Chapter 15

  The Doorman

  Part Two

  “Vega, what’s the purpose of this planet?” Manya said. The railing of her balcony was amazing. It reshaped itself to a comfortable support, thousands of feet above the ground. And without a worry of sandal dropping, because like weapons, they turned to particles and appear again with a swift movement of her feet.

  ‘This planet was created for defending the solar system from the threats.’

  “Angels?”

  ‘Yes Ms., angels are among the many entities which pose harm.’

  “If angels are a threat. Then why few natives here had posters of them?”

  ‘Solely for entertainment.’

  “Won’t it create selfish beliefs among them? What if they team up with them and went against their own planet?”

  ‘That’s the beauty of our Sevavann. However much these entities capture their attention, but when it comes to their belief. They are loyal to their planet.’

  “I don’t believe this.”

  ‘Well, there’s also the self-destruction option in every SL wrapped around the natives, which will activate the moment they did a deed against the betterment of this planet.’

  After a brief pause, Manya burst into laughter.

  “Why angels are after Earth or this solar system? I mean, the technology they have, can’t they do whatever harm they want on another planet or galaxies. They should be more powerful than this one?”

  ‘Sorry Ms., but before answering your questions, can I ask you something?’

  “Yeah, go ahead.”

  ‘I have gone through millions of data on human behaviour, and most of them find it hard to accept this reality before we neutralise their brain nerves. They find it to be a dream or hallucination.’ Manya knew what her next few words were going to be, but she wanted a genuine compliment. ‘But Ms., you are among the rare type, who had not only accepted this reality but became a part of it sooner than all.’

  Manya smiled. “… What about gamers?”

  ‘Gamers adapt to this reality earlier than others, but even they struggle against physical prowess.’

  “About me. Thanks to my mamu. Now I know why he always played Sci-Fi movies, different sub-genres, but all involving space and robots. And played multiplayer action and adventure PC games with me.” her gaze drifted towards the vast infrastructure. “Some part of me believed an existence like this to be true.”

  ‘As for the question, why angels attack this solar system is because of sole reason, “Humans.”’

  “Cheap labour, I guess? But there should be species far greater than us in this universe.”

  Vega smiled. ‘There are, but on Yajvan’s words. None of them is greater than humans on Earth.’

  “That’s how short-minded people think.” Even her nails had options from imprinting casual designs to displays carrying countless of feed data. “Vega, my mamu, belongs to this world. He told me my parents died in a plane crash. What are the chances of it being true?”

  ‘It’s been done in entertainment for ages. Have your mamu ever lied to you?’

  “… Now, that’s tricky. All he said was true. He was a policeman in disguise, but yes. He said about owning cars worth decillions. Lie at first, but now I doubt it.”

  ‘Ms., I think your parents died in a plane crash. Some natives refer to spaceships as plane, unless it’s a car.’

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  “You know, in stories where protagonist parents are dead from the beginning. It never ends good. And the story of this scale—I am so screwed.”

  Vega brought her a black coffee.

  “Vega, is there an age-criteria when you select the human applicants?”

  ‘No Ms., there isn’t. Anyone who feels enduringly lost or had no hope for humanity would receive a series of tests to inspect her/his resolve. This year, most of them were from Earth.’

  “So, everybody gets a series of questions?”

  ‘No Ms., every individual had to go through a unique process.’

  “Vega, today I noticed how most natives stopped their busy routine. Don’t they have a boss who yells at them?”

  ‘Yajvan made an appearance at 2:15 pm. Each work shift ends at 2:00 pm.’

  “2:00? But the only shift end I have seen by this time is of schools.” She took a sip. “So much extra time. Can spend time with family or focus on themselves or their business.” Few more gulps later. “Vega, today on the news feed, I saw a discussion group, referring Yajvan as ‘The Doorman.’”

  Vega’s hand clenched into a fist, her eyes burning with fury. She snapped out of it a second later. ‘Sorry Ms.’

  “It’s ok, it’s normal for a fan to be mad for her idol. So, could you explain?”

  Vega nodded. ‘They referred him with that preposterous title, because he lives in the lobby before the castle’s throne hall entrance and he is not the actual ruler of this planet.’

  “In a lobby? Then why is he a king?”

