Chapter 3
Chapter 3
There stood the future of Tye Yaer.
It was a slow crawl of a drive for Johaun as he navigated the scattered foot traffic that was sparse throughout the quarantined zone. Macanaw reached over to the wheel and held the horn down, but the black uniforms didn't change their attitudes and just glanced at the hasher. "I don't think they were told what the goal was here." Johaun said. "Seems like a stupid mistake to me." Macanaw gave one more slam and then sat back. "Might need to be a bit more aggressive, Johaun. This is your road and they're on it." Macanaw took his headset off and stood up to face the back of the hasher. "Let's get ready to unload." He looked back at the traitor. "Martin, you let him walk out first."
Johaun had spotted the emergency wing and a cluster of white coats and pastel colored scrubs intermingled with more black uniforms. He parked the hasher at the bottom of the stairs. The ramp lowered to a greeting party of nurses, a few doctors, heavily armed and armored soldiers, and a business dressed in Dellar Reihn. "You, merc. Take that thing there. He's the only one we kept alive, or you can shoot him at this point. I already did. I'll be honest though, not as good a feeling as I thought." The black armored soldiers didn't move until Martin brought him close enough to be grabbed. The one that grabbed him pulled him behind and handed him off to another to be cuffed and stayed next to the Dellar Reihn. Snix was being lifted onto a hospital stretcher by a group of nurses who were not there to have a conversation. Macanaw was glued to the hospital staff moving Snix out of the hasher who was now out of the hasher and jogging through the clump of mercs standing in their way.
The Dellar Reihn and her mercs matched Macanaw's team's pace. "Sargent Macanaw." "Not now corporate." One doctor was asking for the specifics of what caused Snix to become burned so severely. Macanaw didn't have any answers. "I wasn't conscious. We had a trux hit us all with a charged Knocked us out for a good minute. But Snix has charged 's too. He's good enough he could have countered. Also, none of us got burned from that blast. Had to be something while we were out." "Thank you, Sargent. We're going to be taking him into our burn care ward. He'll be there for at least a day. You'll be given a room to stay in while you wait." There was a lot of conversation passing over Snix's stretcher and even though Macanaw's attention was being split trying to get all the information from the other conversations, he nodded to the doctor. A nurse put her hand on Macanaw's chest before he passed through a set of doors saying "Sir, only hospital staff beyond these doors." She waved for someone behind the group. "Heather is going take care of you." the nurse turned and ran down the hall to rejoin the other's pushing Snix.
The Dellar Reihn intercepted Heather and sent her back by waving her name badge. Then stepped forward to stand next to Macanaw, who was watching Snix and his crowd dart to the right, out of sight. "Sargent. We have a lot of prep work to do." Macanaw looked down at her and at her name badge. Center top was the logo for Noctice. Just under it was her picture and a name. "Laurek Du'frain. Well, I only have two rules. No interviews and we hold the weapon until it's time to destroy it." "We can do that. However, from this point on, you need to follow my instructions. The way the public sees how this came about, how it's being handled and how much they see, will determine a near infinite amount of outcomes. But, lucky for you all. Noctice is incredibly experienced in spinning a narrative." Martin steps forward. "She makes it sound more... fabricated than it actually will be, sir. She's talking on a production level, not a substance level." Macanaw never removed his eye contact with Laurek. He wasn't being intimidating, only observing. While Laurek was being inexpressive, impressively unexpressive. As if she was repressing her facial expressions. "I understand. Let's get to work." Macanaw's lower quieted tone held the moment captive. None of his fire team had heard him talk like that, but they knew it was deliberate and was setting the tone for their relationship with Noctice.
Macanaw put his hand out, ushering Laurek to take the lead. "It's going to be a long night. Packed with recorded internal interviews for when the lawyers come knocking with lawsuits to get the full documentation. Even though we plan to make it all public." Laurek leads them to the outdoor park in the center of the hospitals campus where Noctice had established a forward operating base. Complete with telecommunications, video broadcast and a host of individuals all scrambling like a soon to be elected politicians campaign team. Tucked under a large, old tree on the edge of the park was a Noctice branded hasher where they waited by, as Laurek called them in one by one to record their testimony of events from their perspectives. Johaun began and forgot to offer to hand off the weapon for his interview. The rest of the team stood outside laughing as they imagined what the lawyers will have to say when Johauns video is used in a court case to sue Noctise.
