Corpus

B kept trying to paw me with his cute little hand, rubbing my cheek. The heat pumping through my arms cooled to the tiny ripples he created. My heart thumped steadily slowly with small easing doses. I exhaled once I realized the tightness in my chest.

By the time I reached the plaza of Coulen I could feel my mind at ease. I rubbed his little head and scratched a finger under his chin. “Thanks, B. I need to be professional, huh?” He gave me a nod with a trill. “You should get back inside for now.” In a clean motion, he scaled down my shoulder and slipped back into an inside pocket.

Ahead a large water fountain stood. A purple and yellow flower sculpture rose in the center of the water feature. Dense flowers surrounded the fountain. Unlike the wild ones I found along the highways, these were meticulously maintained and arranged. Shades of gold and purple blossoms repeated around the ring.

They really seemed to have a fondness for plant life. Everywhere around the plaza I looked there were bushes or trees. Rows of flowers directed the path to the main doors. A green paradise. I never really considered the campus to be a place I’d want to relax, but I didn’t think I’d mind this scenery.

But I marched on regardless for now. This part of the Corpus thinned out greatly with human activity. Those outside likely worked a different shift and the day shift remained busy still.

At the doors, a single unbroken pane of glass stretched the entire way around the lobby. An electronic chirp from above triggered a seam to be created in the glass. It only took a fraction of a second for it to generate the door. The glass slid aside to greet me with a burst of wind with the slight pressure differences equalizing.

I step inside, spotting the desk. Only one other sat in the lobby, a young woman waiting. Well polished purple marble floors stretched to glass walls. Potted plants ran thick throughout matching the outside. The whole space kept a large open air reaching high up to the ceiling with only six large pillars breaking it up.

Two receptionists awaited me immediately, noticing my arrival. I pulled the pack tight to my back as I made my approach. “Welcome to Coulen Bio-electronics, sir! How can I help you?” A young man, maybe five years my senior, leaned forward with a cheerful business face applied. There was a slight shifting of eyes trying to figure me out.

I placed my hand on the desk with a circle appearing. A soft white light shone through the transparent material. “Courier. Delivery of contract order #H3620946. Confirm.”

That put a sharp stiffness in their back as they glanced down at the digital projector screen. It no doubt relayed the information of the contract and my assignment to the task. Once they finished their checks, he returned to look at me. “Confirmed! Thank you for your service! Delivery is to be made on the third floor at the post office.”

“Right. I’ll be on my way then. Thanks!” At my feet, shoe shaped green patterns appeared moving away from the desk. It traced their motion over to the lift. I tried my best to walk lightly over the floor that echoed nearly any sound with ease.

At one of the columns near the rear of the lobby, I came to a stop where the footprints ended. A ring of light flashed around me. A sudden shift in pressure locked my body in place. I could only move my head and arms, but anything else would be difficult for safety. Once secure, the light separated from the floor and rose up.

I got an impressive look out of the lobby, which ceiling came up to the fourth floor. It presented me with a view of the town I hadn’t seen yet. There were still many buildings that obstructed my sights, but I could get a better sense of the layout. It didn’t look to fit into a neat grid, but had a more maze like path. It would probably take some time to get a lay of the town with a design like that.

All the more exciting for my time off.

The lift moved through the air tracking to an open balcony of the tall rising open chamber. I stepped off when released and followed the steps once more. These guides made navigating any Corpus so much easier. I’d only been in a few, but each was unique with nothing I could use in the next. It was like learning to walk all over again.

But the post office was clearly marked ahead as the prints walked onward. To my surprise, I saw another Courier standing just inside the room. An older looking man with a large build leaned on the wall.

I stepped up to the desk placing my hand down with the cleric opposite of me. “Delivery of contract order #H3620946. Confirm.” The glow from the counter outlined my hand while the cleric looked over the registry.

“Yes, H3620946. The goods.” I pulled off my pack and set it down on a counter to my left. Flipping a couple of snaps, I drew back the top flap. A moment later, I retrieved the gray and black case with a bio reader on the top. My hand laid on the reader.

“Courier ID T31930,” spoke a young man’s voice out of the case, “Transfer initiated.” I turned the case around and slid it over to the cleric. He placed his hand on the case. “Coulen employee ID C520931. Transfer confirmed. Awaiting command.”

“Courier ID T31930, delivery contract complete. Confirm.”

“Employee ID C520931, accepting transfer of contracted delivery. Confirmed.”

“Transfer verified. Delivery fulfilled. Thank you kindly for your service.”

The light then faded from the case and the burden left my responsibility. He pulled the case close to his side and pressed his free hand to the counter. “Your payment is being processed now. Please confirm before departing. I’ll be a moment.”

“Understood.” With no more words, he turned away into the aisles of shelves and vents. Whatever that thing I delivered, they likely wanted it immediately. They wouldn’t have requested a Courier if they could wait two weeks for the next trade ship.

I closed up my pack and returned it to my back. The lack of its weight made the whole thing feel a little off balance. I’d need to take some time to move things around when I got to the Chapterhouse later.

It’d be a few minutes before he returned for the final receipt. So I leaned against the wall and looked across to my senior. I gave him a polite nod to judge where he stood.

With a closer look now, he appeared roughly fifty based on the few wrinkles he had. Which I guess wasn’t too crazy to still be a Courier, but it was commonly a young profession. He probably had seen so many towns on the continent. Just imagining the sites he saw made my heart jump with excitement.

His crossed arms were thick from the years of travel and labor. Muscle mass truly meant very little in the end, but even with the replacement of traditional organics, people still didn’t seem to want to give up the vain imagery that came with a crafted physic. Technically anyone could look like he did, but only those with inflated ego did such. He seemed to have pride in his body regardless of what was traditional or not anymore.

A slightly softer light came over his eyes as he looked down towards me. “Yer a new face, kid.”

“Yup! Only my third contract.”

“A long future ahead of you. Surprising to see someone so young as a Courier.”

I nodded to him. “I got tired of seeing the same town all my life. I wanted to see what the world had to show me.” I realized after I finished a bit of my enthusiasm leaked through my face as he laughed.

“The heart of an explorer. Then Coulen must warm you.”

“The sky is beautiful, unlike anything I’ve seen.”

“I’d recommend the Augustus Bridge. A view and history all in one.”

“Thanks! I’ll definitely put on the tour!”

A deep rattling cough interrupted our cheerful chatter. I glanced over and noticed the clerk returning. He had his hand over his mouth. It wasn’t the first time hearing such a cough, but from an Corpus employee it left me a little confused. The man seemed fine when he left, but he looked pale as though the cough surprised even him. Experience told me it wasn’t just clearing the throat.

I glanced at the other Courier, but he didn’t even seem to notice. Or was he staying out? Is that what I should do?

In my pensiveness, the clerk gathered his composure. I checked on my account and confirmed the transfer of payment. My contract ended. If I kept staring like I wanted to ask a question would he answer it? No, I needed to stop.

Focus. It was probably nothing. A new town awaited me! Get excited, girl!