Fannec Records - Book 1: Outlaw - Chapter 21

Robert leaned back in his worn chair, the squeaking hinges punctuating the somber silence that had become familiar over the time after the mission. He stared at the remains of a long-forgotten meal, the stale remnants now as unappetizing as the hopeless reality he faced.

Robert’s eyes narrowed, his thoughts drifting to the sacrifices he’d made, leaving Mool, putting his life at risk, taking the lives he did. Was it worth it? The cold, lifeless base seemed to reflect his doubts at him. But then the ever-present glow of Ace’s orb caught his eye, casting a faint shimmer, a reminder of their enduring partnership. Robert sighed, the weight of their situation hanging heavily around them. Yet Ace’s presence brought some warmth to the lifeless confines of their isolated base.

The media labeled him a hacker and conspiracy theorist, as they did not know his identity. They gave him the name ‘GreenNet’ or the ‘hacker known as GreenNet.’ The satellite they had used to release the information had a glitch that applied a green hatching pattern over the area where Robert and Ace were in the photograph. So, they gave him this silly moniker instead of experimenting with something clever.

Ace’s little virus was a timed-release affair. There would be a new data dump every few hours over the next week. It was an attempt at keeping those involved in the illicit dealings on their toes.

“Was it all worth it?” Robert picked at the food with disdain.

Across the table, Ace’s orb hummed, his ever-present shine a stark contrast to Robert’s heavy mood. “We believe it was. We’ve accomplished much in our fight for justice. You helped all those people at the warehouse escape what could be very dark circumstances. Even those you could not escort out made it out in the end. Although no one knows it was you. Oh and the Commander still has it out for you.”

Robert scowled and paused, his gaze falling on a far-off point, haunted by one particular mystery. “We never found out what those traffickers needed the abductees for… It’s getting to me, Ace.”

“Indeed, we understand your frustration, but we must not lose sight of our accomplishments. The path you have chosen is a long and winding one, and we have taken significant strides.”

“Chosen? More like thrust upon me. I didn’t choose this, Ace.” Robert felt frustrated with living a life he didn’t want. After an uncomfortable few minutes of quiet, he said while rubbing his temples, “Have I done more harm than good?”

“Self-doubt is natural, but do not let it consume you. You have fought, and our journey is far from over.”

“You always know what to say, don’t you? It’s like having my own personal cheerleader.”

“Cheerleader? It’s an interesting analogy, though inaccurate. We prefer to think of ourselves as partners in this quest.”

Robert snorted, “Yeah, partners.” His shoulders slumped. “I wish we had more answers, ya know?”

“Answers will come in time. For now, let us continue to fight for those who cannot.”

“Right,” Robert said, nodding more to get himself onboard with the thought than anything. “We’ll keep searching until we find the truth behind all this, no matter how long it takes.”

“Indeed.”

Together, they sat in the well-lit executive dining room, the weight of their shared purpose anchoring them in the cold, vast space. As one, they gazed out into the infinite expanse, preparing themselves for what had yet to come. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered breathtaking views of the asteroid belt. The deserted installation they now called home vibrated around him, its clean interior far different from the run-down city he had left behind. But it was safer, at least for now.

“Nothing new, huh?” frustration was building like an itch beneath his skin. “How can we not have more to go on?”

Ace’s voice, ever calm and collected, resonated throughout the room. “Our resources are limited. We must make do with what we have.”

“Right.” Robert scoffed, shaking his head. “What we have is a whole lot of nothing.”

News had trickled in: officials denying his allegations despite the leaks, labeling them a conspiracy. The core conspirators remained free, continuing their sinister operations.

“Public opinion’s against us,” he said, bitterness lacing his words. “They think we’re making this up.”

“Yet, some resignations occurred following our little stunt,” Ace countered, a note of optimism in his tone. “It may be a minor victory, but it is a victory.”

“Minor” was the operative word. Robert leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling, his thoughts racing. With no additional evidence and only a few essential aids resigning, the impact of their actions seemed insignificant, like throwing pebbles at an invulnerable fortress. He clenched his fists, nails digging into his palms.

“Damn it,” he slammed his hand on the table, growling. “We need to find something concrete that’ll blow the lid off this thing.”

“Patience. Rushing will only lead to mistakes. We must be thorough and calculated in our approach.”

Robert snapped, rubbing his temples: “You’re not the one who has to live knowing that we could’ve done more, saved more people. I’m the only hope for those who can’t stand up for themselves.”

Ace’s voice softened. “We understand your frustration, but we must also acknowledge our limitations. We are doing everything we can, given the circumstances.”

Robert’s gaze drifted out the windows as a sea of stars stretched across his vision. Beside him, Ace floated, casting his metallic reflection on the glass. Robert sighed, his breath fogging up the closest window.

“Sometimes I wonder if what we’re doing is enough. There’s so much corruption and injustice out there.”

“As long as we continue to fight, there will always be hope for change,” Ace’s voice was steady.

Robert paused, then brushed away the condensation from the glass. “You’re right,” he conceded. “Let’s keep going then. For every person who can’t stand up for themselves.”

In the silence that followed, Robert gazed at the distant clusters of twinkling lights. Their vastness had once made him feel small and hopeless. But now, standing beside his steadfast companion, he found a new determination rising within him, a conviction that together, they could illuminate even the darkest void.

“Before we act again, Ace, we need more evidence,” he said, half to himself and half to the ever-watchful AI. “We can’t afford another dead end.”

“Indeed. Gathering additional data is crucial,” Ace’s mollifying voice echoed through the cramped space like a ghostly presence. “We must tread cautiously, for the truth we seek is well-guarded.”

