Chapter 59

William clutched his hands even further. Then, he finally looked at Kaufman, meeting that white with vigor of pain, and taking those eyes for deep problems. “Young. I was with them for five years... but don't remember it that well.”

“Ah. That thing? The first years of one's life are like blurred film. It isn't great, but one could go back, or...”

“Stop it.” Luke slammed his leg on the table, fairly close to where Kaufman was.

“Fine. Some folks clearly want him here in the Federation, while some don't. Ha, their bad. Mi-Yung blurred that line and did everything well. Good. That is a hopeful reason for everything, so what are some decisions that will happen regardless of Mi-Yung and myself? He shall be accepted as a citizen. Not a refugee or part of someone.”

“Again, not my problem,” Luke said.

For William, it wasn't clear what was a problem or a blessing. “Citizen? Wait, what happened to my parents then? I mean... if they were Walkers, then... were they bad? Did they betray their people?” William blurted out because Kaufman was speaking about a lot of things. They overlapped with what Luke said, shaking his mind.

He overcame his courage and tried his best to ignore his Emblem by clutching his right arm with his left.

William didn't understand everything. What was Assembly? What was trust? Choice? Kaufman answered nothing. He gave him more questions instead.

“I think you are confused about something, boy,” Kaufman said. “You are still a Walker, while your parents are gone. Simple. That alone is enough to give your life a better meaning, and your parents were no villains. They were young and found it out. Nothing extraordinary, I reckon. Some work better performs.”

“Me?”

“Not sure. A baby Walker brought up from two Walkers? That is unheard of, right?”

William wasn't sure what he meant. Luke got annoyed, however. There were some facts that he understood after speaking with Luke and this wasn't one of them. His life wasn't entirely that light, or simple. He couldn't figure out why was everyone so sure he was this Gale. Was his Emblem or his face like his father's?

This curiosity will keep him going until Mi-Yung, it seemed.

“Is there someone else who got kidnapped? I mean, Mi-Yung doesn't make many mistakes. Not usually.”

“Luke said that people looked for me,” William argued to this old man.

“Oh, they did. That order is old. It came from some important people. Academy too, I think. Sorry to not be able to say much, but that is that. Parents were the dawn, with you being the aftermath. Wait. Shadows? Then, years passed by, and things have never been the same, or they became forgotten, not found, or slipped.”

“Are they truly missing, or is the unknown status the same as death? I already resigned...” William said his worry.

Kaufman shook his head while Luke remained silent. “I don't know. Missings like that are already close to death in the military, but the Outside is vast. Nevertheless, would they forfeit it all and leave their son behind? I doubt that. Viktor wasn't that kind of person, was he, Luke?” Kaufman asked, aiming his question at him, and gently tapping the table.

“Thank god he wasn't like you, Kaufman!”

Kaugman laughed, slapping the table. “Ah, thank Named for that!”

“That what was he like?” William requested, hoping for Kaufman to be talkative. So far, he seemed to be a good source of something, even if his personality seemed shitty. Well, it wasn't shitty. It was freaky and exactly how he considered Walkers to grow.

“He was very brawny if I would describe him. Like a stone, too. He was dutiful and fantastic. Personally, I had no idea what changed back then into... well, frantics. What is bound to happen with you and everyone involved is closer.”

“Then what is going to happen to him because of you?” Luke voiced his concern.

“Me? Well, I have instructions from Mi-Yung, you see. Young Gale will gain his free will. He will also apply for the incoming Examination in six weeks. He will enroll in his own decisions and follow suit of his choice. IF no troubles happen, that is. How about some argumentative research? What of other Pillars? That sort of thing can change the status quo.”

“Not thanks to you, I assume?” Luke asked.

“Hopefully, but not dutifully, it will go without any influence from any organization.”

“So individuals?” Luke said, not belittling any of his words.

“Yes. That is up to the youngster, or so I was told. How it goes in practice is different. Back in my day, things were savage and pushy. I reckon some curious eyes will flock together and complain, or change things on the go. Mi-Yung might have to do a lot to keep up with them.”

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“Free? What does that mean? What choice is there?” William asked.

“That you are a common citizen, and won't adhere to anyone. Most refugees aren't like that. It is kind of tough to give this to an Outsider, even if one is a young Walker. At least you will get some other perks when you become a Walker, so don't worry about it. It is a good thing.”

William didn't understand the Federation, so he listened and hoped someone would explain it better than this man who seemed obnoxiously all-knowing, while not explaining it that well.

“Also, depending on your choice of organization, they have many rules and cuffs put on the Walkers. Oh, I bet Luke is a perfect example.” Kaufman said, hearing Luke's grunt. “For now, you have nothing but an unkempt past and connection to Mi-Yung. I say you should clasp it well and not let go of either. You don't want to be alone in a sea of monsters that are Walkers who remember a time from ten years ago or beyond,”

“Like here, with Luke. He is a Walker who has worked for the military since his youth, and his Rank 5 is great but not very excessive. He amassed experience to be a Captain of his own team and do missions in numerous ways, yet he can't do much with rules put around himself, because he picked a Yondu Division. He is bound to it till he dies.”

