Blue Violet Part 1

     The last blue violet swayed in the electric breeze.  Hugh sighed as the temperature in the cryonic chamber began to drop and the fragile petals began to freeze.  Among the plant and animal species that OSS had selected for Continuation, this single violet bothered him most.  He watched as the machine carefully placed the specimen in the cryostatic chamber and began venting excess glycerol.

     David would undoubtedly accuse him of having some ridiculous childhood memory of violets in his father’s preserve. Hugh smiled faintly to himself, imagining David’s derision at such sentimentality. In truth, Hugh’s father had not given a thought to the many native wildflowers of the region, preferring to concentrate on more delicate, exotic species. Dr. Kelly’s attempts at species survival were valiant, if somewhat absent minded.

     A kick to Hugh’s feet brought them crashing down to the floor and he looked up to see David’s boyish grin. "Hey, you’re dreaming your way into overtime, buddy! Better get moving or Janet’ll be in here pushing you out with a broom!"

     Hugh laughed and grabbed his briefcase, heading out the door just as the cleaning machine headed toward his office. Janet, as David had dubbed it, was an old CL95 model. She had been due for replacement two years ago, but Hugh had bargained with the new guy in requisitions for a computer chair instead. Janet had already been in the building when David had begun his work there more than 5 years earlier. Hugh heard the click and whirr of her motor as she began her daily dust removal. A few more years on her, at least, he thought. He shook his head as he realized he was thinking of her in terms of the feminine, and turned to follow David to the platform.

     "Are you ready to do it up right tonight?" David asked, punching in the their destination on the grid.

     "Not tonight, I’m afraid," Hugh said. "I really need to check through the latest Continuation lists. They seem to be getting longer every day."

     "Is that all you do is work? You have to come out tonight! I’m gonna hit Clinton Street. Might get lucky with the ladies."

     Hugh smiled again. David’s attempts at procreation were legendary, though their results were spectacularly less so.

     "Nah, gotta work on saving our species" Hugh said.

     "You took the words right out of my mouth," David laughed as they stepped on the train.

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by Dwazzy