Abandoned World: The Awakening

— No, why not?" replied Heddock. — We will… Definitely. You can do what you like with her, as long as you do it right….

— What do you want, Mr. Curator?

— Your skill. I need all your skill in the near future to explain to everyone on the station the need for new changes. The changes by which the station will live on… Do you have the strength to do that, or will we consider this infarction a full-fledged one, not a micro one?

— Give me one week. Just one week, and I can convince anyone of anything. — Peyton's eyes glistened as before, and though he could see that he didn't even have the strength to get out of bed yet, he would soon be able to fulfill his promise.

— That's fine. I was sure we would understand each other. — Haddock started to get up from his chair, but Peyton stopped him with a motion of his index finger and, pointing that finger at him, continued to speak:

— Promise me you'll give her back to me safe and sound!

Heddock saw those eyes, eyes full of a kind of bloodthirsty passion, and knew how this was bound to end for Delaney. And at the same time he knew that without it, support from Peyton Cross was out of the question.

— Yes, Peyton. Rest assured. After we get what we want, you'll get Delaney back safe and sound.

Heddock

In a small black room with only one small table against the wall and three chairs beside it, Taylor thought he was destined to sit there forever. After all, he'd been there for four hours and had barely knocked once to be taken to the bathroom. And it took a long time to knock. Knocking and shouting that he was going to piss all around, because he couldn't do it otherwise. Because he didn't have the strength to bear it, and that if everyone was to sit in that piss, it would be their fault. And when he was about to do it, the door opened and one of the guards took him to relieve himself. And then back again.

Of all the four hours of waiting, those twenty minutes of screaming, begging, and finally going to the bathroom were the most intense and the most alive. And he even wanted to think about doing something similar again, if only to be able to look at a living person again, even if they were staring at you so menacingly. It would take him away from the loneliness he was already experiencing with all his mind and body, knowing what it would be like in Tosca.

Finally, the door opened and not someone from security, but the head of the Enlightenment section, Charlie Heddock, stepped inside. He was, as usual, very friendly looking, and it seemed that the conversation with him would not be followed by imprisonment, but only a rebuke for inappropriate actions, maybe some official punishment, a fine, and then freedom. I really wanted to believe that. Believe it, wait for it, and get it… After all, this was neither Tannet nor Bill Sterling, but good-natured Charlie Haddock, who liked to tell the right historical things.

— Oh, Mr. Haddock, it's so good to see you…" Taylor jumped up from his seat, and immediately felt himself absentmindedly sitting up. A tugging pain rang through his nerves, and he sat back down.

— Sit down, don't get up, Taylor," Haddock sat down in the chair beside him and looked at his companion with a very depressed expression. — Tell me how you came to be here.

— I'll tell you everything. Of course I'll tell everything. It's all a misunderstanding. I didn't do anything illegal, let alone some kind of felony…

— Taylor. First things first. You can trust me, because I'm on your side. What did you do? — Heddock knew perfectly well that his only good points were to be nice kind and saving everyone, as he had been to Delaney then, which was the reason she had told him everything. It was only worth it to give all the signals that nothing bad would follow any real truthful answers. That all one had to do was tell the truth, not lie. Then the long-awaited salvation would come.

— I just didn't have time to give the flash drive back… I found it… Mmm… The day before yesterday… I wanted to take it to you the same day, but I had important things to do at work, so I put it off for now… I thought it was okay, because it could be empty….

— Taylor, I said you can trust me completely.

— Yes, yes, Mr. Haddock.

— So tell it like it was, without trying to exonerate yourself… What did you find on the flash drive on the first day?

Taylor was a little embarrassed, but he realized that he was being given a second chance to tell the truth. And that it would probably determine what would be done to him. Since he was not reproached for lying, but was offered another chance to be frank, it was a real chance, not something made up. It was worth heeding, for there would be no other opportunity. Charlie really is very kind, and maybe that's why he's here and not someone else.