THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE

I leaned back against the cold metal wall of the cave, staring at the drone. It had finished its story, a tale that spanned over centuries, a story of survival, loss, and loneliness that made my chest heavier with each passing word.

“So, let me get this straight,” I started, my voice quieter than usual. “You… you’ve been here, alone, just collecting those lumorite crystals… for generations.”

The drone tilted slightly, its single glowing eye fixing on me. “Yes. There were many times I even got caught by the authorities and they took away all the crystals I had as they called it valuable. But after I escaped, I managed to collect them again in the same process.”

“That’s… that’s insane!” My voice cracked.

“It’s not insanity, Garp. It’s… purpose,” the drone replied, its voice steady, almost soothing. “Over the years, I’ve met wanderers, treasure hunters, lost travelers… people with curious hearts. And I shared my story with them. Some were frightened, some were moved, and some…” the drone paused, its light dimming slightly, “…simply didn’t care.”

“And what did you get out of it?” I asked, stopping in my tracks to glare at it. “What’s the point of sharing all that pain if it’s just… gone? Your tribe, your people, your family… everything you had. It’s all long gone.”

“You’re right. My tribe is gone. My family, my heritage, my culture. All of it… lost to time. And yes, I have no illusions about what sharing my story achieves. It does not bring them back.”

“Then why?” I demanded. My voice echoed off the cavern walls. “Why keep doing it?”

“Because every time I tell my story, they live again. In the minds of those who hear my words, they exist. Their laughter, their struggles, their dreams… they are not entirely erased. And perhaps, for those who listen, my story might remind them to cherish what they have. To protect it. To value it.”

I sat down hard on the rocky floor, my legs refusing to hold me up any longer. My throat tightened, and I struggled to swallow past the lump that had formed there.

“You could…” I started with my shaky voice, “you could let the whole world know. Your story could reach everyone. I could help you do that. I’ve got connections back in the City. They’ve got tech… advanced stuff. We could broadcast your story—a full immersive holo-experience, maybe even beam it directly into the Z- tube. You’d be immortalized. People would know about the suffering of your tribe. The hardships they faced. And..”

The drone tilted again, almost like it was considering my words. Then it shook slightly, the movement slow and deliberate. “Thank you, boy, but there’s no need for that.”

“Why?” I asked, genuinely baffled. “Why wouldn’t you want that? Your story could inspire—”

“Because it’s not about fame, recognition, or inspiration” the drone interrupted, its voice soft. “I tell my story not to be remembered by the masses, not to be sympathized by them…it would only spread hatred and probably be used in politics, and then eventually be forgotten again over time. Our tribe taught us that, in the grand scheme of things, the only thing that matters is the internal satisfaction. I have achieved it. My family, my tribe, my village is dead. I am dead. What would I do with such recognition? When I meet people like you who are always eager to listen to my story, that gives me and my past enough recognition I need.”

“You’re… you’re something else,” I finally muttered, shaking my head.

The drone’s light flickered in what I almost took as amusement. “Perhaps. But so are you, boy. You stayed and listened. That means more than you know.”

I laughed, though it came out more like a choked breath. “Guess that makes me a sucker for a good story.”

After chatting for a little while, I left the cave, saying my final goodbye to the robot. Who knows if I would ever meet him again after today. The sunlight was almost faded but still it took me by surprise as I stepped out of the cave. The stolen panty was acquired. It rested in my trembling hands, carrying more weight than it seemed. I stared at it, then at the path ahead. Returning it seemed simple enough, but there was one glaring problem. If anyone found out about the robot in the cave, the authorities would swoop in faster than the light speed. And all the lumorite crystal, it has collected over the years would be snatched away from it just like the earlier times. He might even face criminal charges for illegal smuggling of lumorite crystals.

"Think, Garp," I muttered to myself. "How do you return a panty without incriminating a centuries-old robot?"

I started walking, formulating one bad idea after another. Each plan unraveled in my head as quickly as it formed. Before I could make any headway, voices echoed from the distance.

