Time flew like a bee and the day of the field trip came and everyone came early to school to assemble with everyone.
"Ahhh.. Good morning!"
"Good morning."
"I haven't slept well."
"Guess you're excited. Haha"
"Who won't be excited?!"
The sky was crimson and the wind was cold. The school bus came and parked in front of the gym where students slowly gathered while waiting for the teachers to arrive and made the call to ride the bus. It's a normal yellow school bus but with LCD's on the body where animations and advertisements flash like a screen saver.
Everyone was staring at the Ad and looking around the school while it's still dusk. They all brought what they can bring on a field trip and everyone was excited except for one person.
Markus sat on a stair at the left side entrance of the gym and Dave and Cassandra stood in front of him, worriedly sick of what this trip might bring to their friend. They turned their back and talked in a whisper.
"Hey Cass, how did he manage to make that waiver signed?" Dave asked..
"I dunno. I thought he won't be coming today."
"I thought so, too. He might be anxious about everything now." Cass slowly turned around to see Markus and she kept staring.
"I know." Cassandra pulled Dave's hem. "I can see it on his face. We should cheer him up and made him get over this trip."
"Yeah."
The teacher came and gestures them to enter the bus. The class followed the lead and boarded the bus. When everyone was inside, the whole system came to life.
"Welcome to Hammer 74, our destination for today is Orion. Fasten your seat belts and behave on your seats. Thank you and have a good day." the program greeted and that cued the engine to start.
The bus was AI-infused and driven by the same program. The admin will just enter the destination and they will arrive there in no time.
"This bus is one of Orion's donations to our school. Not just on ours' but to all the schools in Aurum. Isn't it very convenient?" the teacher announced through the audio system.
She stood in the front with the bus entrance behind her. She wore her usual back tights and strict demeanor.
"You've read the rules when we get there at Orion and we've talked about it in Homeroom class so better behave yourselves, especially you, Markus." she glared at the poor kid sitting at the farthest back of the bus. Dave and Cassandra sat on each side.
Everyone looked in their direction with stern gazes that created a cold environment.
Cassandra held Markus' hand and she felt it turning cold like ice.
Bon made mean faces, mocking them from his seat near the entrance of the bus, and Dave felt irritated.
"Don't worry Markus. We're here. We won't leave your side."
Markus remained silent.
The ride continued and when the sky turned yellow, the gates of Orion appeared in front of them.
They all opened their windows and saw the beauty the company can offer from their entrance.
A huge fountain that sprouts Nanomachines programmed to the light of different colors stood just behind the gate. Holograms of pines and green grass spread across the wide front of the company. Drones flew above arranging themselves as sentences to greet the visitors. Everyone was mesmerized by the greatest company there is in their city. One of the founders of the new earth, the Orion.
The bus took a full stop in front of the building's wide door entrance and the kids hopped out of the bus one by one.
They all look happy and awed even Cassandra and Dave.
"This is really awesome." Dave muttered.
Realizing their excitement, Cassandra hit Dave with her elbow and said, "Markus is here."
Markus came out of the bus, keeping his head low and avoiding anyone's sight.
"You don't have to see through all the trip, Markus. We can take our seats in the lobby as the others tour around." Cassandra said with a smile on her eyes. She wanted him to feel secure even in this kind of situation.
They entered the building and the high ceiling made them realize how small and insignificant they are in the world.
"Welcome students, this is ORION!"
Everyone looked around and was drowned in what they can see.
"Look at that! Is that the live feed of the earth now?!" one exclaimed.
"Yes, that is how the earth looks like from space through our satellite flying with the moon." their field guide said.
"That was amazing."
"Yes, the images are sent in just a millisecond from the Artemis, the satellite I mentioned a while ago using atomic semiosis of wave transmission."
"Like tethering?"
"In lay man's term, yes. Like a WiFi from space."
"Amazing!!" they all exclaimed.
The guide continued to talk about the things they've passed by the hallway but Dave and Cassandra saw how Markus was doing.
They felt the urge to get him to a safe place.
"What if the boss saw him here, what should we do?" Dave accidentally thought out loud.
Markus cringed and ran behind a jar near the vending machine at the entrance.
Cassandra felt a weight in her chest. She ran towards her friend and brought him in her arms.
"I hate you Dave!" she glared.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to---"
"Shut up." Cassandra exclaimed. "Just shut up. Markus is having a panic attack."
Dave ran towards his friends and held Markus' hand.
"He's so cold, Cass. WHAT SHOULD WE DO?!" he started to panic.
"It's okay guys. I'll just stay here and wait for the class to come back." Markus said with a cold voice. He didn't meet his friends' eyes. "I know I was dragging you back. You can enjoy the trip and I'll just behave myself here."
"What are you saying?!" Cassandra felt pissed. "We should leave you here?"
"That's not gonna happen. We'll sit by your side." Dave said. "I'm sorry for saying that thing a while ago. I was not thinking it through."
"You're right though," Markus replied. "Someone from here might recognize me and that is fearsome."
"We know. That is why we'll keep you company. We won't let anyone near you hurt you. I mean, you're a crybaby so it can't be helped."
"I am not."
"Yes, you are." Dave and Cassandra said in sync.
"Whatever." He nodded in agreement to stop Cassandra and Dave from worrying. But his body cannot lie, he trembles at the very sight of the building.
"Everyone," the teacher called and the class gathered at the lobby. "The trip will be conducted by group and it will start in a few minutes as they were arranging the accommodation. As of now, you can move around BUT don't do stupid things like inserting anything on their machines here, ne..." The teacher turned to Markus as if reprimanding him not to hack here again.
"Hai!" everyone answered and Markus said it in a whisper.
Everyone looked in their direction again and Cassandra tried to hide him. Markus looked away.
