Fragment of Destiny

Tess woke up late, again. It was one of the few luxuries of failure. No more need to adhere to the rigid ritualized sleep cycles. She looked to the small purple and black crystal on the messy nightstand beside her bed. How many nights had she spent with red-rimmed eyes clinging to tattered hope? Just give it time they said. Yet in the end, she had been discarded as a lost cause, a waste of resources and manpower.

“Crystal-less” the words tasted like bile in her mouth. Tess LaBou - Status: Discharged, Caste: None. She had a crystal and there for an ability. Yet whatever it was, the ability was of such infinitesimal proportion she may as well not even have taken the trial at all.

She wanted to scream every time she remembered the moment they had delivered her notice. She had done everything they asked, all of it, and for what? No assignment, no caste, no future. Even her friends were still at the academy, clueless of her demise. Her momentary rage capsized into despair so thick she felt as if she would drown at any moment.

She was supposed to be a scientist like her father. From the first moment of her childhood, her father had filled her head with stories of how one day they would work hand in hand. Together they would unlock the greatest breakthroughs the Imperium had ever seen. Now every time she met his eyes the shame was beyond anything she could have imagined. And why shouldn’t he be ashamed of her? Even now her very presence was costing him everything. As his only child she had destroyed his family line, and now as a crystal-less, an un-ascended, she had destroyed her father’s reputation. On top of that everything she did, everything she touched, save breathing, drew blood red lines down her father’s bank ledger. She couldn’t stay here, as much as she loved him and would miss him she needed to get away. With no assignment and no money of her own, she felt the shackles of poverty paralyzing her.

She would need to find an assignment on her own and her only hope would be in sector six. In the back of her mind, she knew Ju’s father would give her an assignment of she asked. Yet the thought of begging Lee and worse working in food service for the rest of her life sent a shudder through her.

Forcing herself to move Tess rolled out of bed. Piles of clothes clean and dirty alike were strewn about the floor. Snatching a shirt from her bedpost she gave it the sniff test before dragging it along to the shower. There she sat, with her head between her knees watching little streams of water trickle down from her hair like tears. She had cried hers already yet if she waited long enough she knew that well would reopen. Pruned as she was, Tess felt no desire to be about her miserable day. No desire to do anything at all.

At last the water ran cold, and she felt a stab of self-pity. After a good thirty minutes of dragging her feet, Tess was back in her room to retrieve her phone, even though the use of it now came at a cost. Every time she placed a link or even connected to the Imperium network there was a charge.

Tess eyed her dark crystal on the nightstand. She exhaled sharply. No, she would not leave it behind. For something that had caused her so much grief, she could scarcely part with it.

Her phone pulsed as she exited the bedroom. For a fleeting moment, she had a sickening hope, but no one ever got called back to the academy. Another message from an unknown number and blocked ID. Her eyes narrowed as she opened it.

“Got some new stuff in this morning. I thought you would like to have the first look at it. Message me if you are interested.” [Yami]

Tess frowned, she now had no less than five numbers under the name, “Yami” he never seemed to use the same number more than once. Until recently she only knew him as the tinkerer who occasionally did work for her father on personal projects. Their interactions in the past had been brief. Though Yami always had an easy way of conversing that made him feel like an old friend, even from the first time they met.

She would have loved to see what new stuff Yami was pedaling. However, with no money, it would just be torture. Tess pocketed her phone and slinked into the kitchen. Tucked under a plate of cinnamon glazed toast she found a folded note. It was the kind she had often left for her father to find after an overnight at the lab. She turned her head away and clenched her jaw to keep from crying. "Damn, but I'm emotional today aren't I," Tess whispered to herself. Beside the plate was an official-looking letter. Something from the capital for her father? Turning it over in her hand she nearly choked on her first bite of toast. The letter was indeed from the capital but was addressed to her.

Sliding a nail under the seal she quickly unfolded the letter and began to read. Her heart fluttered as she scanned the single page. The Imperium was introducing a pilot program to allow an un-ascended to receive an official assignment. The pool was limited to this year’s ascension class only. Hope, real hope sored inside of her for the first time since her discharge. There would be a small hand full of other students at most, and likely low casters. Her interview with the assignment committee was already set for tomorrow morning. Genuine laughter escaped her lungs. Fate itself had conspired to rescue her from her misery.

Snapping up the remaining toast she slid the folded note from under the plate. Licking the sticky cinnamon off her fingers Tess carefully read her father’s note.

