Gathering

“Unbelievable!” Bell rushes to the entrance of the lab to meet seven familiar faces. “It’s so good to see you all!”

“As it is to see you, Bell. I must say, it was a surprise to hear about you gathering us.” Lars, head of biotechnology, greets Bell.

Bell makes rounds greeting everyone else.

Akihiko, physics genius and inventor of the technology that allows many vehicles to float.

Zara, Information technology genius and behind the radio towers used by Veronica and the select few with the knowledge to use them.

Artem, computing genius and responsible for advancing computing exponentially in his short tenure with everyone else. Much of his work lead to the development of AI.

Amélie, medicinal and drug genius. Although he steered medical advances alongside Elena, much of his work was used in war and left him bitter.

“It’s good to see you.” Elizabeth, creator of the exoskeleton greets Bell.

“Elizabeth, it’s wonderful to see you.”

“I hope I’m not interrupting.” Anastasia, neuroscientific genius, brings them in for a group hug. “You surprise me even today, Bell.”

“Veronica is behind gathering you all. But I’m glad you’re all here. I believe you’ve heard about Orion.”

“I briefed them.” Veronica said from the door. “We have no leads on Dante or Liang even after searching for the last two months, but I suspect this will be enough.”

“Yes. We have suitable materials, great minds. But we will need time.”

“You have it. I have an announcement for you all, I’m going to classroom 102.”

“What? That’s impossible, it’s deep within a forbidden zone.”

“I’ll gather what I need to get inside. You all mentioned that many of your blueprints and note backups are there. I’ll bring them, but in return we’re taking a hefty cut.”

None of the genius’s object to the idea, the backups would save them years of time.

“Well, I wish you luck then.” Bell responds.

“Good. Until I return, stay hard at work. Also, welcome everyone. I’m sure we’ll have a great partnership from here on.”

“How’s it going?” Esperanza visits Elena before leaving with Veronica.

Elena steps away from a microscope, heavy bags under her eyes. She stumbles into Esperanza’s arms. “Sorry.” She said as she regained her footing. “It’s not good. There’s major cell deterioration, it’s as if something is eating away at them, but I can’t figure out what.”

“You should get rest; sleep deprivation could cause you to miss something.”

“I know you’re right, but I’m worried I only have so much time. I’m lucky enough the medicine here has slowed down the rate.”

“Mistakes will slow you down, rest is the key to clarity.”

“Did Issac put you up to this?”

Esperanza smiles. “He may have asked.”

“He’s not one to ask for help, how surprising. Fine. Are you heading out?”

“We are, we’re gathering supplies to go into class 102.”

“I see, good luck then.”

Very few venture into forbidden zones, even sticking a hand into a border can have fatal consequences. A journey inside is possible however, radiation resistant suits allow one to survive inside.

Forbidden zones have the additional issue of heavier pressure around the body. The very air itself has extra weight on the body that makes it difficult to move.

“So, we’re gathering suits and exoskeleton parts?” Esperanza asked as they study a hologram of the settlement their heading to.

“What?!” Julian, a young man from the settlement, replies.

“I have to agree with Julian’s surprise here, the radiation suits are rare but getting any piece of an exoskeleton will be almost impossible.” Isha, a young woman from the settlement, said.

“Luckily for us, we’ve found a group deep within the former U.S with just what we need.” Veronica said.

“So, we’re going to trade for them?” Julian asked.

“We’ve already tried that.” Esperanza answered.

“Ah, so we’re raiding! My favorite.”

The group prepares their weapons, Veronica and Esperanza have their own specialized weapons but the other two only have conventional weapons. Older guns prone to jamming, pocket knives, a brass knuckle for each, but they do carry a plethora of stun grenades.

“The group is made of old soldiers who likely abandoned in the middle of the war. They’re trained and have dangerous weapons besides their exoskeletons. We don’t engage head on, we’ll have the advantage in mobility and surprise. You three, if you are in danger you retreat.” Veronica said.