He couldn’t shake the feeling that something remained hidden from him. What happened to Ace when he loaded the virus into the satellite network?

“Hey, Ace,” Robert ventured, trying to sound casual but failing gloriously. “I’ve been meaning to ask… when you loaded that virus, what exactly happened to you? You said a lot about the mission. But I have a hard time believing in everything you can do simultaneously. You couldn’t handle talking while investigating. “

Ace hesitated for a moment, the silence of the asteroid base hanging heavy between them. As Robert opened his mouth to press further, the AI interrupted him dismissively.

“We experienced an anomaly in the system. It was as if someone was tracking my work on the satellite, but whoever it was remained hidden. We do not know who or how they managed to monitor us, but we suspect it was set up well before we visited the satellite.”

“How do we know that you weren’t tracked here? Do we need to leave?”

“Because how could they track to this location? We can’t send signals that any network outside this facility could understand or use. It’s a mystery to me as well, Rob.”

Mollified for the moment, Robert looked back at his plate of food. When he first arrived at the facility, Ace, with the help of some robots, had cooked up some of the best food Robert had had in years. After that first meal, however, the little robots had been busy scurrying about cleaning up the run-down parts of the facility, and Ace had left Robert to make his food.

Robert couldn’t help but wince at the artificial taste of the meals he had ‘prepared,’ longing for the satisfying crunch of natural vegetables grown on Mool. Ace hovered nearby, his orb emitting the somber hum that had grown familiar to Robert over their time together.

“We understand these provisions are not ideal.”

Robert smirked, swallowing another tasteless bite. “Yeah, I know, Ace. Can’t fight the fight on an empty stomach, right?”

“Indeed.”

As Robert gazed upon the AI orb’s faint glow, he perceived warmth within him. It dawned on him that Ace was likely the best friend he’d ever had—loyal, unwavering, and always there when he needed him. Robert paused, fork hovering mid-air, as memories of near-death experiences and narrow escapes flooded back. A bitter chuckle slipped out, chased by a pang of gratitude.

“You know, Ace, I never thought I’d say this about an AI, but you’ve been one hell of a friend.”

“Thank you, Rob. The sentiment is mutual,” the AI’s tone was warm and genuine.

“Still, it’s hard not to feel like we’re scratching the surface,” his frustration simmered. “There’s so much corruption, so many unanswered questions.”

Ace dipped lower as if to offer a comforting touch he could not provide. “Persistence is key. We must do what we can to help those we can.”

“Trust me, Ace, I’m not giving up. I’ll be dead, or they will be,” his speech was unwavering.

“Then let us use this time to prepare ourselves for the battles that lay ahead,” Ace’s words were a beacon of hope amidst the darkness. “Our journey is far from over.”

“We’ll find the answers we’re looking for. We must keep digging, searching for the next puzzle piece.”

The tiny lights on the floating orb’s surface shimmered like distant stars. “We can do this. You know that?”

The refinery stretched around them, its shadowy corridors and derelict machinery speaking to a forgotten past. But now, it served as their sanctuary—a place for them to plan their next move—a place of safety.

“Alright,” Robert said, cracking his knuckles and grinning with a fierce glint in his eyes. “Let’s get to work. We’ve got some people to ‘handle,’ and they won’t take themselves out.”

Robert’s thoughts drifted to analyzing potential leads and strategies while Ace’s presence hummed beside him—unyielding.

“The first thing we need to do is find more evidence, leads, something to go on. We’ve got to hit them where it hurts, to show that we’re not blowing smoke.”

“An excellent plan,” Ace concurred. “We shall scour every corner of this vast universe.”

“Damn right,” Robert said with a smile. “They won’t even know what hit ’em.”

A comfortable silence settled between Robert and Ace. They didn’t need any more words. They both knew the danger ahead, but neither flinched at the thought. Not anymore.

“Look at that, Ace,” Robert motioned to a distant cluster of twinkling lights. “Makes you feel small, doesn’t it?”

“Indeed.”

Robert sighed. “I wonder if we can do enough.”

“Ah, but therein lies the beauty of persistence. You do what you can with what you have.”

“Persistent, huh? I’ve never been called that before.”

“Then perhaps it is time to embrace the label,” a hint of humor creeped into the AI’s tone.

“Maybe.”

In the following silence, Robert contemplated the weight of their self-appointed mission. It dawned on him that the fight against corruption was his responsibility, but not because he had made the mess. Instead, it was his job because he was the only one in a position to help. Well, he and Ace. He found solace in this realization, allowing himself to trust their companionship.

“Hey, Ace. Thanks for sticking with me through all this. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had.”

“Your gratitude is touching,” Ace said, his voice warm and reassuring. “We are honored to stand by your side.”

“Alright then, side-kick,” Robert clapped his hands together. “Let’s get back to work. We’ve got a galaxy of secrets to uncover.”

With that, Robert and Ace peeled their gazes away from the mesmerizing tapestry of stars, turning to face the challenges ahead. They knew the road would be treacherous, but they also knew they could weather any storm together.

But in the muted moment, Robert grappled with his guilt. He thought of all the lives lost in his fight against corruption and remembered his part in it—recalling how he had used lethal force to achieve his goals. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he had meddled too much with something he was never meant to touch or that some innocent people had ultimately paid for it. It weighed on him like a heavy stone, and for a moment, he almost felt he should give up.

A loud noise echoed in the corridors of their hideout. Startled, Robert turned to Ace with a question in his eyes.

“What was that?”