Macanaw was the last out, but Laurek followed him and addressed the team. "You all should grab some food and sleep if you need it. Incineration is in 5 hours. Sargent Macanaw, after you eat, if you could come back. We have a bit more work regarding Noctis's public statement on behalf of your team." "Fine. I'll be back. Let's go, boys." Macanaw lead them to a help desk in the nearest wing to find out where the cafeteria was. The human secretary who was at the front desk, reclined, staring into her I.P and did a double take at them as they approached. Macanaw saw her confusion and let her engage them first. "What can I do for you Noctice... Mmmm, Not Noctice." Her confusion fled as they leaned on the counter. "No, ma'am." "Oh, this is now a joint operation?" "No again. It's complicated." She pointed to the reinforced, metal cylinder shaped device gaining condensation in Johaun's paws. "What's that?" "That's complicated, Private complicated." Macanaw looked back at the weapon. "Private! Stand strait!" He turned to the secretary and flashed a smile. "Sorry about that, he's stupid."
She gave a polite, forced chuckle, then a genuine laugh after looking over Macanaw's shoulder at the weapon that now had the addition of a smiley face the Martin drew into the dripping condensation, before looking and Macanaw directly. "What can I do for you, Sargent." "We're looking for the mess hall." "No one's coming in here tonight. I'll walk you all there." She was a few inches shorter than Macanaw, close to Snix height. She wore her makeup light, hair was pinned up lightly frazzled and left an aromatic trail that caught Ester's attention as she joined the group to head down the hall. It wasn't the high dolor sent fabricated by a celebrity that ends up dominating the air. It wasn't even a cheap lavender aerosol spray. This was what the word fragrant was invented for. "A citrus orchard?" Ester thought. "Nah, It's smoother." He could tell he would spend all night deconstructing the aromas if he didn't just work up the courage to ask.
"So, what is it that you..." He cleared his throat. "What's the fragrance do you wear." Despite clearing his throat, He still felt his nerves trying to close his throat mid sentence, on the verge of crackling or worse squeaking. Johaun picked up on the soon to be disaster the young swi'ik was about to find to himself in. "Before you answer that. What is your name?" Ester's beak clacked together to express his frustration in himself for not leading with that. Johaun noticed, but kept his head forward. "I'm Lilly. And it's a citrus vanilla lotion." A few steps in silence, the team didn't know how to break since anything they asked her they were obligated by decency to answer. But that left out the obvious questions. 'So what did you do in your time serving?' 'You live in Fae Drommo long?' 'What do you plan on doing all night during this lock down?' 'This lock down is pretty crazy, huh?'
Lucky for them, the cafeteria was just on the corner of a four-way intersection of hallways ten meters ahead. "Thanks for the escort, ma'am." Macanaw said as he led the way into a pair of swinging double doors. Ester turned to Lilly. "It was nice of you to walk us here. And to meet you. And nice sme- Ahhhck!" His smooth exit was interrupted by his very rough ignorance of the swinging door, returning and stopping to enclose his wing. His brain stopped working due to; realized embarrassment when Lilly put her hand over her mouth deciding whether she should laugh or be concerned, sudden panic to preserve his wing as his instinct took over and he froze in place, and the carnal desire to impress Lilly because he was in fact part of the reason she was bored to death for the last 18 hours. Luckily, Johaun was immediately on the other side of the door, peering down at Ester's clamped wing. He gently swayed the door outward to Ester, wing intact and ego deflated.
As emotionless as Ester could say, he said. "It was nice to meet you. Thanks." and turned to walk through the half Johaun held open. Johaun winked at Lilly, then left her with a warm smirk. They ate in silence, a welcomed silence. The speakers over head played songs that were famous fifty to thirty years ago. Recognizable but dated. They all finished around the same time and were stirred out of their zoned out state of mind by Ester. "What are we three going to do for what? Three hours now?" "I'm going to go catch up on the outside world in our room." "Where is our room?" Ester asked Martin. "I bet Lilly would know." He slowly peeked at Ester with a smirk. Ester clacked his beak and said,then "Martin you're so funny! I bet all the girls just love you for it." They finished eating alone in the cafeteria, then, Macanaw went back to the Noctice hasher to work on the public statements Laurek will give on behalf of the fire team. The others went up to their family suite to get some sleep before the last stretch of the mission, but first collectively barred the door closed and sleep in the lounge area together, just for safety.
In the morning, they gathered their gear and went back to Lilly's desk to see where Snix's room was. Ester could feel something growing in the center of his chest grow. Everything was getting tighter and despite knowing the building was consistently temperate, it was getting warmer. But Lilly wasn't there and his chest relaxed. up,Behind the counter was a vimstromos female who gave no eye contact even after they stood at the counter. She seemed preoccupied with her Johuan, however, kept perfect eye contact. There was no reason for them to be ignored. No one else was checking in. Martin couldn't take it anymore and cleared his throat. The vimstromos looked up, only to have her annoyed expression traded with one of surprise.
