March 22nd, 2018

Today started out normally enough. Hal called up and asked about going to the gym and picking up Candace. He said he had the day free if I wanted to do something, but he knew I generally had plans with Candace. Of course, if he could be of help at Candace's he was willing and able. I told him that Candace and I had plans, but we needed to talk. I told him I'd check in with Candace, and get back to him.

So when I called Candace up, I let her know what was going on. She encouraged me to take the morning to talk with Hal and that I could join her whenever I was ready. So I called Hal up and asked if we could go somewhere we could talk. Hal suggested his place, of course, but I felt more comfortable in a neutral and public area. So we agreed to meet at the cafe down on 25th.

I told him I wasn't comfortable working with The Order. That I was no longer comfortable with him working with The Order. I won't prevent him from doing so, or ask him not to, I won't even make it a condition on us remaining together. I don't think that'd be fair. But I wanted him to know that I'm not comfortable with it anymore. To that end, I turned down their offer. Though I seriously considered asking if they'd just pay me to stay quiet. But part of me is still worried about how they'd react to such threats.

I understand that it's an incredible opportunity for him. His schooling is paid for and he's allowed, encouraged even, to continue to pursue his education at his own pace. And having a similar offer is tempting to me. I do want to go to college after all. But I wasn't prepared to lose my job again, especially not like that. I want my education to get me into a career that I can stay with, and I don't want some shadow organization pulling my strings and putting that career at risk. And no, I don't consider it okay that I could just get another similar job somewhere else.

I told him I was happy with our relationship, but I knew that it'd have to change going forward. I'm willing to try if he is, but I want to step back from The Order and all our conspiracy talk.

Hal listened, and he accepted my decision. He wants to continue with our relationship, which was good to hear. But he's going to want to have someone to be able to talk to about all this. For now, he'll see if he can make do just chatting with Brigida, and I suggested that Max has always been interested in conspiracy theories. Hal actually mentioned that it might be nice having someone to escape all that with. But I don't think he's ever going to be able to tear himself away, and I think he's aware of that too.

So we'll see how things go, and I'm glad we had this talk. It was nice afterward to hold him again and be held by him again. I did miss that.

Afterward he brought me to Candace's, and made the decision to go work on some of his own things.

In a way that was good, because I wanted to be able to spend some time with Candace and maybe see if I could identify what Sam was talking about.

Things went well, it was windy and cloudy today, which made it less enjoyable to work outside. Fortunately we were working with the small pots and seeds, so we could do that inside. Candace seemed to do well, even when I had a dizzy spell just before two. But as well as she seemed, I think I am seeing what Sam saw. She was waving her hands over one of the pots she had just planted, and was getting frustrated when nothing happened. Then there was her humor, which wasn't very humorous. She was mocking, especially toward Sam. When we first met, I remember her being dismissive and condescending toward him, but she seemed to come to accept him and even bond with him after coming to live here. But today, and even yesterday the way she teased him about asking for help with the table saw, she mocked him. It made me uncomfortable.

I finally called her out on it though, asking why she was harping on him so badly. She acted like she wasn't even aware she was doing it. And it seemed genuine, which is troubling on its own. Afterward she seemed to go back to herself. She stopped harping on Sam, and when he showed up later for dinner, she seemed to try to make it up to him.

I'm not sure what's going on with her, but I do think it'd be good to keep a closer eye on her. So over dinner I talked to them some more about the offers they had made me. I'll have to talk to my parents, though at the moment I feel like they're pushing me out anyway. But I'll take the empty room, that way I can just move my stuff in rather than having to claim things that are already there.

I'm not sure how much of an assistant to Sam I'd make, but for a time it'd be nice to have a little bit of cash coming in and I'd like to see his forge and stuff. So I'll try that out for size, and if I like it I can keep doing it. But if it's only part time, I'll still have to find another job. And when that comes alone we'll have to reassess my assistance to him.

Reaching that decision really seemed to take a weight off my shoulders, and if I'm not paying rent, maybe I can still save up and go to college rather that get another job.

