Fission Maddness

Episode 1- Pilot

First day in a new floral home, at a new research job, with a fresh new start, and yet coffee has been spilt and sunbeams have burnt through the first layer of May’s lightly tanned skin. In all honesty, she knew she should’ve sprayed on a little sunscreen, but the events of this morning were disruptive. In any case, like any other stereotypical “first day”, May Waters had woken up to blurry, purple filled skies and golden glazed streetlights. She was packed with excitement about her brand new life, without a worry in her soul. She moved through her house with tip-toed grace as she weaved through brown unpacked boxes and vibrant unarranged furniture. The at-home coffee machine had been turned on, and as it brewed a sweet hazelnut scent through the air, she dug through her “Mug Collection” box and pulled out a tall, yet thin, light gray mug.

New beginnings were called upon because it seemed as though life for May had stood still for quite some time. Although May had in fact moved to a new workplace, she was still continuing her life-long career as a nuclear physicist. However, to add some excitement back into her life, she decided to get a change of location, and change of inspiration. She moved from Phoenix Arizona, to Livermore California, and accepted a job at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory- or LLNL as the employees call it. She also wasn’t leaving too much behind in Arizona; in fact, she spent so much time in that passionless lab that she didn’t even feel any changes when moving. Of course, she did leave behind her best friend, Katrina, but she did just marry and it seemed appropriate to let go and watch her live her new shared life.

The coffee pot was filled to the brim and the black scalding liquid emitted steam from the spout. It was a perfect morning that consisted of fresh coffee, hot sticky winds, and messy updo curls. It was perfect until it wasn’t.

In one of the cluttered unpacked boxes, May was looking for a certain Yellow Bird baseball cap to wear while outside in the sun. Instead, she found an old dingy umbrella, and upon shifting it amongst smaller items, the release clip was pressed and the black fabric sprung open. There’s a superstition that states that opening an umbrella indoors brings bad luck. May normally doesn’t follow superstitions, except as it was her first day at a new job, she started to dwell on what events would await in the future.

Time passes as it always does, and each minute gone by has caused May to have turned from graceful to frantic. Upon rushing from the brightly lit kitchen, to the cluttered unkempt living room, May had furiously crashed into the island counter causing the light gray mug full of warm crisped coffee to stain the wooden floor. Disheartened, she stands speechless in a puddle of wasted motivation, rethinks her plan, and smiles like there’s no tomorrow.

“Don’t cry over spilt coffee,” she sighs. After spending some time cleaning the heavenly mess, changing into new work clothes, and brewing more coffee, she leaves her apartment scatter-brained.

This is the part where the sunscreen has been forgotten.

Driving to work with her arms, backhands, and left rosed cheek in the sunlight, she exhales with great annoyance as she feels her body become baked and remembers the sunscreen sitting on the counter. She goes over the events of the morning that have so far taken place starting from the bad omen, to her freshly toasted skin. To make matters worse, May got so caught up in her thoughts that she missed her exit and ended up having to circle back. However, before going back onto the right path, she stopped at a gas station to refill her tank. After not wanting to take any chances, she got back on the road and drove on until she arrived at LLNL.

“Good morning ma’am, can I see your ID?” A short security guard chirped at May’s direction as she approached closer and closer to the vented building.

“It’s my first day,” she chirped back.

Like two birds sitting on a wire, the two discussed the early morning and exchanged warm welcomes. Before finally entering the building, Marvin- the little guard- informed May that for the first few weeks, security would check her ID until they become accustomed to her and her hours. Any time after that she would only need to show a quick flash.

A perfect breeze greeted the goosebumps on Water’s arms as the sliding doors pulled open. With a strong spring in her step, she at last moves steadfast into the building.

Then, the walls go blurry, the floor gets closer, and her heart sinks so fast there might not have been a beat. A loud thud is muffled by the rough blue carpet and heads turn in synchronization.

“Sorry! I forgot to tell you about that little step..."