Farewell

Word of advice?

Never get too attached to people. Really, I mean it! Otherwise, you might end up like me – strapped to a chair, surrounded by M-droids, golems, and IPU officials. You’ll have an itch, and you won’t be able to scratch it, and your robot overlords will question you relentlessly.

Stuff like,

“Shiloh Wilks, elaborate your motivations for attacking the International Peace Union.”

“Shiloh Wilks, what are the identities of the other members of your organization, the Liberation?”

And even,

“Shiloh Wilks, are you aware of the consequences you’ll face?”

Yeah. It’s not fun, and my itch is only getting worse. I have to make up answers on the fly, since obviously a simple “no idea” isn’t gonna do the trick. They’d rather get all those nitty gritty details that I know nothing about, but they insist I do.

Typical IPU, always thinking they’re right about everything.

My responses are,

“Isn’t it obvious? Because you guys suck!”

“Jimmy Nucleus, Darren Yeager, Tailor Speed, and… Todd.”

“No.” Don’t know why I said this – I know exactly what’s going to happen to me. Lights out, permanently. Maybe I’m just nervous.

Every so often, I’ll take a quick peek at the door. Calla’s way too stubborn for her own good. She and the Liberation are probably going to crash the party any second now.

After all, Calla is always saving me. From loneliness as kids, to running head-on into a Mangler attack, even from near death after falling off a giant battleship. That last thing is what made me piece this all together, too. Ezri didn’t know my eyes were open just a teeny bit, and I caught her taking off her mask to catch her breath. I’d recognize that face from miiilleess away.

Now, I’m going to pay her back for all she’s done. We can finally be even!

The droids don’t see any point in questioning me anymore. Hm. They might’ve realized my answers are completely bogus… Giving Todd a last name would’ve been more convincing. Oh well, too late now.

An M-droid approaches me. It’s holding a syringe.

Oh- Oooh. That’s why.

I tap my foot, stealing another glance at the door. Nothing. Good, that’s good. I can save her butt in peace, just like I wanted it.

Petra was on board with the idea too. We made a deal to keep it secret from everyone, but the plan almost flopped on its back when Calla made her move sooner than expected. That girl doesn’t play any games! But thankfully, I got her attention, and Petra made the swap.

The droid’s cold fingers clasp around my arm, lifting it up. It looks even freakier now as it brings the syringe to my skin.

Phew, okay! Being a good friend is a lot more intense than I thought. But it’s fine. This is to keep her safe – for a while at least.

Another look at the door. She sure is taking her sweet time.

The needle pokes into my arm.

…

Calla? You coming?

Ah… That’s okay. You know what, I’m being selfish. I came here willing to save your life all valiantly, and now I’m expecting you to bring me out of it! Just do me a favor— when you’re older, win. The country needs someone like you.

Oh, and come on, give poor Jasper a chance! He’s crazy about you.

The droid injects me with whatever is inside the syringe.

Man, this sucks. Wondering if this was a mistake.

The doors turn dark as they fade into blackness. Well, no use in doubting myself now, right?

“See you later… You robotic—

—bastard… You freaking bastard…”

Ezri says hoarsely. Lying on the floor, she holds her hand against the bloody wound I made with a laser. I try to look uncaring, block out all emotion from appearing on my face. When it’s Ezri, that’s easy. But it’s not just her, is it? She’s also Shiloh. That’s enough to make me hold back the tears, to struggle against my body betraying me by breaking down.

“What’s the meaning of this, blondie…? She’s going to die now, ‘cause of you…”

“I told you,” my voice quavers, “she already died.”

“After—” she coughs, “after everything— you’ve seen… You still choose them?”

“No, that’s not what I’m doing,” I come closer, the gun still aimed at her. “You said I become ‘a leader’ in the future… Is that still true?”

Her eyes narrow into slits. “Yes, it is.”

Even with all I’ve done? Committed a felony, broke out of a facility, held two officials at gunpoint? I scrutinize her face for any signs of dishonesty, but there’s only the features of an irate and dying woman. For now, I’ll assume she’s telling the truth.

