Three years later

‘Gentlemen, if you would please, have a seat. Before we begin, I would like to introduce you to Dr. Daniel Ethne, one of our leading scientist on the understanding of the ore, who will be joining us today. Daniel, for your notification, you are in the presence of Lucas Lunson, Martian minister of external affairs; and general Stormborn, but I believe you and Victor already know each other quite well.’

‘Yes, Mr. President.’

‘Excellent. Now, Victor, give us some good news. These are troubling times and I want answers.’

‘I am glad to say that Phase one is finally complete. We have used the Ore to create hundreds of improved suits and the first few subjects are ready for field testing. The Academy is on its way to a bright future.’

‘Good. How much of the Ore is left?’

We have used as much as we had at our disposal. The remaining fragments are in Ethne’s lab.’

‘Excellent. Now, doctor Ethne, how are our prized pupils doing. I assume their wellbeing is carefully monitored.’

‘Experimentation and careful examination of the subjects have shown that exposure to a very small amount of the Ore drastically enhances physical and cognitive abilities. However, the proper dosing of the ore per suit is essential. If exposed to a quantity of ore above the maximum the subject starts to hallucinate and death incurs within the hour.’

‘But you have found the proper dose?’

‘Yes, Mr. President, long ago.’

‘Are there any other effects?’

‘The ore seems to be emitting some kind of radiation of late. This only occurred to us recently, probably due to the lack of proper measuring equipment we have had in the past. The radiation only emits from the Ore when it comes in contact with the subjects. The radiation pattern is immensely complex and we are still working on what the effects are, because we have found none so far. The subjects don’t notice it. But there is one thing…’

‘What is it?’

‘It; s the radiation pattern. The first time we noticed that the ore started emitting radiation I went to the laboratory to study the piece of ore in question. This is where I found out that if you separate the subject from the ore, the radiation stops. The chemistry behind the composition of the ore is incredible. It’s structured in such a complex way that;’

‘Get to the point, Ethne’, Victor said.

‘Alright. When I put the data from the radiation detectors into the system, the system recognized it.’

‘That’s absurd. Before the Academy project, no-one has ever touched the Ore. How can something we came across less than a week ago already be in our computer system?’

‘The system recognized it, but I couldn’t trace the origin. I accessed Luna’s main data grid and started digging. The data was hidden away, but I found it.’

‘Well? Why did it recognize the pattern?’

‘Because the radiation pattern matched the one of.. of earth.’

A deep silence fell onto the room. The three men stunned by what they just heard.

The president was in deep thought. Everyone could see it from his face. A small muscle in his neck started twitching.

The president got out of his chair and straightened his suit.

‘Gentlemen,’ the president said in a soft but serious voice, ‘I know what you are thinking right now, but the time for speculation is over. We need answers. It is time we went back to Earth. Victor, this is where we’ll get to see what your subjects are able to do. We will also need a team to investigate the origin of Crying Dead Day.’

Daniel stood up. He was incredibly excited about this development. Shortly after the President finished speaking he stood up and said:

‘Sir, I would like to volunteer for this mission. I know more about the Ore than anyone else on Luna. I am the most qualified person for this mission you can find.’

The twitch in the president’s neck suddenly stopped. He seemed to calm down a bit.

‘Even though I don’t find it the best idea,’ the President responded, ‘you do have a point. Very well. You will join the team.’

‘I will have to bring an assistant though,’ Daniel continued. A faint grin emerged from the presidents face. It was hardly noticeable, present for only a split-second.

‘With your permission, General Stormborn, I would like to take Sarah with me.

Victor wasn’t surprised by Daniels proposal. But that doesn’t mean he was happy to hear it. Sarah was a young researcher at the Academy. Victor worked with Sarah’s father back on Earth. Sarah’s father was a creative genius. His designs for individual Lunar colonies are still being used today. Unfortunately, on Crying Dead Day, Sarah’s father and mother were both on Earth. Sarah had been left home in their house on Luna. Sarah was too young to live on her own, so Victor took her in. Victor became Sarah’s guardian. Because of this, Sarah was able to deal with her parent’s death much better. Victor can still see Sarah’s fathers’ energy. In her work, In her attitude, and in her everlasting need to explore all possibilities. Victor knew Sarah was perfect for this mission. She would be furious if he wouldn’t allow her to go. But Victor wasn’t a man to be easily persuaded to do against what he feels is right. He wasn’t going to let her go. That was his final decision.