"How'd?" She couldn't finish her sentence because Martin stepped in, saying, "We're looking for someone's room. He was checked in last night." Now she was confused. Martin suspected she was the type of person who wasn't often in the loop, or avoided the loop all together. If he pushed too hard, he feared she'd might call security or Noctice. This could cause quite a stir and delay. And with a production this big and the main attraction being a bio weapon... any delays could cause a major panic, no matter how brief. "We're on a tight schedule. If you think us three squeaked past the Noctice blockades. Well then, you should call someone. But take another look." The gears were turning. But in the end her apathy won, "Who are you looking for?" "Should be Snix or Sargent Snix." As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized his error. They wouldn't register him under his name, on a second consideration it wouldn't matter if they did. They were going to be public figures before noon.
"Room fifteen ten." Ester looked at Martin while he slowly turned his head to look around the area. "Take that elevator to the fifteenth floor." "Thank you." Johaun broke his eye contact from the vimstromos and they all walked to the elevator. The door was opened, they turned into the door to see Macanaw looking out the window. "Sarge? You sleep up here?" Ester asked. "Nah. Come, take a look." They all walked over to the window. Down, just outside the hospital's main entrance and within the blockade. Was a small building taking up half the street's length and its full width. The outer walls and the ceiling were transparent. Inside was some sort of laboratory. Impossible to tell what kind from this height, but there was already a handful of people inside, moving around. All were wearing state-of-the-art suites. A combination of armor and cloth. Outside of the Notis blockade was a sight Kygerstav would never forget.
The street was covered with multicolored specks. It was so densely packed with people the only street features were light posts and traffic lights that protrude from the sea of people. It stretched far beyond what they could see. Above the streets hovered what normally were video billboard that the city has moved and tied into a live feed of the event. It switched between different flying cameras that were getting images of people in the crowd. The crowd and the city were entirely silent and calm. No sounds of traffic, no mumbling of idle chatter, the occasional crying kid, sneeze or cough, but even so, a surreal silence enveloped the city.
"I didn't give Fae Drommo enough credit. Jei Ruoe could learn something from these people." Macanaw said, peering out the open window in amazement. "Press conference was two hours ago. Johaun, You're going strait to that glass box and handing off the weapon to Waazeek Industries. Then join us at the podium." Macanaw said, still looking out the window. Martin turned the television on. It was already on a news broadcast. Apparently, the events fifteen stories down in the street have the privilege of making it to the top story. Rightly so. Martins focus was now on the narrative being recited. The sound of knocking on the metal door frame caused everyone's head to shift in its direction. It was Snix's doctor. "I'm not going to waste your time. Snix will be released in five hours. We're doing a procedure that's called accelerated regeneration bathing. He's still in treatment and unconscious." "So he'll be fine?" Macanaw Said. "There are a few things he'll have to adjust for but, yes." "Thanks, doc." The doctor left and the four of them standing in the room. "Well, it's about time let's at least go down to the lobby. I could use a stretch." Macanaw's tone was much more quieted than the boastful and boisterous and had a hint of exhaustion.
Ester had been mulling over an idea he had been working through and it was on the elevator down he needed an answer. "What happens after this thing gets destroyed?" "What do you mean, Ester?" Martin asked. "He means do we just go back to normal. And it depends on the Kygerstav military." Macanaw said. "Depends? I thought we did everything right?" "We did, but the right thing can really mess things up sometimes." Macanaw's answer was punctuated by the arrival bell on the elevator, then the doors opening. "Ester, that feeling you just got. Is why me and Snix moved to patrols." Macanaw stepped out of the elevator, leading the team out into the visitors' lobby of the hospital. Unlike the ever moving and loud court yard. The press team of Noctice now in the lobby were subdued with little chatter or movement.
"Ah. Good. Mr. Welter, your job is simple." Laurek walked up to Johaun. "Sargent Macanaw has already given me my instructions. I'm ready." Laurek blinked. Like an I.P's screen loading the next page. "Oh?" Well then, Let's wait by the door. Shouldn't be much longer now we're waiting for the governor's arrival." Seeing the crowd at street level wasn't any less intimidating. Macanaw stood firm as he looked out, while the others shuffled in place. He hadn't faced an event like this without Snix in years. It felt less important because of it, in a way not worth the hassle. A double door inside the lobby and behind them opened. Letting a crowd of chatter and clopping shoes over took the mumbles from the Noctice press team. The Govoner and his entourage arrived, and with him, the media. Laureks' security detail with other mercs from doors moved in to remove the reporters and their ilk from the lobby. The savray Govoner, Oht Zem, motioned for the following to stay by the central hospital insignia so he could approach Laurek and the team alone. "Can I shake your hands, gentlemen?" They all obliged.
"I know it's your expectations that I thank you all on behalf of Kygerstav and the state I represent. I would, but..." Macanaw's attention was laser focused now. It wasn't a standard politician's quick and dirty opener." "... the people are here to do it themselves." "Governor Zem." One person from the entourage called out and when they all looked there was a camera aimed. "Oh, sure thing." Macanaw and Martin instantly detected the disingenuous surprise the Governor no doubt had done innumerable times for similar "spontaneous" photos. "If you would lead us out Governor." Laurek said as the flash went off. The Governor nodded to the team and moved to the door and Laurek behind him, led Macanaw and the others to the stage.