“I will be home late tonight, so I have transferred a few extra hollos into your account for dinner.” [Love Dad]

Tess tucked both the letter and note into her back pocket as she headed for the door. Retrieving her phone she tabbed over to her account and smiled. Father had been generous. There was enough for dinner and more. Maybe she would take Yami up on his offer after all. Quickly she dashed off a reply asking where he wanted to meet.

Outside the first-winter air was nippy and a blanket of grey was rolling in overhead. The sky had missed the memo. Today wasn’t going to be a crappy day after all. Tapping her phone Tess hailed a skimmer and it was not long before the sleek silver shape turned down her street. The seamless silver slid open as it touched down in front of her. If not for her renewed excitement over the letter she could have fallen back asleep in the warm interior.

“Where to?” The driver asked as the skimmer lifted from the ground.

“Sector Six.”

“Any place in particular?”

Tess couldn’t remember where Yami’s shop was. She had been just a kid when her father had taken her there.

“Wherever is fine,” Tess said, to which the driver shrugged and set the craft in motion.

The skimmer dropped her next to a hodgepodge of small tent-like structures, each housing a different type of shop. With a little extra money to burn, Tess decided it wouldn’t hurt to have a look around.

While waiting for Yami to get back to her Tess wandered the hovels and shanties along the market row. The long stretch of semi-paved road was the main artery from which the rest of the sector drew its life. It had always fascinated her how this one sector had its own ecosystem, which was vastly different from the rest of the Imperium, even while being part of the capital.

She was watching a craftsman working hot glass into a sculpture when her phone pulsed. It was an automatic billing notification for her skimmer ride. She closed her eyes and cursed under her breath. So much for getting something nice with the little extra she had. Her phone pulsed again but this time it was Yami.

“Meet me at Lee Chi’s restaurant,” [Yami]

Again the message was from a different number than the last. Tess felt a chill of dread at the thought of having to explain to Ju about being kicked from the academy. Tess knew she would have to tell Ju at some point, but, not today.

“Tess over here,” Came a familiar voice from the milling masses around her.

Tess looked up at the call and wilted a little inside, it was Yami. He had a pair of sunglasses on even though it wasn’t bright out. A black leather jacket and a striped grey shirt looked as though both had been shrunk them in the wash. A padded shoulder pack jerked with the weight of something heavy as he waved her over.

“Have you eaten at Lee Chi’s before?” Yami asked indicating in the direction of the restaurant, though it could not be seen through the crowd.

Tess wanted to lie, to say she hadn’t, “Why don’t we go somewhere else and talk. Besides, I am not hungry,” With only a slice of cinnamon glazed toast for breakfast, she was starving.

He smiled a familiar smile. It was the one Tess had seen so often in the mirror when she was a child; every time she had been up to no good. He wore it well. Most people probably would not have noticed it for what it was.

“Well I am hungry, and this place is the best around. You should really try some even if you’re not,” Yami said calling her bluff and started in the direction of Lee Chi’s. Her eyes lingered on the bag for a long moment before following. Damn him, and damn her curiosity. She had to know what was in that bag.

When they arrived, Yami walked in past the main dining room to the entrance of one of Lee Chi’s private rooms. Tess followed quickly her eyes darting from the docile dining area to the kitchen. She let out a sigh of relief upon entering the private room. She was in the clear for now.

“Any luck with figuring out what your crystal does?” Yami asked gesturing for Tess to take a seat at a large oval table that took up the majority of the room.

Tess retrieved her crystal from her pocket and placed it on the polished table. “No, not yet, and I don’t know if I ever will,” She said, sounding more pathetic than she meant to. “I had everyone at the academy trying to figure it out and nothing,” Tess said flicking her crystal back and forth between her index fingers. They had even taken her pendant back when they kicked her out.

“Have you ever thought about asking the Halsinions? I hear they have a tale of folklore about a great king from back when the Imperium people were just scattered, nomadic tribes. He couldn’t discover his ability, so he traveled to the Halsinion Empire. There he not only discovered his ability but became exceedingly powerful. So much so that when he came back, he forged the scattered tribes into the forerunner nation of the Imperium.”

Tess laughed, “No I hadn’t considered it.” Go to the Halsinions? Like that was an option, and besides what a joke. Halsinion lore was always full of ridiculous stories. “And I have not heard of that story either. Halsinion myths are not exactly standard fare at the academy.”

