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We Who Witnessed [Chapter XIII - "New Beginnings"]


Kerbinchaser

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  • 7 months later...

Chapter XIII
"New Beginnings"

It had been three months since the death of Kirley Kerman in orbit of the Mün, and many questions were left unanswered. Why had Lenlock survived after remaining on the surface for two days with minimal oxygen and internal bleeding? Where did the piece of debris come from that struck the orbital laboratory? And more importantly, why was Kirley not wearing a pressure suit when the incident occurred? Despite an internal investigation, not much evidence had been unturned, and all the while, the rifts did not decrease in intensity. The KSC was overwhelmed by foreign nations berating the intelligent scientists working there for answers, and some world governments had met the interplanetary visitors with military force when their inquiries were not returned, leading to the humans living on Kerbin--some of whom were permanent residents of the respected countries they ended up in, to leading protests against this violence. In general, the planet was in civil discourse and political upheaval. 

Many viewed the KSC as heading a cover-up for the real reasons behind both the rifts' existence and Kirley's death. Suspicious circumstances regarding a reporter's death after confronting the KSC in an intense article led investigators to the lead engineering department at the KSC and the subsequent arrest of Rodson Kerman on suspected homicide, the head engineer in the parts manufacturing division. Ever since Rodson's arrest, all eyes had been on the KSC and their activities, meaning Gene and the rest of his staff were under constant scrutiny. Darryl, who was now the "Liason for Human-Kerbal Relations," was approached by the authorities and multiple news portals several times asking for information, but he had refused all interviews.

Despite now having a high-level job within the KSC, Darryl had adopted the orphaned 10-year-old Lucy after she had fallen through a newly discovered "mini-rift." Being a single-father to a very confused and scared child was now his first priority, and he tried to accustom Lucy to her new world as much as possible, even though her heart and soul belonged to her parents, who were either still on Earth or had transversed through a rift to a foreign nation. Either way, it was incredibly hard for someone who fell through the rift to re-connect with their families. 

Before Lucy entered Kerbin, it was completely foreign for living people to be transported through the rift. Even though doctors said she was lucky to survive, it exposed the possibility that somebody could survive a trip through the two dimensions, and since her arrival, scientists and medical professionals had been clambering to both study her and investigate the ability to move living organisms through man-made rifts. So far all attempts had been reported as failures. 

Kerbin's counterparts on Earth were also investigating the rifts, although as more humans fell prey to them, militaries began threatening each-other and blaming the disappearances of citizens on other world governments. Various armed conflicts brought about by the very existence of these mysterious portals killed thousands and displaced even more.

Both worlds were in turmoil, and it is exactly what the Kraken wanted. From his vantage point overseeing both dimensions, he realized his great fantasy of conquest was only a formality from finalized. Countries were destabilizing, people weren't trusting each-other, and the anger and frustration among fellow man and kerbal continued to rise. The tremendous plan to overwhelm all dimensions was only two insignificant planets away from the Kraken's control. As his maniacal laughter echoed across space, those affected were entirely unaware of the danger that befell them.

 

Edited by Lo var Lachland
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