They all stepped out and behind the podium. In front of them, at the bottom of the stairs, was a mob of journalists. Johaun walked passed the podium with the bio weapon and through the now parted mob. He could feel the eyes of all the people, possibly all of Myrn were on him. The silence was crushing. He did as he was instructed. He walked it up to glass building. An individual in a hazmat suit took it and a quite elaborate procedure began inside the containment building. Oht Zem steps up to the podium and began his part in the show. "We were told that we no longer have to fear that our neighbors, brothers, mothers and fathers would be coerced or tricked into being responsible for the death of millions of innocent lives. That we wouldn't have to give an answer to our grandchildren as to why we allowed our country to slaughter people who never even looked us in the eyes. We as a people vowed that if there was ever a time we need to take a life, it would be in person. We saw from our neighbors in Hosh how distancing ourselves from the battle would make us desensitize to it. And now we learn that not only has someone dishonored us. But has betrayed us. I my self will devote every moment of every day to getting answers to the questions we are all asking in this moment."
Most of the team started ignoring what was being said. Macanaw most of all. A few more lines and he backed away and stood next to the team. Laurek approaches the podium. "The Salazar group has posted the mission briefing of the team that was used to transport the bio weapon. Again, they were not aware it was on board until after they were ambushed by an Axihm brazer. At which time an official update was given, that update is also in its unedited form on our website. And now the question on everyone's mind. What is our plan for the Bio weapon? We've trusted the Waazeek cooperation to publicly destroy the weapon." Laurek gestured to the containment room. There was never a reaction from the crowded streets to either speech. The only noise came from some non-native journalists at the podium who were trying to get their questions out, but they only got one or two words out before they realized no one else was talking, then joined the silence once again.
Several minutes pass. All cameras and eyes close enough to see it were on the transparent lab. A low rumble started from the room and it gradually grew in volume and its tone got higher and higher and higher. A thundering slam echoed down the skyscraper, created canyons. The crowd gasped in fear, but it was only barely audible to those close to glass room. The slam converted the high tone to a sound similar to a jet engine. A person inside the room put on a highly reflective and heavily armored exosuit. He grabbed the bio weapon and walked toward the source of the noise. He opened a door to a bright furnace. The metallic figure threw the bio weapon into the blinding light. Martin noticed the people in the crowd were no longer watching the destruction in peace. They were getting angry, and many were shouting even though the furnace over took their collective voices. The furnace and the crowd blazed for another minute and with each second Macana, the rest of the team and the mercenaries with Laurek constantly darted their attention so they could act if the crowd turned hostile. The furnace whistle quieted and the crowd's shouting took its place. Over the loudspeaker, Oht Zem had been speaking and now, mid-sentence, could finally be heard. "...trust. I understand the concerns. Why should we trust the corporations to be honest in destroying the weapons in the future? That's a fair point, but this revelation has put Kygerstav into a dilemma. The only alternative would be to use our military. But somehow it's been infiltrated deep enough to preserve, at the very least, one weapon. So how can we trust it?" More shouts came from the crowd, at least from those closest. The billboard broadcasts showed that much of the crowd was already leaving. Macanaw took this as a sign that their part was through. He was much more interested in being in the room when Snix was released and squeezed through a now cluttered podium back to the hospital. The others followed closely.
Snix woke up with his head floating above a thick gel filled tub. He glanced around the room and recognized it as a hospital. Definitely not Axihm. It was too clean. "Snix. Can you hear me?" "Yea. Who-" The male voice came from behind him. A human male doctor moved to stand next to the tub so he could look Snix in the eye. He had to be in his late fifties, early sixties and was dressed casually under his white lab coat. "I'm doctor Cromwell. They called me in to manage your recovery. I have a few tests to make sure your body isn't having an adverse reaction to the treatment. Go ahead and get out of the tub. Shower is over in the corner. We got a new set of clothes for you on that box next to it." The doctor did some clerical work while Snix showered.
