Fool Me Once, Shame on Me, Fool me Twice, Shame on Me

Hikyaku handed him 50 gold netted bills.

“Is that enough?” She said.

“Plenty, nice doing business.”

As the two check the interior of the starship, a voice from the overhead drones calls out to the whole city. It was Stropha’s voice.

“My people, I have come across a revelation. One that just may solve all our problems. I beseech you to gather by the base of the plateau.”

“He’s signing everyone up for an early grave.” Hikyaku shook her head.

An antenna with a dish sprouted from Ako’s eye, pointing straight at the plateau.

“I’m reading high levels of energy coming below the city hall. Judging from the mercury tubes he has stocked up, it’s more than likely he’s going for his old trick during the war.” Ako states, Hikyaku was unimpressed by the information.

“Well, good luck to them. We got a job to do elsewhere.”

Ako’s body lights up a blue hue, almost as though in deep concentration, before returning to normal.

“We must stop his actions at once.”

“Why? We’re space couriers! Hikya-kukans! I’m not doing grunt work just to solve some moral code you wish to uphold. Even so, weren’t you the one who told me to leave out all this ‘judicial talk’?” Hikyaku had enough, she just wanted to head to their next destination.

“These were orders from Omne.”

“...of course it was.” Ako’s response shut Hikyaku up.

Walking out of their ship, it seemed all the workers around the repair shop had made their trek to the plateau. Soldiers were seen pushing many against their will, making sure everyone was at the city-centre. Among those that were forced into the centre was the same woman and baby that was concerned in Stropha’s plan. Many were brainwashed in their Stropha’s ideologies for survival. One soldier spotted Hikyaku and Ako sneaking around the streets.

“HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” The soldier shouted.

“Just making my way to the event good sir.” She played it off, walking to the center with Ako wrapped around her right shoulder.

As the hundreds of thousands gather, a beautiful aerial play is shown for all to see.

“The iron we clamp to our bodies is the connection that binds us together. Iron is the last element that is made before a star dies, but it shall also be used to create new life in return. We shall all become one!” Stropha makes the crowd cheer.

“What’ll happen if we fail? We’ll all be consumed in that void in the sky.” Some people in the crowd cried out.

“Show Stropha some respect!” One loyal follower shouted.

“Why should we care! We only have 1 year left before this damn world is destroyed! It’ll scoop us all up!” This got the crowd riled up.

“The void will take someone alright. It’ll take those who stand against Stropha’s ways!”

“I ain’t one of you!” One of the men threw an iron chalice to the drones.

“Settle down everyone, please. We will be stepping into the new age in just a couple moments.”

“Like hell it will!” Just then the non-believer was tackled by guards.

Other people joined up in his passion, starting a brawl in the crowd. This sent everyone into hysterics. Many covered their ears, held hands, and prayed. And some were dumb enough to join the fight in the middle of the mob. Things turned from organized to anarchic quickly. Some of the drones descended to shock any troublemakers.

“Well, now what!?” Hikyaku shouted as she was getting pushed and shoved.

“I have an idea, throw me when I tell you too!” Ako was ready for action.

“Wha-”

“No time to explain any further. 3… 2… 1… NOW!”

As she threw Ako, a thin tendril from his body still latched around her body. Ako released his other tendrils onto one of the drones, successfully taking control of it. He pulled the drone up, yanking Hikyaku off the ground. Ascending straight through the front entrance to city hall, Ako’s landing was anything but splendid-comparable to Hikyaku’s skills. As she slowly recovered from the fall, Ako latched onto one of the war-torn armor sets Stropha had pinned around the inner walls. He was looking like a proper war machine, sending non-lethal plasma shots to any guard that was still conscious from the crash in.

The mercury began sinking deeper into the tubes. Ako scanned the room and found a trap door. As Hikyaku was still trying to get back on her two feet, Ako continued down the basement steps. There he found Stropha and his science team, scrambling to make their lodestone operational.

“Why are you here?! You gave me the message already, there’s no need for you to stay here!” He shouts at Ako.

“You’re not the one who can save this world…”

“...huh?...”

“Mitera sends her regards.”

Stropha’s eyes widened, hearing that name sent shivers down his spine.

Before either one could make a move, they were interrupted by Hikyaku calling out,

“Pulling everyone into one congealed sphere is your way of ‘becoming one’? Throwing away clocks so they walk around blind, make them wear iron so that they’re easy to pull. Is that it?”

“The more force we push, the increased pressure could collapse creating a blackhole or some vacuum. We can rebel against nature!” Stropha replied to her.

“You can’t decide if you’ll live tomorrow or not. When it happens, it happens. All you’re doing is the equivalent of a child throwing a tantrum over having to eat their veggies.” Hikyaku gave her insight on the matter.

“We won’t know if we try!” Stropha was adamant on activating the magnet.

“You know what, fine. Go ahead and press the button. If it makes you feel any better I recommend pushing the dial up to maximum.” Hikyaku stated as she walked back the way she came.

“Out of order… out of order… out of order…” Ako’s voice murmured as his singular eye looked at both her and Stropha.

Stropha flipped the switch, powering the lodestone. A bright mint green hue, like the afternoon sky, sparked around the cavern and spread into the city. From the beams of structures, to the chassis of ships, to the individuals themselves-all were getting pulled to the center. Panic ensued among the masses. Hikyaku felt her body being pulled in as well.

‘Reverse psychology didn’t work…’ She thought to herself.

Ako willingly let himself get pulled in, so too did Stropha. The two were practically touching the lodestone on either end, hoping the other would tap out. Ako broke through the pressurized encasing, ultimately discharging the lodestone’s field around the planet. The burst injured everyone in the basement and around the city. Ako was left with a skeletal body of its former armor while Hikyaku was left with broken chips in her suit. Stropha laid beside the rubble, the iron around his body now ripped off leaving burn marks.

“Mitera… how do you know that name?” He asked Ako.

“A simple business partner.” Ako’s football form popped out of the armor piece like a game cartridge before rolling back to Hikyaku.

The duo walk through the city they had essentially ruined. What was a population filled with harmony and believers is now a population that is restless and scared for their future. Despite their actions, the two walked on with blank expressions on their faces. As they reached their starship, they were greeted by some angry citizens-the bartender and the woman with her child were a part of the group.

“Could you please move, I wish to leave.” Hikyaku’s soulless response made the crowd snap.

“YOU COME INTO OUR CITY! WE WELCOMED YOU! AND YOU BREAK OUR BELIEVES!?” The mother shouted.

“What belief? We’re all dead in a year’s time whether you like it or not. All that man was gonna do is speed up your expiration date-” Hikyaku’s statement was cut short as the bartender she met earlier gave her a rough backhand. It was enough to make her mouth bleed.

“You make me sick…” The bartender was ready for another swing.

“...” Ako stayed silent.

“I’m just a messenger doing my job. What happened right now was entirely your minister’s fault.”

The mother broke down in tears in front of her.

“How will my child live their life now? I…” The mother was at a loss for words.

Hikyaku let out a deep sigh, patting her on the shoulders as she walked by.

“Give the child the best 1 year it’ll have.” Ako stated.

As they reached their ship, they heard someone behind them.

“CURSE YOU!” One from the crowd threw a bottle at her cockpit.

“...” Hikyaku ignored them and took off from the derelict road beside the repair shop.

As they left the planet, they once again caught sight of the pit of time-pieces before ascending into orbit. Hikyaku recoiled back in her chair, staring blankly at the starry backdrop of space.

“This universe’s just a mess.”