When Sam was taking me home, he asked about his other offer, making my primary job be to be there for Candace. I told him I wasn't comfortable with us making those arrangements behind her back. But I also admitted I'd seen how she was acting differently, and I had to agree that maybe she does need someone there. So if he wanted to pay me a bit more on the side for doing something I'd do anyway... who was I to turn down more money?

Don't remind me about the tubing trip. I've got a different situation now, and with that comes different priorities.

I'm tired now that I'm home, so I stayed long enough to say good night to Mom and Dad, and then came up here to my room. I'll talk to them tomorrow about moving in with Candace.

March 20th, 2018

Hal finally stopped texting today and allowed me space.

I spent the morning doing chores knowing full well Mom was there. She was happy to see me out. I had been out yesterday of course, but I'd pretty much hid from her and Dad so it's not like they saw me out. She did want to talk and while still disappointed in what I'd done, she felt it was time I accepted the consequences and moved on. To that end she was encouraging of me to find another job. And I do have a lot of money saved up, I could probably put in for some loans, scholarships, and other forms of financial aid and go to school.

It's just that I'd been working toward a scholarship through the museum and had hoped to do that this summer and start in the fall.

At least Mom wasn't dumping on me. Though I was still getting disapproving silence form Dad. Even with her encouragement, I still have an ultimatum on the table.

I have time now, I could go look in to admissions and financial aid at the college. But I still have bills that need to be paid, so I'll need a job either way.

They've been pretty adamant that I not spend time with Hal any more too. So when I got my chores done around the house, I left saying I'd be out looking for a job. Then I called Hal up and asked if we could meet somewhere. He picked me up at the next bus stop and we headed back to his place.

Hal was tripping over himself to apologize. He said he knew how much the job meant to me, but then he turns around and reminded me of the job offer with The Order. They'd pay for my schooling, and I'd earn enough money that I wouldn't have to worry about it. Then I could go out and do anything. He forgets that I'd also be trespassing secured areas and losing my job on a regular basis. I don't know what kind of career I could make out of that.

It's a tempting offer though. If they're going to get me into this kind of trouble, I may as well make them pay for it and take advantage. I told Hal I'd think about it.

I couldn't stay out forever though, and I wanted to make it look like I'd tried to get jobs. So I asked Hal to bring me home and stop by every fast food joint on the way. That way I could walk in with a pile of applications to fill out.

March 17th, 2018

What have I done?

Last night there was a break in to the museum. And this time it was almost identical to the break ins we had been reading about in the cities that Nephmesu visited during his tour. The difference was that the museum didn't respond to it as a break in, nor did they report it. Just that a door had been found unlocked and we all heard about it as though someone had forgotten to lock something up before we left at night.

That's what triggered Hal and I's attention, though of course Hal was only learning about it when he visited for lunch. He and I were both thinking it, we didn't need to voice our thoughts. As he left he said simply "We're doing this." and I couldn't disagree.

He showed back up later before the museum closed, and since everyone still knew him there was no issue with him coming into the back and being chummy. Just before we'd start doing the closing announcements he mentioned needing to use the restroom and disappeared in that direction.

Later I would mention that he was already outside waiting for me as though he had passed through and the others just hadn't seen him. I counted down my till as fast as I could mentioning that Hal was waiting for me, so that it could appear that I was one of the first to leave. I ran back to my locker in a rush, but of course rather than grabbing my stuff and going I met up with Hal who was hiding. He had made friendly with one of the aids who had a key into the locked areas and using the skills Tim had taught him stole the key. In that way we were able to lock ourselves into one of the areas that should remain locked through the night and escape detection.

Hal informed me later that if they had changed the key code on the pad since he'd left, we'd have been screwed. I'm not happy with him about that.

We waited long enough for the guards to settle into a predictable routine and avoided the cameras by not going anywhere. Then we waited longer for any indication that something was up. Hal was sure that however anyone was avoiding detection, it would affect the guards and we'd notice it. That was what he was waiting for.