The doctor spent a few minutes testing Snix cognition, reflexes, and his senses. "Seems all good. But before you go. I have something to show you." The doctor brought up an image into a large screen in the room. "This is a scan we took of your brain. You see this black spot here? That's an aneurysm. We suspect it happened because of pressure on your brain from your djestrial gland and a surge of adrenaline speeding up your heart rate to push out that D.E.D. that saved your team." Snix had stopped buttoning up his shirt and sat on a stool. He had a sense in what sort of talk they were having. Civilian Doctors took more time and care in breaking possible devastating news. "You're going to pull me out aren't you?" "I'm going to recommend it, yes." Snix lowered his head. "But it's not permanent, maybe a year. You see, Snix we did a procedure while you were unconscious. The aneurysm is removed. But you're at a risk for another or a stroke. So here are two medications." He handed him two orange containers of pills. "These are once a day and those are for every headache." "A whole year with no action, huh?" The doctor nodded. "Fine." Snix stood up, finished buttoning his shirt as the doctor went through his closing remarks and gave Snix his card. Snix took his time walking to his hospital room. He needed to at least think about what he was going to do once they went back, and he had to take the year off. Sure Mac would just make room for him to jump into whatever he was doing for Kygerstav. That was a year away. What was he going to do for a year? What could he do for that year that wouldn't kill him? His mind took off from there and he continued wondering the halls, thinking.
In Snix's room, the others found ways to pass the time. Macanaw slept, Johuan and Martin watched a news broadcast. Ester, however, had the toughest time getting through the hours. He eventually settled and tolerated the news broadcast. Several things had happened in the shifting public opinion and the reaction of the government. Public approval of the chancellor had dropped ten percent. The groups responsible for the riots in Jei Ruoe have announced they will collaborate to create a rally where they will host public debates regarding the growing concerns of the what they see as a failing government of Kygerstav. Lastly the country was split on if corporate management of the investigation was favorable. Macanaw woke up after thirty minutes. He couldn't go back to sleep, instead he sat there with his eyes closed. Johaun and Martin shut the broadcast off after the talking heads started repeating themselves. The food Ester ordered finally got there, and no one hesitated to dive in. The team, some in mid-bite, flinched when Snix knocked on the doorway. Snix looked like nothing had ever happened, except a wardrobe change. Macanaw glimpsed at his arms, he notice all his scars had been removed. All of them. The shrapnel wounds from his first deployment. The knife wound from the street fight with those drug lords in Virulence and the fresh, severe burns. All of them, gone. Replaced with new scales. "Hey! Look at that. They've taken away all the reminders of how stupid you've been in your life." Macanaw said half jokingly, then moved toward him to wrap his arms around him.
A single tap on the metal door frame drew Johaun's attention. H jolted to his feet. Each member quickly noticed Johaun spring and, one by one, they followed suit. "At ease." The individual was a Ma'k. His beak was not as long as Ester's or as straight. It curved downward at the tip. His feathers were rounded and a mixture of browns, grays and whites. On the top of his head, going down his back was a consistent brown stripe. But along his front and under his wings were white. His military uniform ranked him as a general and a highly decorated one. On his chest was a badge with the name Greysom. "This is a casual meeting, even though I'm on official business. So we can just disperse with the procedures. We all hate them any way right Sergeants?" Macanaw and Snix simultaneously respond, "Yes sir." "There's no point in having this meeting back at base. We read the briefing, the updated objectives and downloaded the audio from your I.P's before you severed the connections. You were right Sargent." Pointing to Macanaw as he sat down in the empty chair next to Ester. "He did correct himself from saying 'I thought'. Someone either placed the device on the wrong Hasher or they thought you were working with them. Either way, you were not supposed to be there." Macanaw looked over the team as he thought through the event, then at Snix. His gaze finally rests on the General. "I swear..." "Don't worry. You're in the clear. When we got word, you all recovered the bomb but then went off grid. We had our suspicions, but the audio cleared you. You impressed many people with how all handled this." Macanaw interjects, "Sir, you don't have to grease up a working gear. What's really happening?" "We saw your account on the news and given the circumstance, even though you did the right thing and are clearly qualified. Our plans to use you all to thwart the corruption ended when you went public."
Macanaw and Snix leaned forward in their seats. "Here's what's going to happen here in Kygerstav over the course of the next year. The vast majority of citizens will not settle for an internal investigation ran by the government. Especially after seeing how quickly and effectively the corporations dealt with this crisis. So, two to three private companies will be voted on to independently investigate the military. This brings me to you five. I have a long-time friend who is expanding his military corporation into special covert operations and we're confident his corporation will be selected to investigate the military and I'm extending an invitation to a new project he's starting in parallel with that investigation to all of you. I pulled some strings and cashed in some political capital to get some red tape removed and files stamped in order to get you all early releases or retirements. You should all go take their test. With you five on their payroll, it will make them appealing to have at the service of Kygerstav." Johaun looked particularly confused. "How long do we have to think about it?" "They're scheduling tests for the next five months. That should give you three to four months of training. Here's his contact information. You'll speak to Brailin." General Greysom hands two cards to Macanaw. "And I've been able to grant you access to a facility to do that training. Also, you three temps. Your two years are up early. Congrats and thank you. Jobs well done, you ALL exceeded expectations. Call me soon so I can take care of your paper work sergeants." General Greysom stood and walked out the door. Some time passed after the General left, each member spent time in the silence eating and thinking.
