The Multi Corp: The Multi Corp, #1

By Caitlin Ball

Three unlikely friends discover that the world isn't what they thought it was. Each of their stories lead them closer together, guiding them to the truth of their world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Caitlin Ball
• Release date: May 20, 2024
• ISBN: 9798223741749

Book preview

A picture containing text, sign Description automatically generated

"When the night has come

And the land is dark

And the moon is the only light we'll see.

No I won't be afraid, no I won't be afraid

Just as long, as you stand, stand by me."

~Ben E. King

Special thanks

To Andrew for loving the dogs enough

To make their lives eternal.

And for constantly inspiring me

To become a better person.

The Multi Corp. Book 1

Copyright © 2019 by Caitlin Jennifer Ball

Copyright © 2024 by Caitlin Jennifer Ball

First Edition

www.CaitlinBall.org

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission from the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.

Summary: Three unlikely friends discover that the world isn’t what they thought it was. Each of their stories lead them closer together, guiding them to the truth of their world.

[1. Post-Apocalyptic- Fiction. 2. Science- Fiction. 3. Fantasy]

KDP ISBN: 9798322922766

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Dear Reader,

This book is a self-published work. Meaning it’s been re-written over a hundred times since it’s humble beginnings where I posted it as an outline on an old community webpage. It’s been reworked and sent to multiple Beta Readers, and editors who were kind enough to be completely and brutally honest with me. If there are any flaws left inside, they’re entirely my fault. With that being said, I hope you enjoy this story. The First in the Multi Corp series.

Every year I’ve considered publishing, but I worried it wasn’t good enough yet. Not for you, the reader. You know who you are. The person who carefully careens over dozens of books in the shop while you try to pick out the perfect world to spend your weekend in. The person who searches for magic on every corner of the page. The person who stays up late reading long after your family has gone to bed. That person who appreciates diving in and settling down in the Shire for a while. You, the one who re-read Harry Potter at least a dozen times because you couldn’t get enough of it. You’re the one I’m talking to. I wanted these stories to be flawless for you. Every aspect of it, from the cover to the page numbers was worked on by me, your humble writer. I’ve never doubted the story itself, only my ability to convey it to you in the manner you deserve. You’re the reason I write these books and who I write them for.

I spent years studying a myriad of subjects to bring out the characters’ personalities and vocabularies for you. Learning everything I could about what they know. From robotics, to hydroponics, to pottery, and even neuroscience. A large portion of my time was spent studying psychology to better explain the characters behaviors to you. Pouring years into these characters and their lives. Building them up so that I can portray them as best as I can for you, the reader. I’ve traveled to the real-life locations where these events are supposed to take place, two-hundred years from now. So that I can better describe the environments to you. Even now, I’ll continue to study, so that I can improve the quality of work I’m capable of providing for you. Know that if I have failed in any way with conveying this story to you, the blame rests on my shoulders alone.

Your humble writer,

Caitlin Ball

Contents 

Chapter 1: The Dead Sun

Chapter 2: Almost Likable

Chapter 3: All Was Lost

Chapter 4: Complications

Chapter 5: Trouble

Chapter 6: The Best Greeting Ever

Chapter 7: Unexpected

Chapter 8: Shock

Chapter 9: Into the Wild

Chapter 10: Friends?

Chapter 11: Forgotten

Chapter 12: Decisions

Chapter 13: Confused

Chapter 14: Rope and Dogs

Chapter 15: Awkward

Chapter 16: Belligerence

Chapter 17: Monsters

Chapter 18: Stand by Me

Chapter 19: Three is a Crowd

Chapter 20: Friendship

Chapter 21: Sick

Chapter 22: Choices

Chapter 23: Freedom

Chapter 24: Grades

Chapter 25: Files

Chapter 26: Self Control

Chapter 27: One of the Pack

Chapter 28: Studying isn't for Everyone

Chapter 29: History

Chapter 30: Survival

Chapter 31: Tenth

Chapter 32: Surprises

Chapter 33: Complicated

Chapter 34: Ill

Chapter 35: Old Friends

Chapter 36: New Beginnings

Chapter 1: The Dead Sun

Charlie

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The soft buzzing of the soundwave woke me. I gazed at the ceiling of my bed-cubby. Six thirty already. The numbers glowed red against the pale blue surface of the cubby.

