When Hermes set his eyes on her, a warmth washed over him. He opened his mouth, but words didn't come out. Her bouncy, silky hair complemented her face, while her bright green eyes stood out the most. Hermes just stood and gazed at her, and when she spoke, her voice was so soft and loving, a single tear dropped from Hermes' eye.
"Tedra, oh my! I was so worried about you," she said as she ran up to him and examined his body.
Hermes just stood there, speechless.
"I don't know what I would have done if something bad had happened to you," she said and hugged him tightly.
Hermes slowly puts his hands around her body.
"Won't you say anything?" she said.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Dr Tedra's memories have been affected and are not quite recovered yet. He should be fine in a few days, though, Dr Tedra. This woman is your wife, Allie." Moof said.
"Allie? That name does sound familiar. I wish I could remember, but I'm sorry." Hermes said.
"Don't worry about that now, I'm just happy to have you back," Allie said with a big smile.
"I'm happy too," Hermes said.
"Come on, there's something I have to show you, who knows? Maybe it might just help." Allie said and grabbed Hermes' hand, and took him away while Moof just watched on.
After walking for a few minutes, they arrived at a giant wooden with a metal handle.
"This is your favorite room in the whole house," Allie said.
Allie pulled on the handle, and Hermes gave her a hand, and the door swung open. On the other side of the door was an indoor garden. A green landscape stretched out for a few feet. A stream flowed gently at the other end with a flower bed on its banks. Twigs snapped under his feet as he began to walk through the garden. He felt drawn by the flowers as he picked one, smelt it and lay down in the fields. Soon, Allie joined it and lay at his side.
"So, how are you feeling?" Allie said.
"I don't know how to explain it but it feels like this is the only place in the world," Hermes said.
"It's weird, to me, it feels like the only place in the world is right by your side," Allie said and embraced him, lying on his chest. He puts his arms around her, and they both lie there in each other's arms.
The next morning, Hermes wakes up alone in his bed to the beeping sound of the cleaning robot. The door opened, and Moof walked in with two uniforms with identical crests on them.
"So, are you going with red or blue on your first day back on the council?" Moof said.
"I don't know, I still can't remember much of anything. Should I be going back yet?" Hermes said.
"What are you talking about? Everyone is excited to see you back on your feet." Moof said.
"But I don't even know what happened to me," Hermes said.
"You don't have to worry about that now, just get dressed and I'll be waiting for you outside," Moof said and stepped out.
Hermes gets out of bed and takes one last look out the window "What the hell is going on here?" he said before picking up the blue coloured uniform and getting dressed.
Moof was waiting right outside the room as he stepped out.
"Excellent choice, sir. No need to be nervous, it's all going to be fine. I suggest we take the flying car today. What do you think?" Moof said.
"Okay, have you seen Allie?" Hermes said.
"Oh, she's around somewhere. You should be back soon enough. I know you have a lot more catching up to do, but we have to leave now so we won't be late." Moof said and walked Hermes to an elevator.
The elevator whirred as it took them up to the roof, routinely scanning Hermes and Moof's facial expressions till they got to the top. On top of the roof was the flying car that floated over a hangar. Moof entered the driver's seat while Hermes sat in the passenger seat. The car takes off from the hangar and flies through the air, navigating through the smoke and other cars. After a short while, they entered the inner city, Hermes took a look out the window. The unnaturally clean and polished streets make the middle ring look like an absolute dump. Soon in view was a floating building made entirely of tempered glass. A few other cars arrived and parked in their designated hangars. Soon, Moof parked in their reserved spot.
"This is as far as I can follow you. All you have to do is walk through that glass door. If you're lucky, maybe you won't have to talk after all." Moof said.
Hermes takes a deep breath "Okay, I guess I'll see you when I'm done." He said and got out of the car. He takes slow steps as he approaches the glass. When he got close, the door opened.
"Welcome back, Dr Tedra," an automated voice said. Hermes takes one last look back at Moof as he steps in, and the door slowly closes behind him.
The floor moved by itself as it moved Hermes forward until he reached a booth, and when he went in, it was empty with only a speaker, a microphone on a table and a chair with "Elite Council Member No. 0180 Dr Tedra" written on it. As he sat down, a voice came out of the speaker.
"Welcome back, Dr Tedra, we had been patiently waiting for your return," he said.
"Thank you," Hermes said.
"Let this meeting of the council of human action regulation begin. I'm an Elite council member No. 0001. There are two main issues that we have to address. The first one has to do with the terrorist from the wastelands who calls himself Sobeek. There's speculation that he's planning to launch a rebellion. Elite council member No. 0313, what are your findings?" a voice said.
"Thank you, first, I'd like to point out that the wastelands just don't have enough resources to be a threat to our operations. However, it'd be better for us to find a way to apprehend him and all his accomplices," another voice said.
"I agree, but we've promised not to launch any more attacks on the wastelands, but he will surely be apprehended. The next topic of discussion has to do with Dr Tedra and his failure to fix the flaws with the microchips. Dozens more have malfunctioned, and worse, there is increased fatality in newborns who are given the chip." No. 0001 said.
"I'm sorry, what?" Hermes said.
"You promised us answers, Tedra, but we have received no results. What do you have to say for yourself?" a different voice said.
"Well, I'm not entirely sure what you're talking about, but I promise to get right on it," Hermes said.
"We really hope so, after all, we don't want anything to happen to Allie. " No. 0001 said.
"What? What are you talking about?" Hermes said.
"Don't worry, you'll get her back unscathed as soon as you can deliver on your promise." No. 0001.
"You took her? HOW COULD YOU?" Hermes said, getting up from his chair.
"SIT BACK DOWN. The council shall do as it sees fit. If you wish to see your dear wife again, then deliver on your promise." No. 0001 said.
Hermes sat back down, feeling dejected.
"Now that has been settled, is there anything issue that anyone wants to raise?" No. 0001 said.
"I do, I'm still a little sceptical of our little experiment, I feel perhaps we should just get rid of our test subject now." No. 0313.
"This has been addressed at the last meeting; we are not revisiting the topic. So, with that, we've come to the end of today's meeting. Dr Tedra, we hope you'll have positive news for us the next time we meet. Till then, goodbye." No. 0001 said, and then the line went static.
Hermes sat deep in thought for a while, but then a red light started flashing in the booth, causing him to step out. He was taken back to the exit, and when he got out, he saw Moof waiting for him with a smile on his face. He charged at him and grabbed him.
"WHERE IS SHE?" Hermes said.
"Who?" Moof said.
"Don't play dumb with me, YOU KNEW, DIDN'T YOU?" Hermes said.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Moof said.
Hermes let go of him and began to cry, "They took her, they took her, and I don't know what they want from me," he said.
"I know, you have to complete your research," Moof said.
"Research? What research?" Hermes said.
"Get in the car, we have to go now," Moof said.
They both got back in the car and took off.