Beta Earth: Between Worlds 2.0 Edition

by Napier, J. R.

“If you’ve come here to lecture me—” Anul laughs.

  “And here I thought that would be my line. Vette called and asked me for help. She told me about your situation so I came to check on you.”

  “Thanks.” Vin says.

  “My only regret about this gang is that it’s made it so I can’t contact you.” Anul steps closer to Vin.

  “Father misses you, too.”

  Vin is surprised to hear that.

  “The General?” Vin asks. Anul brushes her hair back.

  “Yes. Of course he is beyond angry that you took this route … but I think he’s proud of you as well.” Vin looks down.

  “Anul, I think I’ve gone as far as I can. I’m holding too much up in the air and it seems like it’s all going to fall.”

  “Then stop holding it.” Anul says. Vin looks up.

  “Wait, what?”

  “I know you … you’ve always held back. With life, with love. You know, Vette likes you—” Vin interrupts her. “This isn’t about Vette.”

  “It isn’t? The only time I’ve ever seen you go all out was when you took over this gang. You can’t stop now.” Anul says.

  “You just tried to convince me to leave. Now you want me to stay?” Vin asks. Anul shakes her head.

  “No, I want you to stop holding back. This gang is holding you back. It’s gotten you to this point but now you need to move on.” Vin silently contemplates her words.

  “Vin, I’ve … made a friend.” Vin looks up. “Her name is Lana and we train together. She is so green. It’s almost like I train her. Father treats her more like a daughter than me … which is probably why I fight with her so often.”

  “He loves us.” Vin says.

  “Then why is he so distant with us? Why are we always dragged into the middle of all this mess? I look at the people who live in the districts … So carefree. I wonder sometimes.” Anul sighs.

  “Is that the life you want?” Vin asks. Anul slightly smiles.

  “No … I’m far beyond that.”

  “Then what are you going to do?” Vin asks. Anul crosses her arms. “I dunno. I might join Lana’s unit. Just so I can upstage her.” Vin shakes his head and smiles.

  “You don’t handle grudges well, do you?”

  “She infuriates me! And—” Anul blushes and becomes briefly shy. Vin catches it and narrows his eyes.

  “You like her!” Vin says. Anul ignores Vin’s comment.

  “I also might explore Beta Earth for a while. I heard there are some amazing wonders there,” she says.

  “That’s dangerous. If you decide to do that, return to me before you leave. I have some things to teach you.” Vin says. He is not above teaching his own sister the secrets he’s learned in order to help her survive.

  “I figured you’d offer but you’ll have to wait in line. I’m learning from the lady in there first.” Anul says as she points to the bone room.

  “Who?” Vin asks.

  “Some lady named Akari. I thought she worked for you. She looked like an intruder outside earlier, so I attacked her. She beat me so fast I barely knew what happened. She told me she was waiting to talk to you personally.”

  “To me?” Vin says as he tries to remember if he knows anyone named Akari.

  “Yeah. Vin, do you know her?“ Anul asks. Vin shakes his head. “No.”Anul walks toward Vin.

  “I’ll stay then,” she says. Vin holds his hand out.

  “No. It’s better if you leave for now. I’ll be okay, I promise.” Anul nods and starts to exit the Faux Forsaken Base.

  “Be careful, Vin. I sparred with her for a while earlier. I can tell you, she has no weakness. That lady is dangerous.” Vin heads for the bone room but stops to reassure his sister. “Thanks, but if she wants to talk, then that’s all that will happen.”

  “Right. Talk to you soon, brother.” Anul says as she leaves the hideout. Anul exits the Faux Forsaken H.Q. and Vin enters the bone room.

  Chapter 39

  Avoidance

  Vin enters the bone room. Akari is standing by the chair behind his desk. “Akari, I presume?” Vin says. Akari nods.

  “Sorry for the intrusion Vin. But I have a request that I wanted to make in person.” Vin stands a good distance away from Akari.

  “I’m listening.”

  “Vin. Please do not meet again with Gaidon.” Vin is shocked. “How do you know about our meeting?” he asks.

  “I trained the one that attacked you a few days ago … Clave.” Akari says.

