Season 1, Episode 4 - The Microwave Postpostscript - "The Effin Train Ride"
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Monday night. Mackenzie tossed her bag to the floor and slumped onto her bed, finally back at her second-floor apartment in that small complex in Elizabeth Pond at long last.
What a weekend...
As Sunday drew to a close, Mackenzie hopped on the train at Pennacook Station, waving goodbye to the people who saw her off on the platform – her maid, her old tutor, and Lynn’s family, all seven children, all fourteen aunts and uncles, all of Lynn’s two parents. The train’s whistle rang out, and Mackenzie relaxed in her seat as the platform disappeared from view in favor of the – brief hills and forests – that quickly turned back into the urban jungle.
Pennacook Station - and the city itself - sat on the huge Saguenay-Acushnet Railroad, which stretched from that Canadian city (well, Canadian warlord city under the control of the St. Lawrence Raiders) in the north to the New England port city at Buzzards Bay in the south. New England once owned all of it, but its loss in the First American War forced it to give up its rights to the Canadian side of the line. Nevertheless, trains still chugged along it, and this one in particular took her through Neponset on the northern bank of the Charles; she saw smoke clouds gently rise upward from factory chimneys against the deepening twilight. She saw raggedy-dressed pedestrians passing under flickering streetlamps, as well as several homeless being ushered away by New England Transit Authority employees at Neponset Station, lit by the eerie, low glow of gaslamps.
The train then passed over the Kendall Bridge, and the poverty gave way to ultimate luxury. Parts of Neponset still used horse-drawn carts, for crying out loud! This time, the train passed by sleek Brazilian-made Model Litorals parked in front of well-lit movie theaters and night clubs.
As the train neared Kendall Station, Mackenzie’s jaw slackened at the sight of Kendall Bridge’s most iconic landmark (outside the bridge itself, she supposed): the massive, massive Jiǔshíjiǔ Corp ShenzenVision housed at the top of the Tower of Babel, the huge skyscraper that served as the headquarters for Cambridge University. It was the largest television Mackenzie had ever seen (and the fifth-largest television in the former United States, just behind the ShenzenVisions in the San Francisco Legation Quarter and New York City, according to one of Lynn’s brothers). And it was in color! Just before the train pulled into the station and rendered the ShenzenVision out of view, Mackenzie caught a glimpse of the same sight everyone else on the main street of Kendall Bridge could see: a list of low-interest, easy loans from Squanto Bank transitioning into an advertisement for the newest winter jackets out of Shanghai.
Mackenzie pulled out a small notebook from her bag to remind herself to look for those jackets in the monthly sales catalogues that were delivered to her house.
After departing Kendall Station, the train snaked to the northeast, heading through the tall skyscrapers of the Financial District, the city's central station awaiting her. The train passed through the wide opening at the edge of the cavernous Adams Station, coming to a gradual halt as the track ended. Its whistle echoed across the building, indicating it was time to get off. Mackenzie kept her head down as she exited the train, stepping across the platform, because she needed to catch the last train out to Elizabeth Pond. She had plenty of time, of course, but Mackenzie was the kind of person who never felt right until she actually arrived at her destination.
The train out of Pennacook had arrived in one of the lower sections of Adams Station; Mackenzie joined the thousands exiting their trains, heading up long staircases illuminated by chandeliers, passing by the thousands heading in the other direction, for trains heading elsewhere in the city, or to the suburbs, or maybe even mill towns; while Saturday visits to Narragansett were most common, Sunday visits were also pretty popular (not to mention visits for the entire weekend).
Mackenzie did put her head up occasionally to check for signs; she needed them, for there always the danger of getting lost and going in circles among the labyrinth layout of the Station. She knew she needed to head upward, and after a few more staircases, she sighed in relief at a sign indicating trains for Elizabeth Pond and West Narragansett.
