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Saber’s job search has been slow and fruitless. It’s understandable, no one in their right mind would hire someone who doesn’t legally exist. No one reputable, at least. But today, after months of applying just to never hear back, there’s a message in his inbox.
He doesn’t bother reading through it. Practically any job would be fine at this point. He accepts the interview request, adds it to his calendar, and doesn’t think about it for the next two days.
The morning of, he types the address in to see how far he’ll have to walk. It’s uptown. Strange. He doesn’t remember applying anywhere up there. Why bother, right?
When he rounds the corner and realizes exactly which building he’s looking at, he nearly turns right back around. It’s a trap, there’s no way it isn’t, but Saber walks in anyway. If nothing else, he’ll take a few shots at some executives on the way out.
The lobby is pristine, in stark contrast to what they do around here. A few security guards glance over at him, but they go back to their conversation just as quickly, their guns still sitting in their holsters. The receptionist is equally uninterested, pointing him toward an elevator and mumbling a floor number before looking back down at her monitor. Either everyone here is terrible at their job, or they’re waiting for him to let his guard down. Probably a combination of the two.
One look at the numbers on the control panel makes things all the more confusing. Why would they send him to the top floor? When the doors open, he’s greeted by a very kind-looking older woman. She doesn’t belong in a place like this.
”Saber, right? Glad someone finally decided to show up. Most people back out once they realize who they’d be working for. Miguel’s still in a meeting, but I’ll get us started.”
If she didn’t sound so genuinely relieved, he’d walk right back into that elevator and out the front door.
“Don’t look so nervous. I read through your resume and I think you’ll do just fine here. Called one of your references too, he seemed nice.”
That’s either a lie, or a thinly veiled threat. Matt would never sell him out like this. Probably wouldn’t even answer a call from Alchemax in the first place.
When the door opens again, Saber flinches. He’s not sure why. Not much can hurt him, and if something does, he’ll just regenerate. So why does he feel so afraid?
”Ma… who is this? I thought you cleared my schedule.”
He’s younger than Saber would’ve expected, a few years older than himself at most, but he looks and sounds like all of his energy has been sucked right out. Probably won’t put up much of a fight if it comes to that.
”I did! And now you have plenty of time to get to know your new assistant!”
Frozen in the chair, Saber tries to form any thought at all. His vision is blurred, and his heart’s beating so hard it’s all he can hear. A set-up honestly would’ve been preferable to potentially working under one of the only people who’d know how to kill him.
“A notice would’ve been nice. And you don’t just get to hire people. We have an entire department for that.”
”I don’t trust them to make the right decision! They'd do anything they could to sabotage you, and you know it! You need someone they’ll listen to.”
Miguel scowls, waving a hand dismissively. ”Fine. Whatever. I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear that last part.” He throws himself into the desk chair, spinning it around before looking back at Saber and trying to massage away a stress headache. “I’m sorry about all this. It doesn’t get any better.”
Suddenly, Saber is eight years old again, listening to his mother’s constant warnings, not quite understanding why he couldn’t go outside, but always doing what she said. He wishes he’d had the chance to hear that warning one more time.
“Don’t take her concern for granted.”
He knows he’s crying. He can’t bring himself to stop. Through blurred vision, he’s met with a look of understanding, not the confusion or disgust he was expecting to see.
”I won’t.”
The quiet moment is interrupted by the sound of the door opening. “Where are you going?! You didn’t even tell me this guy’s name!”
”It’s Saber. Be nice to him. I have to meet a friend downtown.”
Miguel scowls when the door clicks shut. “LYLA, keep an eye on her location. You and I both know she doesn’t have any friends. And could you scan Saber into the system?”
A faint gold hologram phases into the room. It looks almost nervous. Do even the computers suffer here?
”There's nothing to scan in, Miguel. I tried earlier. He’s not in the central database at all. I did find one thing, but-“
This is where it all falls apart. Saber braces himself for a fight he doesn’t want to have.
“Just tell me.”
”Parental matches. In the genetics department archives.”
Miguel stays silent with his eyes closed; his breathing is shallow. The sound of something scraping against the metal desk fills the room. When he opens his mouth to speak, it’s too quiet for Saber to hear.
“Your heart rate is dangerously high, Miguel.”
”I know that!” He snaps. “Just… make sure mom isn’t doing something dangerous again.” The hologram disappears, and he finally looks up. “If you want to leave, I never saw you. If you want to blow up the lab on your way out, I didn’t see that either. You’d be doing me a favor, really.”
If that’s a joke, it doesn’t sound like one.
”It was twenty years ago. It’s not like you could’ve stopped it.”
“That’s not the point! I worked down there. The same thing was probably happening right next to me, and I never questioned it. I didn’t say anything until someone died right in front of me, and I still kept coming back!” He’s shaking, gripping the edge of the desk, leaving deep gashes in the metal. “Every day for the last six months, I’ve wondered how many people died because of me.”
That’s all Saber needed to hear. He sees them as people. Their deaths affect him. It’s the bare minimum, but it’s more than he’s seen here before.
”I probably would’ve heard of you before you got this high up if the number were significant. I’d say a dozen at most.”
”That’s still too many, but I get what you’re saying. Thanks.” The tension starts to leave Miguel’s shoulders as he takes a deep breath. “I know it’s a big ask, but would you help me make sure things don’t go backwards?”
Saber shrugs. ”I don’t see why not.”
As skeptical as he is about how much progress is possible in a company like Alchemax, he can’t help but be cautiously optimistic. Miguel isn’t what he’s used to. He wants something better, and that’s enough for now.