The pod bed started buzzing and jerking Charlie up from a fairly unusual dream he'd had with a "tzzztz" sound. However, there was no time to linger on it since his workday had just started. He had to shave, take a shower, and, ideally, be at the bus stop on time. He opens the door to his spacious 3" by 10" unit with his morning routine already planned out. One of the more recent types, his pod was just last week installed in the building. He'd say it was money well spent because the apartment had a private safe for valuables built in, a washer that could handle little more than two outfits at once, and a beautiful 6 foot bed. He opens the safe and takes out his wallet, keys, and staff bag. Before going downstairs to use the public showers, he goes to the washer to get his work clothes and a towel.
On his way down, he notices one of his neighbors. Dave, who rented the pod directly across from Charlie, is a jerk. Charlie is discovered before he can return upstairs. "Hey there, Maan!" How are things going? I've been meaning to talk to you." "Hello, Dave." I'm just trying to get by and find work-"So I recall you mentioning you used to play planetary guardians, so--" And, after a somewhat one-sided 15-minute discussion about a semi-popular war game, Celestial Swords 3000, something Charlie hasn't played since he was a kid and had made the mistake of talking about only once before, he proceeds to prepare himself. It wouldn't be so bad if Dave didn't 1) insist on knowing everything about the lore, 2) ruthlessly interrupt everyone around him and, when brought up, act as if you were the one who was rude, and 3) appear to use his knowledge of the game in question as a sort of superiority badge, that he's better than you for knowing it. All of this, combined with Charlie never seeing him leave the complex, leads Charlie to believe he's some CEO's kid, sent out into the world to "learn what it's like out there." However, now that he thinks about it, Dave had met up with him the day before, discussing a very similar topic. Perhaps Dave forgot? Nah, the man seems to remember everything in CS3000; perhaps it's simply bizarre déjà vu.
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Despite the wait, Charlie arrived in time for the bus; lucky him, transit must be running a little late today. Charlie grumbles as he pays the usual fare and finds his seat since the travel to the office is just too far to walk but just too quick by bus. It hit him again halfway through the drive, like deja vu, but unlike a simple discussion with Dave, a sort of pecking in the back of your mind, warning bells were going off. The red car across the street with the important-looking man messing around at the door was all too familiar. The criminals in the alleyway crowded together, the road closure signs ahead of Charlie's typical path. all at once, he remembered, the bus sped right past the automobile as the man opened the door, and Charlie's world was engulfed by fire. This time, panic had him tripping from his seat toward the front of the bus, like an intoxicating narcotic. He pushed through people while going swiftly and at the same time what felt like a snail's pace to get to the driver. Stuttering over his words, fumbling to string a sentence together, all Charlie could say was "A Bomb" before his world was engulfed in flames once more, and all of that day was nothing but a memory.
"tzzztz"…."tzzztz"…..