Year One

Chapter 2

JAREK

I ran on, and on, and on. Nothing got in the men's way as they maneuvered around sharp corners and robot charging points, not slowing for anything. Certainly the fittest middle aged men I'd ever seen. And yet I stupidly followed on. When I was about to give in to the searing complaints from my legs and chest, the pair stopped at an open clearing a few yards in front of me. Light beamed down through the cracks between the houses, creating an almost heavenly allure. Over the glow a blue channel of light from above shimmered like star dust over the men. I started sprinting towards them as the fat one started tapping furiously at a band on his wrist, seemingly following instructions from the skiny man who punched me. "WAIT!" I called as I reached out for their suitcases - a millisecond to late, for they disappeared in a flash of light. The last thing I saw was their brash expressions and the argent shimmer of the cobalt blue ★ which lined their wrists.

*

Frustration ran through me. Who were they? I let them escape and all I had against them was the strange symbol lining their wrist. I voiced a command to my PPU wristband - "Scan for traces."

"NO TRACE FOUND."

"Damn." They left without a trace. It was up to me. I jogged back the way I came, thinking about what I was going to tell them back at headquarters. Hello, Sir. Some (possibly alien) men in old-fashioned black suits hold the technology we've been looking for to save the planet. No, they weren't registered as planetary visitors. No, I haven't got a clue where they went or what their names are. Oh, they did have a blue star tattoo on their wrists, though.

I sighed. It was a hopeless situation. The board would only take reports with evidence. I hadn't even thought to take a scan of the holodrives. Plus, I wasn't even an agent. I was supposed to sit in an office all day brainstorming, not chasing aliens through backstreets in my lunch break. On that thought, I arrived back at the plaza. Talin was no where to be seen. I called him on my communicator, only to hear "TALIN NYLE UNAVAILABLE. PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE."

Strange, I thought. Talin always had his communicator with him, it was company policy. I waited for the tone then left a message, my voice becoming sharper. "Uh, hey, it's Jarek. I ran after those guys but they escaped...No idea what I'm gonna tell the board. Anyway, I'll talk to you about it later. I'm going back to HQ now so will probably see you in a bit." I ended the message and continued jogging to PPU HQ.

I went through security swiftly, beamed to floor 67. The corridor was deserted. I walked down to the end of the corridor to my office. My presence and desire to enter the room was recognised, allowing me to enter. I was met with a large message flashing in red across my workspace. A meeting which started 10 minutes ago. "So that's were everyone went," I said, speaking to myself. Making a mental note to present my findings, I went back down the corridor, towards the conference hall.

*

TALIN

"Good afternoon." The CEO had taken his position at the front of the hall; a tall, healthy, older man, with a well groomed appearance. His hair was gelled and combed back, matching his finely cut beard, shaped to his face. He dressed in black holding his legendary cane, supposedly passed down through hundreds of his family's generations. His voice radiated throughout the room. Deep, threatening and powerful. Everyone in the room was attentive, barely even breathing."I am the CEO of the Planetary Protection Unit, for whom you all work for. For more years than is capable to remember, this company has searched, in vain, to find a solution to our current crisis. Our star has aged, and in it's death it threatens to kill us as well. Up to this point, we have fought back. Refusing to die with the thing that kept us alive. In doing so, we are fighting nature, we are fighting the balance of the universe. I tell you today, I believe this is wrong. My families views are wrong. And the views of the PPU are wrong." The last sentence caused a buzz in the crowd. "And so after a lot of thought, I am here by closing the Planetary Protection Unit."

The crowd began to uproar, me being one of them. He couldn't do this! The Unit was the planets only hope!

" You're giving up?!" One person shouted.

"What kind of man are you?!" An agent called.

"You've sentenced us to death!" Another exclaimed over the roar of the crowd.

Everyone was out of their seats now. Agents surrounding the CEO began to move into a protective stance.

"MY DECISION IS FINAL!" The CEO bellowed over the roar of the crowd. He turned on his heel and exited through a portal at the back of the stage, along with his agents. They disappeared in a flash of light. In utter shock and dismay, I got out of my seat, turning to exit the hall, spotting Jarek who stood open mouthed with anger displayed across his face.

JAREK

"I am here by closing the Planetary Protection Unit."

"What?!" I was in utter shock as I saw the CEO and heard the end of his speech. I shouted out, "But I've found what we need!" But my voice was muffled over the other shouts and disputes from the hundreds of people in the hall. I was forced to watch as the CEO disappears, bringing down the organisation with him. I had become so angry I hardly noticed Talin as he headed towards me from his seat.

"Jarek!" Talin called to me over the deafening crowd.

"We have to go after him!" I replied, heading towards the rows of employees starting to leave the conference hall. They looked outraged and dismal, some even crying into their hands.

"Why? What happened?" Talin shouted.

"I found the designs we need!"

"That's great! Where are they?" Talin reached me. We were stood in a corner of the hall, staying clear of the protesting employees. I grew more frustrated with every passing second. "Well, I don't actually have it - but I know who does. Those weird guys at the restaurant have them, but they sort of escaped and I have no idea where they went." Talin looked at me, confused for a moment. "Well, how are you gonna find them?"

"I think I know just the person. Pack up your stuff, Talin, we're doing this one on our own."