To Be Continued...

Inside Barker’s Lounge, Dae stares at his cup of dark sludge beside a squirming bowl of cold maggot stew. Across the table, the cyber-teen slurps up his bowl, then picks a few wiggling maggots from his teeth and eats them.

“Not what I was expecting to hear,” the cyber-teen says.

He takes a swig of his dark sludge.

“That sub could be anywhere-”

“That sub cost is worth more to me than every single life in this room. Well, except mine, of course.”

“Of course.”

The cyber-teen waves over a robotic server.

“Lucky for you your dead friends’ botched job still managed to dilute the Man Upstairs’ influence with leadership.”

“And plausible deniability,” Dae replies.

The robotic server delivers another cup of dark sludge for the cyber-teen.

“There’s hope for you yet, Dae.”

“And Grandma?” Dae asks.

“Things need to cool off a bit before I make any more moves.”

“Great idea, sir.”

“It appears The Outlet has a few openings that need to be filled as soon as possible.”

“So, who’s the lucky-”

“You’re hired.”

Dae’s eyes widen.

“But I know nothing about production.”

“So you’ll fit right in.”

The cyber-teen winks at Dae, who half-heartedly smiles.

“When do I start?” Dae asks.

“Monday,” the cyber-teen answers.

The cyber-teen holds up his cup of sludge. After a split hesitation, Dae grabs his cup and holds it up. They touch cups. However, the cyber-teen waits for Dae to drink.

“Captain,” Dae says. “Or, should I say, soon-to-be Governor Wikita?”

He holds his breath and chugs the dark sludge. The cyber-teen nods and smiles.

“Rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it?” he asks.

Dae vomits dark sludge into his bowl. The cyber-teen laughs while everyone in the room ignores them.

Respects

Following the directional prompts on his visual display, Shinzo leads Kanzu, Sofi, and Brazin single file through a hillside forest. Exhausted, the three sapiens struggle to keep up with the mechanoid until he stops. Shinzo looks up at the sky. Kanzu and Brazin look up as a Lorian starfreighter speeds across the hazy yellow sky. Sofi looks up to see only a vanishing vapor trail.

“Anything we need to worry about?” Sofi asks.

“Just a cargo ship,” Shinzo replies. “We’re here.”

“Where?” Sofi asks.

Shinzo leads them into a clearing camouflaged by tall trees. A pre-invasion mobile trailer sits in the center of the clearing.

“About damn time,” Sofi says. “I hope he’s got a foot massager in-.”

Shinzo stops Sofi and looks around. Kanzu turns to see Brazin relieving himself a few feet away.

“Kanzu,” Shinzo says. “You’re up.”

Kanzu walks over to Shinzo, who kneels at one of the trees near the edge of the clearing. He wipes away the dirt and leaves at the base of the tree, revealing a ground panel bearing the Lorian mark of Kanzu’s former masters. A tiny port sits in the center of the Lorian mark. The mechanoid turns to Kanzu and nods. Brazin and Sofi observe as Kanzu digs into her pocket and retrieves the small, round rock pin her brother passed on to Shinzo before passing on. She places the small rock pin in the port and turns it counterclockwise. Kanzu looks over at Shinzo, who again surveys the clearing.

“Did it work?” Sofi asks.

Shinzo looks around to see all of the camouflaged booby traps around the mobile trailer deactivate.

“Yes,” Shinzo says.

The mechanoid leads them past the small garden to the mobile trailer. He stops at the door, turns to Kanzu, and nods. Kanzu opens the unlocked door and enters first. Shinzo allows Sofi then Brazin to enter before following them inside and shutting the door behind him.

Sofi turns on the lights to see an interior cluttered with various trinkets and electronics. Brazin spots a half-eaten protein snack on a windowsill. Sofi makes a beeline for the bedroom and crashes on the unmade bed.

“I’ll take it!” Sofi says.

