System Overworld: The Analog Interface

Chapter 12: Showing Thanks (Part 1)

That was but only one chapter in my life, for it wasn't long before I was captured by slave traders and forced back into the slave trade. For me, life was nothing but an extreme vicious cycle. Abused and used, sold and purchased, it never ended. However that all changed when the war between Avalon and Aegis began.

Avalon wanted access to the mines and the foolish emperor threatened them into battle. Of course Avalon being the superior nation easily showed Aegis a true performance of power and it wasn't long before the emperor surrendered and gave to Avalon, more access to Aegis's resources than he would've had to offer if he did not wage war.

It was in this time that I had met Ava. She found me at the market on this display with other slaves to be sold off. Over the years I had become very rebellious. Fighting against traders, rallying slaves to fight with me and here I was again rebelling against my master in the presence of Ava.

It was then and there that my entire life changed. Ava gave me a name and a home. She housed and clothed me even sent me to school like a normal child. It was so very unusual living in Avalon, there were no slaves, no harsh punishments, there was rewards for hard work and a system designed to ensure you fit in to the right line of work. Education.

To me this was all a dream come true, this was heaven and the person who gave me this heaven was Ava Melders.

I needed to repay her for this and to me the best way to this was to become her sword and shield. I enrolled into a programme designed to teach people how to pilot mechs. I worked hard and long to achieve the status of the best pilot in Avalon. Ava didn't immediately approve of my choices but eventually I became her ace pilot in her department of Defense and Protection.

*RING* RING*

It was 1:00AM and my smart watch was ringing. I was still up as I was doing in-depth analysis of my new mech.

"Hello this is Devina..." I answered.

"It's Buccaneer, you need to come down to the Wellington manor," a voice replied over the sound of falling rain.

"On my way!" I replied.

I then took my mech down to the House of Wellington. I couldn't imagine what had happened but it must've been important since I usually don't get called out unless something major had happened.

I made it to the manor, where many of the department of Defense and Protection's police unit were found. I climbed out my mech and entered the massive house where I found Buccaneer who seemed to be comforting Aria Vega along with her older sister and mother.

"Mrs. Wellington, this is Devina Melders our departments best  pilot," Buccaneer introduced as he gestured to me.

"That's wonderful, but how's a pilot going to help with my father's death?!" Aria's older sister questioned.

"Mr. Wellington is dead?!" I questioned in disbelief.

Buccaneer nodded his head as Aria and her family began crying.
Buccaneer then lead me to another room, a lab of sorts. There I found Ava questioning Keagan.

"Keagan Price was adopted by Wellington and he was the one who called in the incident," Buccaneer explained.

Keagan was a classmate of mines so I had already known who he was. He looked over to me with his usual gaze, he was a calm and controlled as though everything were to be fine.

"Explain to what had happened," Ava instructed with arms folded.

"Alright," he replied.

"The mech from the DeDe Monroe concert which appeared earlier this afternoon came on to the premises, none of the surveillance seemed to detect it, but I saw it from my window since I was still up," he explained.

"I couldn't sleep due to my frightening experience at the concert, but seeing the mech meant that I had to do something, so I fostered up some courage, but I then noticed a figure leaving the mech and entering the house," he said before pausing.

He looked to the ground, probably trying to find a way to explain what happened next.

"I thought perhaps the pilot was going to steal from the lab and when I arrived at the lab... Wellington was dead," he explained.

He looked at us but his face didn't seem to posses any remorse or sadness.

"Mr. Price can you tell us about your relationship with Mr. Wellington?" Ava questioned.

"My deceased brother worked for Wellington and when he died at the founding day parade Wellington took me in as I had no other family," he explained.

"Sorry for your lost, you can return to your family," Ava replied.

"Thank you," he replied and then left.

"That's one weird kid," Buccaneer commented.
"It's like he doesn't even care,"

That seemed to be true, Keagan appeared almost unaffected by the death of  Mr. Wellington. His explanation seemed well thought out almost like he had rehearsed it, but I suppose his state was shaped from the amount of loss he may have suffered.

"Right now our priority is finding that rogue mech," Ava said as she dismissed Buccaneer's comment.
"Major Buccaneer, dispatch our forces to find this pilot, this includes you Pilot Melders,"

We then left to our separate ways to fulfil our duties.