Kyle raised his eyebrows, not expecting that they would jump right into the meat of what’s ahead. Angela continued, as Chester finally turned his attention towards Kyle, weariness plain in his expression.
“While our excavation has proven to be quite lucrative, this expedition has also cost our company a lot. It will take time for us to rebuild our shuttles and recruit enough talent to replace the personnel we’ve lost. Most of that work will have to wait until the expedition returns to Collective space.”
Kyle frowned. “I’m sensing a ‘but.’ Why are you telling me all of this?”
Angela’s voice was hard as steel. “Because your planet has a group of displaced refugees that need a place. We certainly won’t take everybody, though reports indicate a number of talented awakened that could be an asset to the firm.”
Anger started to bubble in Kyle’s chest. “And my agreement with Corthian Mining means that they’ll have a better chance than they otherwise would have. You’re not going to renege on that deal.”
Chester spoke up. “We’re not monsters, Mr. Mayhew. Nothing would be done before we return to the Collective for appropriate oversight. We’re simply asking you to consider discussing the options with your people. A simple word from you would go a long way towards what we hope could be a mutually beneficial relationship.”
Angela’s voice crackled through the speaker. “This is an opportunity for your people and our organization. Whether or not you choose to see it that way is up to you. Know that for every Earth refugee that applies and is accepted, we will add a flat sum of one hundred credits as a commission to your account. Which brings me to the next order of business.”
Kyle’s nav bracelet flashed, and an image projected up. His name was at the top, and beneath it were numbers.
“Since you have undergone a Collective Assessment, we have taken the liberty of beginning your citizenship application, as your sponsor. You have an account through the Collective, into which we will deposit your funds.”
The implications jolted Kyle, and he interjected. “Wait a minute, what does it mean that you ‘sponsored me? And how will I access the funds once you take the nav bracelet back?”
Questions continued to swim around in his head, and he barely heard Angela’s reply.
“All citizens are provided one, though most use one provided by and attuned to their employer. You’ll receive yours when we arrive. As sponsorship goes, it’s nothing more than us vouching for your merit. You’ll have more opportunities open to you than non-sponsored individuals, although your Assessment will be an issue.”
Kyle nodded slowly, trying to take it in. He hadn’t expected the conversation to be so administrative in nature. Fortunately, C.H.A.D.D. was good at taking notes. He was trying to put words to his next question, but Chester decided to shift gears.
“As far as your involvement with us is concerned, there’s little else to be done. The evacuation will be facilitated by a different division, and our stores are full of resources and treasures. Mining ships will arrive after the evacuation, though there likely won’t be much of interest. Once the first wave of ships arrive in a month, this ship and crew will be returning. I would like to invite you to depart with us.”
That was confusing to Kyle. “Why wouldn’t I return with the rest of my people?”
Chester sighed, rubbing his temples. “Because, Mr. Mayhew, you’re really not a part of them anymore. Regardless, you have a month, though you’ll need to decide in two weeks. In the meantime, as a show of thanks for your contributions, we’ll allow you transport to and from the planet without cost.”
It was a small gesture, but an appreciated one. “Thank you.”
Angela’s voice came across one last time. “I’m going to have some information sent over to you. You’re free to choose whatever you want to do with your funds when you arrive, but I have some suggestions that will hopefully help with narrowing your decisions. I’ll be in touch.”
With that, the communication stopped. Chester looked up at Kyle, meeting his eyes. “Ms. Corthus has taken an interest in you. I know your relationship with us has had ups and downs. I would ask that you don’t let that color your perception of what she’s provided for you.”
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Kyle returned Chester’s look, and felt the ice in his voice as he spoke. “You sent me on that last mission hoping I would die. Tell me the truth. If I was weaker, would you have had your team kill me to take C.HA.D.D.?”
Chester didn’t flinch. “Yes. I believe you’re squandering the drone’s potential, and that you have blind spots relating to it. I’m confident you would have killed me, should I have attempted to take the drone by force.”
“Damn right I would have.” Kyle activated PARASITIC RESONANCE and IDENTIFY, watching for signs of threat from the other man.
He simply raised his hands in a placating gesture. “It’s over, Mr. Mayhew. You’re officially a Collective citizen now. The consequences of foul play aren’t worth the possible reward. Should you have need of me, you can reach me through the nav bracelet. Otherwise, let me know within two weeks if you will be waiting for the evacuation, or if you plan to depart with us.”
