Chapter 12: Vital

The hum of the city’s automated transport system provided a rhythm to Jacob’s racing thoughts as he paced the observation deck of Emi’s university lab, his steps uneven and restless. His hands occasionally clenched and unclenched, a physical outlet for the storm brewing inside him. The flickering lights of the sprawling metropolis below seemed to mirror the turbulence in his mind, a chaotic swirl of unresolved questions and simmering frustration. The sprawling metropolis below, with its iridescent towers and floating transit lines, looked almost serene in the twilight. But inside Jacob’s mind, a storm brewed. The revelation about Emi’s connection to Henry was still raw, its implications gnawing at his resolve.

“You’re going to wear a groove in the floor,” Emi’s voice broke through his restless movements. She stood by the holographic console, her expression strained but calm.

Jacob stopped abruptly, turning to face her. “Do you even understand how messed up this is?” he demanded, his voice taut with anger. His jaw tightened, and his eyes burned with a mixture of betrayal and frustration, his hands clenching at his sides as if struggling to contain the flood of emotions surging through him. “You’ve been using me as some kind of experiment, all while keeping the biggest piece of the puzzle hidden.”

Emi took a deep breath, her hands gripping the edge of the console. “I didn’t plan for this. When I started the project, I didn’t know about Henry’s connection to you. I… I only found out after I’d already begun.”

“And instead of telling me, you decided to dig deeper? To study me like I’m some artifact?” Jacob’s words were sharp, each one landing like a blow.

“It wasn’t like that,” Emi shot back, her voice rising slightly. “Yes, I made mistakes. But this project—it’s about understanding the past to build a better future. Your story, your experiences, they’re vital to that.”

Jacob laughed bitterly, running a hand through his hair. “Vital? Or just convenient? Let’s be honest, Emi. You saw me as a piece of your academic puzzle, nothing more.”

For a moment, silence filled the room, the tension palpable. Emi’s shoulders sagged, and her voice softened. “I won’t deny that I approached this wrong. But you’re not just a subject to me, Jacob. Not anymore.”

Jacob’s gaze lingered on her, searching for sincerity. He wanted to believe her, but the sting of betrayal was still fresh. Instead of responding, he turned back to the window, staring out at the cityscape.

“Why did you really bring me here?” he asked finally, his voice quieter but no less intense. “Was it to help me? Or to ease your guilt about your family’s legacy?”

Emi hesitated, the weight of the question pressing down on her. “Both,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “But that doesn’t mean your journey, your growth, isn’t real. You’ve changed, Jacob. And so have I.”

Jacob turned to face her again, his expression unreadable. “Then prove it,” he said. “Prove that this isn’t just about you and your project. Show me that you’re willing to put something on the line.”

Emi straightened, a flicker of determination in her eyes. “What do you want me to do?”

Jacob considered her for a long moment, then gestured to the holographic console. “You’ve got files on Henry, don’t you? Real files. Not just sanitized family anecdotes.”

Emi’s lips pressed into a thin line, but she nodded. “I do.”

“Then show me,” Jacob said, his voice unwavering. “Let me see the truth about him. All of it.”

Emi hesitated, the internal conflict playing out on her face. Finally, she activated the console, and a cascade of files appeared, hovering in midair. Photos, documents, video clips—each one a fragment of a life that had cast long shadows over both their paths.

Jacob stepped closer, his eyes scanning the files. There were reports detailing Henry’s rise in the corporate world, his ventures into experimental technologies, and… the betrayal. Jacob’s fists clenched as he read the cold, clinical account of how Henry had sold out his partners, including Jacob, to save himself.

“He didn’t even hesitate,” Jacob said bitterly, his voice low. “He threw us all under the bus to protect his own skin.”

Emi’s voice was tentative. “I’ve spent years trying to reconcile that man with the grandfather I knew. He was always so… larger than life. Charismatic. But I guess even the brightest stars cast the darkest shadows.”

Jacob looked at her, his anger tempered by the vulnerability in her tone. “And what about you? Are you going to follow in his footsteps?”

Emi’s gaze met his, unwavering. “No. That’s why I’m doing this. To learn from his mistakes, to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself. And to help you find closure, if you’ll let me.”

For the first time since the confrontation began, Jacob felt a sliver of understanding. He turned back to the files, studying them with a mix of anger and resignation. “If we’re going to do this,” he said after a long pause, “we do it on equal terms. No more secrets. No more half-truths.”

“Agreed,” Emi said, her voice steady.

As the holographic files flickered and disappeared, the room seemed quieter, the tension dissipating like steam. Jacob leaned against the console, his shoulders slightly less tense.

“You know,” he said, his tone lighter but still laced with sarcasm, “you’ve got a real knack for dragging me into existential crises.”

Emi allowed herself a small smile. “And you’ve got a real knack for making everything twice as difficult as it needs to be.”

For the first time in hours, they shared a faint, tentative laugh. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.

As the evening deepened, the city lights outside grew brighter, casting the lab in a kaleidoscope of colors. Jacob crossed his arms, his gaze distant but thoughtful.

“What now?” Emi asked, her voice soft.

Jacob’s lips quirked into a half-smile. “Now, we figure out where this road leads. Together.”

And for the first time in a long while, Jacob felt like he wasn’t walking that road alone.