I'm working in a lab alone at night on the Stanford University campus. It's a leaky old trailer--temporary, when it was added decades ago. I'm studying slides in a microscope... doing biochemistry?

It's slow work tonight--equipment keeps malfunctioning. Only the electronic gear--simple mechanical stuff is all well behaved. A consistent pattern, and the accidents slowly turn nastier, worsen till there's no mistake: the electronic instruments in the lab are attacking me! Clumsily, blindly, but there's intelligence behind them.

They're not coming alive: they all have the same style, all the same aura. I can feel it dimly now, outside the lab. It's a telekinetic field beamed from a squat, heavy alien a hundred yards away, who can sense my approximate position but not my thoughts. Sniping at me blind!

Still, if I stay here much longer, I'm going to get killed. This lab has a power drill and a saw! I head for the door but some wheeled devices cut me off. I grab a heavy hammer, hide behind a workbench. Heap up nonelectronic junk, then turn and smash at the cheap trailer wall (figuring that to the alien, reading only my general position, I'll seem helplessly pinned) till I rip through the tin to the outside, and flee.

HALF-AWAKE

Half wake, I think "I HAVE to quit my lab job! It's killing me!" Interesting: I feel distinct pleasure at the idea of interviewing for a lot of people-oriented jobs.

Then, as I wake further, realize... I have no lab job. Twenty years ago I worked in a small lab for a few months, and never since.

FULLY AWAKE

• Quit my job: I don't have to work at all, right now! Funny, I feel disappointed! WANT to go around applying for people jobs. Maybe I'll meet Miss Right... But without the whip of financial need, I just won't do it.
• Rebellious electric gear = today the bus suddenly dumped us all off, and headed for maintenance shop. I thought "Muni maintains its perfect record!" Not one ride on time, uninterrupted, no breakdowns. I'll bike or walk or drive, but NEVER ride the bus unless I must, and this is why.
• The enemy can't sense my thoughts, just my position = My friend Alder asked what I was thinking, on the bus. Our co-op house is interviewing potential roommates; I was imagining myself more decisive and directive in the interviews, which I've felt were drifting.
• ACTION: Explore classes, a part-time job, or volunteer job that's very social. I need to be forced out!

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