Chapter 2A Chapter by Tandom“Can you reveal your latest changes to GARLA to the
public, Mr. Freth? The people are dying to know what is in store for them in
the near, and hopefully, lively future.” “All my team will say is that our changes are not
things to get that excited about. It is, most of the time, theories they
conjure up for us to randomly select a participant to ‘come up with’ in GARLA.
There is nothing spectacular to get excited about.” “What about the gambling system your company has tried
before? Will that system make a return soon?” “My team has contemplated the idea of bringing the
gambling system back from the drawing board. Brett always wanted his vision the
way he made it. That meant there was going to be no gambling. Now that he has
passed, rest his soul, it could make an appearance in the coming years.”-
Changes to GARLA with Owen Freth “Why is it that I learn
faster than everyone else? The other day at karate, the other children my age
were at a lower belt level than me. Sensei says that I can perfect something
faster than a normal child. Mom says I was born lucky to have a smart brain. “Today we are getting a new
student that is from the South. The normal temperature there is warmer than
here. I can’t imagine moving North after living down there. “Mom is bringing me to the
park again today to see Steven and Drew, my friends. Dad said he was going to
come today. He got a day off from work it seems. Hopefully the new student is
there as well. Maybe I can make a new friend.” " Recording #2, Xavier Dergs, no
simulation. The temperature had not risen
since the last time Xavier saw his friends. His parents still had him wear a
jacket like always. The boys didn’t end up climbing the tree like they normally
do. Xavier was going for his next belt tonight and he didn’t want to wear
himself out before then. Instead, they walked around and talked about a video
game they played at home. Their parents got together and were having a
conversation themselves. A fountain sat to the
northern-most part of the park, in front of an entrance. Drew noticed a woman
was standing in front of the fountain looking down into it. He ran up next to
her and searched for what she was looking at. The woman said something making
Drew look up, confused. Looking back at Xavier and Steven, he said something to
her that was not audible to them. Steven was surprised to see
who the woman was as she turned towards them. “Who’s she?” Xavier asked. He did
not pay attention to anyone that was on the TV unless it was Owen with a new
announcement or interview. “That’s Victoria Urala. She
finished GARLA a few months ago with the best grades. Plus, she was also the
closest participant to figure out a way to save the planet in 50 years.”
Victoria smiled at Xavier as she grew closer to the two boys. Her hair kept
blowing in her face as the wind blew. “It’s nice to finally meet
you after all this time.” Were the first words out of her mouth. “I’m
Victoria.” She reached out her hand towards Xavier. He grabbed it with his hand
and shook. “Is there something you need
from me?” He asked her. Victoria giggled. “I’ve just been keeping an
eye on you. The speed you process information has intrigued me the three times
I heard about you.” Xavier was confused. He was just a normal boy according to
him and his friends. Why would anyone but them know much about him? “Now that
I’m 18, Owen, I mean Freth Academics, has asked that I look for children to
join them. Hopefully you start soon!” And with that, she was off. The boys decided to keep
walking until their parents were ready to leave. They walked close to a group
of older boys who were gathering near a tree. As they reached the group, a girl
could be seen leaned up against the tree. “Well we haven’t seen you
around, so your parents must have money to spare.” one of them said. Xavier
questioned to himself what was going on over there. “They don’t have that kind of
money!” the girl yelled. “You have the wrong idea why we had to move.” Then the
biggest boy punched the tree next to her head. The girl did not move her head,
but her eyes widened. “Just do as we say and I
won’t have to hurt you. That’s how it works here unlike your small town in the
south.” Xavier and his friends watched as the boy readied his fist again. Were
they going to allow this to happen as they watched? Xavier quickly ran over and
took the hit for this girl. He knew he could take it and continue to fight. He
didn’t know if she could though. “And who are you?” the boy punching asked. Xavier shook off the pain and
looked behind him at the girl. “Are you okay?” he asked. The girl nodded and
got out of the way. He turned his head back at the boy with fire in his eyes.
“And who are you?” he asked. “None of your business kid.
We were trying to have a conversation with that girl.” The boy answered,
readying his fist for a third time. Xavier didn’t like using what he learned in
karate outside of karate. The boy started to punch Xavier but missed as he
moved out of the way. The boy kept going with every strike being a miss. “What is your deal?” the boy
yelled furiously. “If you’re going to fight back, try to already!” Xavier
smirked at that. He was being predictable with every move he did. There was not
a reason for him to try. As the boy moved his fist
again to punch Xavier. He too was going for a punch, but also started a kick in
case his fist didn’t make it. Xavier’s foot reached the boy’s shin just in time
before his fist reached Xavier’s face. “Oh! So now that you decide to do
something, it’s something dirty?” The boy got up and started towards his
buddies. “Next time I’ll beat you to a pulp.” the boy says before leaving. Steven and Drew are with the
girl near the tree that they climb. They jump up to their feet when they notice
Xavier coming their way. “What happens now?” Drew asks. Xavier looks at the
girl who is sitting against the bottom of the tree. “I guess that depends on you,
doesn’t it?” he says keeping eye contact only with her. She stands up and looks
around at the three boys standing around her. “Don’t worry! We aren’t here to
hurt you like them.” The girl looks over to the
right where two adults are looking their way. She nods and looks back at
Xavier. “I should get going. My parents need me.” She says after a while. She
starts to walk until Xavier grabs her arm. “Can you tell us your name?”
he asks. The girl looks back at the two adults then to Xavier. “Caitlyn.” She says softly.
