Chapter 18
"OK," Darin said the next morning, "just stick with us and we'll walk together to the ID Office. It's about fifteen blocks, but since you still don't want to take the PODS, we'll just have to walk the whole way."
"Yes, yes, we know, it's just like yesterday," Doug muttered. He didn't like the way Darin seemed to be acting as their baby sitter. He felt that he could certainly fend for himself, even in these new, somewhat unfamiliar surroundings. Darin glanced over at Lyla, who simply shrugged. They left the lab and started walking in the direction of the ID Office.
Though they were not gawking and looking around as much as the day before, the three were still amazed by their surroundings. They walked past the PODS station and ventured outside of the historic district, into an area they had not yet seen. The number of people milling about the streets increased exponentially. The sidewalks were even wider in this area. Hover taxis would land in the narrow tarmac center to deposit their passengers, get new ones, and whisk away just as quickly as they had arrived.
This area was apparently a strong commercial district. Storefronts showed off their wares in windows next to large signs proclaiming sales. As they passed these shops, Thomas glanced in the windows--not able to take a lot of time of course as they were walking at a fairly decent clip--but what he did see was completely unlike what would be seen in the typical shops of his day. Most of the stores seemed to center around some new technology that he had no frame of reference for. There were, however, a few stores here and there that sold clothing, shoes or some other form of apparel. This was about the only type of store that Thomas could understand. As they walked, the people around them window shopped, buzzed in and out of enormous apartment buildings, and loitered outside of bars, cafes, and restaurants. Human habits had changed very little in the past two-hundred years.
Finally they reached the ID Office. It was a squat, brown brick building. Compared to most of the other buildings in the area, it stuck out like a sore thumb. This, of course, was highly appropriate for a government office. Bureaucracy, they were about to discover, had changed very little as well. As they entered the building, they quickly came upon a long queuing line that snaked through an enormous waiting area. The back wall was lined with a long counter top, and government employees were lined up, waiting to help the masses through what they guessed to be bullet proof glass.
"Gee, the way these queues are, you'd think the British were in charge of this agency or something," Thomas joked.
"Actually, they are, how did you know?" Darin asked, amazed.
"Oh, err, it was just ... a joke, heh ... heh..." Thomas flushed. Darin made no connection to what would be so funny about queues and British people, but figured it was yet another reference to the past that he didn't understand. Thomas resolved to just remain quiet and queue like any other responsible adult. After waiting for hours, they finally arrived to the head of the line.
"NEXT!" shouted an older looking woman behind the counter.
"Let me handle this," Darin said, and gestured to indicate that the rest were to remain quiet. The five of them approached the counter.
"Wot's this then? We've an old fashioned party 'ere!" Well dearies, 'ow are we today? What can I do fer ya?"
"We're fine, we need some new ID numbers for these three," he indicated who with a gesture. "They were cloned recently."
"Alright, may I 'ave the ID numbers of the individuals that they were cloned from then?"
"What?"
"You know, I 'ave to 'ave the ID numbers of the people these three 'ere were cloned from so I can process it properly. We've got to 'ave that information on file."
"I ... well," Darin stammered, his brilliant plan falling apart. "I don't have the ID numbers of the people they were cloned from!"
"Oh that's a shame that is, cause without those ID numbers these 'ere are invalid clones and we'll 'ave to eliminate them!" The lady pushed a button, a loud alarm was sounded, and the bullet proof glass slid upwards. Other employees and customers quickly took cover. The lady reached down under her desk and pulled out a very bizarre looking weapon. She looked through the scope and began to aim with a twisted smile on her face. She seemed to be very happy to have her day made more lively. Thomas, Doug, and Vera yelped and ducked down.
"No wait!" Lyla yelled, "they aren't clones!"
"Wot's this?" the old woman asked. She pushed the button again and the alarm stopped sounding. "You say they aren't clones? You aren't just trying to change your story now are you? Defrauding the government is a very serious crime!"
"No, no ma'am, it's just that we didn't think anyone would believe our real story."
"Well go on then!" Other employees came out from where they had taken shelter. It was deathly quiet. Everyone seemed interested in what the explanation would be.
"It's just that," Lyla said as calmly as she could, given the circumstances, "these three have been frozen for the past two-hundred years, and so they weren't able to get their ID numbers when the system was created, that's all!"
The woman stared at them for a time in silence. "Is that all then? Well why didn't you just say so! I'll be right back!" She placed the weapon back under the desk, jumped down from her chair, and waddled off to a back office.
"Great plan there Darin!" Doug hissed from the floor, not at all keen on getting up yet.
"Shut up," Darin spat back from his hiding spot behind a counter several feet away. "We didn't know what else to do! We didn't think there was any way they were going to believe our real story!"
"Guys, chill, it's OK now, we're good," Lyla said in a calm tone. She had been the only one to not duck for cover when the woman pulled the weapon, and Thomas was in complete awe of this. He stared, wondering idly if she was always this brave. In his mind, boldness was an extremely important quality. As such, he greatly admired anyone who possessed it, because he did not. Lyla herself was amazed that she didn't hide, and so was her brain. It was currently screaming horrible, obscene things at her that she worked hard to ignore.
