The Dream Factory

Correcting the Imbalance

Correcting the Imbalance

'We have a job for you Hobbs,' said the Sentinel. 'Sit down.' 

Hobbs slung his canvas travel bag onto the floor and dropped his heavy frame into the chair. 'I know you have a job, that's why I'm here. You only call me when you have a job.' He sniffed and rubbed his nose with a large calloused finger. 

The Sentinel looked up sharply, 'You don't have an infection do you Hobbs?' 

'No. I'm fine.' 

'An infection at this time would be most inconvenient.' The Sentinel opened the file on her desk. 'You are old Hobbs, very old. An infection at your age could kill you. If that were the case you would be unable to complete the job. At your age you need to be careful.' 

'Thanks for that. I feel so much better now.' 

'You do? The infections gone?' 

'Yes, it's gone.' Hobbs sighed. 

The Sentinel bent her head down to study the single piece of paper inside the file. She arched her hands in a pyramid in front of her. 

Hobbs clasped his hands together over his lap. 

'Don't do that Hobbs.' The Sentinel said without raising her head. 

'What?' 

'Mirror me. You know it makes no difference.' 

'You noticed it, so it's made some difference,' remarked Hobbs unlinking his fingers. 

'Purely an observation. It makes no difference to me.' 

Hobbs tapped his fingers on the seat and looked around. The room contained one metal desk and two folding metal chairs. He sat on one, on the other the Sentinel. Nothing else. No clock, no filing cabinet, no pictures on the wall.  

The Sentinel on her seat, him in his. Chaos in order. 

And then there was the photo. 

The Sentinel picked up the photo and laid it on the table in front of Hobbs. 

Hobbs stared at it. It was of a woman, running between two huge silver machines, as if she did not want to be seen. A poor image, grainy. 

'It was taken this morning Hobbs about three periods ago. We'd like you to terminate her.' 

'Kill her you mean.' 

The Sentinel nodded. 

'Where was it taken?' 

'Here in the city this morning. In the Undercroft. You won't need your bag, there's no travelling to do this time. The location of the photo is on the back.' 

'It's not very good is it?' Hobbs squinted at the image.  

'It's dark in the Undercroft we don't have much image capture down there.' 

'OK.' Said Hobbs 

'She's the last one Hobbs.' 

'What!' Hobbs slumped back in his chair and searched the Sentinels face for a reaction. 

'She's the last one,' said the Sentinel impassively. 'When you have finished her you are done. We will not need you again.' 

Hobbs stared at the photo. 'The last one?' 

'Yes Hobbs. The last.' 

'What's her name?' 

'We don't have that information Hobbs.'