Rolling into a sitting position, I rubbed my eyes. The cold concrete floor sent a chill up my spine as my bare feet met it. Others were also stirring in their sleep-spaces. I could see them through the archways in the walls that separated our rooms, marking our personal areas and leaving little room for privacy.

Brushing my teeth at the sink near my bed, I dressed and stood before the screen. Below it was a silver panel that gave us our list of things to do each day. Where I was supposed to report back to each morning. Patiently, I waited for the thin slit in the wall to dispense my schedule. The crisp white paper slid smoothly from the slot on the wall and something soft bumped my leg.

Hey, Mercy.

The large shaggy dog smiled up at me, her tongue lulling. Her gray and white coat was so long it sometimes hid her eyes from view. Even her ears were barely visible in the jungle of hair. I knew they existed because they were her favorite place to get scratched.

She licked my hand impatiently, waiting for me to read the creed to the monitor. It always said the same thing in different ways. Even though they said we had to read them properly, no one seemed to care if I skipped parts.

"I will dress well and devote my time to learning and thinking in a pure and productive manner.

I will follow the rules to keep myself and those around me safe.

I will be a productive member of society..."

Mercy glanced up at me, her hair falling into her eyes as they filled with hope. Pressing my lips together, I skimmed to the end.

I will stay young in the Multi Corp. and should I ever grow old or ill I should let the minstrals have me.

Checking the first thing on my list, my eyes turned to Mercy with glee. It was running laps. Running was my favorite activity because Mercy could join me.

Each day everyone ran three miles on floor negative three to help prevent sickness. People who got sick were taken away by the minstrals and never seen again.

After running, we'd have to shower and sanitize the room to help prevent the spread of germs. Getting rid of germs was important. During history we learned about The Last Great War. Those who lost were sent north. After, a plague broke out, killing off most mankind. The only ones to survive were those in the Multi Corp. An underground city built before the war and run by the Donovan family.

Henry Donovan took classes with me. He was twelve like me, but I’d be turning thirteen far sooner. I never liked him much. He was snobbish and painfully arrogant. Unaware of how his attitude affected those around him. Classes were the only thing I shared with him. Even that only happened when he felt like it. He didn’t exercise with the rest of us or take his meals with us. None of the other kids liked him either. I watched as he passed in the hall, his nose pointed to the ceiling.

Morning Charlie!

Morris caught me at the stairs. His bright blue eyes were thick with sleep and his brown hair stuck up at odd angles.

Morning Morris.

He tossed something at me. I caught it on reflex.

Thought you and your mutt could use that. Found it in a gardening room last night.

Joy filled me at seeing the ball. I’d lost it over a week ago and had given up hope of finding it. Mercy's favorite toy. A bright yellow ball that bounced nearly to the ceiling when I dropped it.

Hey Mercy! Look at what Morris found.

I held up the ball for her to see. She let out an excited bark following me to the stairs that led to the track. Turning to thank Morris, I found him already gone. Staring after him, my emotions shifted. The other kids never talked to me for long. 

It wasn’t that I was picked on. Most of them were nice enough, but I couldn’t call them my friends. I was alright with that. After all, none of them were anywhere near as interesting as Mercy. Bouncing the ball up the steps, I laughed as she bounded after it.

Mercy waited for me as I showered and sanitized the locker room with the other boys. I found her sitting patiently outside the door, ever the lady, refusing to enter the boy’s locker room. Amusement filled me with how polite she was for a dog. Bouncing the ball across the room for her again, I laughed as she bounded after it.

Found the ball, eh Charlie?

