Mille's POV- Continued
After the incident, the doctor told me I've suffered from PTSD from the incident from the Celtrix station. They suggested a Therapist known as Michael Thron, one of the world's specialists in PTSD. At first, I refused since I've wanted to work with science again, but they discouraged the idea by stating that it is ill-advised. Eventually, with their urging, I agreed to go, which it turns out to be a good idea.
With his help, I learn how to cope with the traumatic events that happened. Bit by bit, my experiences changed me. I learned how to breathe when I panicked and learn to acclimate to back to a normal life.
The best thing I like about the therapy was exposing me to danger. He reminded me not to overdo it or ignore the tragedy, but to learn from it and change my reaction to it.
After two months of therapy, I took up classes on Sociology, Public speaking, Physiology, Self-care, and with encouragement from Michael, he advocated that I should become a public speaker against these atrocities.
Later, I learned that Celtrix went bankrupt after I gave my testimony and my account of the number of...
"Let me guess, granny... Unethical conduct, negligent of public safety, these cats prioritizing money over people's lives, not to mention the cases of corruption." Joe said to me. "Even my momma and I don't begin work without forms of protection when we make our chemicals.:"
Then I suddenly remember something...
"Your mother is Isabelto Barneck, correct?" I said. "I met her once, she was a wonderful woman, tough but someone you can trust."
"You and momma, met? How long?" he asked.
"15 years ago, we worked together while I went freelance after the Noorisbor incident,". I turned to Mark, who is thinking about the event.
"You said that Telekinetic allowed you to live?" He asked, wondering why I lived, but the others died.
"Yes, but apparently, she and her friends wanted to save me for last," I said. "I admit, I thought she wanted to kill me for what I have done. But thankfully and unfortunately, she found other people responsible for her predicament. She let me live to either punish me, spare me, or what?" Sakura tugged at my shoulders.
She asked: What about the Nooribor incident? The time that you survived that, too.
"I was 29 years old by then won 8 awards in a row, but I aim to get back into what I love best..."
Me and Sakura did a high-five: Science!
This time, I was a lot wiser than I was before, but this time it was with another corporation known as Detriscrop. The higher-ups didn't like the 'eggheads', we were nothing more than being employees. I was the only one who preached Ethical concerns... Yes, Sakura, those concerns, but they call me "Cassandra" because my warnings often fell on deaf ears.
"Cassandra?" Victor suddenly speaks up, "You mean the seer who tried to tell people about disaster coming, but no one heeds her consul until it was too late."
"Yes, I was the 'Cassandra'. Fed up with having to raise a warning with the higher-ups, I asked the security team if they can train me in firearms so I can learn how to be more efficient in a gunfight."
"You mean knowing how to disarm someone or face them without losing your composure?" Mark said. "I guess you ain't that bad, Cassandra. I Wished that we had met under different circumstances."
"I would have punched you back then for calling me that!" I warned him. "Anyway, after learning about disarms and basic CQC in the event where I have to defend myself. I spoke with my fellow scientists, I only got 3 people to listen and take it seriously. It was at the time the incident occurred, this time because of the greed of these executives and trapping many people within the station. I, Rick, Jessica were the only ones that prepared for the event that occurred. This time, my skills came in handy when it came down to a firefight."
"You? Being prepared for a firefight?" Mark laughed.
"Better than 'Please, don't shoot me, I don't want to die!' mindset." I joked.
"You and that rick fell in love?" He asked.
"We did!" I said, but not elaborating further.
After the Celtrix and Noorisbor incidents, I've decided I'd had enough of the corporate structure and man's greed. For 15 years, I taught science and Hacking, Skip was one of my favorites in hacking class.
During that period, the owner of the Aural Research station approached me. He gave me a job offer; I turned him down, citing my experiences from the Celtrix and Noorisbor incidents, and no one heeded my warning, let alone cared.
