Gaston stands in front of the orientation. Although he was semi in-charge with the Rook Squad. The newbies that have been starry-eyed wanted to be taught.

“CERN’s instruments found the SPARTICLES during one of their experiments. Although it’s usually handled by another organization. They’re the only ones who have the equipment to measure readings and have been somewhat lazy in finding God’s particle. Why is that?”

Gaston switched to another slide.

“Starting the world wide web wasn’t enough so they made an interplanetary internet that can link up mars and planet earth as a side project. Their LHC has been under-use lately. Now they are working on proving that they can detect SPARTICLES off the grid.”

“What about the organization that could detect it, Sir?”

“Not everything survived the end of the world. Now, you are Breakers that are going to be under contract with the Babaika Lions. Top of the industry, well-equipped, and one of the most well-known. You’re going to be part of their mercenaries for hire. Still, you answer to the Earthside Consortium, and most of your contracts are handled through EC.”

Gaston switched to the end slide. “You’re going to be given manuals, training and all of you are under probation.”

The group before Gaston were new breakers that were hired by the Babaika Lions after they were ‘baptized’ with the serum. From the looks of it there was a huge demand for Breakers and everyone who wanted to be a superhero despite knowing the dangers.

Then again, these new recruits signed up for the idea of becoming monster slayers, not knowing that it’s just mostly guarding mining ships or following orders from Command where to go and move.

Gaston finished the orientation. He went to the deck of the carrier and looked at the belua that the Lions managed to catch underwater.

It was a Type-3 biomass entity that had the same body makeup of a great white shark. It was sedated and chained with disruptors and a constant poison injected on its spine. Around this T3 belua was equipment that was harvesting the ichorium on its back.

Each Ichorium was yellow-graded. The purpose of the equipment and machinery was to constantly allow the creature to generate ichorium ores from its back, harvest it, regenerate it again, and then repeat until the body of the monster is completely drained of any vitality. A cruel and effective process to harvest materials from the monster.

As Gaston watched the process. A hand thumped him on the shoulder. He turned and saw Jakob carrying his MF blade around. The man looked like he was to keel over. He was wearing a wetsuit and an exoskeleton designed to allow faster movement underwater.

“Adjutant, it’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other.”

“Jakob,” Gaston said. “It has been a long time indeed.”

Jakob raised a brow, “Did I catch you in a bad mood, Adjutant?”

“No, I’m feeling drained lately.”

“Aren’t we all?”

Jakob raised his left hand. The cuffs have been handed to the Babaika Lions. It was a test on how the Lions would react to being deprived of the ichor and so far it had been successful. There are breakers who are experiencing extreme effects. But there are also breakers who have no reaction, their mutation and evolution keeps their strength and senses high.

Unlike the cuffs, the module that Gaston kept was one of those types that allowed him freedom in whether he could turn it on or off. He also realized that the cuffs itself could resist the disruption process.

“These cuffs keep us sane, eh? For once I don’t feel like a drug addict without his fix.”

There was that effect. For now the ones who are getting the cuffs are those who have money to buy one. The rest of the civilian population are still trying to accept the cuffs that their government was trying to put around them.

“Where’s Hilda?”

“She’s with the Lady. I’m here to take care of that. Not that they need me with all these weapons around. I mean you can probably take care of it, right?”

“I’m non-combatant.”

Jakob grinned. “I thought that as well. You’re a peace-loving man, Adjutant. But there are secrets that are hard to keep.”

“I guess so,” Gaston snorted. He lowered his eyes at the eyes of the T3 chained on the ship. “How long is this monster’s life span?”

“About five hours. We almost used up the vitality of the creature. We already extended most of its lifespan the best we could.”

Gaston could see signs of the monster failing. The monster stared at Gaston. For a moment Gaston wanted to put the monster down, before he snapped and looked away.

He spotted a VTOL landing on the deck.

“That’s your ride isn’t it?”

“Yeah, the newbies in the ship should be able to handle them. I guess they aren’t going to Japan?”

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“They aren’t. We need more ocean crew so they’ll have to specialize in guarding submersibles and making sure that the pirates don’t try to steal our cargo.”

“Haven’t heard of the pirate situation. How is that?”

“Eh, most of the time independent mercenaries are killing. Apparently, the Pacific pirates pissed off a Buchon when they tried to rob their shipment of cocaine two weeks ago. Now that same Buchon works for the Pacific Cartel. So now you have Sicarios from South Americas and Europe trying to fuck these pirates up and take their routes as well.”

“They must be paying well.”

“Oh, they are paying well. 10K for every member they kill, 50K for officers and half a million credits if they kill one of their Captains. These Cartels don’t like it when others try to mess with their business. So right now we’re having a smooth day without the threats of pirates.”

Gaston stared at the ocean before heading towards the VTOL that will take him back to the Island. With a sponsor around. He had started to find no reason to do his job. He can probably live on Mars.

