By now, the plane ride to New York felt familiar to Junior. It was the third time for him in just a few months, but the first time on his own. In a way, everything was new again.
He picked up his bag from baggage claim and outside the airport, waiting for him, there she was.
MISS ROBERTS
Junior!
Reluctantly, he joined her.
JUNIOR
You again...
MISS ROBERTS
You don't look pleased to see me...
JUNIOR
Should I? I'm here because of your schemes, aren't I?
MISS ROBERTS
Don't be silly... you're here because of your perfect score.
JUNIOR
Right...
MISS ROBERTS
Besides, I'm not really the one in charge...
JUNIOR
Who do you work for?
MISS ROBERTS
I told you, the US of A.
JUNIOR
Who do you really work for?
MISS ROBERTS
Let me take your bag...
JUNIOR
I'm fine...
He followed her to the car without saying another word. Once Miss Roberts had told the driver to get going, she spoke to Junior again.
MISS ROBERTS
You must have many questions about the upcoming Global Selection...
JUNIOR
Yeah... I just don't want you to be the one to answer me...
MISS ROBERTS
Well, you are going to hear what I need to tell you anyway...
Junior stopped listening to her, and started looking out of the window. At first he set his gaze on the distant New York skyline, but soon he turned around to look west, towards the thin waxing Moon, where he knew he would find it. Konos' starship had come back.
Because it was so massive, whenever it got that close to Earth, it brought about massive tides, causing obvious distress upon humanity. Because of this, it never hung around for long, only for enough time to drop someone off.
JUNIOR
Have Konos' clones arrived yet?
MISS ROBERTS
...and that's why... So you got your voice back... As far as I know...
She looked at her watch.
MISS ROBERTS
They shouldn't have arrived yet, but it won't be long... anyway, as I was saying...
Junior kept his attention focused on the starship and away from Miss Roberts. The ride in the car was over quickly, but, due to the endless stream of words coming from her, it felt like an eternity to Junior.
MISS ROBERTS
Here we are...
JUNIOR
So... we are not going into Manhattan?
MISS ROBERTS
Haven't you been listening?
JUNIOR
You talked a lot... I remember the important bits...
MISS ROBERTS
I hope so... anyway, all of you will be staying in this facility for the time being.
JUNIOR
All of us?
As soon as the car turned around the corner, Junior saw those Miss Roberts was referring to. Hundreds of people were gathering on the huge field in front of them. They were all looking up, but not, as Junior had been, at the Moon; they were looking at something else...
MISS ROBERTS
Aww, shit! They are here already?!
JUNIOR
They're here?!
Junior rolled the window down and looked up where everyone else was staring. An almond-shaped spaceship was slowly descending towards the ground.
MISS ROBERTS
Can you drive us there? Yes, right there! Thank you.
The car went off road, driving on the grass, going straight towards the point where the spaceship was setting itself down on its flat side.
The car soon stopped, impeded by the people assembled all around. Junior jumped out and tried to make his way through the crowd, until he saw a familiar face... the Russian girl he saw that day in Miyamoto's office. Was was her name?
JUNIOR
Ireen! Ireen! Hang on, that's not right... IRINA!
Hearing her name being called, Irina turned around and made eye contact with Junior. He smiled and waved at her, but she turned her back to him without giving any sign she had recognised him. Junior was taken aback by this, but he didn't have time to process it.
By then the spaceship had extended its legs and had landed. The tension was palpable, nobody dared to speak.
Out of the craft descended two figures who looked exactly like Konos, only far smaller, and without metal implants on the side of their heads. Across the silence echoed these words
CLONE #1
So these are the wimps we are supposed to train?