Kanzu grabs an item of clothing on the floor and sniffs it, closing her eyes. The familiar scent triggers a flashback.

Kanzu and Gunta playfully wrestle on the beach. Kanzu catches a glimpse of Mabel and Vinzi embracing each other while supervising them.

“Kaan,” Brazin says.

Kanzu opens her eyes to see Brazin holding the rectangular device Kanzu found on the beach while playing with Gunta. Shinzo presses a button on the rectangular device, which starts playing music. Startled by the sound, Brazin drops the device. However, Shinzo’s quick reflexes allow the mechanoid to catch it.

“I remember that song!” Sofi says.

“A terrible sound,” Brazin says.

“Agreed,” Shinzo responds.

Kanzu grabs the rectangular device from Shinzo.

“Please tell me this isn’t a bomb,” Sofi says.

They turn as Sofi exits the bedroom holding a small box with blinking lights.

“It is not an incendiary device,” Shinzo confirms.

“My holobox!” Kanzu says, as she hands Brazin the rectangular device. “Please don’t drop.”

“Never again,” Brazin replies.

Kanzu walks over to Sofi, who hands Kanzu the small box.

“It appears to be functional,” Shinzo says.

“A recording,” Kanzu says as she presses the buttons.

A holographic projection of Gunta appears, briefly startling Sofi.

“Sister, you have finally found me. So much has happened since our separation. I was rescued by an archaic they call Grandma. Although there are unpleasant things one must do to survive here, my only ill thoughts are of never seeing out procreators again. Or you, my beloved sister.”

Kanzu’s eyes swell with tears. Brazin places a hand on her shoulder.

“Unfortunately, my time has past,” Gunta’s hologram continues. “But yours continues. You’re free now. May all of the acquired knowledge in this metal shelter assist you in your journey. See you in the light, my sister. And apologies for the mess.”

“In the light, my brother,” she whimpers as the projection ends.

The Transport

Sitting beside his drone pack, Nooz rummages through his locker. The giant Lorian retrieves his personal case and prepares to close his locker door when two armed facility guards enter the room.

“Supervisor Minto requests your immediate presence,” the tall facility guard barks.

“We will take custody of your items,” the short guard adds.

“For Loria,” Nooz replies.

Nooz places both his drone pack and personal case in the locker, secures it, and exits with the two facility guards. Walking single file, the Lorians shuffle down a long corridor. One of Nooz’s six oculars peers through the long window showcasing a polluted haze hovering above the industrial facility.

The facility guards escort Nooz to a secured door. The tall facility guard places one of his four grapplers on a sensor pad, opening the door. He then leads Nooz through the door while the short facility guard behind him remains, shutting the door between them. Nooz follows the tall facility guard down another long hallway flanked by testing rooms. Four of Nooz’s six oculars pair off as they observe each testing room, where Lorian scientists subject their Terrans guinea pigs to cruelties once considered beyond human imagination…

A headless human controlled remotely.

Two legless humans casually conversing.

Humans gruesomely violated with automated electric prods.

A man intentionally drowned in a clear box filled with water.

Women diced into a variety of shaped meats.

Laser blades whipping a group of men into a disgusting liquid.

Speckles of red blood and tiny bone chards litter the testing room floor. Some Terrans scream in their clear cages while others remain silent. Eventually, all share a similar fate.

Two of Nooz’s six oculars observe the tall facility guard in front of him opening a second secured door. He steps aside, allowing Nooz to enter the large office. The tall facility guard shut the door between them. All six of Nooz’s oculars lock on the backside of his much larger supervisor. Three of Nooz’s six oculars peel off to observe the various items affixed to the office walls. A fourth ocular focuses on the Lorian supervisor’s hubble, a virtual chamber in the form of a bubble, sitting in a corner of the office.

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The Lorian supervisor presses a button on the wall panel beside the hubble, revealing a hidden wall panel that slides open. Using one of his four grapplers, he retrieves a vacuum-sealed bag of assorted Terran body parts.

