March 10, 2068
The Bakkers Clan Camp
Alex Mitchell (Volkov) POV
"Wait — are you saying we need to skip town? Like, leave California? And the sooner, the better?" John muttered, settling onto a nearby rock and cracking open a cold beer like this was just another sunset conversation.
"Exactly." I nodded. "By my estimates, we've got less than a year before Militech really starts moving. Kress already announced she's stepping down as president of the NUSA. Her puppet Rosalind is gearing up the military, and once she's sworn in, martial law's going to hit fast. Anyone without solid cover is gonna get caught in the crossfire."
"Damn," O'Brien said with a sigh, taking a long pull from his bottle. "I was just getting used to this place."
"Funny," I smirked, elbowing him lightly, "coming from the guy who swore five years ago that the whole 'settling down' thing wasn't for him. What changed?"
"Back then, I was single and stubborn," he shot back. "Didn't you once say people change?"
"Touche." I raised both hands in mock surrender, and he chuckled beside me.
"If I were you, I'd consider Idaho," I added. "Crime rate's low, economy's stable enough, and with the data I've seen, you could make a decent living without attracting attention."
"Trying to send us into the sticks, huh?" John smirked. "Alright. But you've gotta promise to keep an eye on my kid."
"No can do." I shrugged. "I'd love to say I can handle this solo, but the truth is, without help from people I trust, I'd be screwed."
"You've told that sob story a dozen times," O'Brien said, dropping his empty can beside him. "Just hope that aunt of yours — who showed up outta nowhere — doesn't flake when shit hits the fan."
"She won't," I said, more confident than I felt. "And besides, we're past the point of no return. If we mess this up, it won't just be on us — it'll drag down everyone we care about."
"What're you two whispering about over here?" Susan's voice chimed in from behind. "Gossiping again?"
"Ever heard the phrase 'curiosity killed the cat'?" I turned my head just enough to catch her out of the corner of my eye.
"Your snark's been noted — and summarily ignored," she said with a smirk, setting her daughter down. The little girl bolted toward me.
"Whoa!" I caught Rachel mid-sprint and lifted her onto my lap. She let out a giggle. "You've gotten so big. At this rate, you'll be grown up in no time." I ruffled her hair, deliberately not looking up at her mom.
"Alex..." Susan's tone sharpened. Hands on her hips. Classic.
I kept my eyes on Rachel and made no move to acknowledge her.
"I'm gonna smack you," she warned, raising a fist for emphasis.
"Not scared of that hand," I said, raising an eyebrow. She'd tried before. It never ended well for her.
"And just who do you think you take after?" Susan rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed by the smug grin I was wearing.
"Mostly myself. Though I probably picked up a few bad habits from you. Couldn't be helped." I shrugged, catching the half-stifled laugh from John.
"Alex wants us to relocate within the next six months," O'Brien finally admitted, eyeing his wife's mildly dangerous smile. Looked like someone wasn't planning to end the night without dessert.
"Not relocate, exactly," I cut in. "More like... temporary exile to somewhere safer. Militech won't draft everyone into their corporate war games, but they'll scoop up a few under some convenient pretext."
"Six months, huh?" Susan repeated, turning it over in her head. "And how long is this little mess supposed to last?"
"A year, tops. I need to wait for the right moment. Once Militech launches their flying fortresses, we hit a few of them hard. That's when Michiko makes her move. Under the guise of 'conflict resolution,' she'll force them to pull back. That ends the war."
"Wow. Tied up with a nice little bow," Susan said dryly.
"It has to be," I answered, dead serious. "If we don't wrap this cleanly, the Euro and Chinese corps are going to jump in. They won't pass up the chance to carve up the Free States and turn them into sweatshop territories."
"Sounds plausible enough," John said, lifting Rachel from my lap and settling her into his arms. "But I still don't get how you plan to make this work. Mind walking us through it?"
"Sure," I nodded. "Let's break it down."
I raised my hand and started counting on my fingers. Both of them watched.