I froze. A crowd of students was heading my way, led by none other than Mirai, Vir, Meiroko, Remi, Reddish, and Ms. Lorn. To my dismay, Liton and Cryil, the self-proclaimed detectives, were also with them, their expressions were as smug as ever.

Liton dramatically adjusted his invisible faux detective hat, which I guessed only he could see. “Aha! Footprints! We followed your footprints.” he declared, pointing at the ground as if it held the secrets of the universe. “My deductive reasoning tells me that the culprit has been frequenting this very spot!”

Cryil nodded enthusiastically, holding up his holo-notebook which seemed to contain nothing important. “Indeed! After careful analysis of the crime scene and extensive interrogation…”

“You just asked me where Garp was during the panty stealing” Vir interjected, his voice was dripping with sarcasm.

Cryil ignored him. “…we deduced that the panty thief was absent during the time of the incident. All signs point to Garp!” He turned to me with a triumphant expression, as if he’d solved the greatest mystery of our time.

I realized that I went to the toilet during that time.

“Is that a cave?” someone from the group asked, pointing behind me.

Panic surged through me. If they got close enough, they’d see the robot and its crystals. I could not let that happen. There was only one way to divert their attention. It wasn’t smart. It wasn’t dignified. But it was the only option.

I sighed heavily, bracing myself for the ultimate sacrifice.

“So,” I said, forcing a sinister smirk onto my face, “you figured it out, huh?” I let out the most exaggerated villain laugh I could muster. “Kekekekekekek hahahah hahahahahahah!”

Inside, I was dying a thousand deaths. *Forgive me, Mom. Forgive me, Dad. Forgive me, Gramps. This is the only choice I have.*

With a flourish, I held up the panty and… put it on my face.

The gasp from the crowd was deafening. For maximum effect, I inhaled deeply, my eyes rolling back as I exclaimed, “This… this is the best!”

“GARPPP!” Remi’s voice cracked as she turned beet red, tears welling up in her eyes. “Y-you pervert!” she wailed, covering her face.

“You absolute disgrace!” Reddish stormed forward, her face twisted in fury. She slapped me across my face. “You’re what’s wrong with society!” she screamed, hands on her hips. “Do you even understand consent? You’re disgusting!”

Ms. Lorn just shook her head, muttering something about losing faith in humanity. Mirai and Vir stood frozen, their jaws practically on the ground. Meiroko, meanwhile, looked at me like I’d just told her the weather—completely unbothered.

“I admit it!” I declared dramatically, still wearing the panty like some deranged superhero mask. “I’m the panty thief! I did it all for… for … artistic expression!” I couldn’t even keep track of the nonsense spilling out of my mouth. The important thing was that everyone’s attention was now squarely on me, not the cave.

Liton and Cryil exchanged smug looks, clearly pleased with themselves.

“Well, case closed,” Liton said, striking a pose. “Another mystery solved by the Dynamic Duo!”

“Truly, we are the greatest detectives of our generation,” Cryil added, bowing to the crowd.

As the students murmured among themselves, some disgusted, others laughing, I felt a strange mix of humiliation and relief. The robot’s secret was safe. For now. But at what cost?

Remi sniffled, still hiding her face. “I can’t believe you’d do something so… so…”

“So vile,” Reddish finished for her. “You’re a menace, Garp.”

Ms. Lorn finally stepped forward, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Alright, everyone, enough. Let’s head back to the academy. As for you, Garp,” she said, glaring at me, “we’ll have a very long discussion about this later.”

As the group started to disperse, I removed the panty from my face and let out a long, defeated sigh. My face stung from

Reddish’s slap, and my dignity was somewhere back in that cave, crying. But at least the robot was safe.

Before I could leave, Mirai approached me. I mentally prepared myself for some sarcastic comment or a look filled with disgust, maybe even another slap. Instead, she gently touched my cheek, the very spot where Remi had slapped me earlier. Her fingers were warm, her touch softer than I expected.

“Are you okay?” she asked, her voice unusually gentle.

I looked at her face and, for the first time, saw something in her eyes I’d never noticed before—care and trust. It was as if she understood me, as if she believed there was a reason for everything I had just done.

CHAPTER 18 END