(I felt my mom pick me up, as the ground beside us was strafed by gunfire from above, taking off into a sprint once she secured me in her grasp.)


    I began hyperventilating, and found myself soon leaning against the shelving, for a second before immediately bringing myself back to a normal posture and breathing pattern.


    Seems I’ve had another episode I haven''t had one in a while. I looked at the patch again and it didn’t trigger.


    Seems this wasn’t the cause. I picked it up. Maybe… I’ll make a better note of it when it happens again, for now I’m going to do what I’ve always done.


    I walked up to the cashier, and he began checking me out, remaining completely silent, until he got to the food.


    “Jeez man these things suck, why are you buying them.” “They provide me with proper nutrients.” I responded. He looked at me in an odd manner. “Yeah I know, but they taste awful.” “Taste has nothing to do with my purchase.” “Um, okay man what ever floats your boat.”


    I then left the store with my goods, and continued up to my apartment, closing the door behind me, and placing what I’ve purchased onto the counter, taking out my phone shortly after, pulling up Mum’s contact information, and immediately dialed her number.


    It rang for a few seconds which usually isn’t like her, but after another second She answered. “Algoris how’s a going thought you where cutting off everyone.” She said with a tired, but cheerful voice.


    “I need to go over the wall assistance would be most preferable.” I heard her sigh. “Course, I’ll see you at the dinner.” “when.” “Twelve o’clock tomorrow.” She then hung up.


    She seems to be in a bad mood, she has been looking for a husband recently, to which she has encountered little success.


    I don’t understand why she would make herself so open to being hurt emotionally, because that''s all that seems to happen. I placed the phone, on the counter, and began my work organizing all of the parts preparing my work space for the assembly.


    VIENNA VETIN


    I looked out the window of the air-limo, staring at the city below, trying to look past all the roads, and buildings so I could see the ground below.


    “Looking down there again.” My father said, as he sat close to me. “Yes.” I said turning to face him, watching as he smiled, I then brought my attention back to the outside.


    He’s so hypocritical I know he cares not for those people everyone does, and yet he’s consistently taught me differently, and I do not think that is what’s going to make me a good CEO in the coming years.


    We then pulled into the governmental complex, senators, lobbyists, along with other officials all lining the landing pad. My father then turned to me, a look of concern dressing over him.


    “Vienna, do you want to go back.” “Why, I need to learn the environment and the ropes somehow.” There was a pause.


    “I just think you should enjoy a little bit more of your youth you know instead of mingling with us so soon.” I shook my head.


    “I’m eventually going to take the reins you know that.” the door then opened, and he joined me outside with the others.


    And my father all of a sudden becomes so skidish when it comes to talking about my eventual ascension up to CEO, he tells me to take it easy, and to not worry about it when he demands so much of his employees, asks them to dedicate there lives to the company and to prepare the next generation to do the same.


    It’s not like I don’t welcome it, but he should be more consistent in how he treats employees both current and upcoming.


    After he chatted with everyone for a bit, which mostly consisted of hellos with sort and quick sentences added onto the top, we entered the governmental complex.


    thousands of chairs all surrounding one center point, with thousands of people soon filling all those seat, all different backgrounds, and lives all conjoining to decide how to go about things, both in our favor, and others.


    Me, and my father sat in the top row of the seating, the visitor section, where we watched down below.


    “So, how was school.” I looked at him. “Shouldn’t you be paying attention to whats happening.” He smiled. “oh come on let a man enjoy his pleasantries.”


    “It was like any other day, except.” I stopped myself from adding anthing else as I did not want to share anything about Algoris. I want him to be my personal assistant, not where my dad thinks he should be. He leaned in.


    “Except for what.” I continued to remain quiet. “Vienna, do you know why I gave you that name.” I shook my head. “It was a place of trade.” I nodded. I already know this. “And it was a place of deals, and deals require honesty.”


    “But you lie all the time.” He nodded. “Indeed… I do, but have I ever lied to you or mom, or the people that we work with.” I thought for a moment.


