●　● Akkadia One, Eden Space Territories

Al was working from home where had an already established office from his previous job. While the walls around his desk were neatly arranged with multiple achievement displays, all complimented by well-placed framed photos of family and friends, it harshly contrasted his cluttered desktop. There was no to-do tray or inbox in sight, only halfway separated piles of folders and portfolios which often received scorn from passing viewers as this was, after all, more than a century into the paperless business world. Al never cared for going with the 100% online norm as he preferred hand notation of much of his work and thought, finding it easier to organize in his head what had physically touched paper.

He was reviewing Infinity’s ground footage from Colombia Vincent had handed to him, and while he had plenty to choose from, he focused only on the feeds that contained records of the mysterious trio of cloaked LTACs. He went back and forth between distorted views from the helmet view feeds’ last moments, studying the only discernible portion of the screen. His eyes then caught a glimpse of something glowing a bright blue that rang a bell.

Plasma arc technology for sure. To have this much proximity distortion technology… and have their hands on old war tech downsized this much? I could almost swear this would’ve all been highly locked down by any of the few producers. He then scrolled back to Sam’s feed. He saw her rifle aimed at what was a clearer view of friendly Ai20’s locked in battle with the mechs he couldn’t identify, but once the Ai20’s were knocked down, Sam’s feed, too, became completely distorted. They are locking cameras with this device. She was that close to getting a good look. She did well to survive against this, he continued in thought as he watched until her feed was abruptly cut off during the last impact delivered. But after watching this, I learned it wasn’t her fighting skills necessarily that got her out alive. It was almost pure luck, if not completely deliberate. Vincent, you’d better move fast.

At Hexa’s main office, Vincent was seated in his chair in the executive board meeting room, where his plaque read “Vincent Vrey, CEO”. He sat around four other men in their 50’s and 60’s with one vacant seat. “How was his news taken, Mr. Lucian?” He asked across the table to the man with the plaque reading “Rafael Lucian, Head of Internal Affairs”.

“We all knew stockholders were already calling specifically for his head. He had no choice but to take it well and leave. His office will be empty before the end of the hour.” He then looked to the empty seat that read “Eric Jarro, Head of International Affairs and Logistics”. “Issue is, we can’t exactly wait for another round of interviews for the spot. And then vote? We have a mess to clean up, and I think we need someone with more war expertise is needed.”

“Even though at no point in the world is anything remotely considered at war?”Another man asked, his plaque reading “Bramo Nabransky, Head of Corporate Expansions”.

“I’m not saying anyone is at war, because that’s obviously not the case,” Lucian continued. “You can get that from anyone here. My point is, we are now dealing with military grade weapons on a regular basis as far as logistics are concerned. We saw the feeds. Those are military weapons fighting back, and now we have a different problem on our hands. Mr. Jarro had no experience with such, and to be honest, I regret my vote allowing him onto the board.”

“Then do you have anyone in mind? Who did you think you should’ve pursued instead?”

“I have a motion to make,” Vincent spoke up as he stood up. “In agreement with Mr. Lucian’s point, I am referring the position to Alexander Knight, currently employed by the state legal defense network, former Forerunning Labs R&D contributor, former Union Navy Pilot and Commander.”

“So, you are seriously suggesting a war hawk after all?” Nabransky replied. “What kind of negative PR are you asking for, pardon my frankness?”

“Why not?” a man whose plaque read “Rion Mugen” joined in. “Mr. Lucian made a good point. We need someone with not only military tactics experience and years of leadership, but we also need someone familiar with our technology and R&D enough to provide better leadership with logistics considering the sudden surge in resistance and their weapons availability to use against us.”

“I agree,” Lucian added. “I had the misfortune of working against him in the last war when we tried to reverse engineer the Antares series against the Union Navy. He was the most influential force behind the adjustments made to counteract our advances. Much respect for his abilities, and we might need those exact same skills seeing someone is funding our opposition too well if I may say so myself.”

