“His name was Gauth Van Hulsieg. I remember the big one telling me that. Gauth as in maul, not Gauth as in router.” John told his appointees. Amy left. Crosby right. Lou in front. Gilbert was busy.

  “And that big one is called Cerberus, right?” Crosby asked for clarity.

  “Yes. ” John replies, looking to his right.

  Safe to say that, throughout the meeting, he didn't look to his left.

  Lou stands up and moves to the plane behind John, grabbing the marker to write the names down as to ensure they don't remain in memory. As he writes the names on the plane, he gets the story straight.

  “So the big one is Cerberus. And you said there was a small one?”

  “I don't know there name.” John tells him. And so Lou writes that there's a short one, putting a question mark beside it.

  Crosby speaks up. “There was also golden eye. Proteus right? With the pistol?”

  “Yep. Write that down.” John confirms, turning back to Lou who continues writing. Amy is notably silent, though only John notices.

  Lou finishes writing and turns back around. “So we have Cerberus, Proteus, and a short one. Do we have anything else?”

  John gives all the info he has. “I know Proteus was Jimbo’s boss. And, while I'm not sure… that Cerberus guy reminds me a lot of the dude who killed James Mourner.”

  Lou writes that down and turns back around. “So we can assume Cerberus does the killing, and Proteus is some sort of admin.”

  “Well no.” Crosby points out. “Proteus also tried to kill us that one time. He is who tracked you down right?” Crosby asks, looking at John who confirms with a nod.

  Lou turns back around and puts a question mark next to Proteus.

  “So that's something we can work with for research. Have you got anything to say Amy?” He asks their attention falling on to her.

  Her face is flat and resigned, but she answers anyway.

  “No. But you should probably write that Gauth Van whatever John said before.”

  “Gauth Van Hulsieg.” John clarifies to Lou who writes that down too. He puts the lid on the pen as Crosby gets up from his seat.

  “That's very nice thank you Lou. Now. The virtual devices are in the back of the big SUV. Any time frame on when those can be set up?”

  “I'll have a go tomorrow afternoon.” Lou says, sitting down at his seat. Crosby acknowledges him as he moves to the plain.

  “Right! Time for my good news! Our contact Douglas has been informed of our efforts at the arcade. As compensation for our services…”

  Crosby gets the pen and scribbles a number as he talks.

  “They are entitling us to the tune of… five hundred thousand credits.” He steps aside so they can see the number. “So how it'll work is we request them to purchase stuff on our behalf. Then, they'll deliver it to us via Douglas.”

  “That is excellent.” John says as he stands, letting out a big yawn and stretching. He gives Crosby a pat on his back as Crosby yields the floor prematurely. John turns to those gathered, noticing a few eavesdropping onlookers.

  “For as much as I would just love to keep this discussion going, I believe it should be reserved for tomorrow morning. We're all tired. It's been a long day. Does that sound good?”

  No one says anything, yet they all seem to agree in his eyes.

  “Great. You're all dismissed. See you all once the Neosun is past dawn.”

  Crosby and Lou all mumble a warm acknowledgment. Amy doesn't say anything, not that John was listening out for it. He grabs a few bits and bobs from the table and heads to the far side of the hangar.

  But, he turns before his room. He instead navigates towards the soft packaging material where half of the others go to sleep.

  A mini honorary hallway made up of crates and pallets guides him into the area. It must've been about as wide as a city road, and twice as long. The floor was covered with soft materials. Styrofoam, synthetic fabrics, tarps, clothes, nets, meshes— anything that isn't hard as a rock.

  Here he finds a few people getting ready for make-shift bed.

  “Hey! John! It's good to see you!” One of them says sitting down. Another stands to shake his hand. “Hi sir. You joining us for tonight?”

  “That I am.” John tells them, collecting their shared attention.

  “I figured that if I'm going to lead you all, it's best I understand how you all survive.”

  His words were as make-shift as the floor they plan to sleep on. They sounded nice. They technically weren't lies, but he knows that isn't the full truth. Yet they all eat it up.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  “We've honoured sir! We've noticed your work on the outside. It's honestly inspiring.”

  “You have?!” John asked, genuinely surprised at the praise. It came from the man whose hand he shakes. Another further back reinforces it.

  “Hell yeah! It gives us something to look forward to, honestly! Legend!”

  “No I'm not.” John's mind tells him. He is hearing all this praise, but it just doesn't land. John voices his opinion as nicely as he can to them.

  “Honestly, I'm uhh… I'm really not. Trust me, if you people were in my position, you'd be doing just as well if not better.”

