Echoworld

"So...you bond the nuclei together and..." Wren muttered under her breath as she peered into the microscope. "Aha." Turning her attention from the microscope, she jotted something down on her notepad. The intercom buzzed.

She sighed and raked her fingers through her long auburn hair, then pressed the button. "Yes?"

"Wren, the Wolf wants to see you." Nina's high-pitched voice carried clearly over the connection.

Wren felt her stomach drop. The Wolf, Mr. Wolfe, was the president and executive of the company, and an ill-tempered one at that. Being called to his office was akin to being sent to a verbal firing squad. Most people who went in there lost their jobs. "Why?"

"I don't know, hun, but I'd hurry if I were you. He's no feelin' too cheerful."

"All right. Thanks, Nina."

"Mm-hm."

Wren carefully moved her newest experiment to a far corner of her desk. Gotta love stainless steel technology, she thought wryly.

She stood, knees popping, and straightened her skirt unnecessarily. She kept her head down, as if in deep though, during her short trip to the Wolf's Den. She didn't need idle conversation right now.

The carpet beneath her dress shoes was thick and forest-green. Wren followed the well-traveled path, not glancing up at the cubicles and laboratories that she passed. She stopped when she reached the heavy mahogany door with the brass doorknob. Taking a deep breath and saying a quick prayer to the good spirits, she opened the door.

"...next week. Good." The Wolf hung up the phone and concentrated his icy blue eyes on Wren. "Well, come in girl. I haven't got all day."

Wren did as she was told and watched the man for any signs that she'd get to keep her job.

The sun glistened through the windows and off the Wolf's shiny bald head as he spoke. "As you know, Tritech is my dreams come to life." Wren nodded, unsure where he was going with this. "And as you probably know, dreams, like everything else, sicken and die." Oh, great. "Wren, we're going to have to start letting some of our underlings go. And I'm afraid you're one of them."

"Underlings!" she cried out furiously. "I'm not one of the underlings." She composed herself, but barely. "Sir, if you will recall, I was one of the leaders of the Heisenberg Project." The Wolf began writing on a pad, seemingly ignoring Wren. "Yes, well. Life's not fair. And you are my youngest employee. I can't very well let Aaron go, now can I? He's too old to find another job, and he has a family to support." He looked up. "Wren, I'm sorry. I really am." His eyes said otherwise, as he returned to his paperwork, businesslike once again. "I expect you to have your work area cleaned out by the end of the day."

Wren stared at the man in disbelief. Because she was the youngest employee? What kind of excuse was that? She rose, thanked him graciously, and left his office, slamming the door on her way out.

Shaun lay on the couch of his apartment, staring at the ceiling. He wore his loose black work pants and shoes and no shirt. His brown hair was spiked. The television was on, relaying the day's news to his unheeding ears.

"The town of Andorville is in flames. The cause is yet unknown, but many suspect it is the work of Lady Wren -" Shaun got up suddenly and turned it off.

"Great. That woman is crazy." He ambled into the kitchen, still talking to himself. "I haven't had a job in awhile.