“I have no dog in this fight,” the man whose plaque read “Symo Zaeras” spoke, “but I can agree to any position as long as we agree today. None of us are going to just… step up and do Mr. Jarro’s job for him, are we? Let’s not kid ourselves.”

“But if we put Knight in charge of logistics, there’s no guarantee his actions won’t cause wars to start popping up,” Nabransky persisted.

“But he can’t!” Lucian quickly refuted with a befuddled laugh. “It’d be impossible to speak of something that large scale all from the result of just trying to augment government responses to riots and terrorist attacks! We are not talking about international struggles here! These are all within each country! The only way war is even remotely a possibility is if we start helping pit nations against others in some kind of business-minded proxy war.”

“He’s right,” Mugen added. “We all know what two wars looked like in our lifetimes. This is a non-threat, a non-possibility. We need to neutralize extremist activity where our services are ordered, nothing more. And for that we need someone who can handle logistics against stiffer opposition to do that. And when we speak of someone who dedicated year after year to his craft, I believe we are getting more than just someone who wants to save their child. He will want to save them all, which is what we need.” He then turned to Vincent. “Mr. Vrey, I believe we can start the deliberation process if you are to approve.”

.

.

●　● Bogota, Colombia

Sam washed her face at the sink in the restroom, dried, and then took a long pause staring into empty space. Flashbacks of the rocket fire, tank blasts, and the LTAC attacks flooded her mind. Her attention then went to her still sore arm and unwrapped it, washed and dried it once more, and placed an adhesive bandage over the wound. Her thoughts then took her back to when she failed to pull the trigger after the cloaked LTAC jumped for her. She then took a deep breath with a quick shake of her head. “I need a shower, rinse all these thoughts out of my head” she mumbled to herself, still dressed in her pilot suit up to her waist, sleeves tied, black undershirt only on top. “I can’t even take care of my own present self, much less anyone else. No bag, no spare clothes, all sweaty still, not even a change of underwear… gross.”

She noticed how unkempt her hair was but knew any attempt to straighten it would be futile. But the thoughts returned once more, this time with the returned realization there was no luxury of worrying about such things for the other eleven pilots. She tried to fight off the overwhelming feeling of guilt, crouching and sitting against the wall near the sink, hands over her head. Her hands began to pull down her face, eyes shut tight. I can’t do this. I just can’t. I can’t sit here and break down with my chance to get back home, she thought to herself, finding strength to stand back up. If anything, I really need to go thank everyone. I really could’ve been dead like everyone else out there.

With that she headed back out into the break room. All of the lights were still on, but it was noticeably darker as the sun had long been set and the night sky could be seen from the windows. At the table where she sat earlier, she only saw leftover glasses, ash trays, and other various items. Amongst the silence, she walked around the table, subconsciously taking in the distant sounds of music playing and the smells of cigarette smoke, something she had never smelled up close before. She then eyed a peculiar round handle-less mug with a large metal straw stuck in what looked to her like dried grass, giving off another new, nose biting smell. She continued past the table to the balcony where the door was still open. She found Sebastian sitting there reading through news cards on holographic display from his mobile, all the while humming a tune.

“Are you not going to sleep? Or is the bed we have for you not good?” he called out to her, hearing her approach.

“Oh,” she waved with a smile and a shake of her head. “I’m just too exhausted and stressed out to sleep. You know what I mean?” she continued outside, now leaning against the ledge, looking across the compounds yard to the view of the neighborhood apartment buildings and shops filling the narrow, packed horizon just beyond the wire-wrapped concrete and steel fences. She then felt exposed, taking a nervous step back.

“It’s OK. There are barriers up to stop small bullets. Anyone inside the compound walls is safe.” As Sam stepped back up to continue looking in thought, he continued: “Anyway, I don’t sleep much these days, either,” he replied, returning to his sifting through the news. “I always worry about our city. Nothing is the same since the change of powers. I don’t like the situation. I feel like people are getting too angry at the wrong people, and somebody is coming to use that to… I don’t know… make money or get attention for something. And we pay for it.”

