Chapter 198 More Surprises From Maddox
Chapter 198 More Surprises From Maddox
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Mina left after eating some snacks, engaging in one invigorating conversation and playing the newer version of the game of snakes and ladders which one of Carolyn's employees tinkered with to make more realistic and painful in way that the players wore these black tiny patches on their hands which connected to the game. If you landed on the snake fangs, the snake would rise out of the board in a hologram and bite you which would send a small shock to your body. The pain varied according to the size and type of snake, the bigger the snake or the deadlier, the worse the pain. It was one of the most played games in the Sun star now. The teenagers especially had lost interest in the old version. Scarlet had been bitten by the snakes more than Mina during their game.
When Mina returned home, she was carrying a yellow potted winter jasmine. There had been no alert today so there were more people outside than usual. Children were playing, throwing snow balls at each other. Workers in the green houses were busy, those from the food factories were changing shifts. Cleaners were melting heavy snow that was blocking off buildings with energy stone powered heaters which they carried with ease like leaf blowers. A few were using kinesis to do their work and the heaters were floating above the snow on their own as if they were powered by magic.
She was surprised to find both of her parents and her brother Zorl at home. "Oh, what are you guys doing here?" she asked them.
"We live here." her mother responded. Then she took the winter jasmine from Mina and sniffed it. "Where did you find this?"
"Mother, don't you follow me on star net?" she asked in response while she changed into her indoor shoes. These were long like boots, because they had to keep the entire length of the leg warm. She had posted pictures she took around Scarlet's castle, with her and alone. anyone that followed on star net m would have seen the pictures already.
"Do you think I have time to check what you are posting online?" her mother responded. She placed the winter jasmine on the kitchen counter, before moving it close to a window ledge and then the living room table.
"Just put it anywhere." her husband commented.
"You have no sense of aesthetics, you can't just put it anywhere." she shook her head and continued her search for the perfect spot.
Mina pushed Zorl so that she could squeeze herself next to him on the couch, despite the house having many more empty chairs. "Mother, I got it from Scarlet, handle it with care, it should not die."
Her mother put it next to window and eagerly came to ask more questions, "My most hard working daughter, are you on first name basis with our governor now? How close are you?"
"Close enough to gossip and play games together." Mina replied nonchalantly as she looked around for the tv remote. When she failed to find it, she said, "TV on."
It turned itself on. "Movie channel." she added.
"Forget about the movie," her mother said with urgency, "just tell me everything you did with the governor. Did she cut her hair because of fashion, I want to cut mine too but I am hesitant. Did she teach you how to cook anything?"
"That's not important," her father pulled her father back and asked a question of his own, "We have many adults and sixteen little children in the hospital that have come down with the chill, if something is not done, we are going to start sending dead bodies out of the hospital soon. Did you ask her what she is doing about it?"
"Is she a doctor?" Captain scoffed and he asked. "Stop behaving as if she is a deity or a scientist."
"There is a rumor that her teacher was a doctor, there is no way she did not pick anything. When it comes to saving lives, all hands must be on deck." Professor informed his son calmly.
Zorl's bracelet buzzed and he looked at a new message. In such a season, when one bracelet buzzed it was not abnormal for others to check theirs as well.
"What is it? Is it another beast?" his mother asked with worry in her voice.
"No, a kid got stuck in a hole, fire department is going to handle it." he answered.
"I like the fire fighters, they are so friendly." Mina commented. "And they always carry sweets to give scared little children. Why do you RGB officers never carry those around?"
Zorl shook his head and looked at his sister in disbelief, "Mina, do you actually know that you work for the GBCS, you are not so different from us. We arrest criminals, why should we hand out sweets?" This was one of the reasons why he disliked those braggart fire fighters. On the blue star, after mecha warriors, fire fighters were not on the likeability hierarchy. When people saw them coming, they applauded but when they saw the RGB coming, they frowned because someone was going to be arrested and if the situation was dangerous, killed.
"The GBCS is handing out sweets too and we deal with children mostly." Mina shrugged and looked at the television. "I am not saying you should change the way you work but maybe small changes here and there could make the people look at you better."
"We have been voted most efficient and most organized. We have zero corruption and our officers are highly trained. The people may not welcome us with flowers but they know our necessity and appreciate our services. Now, let me be, I was resting before you returned."
Mina scoffed and whistled for two seconds, then she said, "Did you know that Jelly's handsome boss is single? I heard he has a child but I did not know that he had no wife or partner. He helped her get her apartment, I wonder if he sees her as an ordinary employee, a friend or something more."
Zorl jumped up from the sofa, glared at Mina and strode to his bedroom.
"Ha! he thinks I can let him have the last word, impossible." Mina mumbled. She turned up the volume and turned her attention to the movie. But she was not bound to enjoy it because her parents restarted their Q&A session on her time with the governor.
Scarlet, meanwhile was discovering another shocker left behind by Maddox in journal entry number thirty one.
Alex had communicated with her urgently, urging her to read it immediately because there was an emergency so she did.
"When I said I was the last descendant of house Varakas, I left out a technicality. I am not the last, there are two more, my sister Elora and her daughter Aryn. When our house fell, my elder brother Sven, in order to protect us urgently sent us away from our home in a space ship. With the last of his power in the body enhancing mecha, he exploded with the enemies that had come to kill us. We watched as our home went up in flames and burned as we disappeared into the stars. But the enemy was far craftier and ruthless, they planted an explosive device on the ship unknown to us, by the time I realized, it was too late."