Chapter 14 (Continued)
Golden Age, 50:42
Eden Province, Zorca City
Tulassqus, Lion & Kione's Plane
Kione cleared his throat, blushing a bit, feeling tickled to hear that he wasn't truly hated by his childhood friend,
"I see. Then, I'll work on that." Kione proffered his hand to Lion as he said so. Lion looked up at him and sheepishly took his hand in a handshake. His hand was small in Kione's but he did his best to give a firm hand. Even though Lion didn't agree to this partnership completely, he's grateful he doesn't have to endure this alone. He smiled at Kione, reinforcing his sincerity. His smile sent Kione into mental orbit, making him return a dazzling smile back at him. Lion felt his cheeks burn up as Kione let go of his hand and said his goodbyes.
Lion shook his head and returned to his reports, unsure of how to feel about the future. Kione, on the other hand, felt his mood brighten immensely, excited about what the future has in store for them.Later that night, Zorca City experienced a power outage so severe, the whole city went dark. It alarmed many, but after a few minutes, power returned. No one thought much of the event, as outages happen, but never at this scale. No one could figure out the source of the issue but power returned, and that was all that mattered. Lion and Kione just hope it wasn't some kind of omen.
It's been three days since they've been summoned, leaving both Lion and Kione wondering just how soon Vision's founders planned to announce their retirement. In preparation for the day that is to come, Lion has been conducting reviews of his fellow associates alongside Kione to deduce who is to take over their current positions. There's no one that can compare to Lion or his father's intellect. It has left Lion wondering if his idea of CTO is skewed as he cannot imagine anyone but himself as such. Though he may dislike it, he must appoint the most capable person. Whoever becomes CTO will work closely with them and he doesn't want someone incompetent in such a high position.
Kione has been watching Lion mull over the resumes of a few associates and decided to cut Lion's train of thought,
"You're over-thinking it, Leo."
'Perhaps he is right.' Lion thought, sighing.
"I cannot help it. This person must be someone reliable and someone we trust."
Lion rubbed his face down, wishing this was over. They were going over their preparations in his office, which had become a mess since this began. Kione was tidying up as best he could but there was a lot of paperwork to go over. Lion watched Kione for a moment before going limp on the sofa, moving his eyes towards the ceiling,
"I don't want this."
Kione turned to face him, fatigue coming over him as well,
"I know, me either."
A few more days went by just like that. Together, they were able to ascertain who would replace them and completed their end of the paperwork to smoothly inherit the company. However, they both hadn't heard from either of their fathers since the day they were informed of their succession. Once it hit three weeks, the boys were beginning to wonder how soon their announcement was to be planned. Lion called his father's secretary to find out when his schedule was open for him to come see him but she merely told him she hadn't seen Dr. Grey since he was summoned."What?" Lion asked, incredulous.
"Dr. Grey and Mr. Sable haven't been in or out since that evening. They usually leave for days at a time; I assumed they were on another business trip. You know how they are, they do things spontaneously without giving word."
"I see. Please contact me if you see them return." Lion hung the phone and turned to Kione, who looked comically huge on Lion's small accent sofa in his office. Lion shook his head,
"I don't understand. I mean, I understand what his secretary means but he would have atleast called once. Titan is always video calling whenever they travel. This is unlike them." Lion swivled in his office chair, turning back to his monitor to check his emails for the 50th time to see if Titan or Dr. Grey left a message. Kione stood up and crossed his arms,
"I agree. I think we should call the authorities. They could be missing or something could have happened. Before we do that, though, let's both search our homes and check all their usual haunts in the city."
Lion shook his head, "I will search our homes, you look in the city. That way we cover more ground and save time."
Off they went, worry crawling up their spines as they ran all over Zorca City in search of their fathers' whereabouts. However, their search was fruitless. None of their family or friends have heard from them, seen them nor have they been seen out and about around the city. At that point, they decided to contact the authorities and ask them to find them both. However, during the investigation, they turned up as the sole suspects as they submitted and prepared documents to take over Vision. Of course, they refuted those claims and were thankfully released thanks to their company lawyer, Mr. Holt, who could confirm their fathers intentions for Lion and Kione to succeed them. Still, the fact that there were no other suspects, let alone evidence of their fathers' whereabouts, made them feel weary from worry.
Soon, news broke out that they were missing and their faces were plastered on all surfaces of the city. Of course, journalists found that Lion and Kione were once considered suspects, and twisted the narrative against them. The pushback from this slander forced Lione and Kione to clear their names during their succession ceremony.
