Tales from the Former Universe

22. Hectic Crisis

Unpredictable and hectic, it was—just four minutes of the entire incident alone before all operations were inactivated was already causing a huge chunk of damage, possibly caused by the rebels, and so they believed. Both the UN Home Affairs and US Department of Motor Vehicles in Wollenbury were struck with a critical data documentation flood, worth $50,000,000 in damage to over 530,000 applicants. 

Because of this incident, many staff were either filled for extra divisions & administrations, relocated to another department or state, or fired for the worst part—both Martinner and Haumecea were fortunate enough to remain in their current status. However nonetheless, all the monthly salary cycles of the entire staff were decreased to remunerate the damage costs and keep the treasury stable.

All of Wollenbury's staff were forced to respond and work harder and more desperate than ever before. Had there been any losses, the only recovery was to re-document the applicants—had applicants lost forever, it would be the staff who would pay for the entire damages.

Martinner and Haumecea were now on the same table, to help with each other's burden of tasks.

"Have you checked I-109?" Haumecea asked.

"I have, keep track of others, I shall. Don't pressure me to lose it," Martinner held the pressure to himself. "How could this ever occur? Floods, we often have, it is in our acknowledgment, but how is it big as this."

"Must be the rebels," Haumecea said.

"It should be the rebels," Martinner said. "Haumecea, another applicant, I think we'd need to inquire."

"No, no, let me check," she was hesitant to believe and checked for him. "No, no, affirmative, we are. General records, I will search."

"Haumecea, we could lose it," Martinner worried.

"But try, we must, to secure for work," Haumecea held on. "You don't have to worry about me."

"I don't want you to faint. I will do it, you focus on extraction," Martinner volunteered.

"Martinner, you don't..." Haumecea worried.

"I do now," Martinner said. "You taught me."

"The residence records, where applicants are commonly recovered and found, you ought the check, proper for tertiary data, you can start there," Haumecea led. "Time is on the run, go."

Meanwhile, another riot campaign by Brogan's division ensued at Ciudad, Mexico. The division knew of Orama's and Han-Cho's mentality, so they were left to oversee the campaigners on impending danger from a building above.

Even after the fire started, there wasn't anything for them to oversee, so they laid their chins on their arms, watching how the fire would end.

"You got him?" Han-Cho asked.

"He didn't deserve it,"

"No one does," Han-Cho said.

Orama then asked, "Are you really for the rebellion, or your daughter, revenge, this all is?"

"It ain't enough," Han-Cho said. "I am lost, far from saving," he said. "I chose to join and leave, I chose my suffering as consequences."

"Why couldn't you leave?"

"Could you?" Han-Cho asked.

"Han-Cho... a murderer, you are not, a father, a loving husband, you are built to be," Orama said. "Loss took everything from you."

"Took everything from all of us," Han-Cho said.

"But you... you are a saint compared to me," Orama said. "You never smuggled children, pyre an entire home just for one man you were always hunting for... you never willingly betrayed who you are."