  The comment seems to only galvanize their support.

  “Thank you sir! We really appreciate it!” One of them says our of the many who spoke.

  What the fuck is he doing with himself?

  Why are these people praising him?

  Do they not know he only does it because he has to?

  He walks past to find a spot to rest— a mirror of praise. He lies himself down on the ground. It is surprisingly comfy as he speaks.

  “Thank you everyone. Another big day tomorrow. I need some sleep now.”

  “Got it sir.” One of them says amongst the many. John face stares up at the ceiling past the dampening net. The light is still quite bright even if a net is in the way to darken them. John's eyes slowly drift close. The floor quietly consumes him as his mind embarks on a voyage. The darkness consumes the light. Soon enough, there is no ceiling. There is no hangar. There is…

  “John?” A familiar voice asks next to him. A voice that rips him from the cradles of a blissful sleep. His eyes open with everyone asleep, the lights still on, and a stranger next to him.

  “John?” Amy asks as John continues to wake up.

  “What is it?” He asks deliriously. His eyes turn to her face which looks more well rested than before. “Can you come with me please?” She asks.

  “...sure.” He humors. Amy helps him up, her touch warm but his hands cold. He follows her to the closed hangar door, then to one of the side doors near the shooting range.

  She leads him outside, covered by an overhand next to the rain. It is still night, though the Neosun must be near. He stops by the chair he left out there, Amy turning to look at him directly.

  “What have you dragged me out here for?” He asks.

  “I'm sorry.” She replies, her eye big and honestly.

  John doesn't really feel anything at the sight. “What for?” He asks.

  Amy struggles to form a reply. “I'm… I'm sorry how I lashed out earlier. It wasn't nice. I was… all mixed up. And my emotions got out of control.”

  John still doesn't really feel anything as he listens. He looks down on her as a life long acquaintance.

  “Don't be sorry it's alright. I'm sorry for pissing you off.”

  “No, John. It's my fault.” She tells him.

  “No it's not. It's really not that deep.” He replies. Amy looks down and grabs his hand. Her hands are still warm despite the frigid cold.

  John, despite his jacket, is just cold.

  Her hands feel warm, but his skin doesn't absorb it. She rubs his hand gently and looks up. “John. Please. I had a dream, John.”

  “You did?!” John asks, the news pleasant to hear. Amy smiles and nods.

  “Yes I did John. It was very nice. I know what you're talking about about now.”

  “What was it about?” John inquired.

  “I can't quite remember. It was something about the Sun I think… and that hill. Remember the wallpaper of that hill?” Amy asks. The rain was calm and the thunder was silent for the time being.

  “Yep, I remember. That's cool.” He tells her.

  She looks away again. He can't quite make out how she's feeling. But he humors her. His reaction flat and unworthy of description.

  She lets go of his hand before speaking.

  “I don't know how to say this John. But it's about us both.”

  His smile turns to a frown. He looks away just as she does. His words are laden with disappointment. “Don't Amy. Not now. I don't want to hear it.”

  She looks again, desperate to be heard. “But Jo—”

  “No.” John interrupts. “I have an idea of what you're gonna talk about. If it is what I think, then I don't want to talk about it.”

  “You don't even want to li—” Her question is interrupted again as their eyes meet again.

  “No. Not now. Not anymore. There are too many fucking things we have to worry about. I would rather we put whatever that was behind us. We have bigger issues to deal with.”

  Rainfall. More rainfall. Maintained eye contact. Sadness. Amy speaks.

  “John… plea—”

  “No.” He interrupts one more time. “Maybe when this is all over we can have a look at it. But not now.”

  “So you're just gonna leave me hanging?!” Amy asks, her offense clear in her voice. The first vestige of the Neosun peak over the horizon, indicated as the cloud cover is briefly left to flow from its beams.

  He shakes his head as he looks between her eyes.

  “No Amy. Because I'm not entirely sure what you're talking about about. And I want to keep it that way.” He says.

  His words are heavy knives. The lightning has a sense of timing as it echoes throughout the sky.

  He looks her up and down. He looks away. He nods. He leaves.

  And so she is left alone as the Neosun continues to crawl over the horizon. It's light is gross. It betrays the occlusion of darkness. A product born of capital desires. A pain relief without cure. A truth made of lies.

  She stood there, alone, with needs unfulfilled.

  The Neosun rises to her left side a little higher. It climbs as every second scrapes by. Time carries on. But something is left behind.

  The rain still falls. The clouds still thunder. And time moves on.