And he wasn't wrong. As night fell and the museum became truly dark, Hal suddenly started yawning hard and his head nodded forward. Quickly he grabbed a charm out of his pocket that he explained would protect us from the magical influence. He and I held it tightly between our hands for minutes while he continued to yawn, which of course caused me to yawn in response. With all that yawning I was starting to feel tired, and then Hal looked up at me and said it was over. He took the charm back and put it in his pocket and then we carefully made our way back to the door.

Back out in the hallway, we crept up the stairs watching for guards. Up on the second floor we finally found one, passed out on the floor with his flashlight laying next to him. Hal turned back to me and smiled and after that he stopped trying to be so sneaky confident that we wouldn't be discovered.

We stopped into the wildlife exhibits quickly to see if anything was happening there, but Hal was impatient about getting to the Egyptian mummies exhibit. There was nothing to find so we made a beeline to Nephmesu.

At first nothing looked out of order, and Hal's impatience began to show. He stationed me there to watch over Nephmesu while he explored the rest of the exhibit hoping to find something.

While Hal was gone though I watched as Nephmesu stepped into view. He wasn't resting in the sarcophagus as we expected, but rather he'd already been down the other hallway leading to his chamber and was returning. Hal had gone back the way we'd come otherwise he'd probably have run right into the ancient.

The other thing was that Nephmesu didn't appear like one would expect a mummy to appear. He wasn't wrapped up in his bandages, nor was his face or body gaunt. He looked fully alive, and was dressed in a nice modern suit. What gave him away is that he looked nearly identical to the renderings that scientists had generated to put a face on him for the public. He was much darker than expected, though not as dark as Sam. Also his face was younger, and he had a scar on his forehead that no one could have expected. Finally he was wearing all the jewelry that accompanied his mummified form.

There was also a sense of power that radiated from him. I'm not sure I can explain it properly. It's like the area around him was charged, like static electricity. But it's not like I felt if I were to try and touch something I'd be shocked. More like there was a potential there that anything could happen.

I watched him, peeking from around the corner behind which I hid, terrified that he'd discover me. But like Hal he was confident that he wouldn't be discovered. Instead he just paced, like he was waiting for something. Rather, he was waiting for some one. From the lobby came a noise that in the silence seemed loud, the click of one of our lobby doors as it opened, and then closed. I couldn't call out to Hal, but I had hoped he'd heard that and that he would be mindful enough of what it'd mean.

Nephmesu heard it too though, and fortunately for me the more direct rout to the lobby was down the other hallway. Nephmesu actually looked down to his clothing and smoothed it out, checking to make sure he looked presentable. It was almost a nervous action, and at the same time when he looked up he assumed a demeanor befitting a king.

We didn't have to wait long before someone joined us, approaching from the expected passage. This someone was also a male, his skin was lighter than Nephmesu's though still darker than mine. I couldn't quite make out his features, he never did look my direction. His hair was cloudy white as though he were as ancient as Nephmesu's actual age. His form was solid though, like he was still in his prime. Both men were skinny like Hal, but this newcomer moved in a way that made me think of Sam. He was also dressed well, but not regal like Nephmesu. It made me think back to how Nephmesu had straightened his clothes, and made me wonder why Nephmesu was nervous to meet him rather than the other way around.

Like Nephmesu though, he also brought with him a sense of power. But this was different, as though the air itself became more dense, as though there were something tangible about it. Again, I'm not sure my explanation does the feeling justice.

They greeted each other formally, the body language universal. But once the formality was over, they seemed to become more familiar to each other. I get the feeling that they knew each other at least somewhat well. They remained professional, but comfortable.

They did talk, but I couldn't understand the language. Hearing them I was reminded of clips we have used to show us how the ancient Egyptians might have sounded. I suspect that's what they were speaking.