    “Promise me you’ll grant my wish.” I said, he sighed. “That entirely depends on what your wish is.” I paused thinking about the possibility of this not going the way I intended it to.


    “There’s a man named Algoris he’s older than all of us in the class and I heard a rumor that he scored quite high on his entrance exam, this of course peaked my interest and I checked the schools public student data base and it’s true.” He smiled.


    “So he interests you.” “It’s not romantic.” He chuckled. “I know, I just thought it would be funny to word it that way.” I shook my head at his unprofessionalism.


    “Either way I just want to make him an assistant.” He nodded. “Then you may have your wish, but it’s just an entry exam don’t you want too.” He bobbed his head back, and forth. “Wait until he’s tested a little bit more see where his strengths, and weaknesses lie.”


    I paused. Yes I have jumped the gun, but if he is good then it would be wise to scoop him up as quickly as possible, and if father wants him to be tested then maybe I can haste it up by causing an incident, one that will challenge him in multiple ways.


    “Yes I agree.” “Then we’ll wait till the end of the year, see how well he scored on average, and if he’s up to snuff he’s all yours”.


    SULLA


    “Can’t believe Yern got into a fight again.” one of my friends said. “I know right, and most likely he started it.” I said, we all kinda giggled.


    “Just can’t keep his mouth shut can he.” another said. “Who was even the kid he fought anyways.” Two girls then looked across the club over at a table that a few boys from our school where sitting at.


    “Which one.” the two girls then secretly pointed to Dabion one of the schools most famous ass hats, and now I find it hard to blame Yern for running his mouth kid has a lot of money, and little shits to give.


    “I can’t believe he would do that especially when he’s got plenty of money to sue him into the dirt.”


    Yern I wish your future spit balling adventures well, and that they are not put to death by sir fucksaroundalot.


    “Yeah, I also read somewhere there supposed to become one of the biggest up and coming corporations to look out for he isn’t a light wight like the rest of us that’s for sure.”


    “Don’t you think it would be a dream to date him though.” Oh, here we go. “Dream? It would be straight up heaven I mean lavish party''s, expensive drinks, expensive diners, plus a straight shot right up to the upper class I’d shoot my shot if I wasn’t already in an arranged marriage.”


    You should consider yourself lucky that your spouse can stand on his two feet, I mean he already as a stable company running thats detached from his family, unlike Dabion, he just keeps his grads up using the nerds. Some of the girls then looked at me.


    “You should give it a shot Sulla.” I smiled, and shook my head. Seriously. “I don’t think he’d take me, plus I don’t think I’m ready yet.” all of them looked at me like I had gone insane.


    “Come on girl you at least gotta give it a shot, and you’ve been outta the game since birth, I mean think about your future I know you got good engineering grades, but it would be easier to have someone help you out.”


    “Either way Sulla with that engineering grade, you have a way better chance then the rest of us. People like him they need smart girls like you.”


    I giggled. Yeah, so he can use me or hell I become something worse, a trophy wife.


    “Speaking of grades I heard that there already talking about tests.” I said. Come on bite, you girls hate school you know it.


    “Wait, there talking about tests.” “Yeah, some staff members in the office where complaining how corporations wanted to do private tests early this year.” A girl added.


    Well what I said was a little white lie guess I got a little dumb luck with me too. I glanced back over at Dabion.


    He treats a lot of people like trash well mostly the nerds, he’s got the charisma though, and that''s the thing that sucks because he can make people talk about him none stop, but hopefully this is the end of it.


    He then looked over at me, our eyes meeting. I immediately looked away hoping to not arouse his attention.


    ABOUT AN HOUR LATER


    We stayed in there for a long time, hows my allowance looking. I opened my phone, and looked at my account, cringing.


    Have I really gone through that much money I barley bought anything at that place. I then scrolled down to my last deposit.


    Oh, yeah my allowance has gone down. I sighed a sigh of relief knowing I was contributing less to our financial downfall. I wish things where getting better, but they don’t look like they are.


