The Dangers of Saving a Life

Chapter 11: Milo

Hock note: The last time we left Milo, he had been pursued by security androids, so he ran to Professor Aidan for help. Although the professor took care of the androids, he rounded on Milo. 

"Milo Skart, I'm not very happy with you today. I expected better from you."

The tall professor crossed his arms over his chest, disappointment showing in his visage. He was young for a professor, barely out of college himself. But now his bold gray eyes were as hard as steel and his face was etched like titanium.

Milo gawked at six androids behind him, now a pile of blue jeans, green and gold sports shirts, and synthetic limbs. He turned and glared back at the professor.

"I didn't do anything." He splayed his arms out in a gesture of innocence. "Seriously, I didn't."

"And that's the problem, isn't it?"

The professor turned away from him and walked back behind his large U-shaped desk, sitting down in his comfortable chair with its soft supernatant cushions. Behind him, several posters lined the wall. There was the detailed breakdown of a quark, a visual rendition of an electron, and the cut-away composition of spin foam. The holo of a young woman stood suspended on his desk. Milo assumed it was an image of Emma Drommel, although he never asked.

"Do you remember anything I taught you?"

"They came for me." Milo's head felt hot. Why was the professor accusing him? "You saw them. They chased me. I didn't do anything to deserve this. I don't even know why they chased me. I was afraid they'd come for the baby too. I wanted to get here first to make sure he was okay."

The professor leaned back with his hands behind his head. "Of course they came for you and the baby. What did you expect?"

Milo threw his arms up in the air. "I don't understand, then."

"Milo, you have the energy available to you, yet you run to me? Shouldn't I be disappointed?"

"What?"

"These attacks aren't going to stop. You're marked by Axion. I want you to defend yourself."

"How can I-"

"What have we been practicing after class these last couple of days? Did you learn nothing of what I've taught you?"

"But that's just-"

The professor became animated, standing up behind his desk, his steel eyes glowing, his arms waving through the air. "Look, I'm not teaching you about the Drommel for some silly academic exercise. This isn't a math problem. This is a matter of life. This is a matter of freedom. This is a matter of resisting Axion. This is a revolution."

He pointed his index finger into Milo's face.

"You have the capability to wield the energy. You, Milo Skart, have this energy. We practiced for days after class. This is not for me. This is for you. You have that ability. I want you to use it."

Milo pulled the cylindrical device from his pack.

"Oh, yeah."