Earth Log Entry #19: Broken Portal
Sonny went through the apartment building front entrance. The door shut behind him.
THUD.
He froze. “…That is unusual.”
He turned, opened the door again, and shut it.
THUD.
No click.
He tried again.
THUD.
Sonny stepped closer. Slowly.
He pressed his ear against the door.
Silence.
He pushed it lightly.
It drifted open.
Sonny stepped back, arms folding, one hand on his chin. “…Building security has been severely compromised.”
He vaulted up the stairs to the apartment. Chad sat on the couch watching TV.
Sonny set his backpack down and began removing his shoes. “Chad. Building security is compromised. The front entrance is not locking. We must initiate emergency repair procedures.”
Chad glanced over. “Uh…isn’t that what building maintenance is for?”
Sonny walked to the closet. “It is all our duty.”
Chad turned back to the TV. “I promise you, it is absolutely not.”
Sonny pulled out a tool bag and stood at the door. “Then whose duty is it?”
Chad flipped the channel. “Like I said—maintenance. They even have an app.”
Sonny paused. “…An app.”
He slowly began putting his shoes back on. “That could take days.”
Chad grabbed his chocolate milk and took a swig. “You’re taking this way too seriously. What are the chances anything happens?”
Sonny stopped. Looked over. “It is a chance I am not willing to take.”
Sonny returned to the entrance. He set the tool bag down.
He removed:
- A hammer
- A wrench
- A kettlebell
He stared at the door.
Then knocked on it.
Once. Twice. Then harder.
THUD. THUD. THUD.
Another resident walking by slowed down. “…Everything good?”
Sonny didn’t look at him. “Testing structural integrity.”
The man blinked. “…Right.” And kept walking.
Ten minutes later—
Sonny wiped his hands.
He closed the door.
Click.
He froze.
Opened it.
Closed it again.
Click.
He stepped back. “…Mission accomplished.”
Sonny returned to the apartment. Chad was half asleep on the couch.
He set the tool bag down. “Safety has been restored. The door has been repaired.”
Chad didn’t look up. “Good job, Mr. Fix-It.”
Sonny allowed himself a small smirk. “Mr. Fix-It, indeed.”
Sonny pulled out his Earth Log device and began typing.
Doors on Earth may fail without warning, creating immediate security vulnerabilities. Chad does not appear to recognize the severity of these events. The system has been restored. We are secure.