The grand metropolis has very limited space. Especially in its younger days when it only has a single layer of wall. Now, the inside portion of said first wall has been converted into the cemetery. The only cemetery.
It is dark and cold. The walls, or rather the shelves, however, are colorful. Small crystal busts depicting the people who are stored in the capsules, with their names and dates written on the base, each lit by their own neon lights underneath, arrange on a grid.
Catrina walks down an aisle. Her destination is far inside. She makes her way to the end of the particular aisle and uses the elevator to go on the first platform after the ground floor. Beside the elevator is a screen displaying a keyboard and an empty text bar. She fills in her family members. As soon as she taps enter that whole section of the grid shifts. Three boxes shine brighter than the rest. Catrina walks towards them.
The first one, Gabriel Sinclair 354–386 AE. Her father.
The second, Nisha Sinclair 355–386 AE. Her mother.
Finally, the last one, Kaiden Sinclair 379–407 AE. He was just fine and even cheerful yesterday.
Catrina stares at them. Her breathing gets deeper and louder each time. She scratches her head. Her mouth opens but no word comes out. The weight of the world falls onto her. She covers her mouth with one hand, turns around, holds onto the railing with the other, and leans onto it. Her tears start falling. She drops onto her knees, holds onto the railing with both hands, and hides her face behind her arms.
Catrina does her best to hold back her anguish. Letting out only a few gasps and heavy shaking breaths. She can taste her own tears flowing through her lips and between her teeth. After a few moments, she stands. Catrina gives herself a punch on the gut and slaps her own face a few times. She only stops after her face has gotten red. After a few more deep breaths Catrina turns around with a forced smile.
"Hi, dad... Hi mom... As you can see, Kaiden's with you now. Hi Kaiden." She does a little wave for each of them. "So, yeah... I hope you guys have fun catching up with one another... and... I hope I'll be able to handle myself without him." She looks up, takes a deep breath, and looks back at them. "He's a good brother. A great one. The best brother anyone could ever ask for. So, I'm sure he'll take care of you over there too." She wipes her tears and gives up keeping a smile. She sits down, hugs her knees, and leans back on the railings. "Adalia is missing. She's the only one I have left. Don't worry though, I'm gonna go save her. In fact, I'll be going with the rescue team in a few hours. I just... Wanted to say hi and... to let you know. Hopefully, she's still alive. She's strong, of course she's alive. I refuse to believe she's dead. Still, they say she's in a native territory, so it could go either way... and if things go bad..." She takes a deep breath. "That means I'll be with you guys soon. So, I guess, in a way... Both are good endings."
"Catrina?"
Novalie breaks into Catrina's isolation. She's with Aliks who seems more distressed than her.
"Yeah?" Catrina stands, brushes herself, and wipes her face. "Why are you guys here?"
Novalie looks at Kaiden's bust. "Visiting a good friend. What about you? I mean, I know why you're here, but I heard that you got pretty beat up."
"Oh yeah, I'm fine about that. Agent privilege. The agency can get us fixed quickly for free. I still gotta be careful though. Can't get too tired for like a week."
"Ah got it. So basically, they're like, what's that? You broke your bones? Nope, you're fixed. Now get back to work you lazy ass fucker!"
"Yeah... Feels a bit like that, doesn't it?"
"Working on the walls are kinda the same too. They quickly patch you up and you'll be back to work in no time." Novalie takes out a cigar and lights it. "You want some?"
"No, no thanks. I'm not gonna insult my brother by starting to do the one thing he managed to keep me from doing my whole life. Especially in front of his own grave."
"Fair enough, I understand." Novalie puts the cigar in her mouth. "I'm sorry."
"It's fine. Is that all? I just wanna be alone here for a while. I'm not trying to be rude, but... Yeah..."
"No worries, I get it. Well, someone did mention they want to tell you something. Aliks?"
Aliks is hiding behind Novalie. They are looking at the ground while scratching their head.
"What is it? What do you wanna say?"
Aliks looks everywhere except at Catrina. They can't bring themself to. "I am sorry, for your brother."
She's expecting something more. Though, also glad that isn't the case. "Well, thanks for your concern."
"No, you don't get it. I am sorry."
Catrina is baffled. Have they done something? "Why are you sorry?"
"Well, you see. Kai, Kai died because of me. He saved me from one of them. He died because of it. If... If I wasn't there, he would still be alive."
"Look, it's fine. What happened has happened. I forgive you. I'm sure he forgives you. Certainly, he would want me to forgive you. Besides, if it wasn't you, he would've totally saved someone else." Catrina looks at her family and wipes her last drop of tear. "It's fine, you're fine, we're fine. There's nothing between us." She pats their shoulder.
They sigh. "Thank you, thank you. I'm still very sorry. If there's anything I can do to help please let me know. I, I've even applied to the agency to be a cleaner agent. That way I'll be able to help you with your work too."
"You what? Look, it's fine. You don't need to do that. Now, if you wanna repay him just... Stay out of trouble and don't die. Cause then Kaiden died for nothing."
Aliks nods. "Okay, okay."
Catrina nods back. "Now, can I have my alone time... With my family, please?"
Novalie exhales a puff of smoke away from the railings. "Of course. You hang in there, sis. Kaiden really talks proudly of you. Prove him right. Come on Aliks, break time's almost over."
The workers leave Catrina to be alone with her family. Catrina sits on the railings. Her hands lock onto it. Several minutes later she spends staring at the tiny sculptures of her family.