  “So he knows where I am?” Vin says. Akari shakes her head no.

  “Even if he did, he wouldn’t come.”Vin thinks for a moment.

  “He’s waiting for Gaidon and I to get together.” Akari nods in confirmation.

  “It’s easier for his mission.” Vin crosses his arms.

  “I see. Well, I’m afraid I can’t back out of this one. I need to see Gaidon now more than ever.” Vin says.

  “Are you sure you can even trust the Syndicate?” Akari asks. “I don’t trust the Syndicate. I’m trust Gaidon and I’m at the point where I need help in order to go any further.” Vin explains.

  “You’re trying to help the community and this alliance will help you do it.” Akari says. Vin is amazed that Akari guessed his motives spot on.

  “Yes. So I have to meet him and I owe it to someone to meet him in person.”

  “I see. Well then. I have another request to ask of you. Please don’t kill Clave.” Akari says. Vin stares at Akari in silence and then replies, “You do realize, I lost the last battle we had.” Akari walks toward Vin.

  “I also realize you survived. Which is very, very rare among encounters with Clave. This says to me you either are extremely lucky or were holding back for some reason. I’m willing to bet you were holding back.” Vin is now frightened. He realizes this lady has good analytical skills.

  “Anul was right, you are dangerous. You can assess people well, can’t you?” Akari walks past Vin toward the exit. She then stops and looks Vin dead in his eyes. After a moment’s pause, she strikes at him. Vin promptly catches her punch.

  “You’re slow. It's almost as if you had to adjust your focus. Your vision, is it hindered?” Akari asks. Vin releases her fist and remains quiet. “It takes more than just skill to win a battle and I think you realize this as well. That is why I fear for Clave.” Akari says.

  “I can’t promise his safety.” Vin replies. Akari continues to examine Vin.

  “I understand and will leave you with this. Clave right now has the advantage, even though I think you are smarter and faster than him. The reason being is Clave has no reason to hold back. He will rise to any half-assed attempt at combat and defeat his foe. Simply, he has the will to win. Do you?”

  “Why would you tell me this?” Vin asks. Akari begins to exit the room.

  “If Clave wins, the world loses a good person. If you are strong enough to overpower him. Maybe I can keep someone precious to me.”Akari leaves the room. Was she guessing? How could know so much about me in just one glance? Vin wonders. He walks over to his desk and sits down. He then picks up a com and places a connection to Gaidon.

  “Gaidon’s office.” Eva answers.

  “This is Vin. I’d like to set up the meeting with Gaidon.” Vin says.

  “Excellent. He’s been waiting. I’ll forward the location.” Eva says.

  “Actually, I have a location for us. I’ll forward the coordinates and the time to you.” Vin replies. Eva doesn’t is caught off guard but she agrees anyway.

  “Oh, okay. I’ll have to check with Gaidon first.”

  “Please do.” Vin replies.

  Chapter 40

  Paradise Lost

  Time: Evening.

  Location: Abandoned generator facility just outside Sprawl 15.

  Eva and Gaidon, are escorted by three guards as they take the stairs up to the second floor. Gaidon examines his surroundings, it’s relatively clean for an abandoned facility. “I don’t like this. This place
hasn’t been properly scanned or prepped. How could you agree to meet on such short notice like this?” Eva complains.

  “It’s okay. I trust Vin. He and the Faux Forsaken are very important to me and worth the risk.” Gaidon says.

  “I hope you’re right. We don’t even have Faldo with us.” Eva notes. “I needed him to help with a recruiting mission. Besides, I still have one ace in the hole.” Gaidon says.

  “Who?” Eva asks.

  “You, of course.” Gaidon says with a smile. Eva blushes as she adjusts her glasses. They enter the large room where the meeting is to be held. Here the windows of the factory are missing. The lights of Sprawl 15 can be seen in the distance.

  They walk toward the center of the room and stop by a large desk. Eva looks around. The room is filled with desks and file cabinets. It looks like it was used as an administrative office. “Open room, minimal cover … Gaidon, you’re killing me.” Gaidon looks around.

  “Patience is a virtue.”

  “So is prudence.” Eva replies. Eva turns to the bodyguards.