“Do you require sustenance?” the Lorian supervisor asks as he opens the bag.

“I have recently consumed, Supervisor.”

The Lorian supervisor pulls out two grapplerfuls of human parts and proceeds to snack on one of them while dangling the other in front of a salivating Nooz.

“There’s no violation here. My mate prepared these.”

“Gratitude,” Nooz responds as he accepts the human treat.

The Lorian supervisor watches Nooz consume the body parts.

“Is there something you wish to disclose, Nooz?” the Lorian supervisor asks.

“Disclose? No, sir.”

Grapplers flailing, the Lorian Supervisor stares at Nooz.

“Following a review of security files, it appears there has been a violation that requires severe punishment.”

The Lorian supervisor returns to the wall panel and presses another button.

“I am not aware of any violations, sir.”

Part of the wall on the opposite side of the hubble slides open, revealing a one-way display into an interrogation room.

Nooz walks closer to the window and observes a facility interrogator standing over an unconscious Yori, who’s restrained to a torture table.

“I offer no leniency for Terran sympathizers,” the Lorian supervisor says.

“Yori?”

“Since her arrival, leakage has increased beyond the acceptable levels. Due to the spike in missing or mislabeled subjects, I personally conducted a facility-wide audit.”

“How much damage has she done?” Nooz asks.

“An unauthorized program was uploaded into our system. A number of files were deleted in a failed attempt to conceal her identity.”

“Has Yori confessed?”

“Her credentials were used to upload the program, and all of the violations appeared to have transpired during or close to her shift.”

“What will you do with her?”

“She and her co-conspirators will face retribution.”

“Co-conspirators?”

“Yori’s transfer was authorized at the highest levels. She has no history of insubordination. And she did not have the knowledge or ability to accomplish this illegal task alone.”

The office door opens. Guns drawn, the two facility guards enter and flank Nooz.

“Sir?”

“Your shift presence also coincides with these transgressions against my facility.”

“But I have followed all protocols.”

“Which is why the Tribunal to determine your fate,” the Lorian supervisor growls.

“And there is no evidence of my involvement.”

“Agreed. However, I will not risk my lucrative government contract pending. Your transport awaits.”

“Sir, this is a mistake.”

“Do you wish to trade places with Yori?”

“No, sir. But-”

“But you will if you don’t board that shuttle now!”

Nooz bows.

“For Loria,” he says.

The two facility guards restrain Nooz’s grapplers and escort him from the room. They lead him into an empty lift and head up to ground level, where they enter the facility’s main transport bay. They approach a waiting military transport as it activates. A male tribunal officer greets them while a female tribunal officer carries Nooz’s drone pack and personal case inside the military transport.

“Officer Nooz,” the male tribunal officer says. “You have earned the right to due process. However, your words could bear weight against you.”

The male tribunal officer takes possession of Nooz and pushes him into the military transport. The military transport door closes, and the pilot prepares for launch. The two facility guards head back to their post as the military transport rises above the facility.

Restrained to his chair, Nooz looks out at the Lorian skyline. One of his oculars spots an enormous Lorian nursery field where breeding drones tending to twelve large Lorian eggs in various development stages.

“Something you wish to confess?” the female tribunal officer asks.

Five of his six oculars peeks at the female tribunal officer sitting directly across from him while his remaining ocular looks out the window.

The military transport cruises over a ravaged Tokyo landscape under alien redevelopment as it speeds north.

Quid Pro Quo

Somewhere on the former Korean Peninsula, Kanzu and Shinzo stand in a room carved into rock. Although the lone window muffles the strange noises from outside, sparks reflecting off the glass reveal the use of heavy machinery. Shinzo’s enhanced audio picks up the faint squawks of seagulls and crashing waves in the distance. They observe the activity taking place below, staring through their respective reflections in the window.