“Isn't it a kind of harsh?” William asked.

“It is. Why would it not be harsh? With work and things to do all the time, survival has to be taken seriously. It is absolutely mandatory to give orders to the military and see rules for a greater cause. Walkers or regular people, Divisions have endless needs for both.”

William didn't like how it sounded. Perhaps Kaufman explained it the worse he could for a reason.

“Skullcap,” Luke argued. “My talent is mediocre. Statistics and military is an order of magnitude large due to the sensibility of people. Special organizations do other things. Everyone has their focus and everyone knows that. Don't mystify this boy, Kaufman. You won't succeed. He grew up Outside. He knows the world out there, right?”

Seeing Luke's face, William nodded. “Military was there. Outside, I mean. I've seen them die, fight, and protect.” 'And die and turn and weep... “I spend ten years not knowing, so... this is it? Will I know something?”

Kaufman frowned, reclaiming his hand from the table, and leaned on the foreign soft chair. “Knowledge is like leaves.”

That was it.

Nothing else?

William was momentarily speechless until Luke got fed up with everything and opened his mouth.

“Soldiers and Walkers are struggling. Always had. They finish their training to a passable degree before going into the fields, or missions. Then, they die within the first few years on average, ending their service without accomplishing their full potential, if not even coming out of their shells. I call it stupid, but some call it a sacrifice that can't be helped, due to talents and how the military works. They don't do it justice! Training Walkers is different from how you use a human. It's about the use! Those like me get it, but some assholes higher in the chain don't get it, huh?” Luke ended his rant, giving Kaufman and William a brief startle.

Kaufman understood the fieldwork was harsh, yet who was Luke at Rank 5? He saw and felt it more than usual, or he had some... unique experiences. There were so many decades of work in a broken world, touching the hopes of people, and he complained?

“Am I wrong, Kaufman?” Luke said after noticing Kaufman's judgmental stare.

“Those are quite harsh factual words. I won't argue about them because I don't care. Years or more, handling Walkers is like spreading a web. Some are weak and could snap. The world is big, so...”

“Don't give me that crap. The military needs a change! Not more Divisions that care more about specifics or others. Everyone should be on the same page. In unity!”

William, with ice-cold sweat on his back, felt speechless amid their bombardment. Statistics and deaths were numbers hiding behind nasty pictures of reality, or in the eyes of beholders. It was hard to give everyone an actual sense of justice. In reality or the field, the reality hit so much more than some numbers or pictures. William understood that. Felt it.

It wasn't about problems requiring a lot of work and overhauls. It was deep-rotten to the world itself.

Logical reasoning might be lacking instructors, or an overall inability to cope with situations Outside, or training Walkers and taking care of their talents and growth wasn't easy. Little time on harsh missions might also be a part of the problem. They could shift and change in a heartbeat because of sudden appearances of Darks or Rifts, while a lot of younger Walkers weren't ready for them.

The first few years were the worst due to lacking experience in the System and Emblem. Ideas and skill issues were particularly harsh. Especially if the Walker was brought under the sunlight in a not-that-delightful manner. They had to know what to use and do without being on the battlefield too much while being outside of it wasn't ideal also.

That was why those who survived this beginning Ranks lived up to the upper Ranks. That was the norm of survival of the fittest. Like Luke, for example. He overcame it and became Rank 5 Walker. It was a subjectively understandable issue that was hard to stop. Nobody wanted to die. It was a fact.

“Well,” Luke patted William's shoulder, “at least you have plenty of time to worry about that in the far future. For now, six weeks sounds like a good way to see the meaning of our words. Then, you have a choice that will drive your entire life. Harsh, isn't it?”

William flinched inside out and his right arm tensed even more.

“You are terrible with kids as always, Luke.” Kaufman chuckled.

Luke slipped his legs back to the ground and changed his attitude. “You... No. I won't go there. What am I supposed to do then? He will figure it out because he is no clueless brat who often comes from Outside, or even... Inside? How hilarious. I think the Federation has their generations but Outside hide some curious things. If he wouldn't be like that, what's the point in driving things crazy?”

“Luke...” William mumbled and glanced at the ground. These words didn't help with anything.

“Aren't you at least a little responsible for satisfying your missy?” Kaufman pointed to William's existence.

“And why does that make a point?”

“How about Mi-Yung, who stated that you will take care of him for the time being? At least until she is back, you will take care of William.”

“What?! Apartments don't apply to him or what? He will gain citizenship and is even recruited for the Examination from the Outside. Isn't there some grant? Why... is this... No. She would do this. Curses!”

“Mi-Yung insisted on doing things alone, so...”

“Oh, she does. Of course, she does. Fine. When she is back, this will get sorted out.” Luke was a little annoyed and showed it with his chin as always.

Kaufman thought he would have to pursue him more, but it seemed Luke liked William more than he assumed. “Anything else? If not, I will have a private conversation with this boy. Away from you, if possible.”

“Beats me. I will take a nap in the hallway,” Luke sighed and gladly walked away.