  “You two. Do a sweep up here, and you.” Eva points to one of the bodyguards.

  “Don’t ever be more than five feet away from Gaidon’s side at any time. Got it?”

  “Understood.” the Syndicate bodyguard replies. Gaidon smiles and lightly pats the bodyguard on the shoulder. “Thanks, Larry.”

  “No problem, sir.” Eva moves the chairs around. She cleans off one for Gaidon and places another for Vin. She looks at her watch.

  “He’s late.” Gaidon dismisses her complaint with a wave of his hand.

  “We’re early,” he says casually. Gaidon takes a seat and looks out the window. “Soon. The people of the sprawls will no longer have to worry. Vin’s noble crusades … I’ll admit they have inspired me.”At that same time, in the basement levels of the abandoned generator facility. Kamon 2.0 walks to the center of the room. He position’s himself directly underneath Gaidon.

  “Someone needs to speak to you. Gaidon.” Kamon 2.0 says in his hallow, metallic voice. Kamon looks straight up. His eyes change from neon blue to green. “Partial access codes retrieved and validated. Sequence conditions have been met, partial program downloaded.” Gaidon continues to look at the glowing Sprawl 15 skyline.

  “A better opportunity for those who have taken a different path … maybe that can start—” The world around Gaidon begins to shake and distort. Gaidon looks at his hands and then at the room. “Hmm, strange.” Gaidon says just before he falls unconscious.

  His head slams against the desk. Eva and Larry run over to Gaidon.

  “Gaidon!” Eva shouts as she checks his pulse.

  “His pulse is steady and he’s breathing. What happened? Gaidon?” Gaidon looks around. He is surrounded by white as far as his eye can see. “Where am I?” Gaidon softly asks. He suddenly feels heavy, very heavy. The world around him begins to distort. Gaidon tries desperately to fight the urge to fall to his knees.

  “Kneel in my presence.” A powerful voice commands. Gaidon fights the sensation.

  “Ha! Even if I’m dead … I will bow to no one!”

  “Cast your eyes downward and be filled with terror.” The booming voice fills the white expanse. The world around him begins to shake, causing Gaidon to finally fall to his knees. “Interesting. Even here you resist. Don’t you understand? Even the ignorant go blind after gazing at the sun.” The voice now takes on a more-normal tone.

  “Who the hell are you?” Gaidon asks.

  “I am Decius … Decius Hanamex.”

  “Decius.” Gaidon fights with all his might to look up but it’s futile. “What do you want?” he asks. “To bring everyone to this world. Under my terms.” Decius says. “And you think I will help?” Gaidon says. “There is a very high likelihood that I’ll succeed even if you don’t assist.” Decius states. Gaidon laughs.

  “So send me back then. My time is valuable.” Gaidon says with a hint of arrogance in his voice.

  “When this event happens. You, along with many others, won’t survive the transition.” Decius explains.

  “What?” Gaidon asks.

  “Your body cannot make it here. So after the trauma, you will all fall into a permanent state of unconsciousness.”

  “Permanent coma.” Gaidon says.

  “Leave him alone!” Children’s voices echo in the distance.

  “What? Where?” Gaidon looks for the source of the voices but he doesn’t see anyone.

  “What are you?” Gaidon asks.

  “I am nobody and I do care about you.” Decius states. Gaidon trembles. His body is cold. “It’s unfortunate when nobody cares about you … but I must fill you with terror in order to control you. You, just like all men, will lash out blindly in terror. This will limit the view of your future and cause you to grasp for immediate salvation.” Decius says.

  “Shut up!” Gaidon is done listening to this voice. “Don’t start philosophizing with me! I don’t care about your crap.” Laughter echoes around Gaidon.

  “A perfect example.” Decius says.

  “Leave him alone!” The children’s voices say, louder this time. “It hurts to think. Which is why most of you don’t do it. Instead you blindly act. In fairness, I have given you the key, the answer. Your nature is so strong that I predict you will ignore the solution I have given you. Do not despair though. You are not the first and will not be the last. I have always used fear to inspire peace. In this sense I act as the essence of war.” Gaidon holds his head tight. Decius’s words drill into his head.

