Between Assignments

Written by Luckie Krog

The breakroom is livelier than usual. A small crowd gathers around a table with two Witnesses near the back. Above it hangs a sign in Syntaric, the Witnesses' language: “Blessings Are Upon Us.”

A small screen in the corner cycles quietly through announcements, but today all eyes are on the table near the back.

M782 enters slowly, head down, body still carrying the weight of their recent loss. A celebration sphere is set off by one of the Witnesses in the crowd. Its melodic chime grows louder and more exuberant as it’s passed around. The sound catches M782’s attention. They glance toward the commotion with faint curiosity and drift closer—not joining, just standing within earshot.

Some onlookers glance at M782, but quickly return to the table's cheerful conversation.

A050 – Blessings again, A038 and A024. There’s no greater joy than watching your Beings welcome new life—especially after waiting so long.

(A024 beams, clutching their Monitor to their chest with possessive joy. A038 claps A050 on the back.)

A038 – Asante, A050. Honestly, the real joy is finally getting a break from all the mating rituals we’ve had to witness for the past five-some years with these two.

(The crowd erupts in laughter.)

A024 (sets down the Monitor, slapping the table) – Heeh! I’ve Witnessed enough love-making in gardens and under full moons to last several lifetimes.

C080 – Ha! Did yours try avoiding cold drinks?

A024 – Of course! After two years of doctors saying they couldn’t help, that’s where we started.

C080 – Kaia did the same thing. And we live in a desert—she started in the summer! Poor thing nearly gave herself heatstroke, drinking only tea and coffee in 100-degree weather.

(More laughter.)

A024 – Weh! C190, didn’t Isra land herself in the hospital because of some nut ritual?

A050 (gently) – Now hold on, our Beings make choices only they and their Witness can truly understand. We shouldn’t call them nut—

A024 (waving a hand) – Acha! No, I’m not calling Isra nuts. It was literally nuts.

C190 (laughing) – Yes! I shouldn’t laugh, but she was fine and we ended up adopting, so it all worked out.

C080 – Wait—what was the ritual? Kaia must have skipped that one.

C190 (shaking their head) – Some auntie told her that eating 11 almonds every morning—before speaking to anyone—would help her conceive. She thought the tickle in her throat meant the almonds were “working.” Nope. It was an allergy. Her throat closed up after a week and a half.

(The group gasps.)

C190 – It’s fine! She was fine. Just embarrassed. And now we avoid nuts—and have a beautiful son.

(C190 smiles brightly. C080 turns back to A024 and A038.)

C080 – So, when do you meet your family’s new assignment?

A038 – Any minute now. We just got the alert this morning. It’s a W6—just completed an assignment, I heard. New here, I think. Called M782.

(M782 startles at the mention of their title.)

M790 (eyes widening) – Oh shit! Really? (They turn, spotting M782 nearby.) They’re right over there. I didn’t realize they were your new assignment—would’ve called them over sooner! (Waving enthusiastically) M782! Come say hello!

(Everyone at the table turns to look at M782 with curiosity.)

M782 (rubbing the back of their head, awkward) – Hey, everyone.

A038 (booming) – Mambo! What are you doing all the way over there on such a glorious occasion? Kuja hapa!

(The crowd parts to make way. C080 grabs a chair for them. M782 hesitates, then walks to the table but doesn’t sit.)

M782 (stiffly) – Jambo. I’m M782. (They glance at the sign above the table.) I guess you’ve already heard—I’m assigned to your family’s newling.

(A038 exchanges a glance with A024. After a beat, A038 turns to the crowd.)

A038 – Thank you all for this celebration. It’s been a long road—full of fear, perseverance, and, let’s face it, some truly weird shit I’ll never unsee.

(Laughter.)

A038 – A024 and I would like a moment with our family’s new assignment before our Beings need us. Thank you all again.

(Everyone nods and begins to depart, offering hugs and kind words as they go. When only A038, A024, and M782 remain, A038 gestures to the chair. M782 finally sits.)

A038 – Sorry I didn’t recognize you, M782. How long were you waiting?

M782 (waving a hand, avoiding eye contact) – It’s fine. I wasn’t sure you were my assignment until just before M790 spotted me.

A024 (gently) – I think I saw you come in earlier, but you didn’t sit. Were you waiting for us?

M782 – I knew you'd be in here around now, but I hadn’t met you before. I’d also… never seen a new assignment get so much attention.

A024 – You’re a W6, right?

M782 – Yes.

A024 – Have you had many assignments? We haven’t seen you around.

M782 (stiffening slightly) – Just one.

(A024 glances at A038 again. Quiet understanding passes between them.)

A038 – What was their name?

M782 (voice soft) – Anthony. He went by Tony.

A038 (with reverence) – May Tony rest well. His moments were seen.

(They hold a moment of silence.)

A024 – Well, M782—welcome to our family. You’re right—new assignments aren’t always celebrated like this. It depends a lot on the region, the circumstances of conception… and the Witnesses involved.

A038 – In our case, this child was long-awaited. The ability to have a child matters deeply to Beings in our region. There was much to celebrate.

M782 (nodding slowly) – Good to know.

A024 – Did Anthony have a partner?

M782 – Yes.

A038 – So you had a co-Witness?

M782 (still quiet) – Yes. Also a W6. Also their first Being.

A024 – Eish! I don’t know why they do that.

(M782 looks at them sharply.)

A038 (apologetically) – You’ll understand more with time. Your first Being is intense. Doing that alongside someone who is also Witnessing their first full-timer can be… overwhelming.

A024 – Especially when we’re already so attuned to each other and to our Beings.

M782 (relaxing slightly) – “Intense” is a good way to describe it.

A038 (laughing deeply) – Don’t worry—the emotional hangover won’t last forever.

A024 (patting M782’s arm) – You’ll be fine. Have you started onboarding yet? Your first debrief must’ve taken a while.

M782 (expression briefly clouding) – Yeah. Very bare-bones, though. More to come. They wanted me to meet you first.

A024 (nodding) – Do you know her name?

M782 (surprised) – Name? She’s not even born yet—we just confirmed the assignment this morning.

A038 (chuckling) – Something you’ll learn: when a family’s wanted a newling as long as Gathoni and Kariuki have, they’ve had a name for years.

M782 (rubbing the back of their head again) – Learn something new every day, I guess. So… what’s her name?

(A038 taps their Monitor and turns it to show an ultrasound image, beaming with pride.)

A038 – Makena.

M782 (a slow, genuine smile forming) – “Miracle.”