The Clocks

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Not for the first time she wondered why she'd bothered to reply to the recruitment mail she'd received. No, she wasn't going to admit that it was mainly because she was curious about how they'd gotten her private metanet mail address. At any rate, it was too late to back out now, so she might as well go through with it.

After arriving at the address, she was quickly ushered into a small office and was confronted by the recruiter.

"OK. So here's the deal. We want you for a clandestine project. It's going to require a commitment of about 1,500 years, spread out over several lifetimes on two planets. Don't worry if you're somehow discovered during the first phase. The planet will be instantaneously vaporized by the enemy. Neither you nor the billion or so beings living on it will feel a thing.

"The planet for phase two has protections in place, so, once you get there, you and your team will be the only ones at risk of obliteration.

"Who's in charge of the project? Don't worry about that. She has a lot of experience. She may be a bit on the young side, so to speak, and she does have a rather warped sense of humor, but don't worry. I'm told that she'll grow out of it within the next few eons.

"How young? She's actually not quite hit puberty yet. But don't worry. She's highly qualified.

"Who told me that? Uh...well...she did. She said that if I didn't tell you what she said she'd.... No, never mind. I don't want to even think about it. Moving right along then. What's your next question?

"Security? Of course we'll have it. Nothing better exists anywhere in our multiverse cluster. We're going to seal your memories of who and what you all are until the project is complete. That way there's absolutely no chance of a leak.

"Really! You didn't have to break the chair. It never did anything to you! Oh, I see. It was either that or break me. Excellent choice. I knew there was a good reason to include you in the project.

"No, wait, don't leave! I was saving the best for last. Just one more thing, then you can go if you must. Please?

"Sure, I'll make it fast. The one you've had a secret crush on these past 200 years has already agreed to participate. If you join, you'll be together nearly every day for the duration of the project.

"Excellent! We're glad to have you on board. I guarantee that you won't regret your decision...since you won't remember making it.

"What did I just say? Oh, nothing. Nothing at all. I was just talking to myself. Truly...."