    I stepped in front of our store, and unlocked the door, walking behind the counter, and then continuing up stairs, hearing slight murmurs from behind the door.


    I entered our house my parents immediately going quiet as they sat at the table staring at paper work most likely from the bank.


    “how was your night out sweet heart.” My mother said. “Good, you guys doing paper work.” They both nodded. “Yep, the usual stuff.” I giggled. “I’ll make sure to stay clear then.” “Afraid of being bored to death.” I nodded, and smiled.


    “Oh yeah.” I responded, and headed into my room, pressing my ear up against the door, and a few seconds later they began talking again.


    “How do you think where going to handle this.” I heard a sigh. “I don’t know… if we don’t get a good amount of new customers or have the old ones come in more frequently then our course to bankruptcy is pretty much solidified.”


    “We’ll find a way.” My mother added. “Hopefully, but I’m not so sure corpos are always gonna be sucking up employ’s and customers till the end, and the thing that sucks is that I can’t blame either one of them.”


    I don’t want to live down there… I’ll put some hours in for free, talk to them about putting posters up, and expanding our store to host other products, we have to find something that will eventually get us out of this.


    TILLIN


    I checked my phone, as my coworkers from the group chat shot me another massage begging me to come in. I shook my head.


    I haven’t seen my wife in forever, in fact I haven''t even had a good day off, and these guys are whining there little asses off at how they need me to help them finish or else there gonna get burned, fuck off.


    It’s not my fault the project manager set up an unrealistic dead line, propped me up as some kinda coding prodigy, and now is biting his nails off now that his ambition has come to bite him in the ass.


    Ugh, if it wasn’t for my many years here, and the benefits as well as the pay, I’d fucking left a long time ago.


    I walked past the old coffee shop, where those two officers always hung out and shot the shit. I swear I’ve never seen those two do anything, but get fatter.


    I shook my head. Your only going to get angrier Tillin, just let it go.


    HERGOR VERTID


    I rushed forward pushing the guy down, Ternis then immediately lunging forward his blades extending from his arms, slicing the mans head off.


    He’s pretty brutal with them even though he barly uses them. He then retracted them back into his arms.


    “think there going to know who it is.” He said, sitting down on the couch next to the body. I shook my head.


    “no not unless we plan on staying here.” “So how’d you end up here aren''t you supposed to be taking care of the bosses grand kid.” Ternis questioned.


    “Fucks sakes, did you not here what I just said.” Ternis threw his hands up in the air.


    “Listen man, our jobs pretty much done, and we got time to kill.” I shook my head.


    Ugh, I don’t really want to talk about this either, but it’s better then heading back home thats for sure.


    “Theirs a bar near here I think we can talk on the way there.” He shrugged, smiling.


    “alright, I’m down.” He then got up, and I reached into my bag, pulling out a vial of venom, and pouring it down the mans throat. “Your fucking weird.” I turned around.


    “it’s a tradition for the dead. The venom kills all impurities so he may rest in peace.” “Whatever, lets just get out of here.” He said as we left the room.


    “So about my question.” “Yeah, boss still wants me working considers me too valuable of an asset just to have me stop.”


    “Fuck that’s rough man, I mean if I was forced to marry my boss’s daughter, and fuck her just so he can have a grandson I’d at least ask for absence from work you know.”


    “That wasn’t in our deal.” We got into the elevator, and I pressed the middle floor.


    It’s not like I wanna be with her anyways. It’s not that she’s bad it’s just I don’t really care about, us or the kid in fact if I could just leave I would.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    “So what was the deal.” I looked at him, leaning against the wall of the elevator.


    “Increased pay benefits you know the usual stuff.” I’m just trying to retire wealthy, so I can make it through and continue on my clans memory, although it feels like I’m drifting farther, and farther away from my clan sometimes I don’t even carry my hatchets anymore.


    “Ah, so your aiming for the big bucks.” I nodded. Just as the elevator stopped, and we walked out.