"'Ere we are!" the woman reappeared carrying several forms. "This 'ere is a special form they had to make back when that caveman was thawed round about twenty years ago! First time anyone in this 'ere office 'as even 'ad to use it! You'll 'ave to fill all that out and then bring it back. NEXT!" she shouted.
"You mean we have to wait in the line again?" Thomas mumbled as he got up off the floor, noting that the line had grown even longer.
"Oh suck it up will you? We'll be fine," Darin said as he got up from behind the counter island he was hiding behind. Lyla handed him a copy of the form, and the two of them began filling them out. The three stood there uselessly, only answering the occasional question about one thing or another. Finally they were finished and they got back in line. Several hours later, they once again stood at the head of the line. The woman who helped them initially saw them at the ready and shooed away the person she was currently working with.
"But we're not through!" protested the person.
"I'm sorry but you'll 'ave to fill out that form again! NEXT!"
"This is ridiculous! I'll speak with your supervisor about this!"
"'E's at lunch! NEXT!"
"It's three in the afternoon!"
"'E takes a long lunch! NEXT!"
The person finally gave up and walked away. The five walked back up to the woman.
"I wanted to process your form," she laughed with delight. "Let's see what we 'ave 'ere, shall we? Uh huh. OK. Right then, everything looks to be in order!" She pecked away at a keyboard and printed out some additional forms, which she then stamped and handed them. "Right, you'll take these down to the address on the paper there and give it to the receptionist. She'll 'elp you get implants for your friends 'ere. They've already been sent your information and are getting things prepared for your arrival. This is so exciting!" She beamed, clearly enjoying the change in pace.
"Well, uh, thank you very much, we'll go take care of this right away," Lyla said.
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"OK then, you three 'ave a good day, 'ope you get to that next address before they close!" She turned away from them and shouted at another worker. "Oy! Miriam! I got to use Form 1356-B!" The woman and her friend chattered excitedly about it. The other employees stopped and looked over to see the group of people who brought this rare form into use.
"Let's get out of here before they want an autograph and a picture!" Thomas said, and they hurried out the door. Darin looked at the forms he was carrying.
"Guys, this building is way uptown, there's no way we'll make it today unless we use the PODS."
"No way!" Thomas quickly said, "I'm not using that until I get that DNA and memory backup thing you were talking about!"
"Thomas, come on, the chances of it happening are next to nothing!" Doug said.
"That's still not nothing!"
"Well, I'm not going to waste another day. I want to get on with it and start seeing what else this world has to offer, with or without you!" Everyone else was clearly on Doug's side, leaving Thomas outnumbered. This always happened to him.
"Come on Thomas, what could possibly go wrong?" Darin asked.
Thomas shifted his weight. It was a rather uncomfortable situation. As the others stared at him, Thomas thought about that phrase. What could possibly go wrong? The last time someone had asked him that question was on a class field trip to an amusement park. The class had been separated into small groups, and everyone in Thomas’ group wanted to go on the newest roller coaster: The Banshee. Everyone, that is, except for Thomas. As the group discussed the rides they wanted to go on, the kids urged Thomas to ride the Banshee with them. First they mocked him, and then they pleaded with him to go.
"Come on Thomas, we can’t go without you!" Jimmy had said.
"Yeah Thomas, what could possibly go wrong?" Keith begged.
Against Thomas’ better judgment, he gave in and rode the Banshee. Unfortunately for his classmates, he threw up right at the top of the loop-de-loop splattering everyone as the train came back down. Thomas didn’t remember anything after that except for the horrible smell and angry looks on the bus ride home. Ever since then, he made sure that he thought at least twice about doing anything that provoked the use of that phrase. Thomas then realized that everyone was still staring. He sighed.
"Yeah, OK, I guess I don’t have any choice, and I might as well get used to it since it’s apparently the new method of transportation."
They entered the PODS Station and bought tickets, same as the last time, only this time they actually got in line at the boarding platform.
"Remember, just get in there and say '116th Street' and it'll take you there. I'll go first and Lyla will go last so she can help you if need be. I'll be there to meet you when you arrive," Darin said as he walked into the POD. The doors closed but you could clearly see "116th Street" on his lips. BAMF! And he was gone. The light turned green and Doug entered. BAMF! Then Vera. BAMF! Thomas looked at Lyla nervously. She simply smiled and waved him on.
Thomas entered through the large doors of the chamber and looked around. It was extremely similar to the original cryogenic chamber they were frozen in, only no wires were visible at the top. The ceiling was simply smooth with a single light shining down. Thomas noted that the chamber was also much larger. He estimated it to be about four feet wide and ten feet tall, guessing that it was probably to do with the fact that people could come in such unusual shapes and sizes thanks to the genetically modified children of the future. The doors closed, and Thomas stood there, unsure of what to do or say. Finally a computerized voice prompted him in a tone that almost seemed to convey annoyance.
"Please state your destination."
"Oh, uh..." It beeped.
"Unrecognized destination. Please state your destination."
"Uh, 116th Street?"
"Did you say 116th Street?"
"Yes?"
BAMF!