Snippet #2821827

The ship was a gleaming silver beacon of polished metal, idling on the dock that would carry them to ruined earth. Kore had never been this close to the shield before, a clear wall that prevented them from being sucked out into the vacuum of space.

The prospect of visiting ruined earth made butterflies flit in her stomach. Kore was rarely ever this nervous, but the idea of hurtling towards earth in a metal craft, coupled with the closeness of the start of the Games made her stomach turn.

So Kore did what a showman does best. She turned to face Yeqon, smiling up at the man who was much taller than she. He was stoic as ever, his body language closed-off, his expression that of a passive observer. Kore, however, did not mind. Kore took a step closer; she needed to keep up airs. They were supposedly Father’s hottest, high-profile couple. ”Did you enjoy the gift I had Mimi drop in your office yesterday?” Kore inquired, her smile polite, but sly.

Behind them, fotors were eating the scene up. Yeqon ignored the foto hungry vultures, glancing down at Kore. A brow on his normally unreadable face had been quirked, he was curious and confused. Kore’s seemingly innocent smile seemed genuine, but it was rare for her to talk about personal matters in public.

Yeqon’s eyes narrowed, gaining an understanding of the larger picture. The fotors grew louder, fighting for a foto. Their once quiet mumbles increased in volume. It only took one short phrase to reach Yeqon’s ears for him to realize Kore’s intentions. Are the rumors about them true?

Mentally, Yeqon sighed. He did question the intention of the gift Kore’s assistant had dropped on his desk the day prior. The strawberries and liquor, the two items that made up Yeqon’s food pyramid. At first, Yeqon had believed that the gift might just be an actual show of appreciation. However, Kore was not such an obvious sentimentalist, along with the continued pressure for them to appear in public in the not-so-subtle matching outfits.

These were not simple coincidences, Kore had a plan… and Yeqon needed to play along.

“Yes...” Yeqon nodded, “it was a pleasant surprise.” He glanced at the fotors sparkling eyes, “I will be sure to return the gesture… Kore.”

Her name sounded strange in his mouth, as though he were tasting the syllables of a newly discovered word. Was this perhaps the first time he had called her by her first name? Kore racked her brain, trying to think back while her smile grew.

To outsiders, it looked as though the two were taking an intimate moment before boarding the ship.

Kore took Yeqon by the elbow, the hatch opening with a hiss, welcoming them into its belly. The interior was just as shiny as the outside, with a sparse amount of furnishings. There were two lounge chairs, pushed near the large window that framed space. On the other side was a table, decorated in refreshments.

Kore released Yeqon once they boarded, away from the eyes of the fotors. ”No need, it was a simple show of appreciation for all you have done thus far.” The door closed as soon as they were inside, the airlock engaging to make certain they would have a safe voyage.

Kore took a seat in one of the chairs by the window, crossing her legs at the ankle. For a moment, an eager child-like expression crossed her face. ”Have you been there before?” Kore asked, gesturing towards the planet. ”To earth, I mean.”

Her partner moved with the grace of a bird, practically gliding across the floor to seat himself in the chair opposite. He straightened his slightly-wrinkled coat sleeve, sighing audibly as he eased himself down. “No,” Yeqon replied curtly, “there was never a need… or a desire.”

He took a brief moment to take in the ship’s interior, noting the effort that the staff had put in to make sure their short trip was comfortable. Yeqon turned away from Kore, resting his head on his hand, his arm supported by the chair. “I assume this is your first time as well?”

Kore spared Yeqon a glance before returning her gaze to the window. ”I’ve never been off of the ships before,” she was enthralled by the orb that was slowly growing closer.

It was rare for the two of them to have a moment of privacy to themselves, much less together. ”That servant of yours, Eon, is it? I was surprised to see him accompany you. I thought he detested the Games,” the ship suddenly lurched, the engines roaring to life. Even within the cozy cabin, they could hear a low drone.

Even with the sudden jerk, Yeqon only slightly adjusted himself. It was easy for him to steady his body and he eased back once more after a moment had passed. Taking a moment to organize his thoughts, Yeqon closed his eyes, while the low drone of the engine no longer idled beneath them.

Most would probably question how Kore acquired such knowledge- a servant’s personal feelings. Especially one, to Yeqon’s knowledge, who Kore had never addressed or personally spoken to the servant in question. Yeqon did not doubt her resourcefulness, in fact, he would be more surprised if Kore didn’t know.
“He… does not find the Games favorable… but he can separate his feelings and duties.” Although that was not necessarily true, Eon based his sudden request to accompany Yeqon solely on emotion.

”How admirable,” it was an open secret among staff that Kore was not favorable towards mutants. It was part of the reason she felt no remorse in taking such a large part in organizing an event like this.

The rest of the journey passed in silence, the ship steady as it docked at the launching station in the middle of the Wastelands. The thrumming beneath their feet died out, the engines having been cut. ”I believe this is our stop.”

The door opened slowly, giving the two their first glimpse of ruined earth.

It was bright, even from where they were seated. The first thing Kore could sense was the immense heat that came off in waves. The next thing Kore noticed was the armada of peace keepers, swathed in tan. They marched up the gangway and onto the ship. ”Welcome Overseers,” a slightly muffled voice came from behind a helmet.

