Microstory 2395: Earth, January 4, 2180

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Dear Velia,

I know that the blackout is coming, and I really hope this letter gets to you in time. I don’t have very much time to write it, so pleaser excuse any spelling or grammar mistakes, nad anything that I probably should have said, but failed to. I’m working with a really old spellcheck program, so it misses a lot of thing, and doesn’t even autocorrect a lot of the time. I feel like I’m using a lot of the same words over and over again, but whatever. I can’t slow down. I won’t have time to proofread before it’s time to cleave. There I go again, using the word time. It’s been so many times. Speaking oftime, we did not get enough. There’s still so much that I don’t know about you, and vice versa. What do you find most and least attractive in a person, not necessarily romantic, but just with people in general. Like, what are your pet peeves? What annoys you about people. These are rhetorical questions. Even if you have time to respond to me before the Valkyries, I won’t be Abel to receive any messages at all. I’m going away on a little trip, and there will almost no technology there. I don’t know what it’s going to be like, but I am as scared as I am excited and enthusiastic. It’s going to be a real adventure. When I get back, and you get back online, we’re going to have a lot more to talk about. And who knows, we may be able to do it in realtime next time. They’re working on faster-than-light communication technology, but if that doesn’t work out, there may be other options that we haven’t even ever thought of before. You said it before I could get the chance, but let me say...officially and without any reservations, that I love you. I want to do all the things you said you wanted us to do, and more. I could get pretty graphic, but I really don’t have time to get everything out. They’re starting up the engines, and we’re about to leave. I need to make sure I’m in range of the towers before we take off, or it will be this whole thing. I promise that this isn’t over between us. I’ll wait for you. But as I’ve said before, if you can’t...if you find someone else. Don’t let them walk away. I just want you to be happy.

I’ll be seeing ya, sweetheart,

Condor

Microstory 1917: Not a Date

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Fugitive Agent: But this isn’t a date.

Freewoman: No, it’s not a date. It’s a bond engagement.

Fugitive Agent: You know what people call it when they agree to marry each other?

Freewoman: An engagement, I know, but that’s not what this is either. The word, in this case, means an event or gathering of two or more participant parties.

Fugitive Agent: You had that one in the chamber. Have you gone on many of these?

Freewoman: Not a one. I never thought I would be couple bonded. Honestly, I don’t generally get along well with other ex-cons.

Fugitive Agent: Yet you’re the leader of the female bond group.

Freewoman: You don’t ask to be the leader. They choose you. I’ve had to learn to accept it, as you will one day.

Fugitive Agent: Why would I ever be the leader? I’m still a lawman.

Freewoman: You’re the first to succeed in a couple bond in a long time. They’ll love that. The current leader will probably step down for you. His couple bond was dissolved.

Fugitive Agent: Really? Well, I don’t want it. I’m just doing this—

Freewoman: To find your special fugitive, I know. Like I said, I didn’t want it either.

Fugitive Agent: I see. [...] This is good salad, yeah?

Freewoman: Speaking of being a lawman, I’ve noticed how open-minded and nonjudgmental you are to us criminals. That seems...

Fugitive Agent: Out of character for someone in my position? Yes, well, the truth is that I wanted to be a parole officer, which is probably why I’m so invested in this particular assignment. The man I’m looking for is supposedly a P.O. himself—I don’t know if I told you that.

Freewoman: You didn’t. So, what happened? Why do you work for Fugitive Services?

Fugitive Agent: I’m a legacy. If you met my father, he would list all of our family’s exploits going back centuries of all the fugitives we’ve collectively caught. You wouldn’t even have to ask him about it. He’ll find a way to work it into the conversation, and then the conversation will be effectively over. The rest will be a monologue.

Freewoman: I see. [...] You’re right, this salad is good.

Fugitive Agent: Full honesty is a pillar of the freeman bond. Does the couple bond share this value?

Freewoman: It does...but we’re not bonded yet, and certain lies are grandfathered in as long as they don’t negatively impact the relationship, or our respective freedom, so don’t think you have to divulge all your secrets for it to work out.

Fugitive Agent: This isn’t about the past; it’s about the present. If we go through with this, then you should know that I...

Freewoman: You what?

Fugitive Agent: I am not...unattracted to you.

Freewoman: *smirks* I’m not unattracted to you either.

Fugitive Agent: Is that going to be a problem?

Freewoman: Only if we make it a problem.

Fugitive Agent: Good to know. *smiles*