"One — Militech losing military dominance opens the door for Arasaka to act. Two — Arasaka can't overreach. Bite off too much and the other corps pounce. So they'll need to form an alliance. It'll be unstable, sure, but from the outside? It'll look like a formal agreement. And that brings obligations."
"And you think you'll just walk away from this clean?" Mitchell's sarcasm could cut glass.
"How do you find a needle in an open field?" I arched a brow. "No one's going to be looking for two armed-to-the-teeth nobodies hiding out with nomads. Who's gonna believe the most wanted terrorist in America is just some eighteen-year-old kid building gear in a garage?"
"Alright, fine, you got me." She threw up her hands in mock surrender. "But I've got one more question. 'Future terrorist,' huh? Let's say this all actually works — what comes next?"
"Then we move into the next phase." I leaned back, letting the silence carry the weight of it.
"Step one: I take over Biotechnica and all its assets. Step two: I make President-to-be Rosalind Myers an offer she literally can't refuse. And after that…"
I let the words trail off with a grin.
"Well, that's a surprise. Gotta keep some mystery, right?"
"Well, well, look who's suddenly the king of intrigue…" Susan broke the silence with a voice dry enough to peel paint. "Y'know, Alex, you've always been the sharp one — even as a kid. Sure, there were days I seriously considered strangling that smug little smartass, but... you grew into someone I actually care about. So don't go thinking your problems don't matter to me. If you need backup, I'm in."
"The clan's got your back too, Alex." John's tone shifted — steadier now, more grounded. "After Selita Bakker died, we were all just spinning our wheels. No plan, no future. Just dragging out the inevitable. But honestly? That decay started way earlier. Probably right after the Fourth Corporate War. Resources dried up. Only jobs left were in high-rad zones. Rick still says he can't forget the taste of Rad-Away." He cracked a wry smile, but it didn't stick. "We've all been through hell, kid. Just do what you need to do — and don't look back."
"Where'd you even learn to make speeches like that?" I raised an eyebrow.
"You think running a pack of misfit nomads is some kinda walk in the park?" John shot me a look, laying it on thick. "When I first took the reins, the whole place was falling apart. People were talking about joining up with the Hodei or the Snakes. And then you showed up. You and Susan changed the game."
"You never told me that before. Why now?"
"Probably 'cause someone's a few drinks in and the booze is doing the talking," Susan teased, taking a good-natured shot at her husband.
"Daddy's nice. Don't bully Daddy," Rachel said firmly, pressing her cheek against his stomach like she was shielding him from verbal abuse.
"No one's bullying Daddy, sweetie. Right, John?" Susan said, narrowing her eyes playfully. Her voice dropped to a low, mock-threatening growl. "Right?"
"Right, right," John nodded fast, grinning like a man trying to appease a very short, very cute warlord.
Domestic bliss. Gotta love it.
The moment didn't last.
A sudden gust kicked up a cloud of dust nearby — V had finally returned from his test flight. Only this time, he wasn't alone. Vega followed close behind, her eyes locked on the glowing screen embedded in her wrist console.
"Seriously? You had to land right here? Couldn't find a spot that wasn't aimed at my face?" I lifted a hand to block the dust storm as they approached.
"Sorry, I was in a hurry. Had good news to share," Vincent said, peeling off his mask. His suit responded instantly — nanomachines folding the armor plates inward toward the compact chest reactor, which clung to his body like a second skin. Sleek enough to disappear under civilian clothes.
"We shaved a full minute off the deployment time," Vega reported, stepping up beside the younger O'Brien. "I've already pushed the results to your comms."
"That's solid," I nodded. "In that case, I better get moving. Gotta dive into the numbers and start tuning the system."
"You're leaving again, big bro?" Rachel looked up at me, wide-eyed and already pouting.
"I am, sweetie. But I promise, next time I'll bring a mountain of candy." She studied me like a tiny, skeptical executive weighing a shaky business deal... then gave a slow, solemn nod.
"Alright then. Until next time?"
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