They seemed to come to an agreement, and then they shook hands. That was when Hal tapped me on the shoulder. I bumped the wall as I spun around, bringing my hands up to my face terrified that I'd scream. It was later that I learned Hal didn't see anything, but in the moment I could only think that he was completely unconcerned with the meeting happening right in front of us between two people who could probably squash us like bugs. Hal apologized for startling me, and started to explain that he wasn't finding anything in a volume far too loud. Seeing the fear on my face though he stopped and asked "What?"

I turned to look back down the hall, but both men were gone. When I turned back to Hal he asked again what was wrong. I told him what I'd seen and Hal looked down the hall hoping to see what I was talking about. Of course by then there was nothing to see. When he turned back to me I noticed behind him a guard approaching with his gun drawn.

The police were called, we were handcuffed and dragged outside. I just about pissed myself. Hal kept whispering to me "Don't worry, don't say anything, and don't worry."

I kept my trap shut, I was more terrified of what I might say than anything. Hal remained infuriatingly calm in the face of all of it. It might have had a calming influence on me, but once the CEO arrived with head of HR all I could hope was that they wouldn't recognize me.

They talked to the police and security, glancing in our direction every so often. Before too long a lady arrived approaching those talking about us. Hal said, "She's here," as though that explained anything. She was tall, almost as tall as Hal at least. She was dressed professionally, and had dark full hair that reached down to her mid back. While they talked a security guard arrived carrying a box. There were some questions, the guard shook his head and put the box down before walking away.

It felt like an eternity passed while they discussed our fate. Eventually the box was passed to me, it was the contents of my locker. They approached me and asked what had happened, why we were there, what we'd seen. I didn't hear Hal's answers, I just stared into my box. Finally Hal touched my shoulder and guided me away. We followed the lady who had come late back to her car. Inside Hal introduced her as Brigida Sarto, his college.

We won't be charged, and The Order would make sure nothing shows up on our records. But I also don't have a job any more.

Hal spent the evening trying to reassure me. We went out to get a late dinner, but nothing could fill the hollow in my stomach. I told them what I'd seen, but Hal said he didn't see anything. Brigida was kind, said she was happy to finally meet me. She thanked me for my help and told me not to worry, The Order could offer me a job if I wanted. I told her I'd think about it and asked if I could go home.

I don't know what I'm going to do.

March 5th, 2018

I was finally able to talk to Hal today about the weird stuff happening at the museum. And as of today it is weird stuff, not just missing items. Dr. Paulson's work space was completely rearranged this morning when she came in to work. At first it seemed like it might have been a prank or something, just toying with her. But with things going missing, they took it pretty seriously and questioned everyone they could think of that'd have access to her work area. No one has fessed up yet.

I'd told Hal all this this morning while we were at the gym. So he came early for lunch and stopped in to talk with his mentor before joining me. From what Hal learned, there's still no explanation as to where the remote control for his drone went. I hadn't realized that's what he was missing. But I'd also only heard about it through the grapevine. I guess the remote itself isn't all that expensive, but without it his drone is a paperweight. Hal wasn't really able to learn much else, though it sounds like the staff in that area are pretty unhappy that anyone's work space could be rearranged.  They all get everything the way they like it, and the idea of having to find everything can be pretty stressful.

I didn't have anything more to report after work when Hal picked me up. We got to talking about it at his place. Hal thinks it might have something to do with the break ins that we had been following during Nephmesu's tour. It seems odd to me, most of the staff that had been a part of that road crew don't work at the museum. And Dr. Karlson, who'd accompanied the tour, shouldn't be stealing anything or rearranging anyone else's work space.

Hal is insisting that I try and cozy up with him at work though. He knows I don't have that much contact with the rest of the museum, my area is the front. I reminded Hal of this and he asked me to try anyway. He did say that he'd be trying to catch up with Dr. Karlson outside of work. But I think like me, Hal's just not in the position to make that casual. He's got school, and his training with The Order. Where's he going to catch Dr. Karlson without it seeming forced?