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‘She can go,’ the president interrupted suddenly.

‘What! You have no saying in this Vallum!’ Victor shouted.

The president remained perfectly calm. ‘I have every right to,’ he answered. ‘Besides, I thought that finding out what happened to her parents is what she always wanted.’

Victor stood up and stormed out of the meeting chamber. The floor shook under his stomping feet.

‘Then that’s settled. Daniel, you will lead this mission. I will convince Victor to send two of his finest guardian marines with you for protection.'

‘How will you convince General Stormborn, I think I really angered him.’ Daniel said in a confused tone.’

I’ve known him longer than today, Daniel,’ the president answered sarcastically. ‘My order is definitive, and you don’t think he’ll let his own daughter go to Earth without protection.

‘But Sarah isn’t General Stormborn’s daughter.’

‘It sure feels real to him. Trust me Daniel, it will be fine. Now leave me, both of you. I have much to do, and so do you.’

Daniel returned to his office at the government facility and spent the rest of the day re-checking the data of the matching radioactive levels for the seventh time. He couldn’t afford to send himself and Sarah to Earth without being absolutely sure. Hours passed and around one o’ clock in the morning he headed home. Daniel preferred walking home through the tube rather than taking an underground metro. Through the transparent coating of the tube Daniel could see Earth. Shining a dim yellowish-green glow like it had done for so long now. Daniel found it relaxing to watch though, knowing full well what horror the people back on Earth must have been through. Daniel neared the end of the tube. It was nearly completely dark on the road from the tube to his house. Only a couple blocks away from his home a hand grabbed him from the shadows and pushed him towards a wall. Daniel could not see the man’s face, but he could feel the man’s hand. It felt weird. The hand had a rough texture and felt incomplete. Then Daniel realized it.

‘Why did you ask for Sarah to come with you?’ the man said in a soft, but strong and low and aggressive voice. ‘Who told you to?’

‘Nobody told me, General Stormborn,’ Daniel managed to say.

Victor’s three-fingered hand squeezed Daniel’s throat tight.

‘You know who she is to me?’ Victor said aggressively

‘Y… Yes,’ Daniel squeezed out of his throat.

‘You know what happens to anyone who hurts her?’ Victor pushed his right hand on the wall next to Daniel’s face. Victor’s head came closer. Daniel could barely breath.

‘I don’t want to hurt her.’ Daniel said as seriously as he could.

Victor’s grip stayed strong and he looked Daniel deep in the eyes. Daniel was desperate and in utter panic. He couldn’t speak, only look. Victor’s face was now clear to see for Daniel. Victor looked like an animal, yet tempered. Victor looked like an angry bear, while his eyes were staring deep into the wide open eyes of Daniel.

‘No, no you don’t. I know.’ Victor let go of Daniel. He gasped for air and leaned on his knees to stay upright.

‘I’m sorry for the harsh treatment, but I needed to make sure. Now I know.’ Victor said softly.

‘Make sure of what?’ Daniel said after a couple more gasps.

‘That Vallum didn’t set you up to do what you did, and that you care as much about Sarah as I do.’

‘How can you know that?’

‘Just a moment ago you were dying without any chance of escape, and when men are closest to death, filled with fear, I can read right through their minds. I saw that you aren’t going to hurt Sarah. But what you have set in motion is irreversible. I will make sure you are well protected. I will send my best team to protect you.

Now go. No-one must know we’ve met. Not even Sarah. The stakes for this mission are higher than you think, kid.’

Daniel nodded and started jogging towards his house.

‘And kid..’

Daniel turned around.

‘..Sorry that I choked you. I didn’t want to, but I had to for Sarah’s safety.’

Daniel smiled and cried a tear at the same time and then ran home.