“The Man Upstairs is pragmatic,” Grandma says. “Though, the Yakuza will use their investigation to weaken my position.”

Kanzu turns to see Grandma sitting in her hoverchair with Rama and Jaka by her side.

“The Outlet will continue?” Kanzu asks.

Grandma chuckles.

“It is one of the few things keeping the city together,” Shinzo whispers to her.

However, Rama and Jaka’s acute audio amplifies Shinzo’s whispers for Grandma to hear.

“So you see, my sweet, naive, little sapien,” she says. “The show must go on!”

Kanzu turns to Shinzo.

“Just another cage,” she says.

Shinzo turns to Grandma.

“You have an army,” she responds. “You don’t need us.”

Grandma silently commands her cyber-canines to stay while she glides her hoverchair toward Kanzu and Shinzo.

“Armies need allies,” Grandma replies. “Especially those with access to places my army cannot penetrate.”

“Freeland,” Kanzu and Shinzo simultaneously reply.

“They only deal with their kind.”

Kanzu and Shinzo turn to each other, then back to Grandma.

“We lost our citizenships,” Kanzu responds.

“But not your relationships,” Grandma says.

“If we refuse?” Shinzo asks.

Grandma chuckles, then looks out the window.

“It’s a long swim home,” she replies.

“You will return Minnie if we accept?” Kanzu asks.

“Jaka,” Grandma calls out.

The black cyber-canine submissively walks over to Kanzu. Jaka opens his mouth, spits out a dark coin on the floor, then sits upright. Shinzo’s attempt to grab the coin triggers the metal dog to growl. Shinzo backs off and turns to Kanzu.

“You should do the honors,” he says.

The robotic dog stops growling when Kanzu retrieves the dark coin. She picks it up to see Raym’s face on one side and the letter ‘R’ on the other. Smiling, Kanzu turns and shows the coin to Shinzo, who nods. She then pets Jaka on top of his partially-metal head.

“Grats,” Kanzu says.

“Thank you, for sharing your brother with us.”

Kanzu, Shinzo, and Grandma stare through the window. Armed Grandkids watch over the workers repairing Shinzo’s minisub parked next to the confiscated pirate minisub inside the naval base within a secluded cave.

The pirate minisub undocks and exits the cave’s mouth. It heads toward a hazy, picturesque sunset and submerges into the Yellow Sea.

Sitting at a workbench a few yards from the Shinzo’s docked minisub, Brazin and Sofi play cards. Sofi looks up to see Kanzu and Shinzo watching them while Brazin stares at his cards. Kanzu nods.

“Well?” Brazin asks.

“Okie dokie,” Sofi replies, placing her winning hand down between them.

Brazin shakes his head and smiles.

The Fellowship

Kneeling in front of Raym’s gravesite, Kanzu plays with her dark coin, now secured to her neck. She places her hand on the ground.

“I’ll return in a few cycles, sister.”

Standing behind Kanzu, Brazin places a hand on her shoulder. She, in turn, places a hand on his. A whistle draws Brazin’s attention. He turns to see Sofi waving them to the front of Syrric’s freshly-repaired cabin. Gone are the laser bullets, broken glass, and backyard clutter where Kanzu and Brazin now occupy. Syrric’s armored golf cart enters the front clearing, pulling up to Shinzo and Sofi.

“Kaan,” Brazin says.

“One last moment,” Kanzu replies.

Brazin nods and heads to the front of the cabin. Syrric exits the driver’s side of her armored golf cart while Tino exits the passenger side. Sofi and Syrric hug each other. Syrric then points to Sofi.

“Sofi,” she says, then points to Tino. “Tino.”

Sofi and Tino shake hands.

“Quite the reputation in these parts,” Sofi says.

“Exaggerated, I’m sure,” Tino responds with a smile.

Sofi turns to Syrric.

“Love what you’ve done to the place,” Sofi says.

