December 9th, 2210.
[First Occurrence : Planet ERY0248 : Local date : 25 January 2211]
Kale had just under 56 days to prepare for whatever an occurrence was, exactly two months after the First Summoning, a foreboding date for humanity that he couldn't even warm them of.
He had to start improving himself.
Kale's first point of call was his lifestyle, he couldn't help where he lived but he could improve the way that he lived via diet and exercise. He had scared his neighbours as they were all like him, sodden and downbeat, but now this new and improved Kale was mad in their eyes. He had hauled countless bags of trash from his apartment as noises of intense exertion could be heard from through the walls every morning and evening, but he wasn't doing what most young men did.
Every morning Kale awoke as he struggled to exercise, he had never done any kind of push up or sit up before and his body was woefully lacking, with deep shouts and growls he pushed himself to perform better, even as his body cried at him to stop.
Kale had even gone so far as to take up running, something he had sworn to never do. He could hear the people in his neighbourhood spreading rumours about him, whispers and gossiping of how the 'kind and innocent' Kale is now living a life of crime in a dark underworld or most likely organ stealing, Kale had no choice but to live with these rumours as he couldn't afford even the most basic of gym licenses. He was using almost all of his spare money to eat properly, though he still made sure to keep beer on hand, it helped when he woke in the middle of the night as the 'memories' attacked him, refusing him the right to sleep peacefully.
Beer helped.
Even Kale had to admit that he felt a lot better now than he used to, he never realised how sickly his body had been under the surface, it was a miracle that he had survived.
Kale only hoped that all of his hard work would help, the days were ticking by at an alarming rate.
Still Kale waited for a call from his boss, his contract saved him from being fired without notice as they had to pay a penalty fee but he began to worry if he would be able to work again, if 'Metallic Alloys' would resume business.
It was on one of his frequent trips to the supermarket that Kale finally received a call from his boss.
"Boss."
"Listen closely. I've got bad news."
Kale's heart pumped nervously in his chest, with the changes he was trying to make to his old lifestyle he needed money to keep himself healthy and afford his apartment.
He needed this job.
"The company is moving and we can't take you with us, with the recent changes to the world economy we are changing sites to a more secure location with better business opportunity."
Kale stopped walking as people muttered and threw curses at him, but continued to keep walking past Kale, afraid that he would do something or lash out.
"I'm not apologising cause it aint my fault, we've got no need for someone like you where we're going. Plus, your sort doesn't belong there anyway."
Kale was speechless, he grasped the phone in his hand tightly as his knuckles grew white from force. Just as he was improving himself, something just had to go wrong again, he couldn't even tell his boss that he needed the money for the sake of the world, doing that might cost him his bonus and cancellation fee.
He had his own pride, but he wasn't going to starve to death because of it, it wouldn't feed him or keep him warm. Putting on his politest tone Kale tried his best to persuade his boss.
"Boss… you know how much I need this job. There has to be something I can do."
He could hear the heavy breathing over the phone as his boss took a laboured breathe, he was a big man who enjoyed throwing money around and living lasciviously, he lived off the money he saved from paying low wages and employing the desperate.
"Hmmm… there might be something you can do but it would mean that we need to redo your contract, including any cancellation fees as protocol of course."
Grinding his teeth Kale kept his polite tone, his boss had wanted this from the start, to drive Kale into a corner and make him beg so that he had no choice but to accept whatever his boss's offer would be. The man just wanted to avoid paying Kale his cancellation fee by shoving him into another small time job where he'd undoubtedly get no bonus and probably less pay.
But he had no choice, the chances of him being hired elsewhere were slim to nothing at the moment.
"...Thank you… boss."
Barely able to hide his anger and disdain Kale responded slowly, each word a monumental effort.
"The company may be moving but we are keeping both sites, though only the new one will be active. We need someone to keep an eye on the place and make sure no undesirables settle in, of course as the old site will be vacant it means that I won't be paying as much. Its fairer for the other workers that way…I'm sure you understand."
Mentally hanging himself Kale would love to see his boss try and survive if he had been summoned, the goblins would have had a feast.
"Certainly Boss. When do you want me to sign the new contract?"
Kale hoped that he could sign the new contract after the end of the month, that way he could earn his final bonus and pay check before that too was swindled away.
"Its a first come first served basis I'm afraid, there are others who are also showing interest in 'Metallic Alloy's' latest job offer. We are a very admirable and forthright company after all."
"Indeed Boss. I will… head over shortly."
"Very good, I will expect to see you before the day is over or don't bother at all. I am a very busy man, as you well know… uhhh… well would you look at the time."
With a click Kale's boss had hung up, he didn't even have the common decency to learn Kale's name, he just wanted to use him as cheap labour all over again. With a sigh Kale changed his plans as he abandoned his foray to the supermarket, he knew his Boss, if he didn't turn up and see him before the day was through then he would lose this job for definitive.
With another sigh Kale began to jog, headings towards the outskirts of the 'shit hole' that he lived in, the city called 'Mire'. A city just about covered in civilisation but dumped between all the old major powers of the previous countries as they fought for more power. His goal was 'Metallic Alloys,' it had been built over an old rural patch of land bought illegally by his Boss, he had strongly convinced some of the 'City men' that this patch of un-used land was worthless. Even though it was meant to be protected, the surrounding forest and un-tamed land were a monument to what it once was, soon it was to be Kale's home.
Kale had arrived and un-willingly signed his new contract, a contract that should be classed as illegal in itself. Kale's new job was to remain on the old site as a live in security guard, all of his bonuses and extra pay would be taken by his Boss as a surcharge for rent and bills. He could use the site as he wished but had to remain there for seven days a week, only pile of scraps and old machinery were left for him to guard.
It was all worthless.
His Boss wanted him to waste away here and quit of his own accord, his Boss had even reduced Kale's basic wage again stating that all he needed to do was buy food as everything else was on sight, ignoring the rest of his needs such as clothes and personal goods.
Despite the blatant bullying and discrimination from his Boss, Kale still had a small seed of hope and happiness brewing in his heart. He no longer needed to live in his dim little apartment and had an entire vacant factory to run around and live in, meaning that he could train and prepare even more, without having to worry about being watched or found out.
He may have to live in squalor, but he would make it work and change the factory as he saw fit. He knew his Boss, he couldn't sell the land because of how he had acquired it, neither would he just give it away as he liked to boast about how he owned land in the Free World Union. So Kale had become a glorified grounds keeper of land that would probably never see any use again.
Kale would miss seeing Chloe when he went shopping, not because he had feelings for her, but he just wanted to thank her one last time. He would still be at home shaking and sweating as his haunting thoughts and dreams became worse if not for her, they were still bad now but they were were tolerable, Kale was slowly getting stronger and forcing himself to move on.
All of this was only because of Chloe, Kale only wished he could do something for her. But would she want any help from him? Despite how he talked to her politely and always kept it short, she kept him at arms reach, he knew she didn't mean to and understood that she wouldn't want to get close to someone like him.
Who would? He was scum at the bottom of the social ladder with no future prospects to speak of.
Shaking his head to himself Kale resumed his weary trudge to the supermarket once more, not to see Chloe but to buy a few beers, maybe even a bottle of something stronger, he wanted to commemorate his small dingy apartment. It may be down trodden and horrible to some, but it had still been his home.
Who didn't want somewhere to call home, to have somewhere they belonged.