"Today was supposed to be a day hosted by my father, Dr. Grey, and Titan, to celebrate our new roles. Unfortunately, while we waited for this day to be announced, we realized that they both disappeared just as the company was beginning this important transition. I understand the public and media are painting Kione and I as if we plotted this succession and the disappearance of our fathers. That couldn't be further from the truth. Ask anyone in the company who has worked beside us to tell you how unprepared we were for our succession. While the media has spent its time painting us as criminals, Kione and I have been beside ourselves wondering where on earth could they have gone without word, or if something horrible has happened to them, or if we should expect to hear a ransom phone us soon. We have spared no expense in our search for them, wishing for their safe return. Yet to our surprise, instead of aiding our search, the media decides to pull attention away from them by plastering our supposed scheme across the city. Nonetheless, we will watch over Vision for them, so that when they safely return to us, they themselves can announce to you all how wrong you were."
Lion stepped down from the pedestal, allowing Kione to say his piece. Kione approached, standing straight, his voice strong and unyielding as he spoke into the microphone,
"As Lion Grey has voiced to you, we have been beside ourselves with worry ever since we reported them missing. I heavily implore you all to please report any findings on their whereabouts so that we can bring them home. Zorca City wouldn't be what it is today without Dr. Grey and my father, Titan Sable. They are not only our fathers, but yours, as well. Throughout the Golden Age, they held our hands every step of the way, guiding us to a better life. I ask the city, and our neighboring states, to aid in their safe return. It is now our turn to hold their hands and guide them back home."
Both speeches were powerful and emotional, leaving a strong impression on Zorca City. Especially Kione's as it sturred the city into action. Soon, everyone was alert, hoping to find a clue about Dr. Grey and Sable. It was like this for a few months, but it seemed that they truly disappeared without a trace. As the months went on without any clues to go on, the case was shelved until a lead would turn up.
Lion was torn, wondering how it all went wrong. He didn't want to inherit Vision like this, under these circumstances. He was enraged at the media for depicting them as murderers in some imaginary scheme to inherit the company. Kione was, too, but he could care less as all he wanted was to make sure Dr. Grey and Titan were safe and alive. Kione feared the worst had happened to them but there were no signs of a break-in, scuffle, anything. There were absolutely no leads and that's what boggled their minds most. How could the two richest men in Tulassqus disappear without a trace? It is nigh impossible, especially with the technology they have today.
The first few months managing the company have been sluggish as Lion and Kione were adjusting and trying to rein in their feelings concerning their fathers. Lion was the most distraught, as he was just shouldering most of the reponsibilities, even from Kione. It made his thoughts spiral against him. With his father gone, he had no one to turn to for guidance, for words of advice and was left quite alone in his genius. He felt an immeasurable weight rest on his shoulders but also his heart. Despite these feelings, Kione truly did his best to aid Lion. He knew Lion was under a lot of pressure and tried to alleviate some of it as much as he possibly could despite Lion taking over everything. Although, it was beginning to make him feel inadequate next to Lion and it began to wear him down. That and he felt the need to run and look for his father. He felt sick that he was stuck working at Vision rather than working to find them.
They were both not at their best, especially when the case was shelved. They felt quite defeated and it showed in their work. The company wasn't performing well as it usually does and they were starting to feel the worst amount of pressure weigh on them as everyone scrutinized the way they managed the company. Especially when they were scolded by their associates to move into their fathers' office already.
Lion was tired, so inexplicably tired. His brain was working overtime and all he wanted to do was sleep but how could he with all the worries they face. He sat up from his chair and made his way to the roof of the company's building. The air was cool and dry as he overlooked the glowing city beneath him. It was quite late but the city was alive as this was when Zorca City really did shine. He leaned against the railing as he watched the hover cars fly by, kids on holo-boards surfing around and the sounds of crowds throughout. While others would see this view and call it amazing, Lion sees it as daunting. How could he ever hope to live up to such a remarkable legacy?
He sighed, looking at the sky. After a few moments, he heard the roof's door open. He turned to see who'd ever come up here, but of course, it was Kione. He turned back around and continued to watch the city. Kione joined him, watching him carefully.
"You should sleep, Leo. You look like shit."
Lion groaned,
"well, I certainly do feel like shit."
Kione shifted a bit before folding his hands over the railing,
"Not to add onto it or anything but you should know, if we don't get our shit together, we're gonna end up losing the company next year."
Lion's head fell and his shoulders slumped,
"I'm doing my best but we haven't exactly gotten time to breathe. I'm barely managing it but we're getting by somehow."
"I know that, more than anyone, and I'm doing my best on my end, too. But you always stay on your side of the fence and the only one crossing it is me. You're trying to shoulder all of the work yourself and not even trying to let me do my work or lean on me. We should tackle this together."
Lion glanced at him, feeling annoyed at him pointing out the obvious but he needed to hear it,
"I know. It's just hard to rely on you. Not because you are incapable but because I am used to doing my job alone."
Kione stared at him for a few moments before replying,
"Well, not anymore. We're gonna be joined at the hip now."
"Wonderful."
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