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MessageStream Office #42
Atlantis
Before the fall

 

Mestor stood at the communications center, impatiently waiting for an update. As the messages arrived from around the city through the high-pressure water pipe delivery system, each waterproof container was opened by one of the operators, the destination examined, then redirected if necessary, handed to a runner if it was to be personally delivered, or announced publicly then placed on file for pick up. It was a fantastic system that allowed messages to be delivered quickly and efficiently throughout the city, and it was why he now stood here, waiting for an update on the situation that was developing at the Senate. Professor Ampheres had spoken, some of his group present, and a message had been dispatched, telling him to be ready to act.

“Message for Mestor!”

His heart pounded and he raised a hand, stepping toward the dispatcher. “I’m Mestor.”

“Identification.”

He showed him his ID, and the tied scroll containing his message was handed to him. He quickly stepped away from the crowd, unrolling the page, his eyes widening at the report.

Unbelievable!

Ampheres had said everything they had expected him to, and he had been ignored, exactly as expected. But then he had done something foolish.

Stealing the trident? Is he insane?

It made him a target. Denouncing the government was legal. They couldn’t touch him for his words. But stealing the trident? That would have him arrested for sure, and an arrested man was not only easy to silence in the short term, he was easy to discredit in the long. It had been an idiotic, impulsive action. But what was done, was done, and they had to act quickly if they were to protect him.

He stepped up to the message stand, grabbing several forms, quickly scribbling his messages, then rolling them up and tying them off, making certain the final destination was visible. He handed them over to the dispatcher, then the coins to pay for the express service. He waited to see the messages loaded into the tubes, then the access port on each appropriate pipe opened and the tubes dropped inside, the flowing water whipping them toward their destination. He nodded at the clerk then headed for the dock Ampheres would soon be arriving at. He just prayed that the government hadn’t already sent word to have the Enforcers waiting for the foolish scientist.

Otherwise, there could be blood.