Lina was only a short distance away from the lake, and in a matter of moments, Zed approached the town''s perimeter. The view of the modest homes, the market square, and the people moving about their daily routines greeted him. Without descending to the ground, he proceeded towards the townhall.
Zed hovered silently above the townhall, his anti-gravity module keeping him perfectly still in the air. The town stretched beneath him, bathed in the faint light of the evening. He narrowed his focus, activating his x-ray vision, which allowed him to peer through the thick stone walls of the building below. He could see the faint glow of the Governor''s office, where Emilia, Lane, and Mario were gathered, as expected.
Inside the office, the trio sat around the large wooden table, the room filled with tension. Emilia was leaning over a map, tracing lines with her finger, while Mario stood by the window, arms crossed, looking out as if lost in thought. Lane was hunched over a pile of papers, scribbling down notes, his brow furrowed in concentration.
After a few minutes Zed descended towards the roof of the townhall, his anti-gravity module carrying him effortlessly through the air. As he approached, he activated his phase shift module. The familiar sensation washed over him as his atoms shifted, allowing him to phase through the solid material of the roof.
Moments later, he found himself inside the Governor''s office, his presence undetected. The room lit by natural light from the windows, and the trio—Emilia, Lane, and Mario—were in deep in conversation.
With careful precision, Zed deactivated both his anti-gravity and phase shift modules, his form materializing without a sound. He appeared suddenly in front of them, his feet landing softly on the corner of Lane''s desk, causing a few papers to flutter slightly.
Lane, Mario, and Emilia all jumped slightly at the unexpected appearance, their expressions a mix of shock and cautious alertness. Their eyes locked onto Zed as they scrambled to adjust to his sudden and unexplained arrival.
Lane’s voice was the first to break the silence. “How did you—? What—?”
Zed smiled, his tone calm and controlled. “No need to worry. I’m just a little more… advanced than you might think.” His gaze swept across the three, noting their reactions. Emilia''s face registered surprise, but it quickly gave way to a smile, her lips curling with satisfaction. Lane was clearly trying to piece things together while Mario looked more curious than startled.
“See!” Emilia exclaimed triumphantly. “I told you! Not only could he fly, he can do… that!” Her hands shot out emphasizing the dramatic reveal. “He is a Judge!” she said as her eyes gleamed with a mix of pride and excitement.
Mario and Lane didn’t immediately react, their expressions unreadable as they processed Emilia’s words. Zed, sensing their hesitation, decided to push forward.
“Yes, Miss Emilia, I can do these and more," he said, his tone confident yet somewhat distant. "But unfortunately, I must admit to you that I am not who you think I am. I am not a Judge."
The air seemed to thicken as the silence lingered, until Lane broke it with a sharp, probing question. “If you’re not a Judge, then what are you?”
Zed met their gaze, his voice steady as he responded, “I don’t know what judges are, but I can tell you this... I am what you can describe as an extra-terrestrial.”
His words dangled in the air, each syllable deliberate, as if the truth of his nature was both an answer and an invitation to further questions. Their faces remained more confused than enlightened, brows furrowed in search of clarity.
“I am… not from this world,” Zed continued, his voice softer, almost introspective. “Due to some circumstances that elude my memories, I am stuck here now.” He simplified it as much as he could, his gaze steady but tinged with frustration at the confusion that seemed to deepen instead of clear. The weight of his admission settled in the air, unanswered questions swirling around him.
“I need to go back there,” Zed said, his hand pointing toward the sky, his voice filled with urgency. “I need to get off this world... this planet,” he continued, his eyes narrowing as the weight of his words sank in.
As he spoke, he noticed Lane''s expression flicker—something shifting beneath the surface. Lane’s gaze became more focused, locked on Zed as if understanding something he hadn’t before. It was as if a connection had been made, an unspoken realization passing between them.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
“And for me to get back out there, I need your help,” Zed continued, his tone steady. Mario and Emilia exchanged glances, uncertainty in their eyes. They turned to Lane, but his gaze was still fixed on Zed, his expression unreadable, as though he was processing something deeper.
Mario broke the silence, his voice skeptical but intrigued. “What could we possibly help you with?” he asked, his eyes narrowing as he noticed Lane’s preoccupied stare.
“I need your resources. Be it human resources or natural resources,” Zed explained, his gaze unwavering. “I’m not going to take it by force, mind you. That is why I am negotiating with you.”
