Free Monthly #31 Stephen & Delphi
Part of the Community Fiction Series of Short Stories!
Introduction
One of the on and off series I’ve been thinking about and writing down ideas for is what I’ll describe (for now) as “utopian”. Utopian in the sense that the society has “figured out how to remain civil” while still having strife and adversity to keep humanity progressing towards perfection. Take that as you will.
While I’m busy working on my next major project that would fall into the dystopian subgenre while balancing my health, I decided it would be good to go through some of these short stories in this utopian society. Since this one interested me most, here is part one to the story of Stephen and Delphi!
Community Fiction | Stephen & Delphi (Community 5)
1: Inbound & Sensual
“Another ‘sensual woman’, eh?” Stephen inquired of the woman at the steering wheel.
“How’d you know?” The woman’s reply was half-hearted. Ever since Delphi legalized gambling and allowed various companies to construct a strip of seven casinos, the slippery slope the nay sayers had warned about became real. It was their fault, in Stephen’s opinion, as they started to leave shortly after. When the next vote to legalize prostitution came along, there was nothing stopping those with lesser morals from getting their way. Business was business, after all, and Stephen’s life had improved dramatically so he didn’t complain despite his reservations.
His job as border guard was barely paying his bills before the casinos came. Now his job was more active and less boring. Even though he was lead on an early morning inbound shift, there was still plenty of people coming through to Delphi. It also helped that he no longer worked alone. Stephen was promoted to lead on a shift with three other guards who were all hired to help handle the influx of travelers.
“Well, ma’am, I would start by the way you’re dressed, or rather presenting yourself to be specific.” Stephen was confident in his assessment. “I’m not judging, I’m just amused that your job listed in the database is ‘Evening Entertainment Organizer’ is all.”
The woman frowned for a moment but shrugged as she returned Stephen’s watchful gaze. His goal was to make sure she wasn’t hiding anything that was illegal which took some cat and mouse skills that he had been working on. “Is that all, sir? I do have work to get to.”
Stephen decided it was time for the upfront approach. “Are you in possession of any drugs that are on the scheduled lists for Delphi?”
“No.”
“Do you have any drugs or weapons on your person or in your car at all?”
“Nope.”
“Are you entering our community under duress of any kind?”
“I am not.”
“So you are coming here of your own free will and accord?”
“Is that part of the entrance exam?”
“It is, ma’am.”
“Well, I can assure you that everything I will be doing in Delphi is of my own free will and accord.”
“Have a nice morning ma’am.” Stephen handed her identification card back.
One of the few agreed upon standards throughout the agoras was a basic identification listing of name, birthdate, and an identification number that would bring up additional information in the interagoral database. This was to ensure that each person was in good standing with any community they chose to travel through should they be stopped by any authority. The database information was always scattershot at best due to various requirements of each agora, but it was better than nothing.
Few agoras would reject entry of a person that didn’t have the necessary columns in the database filled out. Instead, it was up the border guard to inform the person passing through of anything that might get them into trouble. The only problem with that was not every agora had border guards let alone peace officers of any kind that routinely checked on outsiders. Most of the crossings were automated and people had to accept the terms of service or take an exam ahead of time, depending on how much each community cared about the behavior of travelers. The woman, Sandi according to her identification card, gave Stephen a look of contempt and annoyance before pulling forward.
Stephen spent the remainder of the shift absently checking IDs and waving people through. The woman was still on his mind when his shift ended and he finalized his team’s reports. Of all the women that came through Delphi that he pegged as prostitutes, or sensual women as the casinos liked to call them, Sandi stuck out to him. A gut feeling that there was more than the normal pretense of her job on her mind.
With a quick flick of the turn indicator, Stephen pulled into the lane to turn onto the main strip. After another minute of driving, he picked one of the casinos to stop at. There was no better place to find a good deal on a drink with breakfast in Delphi than the Luxury Casino. It took only a few more minutes to park his car, find a place to sit, and order his food using the scannable menu on the table.
As he waited for his food to be delivered, he let his eyes wander throughout the visible floor. It was mostly empty of coherent guests, leaving only those with addictions and drugs or alcohol in their systems on the casino floor. The server appeared with his drink and breakfast tray and when he made eye contact with the woman his mouth dropped open. “Sandi?”
“YOU!” Sandi exclaimed before composing herself. “Are you following me?”
“No. Not at all.”
“Then why are you here?”
“For the items in your hands.”
“Oh.” She said bewildered momentarily before placing the glass and tray on the table. “How’d you know my name? I never tol—my ID card wasn’t it.”
“I see hundreds of names each day.”
“Of course.” She held her hand to her forehead as she composed herself. “Is there anything else I can get for you sir?”
“That’ll be it for now.” Sandi turned and began to walk away and the same gut feeling came to Stephen. “Wait!”
Sandi spun around with an inquisitive expression. Stephen quickly gathered his weary thoughts and came up with something to say that wouldn’t sound like he was trying to stalk her. “I have a feeling that I can’t place exactly. And I can’t shake that you’re in trouble of some kind. Are you sure you’re good?”
“Yes. I’m fine.” She snapped and walked off.
“Well, that’s what I get for trying.” Stephen said to himself and dug into his meal.
He kept his eyes peeled as he surreptitiously kept tabs on Sandi. He paid for a final coffee and watched as the morning crow came and went. Before he realized it, Sandi handed off the few remaining tables that hadn’t paid and made her way to the elevators. Her eyes met his as the doors to the elevator opened. She frowned and glanced around before motioning with her head ever so slightly for him to join her.
Stephen rose to his feet and strode toward the elevator lobby without hesitation. Sandi took her time pressing buttons so that the doors wouldn’t close until he was close enough to keep them open. “Hold the doors!”
“Oh!” She pressed the open button and the doors retracted back into the walls. “Sorry about that.”
“No worries. Must’ve been a long shift for you, can’t always be on you’re a game, eh?”
“That’s true I suppose.” Sandi replied as the doors shut. The elevator began its mechanical whine as it lifted them up to the top floor and Sandi held up an envelope. “Listen, I need you to mail this letter. Do you understand?”
Stephen accepted the envelope, peering at it briefly before staring at Sandi. “What kind of trouble are you in?”
“I’m not in duress. I have debts to pay off. That’s why I’m here. However, I never told my children or husband I had to leave. Will you make sure they get that letter?”
“Why me? There’s a mailbox in the lobb—”
“Because if I’m seen contacting anyone they’ll make it more difficult to get back.”
Stephen’s eyes furrowed. “How much money do you owe? And to whom?”
“Several million.” Sandi said through half clenched teeth. “And the worst part is I only borrowed a few hundred grand.”
“That, uh, doesn’t compute.”
“No kidding. Turns out my business partner borrowed more and more without telling me and ran when it was clear our business wouldn’t succeed. She stiffed me with a tough crowd that’ll loan to anyone with enough assets. Turns out they don’t check how much equity you have in those assets.” The metal doors opened. “Just promise me you’ll send it, won’t you?”
“What about you though?”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“It’s not my first time as a sensual woman.” Sandi left Stephen alone in the elevator. When the doors eventually closed, Stephen pressed the lobby button and dropped off the letter before heading to his home. His wife didn’t say a word about his tardiness when he kissed her and headed to bed. She knew something was up by the look on his face and she would find out in due time.
TBC in the near future!
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