He removed it swiftly, bending at the waist in a bow. ”I am General Mateus, I will be overseeing your safety while you are here with us on earth.”

General Mateus was tall, but not taller than Yeqon. His skin was tanned and his face wrinkled from living in the sun-scorched desert. His hair was gray, perhaps from years of stress, but his eyes were his most striking features. They were the color of amber and around them were crows feet from having smiled so much. The General was a human, indicated by the small patch on his shoulder that separated him from the mutants that worked within the peace keepers.

The General offered a hand for debarking, which Kore gingerly took. ”Thank you, General.” Kore smiled in what appeared to be earnestness. As soon as they emerged, the light became blinding. Kore squinted at its brilliance, putting a hand up so that she could see.

They were led down bits of paved road that someone had swept the sand off that morning towards a tent where the two Overseers would rest until it was time to begin. While they moved, Yeqon got to work. His eyes were quick to adjust to the brightness, his mutant blood aiding him in the adaptation of the familiar atmosphere.

A wave of nostalgia ignited somewhere in the pit of his stomach, the combination of light and heat managing to overcome the steel-forged barrier in Yeqon’s mind. Yeqon looked up again, peering over the horizon. The heatwaves vibrated in the distance and with them, a dark-skinned woman dancing across the sand as though it were her own, personal stage.

She dons foreign clothes, dyed in colors that match her long, black curly hair. Peering out at him from the cloth are a pair of emerald eyes.

A sharp inhale made his chest shake, reminding himself that this was an illusion, that the vision, the woman, were not real. Yeqon squandered the emotions that swelled in his chest, turning his attention towards the general. “Thank you, General Mateus… what percentage of competitors still haven’t arrived?”

He evaluated the security measures while the General rattled off numbers, describing safety procedures and security. While Yeqon knew that he could easily protect himself, the small figure beside him, while there was sometimes a bite to her words, could not defend herself.

“Excellent,” it was a rare moment of praise from the boy. He stopped at the entrance of the tent, “detain any competitors who start or engage in physical altercations… appropriate punishment will be meted out… depending on the severity of the offense.”

General Mateus nodded, bowing quickly before leaving. Yeqon lingered outside the tent for a moment, looking out again at the horizon before ducking inside.

It was cooler, in the tent. “Is something not to your satisfaction?” Yeqon’s voice broke through Kore’s thoughts. It was rare for her to be this quiet. Kore shook her head, indicating that she was fine. ”Nothing, nothing.” In here, there were no cams to watch them, no fotors to pester them. It was oddly quiet.

”I was simply taken aback by it all… it’s… different.” Much hotter than Kore had imagined, she was used to the temperature controlled comfort of the ship.

It would only be a few minutes until General Mateus returned, promising to come and get them once the last ship touched down. Kore looked up at Yeqon’s face, for a moment she had seen a strange look in his eyes, but for once, Kore decided not to comment on it.

Could he possibly have lied to her when he said he had never been to earth before? Kore shook her head, there was no reason for Yeqon to lie about something so trivial. Plenty of homes come to earth for touring, charity work, and diplomatic aid. From what Kore understood, Yeqon was not the lying type either.

”Everything is running smoothly,” she glanced at her holo pod, the display blinking as it struggled to gain a stable connection. She turned it to silent for the time being, since no one would likely be reaching out to her right now. ”If you’d like,” Kore started, turning once again back towards Yeqon, ”After we get off work today, I know a little place. A quiet corner, if you will.”[/color

She took a step closer to him, [color=#0EBFE9]”It’s family owned, the drinks are cheap and the food is good.” Kore took another step. ”My treat… if you want to, that is?”

He was still hovering near the entrance of the tent, putting a great distance between them. The longing from before had returned, a terrible aching in his chest that longed for this barren wasteland. Yeqon would have liked to put blame on the last few days for his current state, one emotional interaction after another. It had taken a toll on his mental health.

Strangely, however, Yeqon did not mind the current situation. It was pleasant, to be in a place where his every move was not being evaluated through the lens of others. Although there was a certain irony to it. Why else would the very first location he visited on earth in years be the Wastes?

It was Kore that interrupted his thoughts, her small frame entering his field of vision. When had she gotten so close? Yeqon stared down, noticing how little space there was between them. His co-host was incapable of hurting him: physically that is, although she was quite talented in other forms of havoc.

Kore’s expression was earnest, innocent. It made Yeqon immediately wary, his mind trying to put together why she had offered such a thing. Kore was not one to hand out favors unless she had something to gain. “You wish… to arrange a date with me?”

Yeqon tilted his head to the side, staring at Kore with open curiosity. Usually, he would deny any requests for socialization after hours. Yeqon had a habit of not trusting anyone’s intentions. However, at this moment, there was no one watching them. Yeqon had nothing to gain by accepting her request. A small establishment with food and drinks… What was she planning?

“...Is there a reason for this sudden request?... Headlines? Publicity stunt? … A strategy meeting?” Yeqon was blunt, but respectful. He could see no hidden agenda in Kore’s expression and that in itself was dangerous. “... I suppose… I will accept your request… as a thank you for the gift.”

