Chapter 26: Low Perception
"I wouldn't go that far," Elias replied, leaning back slightly. "Those suits are incredible. They've probably saved more lives than we'll ever know, just from sheer defensive capability alone."
Geras nodded thoughtfully. "True. But they're tools, not solutions. The reason I wanted to speak with you personally goes beyond suits and programs. You already understand that I'm working to build a force to fight back when the aliens return. Now, I want to offer you something even rarer—if you're willing to step up."
"And what might that be?" Elias asked, his brow furrowing.
"I have intel from the Chairwoman herself," Geras began, his tone serious. "She oversees all deployments and strategic actions. Call it an old man's connections, but I know she's authorized a private expedition back to Cradle Planet in five and a half months."
Elias's eyes narrowed. "Cradle? Why? Isn't that place a nuclear wasteland now? What could anyone possibly gain from going back there?"
"I don't have all the details yet," Geras admitted. "But the Chairwoman's always been ahead of the curve. If she's greenlit this, there's a purpose—something we're not privy to yet. And who knows? Maybe it'll give you some closure."
"Closure?" Elias repeated, his voice quiet. He thought of his father, of the legacy left behind on that ravaged world. "You're offering me a chance to go where my father was killed. But why me? I'm just a regular guy. I'm not some hero. I'm not even in the military. I work, I go home, and I sleep. If you're looking for someone to rally people to your cause, why not someone like Elara?"
Geras smirked faintly. "You're not wrong. I considered her and others. There are three soldiers—two officers and one enlisted—who bonded with shards. I even thought about the twenty-six shard-bearers we've currently got quarantined. But none of them fit the role quite like you."
Elias tilted his head, skeptical. "What role?"