42

Prologue

Nervous. Doctor Jeremiah Brass is nervous. Nervous about his son's Harvard application, nervous about his allergy test results, nervous about his job, but mostly nervous about the fact that director Roberts will be visiting in an hour. Jeremiah really doesn't want to lose another job. Four rooms farther down the dimly lit, A/C duct-like hallway, someone else is nervous. This someone else is subject 42, the alien scientist held captive within these bleak walls and also the reason why director Roberts is visiting Dr. Brass. Unlike the doctor, 42 isn't nervous about jobs, test results, or anything of that matter. What he is nervous about is whether the bomb he just built will be strong enough to break through the suffocating grey walls of his cage. Director Roberts has arrived. Jeremiah anxiously greets the director and walks him over to the main room of the facility. A pen has found its way into the doctor's hand. Click. Click. Click. The director's hand darts out and grabs the pen. "S-Sorry director," Dr. Brass says weakly. "You said you had something to show me, Dr. Brass." Like a lamp turning on, Dr. Brass seems to come alive. "Ah, yes, in fact I do, he says confidently, Computer, bring out subject 42."
Back in the cell, 42 is shaken from his daydream by a familiar voice, the voice of Computer, the one thing that has kept 42 from leaving the facility. "Dr. Brass requires your presence in the main room, 42." "Tell him I'm on my way, Computer." Shortly after a loud explosion is heard followed by a slight vibration. An alarm goes off in the main room. "Cell 42 has been breached, cell 42 has been breached..." "It would seem you have a problem, doctor.", says director Roberts. The doctor doesn't answer. "Don't worry, doctor, I'll handle this." "Computer, assemble the hunters. I want 42 dead." Click. Click. Click. The doctor has found another pen. It's dark outside. The rays from the flashlights on the hunters' rifles swing around like swords of light. A single gunshot rings out. 42 is dead. His body was burned in the incinerator. His ashes floated like moths in the air long after the incinerator was turned off. His tech was never found. Supposedly.