In the Open

December 25, 2049

“Who are you?”

“Hello. You must be Akari.”

A strange woman greeted me with a warm smile.

“I’m Helena. Did your father ever mention me? I’ve been seeing him for quite a while now.”

I didn’t know how to react. I just stood there, taking in this woman dressed in a revealing dress with excessive makeup, unsure of what to make of the situation.

I took the liberty of inviting myself into the living room and settled into a seat directly across from Helena. I was still in boarding school, and I rarely had any opportunities to see my family, except during Christmas.

"So, how old are you, Akari?"

“14.”

“When I was your age, I probably wouldn't have been the best friend to have. I was quite a handful, always getting into mischief!”

Helena laughed nervously, and I responded with a forced laugh of my own.

“How is school, Akari? I hope you’re getting good grades.”

With a bright smile, I nodded enthusiastically.

“Lovely, I hope you pass all of your classes.”

Why couldn’t she shut her mouth.

The door swung open and there was my dad and older brother. Dad was holding something wrapped in festive green and red paper.

I was overjoyed and leaped off the couch.

Suddenly, Helena forcefully hugged my dad.

“Welcome home, darling. We were just waiting for you.”

Helena leaned forward; her movements intentionally revealed what lay beneath the snug fabric of her dress.

How could she do that? I hardly ever got to see him, and she was stealing the little time I had with him.

I swore that day that I would get revenge.

Present day

My dad was assassinated, yet Helena told me he died of old age. I knew she couldn’t be trusted.

I returned to the family mansion and deployed armed androids outside the fence using the CyberShield tablet. I didn’t want Helena to escape, knowing fully aware that I had no intention of showing her any mercy.

I’ll get answers out of her by any means necessary.

With my AM7 slung over my shoulder, and my dust-covered torn suit stained with blood, I forcefully kick open the door and enter the living room, and to my surprise, there she sits sipping wine on the couch.

She notices me immediately.

“Akari, what happened?! Are you okay?”

She rushes towards me with her wine glass still in hand. I can no longer contain my resentment towards her.

My fist collides with Helena's cheek. She staggers back, her expression a mix of shock and hurt. As she stumbles, her hand instinctively rises to touch the stinging impact on her face.

'Why?'

She whispers, her voice is barely audible over the pounding of my heart.

“You lied to me!”

“Akari, what happened? How could you hurt me like this?”

I can see right through her; she can’t manipulate me.

I throw a forceful punch to her nose; this time Helena collapses to the ground. Drops of her blood stain the lavish carpet. She starts to moan in pain, almost crying like a toddler.

“He was assassinated! He didn’t die because of old age; it was impossible for that. He was the richest man in the world, he could have easily afforded medical care. But you lied to me!”

“I’m sorry, please don’t kill me!”

“Then tell me why you lied!”

“I’m telling the truth! Please believe me!”

“You killed him!”

Helena doesn't respond; she lies there, sobbing pathetically, with a couple of her teeth scattered on the ground, with her hands glued to her face. This infuriates me more. Her silence speaks volumes, she has to be guilty.

“I loved your father. I never thought of hurting him once. Please, Akari-“

I stomp violently on her face, halting her movement. She grimaces in pain, blood trickling from her mouth and nostrils.

My adrenaline begins to subside. I feel no remorse. Helena brought this upon herself by manipulating my dad and tearing him away from me.

For now I’ll conclude that she is innocent.

“Never show your face to me again or attempt to contact me or my brother. You can live the rest of your life in peace and happiness.”

I order the androids to toss her away someplace random far away from the mansion, severing ties with her and my family's wealth for good.

Good riddance.

***

It has been a month since I kicked out Helena.

Meanwhile, as the new president and chairwoman of Luceria Corp, I have gained control over every product and service market in the world. In my first decisive move, I utilized my news media holdings to publicly announce my takeover of Luceria Corp. Now, the entire world knows not to mess with me.

Managing the countless enterprises under Luceria Corp alone would be unrealistic and difficult. I’m intelligent, but I don’t want to burn myself out managing countless entities.

I have appointed new executives to the board whom I trust to remain loyal to me. I’ve shown them during the interview process that I can track down their families, that should be enough to keep them in line. Now I don’t have to worry about managing countless firms on my own.

In the highest floor in the Tower of Babel, I sit alone in my office, surrounded by swirling clouds below and the glistening moon above, casting its watchful gaze upon me.

I still can't find any leads to my dad's assassination. I've resorted to interrogating the families of the former executives but found nothing.

One of them claimed he was assassinated, but I haven't found any evidence to support that. Even Helena was unaware of this plot.

