SL: Chapter 773 – Day 28,375 – Viewpoints 69

Clarissa

“That is the current situation,” I explained to my minions. All the top 50 individuals had been gathered on my airship for this meeting. It had taken some time, but it was important that everyone was on the same page.

“We can’t save more people?”

“No. The 100,000 count is the absolute limit. We are dividing selections into three categories and moving people to New Kochi, in preparation for the final transit,” I explained.

“What about grinders? We should have everyone keep working up until the last moment,” one of my people asked.

“The least important will be picked up first, while the more important people will have set times for pick up. If anyone interferes, we wipe them out without mercy. Also, Michael is on call if a situation escalates out of control,” I said. I could see the fear that his name brought throughout the room.

“The information will leak. Either accidentally or on purpose. There will be a mass panic,” one person said.

“Our goal is to keep that from happening for as long as possible. That is why we will be using misinformation. We release information that the Systemic Lands are ending now. Officially, we deny everything, while we will also leak secret news that we are looking to unify all cities with new arrivals having stopped,” I explained.

“Is there no chance for anyone remaining?” one person asked.

“As I have already said, it is highly unlikely. Getting the quota increased from 20,000 to 100,000 required a hefty discussion. That is what we are planning towards. I am allocating 40 chunks of 2,500 people each. Each person in charge of a city will get a chunk while the remaining will be handled by high level supervisors in each of their territories. Once these people arrive in New Kochi they will get a verified ticket. They lose the ticket, they won’t get a replacement. Anyone approaching the city that isn’t authorized will be taken out,” I declared.

“The security situation will be difficult. To cover the entire wall for all that time. Also the population already here will hide,” one of my people said.

“Use the city map as necessary. It isn’t just gathering these people, but they should be organized as much as possible before we go to the vessel. When we reach our next destination, I don’t want to have to spend time figuring out who can do what. I want to hit the ground running,” I declared.

“And this, um, alien, Artifex. We can trust them?”

“Our interests are aligned. But make no mistake they should be treated with the same or greater reverence that you treat Michael with. No offense should be given and their orders considered a life or death matter,” I said. There were nervous nods at that. “They don’t want to micro-manage things. I will be speaking with them and then working to communicate actionable instructions to everyone else. You aren’t getting rid of me that easily.”

“Number of supplies each person can bring?”

“Two shoeboxes worth. We will make standard sized containers each person can bring. That and anything they are wearing. Space is limited,” I answered.

“How long will we be asleep for?”

“I can’t say. After we depart successfully, then a discussion will be held about where we will go and how things will progress. But the departure and key dates are already set. Right now it comes down to implementation. Picking out the best 100,000 people that we can. Anyone who causes trouble will be rejected, unless they bring critical skills.”

There were nervous looks at that, but no one said anything. Everyone knew that I held the power. And if I had to involve Michael, any resistance would be instantly crushed.

“But the most important thing is I need the single smartest polymath that can be found. I mean a genius of geniuses. Someone who understands physics, engineering, and preferably energy as well,” I said.

“Some kind of professor?” one person asked.

“They can be. I just want someone highly intelligent to take the lead on understanding any technology we come across, who can learn. Someone whose best asset is their brain,” I declared.

There was one person who hadn’t said anything. Young Michael, or Mike as he liked to be called now.

After the meeting was over for the day, I had dinner with him. It wasn’t a romantic meal, but one to catch up with an old friend. The person who I wanted to put in charge of my elite team.

“You are looking well Mike,” I told him.

“Thanks Clarissa. A lot to take in today. Where is Michael, our lord and savior?” he asked.

“He is training. He will be coming back on day 28,401 to cut off any more new arrivals. Until then he won’t be around. You want to tell him something?” I asked.

“No. He is far beyond me. I used to think I could catch up to him as a kid. I was naïve. I am nowhere close to his fighting ability. A shame I missed this meeting with this Artifex,” he said.

