2400 AD

Xenocon Headquarters Mzansi

Suiderland exploded. “Those children should be dead by now. Instead, they’re alive and well and thriving and we wait for the next extinction event and that could mean us!”

“Gideon’s resources are extremely disciplined, sir,” Krakat said.

“Disciplined? They are weak. You failed me, and you know the penalty for failure.”

Krakat stood before Suiderland with droplets of sweat falling from his brow.

“On the one hand we have Xenocon, on the other we have simpletons like Gideon and his Denizen 1 hole he calls a home for the lost, the unwanted, the curious and the citizen who needs to be protected from us. How can it be that their security force is more capable than ours? We have existed far longer than them. We have developed far more AI than they ever could. We have the weapons and the manpower, yet we fail a simple task.”

“I do not know, sir. Please, give me the opportunity to make this right.”

Suiderland grabbed Krakat’s balls. “Do you know what these are?”

Krakat explained in pain. “Yes, sir.”

“What are they?”

“Testicles, sir.”

“I didn’t think you had any. You’re disgusting, Krakat. I want those kids dead. Dead. Do you understand?”

***

In the quiet of his quarters at Xenocon, Krakat made a holocall, and soon his room was filled with an eerie blue, almost spectral light. A hooded figure stood in the center of the room, arms folded across the chest.

“Speak, Krakat.”

“I need an answer.”

“What is the question?”

“What is the exact location of the children?”

“They are here, at Denizen 1. You will not get to them easily for they are heavily guarded.”

“Where exactly. I need their precise location.”

“What is your business with the children?”

“You ask too many questions. Let me remind you that you are one of us. If it were not for the gracious mercy of Suiderland, you’d be dead. Just give me their location. No questions.”