Then again, now that he had the means and the money to do it. Gaston found himself hesitating. His contract with the Babaika Lions. His agreements with the Earthside Consortium. The career he had built here took years to accomplish. Yes, he made shortcuts, and jumped on dangerous opportunities, but nonetheless, it was still home.

Leaving for another country was one thing. But leaving for another planet that was still new? It was a big choice to make. Not that he’d want to go to a planet alone.

The VTOL took off and carried him back to the airstrip in Kaminari Island. He took another long ride, and then found the tram that would take him to the village where the Babaika Lions had set up shop.

Exiting the tram, he found foreigners immediately. The artificial island was made by the UN council, though mostly sponsored by the United States, Japan, and Saudi Arabia who have been masterful at creating artificial islands. Though the creation of the artificial was made by a Dutchman engineer who worked to create the Island with a designer named Ito.

It was the melting pot of the Pacific and it was said that they are planning to make the Island one of the open islands in the Pacific. Not that it would happen since various maritime laws have been discussed ever since the Island has been built.

Then again, the Kaminari Islands were built on top of an island that has risen from the ocean floor. The village that he was in was where most of the natives lived. At least that’s what they call themselves.

It was a thriving community. Though most of the civilians here work remotely. Remote jobs were popular here. Most of those who couldn’t get a working visa in Japan would come here to work instead since it was not fully part of Japan. There was a loophole that many were abusing and how it’s still around made Gaston wonder if it was some sort of scheme to attract migrants and segregate them to this island. Then again, this island was close to Okinawa which is the number one destination for the populace of the Island.

Gaston takes a slow walk on the small street. Most of the houses in Kaminari retain the Minka-style but with the Kame Doctrine, in which a house would retreat to the shell underneath to protect itself.

The rest of the houses that don’t have this usually have a shelter beneath their homes. Even the ones that they rented had one which is honestly like a second house underneath, but with a bigger storage and capsule-like beds equipped with a life support system.

Gaston stopped to look at a family of three teaching a little boy how to ride a bicycle. The training wheels were taken off and the parents were following the little boy. Gaston stared at the little boy with a stony look on his face. There was a mix of emotions in Gaston’s face. It was quite a scene that Gaston hadn't seen for a long time. It was Reginald’s kid was it? He thought to himself. He was about to turn when someone bumped him on the shoulder.

“Gato, you look stunned.”

“Janna.”

She watched the family of three as well. She looked sullen and gloomy. Her cheeks flushed. Her hands form into fists. Her lips flattened. Her teeth clenched.

“Wonder if that would be the case.”

“Who knows really.”

Gaston takes one long look at the family and starts in the direction of the home they rented. Janna walked alongside Gaston. If Janna’s face was gloomy, then Gaston’s face looked like he had been drained of his soul. It was almost lifeless. The sunlight hid most of his face, but Janna knew him enough.

“Are you still?”

“I won’t lie to you. But yeah, I am. This life isn’t kind to Exemplars like us, Janna. We’re not supposed to exist anymore. We survived because we were strong. We hid well and by the time they got their serum done. We are considered inferior to them. Even the serum that we took when we became ‘breakers’ only did little to us. But it doesn’t change the fact that we became what we are because we got into their pockets. We became their obedient dogs and settled to be one.”

“We are no longer their dogs.”

“Maybe. But still it’s hard to forget.”

Janna stopped walking.

“Is that why you want to leave this planet?”

“Don’t know.”

Gaston lowered his eyes.

“You liked fighting. It’s natural in both of us to be. I killed that fighting spirit in the Golden Gate. To stay on this planet meant that we’d keep on fighting. The Earthside Consortium wouldn’t waste talents. Times have changed.”

“You could just say that you want to elope to another planet.”

Gaston looked away.

“I don’t get you at all. The last time you said that you wanted to stay away. I get it. I understand that it was toxic and I do know that we still are.”

Janna grabbed hold of his arm.

“But we are still family.”

“That we are.”

“Are you still angry about that?”

“I know that it was a scheme for them to create a new generation of Exemplars. Two healthy well-evolved Exemplars. It was a perfect eugenics program for them. It was your choice, I accept that. But still, it hurts, losing something that you wanted. I’d fight them all if they tried anything. I’d kill them all if you had wanted it to happen.”

“I know. That’s why I told myself that I was not ready. I don’t want you to be that guy again. Me and Reginald know what you did for us. You’ve always been our guardian. Still, it’s not like I didn’t hurt either. Just say it if you want to leave.”

Gaston looked solemn. Janna tapped his shoulder and walked past him. He turned towards the sky and saw the rings of satellites imitating the stars.

All his fighting spirit has left him.

You can only fight so much in your lifetime and the recent years have exhausted and broken that willingness to fight.

What’s so wrong with wanting to find peace even if it means leaving this planet?