The Rise Of The Consortium

A family of four was seated on a table of twelve having their peaceful breakfast. Everyone was focused except one, who kept meddling with his forks. He finished his meal earlier than the rest. He waited for his father to finish. He lowered his hand from the table when the fork made a sound with the plate. But it caught his father's attention. He looked once at Kner and then focused on his food.

"How is your progress?" the father asked carefully slicing his bagel. Kner suddenly felt guilty of making noise from his fiddling fingers. But he finished his meal earlier just to talk with his father.

"Ongoing." he felt better that his father started the conversation first. He forgot what he had to ask.

"Have you got the procedure yet?" that question reminded him of Rio and wondered whether he wanted to talk about it. He rather shook his head.

"What's stopping you?" his father raised his head expecting to look into Kner's eyes. When he didn't look back, he continued, "See, it's your company. You can do whatever you want." and took another bite of bagel. "She is just an intern. You can get that from her however you want." He picked up the cup of coffee. It was looking more like a crystal stone rather than a cup. "But first you must ask her nicely. Do you remember the four ways to get what we want?" this time Mr. Meaning looked at Kner and he responded by briefly facing him.

"I remember. Persuasion is the first." it was Kysop. He finished his glass of orange juice in a single breath. He gleamed as he found a short smile on his father's face.

"Yeah, I did. But-" before Kner could finish what was saying Kysop continued.

"Inducement is the next. You could give her something, you know--extra. And let her know that I've not forgiven her yet."

"I think she won't go that far." he looked at his father hoping he could get his point.

"Then is the punishment. That's how some people got things done." she folded her arms on the table musing on what she had just said. "I hope she won't go that far."

"That's what I had been saying. She will give that to me." he sighed in hopes Rio would have remembered anything about the password. After the brief dead silence, he spoke slowly, "Sunderence is the last".

"Just remember, we are always with you no matter what happens with you." Kner felt the warmth as his father spoke that. "But as she has to stay away from you, she has to give you what belonged to you." suddenly he felt his father's voice going cold but he dared not to look at him to confirm. "Get it from her or give her what she never expected." Kner clenched his teeth at the possibility of such a consequence.

"Include us someday. We are not that busy every day." his mother planted a sweet smile on her face. Kner nodded, taking a deep breath. He wasn't prepared for the day to take such a turn. He hoped Rio doesn't make it hard for him.