The Fated

“Why would they have gone to the eastern continent?” Veronica asked.

Bell, Veronica, and Esperanza take a light train with an express route to an eastern continent station. Given the distance to their settlement, it will be about an hour which is enough time for Veronica and Esperanza to prepare their weapons.

Veronica has her taser and a recallable throwing knife. The knife is difficult to handle, a single misstep will end with missing fingers. Still, it’s far too useful to throw away.

Esperanza is a close-range fighter. Her arsenal includes brass knuckles, a tether gun, and now a repulsion bat. In a fight she’s the strongest in the settlement, but she despises combat.

“I’m not sure. I’ve heard the eastern continent has become reclusive once more. The people that remained aren’t friendly to outsiders.”

“I wonder why.” Veronica pats her Casa, Yaya. Yaya creates a 3D holographic map of the immediate area they’re arriving at. As reclusive as they are, Veronica has managed to map much of their territory.

“Two of your friends are living in a settlement in the eastern end of this area, call it the coast of old China. They’re alive and well, but getting to them may be difficult. So, whatever happens, you don’t get in our way.”

Bell only nods. Their station announced next, he has no power to stop them anyhow.

Upon exiting the train, the group is met by eight people wearing long coats and covering their faces with painted masks. Most on the train are let go, residents. But the trio from far away are stopped as the train departs.

“Veronica.”

“Glad you remember, my offer still stands. I’d love for you all join me.”

“We’re doing just fine. The boss likes you so we’re going to let you got his time, but we won’t allow this disrespect again.”

“That’s too bad.”

Veronica presses her taser against the chest of the man speaking to her. A simple click sends a shock strong enough to knock him unconscious, the others attack the trio but are met by the well-prepared duo of Veronica and Esperanza.

Veronica deals with two more, one with her gun the other by a knife flying through their neck.

Across the station, Esperanza uses her new bat. A learning experience, the body of one of their attackers disappears into the horizon before she uses it in a downward swing instead. The results are just as gruesome, the immediate slam into the ground with such momentum leaves a horrific display of blood.

“Jeez, he can’t make something less brutal?” Esperanza mutters.

“It’s not a bad weapon though.”

“It isn’t. He only makes it this strong to make sure I won’t get hurt, but it feels disgusting to use.”

“Well, we can speak to him about it later. Let’s go.”

“Matteo, come here.” A young boy takes slow, painful steps toward their mother. He has strange marking around his body, black but faint. About 9 years old they were born with a weakened body that makes even walking difficult. “Great job! Look at you!”

The woman picks her son up and twirls him in the air. The child’s laughter brings her a great smile, behind it the worry of his weakening body.

“Elena.”

She stops and looks at Bell. “My god, Bell. Is that you?”

“Y-yes. Look at you, with a child. By any chance, is their father-”

“Bell!” Issac runs up behind Bell and throws an arm around him. “I knew you’d be alive out there.”

“Issac! What a pleasure it is to see you both.”

“As it is to see you. You brought friends as well.” Issac scans their clothing. “You’re well protected.”

“I’m their employee. We’re planning on restarting, Veronica has established an incredible settlement, the biggest and most developed I’ve seen. We want you all to help us, we could fix everything.”

“That’s too tall an order. Let’s talk inside, the rain here is bad for the skin.”

The family’s home is a small single room home. A simplistic design allowing it to be built with little effort and time, the family has also gathered luxuries of the past. Working heat, running water, even a refrigerator.

Bell sits at the dinner table with his companions while Issac and Elena sit on their bed with Matteo who stands between Elena’s legs.

“Do you really think things can change?” Issac asked.

“I…”

“I do.” Veronica answered. “Of course, the progress here is slow, there’s no leader to unify your efforts. You’ve done well to survive, but if bartering is all that is happening here then you’re stagnant. My people work together for a common goal, prosperity. I’ve offered Bell the opportunity to try and make the world he once dreamed of. I can offer you the same.”

“May we ask who you are?” Elena asked.

“Veronica. Leader of a settlement near the coast of old Europe.”

“It’s not farfetched to say they have the most established settlement in existence today.” Bell said.

“Bell…” Elena sighs. “Giving our genius to others is what created this world. Perhaps it is best if we seal our knowledge.”

“Elena-”

“That’s a waste of the gifts you’ve been given.” Veronica interrupted. “I can understand your hesitation, but fear is the greatest enemy of progress and evolution. I don’t need you to trust me, but I do ask that you give this world your blessings once more. Even I cannot guarantee it will not be misused, I can only hope.”

“Not all of us can share such hopeful views.”

“Then do it for him.” Veronica points to the young boy. “Matteo. I didn’t come here just to ask or help. I can offer shelter much better than this, technology, materials, tools, people… medicine.”

Elena glares at Veronica. “How do you know this?”

Veronica tosses Yaya onto the dinner table. They stumble over their head before turning upright and looking at their careless owner.

“Show them some of what we’ve gathered on them.”

At their command, Yaya’s screen flashes before the projector on its forehead creates a hologram within the confines of the dinner table. The hologram is a perfect recreation of what Veronica has collected on the family, recordings of them at work or nursing Matteo.

“You’ve been spying on us?” Issac asked.

“Of course. Not for long, we only just found you. There is one more thing I can offer, something I know I have more than anyone else. Information. I’ve created the biggest surveillance and information system in existence. Books, people, materials, all of it and much more is within in our databases.”

“Then we cannot trust you.” Elena said. “Information is power, even today. If it is true that you hold more than anyone else, then you are threat to the people.”

“You’re making an assumption of what I plan to do with this information. It took five years to set up as many sources as possible. To keep them safe and functional, to make sure this information didn’t reach unsavory hands. I do hold power, more than anyone alive I suppose, but I’ll use it all to build a city for them.” Yaya displays a hologram of the city planned by Veronica. Towers piercing the sky, vehicles flying between them, the people creating a new normalcy. “With or without you I will build this; I only hope we will have the help of more people that think like me.”

“You believe you think like us? If that is true, then tell me, what is the purpose of science?” Issac asked.

“It has no purpose, it’s just a method for us to fulfil our natural curiosity.” Veronica replied.

Elena and Issac look at each other. “What kind of medicine do you have?”

“Anything you could imagine from before the war. You’re free to use it. In truth we need Issac the most with his research on architecture advancements. You’re free to continue your research on humans, genetic or medicinal.”

“You’ve landed in the hands of a frightening person.” Issac said.

The group heads for Veronica’s settlement by light train. Any opportunity to help Matteo’s condition is well worth taking, they choose to trust Veronica’s promise to allow Elena to continue her own research.

“More like I was dragged into her clutches. But she is impressive beyond belief. Almost as if she were born to thrive it this world, or perhaps she is just the most adaptable person alive today.”

“Can we trust her?” Elena asked.

“Deluding ourselves with a concrete answer to trust will only lead us to another disaster. We will do all we can to ensure it doesn’t happen again. She’s also searching for the others; with any luck we’ll have the team back together.”

Veronica returns to the train car after receiving a call, her eyes frustrated. “I have news. We’ve found one of the fated.”

“Really? Take me to them.”