His response was met with a giggle not unlike the chirp of a small bird. ”No, not a date… no.” Kore stepped back, her expression softened. She was very aware that Yeqon did not harbor those sorts of feelings. ”Do two coworkers always need a reason to meet?”

He had accepted her request and that was a small victory. ”I am aware that I am… unpleasant, at times when the cameras are rolling. I’m sure you must understand that living on Father is like being a pawn in a constant game of chess. Always evaluating and planning ahead. Sometimes it’s just nice to step away from that, like right now for instance.”

No cams, no fotors, no listening devices. Not even a holo pod could reach them here.

Yeqon’s brow began to relax, his frown thinning, his body relaxing. While Yeqon was piqued by Kore’s transparency, he was still confused. Was there truly a need to grow closer with those you worked with? Yeqon had determined that meeting outside of work was unnecessary, but he didn’t view Kore as someone with different values.

Yeqon’s opinion of Kore was simple: she was harmless, physically that was. With an animated personality, devoted to her role as Head Overseer, capable, but sometimes manipulative, and cruel. It was an honest observation Yeqon had made after months of working together with her. It was why this situation had fallen outside of his expectations. While Yeqon had agreed, he would still remain wary of Kore’s intentions.

The tent flapped opened, General Mateus stepping back, clearing his throat quickly as though he were worried he had been interrupting something. It only took that small moment for Kore to flip the switch on, her back straightening a bit more, her dazzling smile gracing her lips. ”My apologies, I didn’t realize you two were-” he stopped, glancing up between them.

General Mateus straightened, ”It’s time.” He said at last, getting straight to the point. Kore nodded, adjusting her red veil so that it would further protect her eyes. ”Lead the way,” she smiled, gesturing for him to go first. “We mustn't be late,” Yeqon moved, the General nodding and falling into step. ”Certainly, follow me.”

Their stage was a hover platform, waiting to take them up into the sky, above the startling line. There were ground wires everywhere, fighting to maintain a connection with the ships, so that they could broadcast the footage to any holo screen turned to the right channel.

Behind the starting line were pods, each housing a competitor with a closed gate. They would only open once the countdown had completed.

Kore gingerly walked up the steps of the platform, which buzzed beneath their feet, alive with magnetic energy. A techie waddled over, hunched over awkwardly from years of carrying heavy equipment. ”Pardon the intrusion Ms. Mars, this is your mic.” Kore nodded, smiling, allowing his hands to gently place the little blue clip in her hair braid, beside her ear.

Her mental clock was ticking, they were two minutes behind schedule.

”And Mr. Cryo, this one is yours.” The techie was more intimidated by Yeqon, avoiding his gaze. Yeqon lowered his body, doing his best to help. Yeqon’s mic came in the form of a small, red triangular clip, placed beneath his slicked back hair, right next to his ear.

Once secured, he returned to his full height, smoothing out the white shirt tucked into his belt. Whilst making final preparations, a prop was handed to him. A white fan with gold embroidery that matched his gloves.

They were running two minutes late.


Kore adjusted her dress one last time, the countdown beginning. ”And we’re live in 3...2..” A hand pointed their way, indicating that the cams were now connected.

Kore strode across the stage as the platform lifted, a cloud of cams following them upwards. She flashed a dazzling smile, having prepared for this very moment for ages. ”After months of preparation, the moment you’ve all been waiting for is finally here!” Behind her, music blared, the sound of trumpets coming from a speaker somewhere on the platform. ”You know the drill,” Kore winked, her eyes glittering. This was her arena, her very own Game.

”Once that clock reaches zero, the doors will open and our competitors will spend the next week zipping across the desert terrain on a death defying quest to reach the finish line!”

Kore bound over to Yeqon’s side, who had settled into his role, following her lead, always in the exact place he needed to be. Yeqon’s contributions to the commentary included small, but noticeable nods and maneuvers with his new accessory. ”As Head Overseers, you can expect to see our faces plenty! As we give you morning and evening updates on all of your favorite competitors!”

Kore pointed towards the sky, where the projector displayed a large number 10. ”Without further ado, let’s begin the countdown!” The holographic clock flickered, eager to begin.

Yeqon’s cold demeanor had diminished just a little to match Kore’s warmth. He used his fan artfully, letting it naturally cover the bottom half of his face. His eyes, normally cold and inexpressive, appeared animated thanks to the elusive positioning.

The time had come at last, Kore pointed towards the sky and Yeqon lifted his fan, pointing too. With a cheer, the countdown commenced.

”3… 2… 1! Let the Games begin!” Fireworks were launched from somewhere around them, illuminating the sky, even in daylight. They popped at a dizzying height above them, the sound minimal compared to the thrumming of Kore’s heart in her own eardrums.

Beneath them, dust kicked up on the desert floor. The first motorbike had escaped its confines, zipping across the sand covered road. Kore watched, feeling a sense of pride swell within her. Slowly, she peeled her eyes away from the sight.

It was time to return to Father, to oversee the Game.