“Thanks,” Syrric responds. “Only cost an eye.”

“Poor bastard,” Shinzo says.

“Shin,” Syrric replies with a smile. “Long time.”

“It’s only been fourteen months, one week, two days-”

“Missed you, too,” Syrric replies.

“Tino!” Brazin yells.

Brazin runs up and bear hugs Tino.

“Greetings, Brazin,” Tino replies with a smile.

“I thought you couldn’t leave The Landing,” Brazin says.

“I can’t,” Tino responds while patting Brazin’s back. “And I haven’t.”

Brazin releases Tino.

“Then your secret is safe with us,” Brazin says.

“That’s what I’m counting on,” Tino responds. “And your mate?”

Brazin steps aside for him to see Kanzu jogging up to them. Tino extends his arms. Kanzu jogs into his embrace as her eyes swell with tears.

“Good to see you, Tino,” Kanzu says.

“Likewise.”

Kanzu chuckles as they release their embrace. She wipes away her tears.

“Before we all drown in tears…” Syrric interrupts.

“Okay,” Tino says. “This gathering demonstrates our commitment to this…experiment.”

Smiling, Kanzu replies, “Grats-”

“But,” Tino interjects. “I deal only with you four. No exceptions. Agreed?”

“Agreed,” Kanzu, Brazin, Sofi, and Shinzo, respectively reply.

Syrric claps.

“Congrats,” Syrric says. “You’re now open for business.”

All parties shake hands while Syrric walks to the back of her armored golf cart and pulls out a small box.

“I understand Grandma to be a very shrewd and calculating woman,” Tino states.

“We’re not exactly chopped sushi,” Sofi replies.

“Still,” Tino says. “Be cautious.”

“Duly noted,” Shinzo agrees.

Syrric returns with the small box.

“That a contract?” Sofi asks.

“Much stronger,” Syrric replies.

She opens the small box to reveal six small, corked bottles inside.

Sofi’s eyes widen.

“You gotta be shittin’ me,” Sofi says. “That what I think it is?”

“Best sake on the planet,” Syrric responds.

Syrric hands each of them a corked bottle.

“Or the only sake on planet?” Sofi asks as she uncorks her bottle and savors the aroma.

“Which makes it the best,” Syrric counters.

“What’s sah-kay?” Kanzu asks while inspecting her corked bottle.

“A very rare and expensive beverage,” Syrric answers.

“If you can find any,” Shinzo adds while pretending to empty his uncorked bottle.

“Small sips, Kanzu,” Sofi warns. “Don’t want you puking all over Minnie.”

Syrric winks at Shinzo as she opens and raises her uncorked bottle. Everyone else follows suit. Syrric turns to Tino.

“Tino?” she asks.

“To a successful, long term relationship,” Tino says.

“We are all strays here!” Brazin interjects.

Everyone looks at each other and nods.

“Strays, huh?” Syrric asks.

“Does have a nice ring to it,” Sofi says.

Kanzu, Brazin, Shinzo, and Sofi nod to each other.

“Agreed,” they respond in unison.

“To the Strays!” Sofi says.

“The Strays!” everyone else replies.

They touch bottles and sip on their sake while Shinzo goes through the motions.

The Strays

Sitting on the Dock of the Bay plays while the large orange sun descends into the horizon.

Shinzo looks down at a small burial marker with a digital image of Genji and the organic Shinzo Tedeshi taken in front of their favorite neighborhood sushi bar. The old Otis Redding tune emits from speakers embedded in the silent mechanoid. Shinzo walks toward the safe house dock where Brazin, Kanzu, and Sofi sit and enjoy the calm ocean and hazy orange sky.

The mechanoid sits beside Sofi at the end of the dock while a fully restored minisub rests peacefully in the concealed dock behind them.

“It feels awkward calling this home,” Kanzu says. “But not in a negative way.”

“You will adapt,” Shinzo replies.