    “Can’t say I can’t relate, the body you see now, is all thanks to our employer, had to you know, missions called for it, and you also can’t beat money.” He said, I nodded.


    “It’s pretty hard especially how things are going now days.” I added, he nodded.


    “Fuck yeah, but I don’t think I gotta worry for long.” “Why’s that.” He smiled. “I got this manger bitch who I’m dating, isn’t part of a big company but big enough.” I nodded.


    “She’d make you set for life.” He nodded. “Kinda freaky though likes playing with my knifes when where banging.” I shook my head.


    “hopefully she doesn''t get any worse ideas.” Ternis crossed his fingers.


    ALGORIS VERTID


    I checked the time. I should have enough, I’ll head out early to account for anything that happens on my way there.


    I walked down to the parking garage, and stepped into my personal garage, getting onto my motorcycle and starting it up, driving it out of the parking garage soon after.


    I took it onto the highway, and as I went faster, my body bent down lower until my stomach was pressed against the seat, with the pedals up in the rear of the motorcycle.


    I then hit the speed limit in just a few seconds, and after a few minutes of travel, I was at the diner.


    I checked the time, just a few minutes early. I walked inside, the dinner quiet, as it usually is around this time.


    “Hey Algoris.” Temp said. I walked forward. “I’m waiting for Mum.” He widened his eyes.


    “Yeah, you might have to wait a little bit.” I waited for him to continue his response.


    “She came in drunk, thought it was the time you two where going to meet up.” I grabbed my phone, and began dialing her number.


    “When I told her it was the wrong time, she uhh, cussed at me, told me that maybe I should try making money in my country and walked out.”


    Shes associated with me I should make her apologize. “Just to let you know, I know she gets… Yeah, when shes drunk so just make sure she’s okay.” I nodded. Good, there''s no need for that.


    I dialed her number. Nothing. It then went to voicemail phone. “Mum, I’m at the diner, get here.” I then hung up.


    I don’t know where she is right now, so the best option is to wait and see if she sees my voice mail, and if that produces nothing then I’ll find other means.


    “So how’s life treating you.” Temp said abruptly. “Well.” He nodded. “Anything else.”


    “Do I need to add anything else.” He shook his head. “No sorry, I know I’ve been working with you and your group for years, but I still haven’t gotten used to you.” I nodded.


    Everyone says that about me, weather or not it’s a problem is irrelevant it doesn''t seem to have a significant impact on people.


    “Sorry I should have worded that better.” “It doesn''t matter, you worded it to the best of your ability, nevertheless the intent and content of the message was still conveyed.” He nodded, and I continued over to a table and waited.


    Thirty minutes then passed the door open it’s bell ringing as it did.


    She remained at the door frame, staring at me for a few seconds. She smiled stepping forward a little, and then rushed over stumbling over herself crying, hugging me as tears fell down her cheeks.


    “He cheated on me Algoris.” She said as she smothered her face into my chest. Temp stared at me, trying his best not to laugh. Best to just go along with her crises.


    I then brought my attention to her. But I’m afraid I don’t know how. She continued to sob.


    “He cheated on me with three woman.” I don’t know way she puts herself in such predicaments, this has happened four times already, and she goes down this same spiral every time.


    If I where her I’d embrace the reality of the situation, and realize that relationships are a dead end. There only use really is to extend ones genes, and the species as a whole.


    “Can’t you fucking do anything you emotionless prick.” She then began gently beating me with her fists. I stopped her after the first punch, and she continued to sob. I took the keys to the motorcycle out of my wallet.


    “Temp, are you aware of a safe spot to store my vehicle.” He nodded.


    “Boss lets me store my car in a garage outside, I think he wouldn’t mind if I helped out a long time patron.”


    I threw him the keys, and he walked out the door, continuing out with him as I dragged Mum out with me, ordering a cab, as Temp brought the bike into the garage.


    After a few minutes the taxi showed up, and I brought both of us into the cab, the cab taking us on the highway, going slower then the speed limit because of the limitations of it’s engine.