Yami shrugged, “Myth or not most of those tales have seeds of truth to them somewhere. Halsinions are considerably more skilled in the use of crystals. It could be worth keeping an open mind,” He said tapping a finger to the mass of black curls atop his head.

Tess laughed again, “Right, whatever, I’ll keep it in mind,” She said rolling her eyes. “So are you going to show me what’s in the bag?”

Yami smiled that same mischievous smile. “Now these,” He said sliding the pack onto the table, “These are a few items I think you will be very interested in,” Carefully he opened the pack and slid out several small bags wrapped in safety cushions.

Tess couldn’t help it; a grin broke across her face as she looked at the contents. “Implants? But how did you get these? I thought only Imperium officials had access to this stuff?”

“The Imperium is always changing their rules about nanotech. You can get them if you have the right assignment or buy them if you know how to get the right permits.”

Fidgeting in her seat Tess had to restrain herself from touching anything. Instead, she flicked her crystal back and forth to keep her fingers occupied.

“What do they do?”

Like setting a buffet Yami indicated to each piece in turn. “Vision, hearing, vocal range, and memory bank. I have a few more that have to do with technology interfacing. However, I am still working out all of the kinks on those.”

“Wait, did you make these?”

“All of them.”

“If you made all of these how come you don’t work for the Imperium Science Corps?”

“The thing of it is. Unlike you, I am a true crystal-less. However, like you, I was rejected by everyone in the Imperium and had to find a way to survive on my own.”

“I actually might be getting an assignment after all,” Tess said pulling the letter from her pocket.

“May I?” Yami asked and cocked an eye at the paper.

“Sure.”

Yami looked thoughtful as he scanned the brief letter. “So first they tell you that you’re a no good crystal-less, damned to being an un-ascended for the rest of your life and now they want you back? What, did they still have an opening for a toilet washer?”

Tess’s face went sour as he passed the note back, her hopes so swiftly crushed. Yet she knew he was right. Whatever assignment they had, while it might not be janitorial in nature, it would not be as a scientist with lab corps.

“Well it’s the only option I have right now,” Tess said still clinging to shreds of hope.

“That’s not necessarily true. In my opinion, you have a lot of options. You just need to open your eyes to them. If you take this assignment or rather if they deem you worthy of it. Then you will be stuck with it. For the rest of your life. Love it or hate it, there will be no going back. But take me for example,” Yami gestured to the implants.

“I made all of these, and I am a true crystal-less. I never even had the option of getting an Imperium assignment. Instead, I do what is interesting and profitable. I don’t have anyone telling me what I can and can’t work on, and now you are in the same position. They have already rejected you. Ever since the first time I met you I could tell you had a desire to do something great and exciting with your life. Call it fate, if you like, but it seems that opportunity is now in the palm of your hand. You just can’t see it yet.”

“But how? I don’t know anything useful. Every moment of my life has been leading up to my trial so I could get this damn thing!” Tess said nearly yelling at him as she slammed her fist on the table causing her crystal to bounce in the air. “And with it an assignment,” She whispered with eyes clenched shut attempting to hold back her tears.

Yami scooped up the implants and put them neatly back in his bag. “You may not know anything now, but you have to start somewhere. Look your father is a good client of mine, so I’ll tell you what, how about you forget that stupid letter and I will bring you in as my apprentice. I can teach you what I know. I will even do it for free on account of your father.”

Tess coughed a laugh as she licked her dry lips. Damn, but his offer was tempting. Yet a part of her still clung to hope that just maybe she would be the one who got the assignment. She was so conflicted she wanted to scream. This letter was her last shot at a normal life and best of all no more stupid bills for everything. But if she did get the assignment and likely she would. Then Yami’s offer would be lost forever. Before this moment she would have never even considered turning down an assignment. But now, she could feel anger starting to burn as it seeped its way to the surface. Hope had peeled back the layers of despair uncovering her hurt. The more she let her mind dwell on it, the hotter the flames became. Yami was right, screw the Imperium, screw them and their damn assignments. They didn’t want her and that was fine. She would be great not because of them but in spite of them.

“Your right. Forget the Imperium. They didn’t want me. Well now it’s too late,” Tess said locking eyes with Yami. He seemed pleased with her decision. “So when do we start?”

“Ok slow down fireball. I will have to get you registered with Raiden’s Den first. Then we can go from there. How about you come by tomorrow morning. Sound good?” Tess nodded as her stomach growled in protest at their extended conversation.

