Reset to Zero: The Shedding by PS Rover

Author:PS Rover [Rover, PS]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: PS Rover Books
Published: 2024-04-02T00:00:00+00:00

ACT 3

The Raid

"I just knew how to be stubborn.

Stubbornly different.

The Bedu way, I suppose."

An innocent.

3.1 ORION

The Assistant

“Trust me. Try not to look directly at him. At least, not until you get used to it.” Her predecessor’s cryptic advice had come during the final stages of their whirlwind handover at the main office that morning. It was all part of filling a position that, if Orion was honest with herself, she hadn’t come to grips with accepting.

I don’t deserve this honor.

Orion floated carefully behind the Guide, now that the ship’s approach burn had wrapped up without a hitch. It was her first experience with freefall. Zero G. No, she abruptly corrected herself; the preferred title was ‘the Architect.’ Times were changing. The Harmony Project was gaining momentum and influence around the world. A new title seemed only natural.

She was right. She was so right. He’s unbelievable.

Even observing the world through her own digital filter, Orion couldn’t avoid his enigmatic radiance. The Architect literally glowed. In the flesh, he was known for his humanity and charisma; digitally, it appeared, he was equally special. Equally unique. Inside the orbital transport’s local zone, he radiated light.

But he isn’t augmented. How is that even possible? Some type of zone-wide code?

“My dear, let us take advantage of the time we have before docking,” the Architect recommended as he glided into a forward cabin complete with a luxury zero-G arrangement for two. The high-end orbital transport would still need to complete a series of minor burns to support the scheduled rendezvous. “You mentioned on the way up that a few questions from the media needed my attention.” This was an understatement. Every day, the Harmony Project received numerous requests for interviews and media engagements. Hourly, in fact. Not to mention the throngs of admirers who treated him like a living prophet—a secular saint of the post-modern age.

Obediently strapping in across from the Architect, Orion kept her vision focused on the surrounding compartment. It was filled with surreal greenery. Vines adorned with vibrant blue and purple flowers hung across the space in a chaotic but beautiful disorder. Immense neon orange banana leaves surrounded each pseudo-sitting-standing arrangement. Yet, the glow cast by the Architect outshone it all. He was the sun to this electronic Amazon. She felt drawn to it.

I can feel the heat from him.

“Miss Tallahassee?” The Architect politely looked away, rapidly concluding that his newest administrative assistant had become slightly overwhelmed. Nor was it the first such occurrence among his staff. “Ask what’s on your mind first. That way, we can get past this stage with some degree of brevity.” His smile was polite and approachable, but Orion found herself increasingly consumed by the magnetic pull of the electronic glow. She was caught in its gravity, barely discerning his words.

“You’re glowing?”

There was a brief pause. What did I just say?

“Glowing?” He watched her for a moment before reluctantly saying, “Yes, I imagine you could describe it as such.” The Architect rubbed his perfectly trimmed and manicured salt-and-pepper beard.

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