Laurek entered the room, not even knocking. Her face looking down at her I.P. "Oh. My apologies. I.. I came by to see you all off with an update and payment. I'll just need some banking information to transfer the funds." They looked to their I.P's to accessing the pertinent information. "While you are all getting the information. You'll be happy to know that the general reception, according to the news broadcasters, is that it was handled better than anyone could even imagine. Many people are suggesting Kygerstav use private cooperation to accomplish things like this in the future. So the Salazar Group, Noctice and Waazeek Labs would like to thank you for the amazing opportunity by granting you all a healthy sum of money. " After getting everyone's information, Laurek gave her I.P several taps to complete the transaction. A whistle comes from Ester. "And with that, all the companies have packed up and are evacuating. I hope everything turned out the way you'd hoped." Laurek had abruptly stopped talking, leaving the conversation in an awkward silence. "Well, Goodbye then." Laurek walked away leaving the squad looking at each other shocked. Johaun eyes were wide, almost unnaturally wide. A whispered voice slowly came out of his mouth. "One million."
What is the proper response to receiving a fortune that you didn't expect? This was the question they each sat down and continued eating in silence to answer. Ester stopped after a few bites and glanced at everyone before he said, "So, is this it?" Johaun looked up mid bite to see that Ester was glancing at everyone, waiting for a response. "What's it?" Martin said. "We're just... done?" "It's a lot Ester. It's not something we can just say yes or no to." Macanaw paused. Looking down at his food. "Well, I'm taking the job." Esters said confidently. "Ester, you shouldn't be so eager to jump into this type of work." Johaun said. Ester clacked his beak then said, "I'm not going back to work in an office to draw schematic and fix code for engineers who are just making things that are good enough or not even that." And there, in Ester's eyes, was a look Johaun, and Macanaw, recognized. There was no talking him out of it. No alternative solutions could persuade Ester now. No matter how much those alternatives gave Ester the freedom that came with independence. Martin saw Snix was still eating and probably never looked up through the entire conversation. "What do you think Snix?" Snix just finished his last bite and places the empty styrofoam take out box on the table. "I think me and Mac need to have a talk." "Now?" Macanaw asked. "Mmm hmm."
Once out of earshot of the room, Mac said, "It's been a long time since I've had no clue what you're going to say." "Good. Because it's been a long time since I've had no clue what you were going to decide." "I wanna do it." Snix stopped. He leaned on the wall to look at Mac, who took the opposing wall. "This has potential to-" "To be the thing you've been looking for?" "Think about it. Those three may not have a ton of experience, but I think this event showed they got some talent that can be worked with." Snix looked to Mac's left and saw his own reflection in the glass of a cheap printed version of a watercolor painting of a docked boat being loaded. Macanaw continued, "Ester's got a fair point. There's nothing for me in civilian life." "Ester's also missing some points." Mac sighed. His head dropped slightly, but he picked it back up to respond. "It'll kill me, Snix." "And if Johaun and Martin say no?" "Do you say no?" "I'll go with you, like I always have." Mac's demeanor quickly transformed and his enthusiasm over took him. "I figure since it's a startup, we have a good chance to negotiate some pretty good terms." "What terms? Come on Mac. What's the real thing pulling you in." Mac Looked away from Snix and lost his enthusiasm to a new docile mood. "You know why. And yeah it's stupid. But-" "It has the chance to give you something you think you need." "I'm not made for a slow life. The slow life is great between the action, but." Snix nodded and pushed off the wall. "Mac." "What?" "I think this is a bad idea. But I'm doing it. Just..." Mac waited. "Just what?" Snix shook his head. "Just say it Snix." "Slow down. If we get in, it's all different. Just factor all that in from now on." Mac's enthusiasm dwindled as he realized he was ready to jump in full throttle into something that was going to change his life, and his wife's, and that leaving Kygerstav's military meant leaving a military culture that had a millennium of social fabric that kept him alive countless times. "That's fair, but if Johaun and Martin say no. Well, I guess we'll have to fill their spots. But that's if we even get hired."