Xavier smiles and lets go of her. “And who are you?” Caitlyn asks looking at
all three of the boys. “I’m Xavier, to my left is
Steven, and to my right is Drew.” Xavier points at the two as he says their
names. They both smile as she processes their names.
“I think we should consider
bringing him in here ourselves. I know how much you’ve monitored him the past
four years. If you would just-” Victoria suddenly stops as Owen glares up at
her. They have been arguing over the past three months after she reluctantly
ran into him at the park he assigned her that day. “We cannot force a child like
him into the system for free. Remember what I told you about the last
participant we accepted without fees?” Owen pulls up a document on his computer
of a boy he was the guardian for when he first became the head of the company.
“I will not let another one of him
waste our time. If Xavier wants to save our world himself, he’ll come to us on
his own accord.” Victoria snarled inside her
head as he finished. She knew something about Xavier Owen had not realized yet.
Maybe if he knew about his friends’ dilemma… “I talked to Xavier before.”
She blurts out. Owen slams his hands on his desk and stands on his feet. “He
will not apply unless something else happens first.” “How did you find him?” Owen
yells furiously. Victoria doesn’t move as she got used to his temper on these
matters over the months. “That park you told me to
check out. Him and his friends were there that day. And I’m glad he was there
that day. I observed something that might intrigue you about how he thinks.”
Owen lifted his eyebrow at her. How was there something he did not know about
Xavier. They had cameras on him for the past 4 years. “He won’t do anything if it
means leaving his friends. The two boys he talks to asked him that once while I
was there.” Owen was indeed intrigued by what Victoria had to say. They could
not hear anything that was recorded on the cameras. The only audio he had of
Xavier were the two recordings he made. Owen sat down in his chair
again. He had to think about why his friends could not apply themselves. “They
are poor, Owen. That is what you wanted to know, right?” Victoria smirked as
Owen questioned with his eyes how she did the things she did. “What do you suggest we do
about Xavier’s friends then?” Owen asks. He already knew he wouldn’t like the
answer. Victoria sat down in one of
the chairs in front of Owen’s desk. “I know you’re going to hate me for this.”
Steven, Drew, and Caitlyn
were all in Xavier’s bedroom with him. Today was his birthday and they always
stayed the night when it was someone’s birthday. Those were the only days they
went to one another’s house. “So now that you are seven,
will you apply for GARLA?” Caitlyn asks. She didn’t know yet about the deal
with Drew and Steven they made together. There was no way they were going to
separate from each other. They decided there was no other people they wanted to
be friends with if it meant losing the other two. “Maybe if these two suddenly
said they were. Otherwise, I can deal with not going into there.” Xavier says.
There is a knock on the door. Xavier’s mom opens it and holds a phone close to
her ear. “There’s a message for Drew
and Steven, honey.” She says. The two look up in wonder of who would leave them
a message here. “Freth Academics chose to give you two free access into GARLA
as long as Xavier and Caitlyn are with you.” she says. Everyone’s eyes widened.
“Are you sure that isn’t a
prank mom. They don’t give out free access into GARLA, even with rules like you
said how Caitlyn and I had to also be there.” The two boys jumped up with joy
at the sound of them being able to go into GARLA. Xavier was still curious. His mom walked further into
his room and handed him the phone. “He wants to talk to you.” is all she says
before leaving him with the phone. Xavier hesitantly places the phone next to
his ear and listens for another voice. “Hello?” he says. A man says
something mumbled on the other side. “Um, is someone there?” The man on the other side
hears him. “Sorry about that, Xavier. My assistant wanted to inform me about
the message as I was expecting you.” he says. “It is a pleasure to hear your
voice.” Xavier starts to feel
uncomfortable as he listens to the man. They haven’t even met and already he is
being treated differently through conversation. “I’m sorry?” The man on the
other side chuckles. “Forgive me. You are probably
unaware of why I asked to speak with you. All you need to know is that your
friends are welcome to join us if you are there with them. We want you to join
us.” “Why? Why do you want me
specifically?” Xavier asks, getting nervous. “Because I’m interested in
the way you think, Xavier. And I don’t want you to hold back on me.” © 2017 Tandom |
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Added on February 17, 2017 Last Updated on February 17, 2017 Tags: Angel of GARLA, Xavier, Owen, Victoria, simulation, extinction, chapter 2 AuthorTandomMAAboutI'm sort of bouncing off different ideas that just suddenly come to mind. I don't know what I'll be able to write once college starts up, but I'll try to finish what I start more..Writing
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