Flash Fiction

On every Continent Cruiser there is at least one director's carriage. It is true that even on some of the loops minor connecting lines there are some with corresponding carriages, but they are nothing compared with the ones on the loop. They are known as Mariposa Suites. They are opulence in a society otherwise without gratuitous demonstrations of decadence. They are a widely known secret. They are on occasion the target of the so called extreme luddite faction of the NFTA.

I have never been in one. Until now. A few weeks ago, it was early in the morning before my work day began. My wrist wrap started buzzing wildly. Wildly was a little of an understatement, overwhelming understatement. In fact I hadn't, and no one else I asked had, known they could do that. It scared the shit out of me. Then it started flashing. Wrist wraps are difficult to get off even when you're calm and relaxed. The skin insertions make it difficult. But that's what I tried to do and then when I realised it wasn't doing any harm, I did the relaxing thing. I took deep breaths karma really deep breaths. As I relaxed the buzzing and flashing eased. I realised that a message I was scrolling across the face of the wrap. The message said that I should go to an office in downtown two days later. I did, and now I'm here, about to enter a Mariposa suite.

As I approach the stationery cruiser my wrist wrap glows blue, I've been warned that this would happen. Then as I walk towards the rear carriages the blue changes to a sort of gold colour and the entrance ramp to the sweet folds down. A large, muscled security operative occupies the doorway. He looks intently at my wrist wrap, his eyes change colour to match my wrap. He may not be human. I haven't been warned about that but so many things have happened in the last few days that I wouldn't be beyond surprised. He moves aside, it is my invite inside. I walk cautiously up the ramp, its surface has a gentle give that absorbs my weight I am told that I am to meet with Brendon. Moving into the carriage away from the entrance, interior lighting increases. I realise then why they are called Mariposa, the colours, purples, yellows, pinks and oranges. Contrast with this, the character sat in all white robes. He's overweight and speaks in similar tones. Is Brendon and he is offering me a job. Not a job, so much as work, private work for Brendon. The obvious question and he just smiled, explaining in his flowery manner. DNA trial. My father, I never knew him, carried out similar work for Brendon and others of his like. Successfully, very successfully. I clearly looked bemused because he said, it's in your DNA. We can see it. But I was a simple production line worker, contributing what I could. You will be good at it. Go home and wait. And that is it.

I'm heading down the ramp when my wrist wrap starts doing the buzzing thing. I take a deep breath and look down. My credit account is increasing rapidly. I have never seen it do that before. I have a feeling I might find that these wrist wraps can do an awful lot more than I ever knew.