console window, bringing up the Visnet search on mine.
“Visnet, search query. Notable figures: Restore generation. Filter: First name: Alere.”
After a few long minutes, Visnet piped up. “500+ results.”
“On screen.” Scanning the results, I verified my hunch. I pointed to the stack of news articles at the top. “Alere Vox Valerius. Founder of Sky Farms, Father of the Restore era.”
Lilith picked through the results. She pulled up a video. “It says there’s other founders too. Visnet, play clip.”
We both stared with jaws agape as Alere stood proud in between two friends. It wasn’t him we were shocked at, it was Markin standing next to him, with a laughing woman on the other side.
“Aquila and Serena Emet survey the new Sky Farm facility outside Opalesk City.”
Lilith slammed her hand on the dash. “Fucking asshole!”
“Stop clip.”
The screen froze, and I slumped back in my seat. Lilith looked pissed. He face was even paler than before, teeth gritted. Not knowing what else I could do, after a few minutes of silence I closed the screen and moved to get up. I could at least stretch a bit, or maybe lie down.
The Mercury was big enough to have a sleeping pod. It’d be a welcome break right now. Hadn’t thought about why I left since leaving Opalesk. The strain of all this was tiring.
“I want to ask you something before we keep going.”
Lilith had curled up with her back facing me, long legs stretched out to rest her feet on the dash. “I’ll take first watch,” she replied.
“Not that. Do you regret bringing me along yet?”
Lilith sat up and pushed her snarled hair back into a ponytail. “Not really. Requires some rethinking, but I’d assumed you had a good reason for fleeing Mil-Sec. They don’t chase people past the drone range, though. I think they assume we’ll die from lack of resources, before getting a chance to tell the cities what’s going on.”
The tension in my muscles dissolved.
“Did you make the right choice in coming with me Kharl?” she asked while typing on the screen in front of her. A tense grimace spread across her face as she read something then closed the program window.
My shoulders shook with laughter. “Yup. You’re the most interesting, fucked up piece of work that’s come my way in a long time.”
Lilith suppressed an snorting giggle and slapped my arm. “You’re calling me fucked up? I’m not running from an alien empire.”
“Well, aren’t we a pillar of the community, Little Miss Serial Killer.”
We both stared at each other, waiting for a reaction. I began to worry I’d pushed it too far when she pouted, bottom lip quivering.
“Shit. Too far, sorry.”
Lilith moved closer, inches away from my face. Staring like a starving tiger, she gripped my arms with strong hands.
“Just fucking with you.”
The screwy feeling in my stomach subsided. “You’re a fucking maniac woman.”
She only gave me a sly smile as she moved back to her seat. I’d met dangerous types but she was in the top five for sure.
“I feel better now. Way to make a girl feel good Kharl. You love it though.”
“Hell yes I do.”
Her cheeks flushed. Wasn’t sure if I’d amused or embarrassed her. Moving on then.
“What’s the plan then boss?”
Lilith flinched. “Don’t call me that, of all things.”
“You’re awful picky with names girl.”
She shrugged. “I just like Lilith.”
“Alright. Answer the question.”
“From here I know of a couple rumoured settlements. Some or all of them may not be there, but we can scavenge or build off what they started. We need to be far away from Markin’s camp, but not so far from anything that I can’t get supplies. There’s another city on the coast. Further northwest.”
“Show me.”
Lilith pulled up the map on a projection. I sat down to better view the entire thing. Expansive landscape extended over the front window and ceiling. I studied it carefully as she pointed out
“Visnet, search query. Notable figures: Restore generation. Filter: First name: Alere.”
After a few long minutes, Visnet piped up. “500+ results.”
“On screen.” Scanning the results, I verified my hunch. I pointed to the stack of news articles at the top. “Alere Vox Valerius. Founder of Sky Farms, Father of the Restore era.”
Lilith picked through the results. She pulled up a video. “It says there’s other founders too. Visnet, play clip.”
We both stared with jaws agape as Alere stood proud in between two friends. It wasn’t him we were shocked at, it was Markin standing next to him, with a laughing woman on the other side.
“Aquila and Serena Emet survey the new Sky Farm facility outside Opalesk City.”
Lilith slammed her hand on the dash. “Fucking asshole!”
“Stop clip.”
The screen froze, and I slumped back in my seat. Lilith looked pissed. He face was even paler than before, teeth gritted. Not knowing what else I could do, after a few minutes of silence I closed the screen and moved to get up. I could at least stretch a bit, or maybe lie down.
The Mercury was big enough to have a sleeping pod. It’d be a welcome break right now. Hadn’t thought about why I left since leaving Opalesk. The strain of all this was tiring.
“I want to ask you something before we keep going.”
Lilith had curled up with her back facing me, long legs stretched out to rest her feet on the dash. “I’ll take first watch,” she replied.
“Not that. Do you regret bringing me along yet?”
Lilith sat up and pushed her snarled hair back into a ponytail. “Not really. Requires some rethinking, but I’d assumed you had a good reason for fleeing Mil-Sec. They don’t chase people past the drone range, though. I think they assume we’ll die from lack of resources, before getting a chance to tell the cities what’s going on.”
The tension in my muscles dissolved.
“Did you make the right choice in coming with me Kharl?” she asked while typing on the screen in front of her. A tense grimace spread across her face as she read something then closed the program window.
My shoulders shook with laughter. “Yup. You’re the most interesting, fucked up piece of work that’s come my way in a long time.”
Lilith suppressed an snorting giggle and slapped my arm. “You’re calling me fucked up? I’m not running from an alien empire.”
“Well, aren’t we a pillar of the community, Little Miss Serial Killer.”
We both stared at each other, waiting for a reaction. I began to worry I’d pushed it too far when she pouted, bottom lip quivering.
“Shit. Too far, sorry.”
Lilith moved closer, inches away from my face. Staring like a starving tiger, she gripped my arms with strong hands.
“Just fucking with you.”
The screwy feeling in my stomach subsided. “You’re a fucking maniac woman.”
She only gave me a sly smile as she moved back to her seat. I’d met dangerous types but she was in the top five for sure.
“I feel better now. Way to make a girl feel good Kharl. You love it though.”
“Hell yes I do.”
Her cheeks flushed. Wasn’t sure if I’d amused or embarrassed her. Moving on then.
“What’s the plan then boss?”
Lilith flinched. “Don’t call me that, of all things.”
“You’re awful picky with names girl.”
She shrugged. “I just like Lilith.”
“Alright. Answer the question.”
“From here I know of a couple rumoured settlements. Some or all of them may not be there, but we can scavenge or build off what they started. We need to be far away from Markin’s camp, but not so far from anything that I can’t get supplies. There’s another city on the coast. Further northwest.”
“Show me.”
Lilith pulled up the map on a projection. I sat down to better view the entire thing. Expansive landscape extended over the front window and ceiling. I studied it carefully as she pointed out
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