Friend or Foe

Past midnight, the opportunity arrives. A small gun is held in my right hand, stolen from a dozed off soldier. Just two of them are on lookout. Every time they look away from the back of the building, I creep forward while checking behind me – when they go to look again, I use behind a tree or under a bush for cover. It’s a tedious twenty minutes, but worth every second. When I finally reach the car door, which is also concealed by tree trunks and leaves, I jump inside in a dash.

Made it, made it. I pat my pocket to ensure the spoon is still there, and it is. Okay, good. I start up the car, flinching when the engine makes a low rumble. But I don’t hear anything from the soldiers, though maybe it’s not possible from this distance. Time to go. Slowly, carefully, I put the car into motion – when it’s far enough, I don’t fear the noise as I speed down the road.

I did it? Didn’t get caught? Feels too easy. Peeking through the side and rearview mirrors, I expect Ezri to jump out and ruin my plan at the last moment, with her habit of always seeming to know my whereabouts. But… She doesn’t.

It starts off light, as a giggle. Then a louder chuckle, until I’m convulsing with laughter that bounces off the walls. If anyone could see me, they’d think I’m crazy – and in the words of Shiloh, “straight to the facility I’d go.” But I could care less about that right now.

I beat her. I’m going to win. And after that, we can all change. Everyone.

It'll take an hour for me to drive from Rosenwald to the prairie-surrounded road that leads to the Department of Order. It’d be way quicker to travel through the heart, but I can’t for two reasons – some roads blocked with debris from the Spearhead’s attack, and a higher presence of bots and security cameras. Don’t want to risk finding out if the hijacking was spotted through a lens. The bots could know to be on the search for this vehicle in that case. I’d be so pissed.

But with my own thoughts distracting me, the hour passes quickly. There’s the military base – empty on the outside, but probably swarming with golems on the inside. I stop the car before driving into the viewpoint of the multiple cameras attached to the buildings and gates, then unzip my hoodie to hide the gun inside.

Stepping out, the air on my face is chilly, but my body heats up as I realize what I’m about to do. Anything could happen – after all, I don’t have much experience in holding someone at gunpoint, surprise surprise. Lux may retaliate, or a golem may catch me if I’m not sneaky enough.

But I came all this way, so I’m not going to be a coward by turning back now. With my hooded head hung low to avoid the cameras catching a glimpse of my face, I walk past the base and towards the Department of Order – and of course, golems in the towers. Will they see me as suspicious if I just stand outside, waiting? Without the Admin System, it’s hard to predict their behavior.

Can’t take too long to contemplate. A golem turns to me, watching me closely. Dang it. Hiding in the grass would look real bad. There doesn’t seem to be much movement inside, though most of what I can see is obstructed by the barred windows.

It’s not like visitors aren’t allowed, but… What if someone in there instantly recognizes me? Before I can do anything?

The other golem turns to me. Gotta move and hope for the best. I enter through the doors, and the room is empty. Only this room, however. Robotic chatter comes from a nearby meeting.

“… Also, a significant drop in the Capital’s population has been observed due to lethal injection. Only 40% of the population remains alive. This matter must be resolved.”

“Data from the golems indicate the threat of Ezri, last name unknown, age unknown, has not yet been annihilated. The population decline is predicted to continue as a result. This matter too must be resolved.”

M-droids handling the affairs of the country… Something I’ll never get used to, but at least they’re distracted. Lux’s office is upstairs, and if he’s following his usual, workaholic schedule, he should be there.

“It must also be noted that the current president of the IPU, Anthony Hartwell, age 48, is no longer eligible for presidency. A replacement is required. This matter too must be resolved.”

My foot stops midway as I climb up the stairwell, still hearing them from afar. Whichever facility Dad is in, he must be doing pretty terribly…

I shake my head.

But he’s also the man who abandoned me. So why should I waste time worrying about him, when he didn’t do the same?

I continue up the stairs, while the M-droids further discuss a new president.

But when I finally arrive at the top, my plan takes a turn.

“Calla?” Miss Gray says, her blue eyes widened. “You—”

Reaching into my hoodie, I grab the gun handle before either of us can grasp the situation. The feeling of such an item being an alien object is no longer present, but pointing it at Miss Gray’s head makes me doubt my own sanity. There’s no Racer here, though – can’t change what I’ve just done.

“Take me to Lux. Now,” I try to sound stern, intimidating – yet somehow my order is said like it’s a plea.

“You failed the MME, broke out from the Corvid, and now you’re armed and threatening me? Oh, Calla, what’s happened to you?”

