SOWxMCYT

Last Chance

Technoblade. It was an unusual name, but it was his. Techno's parents never explained to him why he was named this, but they had died in an accident two years ago, so he wouldn't ever find out. But at least there was Phil. Techno had met Phil in first grade, they'd been good friends ever since. But when they were twenty-one, Phil moved to go to a school in Cydonia. Techno was left behind in Devalon, working an average nine-to-five office job. If only he had applied to the same school as Phil, maybe they'd have ended up in the same dorm.

But that didn't matter much anymore. Phil met a woman named Kristin at college and got married to her, so he probably wouldn't have paid much attention to Techno anyways. The two rarely spoke anymore. It was sad, because they used to be like brothers. Alas, life had different plans for them. And while Phil was having a successful life in Meridian, Techno was just living in a simple one-bedroom apartment at twenty-eight. He'd gone to a small community college in Hyperia, but ended up dropping out a year later.

Now, Techno was sitting at his desk at work, slaving away so he could afford to live. He was a secretary for a cyber security company, constantly taking calls from angry clients. This particular caller was a Magnorite, who was angry that his computer got hacked. "Well, the more anti-viruses evolve, the more malware evolves along with it. We never said there was a one-hundred-percent guarantee of safety," Techno reasoned. The man was not satisfied in the slightest.

"When I asked for security, I expected security! I want you guys to send an IT over to-" Techno was fed up, "We can't send anyone, we aren't that kind of company. Like I said, I'm just a secretary, I can't do anythin' about your computer gettin' infected." The caller only got angrier. "Can I speak to-" Techno cut him off. "No, you can't speak to the manager, he called in sick. Like any of us believe that."

The caller was confused. "I was going to ask if I could speak to someone who knew how to fix my damn computer, you think I'm like a Karen or something?!" Techno sighed. "Listen, I can-" He looked over at the person at the desk across from him. "Hey, Osivian, can you take this? I have to use the restroom." The Ardoni nodded. The caller was moved to his phone instead while Techno went to find the restroom. 

When he got there, there was a janitor in front of the doorway putting up a barrier. "I'm sorry, sir, but this bathroom is closed due to a leak. You're going to have to use the one on the next floor." Techno growled under his breath as he went to find the stairs. If I don't hurry, there's gonna be another leak. With every step he took, his frustration flowed out slowly. Soon, he didn't feel much of anything anymore. As he stepped off of the last stair, Techno thought about what Phil might think of his situation. He needed advice from someone. He needed help.

"Hello, young man. You seem lost." The voice was unfamiliar. Techno turned around to attempt to identify it and saw an elderly woman standing on the stairs. "Oh, no, I'm just headin' to the bathroom," Techno told her. "I meant that you seem lost in life. In your thoughts," the woman replied. Techno froze. Did she read his mind somehow? Was he muttering something out loud?

"Oh..." The woman lightly chuckled. "The answer is simple. Look for something outside of this old town, other than that Hyperian college." What the heck? How does she know all of this? Techno was beginning to grow nervous. Had this woman been stalking him? Was she one of his superiors? Wait, did she even work here?

"You're likely wondering how I know so much about you. I don't believe I need to tell you that. Just take this advice: get out of town, young man. There will be other opportunities awaiting you," the mysterious woman told him. Techno watched as she strode back up the stairs. When he went to follow her to ask more questions, she was gone. "She left without a trace."