Crimson Dawn

A dark, polluted sky loomed over Keldaraan. Lex was pouring a cup of lemonade, sliding it across the aluminum counter, handing a frail worker a portion of fries. He made sure the man paid before leaving, then grabbed the spatula and turned his attention back to the large grill. The container he worked in reeked of frying grease, sweat, onions—of Keldaraan itself—of motor oil, smoke, pestilence and low-paying jobs. Oil splatters stung his arms, while beads of sweat tickled his forehead.

"So, starting to miss home yet?"

"Only if she turns me down." Lex glanced at the sizzling burger patties. One of them was already charred on the underside by the time he flipped it over.

"How’s it going with her?"

"Told her last week," he replied.

"That you're totally into her?"

"No. That I’m from the moon."

His coworker slapped the overcooked patty between two buns, dousing it with sauce. He placed the burgers on the warmer, ready for the next wave of shift workers due to pour in any minute.

"And did she believe you?"

"She didn’t even ask questions. Didn’t seem surprised at all. Like she already knew."

"Maybe she did. You told her at the execution that you were on the freighter, right? She can put two and two together."

"Yeah, she’s smart like that."

"Have you kissed yet?"

Lex shook his head. "I’m not even sure what she thinks of me."

"She likes you. That much is obvious."

Lex stayed quiet. "Do we need more meat?"

"Think we're good."

Lex nodded and placed the spatula with the other greasy kitchen tools in a dripping steel box. As he wiped his oily hands on his apron and turned around, he noticed the tall burger-flipper pulling out a small bag of gold-tinted pills from his black chef’s uniform. He fished one out with two fingers.

Lex stared at him.

"What are you looking at?"

"I just thought… this feels familiar. Like I’ve seen it before."

"So what? Maybe you have." His coworker reached for the half-empty can of worker's coke on the counter. Lex studied his face—the straight nose, chiseled jaw, and messy jet-black hair.

"Wait a minute," Lex said. "I know you from the factory."

"Which one, kid? I’ve worked in a bunch of them."

"The glider factory. Yea, we were both at Wolf Gliders."

"Could be."

"No, I’m sure of it," Lex insisted. "You were the guy who only had initials on your name tag. C… C... CR—yeah, that’s it. So, why are you here working with me now?"

CR shrugged. "Coincidence, fate? Who knows? Guess we both got fired."

"Not me," said Lex. "I quit. Didn’t even remember doing it. Only found out ‘cause I read the reply to my resignation the next day on my PDA."

"Yeah, trust me, dreamer, I know all about forgetting stuff. It’s a real blessing, right?"

Lex didn’t answer. He toyed with the gap where one of his molars used to be, flicking his tongue thoughtfully against it. "I remember now," he said. "You sold me one of those things."

"I gave it to you."

"Is that why I can only remember half of my meeting with her?"

CR raised his eyebrows, pretending not to know.

"The first time I met Veela. That’s what I’m talking about. I don’t remember a thing from work that day. I didn’t even remember quitting. My memories start again at the execution, when Veela and I were there."

"Huh," said CR. He flicked the capsule into the air with his thumb, caught it in his mouth and washed it down with a few big gulps of coke before setting the empty can back on the counter.

"Do these things mess with your memory?" Lex asked.

"Mess with your memory, put holes in your brain, and probably your stomach too. You don’t even wanna know how Jerry stumbled onto this little 'cure' for our minds. Then again, maybe you already knew? Maybe you’ve just forgotten it again. So, want some? I only sell them by the bag."

******

Later that evening, the light from Tau Ceti shone down on a 200-meter long, 30-meter wide overpass. The final stretch leading to the Thandros Tower was divided by a central strip of greenery, lined with palm trees and lush ferns that shimmered in the sunlight. Lex walked on the side where the palm shadows stretched diagonally across the walkway. The place was buzzing with people. On the sunlit side, corporate workers passed by as little more than silhouettes, while those on his side wore expensive suits with corporate logos on their lapels and data glasses synced to their PDAs, leaving their hands free for equally pricey briefcases and tablet PCs they were busy with. Heavily armed soldiers from the top-tier private army unit patrolled the bridge in small groups. Beyond the waist-high railing made of two thin metal bars, vast, pale gray mountains loomed in the distance, and the enormous ocean stretched out below. The reflection of the setting sun sparkled across the water, while ships near the harbor looked like tiny dots from up here. The view was breathtaking, but the park benches at the lookout points remained empty.