Alex patted my shoulder as he saw her. His combed red hair glittered with moisture after his shower. He was top of our class. While he seemed nice, I knew he sometimes picked on the girls. Morris said it was because he was experiencing puberty. I hadn’t asked what puberty was. I was too afraid of sounding stupid. Instead, I’d agreed and let the conversation end there.

Alex helped me with an art project once. He saw the difficulty I had painting leaves on trees and showed me how to flatten the end of my brush between my fingers and use it like a stamp. The linquith plant I’d been painting got high marks.

I pet Mercy as she returned with the ball.

Morris found it in the gardening room.

I turned, only to find he'd already gone off to his next assignment for the day. Scratching Mercy behind the ears, I glanced at my list. We'd finished our laps early. If we hurried, we’d have time to eat after feeding our linquith plant. I picked it up on the way to the mess hall to save time. Sitting at a table, I checked off my list before throwing the ball for Mercy, who hurried to catch it before it could escape. Then I turned my attention back to my plant.

Linquith fruit was what kept the Multi Corp functioning. Just one fruit had the potential to power the city for a week. Our whole society focused on growing them. Supposedly they were developed after the Last Great War. The original plants were an accident that were sent to us, to be cultivated and tested. We utilized them as a power source ever since.

I turned in a paper on some of the ways I thought we could improve our growing systems. If it got a good response, I would have a real chance at getting a job as a head grower. One of the most respectable jobs a person could be assigned.

Each day I waited through my other classes to get to gardening. Whether it was olericulture, horticulture, pedology, or botany. My grades were always near the top of our classes. The feel of the soil between my fingers, the smell of the freshly watered plants. The way you could grow something so small into something so amazing made me feel as if I were performing magic. Next to playing with Mercy, gardening was my favorite thing.

Mercy pounced on me with the slobber covered ball in her dripping mouth. Shrugging her off playfully, my elbow knocked into my linquith plant. It fell on its side and a single fruit broke free, falling from the tree. It rolled across the concrete floor and through an open door. Its yellow peel resembled Mercy’s ball so closely that she launched after it.

Standing, I watched horror stricken as she chased after it, vanishing into the room beyond. My eyes flicked over a red and white sign posted above the door, designating it:

Out of bounds for Citizens.

Racing over to it, I could only see a dark landing beyond. The top of a stairwell was surrounded in shadows. It seemed to lead into the underbelly of the Multi Corp.

No one was supposed to go there, but did that apply to Mercy? She didn't care about the rules, and she wasn’t coming back either.

Checking to make sure no one was coming; I pulled the door firmly closed. If Mercy wasn't coming out, the best I could do was keep her there until I could think of a way to get her.

Chewing on my lip nervously, I hoped she didn’t eat the linquith fruit. That would make her sick. The minstrals would take her away with the ill and the old if she got sick. I wasn't sure what I’d do if they did.

It was rumored that all the ill and old were sent to the reprocessing zones. Where they were recycled to become things like food, water, fertilizer, and fuels. They would waste nothing because our society couldn't afford to throw anything away. Especially if it could be repurposed.

I couldn't let them do that to my best friend.

Not to Mercy.

She’d followed me around for as long as I could remember. Nuzzling next to me at night and keeping on my heel’s day after day. She was the one person I could confide in, the one person who seemed happy to see me. The only one I told all my secrets to. There had never been a time when we had been without each other. If I could help it there never would be, after this. I had to keep her safe from the minstrals.

Without a word, I continued with the day like nothing happened. Taking my linquith plant back to class, I told the teacher that the missing fruit had rotted overnight. I would lose points for it, but it would be worse to tell what had happened to Mercy.

Worry kept me from focusing during class. Worry that someone might go into that room for a secret reason. That Mercy would pierce the fruit with her teeth or eat it the moment she got hungry. I tried to come up with a plan to get her, but I could find no time to do so.

