proved that we have gone the other way, but this was not something I could have predicted. I can encourage the executives, managers, and general workforce to go in a particular direction, but that will only get them so far. They must use their own education and experience to actually implement the necessary changes in order to accomplish that. I am only one person, and I don’t have the time or resources to focus on any of the details. I only know what I’m told, and I am beginning to suspect that a great deal of our issues were not being reported to me, and possibly not to anyone who needed to hear it. I feel bad for how things have turned out, but now I must concentrate on myself, and reorganize my priorities. I have to do everything I can to avoid becoming the scapegoat. Wait, what was that? In the atrium.

Microstory 404: Floor 39 (Part 1)

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The vice presidents of Analion did something strange near the beginning of the tower project. The 39th floor was reserved entirely for them, but they instructed the construction team to hold off on it until all other floors had been completed and furnished. This was an odd request, but the construction team accepted it and did as they were told. Their reservations about it remained until the grand opening. There were some complications and setbacks that slowed down their work. Had they spent as much time on the 39th floor as the schedule base had allotted, they would not have completed the job on time. Everyone who realized that the vice presidents were the ultimate cause of the unexpected success assumed that the VPs simply had excellent foresight and time management skills. They did not even consider any other possibility, because what else could it have been? Surely they could not literally see the future? Or could they?

The vice presidents were the most intelligent and insightful members of the company, besides one other. Their problem was that no one ever listened to their ideas. All that work climbing up the corporate ladder, hoping to gain some traction on the future, and nothing seemed to come of it. And so they hatched a plan. Or rather they ceased the plans they had been working tirelessly on since the early days of the organization. They were essentially the only thing standing between the company and its doom. They had always been covertly removing issues from the equation. Very few people were aware of their work, and even fewer were aware that they had stopped. The company started tanking due to the vice presidents’ inaction. Now, that was not to say that they were directly responsible for its demise, they were just tired of keeping it at bay. Their power had grown far beyond anything anyone could comprehend, and Analion was just no longer an appropriate place for them to work. No, it was time to move on. They stood on the 39th floor without anyone having seen them go up there. They stared at the atrium, fully aware of what was about to happen. They then witnessed Alpha’s fall to his death with a cold level of solace, and a perception of slow motion. Alpha perceived it the same way for that brief moment, but was unable to save himself. And then the vice presidents disappeared.