Chapter 13
Enjoying her drink, Alesia looked at one of many dying star that Hyperion satellites were observing. Seeing the blue hue that the star was emanating, her mind was filled with many things. The room was dark so that the hologram would give the best experience that she could ever get. It was beautiful,but Alesia could only gave sympathy that the star was dying.
Then someone entered the room, a door made way for the person and it lead light entering the dark room. Disturbing her moment of solitude. She did not glance back and expected the person to walk to her and inform what needed to be inform.
Feeling the person aura, she knew who it was. It was the ever charismatic AE1 or Keith as the person wanted to refer. She called him a few days ago and she finally remembered their meeting when he arrived. Keith did not said anything and so did the Chairwoman, she continued observing the star while the man waited for a response. He stood beside her and his body was facing towards her.
A moment of silence between the two of them and it was getting weird for the soldier. Keith started to think whether or not should he speak. Keith mouth moved a bit wanting to speak but hesitated at first. Then with courage, he moved his lips but at the exact time he was interrupted by the boss.
"Beautiful is it not?" said Alesia, the blue color reflected at the surface of her eyes as she was fully into the sun.
Keith was surprised but calm, he looked at the sun by turning his head but not his body."Truly."
"And oddly enough, it's dying just like we are." Alesia solemnly. "Some say beauty is when something unique goes away as fast as it come. I cannot help but agree to such statement."
Keith did not really understand it fully about it and only nod. He was not into these type of things as he was a soldier. Remembering his purpose coming to the place, he asked of what would happen next. "Ma'am, may I ask why am I here?"
Alesia look at him with an emotionless face, then turn back to the sun. "How is our man? Living and breathing well?"
"Base on reports by my men, he's active just like before. But his movements is rather unpredictable, we will take further action if you want to."
"Good, good. Keep up the good work." Alesia continue to observe the dying star. "You can leave now…"
Keith nodded and started to walk to the exit, but in his mind, he was questioning the many decision that his boss made. She let a Vault Hunter free even though she was the one that wanted to torture them the most, he had no intention butting in such things but he cannot deny it was interesting. But reaching halfway to the exit, the voice of the Chairwoman stops from his tracks.
"You must questioning my decisions, is it not?"
Keith turn to face the Chairwoman, seeing her still looking at the blue sun. "I'm sorry?"
"Why do you ask such questions ? Out of curiosity or is the contract not satisfying?" Alesia stated calmly.
Keith did not expect that she would know, he felt disturbed by it but follow where it was going regardless. "Curiosity, Ma'am. Me and my soldier are more than satisfied with the pay."
"Do you want to know?"
Keith then walked to the woman and stand beside her, also looking at the sun rather than the previous stance that was facing towards her. Before this,he just glance the star and but now he finally realized how beautiful was the star, the blue color was just like no other. Then the man said. "I'm all ears, Ma'am."
Alesia took a deep breath and changed her position, putting one leg on top of the other. "What is the difference between a man and a desperate one?"
"There's no difference. Both of them are still humans and will act accordingly."
"True. But if you put them in the same situation, you could see the real difference. The man will act normally. The other one would act like a feral dog, a bit improper but dedicated." Alesia took her drink and hold it on her hand, it previously was put at the coffee table beside her chair. "Axton, interesting man isn't he."
"I dug deeper on his life and one could say that he's almost the same just like my husband. A normal man, wanting to gain glory but do not realize that the sacrifices would be too expensive to pay."
"Is this one of your games that you play with your enemies?" asked Keith, seeming to scratch the surface of the mysterious woman.
"Enemy?" Alesia sip her drink. "He's no longer with the faction that he serves, to me he's just a pitiful man that have nothing in his grasp. But it would be entertaining to see where he would be in the months to follow? What do you think Mr Keith?"
"Depends on the person, since he's a soldier, I predict that he would rise to the occasion and be a threat to you in the future."
"True, but let him be. Let's see how strong is the motivation to protect his friend from us."
"Understood." Keith could not decipher the woman beside him, she was more complicated than expected.
"Mr Keith." Alesia look at him. "Do you like betting?"
"Well if my chances are good then I would say yes."
"Then would you like to bet with me?"
"Is that an order Ma'am?"
"A game is played by the players consent, plus it would not be fun if I force you."
Keith could not help but smirk seeing this rare occasion, she was serious but suddenly he have the chance to see the human side of this woman. "Then what's the bet?" Keith said.
"Well since the man rising would be a matter of when, the let's predict how long would it take for him to rise back to his feet."
"Hmm, quite challenging. I would guess it would take him three months." said Keith.
"For him, I reckon it would take four but well, I feel the urge to say it would take him two months."
"So you predict in two months?"
"Optimistically."
"Then it decided, three months for me and two months for you. So how much is the pot?"
"I bet 3000 credits, and you?"
"3500 credits." Keith smirk.
Alesia look at him with an annoyed face. "Men and their ego, it's always been the same."
"Can't deny nature can we? So I've made an account, deposit the money and the bet will start. The one that is right will own the account fully." Keith was already configuring the account with his gadget that was situated at his mid arm.
Alesia touch a button on her earpiece and called Blake. "Blake this is me. I would like you to deposit 3500 credits on a bank account."
Hearing what she said made Keith raises his two brows, she raised her bet so it would be the same amount with him. She's competitive, he gave her that. Keith then send the bank account to Blake device address.
Alesia turned off her earpiece and leaned at her chair while sipping her drink. "Look's like everything all set. Time to wait who is wrong."
"We'll see." affirmed Keith.
…...
Blake was busy with his job at his new office, but when he suddenly received a call from the Chairwoman herself, he immediately made her request the first priority. He was typing and managing as fast as he could and also accounting at the same time. He received a message from an unknown sender and its content was an information about a bank account.
Rather blindingly deposited the credits, he researched the account and found out it was newly made. He then deposited through a safe process that was anonymous, after finishing his work, he then called the Chairwoman, saying to her that the job was done.
After all the things done, Blake said to himself. "Why would the Chairwoman deposit such a minimal amount at a random bank account?"