Yami laughed. “Well said and I couldn’t agree more.”

The table of the private room was fitted with digital menus allowing for the privacy to be uninterrupted by a server and for that Tess was truly grateful. She could forestall telling Ju just that much longer.

“So where is Raiden’s Den?”

Yami gave her a look that said, “You didn’t just ask that,” before regaining enough composure to answer. “You really haven’t spent much time in sector-six, have you? When we leave I will point it out. I am sure you have seen it you just didn’t know it. It’s the only tall building around here.”

“Wait, that’s Raiden’s Den?” Tess said in amazement. “That huge building is owned by an independent group?”

Yami laughed, “It sure is, and the Imperium loves us because of the massive amount of extra funds they get off all our work. Unlike regular citizens, we get billed on just about everything except breathing. Though if the Imperium could find a way to do that I am sure they would. Despite their efforts to rob us blind, we can still make a decent living.”

Yami was interrupted by a soft buzzing sound, and a slot in the wall behind him opened up into a counter space with two trays of food.

“When you said it was a private room you meant it,” Tess said as Yami retrieved the trays. For a few minutes, the only sound was of forks and spoons going to work.

“So, have you always lived in Central?” Tess asked in between bites as she slowed her pace.

“Actually, I was born in Crescent City.”

“But wasn’t Crescent destroyed in the war?”

“It was. I was a newborn when the Halsinions destroyed it. I grew up in post-war Crescent. Other than a few pictures I never got to see what the city looked like before.”

“Why didn’t your family relocate too Central or some other city?”

“I don’t know. I was too young to know anything at the time. I spend the majority of my childhood in an orphanage, oddly enough, a Halsinion one.

“How is that even possible?”

“The place was founded by anti-war Halsinion missionaries. Apparently, the day after the peace treaty was signed, they arrived and started to take in everyone they could. Some people hated them because they were Halsinion, but people left them alone. After all the Halsinions had just kicked our asses. As for me, I was too young to hate them. They were the only family I ever knew until my uncle Larry found me and took me in.”

“I’m so sorry.”

Yami shrugged, “I could feel sad about it, but I don’t. Who knows how my life would have turned out had things gone differently. I am just glad they found me in that bombed out apartment.”

“How did you end up here in Central?”

“The missionaries created a school alongside the orphanage. It was not a traditional Imperium school. It primarily taught life skills and trade skills. Unlike the Imperium, Halsinions have an open market economy, so having a specific skill set or learning a new one can allow a person to determine their own occupation instead of receiving an assignment. Sector Six is actually based on the Halsinion model though the two are… very different… it’s complicated. Anyway, the long and short of it is Raiden’s Den has a presence out in Crescent as well as a few other places. I was able to take a trade assignment from them in Crescent and based on my skills they decided I would fit better in Central. So here I am.”

“That’s crazy. All the things you have been through. I would never have imagined,” Tess said pausing to nibble on her food. “What are you working on now?”

“At the moment I am in between projects. I have been doing a little gemstone hunting to pass the time and pay the bills.”

Tess listened in fascination as Yami began to describe the hunting process in detail. Eager to know more about Raiden’s Den she probed him with question after question. She was amazed by his answers. Yami had invented the juggernaut arm used by shapers and enforcers, the prototype memory core system that launched the academy’s grid program and a host of other inventions, not all such stunning successes.

Yami glanced down at his plate which he had hardly been able to touch. “It’s about time I get going. I have a few other things I need to get to today. I will see you at Raiden’s Den tomorrow morning.”

Tess hadn’t realized until she looked at her phone but she had spent the better part of the afternoon drilling Yami with questions. Following Yami from the room, she was confronted with a wall of anxiety. She remembered she still had not told Ju. Eyes darting around the main dining area she spotted Ju sitting at a table talking to a customer. At first, she was relieved she could escape without being seen. Then the customer locked eyes with her. Immediately she turned away and made a b-line for the exit. She didn’t wait for Yami but instead disappeared into the crowd as quickly as possible. Why was Samuel here? There was no way he had been booted from the academy. Had he graduated already?

At last a safe distance away from Lee Chi’s Tess was about to hail a skimmer but stopped. She would take the tram home today. Even that would not be free, but it was a pittance compared to summoning a skimmer.

Making the winding trek through the hodgepodge of tents, Tess watched the lone building grow taller in the distance. Raiden’s Den.