“Then when that happens, I’m going to create change… The right way, not one that’s laden with blood and destruction. People are going to live, be happy.”

She croaks out a laugh, causing her to twitch with pain. “You’re naïve if you think that… I once thought… Just like you. And guess what? It— never happened.”

“So what about all the innocents who are dead because of you? Who weren’t even trying to fight?” I take a deep breath, trying to keep myself steady. “The Convention, the Spearhead… All the people who were put to sleep because they were so terrified of you. Why was it necessary to take their lives?”

“Because— that showed all the IPU’s flaws— on full display. Their incompetency, their weakness, their extremism…” she coughs again, her skin turning paler. “Surprised you even care, blondie… Wasn’t it that 98 points that really set you off… Instead of seeing your countrymen slaughtered?”

I almost pull the trigger again, but then I remember who she is – or at least, who she once was. But to be honest, it’s not like she’s wrong. To become the IPU’s standard of “perfection,” I had to sacrifice part of my humanity. Yet little by little, as Ezri’s reign of terror went on, I started to regain it.

“Well, that’s different now. I guess I can ‘thank’ you for that… But regardless, there had to be another way,” then after a final step further, I lower to her level and say, “Doesn’t matter anymore, though. You’ve failed.”

She laughs again, weaker than the one prior. “Oh, no, Calla… I never fail.”

Ezri’s clouded eyes shut. Her body goes limp, the hand over her wound falling onto the floor.

I give her a nudge, she doesn’t move. I check her pulse, there’s none.

My eyes drift to the door. I go to open it, but resist. Grief consumes my soul. But this is what she wanted. It’s what’s best for the world. Sparing her life would’ve been selfish. We’re just trying to be good people.

But if this is the right thing, why must it feel so painful?

A tear drops on my hand clenched tightly around the doorknob. Several join it.

…

Wow, I haven’t cried in years.

Both our eyes puffy and red, Jasper and I step out the office, my head resting on his shoulder. The Liberation has just shown up. But they’re too late. Ezri is dead. Shiloh is probably dead too. We don’t even have to utter the news. They can already tell what’s happened by the looks on our faces. A great cry erupts from amongst them, and even the sky weeps. Ace slams his gun on the cobblestone, splattering a puddle.

“I suppose Petra was right not to see a point in any of this…” I say.

My words seem to spark confusion. Jasper looks down at me like he doesn’t know what I’m talking about, and Ace asks, “Who’s Petra?”

Petra.

Wait, who is Petra? Why did I say that name?

I feel lightheaded again. Ever since Ezri sent that soldier to save me from the golem in the Spearhead, I’ve been getting occasional dizzy spells from all the blood loss. She did a poor job at wrapping the bandages, and she was barely strong enough to carry me across the field. Took forever to get to the cars.

But I just still can’t grasp it. How did she become Ezri? There weren’t any indications at all – except, maybe aside from the fact Shiloh was getting awfully chummy with Ezri during dinner of the night I snuck off with that spoon. She didn’t even let me touch her food can at first.

We walk from the building, then we run. The soldiers have been spotted on the cameras. My gaze is on the office all the while. The farther I go, the farther I’m away from Shiloh. But if she’s… Gone… What does it matter?

As a siren goes off, golems stomp out the base. The soldiers let me and Jasper take the car to escape. They stay behind, prepared to fight. And die.

The rain pours heavily, but through a mass of gray clouds, the sunlight seeps. Starting now, this is a new beginning in my life – one without the IPU, without my dad, without my dear Shiloh, and without my chains. I’m not optimistic.

I don’t know where the journey will take me, and frankly the idea of it is terrifying. But whatever happens from this point onward, I know I’ll see the end of it, one way or another.

“Jasper, I’m still wanted. I can’t stay here in the Capital forever.”

“Yeah, I know… The outer territories?”

“Yes. Will you go with me?”

“Always.”