“I want you to lead an elite team Mike. Five other people plus yourself. Your job will be my personal security and supporting Michael in combat if possible,” I said.

“You know I have been taking it easy for a long time. I don’t have that grinding mentality like Michael does. I was planning on getting married in a few months if things keep working out,” he said.

“Congratulations. So, I should take that as you declining?” I asked.

“I need time to think on it Clarissa. It’s a lot to take in,” he replied.

“Well I need to move quickly. While it might seem like we have a lot of time, we don’t. The clock is ticking.”

“What will we be able to do? Don’t give me that look. Michael’s combat ability is so far beyond ours, that it is impossible to catch up,” he said.

“He is a hammer. Not everything is a nail. An elite team is the best offer on the table. Unless you are bringing some other skills to the table?” I asked.

“If I refuse, will I still get a place?” he asked back.

“Yes. A sleeping place, not one of the ten places that get to stay awake during the trip,” I replied.

“I see. I would prefer to sleep. I know I might never wake up, but I think it is better that way. I am not competent to fight.”

“You are one of the strongest people,” I argued.

“I am. I can fight and I am not bad at fighting, but I have stepped away from that life. To get back into the right mindset…I don’t think I would be able to,” he replied.

“That is unfortunate,” I said heavily.

“You aren’t going to try to convince me?” Mike asked. I shook my head.

“If you are expecting something more than me asking over a polite dinner conversation, then clearly you have very poor judgement,” I replied calmly.

“You think you can find someone better?” he asked.

“I need people who can listen. Not people who will give attitude and be rebellious. You will have a place for our departure, but that will be it,” I replied.

“I could be your leader of this elite team, but I want a second awake spot,” he said.

“No. That won’t be happening. You are no longer suitable for the role regardless. I won’t blacklist your fiancé either,” I calmly replied. Mike sagged back in his chair with a look of disbelief on his face.

He was clearly trying to play hard to get, to make me offer more. But that wasn’t going to happen. I didn’t have time to indulge in his fantasies. If he were Michael, then he could have made such a request. But Michael would never make such a request.

His only love was himself. Which made him predictable, but it was sad in a way. He was the pillar upon which everything else rested. But I had to assume he would win and plan from that perspective. If he lost, there was no fall back plan.

We were at the mercy of Artifex. I hated that, but there was no other option. We were like cavemen in comparison. We might be capable cavemen, but we were still cavemen. Looking at Mike, he thought he had value.

His only value was being slightly stronger than others and knowing Michael and myself. That was it. I wasn’t joking when I said I wasn’t going to use him. I didn’t need someone who would second guess decisions. I wanted a team that was capable and had synergy. Mike here could have made it work with his combat ability.

Unfortunately, he was too full of himself. Time had muddle his mind in a way that he shouldn’t have let happen. He had become proud and conceited. I had learned long ago, that mentality in combat mattered quite a bit. I might not be a fighter, but I knew the traits that made a good one.

That tenacious nature to never give up and an unbreaking sense of reality as it was, not as we wished it to be. Michael had both those traits in spades. Mike hadn’t kept cultivating them over the years as I would have hoped.

I could understand not grinding as hard as Michael did, but he had let his mind go. It no longer was sharp like a blade. It was good to learn this now. Mike might try to appeal to Michael, but he had to know there was no point.

Michael would always to defer to me about these kinds of things. He might be hungry for personal power, but he was distasteful of political power and lording it over others. Maybe in the past he had more ambitions, but now he had truly stopped caring, leaving everything to me as always.

If it wasn’t a matter of life or death, then I wouldn’t be involved, but since it was, there was no other choice. I didn’t want to leave my fate in the hands of others if possible. Mike never learned that lesson, not realizing who had the leverage in our discission.

The rest of dinner was awkwardly quiet. I didn’t feel the need to speak more. Mike was probably frustrated at his failure and realizing that his request was insane. His connection with me got him this far, but it would take him no further.