None of this makes any sense.

Where can I find answers?!

I slam my fist onto the desk in frustration, and just then, the door swings open.

Rubbing my eyes in disbelief, I confirm what I'm seeing.

Standing before me is my older brother.

“Surachai?”

But how did he get past my security?

“When did you get back?”

“I was discharged a week ago.”

“What are you doing here?”

“I heard about Dad. I wanted to come back as soon as I could.”

It's been a decade since I last saw Surachai. He joined the army when I was just a child, and I never thought I would see him again.

Militaries no longer hold any power in the world; the majority have all been disbanded half a century ago but only few remain. Now, it's all about PMCs—private military companies.

I don't understand why he joined, given that the pay is horrible, corruption is rampant, and the risk of dying is greater than working for a PMC.

In the past, the military received significant funding by governments to stay innovative and ahead of its enemies. Today, however, the military lags decades behind in technology since they no longer receive significant funding, relying only on pride.

Wars between nations were no longer a thing; now, it was only crimes against fellow civilians, rising competitors against Luceria Corp, or bullying third world countries that remain undeveloped.

If I gave the order to CyberShield, they could eliminate every remaining military within an hour, but I hesitated because my brother served in the army.

Until now.

“You’re not even going to give me a hug?”

I'm still quite suspicious as to why he chose this moment to leave the army and visit me. He seemed to be enjoying himself, considering he never bothered to leave or even write to me before.

“Give me a moment.”

I call in an android and have him searched, he complies coldly.

"I just had to make sure you were unarmed. Being the most powerful person on the planet comes with enemies who want to take my life. I hope you understand."

“I’m your brother, you don’t trust your own blood?”

I look away, I can’t answer him. I still don’t trust him.

“How did you get past my security?”

"I'm sorry, I tried reaching out to you the other day, but I never got a response. I even tried to visit you yesterday, but the guards turned me away. I had to sneak in just to see you."

I suppose that might be true. I've been incredibly busy, and I've changed my phone number countless times, so of course, he couldn't reach me.

Maybe I can trust him, he is my “blood” after all.

“Okay Surachai, it’s great to see you again.”

We share an awkward embrace before I sit back down in my office chair. He takes a chair from the room and sits down in front of me.

“What’s that?”

Surachai points to the tablet on my desk.

“I’ve been in the army for 10 years and I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“It’s the tablet where I control all the androids in CyberShield. Want to take a look?”

I hand him the device, although reckless, I doubt he’ll know how to use it.

After a couple minutes of talking about the past, Surachai proposes something.

“Akari, I politely ask that you resign and let me take over.”

Ah, the betrayal, I should have saw this coming. I knew I shouldn’t have trusted him. I’ll just have him escorted out.

“What makes you think I’ll do that?”

“I’m the oldest sibling, I’m entitled to-“

"Entitled to nothing. I came back home months before you did and worked tirelessly to get where I am. Do you think I would easily give up my position to you after all I’ve done?"

He looks away from me, I can tell he is disappointed.

“Does our relationship mean nothing to you?”

“As of right now, we have none. I politely ask you to leave.”

Any amicable expression from Surachai fades as he stands before me.

“I’m afraid I cannot do that.”

Suddenly two armed androids enter the room with their rifles aimed, shockingly, towards me.

“What is this? What did you do?!”

I reach for the tablet.

Suddenly I feel a sharp pain in my right shoulder, I’ve been shot.

“Surachai! Order them to stand down!”

“I’m sorry, Akari, but if you’re not going to resign, I’m going to make you.”

How does Surachai know how to use the tablet?! Did they have cybernetic tech in the army? This doesn’t add up, military technology is obsolete by now.

“I’m going to need you to transfer ownership of Luceria Corp to me, Surachai Luceria, effective immediately.”

“You bastard!”

“You and me both.”

I quickly kneel down to grab my briefcase.

It’s not there.

“Looking for this?”

Surachai raises my briefcase.

How did he get it without me noticing?

What is happening?!

“I heard you have a remarkable firearm in here. Thank you for your donation to Luceria Corp.”

An android slams the butt of its rifle into my nose, and I crash to the floor. A sharp pain radiates through my face as blood pours from my nostrils, pooling beneath me.

“Escort my sister out.”

“Surachai! I won’t let you! I’ve sacrificed too much!”

Suddenly, a rough hand grabbed my hair, yanking me back before slamming my face into the ground. The impact was swift and brutal, plunging me into unconsciousness.

I can see him. Though my vision is blurry, I always recognize him when he's near. He's working hard for me, just like he always did. I loved him so much. My father was amazing, and I won't let him down.

Never again.