“You were the group I must’ve read about that took down the A-7 way back. I heard a little bit about it on the news.”

“That really big robot? Yes. After that and fighting foreigner brought AiX the next day, we lost so much. That’s why you see only a few of us moving around. Many of our paramilitary is running out of supplies… men… things to fight with. Many don’t want to fight anymore. I am afraid one day we will be the last dozen men standing for Kennedy and Bosa, so I read the news to always be ready to move again.”

“How long has this been going on? I mean, why is there no proper military? Why do you have to do all the work?!”

“You don’t know how many problems our economy had after the Confederacy was dropped. Since there was not enough tax money to pay for a military, the Familias just made their own. Like for us. I started helping when we turned into secondary school students. My brother, sister, and my friends were drafted into the Galeanos where we were picked to drive tanks and armor cars. A few years ago, we changed to what we call the Caballeros. Now we only have two left. So, everything I have known since I was in secondary school is starting to fall apart.”

“But what are you all fighting? If I may ask. I got some information from our commanders but I feel like I should trust you more than them.”

Sebastian let out a sigh before closing his news card viewer. Why does this girl talk so damn much? He saw her open her mouth to apologize but cut her off: “No… It’s OK. I want you to understand.” He sat back with a stretch, letting out a deep breath. “It’s like I said. The Familias run Bogota. You can like it or hate it. It’s life here… you know… you can only accept it. So, since about maybe a few years after the war, people didn’t like being ran by the Familias and wanted the old government back. But the old government was lazy and already controlled, but no one noticed. It had us all lazy. We could just sit back and the SAU would get international money from other unions, like the NAU or Europe. Money fixes problems, and when it’s free in your mind, you are happy.

“Now? That money has been gone for a long time. They blame it on us Familias. But now they want to destroy things to get attention and they think if the Familias fall, then there will be someone to come in and save everyone. That’s what the Rochas are doing. They got people believing they are the people to save them all, but they are the most corrupt Familia of them all. They are the ones giving them guns and rockets to their protestors. They also control the airport, which is why we can’t just expect you to be able to fly out with no problem. But, if they win, I think it’s the worst dream for everyone if that does happen, not a good dream like they expect.”

That’s a lot to digest. Sam knew she would never come to experience anything at all like just described, thinking perhaps for the first time how good her life had been. “I’m sorry to hear all of that. I… don’t know what to say.”

“I don’t like people being sorry,” Sebastian was quick to flatly reply. “I like people being reasonable. Being real.” He then looked over to her. “Can you be real with me?”

She couldn’t help but let out a confused chuckle. “Real with what? I haven’t been hiding anything.”

“Why are you here? Why did you come to Colombia? You don’t seem like the type to get involved in something this… messy… dangerous.”

Something had her feeling vulnerable as if the sky itself, absent of the comfort the upward-curving city streets and buildings of the satellite nations provided, all taken for granted up until now. She took a while to digest the question all the while. “Why did I come?” She let herself once more stare off into the distance for a moment. “This is what I felt I had to do. Something in my conscience told me I needed to do this, just like the rest of my family. But I don’t know why I keep feeling that. I just acted on that idea. Now, here I am, regretting my decision.”

“So, you don’t want to be a pilot after all? Were you ever any good?”

“I guess I really don’t know. I had great scores and all, but that was all simulation. Now, all I know is that I am in over my head. And maybe it’s to do with my parents and my brother having been pilots… Harbingers...”

Not making eye contact, she missed Sebastian reacting to that word.

“Ha. My brother would be chewing me out if he saw me in a mess like this. He was always the one telling me to stop dreaming pilot fantasies when I was younger. Mom and dad ended up saying the same. I had to rebel, I guess.” She then started to feel tears start to well up. A subtle sniffle ensued, getting more of Sebastian’s attention. “I still need to be properly thankful you and everyone. I can’t believe this day passed and I am still here able to talk like this. Everyone else didn’t get to say the same. I barely got to know any of them. They’re all gone, now, and I feel… bad… like…”

“Sorry, I don’t know what to say in these situations, either” Sebastian replied with a look off in the same direction beyond the fences. “You are from a very different world. But you don’t have to thank me because this is my job. I don’t like seeing people hurt or put in a bad situation for bad reasons. I am glad you get to go home where you can be safe.”