Speaking of The Order, Hal said his training with Brigida last night was much less stressful than it had been with Tim. In fact, Brigida was happy that Hal had been able to meet Melia as himself rather than through an assumed identity. She said that's how he should be doing things, as himself. Just when he finds anything interesting, report it to Tim or her. She even brought him back to that warehouse, and she didn't bother to blindfold him or anything. Hal now knows how to get to the warehouse on his own, which it turns out is just right outside of Morrison.

At the warehouse, she pulled out a bunch of books and they just studied. Hal said he'd been made aware of a couple of the books previously, in fact we'd gone looking for a copy of one of the books when we'd visited Westhouse Books. Brigida set him up with security clearance and told him he was welcome to visit anytime. In fact she'd like him to start studying those books and everything else they have. It's supposed to help him become familiar with the things they watch for. And then like she said, watch for them and report whatever he sees. The only thing is that he can't take anything out of the warehouse. And she warned him, their security in this matter should be taken deadly serious.

Hal had been less enthusiastic after his first encounter with Brigida, given that she didn't want him to be trained in spycraft. But now that he's has access to the warehouse, his excitement has returned full force. He's back to wanting to learn everything he can about who The Order is and what they do. In a strange way that makes me happy. I'm still concerned about their threats and secrecy, but I'm glad he's not going to be doing anything more than learning.

We spent so much time talking about those things that we didn't work on Hal's homework. Once we realized how much time had passed, I needed to get home.

I should mention I had one of my dizzy spells again today. It was shortly after I'd gotten back from lunch, and was pretty mild. It actually reminded me of the attack I'd had last week, while I was on the other medication. Which come to think of it, was exactly one week ago.

Work again tomorrow, and Hal will be in his lab so I'll have the afternoon to myself.

March 4th, 2018

Sundays have become difficult knowing Hal was out training with Tim, but now his instruction has been taken over by Brigida. From the sound of things that should be better, but I can't help worrying. Even for Hal's part, it's like our visit's to the gym are even more important, and him coming to lunch is even more important. And then I'm left the rest of the day to wonder. He's usually good about sending me a text message and just letting me know things are okay. And I don't always receive one by now, but again I worry.

As for work, today the missing items became a much more serious issue. A couple of sodalite crystals went missing out of the Gem and Minerals exhibit. They weren't currently on display, rather held in storage. There is a certain amount of traffic in storage, but little enough that security is unsure when the crystals might have gone missing.

By the time we were leaving, they were threatening to pat us down before we left. Make sure noone was carrying anything out. They did search our lockers though, and nothing was found. It was on the humiliating side, though they did take efforts to minimize that feeling. Each locker that was searched was searched in the presence of the person whose locker it was and no one else was allowed in except the HR rep. For those whose day off it was, they were asked to come in. If they refused the locker was still searched, so the invite was mostly out of courtesy.

This is all just getting strange, and with Hal out training I haven't been able to talk to him about it yet. I'm a little worried about going to work tomorrow, not because I feel like I'm in danger or anything. It's just many were disgruntled about the searches and I'm not sure everyone will come to their shift tomorrow.

I guess there's only one way to find out.

March 2nd, 2018

As the dwarves would sing, Hi Ho Hi Ho, it's back to work I go. Actually, it was nice getting back to work. And my lethargy must have been because of the prescription, I was feeling so much better today getting back on to my old meds. I was still tired, and it manifested mostly as being slow today, but otherwise I was good. And feeling that slowness, I took it easy even at the gym. Hal said it looked like I was doing better though, and that was good to hear. I hadn't thought it'd slowed me down that much before.

Everyone at work was eager to know how I was doing and offering well wishes. It was nice to feel so much support. I wasn't the only one having a rough day, Hal's former.... not boss, and I don't want to say master, but the guy he was working under for his apprenticeship... he must have misplaced one of his tools, and a rather expensive one at that. He had everyone looking for it, and insisted all day long he had put it away where it belongs. I felt so bad for him. I hope he did just misplace it, and I hope he finds it.

