Silence Speaks Louder Than Words

 The eight masked viceroys surrounded the unconscious Null, watching the receding EVAC pods intently.

“Well, what do we do with him?” one asked.

“He has been a worthwhile tool insofar.” another said

“He single handedly killed a neophyte, perhaps he could be more useful still. He’s a symbol for the undercity, and a threat to the defense force.”

One of the masked men formed a cocoon around the unconscious Null and lifted him into the air behind himself. The viceroys walked into the shadows once again, disappearing into thin air.

***

Evelyn and Grant stumbled out of their EVAC pods into the critical care center. Eyes pried upon them, curiously investigating the cyberse weapon Evelyn carried. The Director's looming presence greeted them around a bend.

“Disperse.” He ordered the onlookers, ushering Evelyn and Grant into a nearby examination room.

“I-” Evelyn started.

“Don’t. This didn’t happen. None of it. Agent Striker has retired permanently, and in his place, Evelyn will rise to the rank of neophyte.” The director said, his words felt hot on Evelyn like a glowing metal taken out of a flame.

“Sir, the trials? The facility?” Evelyn asked.

“Were a formality. Obviously Null has his sights set on you, in some way. He certainly wants to pressure you into the open. Even if he wants this, I don’t see many better options.”

“Wait, why her? If he wants this, why don’t you keep her out of this?” Grant said, stepping in between them.

The Director paused for a moment, as though playing a chess game within his own mind, carefully calculating every position.

“Because, Grant, we need more neophytes now. We cannot wait for a set of trials to run their course. Secondly, Evelyn is a trusted voice within the defense force, she can rally our people. And finally, with their history there's a chance Evelyn could get under his skin. Make him hold back or slip up.” He finally answered.

“Sir, what do I do next? And what about this” Evelyn asked, motioning at Striker's sword.

“Tomorrow, meet at headquarters instead of your patrol. As for the cyberse, usually it’s retired with the neophyte but for our narrative it might be best if you keep it. Say it was a gift from him to you as he went to retire.” He said with finality, walking off through the large doors to the landing zone.

Evelyn and Grant stood motionless for a while before Grant worked up the courage to renew their conversation.

“Evelyn, we need to talk.”

The two walked in silence to the light rail, arriving at the temporary room Evelyn had been given in the Spire Three tower, while the investigation and clean up in Spire Four continued.

“Come in,” she said.

Grant obliged. The apartment was quaint. A screen took up the entirety of one wall, facing the small kitchen with its own chef bot ready and waiting for an order from Evelyn. She walked over and firmly wrenched the bots' connections out.

“Okay. Let’s talk.”

“Tell me you won’t do it.”

“Do what, Grant.”

“Go even further with this,” Grant said, becoming more animated, “become their weapon even more than you are.”

“When did you become some pacifist? Don’t you get it? It’s us or them, it’s how the world works. You really think there's enough to go around for everyone to do what they please and never worry?” Evelyn asked.

“We could at least try.”

“Humanity almost went extinct. Gone. This is the peace we get, the peace we are afforded by the status quo. It’s enough.”

“You’d justify a genocide,” Grant said flatly, “You rather everyone down there live in suffering so you can continue living the good life?”

“What good life do I have exactly, Grant?” Evelyn said, pinning him to the wall with her forearm on his neck.

“Food. Shelter. Safety.” Grant said, struggling to breathe.

“I would trade everything to never have been picked for that damn trial. I would trade everything to scrounge for scraps knowing I’ve never had to kill in cold blood. I would do anything to not be some tool of a system. But that's what I am, and it’s the position I’ve been given. So, I'll take it.” She said, releasing him.

“Don’t you care about them? They are still human.” Grant said flatly, rubbing his sore neck.

“I just want to protect people, Grant. The people in the undercity launched a raid two nights ago. They destroyed the place I lived. They killed innocent people!”

“None of us are innocent!” Grant shouted.

“Last night I got a neophyte killed! A hero. Who will take that place? When children go to sleep, who will they believe is out there to protect them?”

“They wouldn’t need protection if we didn’t force the undercity into this.”

“They are killers, just the same as us. Remember when they begged to be left to their own devices, to let the viceroys run the undercity?”

“They are desperate Evelyn! They have no other choice. We still exploit and kill them for profit.”

“Edmund, Chazz, our friends and fellow officers. The five-year-old kids that would run around the lobby of Spire Four, are they not important to protect?”

“How many nameless children have died? Do you even know?”

“I’m done talking about this, Grant.” Evelyn said.

“Evelyn-” Grant begged, his tears flowing freely.

“Sometimes people suffer for the greater good.” she murmured softly, without the harshness of their argument.

Her lack of vehemence caught Grant off guard.

“Is this really what it’s all about? You can accept that some people live in luxury and hey a few people get taken advantage of and abused?” Grant asked softly, already knowing her thoughts.

“How else can it be, the world is too broken to fix that system. We protect who we can, and that's enough.” Evelyn said, eyes flowing with tears.

“I can’t do this.” Grant said, collapsing against the wall.

“Can’t what?”

“I can’t do nothing. Can’t sit by and let it all happen. You may have come to terms with it but not me.”
“You’re going to defect?” Evelyn stammered.

“What else should I do? I can’t do this anymore.”

“You’ve just had a rough few days.” Evelyn said, trying to help him up.

“Don’t. I’m done.” Grant said, standing on his own and walking for the door.

Evelyn drew the cyberse in his direction, “Stop, don’t make me do this.”

“I guess you’ll have to kill another friend then.” Grant said, beginning to leave.

She stood, frozen in place, arm outstretched. The silence spoke louder than words as the door hissed and sealed, cutting her gaze from him. With silent, shaking sobs she fell asleep on the floor.