“Grats,” Brazin responds.

“We have rules here,” Sofi says.

“Of course,” Brazin replies.

Sofi slowly reaches toward Kanzu’s dark coin necklace.

“For one, certain…attachments in our line of work can kill you,” Sofi says.

“Apologies, Sofi,” Kanzu responds. “But I will not part with this again.”

“A ring, perhaps?” Sofi asks.

Sofi holds up her bare fingers to demonstrate. Kanzu turns to Brazin who nods.

“Okie-dokie,” Kanzu says with a smile.

“Okie-dokie,” Sofi repeats.

Brazin’s gaze wanders off toward the sea when Shinzo’s metallic hand rests on his shoulder.

“Our chances of survival increase as a clan,” Shinzo says. “Grats.”

Brazin smiles. Shinzo looks out to sea, then turns to Kanzu and nods.

“Soaf?” Kanzu says.

Sofi turns to see Kanzu holding out a modified monocular. Sofi grabs it.

“Grats, Kaan.”

“It won’t replace Ren’s,” Kanzu says. “But I had Tino and Syrric make this just for you.”

“Cool looking mono.”

“We suggest you try them on,” Shinzo says, pointing out to sea. “Like right now!”

“All right,” Sofi replies. “What am I looking-”

Peering through her modified monocular, Sofi spots an enormous Lorian watercraft speeding across the ocean and vanish.

“Did you see it?” Kanzu asks.

Lowering the modified monocular, however, she sees nothing.

“I saw something,” Sofi answers.

“What about up there?” Shinzo asks, pointing up.

Using the digital monocular, she looks up, catching a Lorian ship streaking across sky.

“Holy shit!” Sofi answers and lowers the digital monocular.

“What do you think?” Shinzo asks.

“I think we’re fucked,” Sofi answers.

“Sofi, what was Terra like before?” Kanzu asks.

“I was too young to remember the good old days. But I’m old enough now to understand how much we lost.”

Brazin turns to Shinzo and asks, “When does our next mission commence?”

“In approximately two and one-half cycles,” Shinzo answers. “So, enjoy them while you can.”

Shinzo subtly nods to Sofi, who stretches and rises.

“I should check the inventory,” Sofi says.

Shinzo rises and adds, “I’m sure Minnie could use a hand.”

“Just don’t tell her about your new girlfriend,” Sofi teases.

Shinzo shakes his head as he and Sofi walk down the dock.

“What do you think about laser tats?” Shinzo asks Sofi. “For solidarity.”

“Says the guy who can’t feel pain,” Sofi responds.

“Says the girl who should know better,” he counters.

“Apologies,” Sofi replies.

Sofi heads inside the safe house while Shinzo heads for his minisub. Kanzu rests her head on Brazin’s shoulder as they continue to admire the horizon.

“I believe this privacy was orchestrated,” Brazin says.

“Agreed,” Kanzu responds with a smile.

“Kaan, Tino may have found a way for us to reacquire citizenship. But it will take some time.”

Kanzu turns to Brazin.

“Did you not hear them, Bray? This is home now.”

“Agreed. But citizenship provides certain protections. Protections that can benefit us…and our new clan.”

“No deception?” Kanzu asks.

Brazin turns to face Kanzu. He gazes into her eyes.

“Have I not earned your trust?”

She gazes back.

“You’ve earned my trust…and my love forever.”

“And you are my home,” he replies. “Forever.”

Shinzo watches Kanzu and Brazin kiss from the minisub’s control room display.

“Don’t you just love happy endings?” Minnie asks.

“Seems I used to,” Shinzo replies. “A lot.”

Sofi watches Kanzu and Brazin kiss from the safe house security cams.

“About damn time,” Sofi says.

Back on the dock, Kanzu and Brazin lock lips as the elongated silhouette of a Lorian starcruiser cuts in front of an orange sunset, gliding left-to-right across the hazy horizon.