Macanaw leaned his head in the room. "Hey, pack it up. We need to head out. That hasher is still parked in front of the E.R entrance, and we now have a pile of papers back at the base. We'll talk more on the road." They all gathered their things, except for Snix, whose gear was on the hasher. Ester nudged into Johaun as they filed out the door, getting his attention. "What are you thinking? You gonna come along?" "There is a lot to consider, as Macanaw said." Nothing else was said by any of them until they got to the sidewalk at the main hospital building entrance. The city seemed to have been put back on its routine. With the Noctice mercenaries and the citizens off the streets, traffic has grown and the noise was a welcomed feature in contrast to the eerie silence during the incineration. A few people walking by gave a passing "Thank you" or even an awkward glance. "Alright, alright. Let's get to the hasher." They all nod, except for Snix who was standing just waiting for orders. Macanaw lead the group around the block to where they left the hasher. They turned the corner of the block to where the hasher was parked. Now surrounding it was a small group of local police officers. They appeared to have set up cones redirecting traffic out of the lanes it was occupying. Before the squad gained their attention, Macanaw looked back to the group. "I'm not sure how the rookies will react to four heavily armed and armored individuals. So let's just play along okay guys?" He turns back around with no response. One officer spots the five of them and flicks his head upward, directing the cluster of police to look down the sidewalk. As to be expected, the inexperienced ones made themselves known by reaching and resting their hands on their holstered pistols and standing a straighter with their chests puffed out. "Dis yo 'asher?" An Iewherehm said. Macanaw's jovial mood quickly shifted back into the more familiar stern, collected and mission focused Sargent variant. "That it is. We might need an escort getting out of the city and on the highway. We don't have time to wait for you to call it in. Either you all get us on the highway. Or we find our own way. Your choice." The officers stammer, looking at each other. They took longer deciding than Macanaw wanted to wait for. "Fine y'all can catch up then. Load up!" He raised his voice, giving the order. The squad could tell it was more for show than enforcing the urgency of the order. As the loading ramp lowered, revealing the interior of the Hasher with daylight. Spatters and pools of blood that they never cleaned up from last night shocked even Macanaw's team. "Just walk in like nothing is odd." Snix mumbled to the squad as he enters the Hasher. Johaun and Macanaw take their seats in the drivers seats. Snix raises the ramp as Martin and Ester sit at the control stations toward the front.
The congestion was even worse than last nights. The hasher was still a contributing factor, but now there were the additions of people taking drive by photos or letting their kids get a look. A mile down the road, four law enforcement vehicles move up and matched their speed to have a formation of two in front of them and two behind them. Once on the highway and the escort pulls onto an exit ramp leaving them to themselves on the highway. Snix walks up to Martin. "Here's the contact for that job. Card says Oritor. Find out what the offer is, what the job entails and what kinda of freedoms and restrictions will we have." Martin nods. "Before you call-" Macanaw turns from the driving cab. "I know some of us want to think this thing through and maybe get something taken care of before committing. General said we have a few months to get some training in. It doesn't give us much time to sit on this. I'm thinking in two weeks we all meet at this place the General is talking about." There were silent nods all around." Ester perked up. "What is it that Oritor does?" Martin sat up in his chair to answer Ester. "Well, they're not known for much. They're miners. They sell raw materials." "Why would they want to get into the private military market?" "Because everyone is. It's better to control your own people than hire someone else." "Oh. Okay, well I'm in."
Johuan had pulled the hasher off the highway while Ester was talking to Martin and was now turned to face the others. "Why are you two so interested in this?" he pointed at Snix, then waved it to Macanaw, "I'm sure you could get any lifestyle you wanted. What? Not good enough? Not enough money?" Snix kept his eyes on Macanaw. He needed a little more convincing, as well. Macanaw said, "I thought I loved what I did. And on a base level that's still true. But it's become meaningless. Seeing temps come and go in two years. You just get to know some one and they're out. And then the next batch comes in and it's like time traveling, but the faces and names change and the two years prior mean nothing." "And you Snix. You don't expect us to believe you're a mindless drone who follows Macanaw around? Why do this?" "I have no reason not to. Simple as that." Johaun winced at Snix. "You don't have any reservations? You have no concerns?" "Of course I do. But we still have to have a meeting and this try out thing. I'm not going to back out before we know anything. For all we know, this could be a dream job. Why? Are you looking for a reason out?" "Yes." Macanaw leaned forward to get in Johauns line of site. "Johaun. You three have impressed me. I wouldn't do this with just me and Snix." Johaun looked at the floor. "Fine. Let us get more details." He spun around in the diver seat and pulled the hasher back onto the highway. Ester had noticed Martin hadn't said his answer. "Martin, what are you thinking?" "Oh, I need more details." Ester then spoke louder toward the driver's seat. "If it means anything, Johuan, the General did mention Oritor was an option that Kygerstav was looking into to hunt down where the bio weapon came from." Martin said. "Yes. He said that. But they tend to say a great many things that end up being other things."
"Call Brialan and accept if it's a good deal." "What's a good deal for you?" " You know, the freedom to decline missions, mission objectives and restrictions negotiated before acceptance. We want to be able to operate ethically. And on our terms. If you can pry it out of them, ask what the first job would be." Macanaw turned to look at everyone. Watching them move about the hasher. Just taking in the moment. Johaun pressing the controls on the dash, observing his radar and other devises. Martin turned to face the comms station and start calling Brialan. Sitting at the opposite station, Ester had been perfecting his security measures. Snix took a seat in the back and continued his ritual of cleaning his gun after a mission. Macanaw wanted to look at them and have a sense of comfort and trust when looking at them. But he didn't. He could only think about what it's going to feel like if he can't train them properly and they get killed on a mission. He broke away from his daydream and looked over to Snix to see him looking back. The look he gave him many times in the last twelve years. The look that told him he knew exactly what he was thinking and to stop it.