After work Hal picked me up and we went back to his place where I tried to help him with his homework. We also talked about why he hadn't been able to make lunch yesterday. Tim had asked Hal to meet him at a nearby restaurant for lunch. There Tim introduced him to a lady named Brigida, saying she was also a member of The Order. Then Tim left and allowed Brigida to talk with Hal. It sounds like Brigida has a higher rank in The Order than Tim, not that there's any sort of structure. But she definitely has more pull because it sounds like she just up and told Tim she'd be doing this. We're both wondering what that means concerning the old man, though Hal hasn't seen him since he was left to Tim's training.

Anyway, Tim's training is why Brigida stepped in. It sounds like she's not happy with the direction Tim has been taking and she's going to change that. One of the first things she clarified was that they weren't The Illuminati, that she knows Tim likes to keep referring to their organization that way, but they're not. It sounds like he's got some romantic notions, and the old man is happy to indulge him, but it annoys Brigida. Since Tim has started training Hal in surveillance techniques and more cloak and dagger operations, rather than focusing on his education, this is what Brigida is going to correct. Hal's focus will return to education, and while he won't be reporting to Tim, he still answers to Tim should Tim call. Brigida will also start teaching Hal about The Order's resources and goals.

It sounds like The Order has contacts and resources, which are valuable, but it's not a very large organization. So their ability to play cloak and dagger games are limited. Brigida thinks this is why Tim was trying to train Hal in said manor, so that he could have someone working in that capacity. But it's not what they do, at least not a large part of what they do. The main thing, Brigida stressed, is that they pay attention to what's going on in their circles, not to learn how to infiltrate any circle they wished.

But they need to be able to move things around, should they find an artifact or item that needs to be kept safe. To that end, Brigida introduced Hal to a smuggler that she often works with and taught Hal how to contact the guy if needed. Mostly a matter of how to talk about what he's hiring the guy to do without letting on that he's hiring the guy.

Their time was short though, just Hal's lunch. And so once Hal was introduced to Hank, I think that was his name, Brigida said she'd be in touch and thanked Hal for his time. She and Hank left, and Hal had to get back to class.

Hal's not feeling as excited about this organization now. It seems like their structure is much more loose than he thought it might be. If one member can completely make up what they think the organization is and be allowed to continue, maybe they don't have as tight a grip on what's going on. The advantage though is that Hal will continue to receive a paycheck, and he'll have more free reign to pursue the path in life he had set out to. He just has to pay attention. So not as excited, but less stressed about it too. I have to admit, that makes me happier.

I got to thinking while we were there about how I'd been so tired this last week, and how it made me miss some opportunities to spend time with him. Not the least of which, I'm still sitting on the Valentines present I'd bought for him.

Just looking at our typical weeks, I don't know that I'll have time to really take advantage of that. Our schedules are opposite enough that we don't ever have a full day together. And we've gone out on dates just the two of us, but they're always following my shift at work and I'm still wearing my work clothes. They're nice and all for a date, but I don't generally have the time to dress up. And no, I'm not wearing that to work in preparation.

If hadn't been so tired, we probably could have had an evening together where I could have prepared before hand. And I could do something like that on Wednesdays, but he'd be getting out of class and wouldn't have a fair chance to prepare himself.

I apologized for that, thinking it'd lead into a discussion about when we could get together some time. He said it was okay, that my health is more important and that he's glad I'm feeling better now. Besides, he pointed out, we did have one nice evening together last Wednesday. That was before my operation though. I'd been running around getting chores done, and I wasn't thinking about preparing for an evening with Hal any more than making sure I wasn't dressed like a hobo.

So I didn't get to measure his thoughts on such an evening. I don't know, he's easy going enough, I could just surprise him one Wednesday evening. But I've been thinking of wearing just a nice dress with a skirt that doesn't quite reach my knees, and I'd want warmer weather for that. Spring is right around the corner, I don't suppose a little patience would be a bad thing.

Alright, I need to get to bed.