    The drive seemed to calmed Mum, as she stopped her crying, and leaned up against my shoulder fighting sleep until she couldn’t no more.


    I wish she would stop this, makes working with her unnecessarily complicated.


    We then pulled up to the parking garage, where I was forced to carry her up to my apartment, and set her down onto the couch, preparing a glass of water from the kitchen sink, and then rolling her onto her side, leaving the room for my office awaiting for her to awake.


    TWO HOURS LATER


    I then heard a groan, and the sounds of things falling to the ground, I immediately got up, and went into the living room where Mum sat downing the water I had provided.


    “How long will it take you to get ready.” She sighed. “Just give me a minute.” She said, holding her head.


    She does this all the time, she knows the consequences of her actions and yet she repeats them.


    “May I ask why you did this again.” She stared at the floor. “Listen I know I fucked up okay, I got drunk, and everything''s fucked.”


    “That is not what I asked.” She remained quiet. “Because it feels good to take a back seat when everything just goes to hell.” She uses it as an escape.


    “I mean shouldn’t one of your intellect be able to figure that out.” I sat down on the coffee table in front of her.


    “it’s best not to assume such things in situations like these, even when talking to allies you must keep the air clear, the only expectation is when your dealing with an enemy.” She nodded.


    If she continues on like this she won’t only be a liability to herself which is bad because she’s a great asset, but she’ll also harm this mutual agreement we have as it would be very difficult to manage her.


    “Let’s get to the heart of the issue then, your desire for a relationship.” “I don’t think that''s the problem.” She said shaking her head.


    “But it keeps ending in disaster which brings about the worst of your drinking.” She nodded, looking away. “You wouldn’t understand.” I nodded. “Your most likely right.”


    Seems I’m going to need to find a compromise for her, since she won’t give up on that aspect.


    “What if you found a different way of dealing with this.” She looked at me slanting her eyebrow up. “You know getting drunk is not the best course of action.” She nodded.


    “Yeah, I’ll see if I can find something else.” Good then it’s settled. I got up.


    “Do you wish to continue with what we had planned.” She slowly got up, almost tipping over.


    “Hey, we planned it right.” She said with a slight smile as she held her stomach.


    “I think we should continue this tomorrow.” I responded. “No Algoris, if you where willing to contact me it must be important, I’ll just pop some nausea medicine, and we’ll be on our way.” I nodded.


    That should work, but I’m concerned about her performance elsewhere, like her cognitive skills, and such.


    No matter she seems to be able enough it’s not like where engaging in a salvaging operation, where ensuring each others safety in paramount.


    “There is equipment in the office those should be easy to find, the medicine cabinet is also in there, the medication your seeking is on the second self.” She nodded, as I pointed to the backroom, and after a few minutes she returned.


    I handed her a rain coat so she could hide her gear, and we walked out of the apartment, heading onto the train station.


    “Why aren''t we taking a cab.” She asked. “Trains about to come through here.” “Oh, sorry just used to my stations schedule.” Or it could just be the alcohol still having an effect on you, but I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt.


    I brought my head around, staring at her, as she held her stomach. No, I think it would be wise to call this off.


    “Lets head back to the apartment.” And I began walking away, she immediately grabbed my hand.


    “No, I can do this.” I stopped, and faced her. “No, your obviously not fit right now.” She sighed.


    “can you at least tell me what where going over the wall for.” I reached into my pouch, and pulled out the patch, and handed it to her.


    She gently took it from my hands, as something arose inside telling me to take it back from her.


    “Algoris why didn’t you just say you had this.” “I was too busy dealing with you at the time.” She smiled, and chuckled.


    “Yeah, sorry about that.” She said handing me back the patch. I took it and that thing immediately went away.


    “Where going by the way.” She said with a smile. “No, yo-.” She held up a finger to her mouth.


    “sssshhhh, let’s just go I know it’s important.” The train then came, and she walked inside, I joined her soon after.


    “I do not believe this is the best course of action.” “Oh shut the fuck up mister logical.” And the doors closed in front of us.


