Fate

Bell, Veronica, and Esperanza arrive at their destination after leaving Issac and his family at the settlement.

The station is near the east coast of the old north American continent where the coast is still usable.

They head north, finding scattered groups as they make their way by hoverboard. Bell rides with Esperanza as they follow Veronica. Each group they find is no more than 15, leaderless and all rely on scavenging.

Scavengers eye the well-equipped group riding past them, some trail their path and make plans for later. Others warn them of the group’s visible weapons, though that is not enough to stop most who are desperate.

At the borders of a small walled town - now abandoned due to the abundance of raids – stands a tall cross. Nailed onto it is a naked man, his body beaten and torn at, all of his belongings gone.

Veronica and Esperanza lower the body. Confirming their identity, Bell embraces the body as he sobs.

“Of all of us, Orion deserved this least.” Bell said after burying Orion. “He led the space program while helping with other projects, most having to do with medicine.”

“From what we gather people found out he was part of your group; some believe this is your fault.” Veronica said.

“And they may be correct. Orion would have loved to meet you, he always raved about the idea of exploring space.”

“I did meet him.”

“How was it?”

“I asked him if he believed space exploration was possible. Do you know what he said?”

“Possibility doesn’t matter, it’s when we will make it happen.”

“Exactly. I strive to be like him.”

“As do I.” Bell gives his final prayers to Orion before leaving, his mind undeterred by the discovery.

“Doesn’t she drink too much?” Bell asked Esperanza.

The group stopped by a settlement and traded ammunition for old weapons in return for food, and liquor for Veronica.

“I’m not qualified to say, look at what she accomplished in this world.”

“I agree. But it could bring health concerns. May I ask why you choose to follow her?”

Esperanza takes a bite of her canned food before responding. Across the settlement, Veronica plays a high stakes card game for a whole box of liquor as a crowd forms around them.

“I tried to rob her. Veronica’s physically weak, but her resourcefulness and adaptability are unrivaled. I tried to chase her down and fell into a trap. Most die trying to rob someone, caring for another is a weakness now. But instead of killing me, she asked, ‘Are you hungry?’ No one alive today cares for people more than her, she wants to pull us to a better world. But her arms are weak, her feet unstable.”

“So, you’ll pull for her?”

“Or I’ll be her footing. If she does succeed… when she succeeds, I’d like to have a child. I’ll name her after Veronica.”

“I see, she must be kinder than I give her credit for.”

“What about you? Why did people choose to follow you?”

“I offered an opportunity few could say no to. Infinite energy. It wouldn’t just change the world; it’d revolutionize the very way we live. I just never thought it’d be this one.”

“It can still happen.”

“I hope so, I really do.”

“But we’re going to need more of you idiots.” Veronica returns one box of liquor heavier. “I may have some leads on some of your friends. Anyone in particular you’d like for us to find first?”

“Hmm. Elizabeth or Akihiko would be great. Elizabeth was behind the prototype Exoskeletons, Akihiko behind the repulsion system we use for vehicles… and your bat now.”

“I see.” Veronica circles their images on her newspaper. “Esperanza, take Bell home, I’m going to do some research.”

“Veronica, we’ve talked about you traveling alone.”

“I’ll be fine, having a fated with me is more dangerous.”

Esperanza relents. “Fine. But I’m taking this with me.” She grabs the box of liquor. Veronica concedes, drinking any more would inhibit her abilities.

Bell and Esperanza return to find Issac setting up their lab. A building was made months ago for them. It’s a bunker like building, deep and large enough for all the fated to live in comfortably and still have more than enough space to work on projects.

“I’m not just an architectural genius you know.” Issac sighs. “Although there is only so much you can do today.”

“It’s more than enough.” Bell remarks.

As the two talk, Esperanza leaves to find Elena.

At the center of the settlement sits the largest above ground building. It’s well fortified with stone, wood, and metal sheet; guards and drones keep watch around the clock.

Few are allowed inside, but Elena has been given the privilege to visit as she pleases. Matteo walks just outside the building, his steps slow and unbalanced, he trips and falls into Esperanza’s arms.

“You ok?” Esperanza asked.

Matteo nods as he holds his hands together, ashamed of his blunder in front of such a pretty woman. “Thank you.” He mutters.

“Aw, it’s ok. Come, let’s go to mama.”

Inside the building, Elena rummages through the walls and shelves of medicine. Stacked to the roof, the supply inside is the greatest, yet least organized, in existence.

“Everything fine?” Esperanza asked, Matteo’s stays by her side holding onto her pants.

“Yes… he seems to like you. Are you a mother?”

“One day, if I’m lucky.”

“You seem to have a gift for it, he’s never taken his eyes off you.”

“May I ask what his illness is?”

Elena stares at pill bottles. “I wish I could tell you. Doctors and tests alike, nothing comes back with positive answers.”

“I see. I hope you find something soon, if there is anything you need, please ask me.”

“Actually, may I ask for a favor.”

Veronica won’t be happy to hear you put yourself in danger like this. Lily speaks through a radio to Esperanza.

Most communication devices are simplistic and use radio towers that have become unreliable over time. Lily is able to strengthen the signal but it can still be hit or miss.

“If I find the equipment for Elena it could help everyone else as well.”

Fine. But if we get in trouble, I’m blaming you. Get off at the next station and head north, should be no more than five minutes by hoverboard.

Esperanza’s destination, a hospital. Buildings such as hospitals are the most dangerous to visit given their ability to be used as shelter. Most have been taken over by gangs, though ownership changes often.

Much to her luck, Esperanza finds the gang living in the hospital with lacking surveillance. Sneaking inside is simple enough and Esperanza makes her way to a lab inside the hospital.

Her target is a simple drug synthesizer. An invention by Elena herself, it allowed doctors and scientist to create drugs with material they had on hand. Another use is analyzation of samples however, that is what Elena’s covets in her search for Matteo’s illness.

Esperanza uses a zero-gravity gun to lift the machine. It will follow her, but she must make her way out with it.

“Simple enough.”

As she leaves, Esperanza finds a bright colored room. The hospital had a large children’s area, the playroom catches her eyes and she walks inside. Toys line the walls and floors, enough for children to enjoy for years if needed.

“Enough for everyone back home.” She hesitates, carrying more than she already does is a serious gamble.

“Hey!” A masked man approaches her while holding a handgun. “Put that down.”

Esperanza glares at the man, soon more will rush to his side as he flashes a light thought the window of their hospital floor.

“Fine. We’ll do it this way.”

“Thanks Esperanza!”

The children of the settlement gather around the large sack of toys she returned with. After delivering the machine to Elena, she spread more of her treasures with every kid inside the settlement.

“Please enjoy and share!”

Esperanza returns home, her exhaustion building after a full day of quests. Inside, she finds Veronica on her bed with Lily kneeling against the wall just across the room.

“Veronica!”

“Welcome back, Santa.”

“I…”

“Sit.”

Esperanza sits next to Veronica. “I forced Lily to do it.”

“You couldn’t force Lily to leave her room if her life depended on it. Where does it hurt?”

Esperanza takes off her shirt. A bullet scraped her ribs and a slam against the wall left her with damage on the other side.

“You need to be more careful.” Veronica said as she gave first aid.

“I could say the same to you.”

“And that’s why I’ll forgive you this one time. But… I may have leaked this information.”

Esperanza looks at Lily, then at Veronica with terrified eyes. “No.”

“Have fun!” Veronica and Lily leave, Esperanza can only pray as the sound of Loki rushing towards her home fills the air of the settlement.