The taxi ride felt endless, the minutes passing sluggishly. The group leaned against each other for support, their heads nodding with tiredness. They tried to stay awake, but their weary eyes kept falling closed, as if begging for rest. Every now and then, one of them would jerk awake, woken by the movement of the taxi. It was a struggle to stay conscious, and the group soon found themselves fighting a losing battle against exhaustion.
Trixie was the first to fully succumb, the tiredness in her weary body catching up to her. Her head drooped onto Esther's shoulder, and she was soon fast asleep. The remaining girls looked at her with envy, wishing they could join her in that blissful state. One after another, the remaining girls nodded off as well. Esther, being fully focused on the road, was the only one who was still awake. She tried to fight the sleep off by looking out the window, but the exhaustion was too much to battle, and she was soon asleep, her head falling forward with a sudden jerk.
The car continued its journey with a driver focused on the road and five girls slumped in the backseat. They were all sound asleep, their features soft and weary. The sight was almost comical, given the seriousness of their mission. The taxi driver noticed their condition and couldn't help but glance at them through the rearview mirror regularly, concern etched on his face. He could tell these girls were far from well, despite their best efforts to appear otherwise.
He couldn't help but wonder what could have caused them to be in such a state. They looked so young, so exhausted. He wished he could do something, anything, to help them. But the only thing he could do now was drive them to their destination safely. The drive continued, the taxi weaving through the city's streets. Occasionally, the driver had to stop at a traffic light or take a sharp turn, causing the girls to shift in their positions. None of them woke up, their exhaustion too deep for such minor movements to rouse them.
The taxi arrived at its destination at last. The driver parked the car and turned around to wake the girls up. He looked at their weary faces, the dark circles under their eyes. "We're here," he announced loudly.
The girls slowly woke up, one by one. They were disoriented, their minds still fuzzy from sleep. It took them a few moments to collect themselves, rubbing their eyes and trying to focus on their surroundings. "We're here, huh...?" Trixie murmured, still struggling to wake up. She looked out of the window groggily, her eyes adjusting to the bright light. The others also opened their eyes and looked out of the windows, trying to make sense of where they were. It took a few moments for their sleep-heavy minds to register that they were at the Meteor Corp headquarters.
The building loomed before them, its sleek and intimidating structure sending chills down their spines. They were all still exhausted, but the sight of the Corp HQ was enough to jolt them into a heightened state of alertness. They all slowly filed out of the taxi, their weary legs struggling to hold them up.
The taxi driver looked at them with concern, his worries about their condition only growing. "Are you girls sure you should be going in there now? You all look like you're barely able to stand…”
"We have to," Trixie said, her voice firm despite her exhaustion. "We're here for a reason, and we can't afford to wait any longer.”
The taxi driver sighed, his worry still etched on his face. "Just...be careful. You all look so tired, I'm worried about your safety.”
"We'll be fine," Trixie said, forcing a weak smile. The other girls looked just as weary, but they nodded in agreement, trying to appear confident.
The taxi driver shook his head, not fully convinced, but he had no choice but to let them go. He watched as the girls stumbled their way to the Corp HQ's entrance, each one of them struggling with fatigue.
They entered the Corp HQ, their tired bodies moving on sheer willpower. The cool air in the building felt sharp against their tired skin, causing a few of them to shiver involuntarily. They made their way to the elevator and stepped in, one by one. They stood closely together, as if trying to draw strength from each other’s presence. The elevator was quiet and smooth, making their ride to the top seem even more endless.
The elevator came to a stop on the top floor, the doors opening with a soft 'ping'. They stepped out, their tired eyes taking in the luxurious surroundings. The top-floor lobby was elegant and spacious, with high ceilings and polished marble floors.
They walked with weary feet towards the reception desk. The receptionist, a pretty young woman with a professional demeanor, looked up at them with a practiced smile. "Good morning. How may I help you?”
"We have an appointment with the Supercomputer Team," Trixie said, her voice hoarse. The receptionist looked them up and down, her smile wavering slightly at the sight of their exhausted faces.
"May I have your names?" she asked, her voice still cordial but with a hint of concern. The girls gave her their names, and the receptionist checked her computer for their appointment.
"Ah, yes, I see you have an appointment with the Supercomputer Team," she confirmed. The girls nodded wearily. "Please, have a seat. Someone will be out to escort you shortly.”
They nodded and took a seat on the plush sofa. The girls sank into the soft cushions, the exhaustion evident on their faces. They tried to focus, but their heavy eyelids kept drooping and their limbs felt like lead. The receptionist continued her work, but her eyes kept darting towards the group, her concern only growing. She wondered what could have caused these girls to look so worn out.
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After a while, a door at the far end of the lobby opened, and a man in a lab coat walked out. He looked around the room until his gaze landed on the tired group. He walked over to them with a polite smile, his gaze softening at the sight of their weary faces.
"Excuse me," he said, addressing the group. "Are you the ones that had an appointment with the Supercomputer Team?”
"Yes," Trixie responded weakly, her voice still gruff from fatigue. "That's us.”
The man nodded, his smile still warm despite his concern. "Follow me, please." He turned and headed back to the door he'd come from, gesturing for the girls to follow.
