Binary Systems [Complete, Slice-of-Life Sci-Fi Romance]

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Claire: What gets me is that this is so pointless. Dad says 'no', Gordon says 'yes', and there's only been one outcome from that situation, ever. The best Gordon can hope for is for Marie to win Dad over.

Harry: I guess Gordon could arrange an 'accident'—

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Sol 500 FY 26,05:12 Mars Time, Bonestell Crater Colony, Low Altitude, Ascending

It began with a message.

Typed in stiff, mechanical-looking capitals, the kind Hiram preferred for formal drafting, the memo arrived in Gordon's lap folded beside an aluminum teletape printout of the Martian administration's response. The original read:

It would be foolish for family corporations such as Binary Systems Corporation to do business under the favorable terms that we previously discussed if it is the goal of the Martian administration to tempt away the presumptive future CEO of Binary Systems Corporation. However, I understand your hands are tied with regard to accepting a UN-ratified immigration. Therefore, my proposal is that you refrain from lifting the requirement for United Nations ratification of his immigration request, and given the timelines upon which such things are processed, Binary Systems Corporation will not then see any need for renegotiation.

—Regards, Hiram Stone

This sort of thing happens every day.

Beneath it was the official reply from the Martian Administrative Committee, stamped with a temporary routing code..

The Martian Administrative Committee appreciates Binary Systems Corporation's continued engagement and recognizes the importance of long-term stability in interplanetary commercial cooperation.
We agree that immigration policy must reflect not only internal cohesion, but also the integrity of our partnerships.
Therefore, while we hold no position on any individual's immigration merits prior to formal UN ratification, we concur that allowing all stakeholders the opportunity to express concerns or support before any such decision is finalized is essential to maintaining institutional confidence.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
In the interest of transparency and mutual reassurance, no changes to Mr. Stone's immigration status will be considered until that process has been fully completed.

—Administrator Flowers

That was it.

No court of appeals. No charges levied. Just a procedural gridlock, and Mars was closed to him.

It had been that easy.

–––❖–––

The shouting began in the shuttle hangar after docking.

"You think this is about your happiness, Gordon? People are depending on you!" Hiram's voice boomed like thunder in the boarding corridor. "You think you can just walk away and chase some Martian dream and let them suffer for it?"

"That's not bravery," he continued, just loudly now. "That's not 'freedom'. That's selfishness. And no, I don't think you should be allowed to do it. So you will not be."

Gordon spun on him. "You don't get to just assign responsibilities to people. Those are taken up!"

"You took them up!" Hiram snapped back. "You became indispensable at BSC through your automation—"

"I wrote reports because you told me to do audits," Gordon barked. "That is not the same as volunteering to succeed you!"

"You've been prepared for this your entire life!"

"I didn't agree to it!"

"—semantics."

"You wouldn't have let me say no!"

"Nonsense."

Across the boarding corridor, a security officer stepped forward, concerned. "Sir, you have to stop shouting—"

"It isn't nonsense!" Gordon shouted, advancing half a step. "When it came down to it, you didn't let me say no! OW—!"

The syringe hit before he registered that the attendant was there. He'd well and truly lost his temper.

"Sir," the attendant said professionally, catching him under one arm as Gordon swayed. "We've had to sedate you for the safety of the flight and its crew. We'll make sure you're kept comfortable."

As the corridor dipped sideways in Gordon's vision, he glared at his father, words slurring.

"Real mature."

"I didn't ask them to do that," Hiram replied mildly. "You forget how large and threatening people perceive you to be. Next time, try not to behave like a toddler."