At the security checkpoint, he presented his clearance. An attendant searched him for weapons. Even though he passed through the metal detector without a problem, the man still asked for his boots. "There are plastic knives, too," he said. The boy pulled off his worn-out work boots, handed them over, and waited until the attendant returned after scanning them. Without saying a word, the man sent him through the metal turnstile to the Thandros Tower courtyard, where Lex stopped, frozen in place, momentarily forgetting to breathe.

Small birds chirped around him. In the center of the courtyard stood a stone pedestal engraved with a relief, above which hovered a hologram of a shimmering opal-blue globe—Cetos V. Two men in suits stood in the shade of the pedestal, smoking. Colorful meadows of flowers dotted the edges of the courtyard, their bright colors flickering in the shadows of red beeches and blooming umbrella acacias—species from Old Earth.

Lex scanned the park-like courtyard one last time before glancing up at the tower’s peak. It rose a dozen more stories above him. At the very top was Zara Thandros' residence. From there, she could overlook everything—the megacity and the people she controlled. With a knot tightening in his stomach, he climbed the wide steps toward the entrance and took the glass elevator up to her.

******

"Good day, ma’am," he said.

The secretary had noticed him the moment he entered the lobby but only looked up at him when he stood right in front of her. Her calm brown eyes examined him, not looking particularly impressed. Her name badge read Kyoko Lee.

"Miss Thandros asked to see me," he said.

She uncrossed her stockinged legs, scooted closer to her desk, and checked the holographic calendar. "Only if you're Lex Marrow," she said.

"Yes, ma’am, that’s me."

"Prove it." She pointed with a manicured finger to the ID scanner. Lex held out his hand, and the device verified his identity on her screen.

"Alright," she said. "Miss Thandros is still in a meeting. As soon as she’s free, she’ll see you. Please take a seat on the bench over there, and I’ll come get you when it's time."

The boy stepped back, nodded to her and thanked her. As he walked over the glass floor to the waiting bench, he couldn’t see the way her eyes followed him thoughtfully for a moment.

******

An hour later, he was still sitting on the bench.

Below his feet, the floors stretched endlessly into the depths. The entire tower was a structure of glass and delicate steel beams. He could see five floors down into another office, watching the employees going about their business. Office work. Sitting at desks, writing reports, making phone calls. At least, that’s how it looked, and that’s what he imagined they did all day. His elbows rested on his knees, and he nervously kneaded his stiff fingers. They were cold, even though the temperature on this floor was perfectly comfortable. The air was filled with the fresh, lively scent of plants, climbing along the glass walls and blooming brightly in futuristic planters.

He glanced over at the secretary. Sometimes their eyes met, but not this time. Behind her was a wide glass wall, tinted black. Right behind it was Thandros’ office—Zara Thandros herself—and he could almost feel her presence, something powerful and threatening, lurking behind the glass.

******

A well-dressed man with a sleek data visor sat down next to him on the bench, crossing his legs. As he did, the hem of his pants slid up, revealing a prosthetic leg made of aluminum, carbon fiber, and advanced tech. The man glanced at him. The boy nodded, serious, but the greeting hung in the air, unanswered.

Fair-weather clouds rolled in, drifting westward in the golden glow of the late-afternoon sun, passing by the highest skyscrapers. Soon, the city below was completely veiled in clouds. While he waited, Lex had thought a lot about Zara Thandros. His mind drifted back to his grey school days, when his teacher spoke about the corporate leader as if she were some kind of god—and the kids believed it. Now he knew better. She wasn’t a deity, just the head of a massive corporate empire that should’ve been criticized for countless cruelties—but wasn’t. Because even the world government—the World Union—and the infonet were under her control.

He fidgeted with the welder’s goggles hanging around his neck, thinking of Tayus, the execution of the rebels and Tardino, who had, for now, escaped the fate of his friends. He also recalled what he had read about SnackBite Inc. on the apartment terrace, and most of all, what Veela thought about the megacorporations. He remembered all the questions he used to have for Zara Thandros—and now he had the chance to ask them all.

His heart pounded wildly with excitement.

He heard the click of heels on the glass floor.

The secretary approached him, her steps confident.

When he looked up at her, he rose from the bench.

Sweaty hands.

A dry mouth.

It was time.

The most powerful woman in the system wanted to speak with him.