Drone detectors came flying at them, scanning them from head to toe.
"Thanks for what you've done, Markus." Bon said sarcastically "... now we can't even bring our phones to take pictures...and call our parents if an emergency occurs now. They asked us to surrender everything except for cameras and the like to take a record of the visit."
Markus sunk himself behind Cassandra.
"I'll only give you one more chance Bon, if you continue to pester Markus, I'll definitely sink your face in one of the tiles of Orion." Dave stepped forward and glared.
"Whoo... You're getting arrogant little Dave. Don't think I'll follow what you said. I'll go along with the fight. Huh."
The teacher came passing behind them so their little argument vanished like a cloud of smoke but Bon left a glare.
"Stop picking fights, Dave." Cassandra grabbed his wrist. "Don't let the matter go big. Markus will get hurt."
A few moments later, the guides came and brought them officially inside the building.
They entered the Atrium where the final game was held and everyone was amazed.
It looked like a huge dome with three big screens suspended from the roof. It has a glass roof with small solar panels its supports. Several mini satellite discs were placed on top of every post. As part of the intensified security, they've placed CCTV cameras in every direction of the building. Series of computers lay on the center of the Atrium for the pre-testing of different programs.
"Welcome students and guests, welcome to ORION. I am Orion, your guide for today, and let me show you why our company is the most wanted place to be in the whole world." the hologram said as he appeared in front of everybody from the big screens that hang on the ceiling. It was a robotic figure of a man, covered in codes all over his skin. He constantly changes his appearance whenever he popped up in a different place.
"A long time ago, our predecessor found the meteor and studied it for the future we have now. He called his company the Ginsei Company which utilized the meteor's characteristics to build the new earth. Now, the new president..." A picture of an honorable young man appeared on all of the screens in the atrium. "Mr. Reiko Ginsei founded and remodeled the company to its current state, the GoldStar Industries. It specialized in the modern application of the meteor's power as the world presses to new horizons. We are currently developing technologies that exceed the current fad in our society. From transportation to communications and even livelihood uses, GS industries have a thing or two to help you. One of which is the famous game, ROA-RPG xxx3, which will be released next weekend in your nearest game stores."
The guide continued to brag about the company and gave tips from how to deal with computer bugs to doing everyday perks with the use of Orion equipment. Students were allowed to see and manipulate the computers as they go on with the trip inside the ORION.
On the other hand, Markus was frozen in his veins. He was walking stiffly as they entered the Atrium and tested the new displayed machines. Cassandra got more nervous about what will happen to Markus that she doesn't know what word to say to calm him down.
"Ahh.. so... I will go buy some coffee or juice..." Cassandra said.
"Ja, I will stay here with Markus... why won't we find a bench and wait for Cassandra, ne, Marky..." Dave leads the way.
"Ahh... uhmm... you two..." Markus said in a low voice.
"Hai...what was it?" the two of them turned to him.
"I..." he tried to act tough but sighed. " ...I'm fine so you don't have to worry about me. Go have yourselves some fun..."
"It's fine, Marky... we want to be with you. We don't want to look around anyway..." Cassandra said "What else can we see inside this tech building beside the food?" she tried to laugh. "I'm not that interested in finding out why those robots move on their own."
"She's right. We've seen the facilities on the TV before... well, it's nice here though. But, being with you is much more securing than touring around." Dave added. He reached his hand and walked towards the bench he saw near a post.
"But, what about the group?" Markus asked.
"Nah, they'll just ignore us. Haha," Dave cheerfully smiled.
"I don't want to drag you, two. I want you to enjoy your stay here. It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be here right?" Markus insisted, but he never met their eyes.
"But..." Cassandra complained "Either way, we're staying... and I'm gonna buy us some juice. You two find a bench and calm yourself down, okay?."
"It's what Cassandra said... let's go, there's a vacant one there.."
They went to the empty bench right on the left corner of the Atrium and sat quietly. Dave tried to start a conversation but Markus did not respond.
"Ahh,,, I have to go to the washroom, Marky..." he joined his legs together and stand to hold it up. "I'll be back soon, don't go anywhere, okay? ... you hear me, Marky?"
"Uhhm..."
Dave went off finding the washroom to pee.
The moment Dave left him, Markus looked around and saw the familiar surrounding he had when he joined the ROA-RPG finals game. It came to the thought of him having arrested by the Bureau and taken into custody. Heat slowly cover his gut and his chest started to burn. Cold sweat ran down his nape and temple; his fingers slowly turned gray. He wanted to shout but words cannot come out of his mouth. He wanted to cry but his tears won't come out.
"Keep calm...keep calm.." he said to himself, trying to control his breathing.
He walked front and back to calm himself down but he cannot fight the surge of thoughts. Anywhere he looked at he shivered; even the floor makes him remember the incident. He curled himself on the bench and laid silently.
Louige came back from running an errand for Reiko early this morning. He took a turn and arrived entering the left side of the Atrium.
"It's rather noisy this day, huh..." he said and turned to the stage's direction. He adjusted his eyeglasses to see clearly the situation around. He saw the children gathered in the computer area and realized,
"Oh.. it was the field trip, huh? It was that time again."
He moved forward and searched for Markus the moment he realized it was a field trip for Markus' school after searching the file for the schedule of activities. He searched a lot and found a kid curled on a bench on the left corner of the Atrium.
He approached the bench and slowly said, "Ne, kid... are you a student? You should be joining the group out there. Aren't you enjoying your stay?" he asked but the kid didn't respond. He knelt down and reached the kid's face. I guess he's not enjoying being here Louige thought.
He touched the kid's head and felt it was so cold with sweat and the kid looked so pale.
"This is bad... this kid is.., Markus..."