The Plan was made up of countless levels and departments. The departments managed everything that made up the world. From chance encounters to first loves. Medical miracles to mental breakdowns. Flower blooms and weather changes. I’d been working as a life coordinator in the First Borns department for years. I helped first born children come into the world, and also helped them along the path of death when they aren’t meant to make it.

This day was different though. On this day I was stepping out of the elevator onto the personnel and placement level. As I approached the office the secretary told me to go on in. She looked up at with a huge smile and a cheery voice. She was much like everyone in The Plan. Perfect. Professional. I walked into the office of Mr. Murdock, the head of personnel and placement. He offered me a seat.

“Your success in First Borns has lead us to the decision to offer you a promotion. We want you to move up to our Disasters department,” Mr. Murdock said.

“How big is the department? How many people will I be working with? First Borns was mostly small team work. I don’t have much experience in larger teams.”

“It’s a large department. There’s a lot of work to be done. You will just have to go up there and see for yourself though. Seeing it for yourself is going to be easier than explaining it. If you want the job, it’s yours. You have to decide right now though. These opportunities don’t last very long.”

He was right. Things like this didn’t happen often. The Plan liked keeping people in place. They wanted them to master their job and always be the master. Less went wrong then. If a position opened then there was some kind of shift. Maybe a greater demand in the department. Maybe someone got fired or quit. Either way it wasn’t something you turned down. Even if you knew nothing about the department.

“I accept.”

“Good. Report to level 47 right now. Your new boss is waiting for you.”

I got up and left. That was how business was done here. Always swift and professional. I was in the elevator and heading up to level 47 before I knew it. I had never traveled any higher than level 20, which was the cafeteria for the first 20 floors.

Upon arrival on level 47 I didn’t find a bustling department full of workers. It was empty. I checked the elevator again. I was definitely on the right floor. In the corner of the floor there was a single office. I walked over to it. It had a name on it. Mr. Calamity. I assumed that was my new boss. An odd name, but one perfect for someone in charge of the Disasters department. I walked up and opened the door.