BOUND IN SPACE AND TIME - NETEYAM SULLY

ACT 1.3

Although laboratory is vacant and empty, lab coats hung leisurely upon the chairs and papers scattered across particular desk are the tell signs that this vacancy had been recently evacuated - looking at the time it's most likely they had finished their work for the day and had retired to the cafeteria for supper. Standing by his lonesome self, my dad waves his hand in greeting, his glasses in the other.

"Aaron!"

"Dad!"

We all collide in a bundle of warmth, tangled arms tightening in completion. After the touching moment, we part with mirthful smiles still in place - however the look in my parents eyes seem to evolve into...yeah. Though twinge of appreciation and happiness for my folks love is present, it can't help but be swarmed and drowned in a whirling sea of -

"ugh" a gargling gag is retched from my throat as my face can be felt twisting in slight disdain. Childish I know but having a front row seat to your parents flirtatiously eyeballing each other invokes the standard reaction. Now properly turning towards my dad again, I'm meet with an unimpressed look with his eyebrow quirked for extra measure. A small huff from behind me informs me that my mother sharing my father's sentiments. Playfully scrunching my burrows and nose, a laugh bubbles out before I'm shoved to side by my mother. Settling my hands on the desk in front of me and shifting around. My mother, in the embrace of my father, meets my deadpan stare with giggles of her own.

"Y'all are nasty you know that! I can't believe I traveled all afternoon for this nastiness"

Completely ignored, they start pecking little kisses on the lips. Okay! RETREAT! RETREAT!!

"I'm out of here!" and with a wave of my arms I'm gone, venturing deeper into the lab.

In efforts to escape my parent's smoothing feast of a reunion, the pace of my strolling quickens. The marvels of this lab, however, side-track that traumatizing image. A immature side of me was expecting to see totally sci-fi constructed terminators zooming through the lab. Realistically in its place are the most high-tech computers I had ever seen, intensive coding displayed on their screens. The only "terminators" on standby are these artificially animate robotic arms that seem to be processing samples from one glass cubical to another. The computers are most likely managing this task. It's amazing to see how far technological science - has come.

Vrrrrp! Rrrp! Rrrp!

My head whipping to the side, scanning all over my surrounding, my eyes glance over a moving circular, lengthy disc on the floor. The disc is the culprit of the sounds made, but it turns out to be a drone vacuum cleaner. As it whirls by I'm forced to quickly move my leg out of the way, in the course of the action I reach for my slipping backpack and sling it across my other shoulder. Taking the loosening locket from a side pocket of the backpack, it ends up being twirled around my index finger. Following the route of the drone, we end up in front of a large tank. It gave off the image of a pool, but the waters ( if it even was water) were an off tone of unnatural blue. Chemical fumes can be seen bubbling from the liquid's surface, it's properties could be the cause of eroding the metal surrounding it had experienced. The drone moves towards the ramp in front of the tank, rising slightly upwards to a walkway of metal and bolts with protective railing above it. Continuing the image of a pool, the tank is featured beneath the level of the walkway, metal framing it's features.

Turning back to my parents on the other side of the room, I turn back with vigor. I can't help but be consumed with curiosity of the colours that swirl in the tank. A closer look wouldn't hurt - right?. They're preoccupying themselves so why don't I? Being aware that a small side of recklessness is rearing it's head out, my voice of reason rebuttals my hesitation. I'll be careful... Continuing onwards, refuge from the bubbling toxins is found behind the safety railings. Edging closer with a glance down, a low whistle blows out from my pursed lips, giving my locket one last twirl with the action - but it seemed to be one twirl too many. It projects off of my index and into the earlier stated bubbling fumes.

Eyes widening, I pause in disbelief before throwing body into action. Frantically looking around, a lone metal pole can be seen leaning against the safety railing further down the walk-way. Snatching the pole and waddling back towards the railing, I lean forwards while stirring the depths of the tank for the locket. With closer proximity to the chemicals, the toxic fumes leave me in tears. My vision being blurred makes this stressful task all the more harder. Okay I know this may look like an over reaction but all I can think of is being arrested for tampering with their intensive equipment and products a like.

'What if I've screwed something up!?'

'What if Dad loses his job!?!'

'What if I go to JAIL!?!'

'What if ....'

Rrrp! Vrrp!

Scrambling thoughts running around wild cut off.

The railing lets out.

The pole plops in the liquids.

A louder splash follow.

Sinking lower I try in my last efforts to some what swim up.

Distant cries can be heard before everything fades into darkness...

.....there was so much blue....