The sun was coming in through the window; Norbert surprised as his phone alarm rang; looking at the ground, Norbert could see sunlight streaming in from the window. He stayed up the entire night looking from one thing to the next, seeing on his screen a video about deep sea fish, not wanting to know the leaps he made to get here.

Getting up, Norbert put on his work clothes, took his backpack, stuffing The Frontier uniform inside, including the boots poking through. Skipping breakfast, just having some water to wet his mouth Norbert texted Jack, notifying him about the package that should be arriving today and to keep an eye out for it.

Leaving for the day, Norbert walked along the street, across roads, making way for cars and past the pizza shop. Before he realised it, it was standing in front of the building for his work. Taking the elevator up, Norbert looked around, finding himself among one of the first in the building.

Walking towards his desk, plopping his bag on the ground, firing up his computer, warming his hands, and cracking them, trying to remember everything he needed. On auto-pilot, starting up all the steps, Norbert moved his mouse around, confirming options and entering passwords.

As the first phone call came through the headset, Norbert started his day at the office.

***

Sitting in the lunch room, just sipping on a coke, having brought nothing in to eat, Henry came around the corner, looking around Norbert, trying to spot something. Norbert continued to sip his drink, not believing how easy it was to get back into the swing of things for work.

Henry looked around the room, not seeing his target. Finally, opening his mouth. "So, what happened with your little pal?"

Norbert moved the can away from his lips, placing it on the table; clasping his hands together, Norbert rested them on his chin before opening his mouth, a whisper coming out, "The birds gone on an adventure … far away."

Henry sat down at the chair, all seriousness on his face. "So, it's not coming back?"

Norbert just smiled in response, unclasping his hands and taking a swig of coke, "Nah, it's coming back. It just wanted to fly around outside for a bit. I don't know when he will come back. But when he does, I'll bring him in again."

Henry clasped his hand to his chest, leaning back in his chair. "Oh, how you had my heart racing; you shouldn't do that to a man, or you could kill him."

Norbert just nodded, finishing the can off. Scrunching it in his hand, he twisted to see the bin before going for it. The can, flying from his hand, shot towards the bin, landing cleanly inside. Norbert saw the bin slightly skid on the ground from his through, forgetting to hold it in but happy that nothing significant had happened.

"Kobe", Norbert said, receiving a fist bump from Jack at the shot. Both have done it many times before, but they still celebrate it.

The two idly chatted about what was happening at work and things coming up that the other would want to know about or remind them of. Having finished his break, Norbert returned to his desk and Henry followed him the pair continuing to chat.

"Hey, Norbert, can you come in for a quick minute?"

Norbert stopped walking, seeing Agatha leaning around the door. Norbert looked over to Henry, seeing him continue to walk back to his desk, giving him a salute as he did so.

Norbert entered the office. "Close the door, please", Agatha requested. Turning around properly, Norbert went and shut the door, and sounds to the outside were cut off; he had now, well, and, indeed, was in the lion's den.

Sitting at the chair on the other side of the desk, Norbert waited patiently, knowing there would be some reason for this.

Agatha scooted her chair closer to the table, clasped hands resting on the table as she said, "Did you bring the bird today?"

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Norbert just shook his head, not uttering a word.

"Damn, thought I could get a picture with the little guy," Agatha said.

Norbert stared in shock, happy he wasn't brought in for another reason. Norbert opened his mouth, speaking, "I'll remember that for next time; anything else you would like, or can I?" Norbert indicated with his thumb to the door.

"Yeah, you can go, and please close the door when you leave."

Norbert just nodded, hurrying out of the strange situation where two people had approached him about the bird. Shaking his head, Norbert headed to his desk, placed his headset on and started working again.

***

After finishing the day, getting a text from Jack saying that he had received the package this morning, Norbert went into a cubicle, changing into his Frontier clothes since most people had already left. Feeling his hands once more covered in leather, Norbert flexed, confirming it moved smoothly.

