Between Assignments

Written by Luckie Krog

Setting: Break Room

The dim hum of the breakroom fills the space—a low, ambient vibration that signals rest, but never true silence. Overhead, the lights flicker faintly. Every so often, a burst of faint static crackles through the air, signaling Witnesses arriving through unstable timeflow. A few Witnesses sit scattered, engaged in muted conversations or logging data in their Monitors.

From time to time, a cup clinks before it’s lifted, or a chair scrapes just before someone shifts. These brief reality glitches pass unnoticed by most, quickly smoothed by the steady thrum of the room. At the back table, a figure slumps forward, forehead pressed against the surface. Another figure sits across from them, watching in bemusement.

M739 (muffled, face down on the table) – Does the crying ever stop?

M685 (leaning back in their chair, arms crossed lazily) – Yeah, eventually. But it’s different for all of them.

(A Witness catches the conversation while walking by, pausing to comment.)

A022 – Heh. New assignment? First newling? They’re an earful for sure those first few years.

M739 (lifts head slowly, eye hollow, and stares at A022 with exhausted disbelief) – He’s 23.

(A022's eye widens momentarily, but they quickly regain composure.)

A022 – Funeral?

M685 (chuckles sardonically) – Break-up.

A022 (raising eyebrow, pulling up a chair) – First serious one?

M739 (stares blankly at the wall between them, voice flat) – Yup.

A022 (exhales sharply, leaning in slightly) – Oh, shit. (glances at M739’s badge) You’re a W6? So you’ve probably seen a couple of these by now, right?

M739 (groans, dropping their head back onto the table, voice muffled) – Not like this.

(A022 glances at M685, curiosity flickering in their gaze. M685 silently mouths “three months.” A022's lips press into a grim line.)

A022 – Tell me about your—

(M685’s Monitor buzzes. Both glance instinctively at the device, breaking the flow of conversation.)

M685 (mutters, standing up) – Damn it. Joanne’s up. This new medication is wrecking her sleep.

A022 (chuckles, leaning back) – At least we don’t need much of it. Remind me to tell you about the first time I Witnessed a Being who didn’t sleep for almost a week straight. I made M739 look like a ray of sunshine.

M685 (groaning, strapping the Monitor to their chest) – The first time? Ugh. I am not looking forward to being a W5.

(Pauses, glancing at M739, then nods toward A022.)

M685 – Alright, looks like you’re in more qualified hands than mine, M739. Good luck. (softens slightly) It will get better. Promise.

(M685 departs, leaving A022 and M739 in silence. A022 watches, patient but not pressing. Eventually, M739 lifts their head but still avoids eye contact.)

A022 (calm but with authority) – Tell me more about your Being.

M739 (flatly, as if reading from a report) – Charlie. 23. American. Male. Works full-time as a barista while finishing his degree in education. Son of two American-born parents, Eliza and Kaleb. Two older siblings, but he only sees them on major holidays. (pauses, glancing meaningfully at A022) Recently single.

A022 (acknowledging with a small nod, voice measured) – You mentioned it was his first serious relationship? Tell me more.

M739 (sighs, shifting in their chair) – I’ve been with Charlie since he was a newling, of course.

(A022 nods, listening attentively.)

M739 – And he’s always been... different. More aware than most males I’ve Witnessed, especially in this region.

A022 (studying M739) – What do you mean?

M739 (shrugs, voice distant but reflective) – You know this is still a young planet. Their Beings have rigid gender roles. The masculine ones, especially from his region, aren’t... bred for affection or vulnerability. They’re raised for production, protection. Most of them start fitting that mold before they can even write their own names.

(A022 exhales softly, nodding in understanding.)

M739 (gaze unfocused, lost in memory) – I remember the last time Charlie let himself cry without trying to stop it. He was five.

A022 (thoughtful) – Five. That’s when they start school, right?

M739 (hums in agreement) – Exactly. His first day, he cried so much when his parents left. Then his teacher—Ms. Cooke, I think—picked him up, held him, and told him, big kids don’t cry.

A022 (quietly, with understanding) – Classic.

M739 (nods slowly, voice bitter) – As the baby of the family, he’s always wanted to be big and strong. Even now. But that was the moment. I saw it in his little face—the decision to be big. At five.

A022 (voice soft) – Practically a newling.

M739 – He still cried after that, of course. But it was never the same. Only when he was overwhelmed, and always cut off the second he could control it. Especially when people were watching.

A022 (softly, but with certainty) – Even if he never stopped feeling those things.

M739 (suddenly animated, leaning forward) – And that’s exactly it! He was never good at ignoring his whole Being. So he spent years trying to be big and strong and silent—

A022 (gently, meeting M739’s gaze) – But he could never be bigger or stronger than his own essence.

M739 (stares at A022, realization flickering across their face before slumping back again, defeated) – Exactly.

(A beat of silence. This time, it’s not anticipatory. It’s reflective.)

A022 (after a moment, voice even) – I assume five years old wasn’t the last time you saw Charlie cry uncontrollably.

(M739 glances at their Monitor reflexively, then exhales.)

M739 – Well. No. It was... until now.

A022 – How long has it been?

M739 – Since the breakup? Three months.

A022 (nods, unsurprised) – Tell me about his person.

M739 (tilts head back, staring at the ceiling, voice resigned) – Denise. 24. Also American. They met on campus.

A022 – You’ve Witnessed romantic relationships before, right? Did this one stand out?

M739 (slowly) – Hundreds, as a W7. Just snippets, of course. Maybe ten or twenty as a W8, but there’s so much going on, you miss the nuances. Only a handful of first loves. (pauses) I haven’t seen a breakup like this. Definitely not with my own Being.

(A022 nods, frowning slightly.)

A022 – It’s different when it’s yours. When you’ve seen them through so much.

M739 (softly) – Yeah.

A022 – So what stood out about them together?

M739 (pauses, considering) – I don’t know. It was the first time he was... free? It was strange at first, I didn’t recognize it immediately.

(A022 listens, a small knowing smile forming.)

M739 – The more time they spent together, the more of him I could see. He laughed more. But he also cried more. She was there when he had to terminate his cat, and for the first time in years, he let himself grieve.

A022 (gently) – And now?

M739 (quietly, almost with anger) – Now, he’s shattered.

(A022 hums, not agreeing or disagreeing.)

A022 – And yet, what made you first notice he was whole?

M739 (blinking, caught off guard) – What?

A022 – What was different with Denise?

M739 (pauses to think) – He let himself feel.

A022 – Just good things?

M739 (realizing, voice barely above a whisper) – … No.

(M739’s Monitor buzzes. They glance down at the alert, eyes widening.)

M739 (groans, standing up) – Ah, fuck.

A022 (smirks) – Good luck, kid. You’re learning.