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Location: Work.
Excruciating: The fabric of my shirt on my burned shoulders.
Listening: "Gone Till November" ~ Wyclef Jean.

Early morning. Activity has increased on the western front of the fourth floor, but employee sightings are still rare. They've begun to travel in small, tight packs that move quickly through the cubicle maze. They descend on refrigerators and coffee makers and vanish once more into the rubber trees without exchanging any words.

Max Reid, Executive Vice President of Human Resources, is on-site. I lost my badge yesterday and was in the process of checking out a temporary card when I noticed the signature above mine on the clipboard. I looked at the lobby guard.

"Max Reid, huh?"

He pursed his lips and slowly nodded.

"Ah. So today's the day."

Again, he slowly nodded. He then closed his eyes and exhaled. "Shouldn't happen."

I nodded. "No, but that's the game." I headed for the bank of elevators.

So the tour has finally rolled into Long Beach...