Sime~Gen Roleplaying: District Controller's Office Scenario
Episode #123: But Wait, There's More (12/27/99)
Arat finally manages to drag himself out of bed shortly before noon and drag himself to the office where he does some work in a desultory way.
Arat has the idea that Pylor will think he's been there all morning if he's cleared his desk by the time the Donor shows up for their infirmary shift.
Arat could give a damn what anybody else thinks.
Arat will be satisfied if he makes it to the end of the month without either throwing Pylor off the roof or finding himself in the infirmary as a patient.
Arat's work for the morning consists mainly of sorting things into "must do now", "can wait until next month" and "I can ignore this" piles, and then trying to make the first pile smaller.
Arat eyes the monthly District report and decides since he's never been late submitting one before, he can get away with submitting it late just this once.
Arat moves it from the "must do now" pile to the "can wait until next month" pile.
Arat sits there looking at the three piles.
Arat is still looking at the three piles about 45 minutes later.
Max hurries through the hallways of the 53rd District, on his way to the Controller's office.
Max tries to get his still quivering nager in order while he moves.
Max and all of his co-workers have had a really bad morning.
Max is hoping his boss, Hajene Delora, won't be disciplined.
Max really likes Hajene Delora and doesn't think what happened was her fault, exactly, but when your staff drops the ball, the boss takes the fall.
Max volunteered to bring the bad news to the Controller.
Max has heard the rumors that Controller Arat is even more unstable than usual and knows he is walking into the lion's den.
Max is, unfortunately, afflicted with a curiosity that rivals Need, and was unable to pass up a chance to zlin for himself.
Max arrives at Arat's office and signals at the door.
Arat blinks as the signal interrupts his blank stare.
Arat looks up, then realizes he's just been sitting there.
Arat: Enter!
Arat: [distracted]
Max opens the door and enters the office.
Max stands before the Controller, looking and zlinning crisp and alert.
Arat would ordinarily be irritated if somebody came without an appointment, but in this case he'd first have to check what time it is, then check the schedule book, to have any idea if that was the case.
Arat remembers Max's name after a moment.
Arat: Hajene Max.
Arat knows him mainly as Sosu Meg's husband, who came as part of the package when he finagled her away from another District for use in the pediatrics ward.
Arat had stuck him in the public Sime Center since they had an empty slot for a 2nd at the time.
Max: Controller Arat. I bring an emergency alert from the Sime Center.
Arat looks more alert himself, and none too happy also.
Arat: What has happened?
Arat really hadn't wanted another piece of bad news.
Max: We had a problem with a changeover.
Max: Hajene Fredol has been injured and had to be hospitalized.
Arat starts to get up, thinking Max wants him to come assist.
Max: We are going to need a replacement channel assigned as soon as possible because we were already at minimum staff.
Max: [seeing Arat rise] Hajene Fredol has been stabilized and is not in danger at this point.
Max: But Hajene Delora thought you should be informed right away.
Arat hesitates, and then sinks back down into his chair again.
Arat: I see.
Arat: What exactly occurred?
Arat reaches for his schedule book to see who can be spared.
Max zlins the Controller to see how he is taking the news.
Arat has been temporarily shaken out of his lethargy, but otherwise doesn't seem to be feeling much of anything.
Max: The child changed over as a channel, not a renSime.
Arat pauses and looks up.
Max: So we have the added complication of an inappropriate First Transfer.
Arat of course is wondering why nobody realized in time to make a change in plans.
Arat: I see. [again, this time noticeably displeased]
Max: Hajene Fredol is, of course, a Third, and was unable to handle the speed of the draw without injury.
Max: The Donor assisting him at the time was low-field.
Max notes that Arat zlins tired and apathetic, not the terrifying tyrant that the others have described to him.
Arat has difficulty summoning the desire to go ream out everybody involved, so he just looks at Max for a moment longer and then starts paging through the schedule book.
Max is amazed. Will he really escape this easily?
Max's clinical eye notes the signs of a Sime whose transfer was inadequate and who is not eating and sleeping properly.
Max wonders where the Controller's Donor is.
Max wonders if the stories his wife Sosu Meg told him that the Controller cannot bear to be in the same room with Sosu Pylor are true.
Arat sighs and rearranges somebody's schedule to cover the gap.
Arat: How long is Hajene Fredol expected to be unable to work?
Max: The prognosis is eight days, Controller. He was quite badly burned.
Arat nods.
Arat: Hajene Erdylle will be available to cover for up to two weeks.
Max: Thank you, Controller Arat.
Arat: If there are further problems, I expect to hear from Hajene Delora promptly.
Arat's voice goes sour in a tame version of the icy contempt he would ordinarily have displayed for bosses who hide behind inferiors.
Max: I will tell her. Hajene Delora also wanted to inform you there could be political repercussions.
Arat stares at Max for a long moment.
Max: The child who changed over was the son of Councillor Torwald.
Arat sighs again.
Arat: Very well, I will keep that in mind.
Arat thinks that's just great, all he needs is more political problems.
Max, who was holding his breath, gulps air in relief.
Max: We have already been in contact with the family, of course.
Arat considers canceling the session with Pylor and crawling back into bed, and to hell with the entran.
Arat thinks he will have to send his own letter to the family before he does anything else.
Max observes the despondent zlin of Arat with concern.
Max thinks Arat really needs a Donor badly.
Max is tempted to offer his own support, but knows that this might be interpreted as presumptuous or even insulting in a 2nd order new-kid-on-the-block.
Max: Do you have any other instructions for me, Controller?
Arat: No, that will be all.
Max: Very well, Controller Arat. Thank you for your time and attention.
Max beats a quick retreat.
Arat waits until he's gone, and then buries his head in his hands.