“And that’s kind of why I feel like shit saying ‘yeah’ to that. What about you all?”

“Oh, me?” Sebastian attempted to cover his feelings with awkward laughter. “I don’t think about that. If I chose to stay away from it all, I would be like the people in those apartments over there. Life would be much safer. But I wouldn’t make a difference. I would just look to these compound walls and think ‘what are they doing and what are they trying to protect?’ but that’s not my life. This is my life. I chose it. You choose yours, and that’s OK,” he continued with a smile towards her.

“You aren’t like your brothers and your sister,” Sam said as she rubbed her eyes, sniffling again. “I felt… so scared, when I got here. I was marching with eleven others in armor and I still felt the most terrified I have ever felt my entire life. I feel bad, now. I feel stupid. I had reason to fear the attackers in the end, but at first, before all that, and then afterwards, I feel like I was scared of the wrong things and that was what kept me from doing what I felt I do best. I learned a lot from today, I think.”

“Well, I don’t know,” Sebastian said as he stood up and walked to the balcony edge. “You said you still don’t know what you want to do. You just went through the same feelings all foreigners go through when they come to Bogota and aren’t in the big city lights of downtown or the nice neighborhoods of Usaquen. Talking about what you are scared of and not scared of anymore? Yeah, so that’s all normal. I expect to hear that. But you don’t know what you really want to do, and maybe you should focus on that. I would feel better if you left tomorrow or Friday with an answer.”

Sam took some time to think again on the different perspective she didn’t expect to get. “Do you know of the term Harbinger?”

“I heard you mention that earlier. Of course. Anybody would know.”

“So, yeah, my father and brother are. Especially my father, who fought with some of the strongest of them last war… even fought alongside Lance Vrey to the very end. They accomplished so much. You talk of making a difference. That’s what all the Harbingers I know of personally did. Made differences. Even today. My counselor, and kind of like an aunt to me, is a Harbinger, too. You see? I am surrounded by people who made differences like you speak of doing yourself. My brother was even in the last war for half a year when Eden started running out of pilots. All I ever did was go to school. And go to parties. And get drunk.”

“But here you are.”

“Yeah, and hopefully, home I go. Once again,” she said with a more depressed tone.

“You just need to find a new way. This is not for you. You can’t make yourself be who you aren’t.”

“That’s the problem. Who am I supposed to be?” she said with a long sigh. She then turned to him with a sudden change of mood. “Hey, Sebastian, can I ask one last favor?”

“Um, sure?”

“Take me across town tomorrow so I can get me out of these clothes into something clean, eat something decent, and just… reset my mind while I wait. Could you do that for me?”

“I can ask Dani. I don’t do that kind of stuff.”

Awkward, uncomfortable memories from their earlier encounter and truck ride flashed back as she winced. “No, not her, please, she’s too overbearing for me. Please Sebastian, just for those few things. It’s not anything like what you are maybe thinking. I can’t just walk around town unguided or with no one to keep me safe, you know.”

Sebastian wasn’t buying the approach as expressed with the glance he returned. “I can even order things to be brought here for you. Dani or place an order. I don’t do those things.”

“What’s the big deal,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “I’m not asking you on a date. What do you mean you don’t do those things?”

“You are very… what’s the word, how do you say…”

“Persistent? Stubborn? A complete pain in the ass? Yes, that’s me. You asked who I am well damn it that’s who I am,” she said with a joking smile, leaning towards him.

Sebastian returned the look with his own eye roll. “Fine, OK, just for the morning. But I am only doing this because my time for patrol isn’t until eleven and after. Now go get some sleep or I will forget about it and do my own thing in the morning.” He then grabbed his mobile and his drink and headed inside. “Good night.”

