Episode 37 - The Weekday Crew Keeps the Lights On

The first hour was silent.

Then Charles opened up Studio Epsilon, even though it wasn’t on the schedule. Bernard loaded a reel labeled “In Case of Stillness.” It played nothing but elevator music, visual static, and occasional footage of clouds rolling backward.

Nobody complained.

Miss LaDonna rearranged the mugs in the breakroom alphabetically by how often they’d been stolen and returned.

The vending machine refused to dispense anything but peanut butter crackers.

Which was fine.

They all liked peanut butter crackers.

Mariann called in briefly from remote.

“Just checking the waveform stability,” she said. “You know. In case she brings someone back.”

Ralph patched the feed from the Farm.

“It’s behaving. Mostly. One of the scarecrows blinked, but it wasn’t directed at us.”

“Yet,” Mariann added.

Ralph grinned.

Bernard stayed near the Vault, as always.

He was sorting memory reels that hadn’t been created yet. He did that sometimes, when the timeline got heavy.

He paused when one reel slid across the shelf by itself.

Unlabeled. Still warm.

He didn’t touch it.

Just nodded.

Charles took to the roof.

Checked the tower. Adjusted nothing.

Watched the sky for signs of reruns.

Thought about getting snacks for everyone and instead returned with a box labeled “Emergency Confetti.”

He left it at the front desk.

Just in case.

Miss LaDonna brewed the tea again.

The second cup still sat untouched.

Steam rose from it anyway.

As if the station itself knew someone would be back to claim it.

And soon.