Rise of the Xenos

[Garrett Jax]

Chapter One

James Stiletto placed the personal effects from his desk at Interspace Commerce into a small box. Two muscle bound guards from the Security Division stood nearby, with arms folded and eyes fixed, making sure not a single pencil went missing. They looked impatient, undoubtedly eager to escort him off Newark Station, and get back to telling each other stories about how they used to be a Liberty Police officer before they took a bullet to the knee. Or, something like that.

Thank God his wife was still employed. If the cutbacks the company were making, claimed her too, they would both face financial ruin. He was grateful his wife took up the company offer to become a Business Delegate. It was a tremendous opportunity to bring extra revenues to the company and earn some nice bonuses. Now, with his layoff, they'd be lucky to break even. He wanted to take the Company up on the offer also, but someone had to stay home with their daughter, and his wife was a much better people person than he was.

He looked over the office at his fellow employees as they quickly turned their faces away from him, trying to look occupied with some new task at hand. It was as if he had the plague and they needed to avoid eye contact with him, for fear they might catch it, and find their employment terminated as well. He used to call some of them friends. Now, he was simply a casualty of the company's bottom line. He didn't blame them for their lack of support. Hell, who was he to say he wouldn't treat one of them the same way, if their positions were reversed? He just wished the knot in his stomach would stop aching so bad.

He picked up his box of belongings and nodded to the Security detail that he was ready to head out. As they made their way out of the office, a message over the intercom indicated that he was to report back to Mr. Landry, his manager. Hope filled his thoughts. Maybe his manager had a change of heart. Maybe he would get his job back and all of this would be discovered to be a huge mistake. Why else would his manager request to see him again? The guards looked at each other, shrugged, and moved aside allowing him to walk past them.

Once Stiletto saw Mr. Landry's face however, all hope was lost. His boss looked grim, his face pale. He actually stood up as Stiletto entered, something he never did before. Mr. Landry walked around the desk to where Stiletto was standing and gave him a hug.

Ok, what is going on here, he asked himself, concerned. Mr. Landry was offering emotional support? What horrible things must have happened to bring this about?

Mr. Landry struggled to speak, as if trying to find the right words, but failing. Finally, he just blurted out the news.

"Stilleto, the transport hauling your wife was attacked today by a Junker faction. There were no survivors. I'm so sorry."

Stiletto collapsed to the ground. His legs gave out from under him causing his body to crumple to the floor like a shaky stack of cards. His manager yelled for his secretary to help get him seated into a chair. His whole body felt numb, detached from itself. He could barely sense the two of them as they helped him get seated. His wife...dead. His life was over. What was he supposed to do now? His thoughts went to his daughter. Oh God. How was he going to tell her? Her last words toward her mother were in anger at her leaving for that trip. She might never forgive herself now. In the span of five minutes, his entire life was ruined.

His manager reached over to his desk to pick up a piece of paper and pen. He handed it to Stiletto.

"I know this is probably a shock to you right now, Stiletto," his manager said. "But, you will get past this. Right now, the Company needs you to sign this form before we let you leave."

"A form," mumbled Stiletto. "What form?"

Mr. Landry cleared his throat. "It's just a waiver of liablity, absolving Interspace Commerce of any responsiblity for the loss of your wife."

Stiletto was still in shock. He could barely fathom what he was hearing. Instinctively, he grabbed the pen and did what he had done thousands of times. He signed the form.

Mr. Landry let out an audible sigh of relief. "Ok, well, now that that's out of the way..." He gestured toward the Security Guards. "These men will walk you out of the office, James. Are you going to be okay?"

Stiletto managed to stand up. "Yes," he answered, "I...I think so?"

"That's great to hear," his manager offered. "Again, I want to offer my condolences for your loss, James. I don't envy you this day you've had, but I suspect that you are the resilient sort who will land on his feet."

The guards, on queue, picked up Stiletto by the arms and half dragged/half walked him out of the office. Stiletto forgot all about the box of personal effects left in Mr. Landry's office, and staggered toward the elevator, leading to the docking bay and out of Newark Station.

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