The Fourth Law

Chapter 6, Part 1

She noted while brushing her teeth that her phone had no service. As there was a tower nearby, she suspected that something was up with the provider again. Things were good here, but just not fully back to the 21st Century.

On the way out for Karl and Carli's Saturday morning karate practice, she also saw that her computer had shut down. Odd. Going downstairs, she was a bit surprised to see Carol Lanning in her office.

"Something up?" Lily asked.

Carol shook her head without taking her eyes from the papers. "My husband's sister is visiting, with her four kids." A pause. "I'll take ours over hers, so I came in for a while."

Heh.

The lesson went well, and Lily grabbed an apple and piece of bread from the kitchen before going back. The hospital had asked her if she could come in from ten to two; anything that got her closer to the end of her apprenticeship helped. With a quick change of clothes, she grabbed her bike and was off.

Walking into the hospital, she saw some other staff memberson their phones, so she checked again. Nothing. Okay, we're moving from odd to unusual. With her red 'danger!' scrubs on, she walked up to the fourth floor.

"Mrs. Watters?" Lily asked her charge nurse, "may I borrow your phone for a moment?" Without glancing away from the patient file, the older woman rummaged in one of her pockets and handed it over. Signal. Lily looked at hers. Nothing.

"Uh... something's up with my phone, can I make a quick call?"

"Quick." Watters replied. "We go on rounds in five minutes."

Lily stepped away a bit to look out a window by an elevator. She punched in Ai's number. It rang. And rang. And stopped. That had never happened before. For the first time in a long time, Lily got a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Two hours and one reprimand later, she went again to the roof for lunch. She'd never lost contact with her friend like this before, and until now hadn't realized just how important that contact was. And that was affecting her work: "People are sick on weekends, too, dearie, try to be all here!' Mrs. Watters said. Lily took a bite of her cucumber sandwich. Ai! What's happened?

Her phone vibrated.

She dropped her sandwich and grabbed at it. Oh, a message from Carol. But that meant service was back! She quickly scanned the message, then called Ai, who didn't answer again.

"Dammit!" she cried, startling some nearby birds. She should have asked the others, Thaad and Dorina, what their numbers were. Next time... A look at her watch told her lunch was almost over. As she walked downstairs, she tried Ai again. And again.

Dammit!

After work she pedaled furiously back home. She came into the U so quickly, she almost rode over Rob and Susie. They stared at her as she jumped off and trotted for the Office. And kept staring. She stopped.

"You guys need something?" She asked. She saw Matt wandering over, too.

"You said you'd take us to the park today!" Rob said brightly.

She did? She did. She took a deep breath.

"Let me use the bathroom," she replied. "I'll be back in just a bit." Susie sighed.

She dashed up to her room and restarted her computer. It was up by the time she'd finished in the bathroom. She launched her messenger...'Ai – unavailable.' Maybe if she did a search? No, the kids were waiting; she'd have to get this sorted later. Back outside, she smiled and waved.