When Worlds Collide (MxM)✔

Chapter 27 - Family Reunion

Being reintroduced to earth technology was a bit of a shock. Plumbing, microwaves, cellphones, and an abundance of food made him almost content with his environment.

Almost.

Xavier had Kade stay in quarantine for another day before moving him to an on-base apartment. He was forbidden from leaving the grounds, and all his electronics were bugged and restricted, so he had no contact with the world outside. All this he expected. What he wasn't prepared for was getting a surprise visit from his mom.

Pauline Sinclair was a doctor. She'd worked hard while Kade and his brother Jim were raised by their grandparents. Once she started making decent money, she got more involved in their lives. But by then it was too late. Neither he nor his brother had gotten to know their father before he disappeared, and they were almost finished with high school when Pauline decided to be more present. 

Kade's brother had gotten a job as a researcher at the facility, so Kade was left to endure her late affection until he too graduated and followed his brother's path.

Despite working at the same base, the two rarely encountered one another. And then, Pauline followed by applying for a job as an on-base nurse, which was in short supply, and getting closer to her boys.

Kade didn't resent her for it. He just didn't feel close to her. His older brother had more time to get to know both their parents before they were sent to their grandparents, so Jim was the only one attached.

Pauline sat down with Kade four days after he returned from Terra. He wasn't allowed to discuss where he'd been or what they were researching, because she didn't have the clearance. So they discussed the news.

A new President was elected, another war had started, and more riots had broken out in the capital. Meanwhile, another 10% of the Amazon rainforest was destroyed, and several more animal species had gone extinct.

"I heard a rumor that you're working on something that'll fix it all." She gently put a hand over Kade's. Pauline had short black hair, styled in a bob cut, with high cheekbones and straight white teeth. Her lips were painted deep red, and her eyes were slightly slanted.

"I can't tell you what it is." He warned with a twist in his gut.

"I'm not asking. I just want you to know how proud I am of you, and everything you're doing for the world." When she didn't get the reaction she expected, she pulled her hand back slowly. "I didn't believe them you know. You're a good boy. I knew you'd never hurt someone for a raise. You'd never hurt anyone. Your brother knew too. We were always on your side."

"Thanks." 

She squirmed awkwardly. "Do you think it'll work?"

"Think what will work?"

"Your project to save the earth...Will it?"

He shook his head honestly.

"Oh..." She folded her hands and went quiet.

"People need to stop hoping that someone else will fix things. Sending 'thoughts and prayers' is pointless."

"But you are doing something, aren't you?"

"It'd be a lot easier if everyone else did something too instead of following the money."

"People need money to live. You can't expect everyone to drop their jobs when they have bills to pay and mouths to feed."

"Everyone knows there's a problem, and that problem is rooted in the system we follow. If everyone stopped using the system, then things would have to change. But no. Everyone here is too compliant to try!" He shot out of his seat and paced in frustration. "And you don't need money to live. You need food, water, and shelter. But our basic rights have been put behind a paywall while corporations reap the benefits. Every damn person only does what they think is best for themselves and ignores the fact that if we all worked together, we could finally make a change!"