The lost one

Ben still was on stage, giving evacuation directions; his face was on all the big screens. Medical bots were busy helping people; crowd control bots used water to extinguish fires. Liberty did see any battle bots, but explosions still happened.
The boy was crying.

“Hey, hey, what’s your name?” Liberty asked softly.

The boy continued to cry.

“Hey, do you like stories? Or games?”

He was still crying.

“Do you want to see your parents?” Liberty asked almost inaudibly, “do you want to see your sister?”

He didn’t stop crying, but he looked at her.

“Let’s find your family, alright?”

He shook his head, denying it.

“You don’t trust me? Let me find someone else to help you.”

He shook his head again, holding her sleeve.

“Hey,” Liberty tried to speak gently, but her irritation showed, “what do you want?”

He looked at her.

“If lost - don’t go anywhere, wait,” he recited something he must had heard many times.

Liberty could see how that made sense in normal circumstances.

“It’s a great plan. But your family will not be allowed here, because it is dangerous. That is why we can’t wait for them.”

He shook his head again.

“If I leave, they might never find me,” the boy said, as he almost started to cry again.

Liberty hugged him.

“Hey, I have a family too, and I got lost,” Liberty closed her eyes, patting his head, “and I couldn’t wait at the same place, and they couldn’t too. But I have a plan that will help us to find each other. I will go and make my face shown on all the big screens, and I will shout really loud until everyone knows where I am.”

She stopped patting and didn’t move for a moment. Then she opened her eyes and turned to the boy.

“Do you want to do it with me?” she asked, hoping she would not have to move him by force.

Another explosion shook the ground nearby. Apparently, other people who relied on the climbing wall for protection moved elsewhere while she was not paying attention.

The boy gave an unsure nod.

She carried him and ran. No explosion happened as she left their cover and headed for the scene in the middle of the field. Still, she had to be ready for them to happen, and by the time they reached Ben, her heart was racing like crazy. Without stopping for a second, she grabbed Ben’s hand and started speaking into it, interrupting his broadcast.

“I am Liberty Wright, and this is..,” she moved the hand close to the boy’s face, taking a chance to catch her breath.

“I am Jan Vogel,” he said, and Liberty moved Ben’s hand back to her face.

“We will move to..,” she faltered, unsure.

“West gate’s parking,” Ben helped.

“To the parking near the west gate,” Liberty repeated after him, “and we will wait for Jan’s family there!”.

She exhaled. Ben tried to move his hand back to his face, but her artificial hand didn’t let go. She was unsure if she could make herself say what she intended.

Jan squeezed her other hand.

“And after that, I will go to my place between the bug quarter and Zerrian neighborhood, Revolution street 13, and I will be waiting for my family! I could keep our old home, but I really-really-really want to meet again!”

She let go of Ben’s hand. Her cheeks burned. Liberty awkwardly walked toward the south gates and felt her left hand tug. Right, Jan. She must had squeezed his hand hard. Once again, she picked the boy up. He didn’t look happy, but he tried to smile at her. She also tried to smile at him.

She carried him to the gate, through the gate, to the parking lot. There was some sort of makeshift camp. A medical station was deployed to help out those who needed it. Liberty glimpsed at the bodies of people who were beyond needing medical help. She decided to walk as far from a medical area as possible. Liberty was also relieved to see a screen with Ben speaking. Just a few minutes ago, they likely had been on this screen for everyone around the area to see.

Vogels noticed Liberty and Jan first. The sudden movement detection was still on; it prompted Liberty to turn her head and face a girl running to her. The sister. Liberty released Jan just in time for his sister to crash into him.

The girl hugged him and swayed them both from side to side. She was muttering something into the boy’s ear. Liberty didn’t head, but she could guess what it was.

The parents arrived shortly. They were grateful and visibly nervous. The mom offered her the backpack Liberty left on the bus, a jellyfish wrap, a ride to the city, and dinner together. Liberty took the backpack and the wrap and declined the rest. They were sorry they could not exchange contacts. It seemed weird to pat Jan in front of his parents, so Liberty waved to him as they said their goodbyes.

When Vogels moved away, she could finally relax. She sat on the nearest concrete block, closed her eyes, and exhaled deeply. She then inhaled. Then exhaled. She took a bite of the wrap without opening her eyes. It was homemade, with some cacti salad and without the overly fat sauce, most stalls added. Unusually mild, probably because it was meant for children. Liberty preferred spicier options in general, but this one was nice.

It was not even her usual lunchtime, and so many things had already happened. After her embarrassing announcement, it seemed right to go straight home. Liberty did not really expect it to change much; she knew she was already assessable via the FL Medical center she continued to use. But if Law had any doubts about her willingness to meet, he should not anymore. He would come to her, or she would know that it was not his doubts preventing him from meeting her.

Liberty swallowed the last bite of the wrap and opened her eyes.

Right before her, a young man was standing. He was beautiful in a way that implied a hefty sum spent on appearance. Both on body and attire. He had nicely curling raven locks, deep blue eyes, clean skin, and long thick eyelashes. Even before he opened his mouth, Liberty knew that his teeth would be impeccable shaped and very white, and his voice would be pleasant. She instantly disliked him.

“Good afternoon, Liberty,” he said, his voice even nicer than she expected.

“Hey. What do you want?”

“I was hoping that you would help me,” he smiled a little.

“We don’t know each other.”

“My name is Pier; I like both stories and games, and I hope to have a nice dinner with my father and sister this evening.”

And I already know you. Liberty disliked him even more now, with his implicative way of speaking and a penchant for eavesdropping.

“I think you better ask someone else,” she offered.

“Why not listen to my request at least? I could help you to reach more coverage in return.”

He did look like a person who might have a say in media.

“I think I reached enough coverage today. Whatever this shit was, it was likely a lot more thrilling than the event they had planned. Videos with my face and my message should be everywhere now.”

He looked a little confused, and then he smiled again.

“You do realize that this was not broadcasted, right? That there is no internet here?”

She checked. He was right.

“Someone will share the video when they get an opportunity,” she shrugged her shoulders, “I am not in a hurry.”

“I don’t think they will,” he said with surprising confidence.

“Whatever,” Liberty did not try to contain her doubts, “we’ll see.”

“Indeed, we will. In the meantime, let me share my request. I was hoping you could accompany me to the city or any big transport hub. I will compensate generously.”

The request was lame. Liberty did not want to be alone with this guy, and doing so without the internet was dangerous. He did not look strong, and her lens didn’t indicate anything specific, but he could had hidden weapons, or he could lead her into a trap.

“Not interested,” she shook her head.

“This event didn’t go as planned, but someone could still be selected as a company face. Who will make a better candidate than a young woman, who decided to throw away her chances to save a child,” he made a dramatic hand gesture towards her.

“It is common sense not to believe promises if they aren’t backed up,” Liberty snorted, “especially the ridiculous ones. Who are you to single-handedly nominate me, a damn Fujitora?”

The young man laughed, revealing that her expectations about his teeth were on point.

“Indeed,” he finally replied, “I am not Fujitora.”

He continued to stay right before Liberty, so she had almost to touch him when she stood from the concrete block and moved away. He caught her left hand.

“If you don’t believe my promises, help me as you helped the kid. I am lost. I came here with people, but they are dead now,” Pier did not look at the medical tent or Liberty but at the ground, “I have no idea how to deal with this without the internet, alone. And I really do hope to dine with my family.”

She shook off his hand without replying, but when he followed her, she did not do anything to make him go away.