Stuffing his other clothes in the backpack, Norbert looked at the elevator, walking past and heading for the stairs. Looking at the flights, seeing only several, Norbert wanted to see how quickly he could get down there.

Placing the bag on his back, Norbert vaulted over the railing leading down. Letting go of the handrail, he caught the step he was just on, moving his body around and landing on the stairs directly below where he started.

Looking down at his hand, not believing he could do it, shaking his hands next to him, Norbert leapt over the railing again, dropping by once more and catching his hand on the step before his body moved around.

Twisting his body around mid-air, gripping the railing and sliding underneath, Norbert shot out, covering nearly two flights in just as many seconds. Looking around, Norbert walked down the final flight, opening the emergency exit steps and walking out next to the elevator again.

Outside, Norbert saw the darkness creeping in, the shadows extending. Skipping along the way to his apartment block, Norbert whistled a tune, not caring what anyone else would think of him on his stroll.

Making a detour to go to the convenience store, wanting to wrap the gift for Luck, he entered the shop, browsing their wares. Making his way towards the wrapping paper, Norbert looked through the rolls. He was finally finishing on a pink one with clouds and bunnies.

Walking out of the store with his prize, Norbert made his final way to the apartment.

***

Opening the door, Norbert saw his delivery sitting on the kitchen table. Picking it up, Norbert felt its weight as he shook it around, satisfied that it was a good choice. Taking out the wrapping paper and unfurling it, Norbert placed the box on top and wrapped it up, proud of the work that it didn't look too bad, only like a half-blind person had wrapped it.

Looking around at what to make for dinner, Norbert looked back at the gift, wondering how he could take that around with him for as long as needed. Opening up a drawer, Norbert pulled out a roll of trash bags. Ripping one off, Norbert placed the gift inside, able to sling it over his shoulder when he needed to move around.

Nodding in satisfaction at having solved the problem, Norbert looked around to see if there was something to eat. Opening up the fridge, Norbert saw a loaf of bread inside. Taking out a piece, Norbert bit into it, holding it with his mouth as he brought out another and sat at the table.

Scrolling through his history from the other day, Norbert looked, amazed at the algo and the connections it was making. Going from claymores to sword-wielding to shows about sword-wielding, to cooking shows, to sushi, then to crab catching and finally to the deep.

Amazed at the connections it was making, Norbert was mystified. Pulling the paper out, Norbert read through it as he finished his bread. Writing with his finger the lines of text, copying it over.

After finishing dinner, Norbert could not hear Jack anywhere still. Looking for a piece of paper and a pen in his room. Returning after a successful hunt, Norbert began to write down the again and again, the lines over and over.

Finishing the first page, Norbert flipped it around, writing on the back as well; after the first was filled, Norbert looked at his work, happy. Practising the number system, he was shown Norbert filed the next page with the numbers, doing the slashes in the necessary places.

After finishing all ten pages that he had brought over, going over them multiple times until the result was a mess of squiggles on a page, the writing obvious when pointed out as the longer he wrote, the smaller it became.

His phone flashed with light; looking at the text, Norbert saw it was from Jack saying that he wouldn't be returning for the night. He picked up the phone and texted to stay safe, and he had class tomorrow.

Just receiving a thumbs up in reply, Norbert took his papers and gift up, heading for his bedroom, the all-nighter he pulled the night before only now catching up to him.

Falling onto his bed, still clothed, Norbert smelt himself, the stench off him now wafting up. Having forgotten the last time he had a shower, Norbert quickly got off the bed, raced and unchanged to the shower.

Having showered, Norbert quickly attacked his face with his shaver, cutting off loose and scraggly hair and making a mental note to learn to shave with a razor blade. Happy with a plan in place, Norbert went and picked up his pile of clothes; not wanting to wear them, he also put them in the garbage bag with the present. Tie it to his wrist so if he was sleeping when he was transported. Hopefully, it would come with him.

Sleep coming over him, Norbert closed his eyes, seeing a flash of something just before his eyes closed.