Kyle relaxed a bit, sensing Chester’s weariness. While he couldn’t trust the man, he felt fairly certain at this point that this situation was far over Chester’s head. Kyle thought back to when he’d first met Chester, and the aura of control he felt in their interactions. Now, it was clear the control was gone. He kept IDENTIFY active just in case, though he deactivated PARASITIC RESONANCE, at least for now.
“I’d like to make two stops tomorrow. I’ll send the coordinates if you can organize a shuttle.”
Chester simply nodded, and Kyle departed. Returning to his room, he flopped onto the bed. He pulled out the drained Transportation Array, and looked at it, turning it over in his hands. It had been cracked by some of the shockwaves from the Storm, and was likely not functional. Still, the intricacy of the runic inscriptions was incredible, and well beyond his understanding. What little he could grasp was that it functioned in a similar fashion to the long-range teleportation that the Corthian Mining ships used, folding space and punching a hole through it.
It didn’t seem to operate by crossing the Between, but Kyle hoped that some clues would be revealed as he spent more time studying it. The more he understood how these concepts functioned, the better chance he would have to apply them. If he could figure out how to leverage spatial concepts in conjunction with his other skills, Kyle was confident the results would be worth it.
Kyle was interrupted by a gentle ping on his nav bracelet, and saw that Angela Corthus had indeed sent him some suggestions. Opening the document, he was quickly overwhelmed. Angela broke down all the specifics, including different regions she’d advise visiting, where he could find reasonable accommodations, and a detailed roadmap of different avenues to get established in the Collective.
It was much more than he needed for now, and he knew he had time before any big decisions needed to get made. Filing the documents away, he closed his eyes and prepared for the day ahead.
The shuttle landed just outside of Newton, and Kyle stepped out. He looked at the destruction, and remembered the cataclysm as though it happened yesterday.
“C.H.A.D.D., can you pull up the Central Health census records for Sherwood?”
The drone complied, and the note came up. It didn’t take long for him to find his parents’ names. He looked them up when the drone mentioned it had the records, but this was the first time he’d looked since that day. Sherwood was closer to the center of the destruction, and there was no way they’d survived. They hadn’t spoken in quite a while, and for the first time since the world ended, he let himself feel that pain. There’d been some resentment early in their relationship, tension between their expectations for him and his own desires. He wished he could have said goodbye.
In a daze, he walked through the ruined town. He stepped over mounds of rubble and ash, finally coming up on the mound of stone and concrete where he’d buried his grandfather. He felt moisture on his cheek as memories played through his head. In contrast with his parents, Clark had always been permissive with him. He cherished the time they spent together outdoors, telling stories and roasting marshmallows.
“I did it, Grandpa. I survived.” His voice broke as he spoke into the empty air. “You saved me. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I still wish you were here.”
[I’M SO, INCREDIBLY PROUD OF YOU, KYLE.]
Kyle’s eyes widened as he heard his grandfather’s voice, then a projection appeared before him. It was a recording of one of his early days in Newton. C.H.A.D.D. was playing back the interaction, and he saw the beaming smile on Clark’s face as he looked around Kyle’s office. When that recording ended, another one played, this time after an appointment. Clark didn’t say anything, but Kyle could see his eyes glinting with pride as he watched.
C.H.A.D.D. showed dozens of similar interactions, and Kyle let the tears flow. The past two years had been the hardest of his life. It felt good to relive some of these positive moments. After the last recording played, Kyle wiped his tears and spoke.
“Thank you, C.H.A.D.D.”
This chapter was coming to a close, and it was time for him to do what he’d come for. Kyle got to work, clearing out the rubble around the area of his Grandpa’s resting place. His Strength made it a trivial task, and soon there was a clearing with the pile of stone in the middle.
As he worked, he found a sheet of metal, which he now held before him. Kyle reached into the bottom of the C.H.A.D.D.pack and took out one of the barbs from the Shadow. Holding the sheet of metal, he began etching.
IN MEMORY OF THE FALLEN. IN MEMORY OF THE LIVES TAKEN. IN MEMORY OF HERITAGE LOST.
WE WILL NOT FORGET. WE WILL NOT BE BROKEN. WE WILL SURVIVE.
When he finished, Kyle placed the metal sheet above his grandfather’s grave. He knew nobody would ever see this monument, but it felt wrong to leave Earth behind without saying something.
He rose, and began to walk back towards the shuttle. He had one more stop to make. As he took a final look at the memorial he built, he spoke softly.
“Goodbye, Grandpa.”