    “It’s not that pressing of an issue.” “Then why did you call me in the afternoon when it’s usually the time I don’t like being bothered, why are you putting everything else on hold.” I remained silent. I don’t know, I just need to.


    The train pulled up to the station at the edge of the wall, and we both stepped out.


    Temp almost immediately walking out of the diner, throwing me the keys to my motorcycle which I immediately caught, I then went towards the garage opening it, and walking inside, inserting the key into the ignition, and bringing the motorcycle out, pulling it up next to Mum, I then looked at Temp.


    “Do you want payment.” He shook his head. “Just happy to help.”


    I then drove towards the wall, driving up to the sheet metal covering the crack, pulling it back, then turning the motorcycle off, and bringing it inside.


    Descending into the wall, following the markings left by others, until we came across another hole covered by sheet metal.


    We push onto it, and I brought the motorcycle out into the forest. The birds chirping at our arrival, and the squirrels squiring away from our presence.


    “I like this place.” Mum said, as I turned on the bike once more, and shifted the handles to the outside. The bike turning into a four wheeler.


    “I still can’t believe you made that work.” She said. “All it takes is time.” She then hoped onto the back, and I drove through the forest for what was probably a few hours, reaching the side of the mountains.


    It’s been awhile since I’ve been up here, but that is irrelevant.


    We drove up a steep incline, and found our self''s at the shrine, burnt vehicles, and picked over creates littering the path to it.


    I turned off the bike, and got off, readying the patch, walking forward, as Mum stayed back watching.


    I soon found myself standing in front of the shrine, lowering myself to my knees, taking a box from middle and opening it, placing the patch with the many other patches there.


    I then closed the box, and placed it back with the many other items that people had left in remembrance.


    I got up after spending a few seconds longer then I should’ve sitting in place.


    quickly brought my attention back to what mattered and continued back over to the bike.


    “You’ve never told me why you keep doing this.” I thought for a moment, but found nothing.


    “It’s just something I have to do.” “Your telling me that you don’t know why you coming here.” I then got onto the bike, remaining silent, she got on with me.


    “That''s okay, it tells me a lot.” She added. I then turned it on, and began driving back to our insertion point.


    Tells you what, because it should say nothing these actions are nothing, just what I need to do.


    We then made it back to the wall, going back through, quickly finding ourselves back onto the other side.


    “Do you need me to drive you to a station.” She leaned against my back, on the bike.


    “Actually, can I stay at your apartment.” “Why.” “I moved into that douche bags apartment, and well now I have no where else to go.” I nodded.


    “Very well, but no drinking, and make yourself useful.” “yeah I know… One last thing.” I brought my gaze upon her.


    “When you got the time, can you help me move my things into yours.” It would be wise to help her since where living together again now.


    “Yes, as long as those things aren''t too tedious.” “Thanks.” She said, and I took off down the road, back onto the highway, continuing back into the parking garage, and back into my apartment.


    “One last question before you start working.” I turned my head so my ear faced her. “


    Are you ever going to tell them where you are, or going.” “No, it might attract attention, attention I don’t want.” She sighed.


    “Yeah, guess it’s hard when your this close huh.” I then opened the door.


    “another thing Algoris, and I promise this will be the last one.” I turned my ear towards her again, and she walked up to me.


    “Even though you make me hate you, I fucking love you, you son of a bitch.” She then hugged me, and I felt that subtle warmness of my mother.


    (“I wanna go train with dad, and brother.” She smiled. “Look at you already wanting to become a man.” She rubbed my hair.


    “Can I.” I watched as she developed a concerned expression.


    “How about we go somewhere first.” I tilted my head.) I then exhaled, and Mum let go.


    “Algoris your alright, right.” I nodded. “It’s nothing.” I then turned around and opened the door, walking into the office, closing said door behind me.


    You hate me but you love me, that makes no sense why use two contradictory words to describe how you feel… I shouldn’t dwell on it, it’s a waste of brain power.