"The Supreme Leader was right," Bernkastel says. "It really was just simple cause and effect! The situation that Marius caused!" She strikes the sofa with her fist. "That orange bastard!"
"So what now?" Adriana asks.
Lorenzo hands out a picture of Mr. Ashby. They could see an old man with streaks of white hair mixed in with blond hair.
"He's gotta be much older than this now," Alex says.
"Indeed." He gazes at Bernkastel who has creepy smile on her face. "Bernkastel?"
They all look, "Bern?" "Bernkastel are you alright?"
"He wears a helmet to hide his face, his shame." She giggles. "I went through all that hell, we all did, people even died and for what? Something he did and he has the nerve to blame it on my grandpa!"
"People like him are always blaming others for their misfortunes," Adriana shakes her head. "The fool!"
"Either way he's going to die and it will be by my hands!" Bernkastel declares.
They were all shocked by her declaration.
"Grandpa, I'm going to the library."
"What?!" Lorenzo exclaims. He couldn't believe his granddaughter actually wanted to go to the library, normally he and Adriana had to drag her there kicking and screaming.
Alex just sat there shocked as Bernkastel made her way out of the house.
"I'll drive you," Adriana says.
"I'll meet you all there as soon as I can," Lorenzo says.
Alex eventually exits the chair and leaves the house, he wasn't sure what he was going to do. Bernkastel had changed and he wasn't quite sure how to handle it.
****
"Now that we have a face to go by, I'll recheck the footage!" Adriana beams.
"When I was on The Ultimate, a staff member told me he kept the helmet on due to an acid attack."
"Acid attack? But if that was the case a disfigured person would stand out especially at a military base."
"Yes, that would be the case for him to keep the helmet on unless he got reconstructed surgery but if that was the was the case there would be no need for the helmet."
"This whole thing keeps getting weirder and weirder. I'll drop you off and head to the base, what exactly are you planning to do at the library?"
"I'm going to compile together what I know. One more thing, how come I never knew about Haro, the robot seems to have been around since pre WW3?"
"Because you barely read anything outside of a fashion magazine."
"Ok fair point," Bernkastel blushes in embarrassment. "During my time on The Ultimate, I read a lot."
"Congratulations, you can read," Adriana laughs.
Bernkastel was silent.
****
2020
A meteor enters the Earth's atmosphere and crashes into a valley on an island. The meteor opens up and releases a toxic gas.
The island is owned by a Chinese Millionaire named Zhao Mint, owner of the Black Dragon Company. He managed to purchase the island not only as hopes for another business venture but because of newly discovered fruit that grew in the valley. The new fruit that was red, round and could be fully grown to the size of a basketball. The Chinese Leader dubbed it Red Fruit. The Red Fruit could be grown on trees, bushes, vines and small plants.
In 2019 The Party managed to corner the entire Red Fruit market which was just another step in their plans for world conquest, this caused some tension between them and the other members of the Earth Coalition and people who believe that the Earth and its resources belong to everyone but at moment there was little that could be done.
A private plane lands on the resort airstrip, Zhao Mint approaches the plane and greets the man. "It's good to see you again Mr. Moghadam, did you have a good trip?"
"Traveling to five different places in less than two weeks to fix screw ups and misunderstandings can really wear on a person."
"Well take some time to relax."
"That's not going to happen, there's a lot of paperwork to be taken care of and I will be leaving tomorrow morning."
The two make their way to the Black Dragon Resort Restaurant. "So I heard a meteor crash landed here."
"Yes it landed in the valley."
"Oh dear is Red Fruit ok?"
"Yes, not a single Red Fruit was harmed. I thought I could make use of the meteor but by the time my team got there the meteor had crumbled into nothingness."
"I suppose it was the best."
"Maybe." They sit down in Mr. Zhao's private booth. The waitress wearing a white blouse, short black skirt and black heels approach and bows her head. "Good afternoon Mr. Zhao."
"A coke will be fine."
"I'll take a glass of water."
"Very well, I shall return shortly." She bows and leaves.
Mr. Moghadam watches her hips sway as she walks. "Like what you see?" Mr. Zhao teased. "That's Su Sung."
"She is gorgeous," he admits.
"I think I can arrange some private time for you two."
"There's no need for that."
"Oh I insist."
"I have no time."
"You really need to learn how to relax."
"Enough, let us discuss business." Mr. Moghadam was the proud owner of Crescent Cosmetics an Iranian company which operated in all parts of the Arab world and was now looking to expand and come up with new ideas and one was to introduce the sweet smelling scent of Red Fruit. Personally he didn't like the taste of Red Fruit but if he managed to get the Red Fruit first he could beat the competition with ease.
The two began their talk, only stopping to eat and then they resume. A deal was soon reached that would ensure both parties would benefit.
Once lunch was finished Mr. Moghadam heads to his hotel room. He resumes his work and then the stressful phone calls ring nonstop. After some time had passed he decides to take a small break by hitting the casino. While he was there he notices a lot of people eating Red Fruit, it was nasty to him but as long as he could gain from it he didn't mind it. He knew in another month Zhao would introduce Red Fruit wine to the world but he wonders how long the monopoly would last for the Red Fruit had seeds and could be grown in almost any environment so it wouldn't be long before someone competed against him. He smiles to himself, could he do it? Nah, Zhao was a friend but he was a shrewd businessman, he would let someone else do it, after all nothing was wrong with healthy competition.
As he makes his way out the casino with no winnings an older man approaches him. "Excuse me sir, I was told to give this to you." It was a coupon for a free massage. "Courtesy of Mr. Zhao."
"Tell him thanks but no thanks." He leaves.
"Sir, he told me to tell you that working yourself to death won't do the company any good."
Mr. Moghadam sighs, he knew this was the truth. "Fine." He takes the coupon and makes his way to the spa.
Once he enters, he gives his ticket to the clerk who gives him a card with the room number and towel. He heads to the men's locker room, gets undress and heads to his assigned room.
He sits in a chair and reads some magazines. A few minutes later the masseuse comes in. He looks up in surprise to see it was Su Sung, the waitress from earlier! "She did this too?! Zhao you sly fox," he thought and shook his head.
"Hello again, Mr. Moghadam."
"Um hello, Ms. Sung."
"I was instructed to take very good care of you."
"Well I guess I'm in you very capable hands," he smiles.
"Indeed you are, now on the massage table so we can get started." He lies on the table and she grabs some oil. "So where first?"
"My back, it's been giving me problems lately." She pours some on his back and begins the back rub. He sighs happily for he needed this and her hands were nice and soft. Next she goes for his right shoulder and down his muscular arm.
"So aside from the stress of work, how is life if you don't mind me asking?"
"It's good, there hasn't been any fighting and I prefer it stays that way."
She nods in agreement. "Any family?"
"I'm actually divorced."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"Me too, how's your life?"
"It's fine, but I am single."
"Well don't be in such a hurry, enjoy your singleness."
"Tell that to my mother."