[ WP ] To get to emergencies quicker , all Emergency Responders are required to be clairvoyant . This morning , an ambulance , fire truck and police cars show up outside your house . Nothing has happened ... yet .

`` So, like, do you know what's gon na happen?'' Hector took a drag from his cigarette. 
 
 `` Nah, not really,'' the EMT replied. `` It's the Oracles who are in charge of that, and even then its usually pretty vague.'' 
 
 `` Huh.'' 
 
 The two were leaning against the hood of Hector's car in his driveway. Out on the street were four emergency vehicles, a firetruck, an ambulance, and a two police cars. They had made quite the ruckus at 4:30 AM when they came barreling in, sirens blaring and lights blazing. The whole neighborhood was woken up, and of course they had to see what was going on. Now it was about half an hour later, the sky was lightening, and nothing had happened. Most neighbors had gone back inside their homes, maybe they could catch a few more winks before work. 
 
 A fireman broke away from the truck and approached Hector. `` Sir, please put that out.'' 
 
 Hector pulled the cigarette from his lips. `` I'm sure this is the list of your worries.'' He threw it on the ground anyway and stomped it out. 
 
 `` Chief says to stick around for an hour total, and return back if nothing happens,'' the fireman said. `` You sure nothing is wrong with you?'' 
 
 `` Yeah, totally fine, a little tired,'' Hector replied. `` You mind turning off those lights?'' 
 
 The fireman grunted and turned away. Hector turned to the EMT and said, `` What, are they always like that?'' 
 
 `` Firemen?'' asked the EMT. `` Yeah, they've got a superiority complex.'' 
 
 `` So, does this happen often?'' 
 
 `` What, coming and having to wait?'' 
 
 `` Yeah.'' 
 
 `` Sometimes. Not often. Usually for us its a heart attack or stroke, something that's been simmering for a while already. The fire department usually has to find the smoldering coal before the whole house goes up in flames. Those guys,'' the EMT gestured at the cops. `` I'm not sure what they do in these situations. Probably something similar, look for the hiding bad guy. But its real unusual to have all three send us out.'' 
 
 `` So their never wrong?'' Hector asked. 
 
 `` No, if the Oracles send us out, there's something for us to do. We may not always find it, but it's there.'' 
 
 `` Still, a little freaky, do n't you think? People who always know what's going on? Even in the privacy of their own homes.'' 
 
 `` I guess so. But its alright, really, we end up helping people. And it's never specific enough to really invade someone's privacy, always vague stuff like, heart problems, or robbery. It does n't hurt anyone.'' 
 
 `` You did just search my home based on this.'' 
 
 `` Standard stuff, and like I said, there's always something.'' 
 
 `` Well alright, I wo n't argue,'' Hector said. `` This is probably all of you, huh? No more coming out?'' 
 
 `` Nah, if we do n't find something now, then we'll probably find it later. Not that big of a deal really.'' 
 
 `` Hmm.'' Hector folded his arms. `` Well, I got ta use the John, do you mind if I go inside?'' 
 
 `` Not a problem. Their gon na want me to come with you. Do n't worry, I'll just stand outside, just in case.'' 
 
 Hector and the EMT went in and down the hall. The EMT took up a post outside the bathroom and John closed the door. 
 
 `` Do n't lock it,'' the EMT called through the door. `` It makes it easier for me to get in if something happens. And I would hate to have to bust up a really nice door.'' 
 
 Hector threw aside the bathroom rug and ripped up the linoleum, revealing a deep hole with a make-shift ladder on one side. He lowered himself down rung by rung, pulling the floor back over himself to cover his escape. Once on the ground he pulled a heavy metal door shut, separating himself from his home. He was in a rudimentary tunnel now, designed to collapse from a large enough shock. He knelt down and opened up a metal lock box. Inside were two items - one was labelled clairvoyant magnifier, the other a simple trigger. He pocketed the trigger, locked the box, and run hunched over with it through the tunnel, passing by several offshoots that smelled faintly of gasoline. 
 
 When he got to the part of the tunnel with several chalk marks, he paused. He pulled the trigger from his pocket and looked at it thoughtfully. At least he knew his plan would work. There was n't quite the response he was hoping for, but that was okay. For now. 
 
 Perhaps he did n't even need to press the trigger. He was able to call out a response for an event that had n't happened yet, that's what counted, right? No, it was called a clairvoyant *magnifier*, not a *fabricator*. In the end it had to be done. It was a shame, really. He never learned the EMT's name. 
 
 Hector depressed the trigger, and the ground shook. The dirt that formed the roof of his tunnel collapsed in behind him. He had the vague sense of heat, but that might have been his imagination. In either case, it was time to run. 
 
 He stepped through the small hole and into the underground access tunnels for the city, and ran down the narrow catwalk. It was time for him to change the world. 
 

