Still Waters

Jisoo being around made it somewhat easier for me. Having a companion was always a good thing, especially, when she's an understanding one. Beyond the personal mission, she's someone who I enjoy spending time alone with.

I introduced her to my associates. She was rather strange when it comes to Marion, and honestly having a living legend who has cheated death in front of you was something that she was legit curious about.

Other than that there is not much change to our operations. I still work hard to log all the data coming from massacres in Karagi. Jisoo herself seems to have taken an interest.

She thinks that it was abominable behavior. That these people have no shame, but understands that they are trying to freshen their images while taking the lives of human beings.

It came to me that we are still standing between a thinning rope. Or maybe because she is around that it makes me hope for a better future. Still, I don't want to let go easily, knowing that there are many problems that this world has.

Beyond my optimism that this world would be better. I am still a fish in a pond living in a world full of sharks. The government had enough monstrosity that they were willing to kill so many.

In an open-air terrace of a tower in the middle platform of Karagi. Sitting under a table with an umbrella. I sat down with Jisoo for dinner. She was staring at the projected animals that are produced by the drones. Holographic images that are distracting the populace from the butchery below.

"So peaceful on topside. Downside is hellish."

"They have to keep up appearances. Karagi's Wrath isn't only here."

"Pacifica did have things like. Minimal, but it was still noticeable because of how equal the forces are. Implants were winning the fight. Most of the organized crime in Pacifica is struggling. The Solomons are doing well, however."

"How?"

"The gold. They are using it to blackmail certain people. If they reveal it. Then those people are going to get the chair. Is this like this everywhere?"

"Most of the time, yeah. But other than that there isn't much to take care of. Of course there is a problem regarding how they are taking care of the people."

"Are you doing this for them?

"Huh?"

"You aren't especially a good person."

"Well, you're right about that. Doesn't mean that I'm saintly. It's about survival for me. To live on the next day. Drag people with me. We ain't winning easily, so we might as well be the guys who live on."

She smiled thinly, "That's pessimistic of you."

"It's being realistic. Pessimism has nothing to do with it. I can be hopeful or try to be a guy with a savior complex, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm a piece of shit that just wants to be safe when shit hits the fan."

"Which reminds me, Nik. Why are you so afraid?"

This time I can see that she wouldn't take no for an answer or try to pretend that the problem doesn't exist. Why do I do this? Why do I keep gathering information through a swarm of drones?

I told her.

I confessed what may happen in the future.

The more I talked about what I fear.

The more I sounded like a schizoid who was afraid of the shadows in the dark. Of course, I did give evidence through the drones, and was allowed to digest the information that I gathered.

I waited for her to answer.

"Well, there are some things that make sense. Still, the Specters were real, I saw them fight myself and they were armed to the teeth with Ghost-Tech. Hmm, I didn't expect that there'd be something like this."

"You believe me?"

"Why are you so surprised? Considering that you seem to be Morgan's apprentice, and you know some things that shouldn't be easy to know. I can believe you, still, this information really does make you feel like you are just one of the many cogs in this world. This region alone is a mess."

"It does, doesn't it?"

She leaned back. Her eyes went blank for a moment. Jisoo seemed to be thinking about some things.

"A lot changed. So many things," she leaned forward. "I do wonder if meeting you started this change."

"I don't think so."

"I'll be something."

And yet it really is because I know things that she's here with me. I know how her clan will end up. I knew that something was happening. I remained ignorant, afraid until I almost died again.

It's a question that I ask myself. If I could have done more than this. If I chased after power and ambition from the start. Still, what I know is only limited, and in the future the events may change. The drone swarm, the tech that I own, and the information.

The problems in this region are nothing compared to what may come in the future. Because beyond the endings that I know, there are many things that might come to an end.

Unseen threats.

Unseen monsters.

And things that I wouldn't be able to see. Beyond the personal power, what runs this world is the connections and the manpower to do anything. Without this manpower, we will have nothing to do. We cannot do anything. Power, reputation, and control are what keeps us safe. A bunker might keep us alive, but I liked to be aware. I don't want to hide anymore. To run away. I wanna see them coming. I wanna see them act. I wanna see what they will do even before they think they'd do it.

Information is power. Being ignorant isn't going to help me survive. I have been shot and have experienced death. That's why it wouldn't be easy for me to let go again.

I can't be cool with this.

I cannot stand the idea of just dying without knowing or having someone or something decide things for me. I will keep on surviving, I will keep on living.