ref: a00feb029ddcea6188f4324169e5f2b6a389de4e
dir: /troff/_-0306.ms/
.PP .ps 10 None of it was real. Stan imagined himself participating in... whatever this was supposed to be. But that was as far as it went. The other players may or may not have existed, and Stan may or may not have really known they existed. Certainly, none of these characters resided along his mail route. And who could he tell? He'd take long breaks from playing his guitar. .PP .ps 10 Stan didn't know this was all being recorded. .PP .ps 10 The team relied on him more than he knew. There had to be a conduit between the Chief and his men in the field. Experiments with Dimension Man's portals had failed; information must be transmitted by an alert, engaged consciousness (Dimension Man, distracted as he was by his other duties, could not fulfill this requirement). Stan might be inexperienced, but he was \fIthere,\fR and he could just about do the job. Anyway, the Chief believed in him. .PP .ps 10 This all left Stan in an uncomfortable position. On the one hand he was happy to help, but on the other hand he had been telling himself for some time now that none of this was real. Well, maybe it didn't matter. Maybe the unreality of the situation need not impede his performance. Stan resolved to maintain a positive attitude. He decided to keep his head down and forge ahead. Forward, like. .PP .ps 10 Next day, when the Chief called Stan into his office, he was relieved. Now he'd find out what this was all about. Maybe he'd even get a new assignment. .PP .ps 10 "Have a seat," the Chief sad. .PP .ps 10 Stan did so, automatically performing a quick site survey of the objects displayed around the office. Not much to speak of. He wondered how long the Chief had been operating out of this location. "Nice chairs, boss," he said. .PP .ps 10 The Chief paused long enough for Stan to become worried he'd said something irretrievably stupid. Then he began to speak, which to Stan's way of thinking was worse than the wondering. .PP .ps 10 "A periodic review of your performance records has revealed that your presence on away missions is literally more trouble than it is worth. Effective immediately you shall remain aboard ship and relay mission data to me that has been transmitted to \fIyou\fR via telepathic means by the newest member of our team..." .PP .ps 10 The Chief depressed a small switch on the side of his desk and the narrow door in the wall behind him slid open. Foley: [SCHLICK] .PP .ps 10 "...Cy\-bra." .PP .ps 10 The Chief leaned back in his swivel chair and made a tent with his hands. Seeing that Stan had noticed the affectation, he doubled down on the oblique gesture, substantiating the master/servant relationship. Place it in your memory. .PP .ps 10 Cy\-bra emerged from the Chief's small closet and nodded to Stan. Unsure what to do, Stan nodded in return. .PP .ps 10 "Since the two of you will be working together closely, I imagine you'll appreciate this opportunity to get acquainted." .PP .ps 10 The Chief stood up, exited, leaving them to settle the question between themselves. .PP .ps 10 Stan was more confused than ever.