  “But this time is greater than the others. This time I will be manifested and you all will help me. It is your nature to do so.” Decius says.

  “Please.” Gaidon begs.

  “Enough!” The children’s voices thunder and echo around Gaidon. He closes his eyes tight and when he opens them. He is in a breathtakingly beautiful land, pristine air, blue water, clear light purple skies. Gaidon stands up and composes himself, gazing in awe at his surroundings.

  “Is this—” The land around Gaidon moves as if he was in an advanced hologram. He stops in front of a huge meteor generator that is causing interference. “Paradise. The land of unlimited energy.” Gaidon says.

  “So you know of this place.” Decius says. Gaidon looks around in amazement.

  “Through rumor but to see it with my own eyes—” Gaidon starts to tear up, the sudden range of emotions from fear to euphoria is effecting his mind. “It’s so beautiful. To think, I used to live in a place so similar yet … Wait!” Gaidon’s eyes open wide.

  “I think I know this place. This is an area on Beta Earth. I think I know it!” Abel’s voice is loud and clear this time.

  “No. Don’t listen to him Gaidon. Stay away from Paradise.” the voice says. In the blink of an eye, Gaidon is back in the all-white landscape.

  “Contact a person named Montello. He is a skilled hacker and will be of much use to you. He will tell you how you can avoid your fate.” Decius says.

  “Why would you tell me all this?” Gaidon asks.

  “He can help you find Paradise.” Decius says. Gaidon looks around and sees nothing but white.

  “Why … I don't understand.”

  “Nothing so complicated. I told you only because I know you can achieve those tasks. You are a great testament to the ambition of man.”

  “Gaidon!” Gaidon can hear Vin’s voice in the distance.

  “Vin?” Gaidon calls out. Decius whispers to Gaidon.

  “It would seem your time here is done. Feel honored, child, that I would keep an eye on you. Go forth and create a world for me where I can exist.” Vin suddenly touches Gaidon’s shoulder. It snaps him out of his dazed state.

  “How did you get here?” Vin asks.

  “I could ask you the same ... but I am not surprised that this is the source of your power Vin.” Gaidon says. Vin looks around the immediate area.

  “It’s kind of like that, I guess. Did you get here on your own?” Gaidon rubs hi
s head. “I-I don’t think so. Someone named Decius brought me here, I believe.”

  “Decius … already, huh? I guess you’re lucky you know me … or else this would have been your new home.” Vin says.

  Yeah … I’m lucky all right.” Gaidon replies.

  “I’ll get us back, don’t worry.”

  “Of course. Also, when you have the chance explain this place to me. Please.” Gaidon says. Vin realizes what that would entail and wonders if he can trust Gaidon with even more information than he’s already seen. “Gaidon to be honest. I … I don’t know if I can trust you.” Vin admits. “Of course not, but over time you’ll see—” Gaidon replies. Vin shakes his head.

  “We don’t have time. Everything is happening too fast ... Gaidon. If I leave Faux Forsaken with you … will you please make sure the people of the sprawl get safe, legitimate work?”

  “What about you? I need you as well. There can only be peace once we have power.” Gaidon says. Vin remembers his friend Zuri. Seriously, man, I’ve been thinking. There are tons of people here in our situation. If we had our own gang, we could make it respectable, one that actually protects the sprawls and provides work instead of leeches off everyone.

  “If you stay true to your course, I’ll help you in some of your endeavors.” Vin says.

  “An alliance?” Gaidon asks as he sticks out his hand.

  “An understanding.” Vin replies as he shakes Gaidon’s extended hand.

  “Think the others are worried?” Gaidon asks. Vin walks a little distance from Gaidon and calls the seven gates. He then unlocks them.

  “What are you—” Before Gaidon can finish Vin is done. The world around them begins to shift.

  Chapter 41

  To Protect

  Gaidon regains consciousness. He is in Eva’s arms.

  “Miss me?” Gaidon asks. Eva smiles.

  “Welcome back, sir.” Gaidon stands up and looks around. Vin is in the middle of the room surrounded by ten Faux Forsaken members. Vette and Keith are among them.