"You didn't want to go back? I can understand why you had little love for the man in suits." Mark said, "I don't enjoy working with them, they are self-centered, greedy, fucking pigs who would rather focus on big bucks than people's lives." he expresses his disgust toward them."Why?" I asked.
"You know why. They care more about money and covering their asses than giving a damn below them!" he said. "I say they are no different even now."
"Wrong!" I stood up. "I know you may hate scientists, corporate executives, or spineless cowards." I took a breath to make what I say won't taken the wrong way. "The owner... the previous founder, not the 'Pigs' has cared about his employee's lives more than making money. I had agreed to take the job offer because my experiences were invaluable,'' I walked up to Mark, "What is your problem with them? It seems to me you just hate dealing with these kinds of people, even if it's clear that not all of them are from the same cloth."
"You wanna know?" I shook my head and stood my ground as he got near. "The reason I hated the Corporate world was because a rich kid's parents got my parents killed and then cover it up using their money. I hated the man and his parents, they talked me out of it from pursuing them. The Twuxi war, it called. He got killed on my watch, which his money didn't save his ass." I nodded and said nothing. "And you scientists... You talk and speak all of that scientific bullshit and act all superior. Using anything in the 'Name of fucking science!'" he yelled.
"And those people, regular people on the streets, folks that are undesirable or criminals to experiment on. One of them committed an experiment to turn them into super-soldiers, but in actuality, he turned them into monsters. He didn't shed a tear, didn't care, or understood that he was playing god with people's lives."
"It was during the Twuxi War, right?" I am understanding why he doesn't hold us scientists in high regard.
"Yeah, that is right, Miss Cassandra..." he said to me. "You know what I did to him... I've killed the son of a bitch and others like him because they were experimenting on people like they were guinea pigs who mean nothing but for fucking 'Science'. Plus, they are spineless, fucking cowards, hiding behind their books, computers, and their 'equations'. But when it comes down to a fight..." he gets to emphasize the point. "They whimper and cry, hoping that someone would protect them."
"You forget that I was one of those types of 'Scientists', while I agree with you that were are not muscle-bound warriors like yourself or being a deadly marksman with a gun..." I stepped closer to him.
"I may not have the raw PSI power like Sakura, the ability to warp the fabric of reality to my will like Ms. Mozaditine here." I pointed to her, "Or having the ability to freeze, burn or control electricity at my fingertips." I said to him.
"But don't judge a scientist because of one experience that soured your viewpoint of them and will be more scientists that prioritize wealth and/or have no ethical concerns on what they do. But they will be others will stand up to do the right thing, god forbid if they become a Cassandra like me."
"You forget the part, Ms. Stone, that Cyborg gives you an implant to help." Skip said.
"You should stop calling me 'Ms. Stone' Millie will do," I said.
"Sorry, but I prefer to give respect to my former teacher. Calling by first name basis may be disrespectful," he stated.
"Not if that's what you are worried about," I stated.
"Now to my key point and why I am here just to sum it up." I sat down on my chair to discuss the situation we are here now.
The cause of the Aural station incident
"Please, Millie. I am just here to give you an offer to work for the Aural Projects on Fionah," he stated.
"For the last time, the answer is no!" I continued to insist on this damn fool to take the hint and leave me be. "Why the hell do you keep coming back?! This is your fourth visit." I remembered that he keeps coming to my classroom each after my morning class.
"I came because I know your experience with the Caltrox and the Noorisbor incidents. I knew well that you championed moral conduct as a researcher and scientific-"
I look at him while narrowing my eyes at him, "If you are trying to butter me up, I am not hearing it."
"Please, visit Fionah for a week and see it with your own eyes. Do that, I'll ... just leave you alone for good. Please." he insisted. "I have my own biotechnological company that focuses on making people's lives healthier, stronger, and making the best while we live on during our time. Please, will you -" I rolled my eyes in frustration and put a finger to his lips.
"I'll come with you if you stop saying, "please" already!" I warned him.