Lying in bed that night, my legs grew cold from her absence. By the next morning I still hadn't fallen asleep. I was exhausted. My whole body ached. Groggily I moved to the sink and brushed my teeth. Even that felt like it took twice as long as normal. When the creeds for the day came through the slot on the wall, I couldn't manage a smile. Which would make the minstrals focus on me, so I forced myself to read the whole thing, blundering through it as I read line after line in an exhausted voice.

My classes started earlier than usual. I'd have to go straight to them after eating. I never ran as fast without Mercy. Somehow, she filled the practice with a joy that nothing else could provide. When I was done showering, her absence outside the locker room made my heart ache. I bit my lip to keep the worry from showing on my face.

During breakfast my eyes lingered on the door.

Was she alright in the dark?

Had she been cold in the night?

Had she eaten the linquith fruit?

Irritably I tapped my foot against the floor in class as I waited for our lessons to be over. Three minutes stretched into eternity as I waited to save Mercy. As cruel as time seemed the night before, it was nothing compared to staring in the face of an actual clock. It moved slowly, deliberately, taunting me from its spot on the wall.

Horrible images ran through my head of different things that may have happened to her in that dark place. I was so wrapped within those thoughts I didn't even notice when a note slid onto my desk. I wondered how it arrived. Turning to see who’d passed it to me, I came up empty. Everyone was focusing on their work. None of them gave me so much as a glance.

The note seemed normal enough, a flat sheet of paper. Our class had learned long ago not to fold notes. It made noise when you opened them and drew the attention of the teacher. The only obviously odd thing about it was the fact that someone had passed it to me.

Pulling the page closer, I read it quietly to myself.

Addressed to CL

CL was my note name. Only kids in our lessons knew it. We each had one so the teacher wouldn’t know who they were from. We never use real names in our notes, which could get the person we were trying to talk to into trouble.

Still, I wondered if I might be the wrong person anyway. Perhaps they’d written CL by mistake and meant someone else. Rather than making a fool of myself by asking those around me I read on.

"Addressed to CL,

ML requests mess with 3-5/6"

This meant that the person with the note name ML wanted to see me in the mess hall at ten o’clock on Friday. 3-5 meant that I had to subtract five from three on the clock, which brought me to ten.

The last number represented the day they wanted the meeting to take place. That number was easy, Sunday through Saturday. Sunday being one and Saturday being seven. So, they wanted to meet me on Friday. It was already Thursday, making it short notice for a meeting with someone I didn't even know. Which brought up a more pressing question.

Who was ML? I knew each of my classmates’ codenames by heart. None of them were ML.

Matt was MT and Morris was MR.

I wondered if it was a prank. I had more important things to do than going to some dumb meeting with someone who couldn't even get the code right. Carefully I closed the note into my book. Class would be over soon. I'd finally have a chance to check on Mercy.

When the teacher dismissed us, I hurried out of the room, determined to get to her as fast as I could.

It was already ten and the minstrals would be out in an hour. Racing to the door she disappeared through, I shoved it open, hesitating for only a second to make sure no one was looking before going inside.

I couldn’t survive another night like the previous one. Not without knowing she was alright. I’d rather face reprimand than another night without Mercy. If I got into trouble, I could just say I hadn’t seen the sign and apologize. They might forgive something like that. They also might not. But I had to try.

I’d brought a bottle of water with me and cleverly filled my pockets with food for her that morning. No doubt she would be hungry after missing breakfast. She was always hungry.

I hit the landing, my eyes still adjusting to the dark. Carefully, I moved. The room was massive, with an impossibly high ceiling. Along the wall there were posters and pictures, mostly faded and difficult to see in the dark, but as my eyes began to adjust, I could make out letters and words on them. Things like, Science and Gordon. Though most of the images were too faded to see, I could make out the image of what had once been a human face.

A large dust caked glass shelf sat, sealing something inside. I moved closer, wiping the layers of dust off the cover as I peered inside. There was a small, intricate machine shaped like a ball. A brass plaque sat underneath. I had to dust off more of the glass to read what it said.