Their briefing ends as the light train arrives at the station. The four dawn masks and exit on hoverboards heading for the target settlement fast enough to surprise even the soldiers who will have some surveillance around their settlement.

Raids are common in the current era; many settlements change ownership every week as such. Many choose to be nomads as only settlements like that of Veronica’s are strong enough to be left alone.

“Here they come!” The guards of the settlement watch as four masked individuals ride hoverboards towards them.

Unsure of their intentions, they’re too slow to react to the flashbang tossed at them. Seconds later they are unconscious as Veronica’s group rushes in.

The settlement is small but well-fortified, most inside soldiers from the war. Even they are unprepared for the speed of the group however, hitting them is a near impossible task but preventing them from reaching the supply unit is imperative.

As such, the four soldiers dawning exoskeletons jump in front of the attackers who scatters at their arrival. Their exoskeletons are prototypes; large and bulky, they’re best used for strength and balancing the body. They are slow and heavy, but offered soldiers who could carry deadly weapons during the war.

One soldier carries such a weapon, a large hammer with similar capabilities to Esperanza’s bat. A blow from it will destroy the body and bone, but it also has the capability to launch large objects with its gravity defying tech attached to the head.

“Like we planned.”

Veronica’s group begins their attack. Circling around the group of soldiers and weaving through the settlement to keep from direct engagement. Veronica and Isha focus on the soldiers hiding behind cover, most of their attacks non-fatal.

Esperanza and Julian engage the soldier’s wearing exoskeletons. Most of their exoskeletons are damaged. Furthermore, two only wear it as a bluff, the power source has long since died.

“Perfect.”

Those two soldiers are dealt with first, Esperanza sends one flying as Julian wins a close combat knife exchange with the other. The remaining suited soldiers attack but are too slow to catch their opponents.

One by one, they can hear the rest of the settlement falling. Although they have defended against countless attacks, none have been as coordinated as this.

“So, what will it be?” Veronica asked as she sits on the ledge of a raised platform.

“We surrender. What do you want?”

“Your exoskeletons. All four, you can keep that fancy hammer. And one more thing, how did you know we were coming?”

The soldiers hesitate. “Only if you promise not to harm them.”

“Deal.”

At the end of the settlement is a beautiful garden, most of which are white lilies, with a small hut at the center.

Around the entire garden are drones, large and small. Many fly around caring for the garden, sprinkling water or pruning. Others maintain constant vigilance around the area or fly out of the settlement on surveillance duty.

“Unbelievable, this is how you knew. How do you have this many working drones?” Veronica asks.

“Her.” The soldier points to the center of the garden.

At the center is a woman calling for her child. The young girl runs into her mother’s arms and offers her small flowers. Both wear dresses, uncommon attire for anyone adjusted to the nomadic lifestyle.

Veronica walks forward, three drones flying in front of her and brandishing small gatling guns.

“Liang.”

The woman smiles at the name and waves the drones away. The girl in her arms hides her face from the unknown visitor. “I’m afraid your name alludes me; would you tell me?”

“Veronica.”

“Veronica… ah yes. The one making a name for herself in that large settlement.”

“You know?”

“These drones can fly a great distance using solar energy.”

“Incredible. These are new aren’t they, the older drones have no such capability.”

“You are correct, I made them to defend myself and her.”

“Your daughter.”

“Yes. May I ask what I can do for you?”

“We have what we needed, but I have an offer. My settlement has gathered many of your colleagues, I’m sure they’d love to have you.”

“Oh, so they’re back at it. I’ve no intentions of joining. I only wish to remain at peace here.”

“Your daughter is sick, isn’t she.”

Liang makes eye contact with Veronica at last. “How do you know this?”

“I watched her stride. Also, her arm. Elena’s son has those same marks.”

“Elena… of course. Is she searching?”

“Desperately.”

“I see. very well, take me with you.”