Truth to his word when I went to Flonah. The planet was breathtaking, natural, and the fauna was amazing despite dealing with dangerous creatures. When I met the employees there, they took the time to get to know me as opposed to gossiping and being their in own cliques. The owner's name was Ren Awsiter. To my surprise, he was a scientist and CEO like us, and he often heard people's concerns and issues rather than focus on profit. I agree to work for this company, not for the money but to do good science this time, I was 50 around that time.
For 20 years we made outstanding breakthroughs, such as halting aging or at least slowing it down, increasing fitness without using anabolic steroids to do them, Reverse the effects of Dementia, and using methods of preserving the environment.
The good times ended when we discovered that our competitors stole some of our designs; it was a big concern to the CEO that he wanted to speak with us. He stated that he sold his company to another company known as Bankrift Corp, and he gives us a choice to either stay or find work elsewhere. Some employees did while most of us stayed, I had to ask him in private because this makes little sense.
He clarified that he meant what he said, he learned too late that he trusted in the wrong people when it came down to finances & marketing. He fired the people responsible, but some of them took the blueprints with them. One of his competitors offered to buy them off, he accepted not because of the money but to keep the company going; he was giving it to Bankrift Backleton, much to my horror. Another reason was he lost his wife and son during an accident 3 years ago and he is not getting any younger.
"Bankrift Backleton?!" I said incredulously. "You realize that man is more interested in lining up his pocketbooks rather than valuing people's lives?" I protested. "You cannot be serious, he won't honor your vision, instead he'll exploit it for all of his worth!"
He looked away from me, realizing he had made a mistake and did not do his homework.
"I ask you if you did your homework, but I know better than to ask," I said, pointing out his expression.
"It is my fault, Millie..." he said in a sad tone."I didn't know but the merger have been done, there is nothing I can do about that. But I won't ask you to stay here, but if you do, I want to ask you about one thing."
"Sure?" I said.
"Don't let the vision die with this company, the employees already viewed you with high regard. If you stay here, please, don't let it be for naught," he said, acknowledging the fact he gave his company to someone who would probably not care and can do far worse with it.
"I'll do that, but what about you?" I asked.
"I'm retiring, my business days are over. But I'll still take part in philosophy, philanthropy, and science, but that is it." He said. "The company I will leave behind will be in excellent hands at least. If not, people will have a moral sense." Those were the last words before I learned 2 years later. He died of a stroke and his relatives & friends had held a funeral for him. I wasn't able to come because of my work and I mourned him in my way as well with the Employees with the company.
However, ever since the new CEO came in, everything has changed. It started from an open culture where the employee gets to know you to a culture that rife with politics and makes it dangerous to work there. The new CEO was a heartless and cold man who valued efficiency, ruthless business practices. You couldn't speak with him at all unless you are important, otherwise, he would fire you in a heartbeat.
He brought in some of his employees to work with us, but they don't believe in a friendly community; they bring gossip and forming cliques. They also cut corners. They reduced staff as the "Expense was too high" and brought younger but more malleable minds. Because of that, it formed into cliques and with it, a toxic work culture.
As usual, I try to warn those executives about their cut-costing methods were doing more harm rather than good. But this time, I managed assembled 75 people on my team: Engineers, Scientists, Explorers, Security Detail, Technicians to prepare for any foolishness that the corporate people will unleash with their greed.
"Let me guess, they released a monstrosity beyond their control and resources?" Jenny said.
"Yep, they did. However, A.D.P.E.N has the threat under control." I said, remembering they fought a score of drones.
"The other thing, within our group of 75, they are 5 team leaders within the group, anything happens to me, they can look up to the others," I said, remember we had organized drills to prepare for this event should it occur.
"I volunteered to go up to the 1st floor to get lots of supplies and send out a distress signal," I said. "Until I met you and your crew," I said.
"At least, you ain't a typical scientist and you led a team to survive this kind of shit." he said, "Guess you got it under control, then."