Loaded Secrets (ONC 2023)

Chapter Six: A Connection

Aria was overwhelmed by emotions when she first heard the disembodied voice. She wasn't sure why the sound had such an effect on her, but she couldn't suppress the feelings of regret and sorrow over Ayden's death. In her past life, she encountered countless victims; those who died in grislier ways and under less questionable circumstances than him. Ayden wasn't the first to suffer like this, and he wouldn't be the last. And after all, he was charged with abusing his girlfriend before his demise. He may not have been a murderous seasoned criminal, but he could hardly be considered an innocent babe.

As her thoughts wrestled with her feelings the darkness around her began to dissipate. When the veil of shadows finally faded away, she found herself standing in a stark white room. There wasn't anything of notice there other than a small metallic stool and an old wooden desk. She looked down briefly and was startled by the fact that she was back in her own body, wearing her familiar old dark grey wool suit and her old black leather dress shoes. She felt around her suit and found her badge and gun too. It was like she was back in 2023. When she looked up again she found a man was perched on the stool, behind the desk, looking at her intently. His medium length sandy blond hair perfectly framed his tanned face. He had a strong jaw and slightly crooked nose that made him attractive but not handsome in a traditional sense. His bright green eyes regarded her curiously but his mouth rested in a straight line.

"Ayden?" Aria asked cautiously, as she tried to take in every detail of the man before her.

"Yes, Detective Aria, I'm Ayden", he replied. Ayden's face coloured slightly when he spoke her name.

Aria couldn't believe it. She was face to face with a man who was supposed to be dead.

"How are you doing today?" she inquired, trying to sound casual.

"I'm fine, could be better with everything that happened, but I've come to terms with it", he sighed as he answered. His voice had a slight lilt to it that Aria couldn't quite place. She wasn't sure whether she had the ability to discern accents in Sinduru yet, but he didn't sound like Epson or Maxtor.

"Right, and what happened? Do you remember?" Aria prodded, hoping he would provide some insight into his murder.

For a moment, Ayden was quiet. Then, with a heavy sigh, he began to speak. "My girlfriend and I had a fight. She said I wasn't enough man for her. We broke up, and then...well, I can't say I blame her," he sniffed as he brought his right hand up to his face, as though to wipe a tear.

Aria was slightly taken aback by his response. He seemed so distraught over his breakup. Did the guy even know he was dead?

As Ayden recounted the night of the tragic dissolution of his relationship and the Enforcement unit's involvement in the whole affair, Aria realized that Ayden seemed to not have a good understanding of his situation. Even if he was still alive, he would be facing charges, and though Aria wasn't certain what the possible consequences would be for him in the year 3000, in her time, he could have ended up in prison.

"I mean, I thought she would take me back and I was trying to send her flowers, which are so hard to get, you know it's like half a year's wages for me, but she wasn't having any of it and threatened to... " Aria stopped listening. She wanted to let Ayden speak freely and glean the pertinent facts for herself. However, he would need some further direction from her, otherwise, she'd be listening to his relationship woes all day.

"Right, but maybe we can talk about another event?" Aria tried to intervene.

Ayden scrunched his face a little and shook his head. The action reminded her of her old family pet golden retriever, who would shake his whole head anytime he was prevented from chasing down a neighborhood squirrel. In fact, that is what Ayden was, a puppy. He had a certain distracted way about him that was youthful and naive. It was hard to believe that anyone would wish him ill. It was equally as hard to believe that he would hurt anyone. He just seemed so guileless to Aria. Although she herself was only 25, give or take a millennium, she felt the weight of the world rested on her shoulder - cynicism and disillusionment ingrained in her very fabric.