Tale of The Broken Sword

Chapter Twenty Four : Traits of the Former

27th September, AD 2056

270 kilometers beneath Detroit

I shake my head, unable to form any words. I shifted my view across the empty carriage. There was no one except the seven of us. The dizziness writhing in my head now disappears as tons of questions bickers with my mind. What is The Empire? What does it got to do with me? Soldier?

“Kelson?” Warren approached towards me. “Are you okay, buddy?”

I closed my eyes and tightened my fists, hoping that this was a dream. But when I open them again, it’s still the same thing. I’m here, and Warren and Janice staring at me, looking worried. I shake my head and motioned to the both of them not to disturb me.

I stood up from my seat and headed towards the window. Looking at myself through the reflection on the polished mirror, I replayed the events during the commotion back in the Convention Centre.

Janice lays her hand on my shoulder. “I’m worried about you, Kelson.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” She continued.

“No,” I shook my head, keeping my eyes fixed onto the reflective image.

“Look,” she starts. “I’m sorry if this mission is too much to bear for you.”

“It’s not your fault, Janice.” I mutter.

“But, why–––.” I stopped myself. “It’s nothing.”

I turned around and walked towards the glass door and walked down towards the cafeteria. Janice wanted to follow me, but Warren stopped her halfway. Arriving at the Surface Station, we kept silent to each other. I spend the night in my apartment room, replaying the man’s words all over again. Hours later, tiredness came in and I finally fall into a fitful sleep.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

The next day...

I was the first to arrive in the Conference Room. Simmons wanted a meeting among the three of us in the Room. Apparently, he’s not happy that the Prime Minister was wounded in a shootout. But nevertheless, he was happy that three American’s were praised for their heroic efforts to dispose of the perpetrator.

Things are a bit off the scales, perhaps? I was preoccupied with all thinking in my mind but as soon as I brushed it off, the rest of them entered into the room.

“Kelson,” Janice was surprised. “You’re early.”

“Yeah, I had an early sleep last night.” I quickly changed the topic and looked towards the window, warming itself from the sunlight. “Great day, huh?”

“Yes, it is.” Simmons emerged from behind. “Great day for a cup of coffee.”

Everyone kept quiet when he’d said that. Simmons felt like we’ve changed ever since we departed from Detroit for Melbourne. It’s like a new and improved version of Kelson, Warren and Janice. He was worried though, sending a bunch of inexperienced kids for a dangerous diplomatic mission that can go haywire at any time.

Simmons shrugged it off. Realising that he had an important job to do –taking care of us, kids–, Right. Holding a stack of papers in his hand, he waved it towards the two of us.

“A full report on your performance. Well, I could say that Kelson’s was rather, exemplary.” He tries to smile. “Same goes towards the rest.”

“Really?” I smirked. “It’s a good thing, then.”

Moments later, Warren barged through the door. Pieces of flying paper followed him from behind as if it felled as he knocked through the door.