The group rose from the sofa with weary legs, groaning inwardly at having to move again. They followed the man through the door and down a long, sterile corridor.
The corridor was lined with doors on either side, each one marked with a sign that read 'Authorized Personnel Only'. The man walked a few steps ahead of the girls, glancing back from time to time to check on their condition.
The girls followed him, their tired bodies feeling heavier with each step. They tried to keep their eyes open, fighting against the irresistible pull of sleep. The white fluorescent lights of the corridor seemed to add to their exhaustion.
The man stopped in front of a door marked 'Command Chambers - Restricted Access'. He punched in a code on a keypad and opened the door, revealing a control room filled with high-tech equipment.
The girls followed him into the control room, their eyes trying to take in their surroundings despite their fatigue. The room was filled with monitors, keyboards, and other technological equipment. The hum of the machinery filled the air, providing a constant background noise.
The man gestured to a few chairs in the corner of the room. "Please, have a seat," he said kindly. "I'll let the team know that you're here.”
The girls nodded and slowly made their way over to the chairs, sinking down heavily onto the cushioned seats. The chairs were comfortable, but the girls' weary bodies felt like they were made of concrete.
The man left the room, closing the door gently behind him. The girls were left alone in the control room, the sound of their own breathing seeming to echo off the sterile walls. They all let out weary sighs, their bodies finally able to rest for a moment. They sat in silence, the exhaustion hanging heavy in the air. Every now and then, one of them would jerk awake, startled by the sound of a monitor beeping or the hum of machinery.
The minutes ticked by slowly. The girls were too tired to talk, and the silence grew even heavier. They were all in a state of semi-consciousness, their thoughts slow and sluggish. They were exhausted to the core.
After what seemed like an age, the door to the control room finally opened again. The man in the lab coat returned, followed by a group of individuals dressed in similar attire. Their faces were serious, their expressions a mix of concern and intrigue.
The girls sat up straighter as the group approached, their sluggish minds trying to process what was happening. The newcomers looked them up and down, their gazes lingering on the girls' weary faces. The lead scientist, a tall, serious-looking woman named Dr. Winters, stepped forward. "Good morning," she said, her tone reserved. "I’m Dr. Winters, the head of the Supercomputer Team. You’re here to return Piper to her seat by the Heracles Supercomputer to be hooked back up to it, correct?”
The girls nodded, their tired eyes unable to fully focus on Dr. Winters' face. "Yes, that's right," Trixie responded, her voice a deep rasp.
Dr. Winters' gaze swept over the group, her expression hardening slightly as she took in their exhausted condition. "You all look like you've been through hell," she said bluntly.
The girls nodded, too tired to offer any explanation. Dr. Winters' gaze lingered on them, a frown creasing her forehead. "How long have you been awake for?"
"We...we haven't slept in three days," Trixie managed to choke out, her voice a hoarse whisper. Dr. Winters' eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing her usually stoic face.
"Three days?" she repeated, her voice sharp. "You haven't slept in three days, and you're volunteering to return to the Supercomputer? Are you insane?”
The girls remained silent, their fatigue rendering them unable to come up with a suitable response. Dr. Winters shook her head, her expression hardening further. "This is absurd. You girls need rest, not to strain yourselves any more than you already have. You're in no condition to be near the Supercomputer, let alone interact with it.”
The other scientists murmured their agreement, their expressions a mix of disbelief and concern. The girls felt a mix of shame and guilt, but the fatigue was too strong, and they lacked the energy to argue. Trixie pushed herself to say: "I just didn't want to upset Sarolta, y'know? I'd hate to disappoint my boss, no matter the stakes…”
Dr. Winters' expression softened slightly at the mention of Sarolta. "Yes, I understand that this task is important to you and to your superior. But I cannot in good conscience allow you to proceed in your current state. You're all dangerously fatigued, and the Supercomputer requires absolute focus and alertness. Not to mention the risk to your health.”
The girls hung their heads, accepting the harsh reality of their situation. They knew Dr. Winters was right, but the thought of letting Sarolta down was difficult to bear. But their bodies were so exhausted, they had no strength left to protest.
Dr. Winters sighed, her expression softening even further. "I understand your devotion to your task, but your health and safety come first. We need to prioritize rest and recovery. Once you're all rested and recovered, we can revisit this issue. The task will still be here when you're all fit and ready.”
The girls nodded again, their weary eyes expressing their acceptance of the situation. They knew they were in no condition to return to the Supercomputer, but the guilt of their failed mission weighed heavily on them. Still, the promise of rest was too appealing to pass up.
"I'll arrange accommodations for you all," Dr. Winters said, her tone gentler now. "You can stay here for a few days, where we can monitor your health and ensure that you fully recover before resuming your task.”
The girls murmured their thanks, their weary minds struggling to process the sudden change in events. Despite their disappointment, the promise of rest and recovery was a balm to their exhausted soul.
Dr. Winters nodded, her expression now more concerned than stern. "I'll have one of my colleagues show you to a room where you can rest. I'll handle things here. Please, just focus on recovering."
She gestured to one of the other scientists, who stepped forward and gestured for the girls to follow him. The girls slowly rose from their seats, their movements slow and sluggish. They followed the scientist wordlessly, their weary limbs feeling heavy and drained.