The Monolith - Part One

I'm watching always energetic Jasper as he directs the crew in their planting of the bizarre trees, the ones bought for us by the local government. We're planting them in front of the Yoga Center, and their roundish foliage oddly complements the rounded, teal-tinged building. I suppose the trees aren't so bad after all... despite their implications...

I'm thinking of waiting here for Jasper to take a break. I've been thinking about confronting him all morning, actually, but I don't know if I should. I'm reluctant to discuss that tower with him, with anyone really, after last night. Maybe I could start with the trees, that could be a good starting point. After the trees, I can move onto the building. Or should I start with the way he interrupted me last—

"Look at those trees, Alex!" Regina says from behind me. "They're quite the fit, I really hadn't expected it."

"Regina!" I say as I turn to greet her.

She stops in front of me, and she seems taken aback by something, she's simply standing there, looking at me. I should fill the silence.

"You know, I was just thinking the same thing," I say. "It didn't seem like it at first, but they may be a good fit after all. Jasper might not like the extra maintenance, but I'm starting to think it'll be worth it."

"It will be," she says with a smile. "And all Jasper likes is maintenance."

We laugh, but it feels strained. She's not here to watch the maintenance crew or Jasper's exuberant direction of the planting, she's here for something else. But I wait for her to break the silence this time.

"So, Alex," she says, clasping her hands together in front of her chest. "I wanted to talk to you about the event last night."

"It went great, Regina," I say. "You did a great job."

"Thank you, Alex. It did go well, if I dare say so myself. But I was hoping to have a conversation with you about a broader issue. It involves some things I've heard from our team members. It's not an emergency, but if you're not too busy... Are you headed to Comms? Let's walk and talk?"

The whole time she's been talking, I've wanted to ask her about the crystalline tower. But I'm simply walking with her instead, moving away from the trees and trucks and landscapers, going up the hill towards the Communication Center. I think of saying that I wasn't headed this way, but it seems too late, and she stops before I can decide. She leans towards me slightly, her dark eyes squinting behind her large glasses. There's something odd about her expression, a sort of quizzical sincerity, and her voice seems raspy from the hours of socializing last night. As she says my name, I have a feeling like she's going to tell me, please be quiet, this is a library.

"Alex," she says, stopping briefly, "We haven't known each other long, but I already know that you're a great leader. This business you've built is a sight to behold. It's changed lives, and it's changed my life. But, with that being said, I have to ask," she stops to take a deep breath, her eyes look to the sky for a split-second, then she looks back to me from under heavy eyelids and asks, "What was going on with you last night?"

"I'm guessing you mean the drinking," I say.

She leans back, one of her hands making a slight movement towards her face, brushing a strand of red hair out of her widened eyes. She starts and stops a couple times, then manages to decide on her words.

"I suppose that's a way to look at it," she says, nodding, her hands active in subtle ways, as if she's trying to gently smooth out the air. "We can come at the issue from there, Alex, that's fine. Overindulgence can be a problem, that's for sure. And, first and foremost, we're a health facility, a well-being facility. We have to project that healthfulness, physically and otherwise. Don't you agree?"