  A grin spread across Vega’s face. ‘After the demise of the previous king and his heir, the four families overthrew the leading family.’

  “Politics!” Manya turned to her and crossed her legs. “And?”

  ‘Demise of the main family had brought a great turmoil over this planet, with no support to the falling hopes of entire Sevavann.’

  “And?”

  ‘When the sky filled with clouds of agony, everyone observed a spark of light break through and descend onto the threshold between the throne and an army led by the four families.’

  A chill crept spine. “And?”

  A screen appeared before Manya, showing Yajvan playing violin under the full moon, surrounded by a starry sky. ‘To this day, he’s been protecting the most powerful throne in the entire cosmos. And everyone respects him for that.’

  “But why?”

  ‘Sorry Ms., it’s the only information available publicly, and he has forbidden any information regarding the great war.’

  Doing good deeds doesn’t mean he’s a saint.

  Vega’s eyes withhold sorrow.

  “Everyone has to go through tons of hard stuff. I am sure he’s handling his well.”

  ‘Yes, Ms. But one doesn’t have to endure everything alone.’

  ***

  Manya followed a glowing path that led her to a garage filled with luxurious and envy inducing vehicles.

  “All mine?”

  ‘Yes Ms., these are designed with the standards of a blue rank in mind.’

  She wanted to puke out her excitement, but the status of a blue rank again prevented her from doing so. “What’s the price of these cars?”

  ‘The cheapest one’s price is half an undecillion.’

  Adrenaline coursed through veins. “Vega, can you bring a punching bag, a strong one? Quickly.”

  ‘I can, but if you allow, I can form something better.’

  “Do it, hurry!”

  Vega clasped her hands together, and as she retracted them, a shimmering silver field in the shape of a diamond appeared in between, unlike any ordinary mitts.

  Manya lunged forward to hit, and the force of her strike sent vibrations rippling through the air. Vega jumped back in surprise when Manya continued to attack, refusing to stop after just one hit. The strength of the second one surpassed that of the previous one. Right before the third punch, Vega lifted her arm above her head and formed a fist. And opened it a second later. The cars surrounding them disappeared, leaving the garage empty. Her adrenaline surged as she felt a jolt of excitement.

  “Be ready Vega.”

  Vega smirked.

  With a wide grin, Manya charged at her. Her attack fuelled not only by curiosity but also by a surge of emotions. The duel started as a tease, but now it’s a chance for Manya to see who was stronger.

  ‘Ms., there’s no data about you learning the way of fight, either it’s your natural instincts or you are hiding something.’

  “It’s no talent. I made fight a part of my integral life since the disappearance of mamu.”

  Vega’s brows arched. ‘But Ms., there’s no record of such traits in your life on Earth.’ Manya stopped her fist inches before Vega’s face, and she didn’t even blink. ‘According to the data, Ira Wings is an average human who lived an average corporate life.’ Vega summoned a couch for Manya.

  “Vega, a routine job isn’t average as everyone thought it to be.”

  ‘Sorry Ms., but I am surprised. An hour of gym each day can’t be enough to learn such skills. No personal coach. In fact, you didn’t have any friends.’

  No friends? “That’s bullshit. I have… had friends.”

  Vega shared all the details about Ira with Manya, and the face appeared—was her own. An orphan, a corporate slave, no details of anything angelic. Along with the detailed description, Vega possessed most of Ira’s everyday life footage. Manya watched the video of their last day at the office and was completely shocked. She saw herself wearing Ira’s clothes and talking into thin air.

  ‘You had symptoms of hallucinations, but there’s no visible hint since you have arrived in Sevavann.’

  There was no sign of Ira in the clips. The last one she played was when she and Ira were standing beside a mirror, where Ira was supposed to be stitching a loose button on Manya’s cuff, but in the video, she was doing it herself.

  “It doesn’t make sense, how can I?” The only possibility was to alter the feed Sevavann’s official had received. Same as Happy or Yajvan had done with her mission clip; but she met him during test missions. And apart from him, only two individuals had knowledge of such a method: Atharv and Ira. “Guess the only thing I can do right now is move forward, which could lead me to answers or more pain.”

  The intense pain in her abdomen caused her to break into a sweat, impairing her ability to think or see straight. “Vega…?”