The Mina Marz Incident

CHAPTER FIVE

Melinda wasn't a morning person. She normally rolled over at least twice to gather her bearings. That wasn't the case today. The warmth on her face and invading light put Melinda's subconscious on alert, for the sun didn't hit that side of her apartment in the morning. Opening her eyes, full of adrenaline, her physical response increased when the first thing she saw was Mina's face two inches from her own. Bolting upright, she realized she was still on the thirteenth floor of the ExpoTronics building, although had no memory of how she got to her current position.

"What in the world?" she whispered as she looked with concern at her peers on the surrounding floor. One by one she confirmed they were breathing. From all appearances they were sound asleep. She tried to remember what happened, but even seeing Dean there was a surprise.

When did he get here?

The last thing she remembered was sitting at her desk working on the defense contract patch. She had been repairing holes that Kenzie located and trying to duplicate Mina's illogical keystrokes that led to a complete software explosion. From her seated position, she looked around and saw the pizza boxes scattered around their work station.

Pizza? Did we order pizza? Were we drugged?

Slowly standing and holding her head that pounded with remnants of a hangover, she wondered if she should wake the others or let them sleep it off.

Coffee. I'll make coffee.

Stumbling, she reached towards the window pane to steady herself, immediately distracted by the street below. There were people laying on the sidewalks. Cars had collided with each other, now motionless and in great disarray. Despite the silence and lack of movement, the scene appeared more chaotic than the stress of the normal busy traffic routine.

What the hell?

The billboards on the street, many that normally streamed the morning news, offered only static. From her towering perspective, it looked like the entire city had just passed out.

Changing her mind, she reached down and gently nudged Kenzie and Mina. Their three brains made a triangle of logic she depended on daily. Perhaps they could help her understand. Perhaps they remembered.

"Mina? Kenzie? Wake up."

Kenzie responded first.

"I'm up. I'm up. Melinda? What are you doing here?" whispered Kenzie groggily, not yet opening her eyes but recognizing the voice.

"I think a better question is: What are we doing here?" said Melinda, waiting for Kenzie to squint into the morning light and recognize her surroundings.

"Wha-wha-what happened?" asked Kenzie holding her head. "Did we drink last night or something? I'm confused."

"Me too. You don't remember anything either?"