Martin finished his call with Brialan, then directs his attention to the front of the Hasher. "Sarge. Deal is strait forward. We get a list of optional missions. Depending on how we score in profit determines our team's rank. That rank determines who gets first pick on the missions they chose. Mission objectives, and how it effects corporate reputation is the only thing that matters to them. Anything else is up to us. As far as our wallet. Higher performing teams get more spending power." Macanaw doesn't miss a beat in his reply. "Any penalty for cutting and running?" "No. But from what I know, word gets around pretty quickly of who burned who." "Sounds fine to me." After some time, Martin ends his call and speaks up again. "Should I call the General to tell him we accepted his offer to use the facility?" "Yeah. tell him our plan to show up in two weeks." Martin went back to leaning in the chair to get comfortable. It wasn't long into the phone call Martin had to direct it to Macanaw's I.P. The conversation with the General went smoothly and quickly. Macanaw was only snarky once throughout the call. As soon as he ends the call, he could see the team wanted answers. "So it's all set, then?" Ester asked. "Seems like it. General is going to give me and Snix a well earned early retirement and you three an early completion of service like he said. Generals also going to have us flown south to Baiu Yl Ogmeir. That's where he's arranged for us to use a training facility." Ester stopped typing for the moment. He didn't think about it before, but now it seemed an inescapable thought. "Why would a general go out of his way to set up a group of mostly nobodies? Snix I can understand. Maybe Snix and Macanaw." He made a mental note of it and went back to his project.
The conversation died off and Macanaw delegated the others to split the drive into shifts. The trip took the better part of sixteen hours. Before Snix was relieved, Snix asked Mac, "So when do you plan to call Grace?" "When I figure out what to say." "You mean figure out how to keep her from-" "Yeah. Well, It's a good time now I guess. She'd be awake." The call was exactly what Macanaw expected. She was whirling through emotions and words about the bomb. From upset, worried, proud, angry and jovial. But her emotions and words quickly focused to a single purpose when Macanaw told her he got a job working for a cooperation. It was all anger. Loud anger. And now Snix could hear it all. Not that Snix wasn't playing her part of the conversation in his head the whole time. But now he had confirmation that he was right. "You took a job with a bunch of MONEY HUNGRY NUMBER CRUNCHERS? You and I both know that they don't care about you or your team." "Grace." "So now, in one call, I find out that you're finally free from service just to hear you jump into not just service. NOoo, that would be one thing. But you literally gave your life to the Devil." "Grace" "What?!" "We made a deal of full control. I get to decide which missions I take or don't. there's no minimal service contract. So I can get out whenever I want." "DO YOU THINK I'M STUPID?! We both know you and Snix won't turn down a mission based on risk factors." This carried on until Macanaw ran out of steam. He ended the call with "Love, yeah." and a click with Grace mid sentence.
They finally arrived at Fort Loenthal a few hours after the beacon shifted to morning light. The bases personnel were changing shifts as they entered the front gate. They pulled the hasher in to the maintenance garages and tried handing it off and moving on, but the lead technician needed answers. "I mean, Y'all just left the blood every were." "Hey, I don't know what to tell you..." Macanaw threw his hand up and walked away. "Do you question every hasher that rolls in? 'Cause, you didn't see the one we left out in the desert." "But the blood?" The others follow Macanaw but Johaun walks up to the technician, pulls out the used, dried out wet wipe that came with an M.R.E he had last night, but never had the gull to just throw it on the floor of the hasher. "It's the best I can do." The Technicians' glance was, at first, offended but then confused by the sincerity of Johuan who had turned and rejoined the others who were walking to complete their discharge. The day went as was expected. People passing by offering to buy the team drinks for the story along with salutes and pats on the back. The Colonel in charge of their patrols, was given permission to shortcut the process and a process that could take months of research and preparations by the team members, was shrunk into two days. This gave the team a whole mess of homework to do on their own, and then the ability to mail in their papers when they were finished. They were escorted with their belongings to a tumbler that was parked on a pad in the center of the base. The name tumbler was a generic name for vehicles using state-of-the art, silent thrust technology to fly. They, historically, took the form of the single rotary bladed vehicles from one hundred years ago. The kind that had hollow centers for holding passengers, cargo and the occasional weapons platform that hung out the doors on either side. Some "tumblers" are designed slimmer and have no place for passengers and are mostly used for weapon superiority and electronic warfare. Those whoever, gained the nick name rollers. This tumbler seemed to be used for passenger transport. Once on board, the tumbler lifted off to take each member to the towns they currently reside in.