The Oasis

Chapter 13

Ch 13

Dr. Lauren swept hair out of her eyes as she walked towards her office door. Meetings, squabbles, and endless circular discussions were not how she liked starting her days. But at least she was free now to return to her office and get some actual work done.

                  She pushed open the door and came to a stop halfway through the threshold as something caught her attention. Her flowers had moved. On the front of her desk stood a folded piece of paper with “Dr. Lauren” written in masculine handwriting. She smiled, closing the door behind her. After her interrupted date at the bistro, Dr. Lauren had watched in stunned surprise and unmitigated horror as Control’s hordes of sentries continued their man hunt. She had heard reports on the news later that the situation had been handled, but nothing more was said about it. Jake had not contacted her afterward, but that was no surprise, as he was probably on the run. Dr. Lauren could only hope for the best given the hard lack of information. She had decided to put it from her mind until things became more clear. Now it seemed, she had a clue.

                  She picked up the note and the can of mechanical flowers propping it up as she came around to the other side of her desk. She flipped the note open with one hand, sitting down in her chair to read the scribbled words.

                  “Sorry we won’t get the chance to watch Robo-Cop. Though I can’t leave you with memories, at least I can leave you with this. The truth.”

                  Dr. Lauren cocked her head at the strange note and set the flowers down, turning the paper over to see if there was anything on the other side. It was blank. As she set the flowers aside, an object fell from within them. Dr. Lauren glanced at the can and saw a COM laying amongst the stems. Apparently it had been placed amongst the other components to disguise itself.

                  She set the note down, then picked up the COM. A message of text repeated across the surface of the band.

                  “New files uploaded.” It said.

                  Dr. Lauren slid them open.