first ♢ voice

[versusnurture]

[Abigail's voice quavers, as though she's uncertain of the connection, like someone making their first long-distance call. She starts out firm and then peters out into uncertainty, the tail end of her first sentence almost a question.]

My name is Abigail . . . Hobbs.

I'm not sure how I got here, but I'm here now. [A pause; who to ask for?] I'm looking for Dr. Alana Bloom. She's tall with dark hair. She was supposed to check in with me this morning, but instead I'm here.

Are there - [And here she inserts a little more tremor than necessary into her voice, because she doesn't know what else to do right now - ] Are there letters home? That kind of thing? How does this work? Because I need to talk to my dad.

Comments

voice;

[themissingpiece]

Familiar with the feeling?

voice;

[versusnurture]

Of course. Isn't everyone?

voice;

[themissingpiece]

Not everybody, not like this.

voice;

[versusnurture]

Hm.

[She won't admit that she is, not out loud, not publicly. But she won't deny it either.]

voice;

[themissingpiece]

My deal with the Admiral is worth whatever this place throws at me.

If you make it through this redemption thing, you could get your own deal and get you to a place where you're not dead.

voice;

[versusnurture]

That might be nice.

voice;

[themissingpiece]

Not dead is nice. Where'd you go if you could?

voice;

[versusnurture]

Um. I don't know. I haven't been many places.

College, probably.

voice;

[themissingpiece]

Got a major in mind?

voice;

[versusnurture]

Biology.

voice;

[themissingpiece]

That could lead you into a few different fields. You like it? Biology, I mean?

voice;

[versusnurture]

It's all right. It's interesting, and I know a lot about it.

voice;

[themissingpiece]

That's something, I guess. I never got a chance at college myself.

voice;

[versusnurture]

Why not?

voice;

[themissingpiece]

Prison. Ended up owing some guys in there that kept me in debt after I got out. Going to school isn't exactly in the cards with these guys.

voice;

[versusnurture]

Maybe you can go back.

voice;

[themissingpiece]

I have a different purpose now. I'd rather live to see my daughter go.

voice;

[versusnurture]

. . . I didn't know you were a dad.

voice;

[themissingpiece]

You just met me.

Her name's Cindy, she's seven. She's part of the reason I'm here. It'll keep the same things that happened to me from happening to her.

voice;

[versusnurture]

Well. Yeah.

Um. That's good, though.

[She is suddenly, intensely, violently jealous of Cindy.]

voice;

[themissingpiece]

You said something about contacting your dad. What'd you want to say?

voice;

[versusnurture]

Oh, I just - wanted to make sure he's safe.

He probably isn't.

voice;

[themissingpiece]

What makes you say that?

voice;

[versusnurture]

He does dangerous stuff sometimes.

voice;

[themissingpiece]

What kind of stuff, if you don't mind me asking?