Beta Earth: Between Worlds 2.0 Edition (17 page)
Read Beta Earth: Between Worlds 2.0 Edition Online
Authors: J.R. Napier
Time: One month later.
Location: Earth—A Discrete factory.
A fully cloaked man walks into a factory. He walks up to a well-built older man covered in oil and dust who is polishing a large, cannon-like weapon.
“Gaidon sent me. Are you Enoch?” the cloaked man asks. Enoch looks up and stops polishing the cannon.
“At your service.”
“I have business on Beta Earth.” the cloaked man says.
“Well, if you’re dealing with Gaidon, I can guess what type of business it is.” Enoch says. The mysterious figure looks around at all the different weapons. They range from old weapons, such as swords and staffs. To projectile guns and experimental meteorite fusion rifles.
“Quite the display.” the cloaked man says.
“Yeah, don’t dismiss the old-style weapons, either. I’ve updated them using my own technology, and I should say some of it is courtesy of my brother.” Enoch replies.
“Your brother?” the cloaked man says.
“Yeah, Melchior. I think he works for some secret organization now, but ol’ Montello helps me keep up to date with his developments ... if you know what I mean.” Enoch lets out a hearty laugh. The mysterious figure looks at the swords. He picks one up and examines it closely. It has a green pulse to it and looks beautiful.
“It’s nice …” The cloak man says.
“Good eye. Those are pretty much indestructible and can even survive a blast from laser and meteorite guns.” Enoch explains. The cloaked man puts the sword down.
“Meteorite guns … you have any of those?” Enoch scratches his head.
“Actually, we just got one in. It’s a prototype, but it is still highly effective.” Enoch stands up and heads into the back room. He comes back out a moment later holding a
jet-black rifle
with red, pulsating stripes. The gun is connected to a small, black container via the hilt of the handle.
“This is a rehabbed gun that was rumored to have been used back when the four horsemen attacked all those years ago.” Enoch explains as he hands the gun to the mysterious person. The stranger evaluates its weight and grip.
“Feels good.” the cloaked man says.
“I’d rather you not test it in here but it runs off synthetic meteorite. So it’s hard to resupply. Also, it shoots in short burst or lance mode.” Enoch replies.
“Streams the energy, huh?” the cloaked man asks.
“Yeah, all without overheating … most times. Actually, I wouldn’t overstress it.” Enoch warns.
“Will it hook up to a battle suit?” the cloaked man asks. Enoch nods.
“Oh yes, and it is fully adaptable with old and new suit operating systems.” The cloaked man continues to examine the gun.
“Does it have a name?”
“Uh, this one has no specific model name. It has been greatly changed from the original but it’s referred to as
Satyr Prototype A
.” Enoch says.
“Satyr, huh?” The cloaked man swings it around skillfully.
“I like it. Will it be extra for something like this?” Enoch shakes his head.
“Nope, all covered on Gaidon’s tab.”
“Then that will be all.” the cloaked man says and then whistles.
“Hey, Gene, come pick this up.”A young man comes running in the shop. He looks at the cloaked man and then at the Satyr.
“This one?” he asks.
The cloaked man sighs.
“You’re pretty slow for an orphaned kid. Aren’t you guys supposed to be quick, street smart, and all that crap?” Gene frowns.
“You’ll see, I’ll be faster, stronger, and better than you one day!”
“Keep dreaming small-fry. Go on, grab it. We have to visit a friend before we leave Earth and she’s waiting for us.” the cloaked man says. Gene gathers the Satyr and exits the shop. The cloaked figure follows behind him.
“Oh, and bring it back to me if you need it repaired. Normally I would be nervous to let a beauty like that go, but I know it’s in good hands.” Enoch says and then gives a short gruff laugh. The cloaked man gives a short wave upon his exit.
“Sure, see ya next time.” Enoch pick up the large metal cannon he was polishing before and continues to rub it.
“Yeah, see you next time, Clave.”
Lana sits at a desk in her room and gazes out her window at the setting sun. “I wasn’t strong enough to protect him … that guy, Vin. I wonder if he is okay … I wonder if I will be able to protect others.” She rests her head in her hands. “Why do I get the feeling. That something is holding me back? If I can’t break through soon and find my true self. I will fail.”
Abel sits in a beautiful grass field with his arms folded and resting on his knees. He stares at a small village in the distance. “Gaidon knows where Paradise is … soon others will know as well. My home is no longer safe.” Abel bows his head into his folded arms. “I have failed my home.”
Vin is perched upon a tall building overlooking Sprawl 15. “Even though I made the deal with Gaidon … the people of the sprawls still suffer. What makes it worse is, no matter what I do … I can’t erase what was done to the ones I loved.” Vin bows head slightly and breathes out slowly. “I have failed to protect my promise and my home.”
Gaidon sits in his executive chair staring out his window at the cityscape of District 8. “I’ve finally acquired a force great enough to topple the old bastards. The old syndicate who stood in the way of my dreams. However, this Decius … if he is right, all my hard work will be for nothing.” Gaidon rubs his chin and laughs slightly. “Even after playing the perfect hand, I still failed.”
Akari leans on a rail that overlooks a large crater. She is just outside one of her training facilities. “I put that boy in this position … and I thought I understood the risk. Now, I realize this won’t just affect me or him but I’ve put the world in danger. With all my knowledge and foresight, how could I have not seen this?” Akari hangs her head low and closes her eyes. “This time … I must admit that I have failed.”
Roni bandages up Gene. He cringes as Roni roughly tightens the white cloth around his arm. “Roni, thanks for training me.” Roni nods to Gene.
“If Clave won’t teach you, I will. I have already failed to protect my family … but when I find the killer I will make him pay.” Roni stands up and looks at Gene.
“I of all people understand why you want to get revenge for your parent’s death and I won’t deny you that,” she says. Gene stands up and dusts himself off.
“Maybe we can get our revenge together … maybe we’ll even get a second chance to do the things we couldn’t.” Gene says innocently as he points off into the sky.
“Just like Beta Earth, if we go there we get a second chance right? That’s why Clave went there right? Everyone deserves a second chance.” Roni laughs and holds her head in her hands. She then wipes back her hair and looks up in the sky alongside Gene.
“Yeah … maybe we can all have … a second chance.”