“Well, hold on, I had one more question,” he spoke with a raise of his hand, leaning back in his seat, taking in a long breath. He then looked him in the eye with concern, almost like a father to a son set to head off on a dangerous task. “I hope I didn’t pressure you into anything you’re uncomfortable doing. Are you really OK with this accelerated training program? Is the potential outcome… you know…-”

“-I haven’t been this confident in a very long time, Mr. Knight,” Sebastian calmly replied as he too leaned back, letting out a less than calming sigh. “I am nervous, of course. But… my life never really had direction like it does now. I just sat, watched my home town start to… come apart. Start to break into pieces. But ever since I joined Infinity, even if its things I don’t like doing, I know where I am going and I always learn something to help get me closer to the end.”

Al avoided bringing up the loss of Sebastian’s boss and all of his crew he had likely viewed as family but yet he felt the need to also avoid coming off as aloof in such a moment. “But you have lost so much since Hexa stuck its nose into it. Doesn’t it upset you?”

Sebastian couldn’t deny the occasional haunting flashbacks, the blaze that consumed all he knew, the corpses he viewed at the morgue days later. But those scars that formed didn’t take permanent shape necessarily. “I realize that it was not Hexa’s fault in the end, even though that was very much how I felt at first. Of course, I was very angry. Angry at so much… And yes, Hexa did accelerate the ending there, but it was an end that was coming no matter what, once you think about the Rocha’s and their involvement. I…”

Shit, there it goes, I hate making people like this guy feel remorse when it was others at fault. This is the kind of talk I was never built for, he thought as he watched Sebastian’s head droop somewhat, now staring through the table, likely swallowed up by painful memories.

“…I feel like even I would be dead, too, if we died a slow, year-long death. I got to escape that because of the power I feel like I now have that I didn’t before.” He looked back at him, now with a stronger sense of resolve that changed the air around them. “Even with the loss at Bangladesh, I improved. Even when I lost my LTAC, I saw and… and analyzed… what I could do to take down who I know is behind these attacks. I know I will see them again, but I need to be ready for them even more.” [And I know exactly who one of them is, and who will help bring him to me.]

Al sensed darker feelings behind the resolve, but refrained from comment as he preferred to have a motivated pilot moving forward.

“I will help end this mess that spilled into Colombia, Mr. Knight,” he continued as he met his gaze. “I will take your offer and make sure this also ends before this project you seem to hate so much ever needs to take off.” He suddenly felt himself jump in his seat almost from the reaction of a firm, friendly hand to the back.

“I believe you, always did, now relax!” he replied with another chuckle as before. “I brought you here to have lighter conversation than all this. Finish your beer, all you have to do tonight is call your brother and then get a good night’s rest.”

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It was well past the programmed sunset at the hotel where Sebastian was dropped off by the automated taxi. He stood at the edge of the pickup and drop-off rotary, accompanied only by the soft glow of street lights, the hums of passing cars, and the gentle rustle of vegetation stirred by generated winds. He had spent more than a week here yet the absence of bugs’ chirping, distant music playing, and the white noise from general gatherings. Perhaps it was the sterile nature of the Space Nation Akkadia One that had him feeling empty inside, perhaps it was really just everything else he had been balancing mentally and emotionally since his arrival.

A moment had passed before he realized how long he had been standing there staring emptily at the hotel sign in front of him, finally electing to take his mobile out and head inside. [I am always too wound up lately. Renzo was right, and so was Mr. Knight. What has happened to me all this time? I miss being able to laugh at the boys’ jokes. I miss laughing at he and Dani’s stupid arguments. I miss a good talk over good food…]

He passed through the door to find a TV displaying the news centered around the election situation in The Philippines and the P4C demands. [But I have to keep my shit together for just a few more weeks. I need to finish this right.]

On his way into the elevator, he noticed a young woman with her face buried in her mobile stepped in just behind him, casually pressing a floor button as he noted just how different of an aura the women her age carried there. [I also can’t lie. I miss Sam, yet…] [Hm?] His thoughts were interrupted by the music he could hear over her too-high of a volume earpieces… a song that matched styles with what he heard at the bar just earlier. [Mr. Knight talked about all these bands from the early 2000’s. It really is popular here. Hmm…]

He arrived to his room and in no time fell onto the sofa near the entry, remaining stretched out there for a moment. He then remembered his call to Renzo he needed to make, working his mobile out of his pocket.

[Brother,] he spoke up as the other side picked up after several rings. [What’s the word?]

[Space man!] he energetically replied, seemingly glad to hear his voice. [How’s the no gravity life?]

[Remember that joke Sam told you once she got her translation back? Yeah, she wasn’t kidding, man.]

[It’s really that bad?]

[You get used to it. Hey, I was going to ask a favor.]

[It’s about the girl, huh? Listen, I just stepped out. The girl and the old man are still in talks and no idea how much longer this is supposed to take. So, what happened?]

Sebastian always found it easy to say exactly what was on his mind to his brother or sister. There was never any need to mince words or walk on eggshells, and as he started to reply he could sense this clearly. [I talked with my superiors here and they convinced me this Project E thing is something I need to avoid ever happening. That girl you have there is apparently a big threat to everyone but those in the higher ranks.]

[But it sounds like if the chick didn’t want the job she’d have said no, right? She’s been mum the whole time.]

[I don’t think we will ever get half the shit they talk about, but I am only worried about the old man Knight’s tone. He said we need her to join, but we have to act fast once they use her in starting this project up.]

[I will think of something,] Renzo reassuringly responded. [Damn, bro. I knew I was getting involved in some deep shit when I saw the pay check they offered me and Dani.]

[What about Rodrigo? They didn’t offer him, too?]