“Night,” she said with a grin, then turned back to the neighborhood view with a sigh. To think this was how my first trip to Earth since preschool would go. She then reached for her pocket out of habit, coming back empty handed. Right, no mobile. Damn, I wish I could post all of this, maybe have someone help reset my mind.

“Close the doors behind you” she heard Sebastian say from inside. “You let too many mosquitos in.”

Sebastian walked past Renzo in the hallway just past the break room who was surprised to see still awake. [Is something wrong?]

[So, what’s up with the girl?]

[She’s ready to go home. Why?]

[Boss said put her out if she’s not picked up by Friday night. Don’t get attached. Don’t forget our every-day focus.]

[You know me, I don’t do attachments. And there’s nothing to get attached to. She is a lost girl who wants her mother and father. Am I wrong to help? What would you do? See you in the morning.] He continued walking past him to his quarters where five other guys were sleeping in their bunk beds. [What a day, what a day] he said to himself under his breath, taking his shirt off, tossing it onto his bunk, then turned for the bathroom to wash up.

Renzo was still standing outside the room against the wall. He waited until he saw Sam make her way back across the break room, pausing near the table as if to observe something. He entered the room, slightly startling her. He knew of the language barrier but tried to communicate anyway. “Hello.”

“Hi,” Sam feebly responded. “You’re Sebastian’s brother, right?”

“Si, somos hermanos. Ah, you… ahh… go home… pasado mañana. You are... OK?”

“Um,” Sam started to conjure a response. “Wait,” she said as she sat down, attempting to recall some Spanish grammar she learned in school. Well, crap, I did take Spanish for about eight years. “Let’s see, um, yo quiero... volver... mi casa.”

“Sí, Hexa te va a llevar a casa. Pero- but… ah… no hasta al viernes... ahh... not to Friday.”

Sam was trying to compute the response passed by her far too quickly but was thrown off by the smell of that same strange miniature pot and straw next to her from earlier.

“Ah, esa mate... quieres probarla? Ahn... do you try?”

Sam broke down in subdued laughter. “Sorry, sorry I just I can’t, I don’t remember enough.”

Renzo shrugged his shoulders, ready to give up as well. He then heard footsteps behind him, seeing Sebastian in the hallway. [Weren’t you going to sleep?]

[You know me, thought I could but...] He then saw Sam at the table looking up in what has become a trend for her lost expression, hand by the mate cup. “Why are you sitting by Rodrigo’s mate? You want to try?”

Sam pulled her hand back instinctively, shaking her head after realizing the situation. “Oh, no, it’s... wait, what? It’s called mate?”

Renzo tried once more to communicate. “That... that uhn... Es porque la mamá de eso rolo es de Argentina.”

[Shut up], Sebastian told Renzo before looking back at Sam. “He’s half Argentine, Renzo always jokes on him. Anyway, they drink those. We prefer our coffee. You want to try? You will never go to sleep if you do. I think it’s too much cafeína for you.”

Sam found herself laughing again, partly from the awkwardness of the conversation and the other half from mental exhaustion. “I think I need to go to sleep.” She then looked up at Renzo with a smile to say “Thanks, um, I mean, gracias,” then looked to Sebastian to say “Sorry I think I kept everyone awake. I will go now. Good night, er… buenos noches,” she said in departure, taking a subconscious second check at the still-shirtless Sebastian.

“Buenas noches,” Renzo and Sebastian said with a nod as she disappeared into the hallway.

[Well? Maybe Cruella isn’t so bad? And hey, I think she likes you,] Renzo quipped with a grin.

[So, what made you change your mind?] Sebastian deflected.

[About what?]

[I never thought you would try to talk to her. So, you see? She’s just a human, like anyone else. Maybe now you can see it’s not a big deal putting up with her for a day or two.]

[I still respect you, little brother. You’ve been that way since we were little kids. I always see you trying so hard for things I don’t see as much value in. Maybe I need to try harder sometimes, too.] He then patted him on the shoulder as he passed him, headed for the hallway. [Let’s get some sleep for real. It’s past midnight.]