Mackenzie arrived on the platform, a wide, concrete slab that could fit two separate tracks for trains. Though it was a weekend, the platform seemed unusually packed for this time of day (or night, rather). Mackenzie couldn’t even find a spare bench, so she managed to find a spot against the wall to lean on. She raised her head up, following the beige and occasionally-gold colored walls all the way to the top, where they intersected in a huge ceiling illuminated by dozens of chandeliers. The walls were occasionally checkered by large windows that let in the moonlight from outside.
Mackenzie watched a plane fly across the night sky, then felt a ping of jealousy when she saw the still-empty tracks.
Oh, well. I guess I am pretty early.
She sighed, then pulled out her notebook, deciding that was as good of a way to pass time as any. She flipped through several pages. Let’s see...buying the New York Minute set me back quite a bit...but when next month’s allowance comes in, I’ll be able to afford the Shanghai jackets just in time for the cold. What color? Red? Green? Blue? Do I want a warranty? Do they sell warranties? Am I just thinking of questions to pass the time?
She looked at a large clock high up on the station’s walls. Huh, I guess random questions did pass the time. The train should be here just about...five minutes ago?
Mackenzie looked around. Many of the people in the platform looked just as confused as she did.
After twiddling her thumbs and passing the time by thinking up vacation destinations for next summer (Berlin looked so nice, Paris reminded me of home with the amount of soldiers patrolling the streets...maybe Florence this time?), Mackenzie glanced at the clock again.
Half an hour late?
Unacceptable. I need to speak my effing mind to someone.
And she didn’t think effing.
Mackenzie left her spot on the wall and joined other passengers in surrounding a nearby NETA employee who was trying to get control over the situation.
“People, people, please!” he yelled out. “Everyone, calm down.”
“Where’s the train?” someone from the crowd called out.
The NETA employee sighed. “All trains to and from Elizabeth Pond have been suspended for the night.”
That drew a roar of disapproval from the crowd.
“And how come?” someone yelled out.
The NETA employee glared at the crowd. “It’s because the State Police brought justice to your district! They’ll call it a raid in your papers, but you all got what was coming to you!”
A wave of anger exploded from the crowd. As the NETA employee answered swears from the crowd with his own, two Military Police officers threatened passengers with their night sticks and dragged the NETA employee of out of there.
Worried and anxious conversations echoed throughout the crowd. What was the first response (or maybe just a response) to something unexpected happening? Finding more information!
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The crowds rushed for the telephone station on the wall, but Mackenzie was already at a booth, looking at Lynn’s phone number in her notebook as she spun the dial.
After a few rings, the line picked up.
“Hello, this is the...geez, what’s Mackenzie’s last name? Well, this is the Mackenzie residence. She’s out right now-”
“Lynn, this is Mackenzie!”
“Hiya, Mackenzie!” Lynn greeted nonchalantly. “I’m just watering your plants, no big deal, right as rain, good as sunshine, and what a nice microwave you have here-”
“Lynn!” Mackenzie interjected. “Are you okay? What happened?”
Mackenzie could imagine Lynn’s easy smile as she answered. “I’m alright. Audrey called me up and asked if I was alright, and she said everybody she knew was alright as well, so I guess everyone here’s alright. Well, I mean, I guess they shot other people, so they’re not alright-”
“So you and all of our friends are okay?”
“I think so, fortunately.”
Mackenzie sighed in relief. “Thank God.” She rubbed her temple in an attempt to wash away a growing headache. “Why did the State Police attack us?”
Mackenzie could make out an uneasy sigh from Lynn over the phone. “You must’ve missed it, but Chief Amien spoke over the radio and televisions. He said something about how we live lives of luxury and we're harboring dissidents and how we’re the bad kind of capitalist.”
Mackenzie imagined Lynn wrapping the phone cord around her finger. “That reminds me. I actually checked my dictionary out and learned what capitalism is. I made a promise to someone today that I was going to learn about stuff like that. Private ownership, Mackenzie. Capital accumulation! All these words I don’t know about.”