Mario raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Mr. Zed," he began, his voice calm but direct, “In other words you need our population? You need laborers?” He studied Zed intently, his posture unyielding.
Zed''s gaze remained steady, unblinking. “Simply, yes,” he replied, his tone calm but tinged with an unmistakable gravity. “But don’t be mistaken. I have no plans and will never think of enslaving anyone.” He paused for a beat, as if weighing his words carefully. “In exchange, I can offer you something far valuable—something your people need, but have yet to realize they do.”
Mario’s expression remained unchanged, though his curiosity was piqued. “And what would that be?”
“I can give you technology that will provide you with the chance to build a better future for your people,” Zed said, his voice unwavering. He leaned forward slightly, his eyes locked onto Mario’s. “A future beyond the constraints of what you know now—advanced tools, knowledge, the power to reshape your world.”
Mario studied him closely, still wary. “And in exchange for labor?” he asked, his tone guarded. “How does that work, exactly?"
Zed leaned back slightly, his gaze unfaltering. “I did a rough estimate, and the town’s population seems to be about 5,000,” he began, his voice steady. He glanced around, as if taking in the surroundings before continuing. “That number needs to be increased. The workforce, if you will.”
He paused, his focus shifting as if calculating something in his mind. “Second, there are potential resources in the mountains to the north. Metals, minerals—materials that could be invaluable. Those need to be explored, extracted, and refined. I’m quite sure that with the right labor force, it will be enough to launch the initial phase of the operation.” His tone was practical, almost detached, as if this was all just part of a well-rehearsed plan. “I believe it could be mutually beneficial,” Zed said, his voice steady, almost cold. “I provide you with technology to carry out these tasks—resource extraction, infrastructure development, whatever you need in exchange for something more.” He met Mario’s gaze directly, his expression unreadable. “You provide me with the means to get off this world.”,” he added, his gaze locking onto Mario''s.
“We could add more,” Lane suddenly added, with a subtle nod, as if reinforcing a point he had already thought through. The suddenness of his statement caused Mario and Emilia’s gazes to snap toward him, confusion flickering across their faces.
“The population, that is,” Lane clarified, unfazed by their reactions. “We can add more. And as time passes, naturally, we’ll see a population boom.” He paused, giving the two a moment to process before continuing, his tone unwavering. “But to make that happen, we need Lina Town to encourage migration and foster the growth of the population. That doesn’t happen on its own.” Mario opened his mouth to speak, but Lane raised a hand to pause him. “It’s not enough to just have more people. We need to increase the demand for employment, and to do that, we need industries—industries that need workers.”
Emilia blinked, processing his words, but Lane kept going, almost lost in his own thoughts now, completely ignoring the puzzled expressions around him. “And these industries should be directly connected to the natural resources we’re exploring. The more resources we tap into, the more we can fuel industry, and the more employment we can offer. That, in turn, attracts people.”
His voice grew more intense as he laid out the chain of thought, as though he were slowly piecing together a plan.
“It’s a cycle—resources fuel industry, industry creates jobs, jobs attract people. More people mean more demand, and with enough demand, we can grow. And once we have the population we need, the infrastructure to support it will follow. This town can become something... far more than it is now.”
Mario and Emilia exchanged another glance, their initial surprise turning into contemplation. Lane’s sudden shift in focus had been unexpected, but there was no denying the clarity and practicality in his reasoning. Zed, too, watched with interest, his expression unreadable.
“You said you’d provide technology that will enable us to do these things,” Mario asked, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Where is it?” He folded his arms, not willing to let the conversation move forward without some kind of tangible evidence of Zed''s claim.
Zed smiled, a small, almost amused curve of his lips. “If you please, follow me to the lake,” he said, his tone both casual and inviting. “I have something to show you.”
His words were calm, as though he had been waiting for the right moment to say them, choosing his timing carefully. There was a deliberate, almost serene quality to his invitation, as if he knew this was the turning point.
Zed walked toward the door, his steps steady and purposeful, and without waiting for the others, he stepped outside.
Lane was the first to get up, moving with a quiet urgency as he followed Zed, his gaze fixed ahead. Emilia hesitated for a moment, her eyes lingering on Mario, but then she, too, stood, a determined look settling on her face as she followed suit.
Mario let out a long sigh, clearly reluctant to follow, but something in the air seemed to push him forward. With one last glance at the others, he stood, shaking his head slightly, and trudged out the door behind them.