Area-1

Cato Ludwig

Cato Ludwig “I’m sorry for causing you trouble again,” he says.

Right now, we are on our way to my family’s hive, which is located near the center of the planet, close to Dad’s office. Since he has been discharged from the hospital, Cato will need somewhere to stay.

Healer Histon refuses to take him in, obviously, since he has rudely insulted the man. So it is up to me to provide a place for him to stay. I have to ask permission from Dad first though, which is unexpectedly easy to earn this time.

“Keep an eye on him. He might be a spy,” he said through a call.

Naturally, we all assume the worst. But that is just us being Arean. It also doesn’t help that Cato expresses his wish to stay longer.

We travel through transportal and arrive at the Central Sector.

“I know I already passed through this, but this thing is awesome,” he comments on the transportal. “I wish our people had this back home. Then we wouldn’t have to spend so much time traveling anymore.”

“It’s alright, I guess. They’ve existed long before I was born, so I can’t really related to the feeling.” I know I’m being critical, but that is just my inventor side talking. “I’m sure I’ll build something much more impressive.”

“Is that what do you, then? You invent stuff?”

“Not just any ‘stuff’. You might remember that Knightframe I wore before.”

His eyes bulge wider. “No way. You made that?”

“Right from scratch. It’s one of my latest developments. Regular Knightframes are neither wearable or flyable.”

We walk through the road leading to my hive. Once we are right under it, I activate a command through my screen head. A flying disk with the width of 10 meters in diameter lowers down instantly, stopping right in front of us.

“Hop in,” I tell Cato when he eyes it suspiciously. “This is our version of what you call an elevator.” He does as told and we go up in silence. The view of Area-1’s blue evening sky is simply too breathtaking to be disturbed.

I can see Colton and Mark at the dining area once we are close to the family area. The flying disk stops near the balcony and we both hop off. The flying disk lowers itself and goes back to its storage area automatically.

We enter the building and make a turn towards the kitchen

“Oh, sis, welcome back—” Colton reaches his arms out to greet me, but suddenly pauses midway when he sees the person behind me. “Who is this?” he asks.

“Remember the breaching aircraft from earlier? Well, this is the pilot.”

“No wonder you look familiar,” he mentions to Cato. “And he is here because…?”

“He has nowhere to stay. At least for the meantime. He’s leaving tomorrow.”

“Well then, take a seat.”

I place my hand on the table surface and a chair pops out from the floor. Cato watches me and copies my movement.

I remove my head screen and place it on the table at the spot where I usually sit. Various different species of fish are swimming within the round aquarium table.

Cato can’t decide whether to watch these rare species swimming in an irregular circle inside the table counter, or look at my unhidden face. Once he is satisfied with the fish, he glances my way.

“You look much more beautiful without the glasses on.”

“Thanks for your compliment, but they are necessary here on Area-1,” I explain.

We hang out for a little bit before it’s bedtime. No sign of Dad, which means he is burning the midnight oil again.

I’m rather worried about him overworking himself and it makes me wish I could do something for him. So I make a mental note to figure out a way to make his job easier. At least the paperwork part.

“This is your bedroom,” I show Cato to one of our hive’s guest bedrooms.

“Thanks. It’s nice.” He walks into it and takes a look around, then turns to me. “Where will you be sleeping?”

“A few levels above, where the main hive bedroom is. This is the guest floor.”

“This tower sure is big, though. And only the four of you live in here?”

“Pretty much. It should have been five, but my cousin’s sister, Cara, is still in an incubator, so she has to stay in the Healing sector where she’ll be under 24/7 surveillance. All the embryos are like that here. They are still fragile, and we want the best protection there is..”

He nods, seeming to grasp the concept. He stares at me as if silently asking me to tell more.

“There’s nothing more to tell, really. My mother died of old age, and so did her sister, Mark and Cara’s mother. My aunt’s husband died later on. We tend to reproduce in our later age, you see. Areans prefer to enjoy life to the fullest, especially in their career, before marrying and having children. It also helps that our technology allows us to explore this lifestyle.”

“I remember that you injected me with a nano virus. If I remember correctly, it allows wounds to be repaired and regulates your body to remain healthy. Does that mean I can follow your people’s lifestyle too?”

“If you want. That is, if they’ll allow you to keep it. I heard nano viruses are very expensive in Capitol.” Or any other planet besides Area-1.

He arches an eyebrow. I don’t understand why, but the gesture makes my blood feel cold for a second. “I thought Areans don’t believe in money.”

“We don’t. But nano viruses are Healer Histon’s rights, so the decision is mostly in his hand. Or in the High Commander’s, if he finds something he doesn’t like.” My heartbeat increases as I talk more. Good thing the nano virus in my body helps regulate my temperature.

“I’m getting tired. I should go to sleep. See you tomorrow, Cato,” I smile tiredly and wave.

“Thanks, Lini. See you in the morning.”