We learned about that political science class...
That’s what Mackenzie wanted to say, but she supposed it wasn’t the time to say things like that. Except there was always time for Mackenzie to say that things like that, so she did.
“Wow, really?” Lynn answered in astonishment. “I know my grades aren’t the best, but I didn’t know I was missing this much! Guess I better keep learning, especially with midterms coming up-”
“Lynn,” Mackenzie interjected, her voice growing serious. “Do you have any idea about what I’m supposed to do? I might be stuck in a train station all night. It doesn’t even look like they’re offering hotel rooms or cab rides or anything.”
“Hmm...there are still trains running back to Pennacook. I’ll call my folks and have them get you from the station.”
“I don’t want to impose like that.”
Mackenzie imagined Lynn waving her concerns away. “It’s alright. My parents are nice people, they’d understand. Heck, you know Joel would make sure they come get you. Did he go telling you all about the ShenzenVisions again? He asked me for help with a marriage proposal for you this past summer. If he didn’t give it you by now, he must’ve chickened out.”
“Well, it was a nice proposal...” Mackenzie admitted. “But I had to shoot him down. I’m sixteen, and he’s nine...that age gap might raise some eyebrows, don’t you think?”
Lynn chuckled over the phone. “I hope you let him down gently. But anyway, don’t worry about it. My folks love you. It won’t be a problem.”
“You sure?”
Mackenzie could imagine Lynn nodding her head, then remembering she was on the phone. “Positive.”
Mackenzie sighed in relief. “Thanks, Lynn. I’ll try to catch the first train back to Elizabeth Pond tomorrow.”
“Ah, no rush,” Lynn answered. “School’s cancelled anyway, so take your time.”
Mackenzie chuckled. “You know me. No guarantees. Take care, Lynn.”
“Bye!”
Mackenzie hung up the phone, getting out of the way just as the next person in line scrambled for it. She kept her head down and made a beeline straight for the platform that could take her back to Pennacook.
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Lynn’s family ended up convincing Mackenzie to stay for a lot longer than she anticipated (they were also her ride back to the station), so Mackenzie only ended up back in her apartment, slumping in relief in her bed, at twilight on Monday night.
Lynn hadn’t been there to greet her due to homework (Mackenzie herself always did her weekend homework right on Friday evening) so Mackenzie had the room all to herself. Well, she supposed she usually did, but it would be nice to see her immediate friends again after a weekend away.
But there really is nothing better than getting back into your bed after a long separation from it.
Mackenzie was content to lay there in her clothes and drift off to sleep, but she actually wasn’t, so she got up and got changed. Right as she finished putting on her pajamas, there was a knock on the door.
“At this hour?” Mackenzie questioned, knowing full-well she wanted to see her friends about three minutes ago.
She opened the door, her face looking rather annoyed. “Yes, what is it-”
She seized up and blinked. She took a hesitant step back and twirled a strand of blonde hair around her finger and spoke quietly. “Uh...you should’ve called ahead if you were visiting...I’m indecent right now...”
Standing in the doorway, Clayton yawned, then smiled. “Evening, Marissa.”
She felt her heart break. “...it’s Mackenzie.”
Clayton chuckled. He wore the green, mottled-colored combat uniform and longcoat. “Sorry, too many M names and not enough coffee tonight, amiright?”
Mackenzie laughed harder at that joke than she would have had anyone else said it.
“Can I come in?” Clayton asked.
Mackenzie looked around her room. “Um...maybe in a second, I need to clean up a little...my clothes are all over the floor, and I didn’t even make the bed, let alone dinner for you...”
Clayton shrugged. “I’m not here for your bed. I’m here for your microwave.” He glanced around. “Can I take a look at it?”
Mackenzie went red and gulped. “Ahaha...um, well, you see...”
She looked at her feet. If only I could speak as well as Reed can.