[He didn’t want to. Said this country brings back too many bad memories for him. Besides, Argentina is the last bastion for pro-independence in the whole of SAU. You know what that means in the long run, right? Yeah, I think it’s best he stayed home and it’s best Dani and I get back home now that we’re wrapped up.]

[Well, I will let you do what you need to. Stay safe, brother.]

[You too. Tell Cruella hey for her next time you see her.]

[Right…]

He rolled over on his side as he hung up the call. The simulated starry night panels screamed emptiness to his soul, hoping he could stare off into them as he would back home. His eyes looked just beyond the panel and to the farthest up he could see before running out of window to see more city above him with the lights of cars passing through. Days passed and he still couldn’t adjust to seeing a cylindrical world wrapped around him. He turned back away to the cold, clean, ultra-modern yet hollow interior of his hotel room.

[It may not be Sam’s fault she’s like this. But what does that do for me…]

…

[I wonder what she’s thinking or doing right now…]

.

…

[The Philippines, huh…]

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●　●　● Punta Lara Spaceport, Buenos Aires Vicinity, Argentina, SAU

Kaylen finally had her cuffs released, pulling her freed wrists away and immediately began massaging them as she kept her gaze downward. “You must have known I would’ve strangled you to death if you had let me out of these sooner, I assume.”

Vincent, who had just pushed over a signature app her way, shrugged his shoulders in response to the threat he elected to not acknowledge. “As goes another day in the business world I regret creating for myself.”

“You still and will always disgust me,” she continued mumbling under her breath, signing the holographic panel with her finger gesture before clicking the accept button area. Renzo then once more entered the room, hands in pockets with a nonchalant response to the atmosphere that had drastically changed in comparison to before he left to make his call. [You as well.]

[Wait, what?] Renzo sputtered in return, halting in his tracks with a confused look. [What did I do?]

[I am receiving compensation from you, by the way, as part of this whole deal since you WRECKED my Z84 that I will never get back,] she hissed as she stood up to leave, refusing eye contact. [Now, drive me to the terminal.]

[No thank you,] he huffed as he turned to leave, hands back in pockets. [I see my business is done here-]

“-Last… order of business,” Vincent interrupted with a grin. “She has to arrive as agreed upon, and she’s got one last stop because this was just the holding room.”

[But… you have her,] he spoke back with an unconvinced frown and a vivid gesture both of his hands threw towards her.

“When she arrives in good spirits, you will be dismissed, and since she seems to have taken such a liking to you, it is as we must fulfill,” Vincent quickly replied, denying any further argument. “Take Mrs. Rodgers to her destination as requested, please.”

[Let’s go,] Kaylen impatiently ordered as she passed by him and his palm stuck to his forehead. [Off to your piece of shit SUV we go.] She then heard the door close behind them, cueing her to turn and whisper through her clenched teeth, pushing her index finger into his chest provokingly: “And no, don’t even try and get any stupid ass ideas. This is all just me reminding you how spineless you are, bending over any way that soulless coward pushes you simply because you let him simply buy you with all that money.”

He motioned to throw her hand aside, but she beat him to it as she backed off a step.

“And of course I noticed all that bullshit eye rolling of yours. The only reason my ‘family’ didn’t come to bail me out when you thought you had me was because I elected so. By not uttering the code word, which I was that close to doing, it told them I surrendered myself… that the day had come. ‘Emilia’ is dead to them, now,” she continued as her voice trailed off.

“I hope that answers another one of your pointless questions.” She then turned to head down the hallway alone, leaving him even further confused and frustrated. The door at the end opened as a set of security guards offered to lead the way out and towards the terminal shuttle.

I can’t believe I said that, knowing I just made a deal with the devil himself. NJ, please forgive me. This is for your sake as well. Wish me luck. I’m going to Space and back for the first time since you know when…

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Manila Arc Preface

It was the fall of the International Confederacy that catalyzed economic crashes that went beyond violent unrest as seen in Colombia, as coup d’états like those that occurred in Myanmar and Bangladesh had become the norm in expectations across Southeast Asia. For southeast Asia, the two largest spheres of influence during the height of the Confederacy were China and India. As for those under China’s umbrella, debt and trade disruption was not the only factor involved unlike with India’s sphere collapse. China retained much of its control over former territorial waters and islands, preventing many smaller countries from resuming independence over its economic trade outlets, unable to utilize air and sea as it once did prior to the Confederacy. The greatest collapse to occur from this as a result was in the Philippines.

Political dynasties and the abused cycles of turncoats had finally seen their end after Confederate policy prohibited such activity under its management, but the moment power was returned to the country, the pre-Confederacy charter was restored, erasing the hopes of finally adopting a federal statehood. The P4C (Post-Confederacy Charter Change Coalition) was born initially out of necessity to continue the push, but the elites of the greater Manila area who had enjoyed incredible economic growth and amassed incredible wealth during the Confederacy period had no intentions of relinquishing influence and power. And with the more recent adoption of pro-Confederacy Restoration sentiment (mainly the expectations that it would bring more stability), more support for the P4C has poured in from other nations in the forms of both finances and firepower.

By the 2170s, peak unrest had begun taking its toll on infrastructure and the population across the capital area, and the moment Hexa’s Infinity began offering contracted services, Filipino PM Cruz was quick to jump on the offer. Infinity has by now finished its eighth month in Manila, seeing largely crowd control activity and very little heavy fire, but the intensity has steadily ramped up regardless, and as of the past month, LTAC presence has ticked up as well. This led to increasing damages and losses to Infinity’s LTAC arsenal, alarming Hexa’s administration. The biggest fear now is a repeat of Bangladesh, leading the administration to agree to sending Danielle Norris’ assembled team there along with the soon-to-come implementation of Project Excalibur, leaving many on the ground curious as to what kind of assistance is on the way.