The false concern in her voice pushes me closer to the edge. With the way she switched after my MME, I refuse to believe she ever genuinely cared about me, just like Dad and who knows who else. Taking a step forward, I say, “Take me. To Lux.”

“And if I scream?”

“Then I’ll shoot.”

Will I actually? Probably not? I don’t know, it just came out, like my mouth has a mind of its own now. But the only thing that matters is Miss Gray believing I mean it wholeheartedly – and luckily, she does.

Again, I’ve become “filth” in her sight. Maybe I actually am, don’t know if a “good person” would do this or not yet. She leads me to his office, heels clicking loudly against the marbled floors. Her movements are agitated as she throws open the doors, and sitting at his desk is Lux. He drops a pen.

“What’s goin’ on with you, kid? Lost your mind?” He asks, every muscle in his body rigid.

I point to a chair, gesturing for Miss Gray to sit. After, I take the spoon from my pocket. Doesn’t matter how long it’s been or how the spoon has been kept, the technology we have can detect the tiniest trace.

“This is the spoon Ezri used for dinner,” I say slowly, approaching the desk little by little. “Sorry it took so long.”

Lux’s eyebrows furrow even further than they naturally are. “You’re holdin’ us at gunpoint because you came here to help us?” He huffs. “Honestly, it’s no wonder you got sent away.”

“If I didn’t, you’d send me back to the Corvid, wouldn’t you?”

“Ha… Yes, I would. You might be crazy now, but at least you’ve got your wits still,” he holds out his palm. “Go on then, hand it over.”

Once I give it to him, Ezri’s demise will be sealed. No more Liberation, no more chaos. The country’s future will be free from war, and everything involving this will become a shadow of the past.

But before that happens, there’s one thing I have to make clear.

“I know they don’t sleep.”

Miss Gray seems puzzled in the midst of her disgust, while Lux grins. “Really, eh?” He says. “And what do you think about it?”

“It’s cruel. Just like what happened… To those orphans.”

Lux’s amused expression morphs into anger and menace. Miss Gray still looks clueless, even more so at Lux’s changed demeanor. I guess even in government, the heinous acts of the IPU are hidden.

“Angeline, why don’t you leave the room for a sec?” Lux says.

“No,” I interject, moving the gun towards her again. “She stays, or else she’d bring a golem in here the first chance she gets.”

“What’s your motive here, kid? You still haven’t given me that DNA, and you’re ramblin’ on about things you shouldn’t be.”

“I just wanted you to know, that I know. Everything,” I finally drop the spoon into his hand. “And I’m determined to make things right.”

He leans back in his chair. “You, an escaped convict, who also can’t keep her mouth shut? Whatever your plan is, good luck lasting long enough to do it.”

“Yet according to the M-droids downstairs, over half the Capital was put to sleep, and the numbers are only growing. Sooner or later, the IPU will have no choice but to ease sentencings… When that happens, I’ll be ready.”

“Ready? For?”

“For change. Good change.”

I force Lux and Miss Gray to follow me outside, a gun still pointed at their backs discreetly. I can’t leave them alone until we’re at a fair distance from the golems, otherwise they’ll just call for my arrest. They even join me in the car, and only when the buildings disappear from my eyes are when I grant them their freedom. Walking all the way back is their only choice.

“By the way, kid,” Lux says, placing his hand over the curve of the car door through the rolled-down window. “Giving us Ezri’s identity? That was a smart choice. However, here’s some advice…” His voice deepens, “Don’t ruin it by making yourself an enemy.”

“Yeah, I’ll try to remember that,” I say insincerely. You already see me as an enemy, Lux. What more could I do to make things worse on myself?

I drive off without another word, leaving Lux and Miss Gray in the dust.

It's over now. I did it. Ezri is defeated, and the IPU, despite its sins… It survives. Though for as long as I live, even if it all has to be in hiding, even if it’ll get me in trouble – I’ll be dedicated to giving it a new existence. A real utopia, not a prison.

But in the morning, after I made a safe return to Rosenwald, I’m woken up by a blaring siren.

And afterward, the revelation that shatters my heart beyond repair.

“Attention, Capital,” an M-droid speaks. “The identity of Ezri has been revealed as Shiloh Wilks, age 18, hair brown, eyes brown, height 5’5”. Please avoid at all costs. If seen, please alert the golems.”

“To repeat, the identity of Ezri is Shiloh Wilks, age 18, hair brown, eyes brown, height 5’5”.”