She stepped away from the door and let Clayton inside. He found the microwave on the counter and placed a palm on it, little sparks of Rddhi appearing in his hand.
Mackenzie thought she was going to faint. “Clayton...I’m so sorry when I bought it I didn’t know that it was a New York Minute but it’s a New York Minute and I know that’s illegal and I’m sorry and I know that must make you disappointed in me but I swear I’m a good person and a probably even better wife oh man what am I saying...”
Clayton yawned. “Huh? Did you say something?”
Mackenzie wanted to slap him.
Clayton gestured at the microwave. “I know this is a New York Minute. But what I know and what you don’t know is that this was booby-trapped.”
“...booby-trapped?”
“When this interacts with the Rddhi, it sets off the booby-trap,” Clayton explained. “It creates a golem that attacks people and playground equipment.”
Mackenzie didn’t understand. She looked at her New York Minute. It was on her counter like it always has been, and Lynn even had the courtesy to wipe it down until it shone. “But I’ve been using the Rddhi on it for a while.”
Clayton scratched his forehead. “Oh...I guess I should’ve explained that better.” He raised his hands defensively. “Well, you see...I don’t want to sell anybody out, and I’m sure your friend meant well, but...”
He patted the microwave. “This is Audrey Adzinoki’s New York Minute.”
“...what?”
“Audrey set off her booby-trapped New York Minute yesterday,” a Military Police officer said from the doorway. The insignia patch on his shoulder indicated the rank of Captain, and his nametag read Kelb. “She ended up destroying the golem, but the microwave was launched across the district in the process. Clayton helped us investigate today. We tracked its Rddhi waves to this location.”
“And this is the right microwave,” Clayton confirmed.
Mackenzie took a step back. “But...I’ve had that microwave for a few months now...I just left it alone with Lynn for a weekend-”
Mackenzie realized what had happened and couldn’t tell what she was more mad about: that Lynn touched her effing microwave despite Mackenzie specifically asking her not to; that Lynn decided to find an effing replacement instead of just telling her the truth; or that Clayton hadn’t ripped her effing pajamas off and thrown her onto the bed yet.
And she didn’t think effing for any of those.
Mackenzie shook her head and pushed those thoughts away (okay, she stored that last one for later).
“So...this New York Minute isn’t actually my New York Minute...and it’s booby-trapped?”
“We don’t think it is anymore,” Kelb clarified. “We think it only had the ability to be activated once. But still, better safe than sorry.”
Clayton nodded. “Yep, sorry, but we have to seize this.”
Mackenzie’s eyes widened as he saw Clayton unplug the microwave and carry it away. Kelb held the door open as he left. “Goodnight,” Kelb said with a nod. He left just like that, closing the door behind him.
Mackenzie immediately threw open her door and charged onto the walkway, spooking another Military Police officer so badly that he stumbled backwards into the railing. A lollipop fell from his pocket and landed in a dumpster below the walkway.
Mackenzie ignored the crestfallen officer and yelled at Clayton as she arrived at the top of the staircase. “You can’t just take my microwave! And you didn’t even say goodbye!”
Halfway down the stairs, Clayton stopped and looked back at her. “Oh, sorry. I thought I did.” He flashed a smile that melted Mackenzie’s heart. “But anyway, this is dangerous,” Clayton explained, gesturing with the microwave. “It might hurt you or someone else. We need to lock it away and study it so it can’t happen again.”
He held the microwave and pointed a finger gun up at her. “And besides, I know who you are, Marissa. You got good grades and a good future. I don’t think contraband like this suits you.”
He fired the finger gun and departed.
The other MP had sunk to his knees with a thousand-yard stare on his face; Kelb helped him to his feet and the two departed as well. Mackenzie watched them until they disappeared from sight; she heard the sound of a car engine starting.
She gripped the walkway’s railing.
“...it’s Mackenzie!”