Chapter 16:

Epilogue

As The Sun Rises


The sun passes overhead seven times before Hugo awakens. Laying back on a bed, he hears a whirring sound and opens his eyes. It takes a moment for his vision to come through to his brain.

A drone waters the plants hanging from the roof and along the walls, before flying out the window through which it came.

Dull pain settles throughout Hugo’s body. It’s not enough to make him cry out or grit his teeth, but it’s debilitating enough to make him unable to move.

So he shuts his eyes again. As he does so, the memories of the shrine finally flood his mind. He remembers that final action – that one simple action he took when he was consumed with rage – and the devastating consequences it had.

He drifts off to sleep, tearing rolling down the sides of his face, as he wonders if everyone involved is still alive. Lily, Emily, and even Noah.

* * *

The door opens at dawn several days later. It’s not Maria as it usually is, there only occasionally to check up on his recovery, but Emily.

Hugo returns his gaze out the window by his bed, where cows graze at the grass and Maria’s bulky robot interacts with them.

“I’ve heard you’re recovering.” Emily stands by the door, unwilling to come any closer. As if she’s afraid of him.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” Hugo says, avoiding eye contact with her.

“You are?”

Hugo ignores her jab, still rather sarcastic despite the tension. “What about…?” he trails off.

“She’s okay,” Emily replies, and Hugo lets out a sigh of relief.

He gasps at a sharp twinge on his arm – a microbot mends the intricate metal wirings in his elbow joint. Numerous microbots crawl around other parts of his body under the thin bedsheet, making final repairs to restore full bodily function.

Along with Maria, their inventor, they’ve done an incredible job to fix him in such a short amount of time.

“Who would’ve thought,” Emily smirks slightly, “a cyborg right under the nose of the military and the Council, and they had no idea.”

Hugo doesn’t reply.

“I couldn’t even tell, despite knowing you all those years ago.”

Hugo tries to find the words to ask a question, but Emily answers for him:

“No-one knows you’re here,” she says, “and the members of my squad think you were brought in for custody.”

Hugo nods. “Thank you.”

It’s clear Emily doesn’t accept his thanks. “The ones that didn’t die, anyway.”

Hugo grimaces. “How many did I…?” he trails off.

“Two. But there are a couple with major injuries.”

Hugo hangs his head in shame. He feels nauseous just thinking about it.

“Why did you do that?”

“I… I lost control when Noah shot–”

“Don’t lie to me,” Emily cuts him off.

Hugo wants to apologize, but he suspects there’s nothing he can say or do that will make Emily forgive him. “How are things in the Capital?”

“Martial law’s been enacted,” she replies. “Your mother was the only Council member who disagreed.”

Hugo sighs. He’s seen the news, but it’s even more depressing to hear it in person.

“I’d say you better be careful – because the military’s fully after you – but you won’t listen, will you?”

“Emily, I–”

“I don’t want to hear it, Hugo.” Emily cuts him off. “You put everyone you care about at risk again.”

There’s a moment of silence.

“Did you come here just to tell me off?”

Emily opens and closes her mouth a few times, unsure of how to respond to this accusation. Then, she’s gone, leaving Hugo to contemplate that dreadful day for the thousandth time.

Hugo looks towards the horizon, above the ridges of the Japanese Alps. And, as the sun rises over New Kansai, he’s forced to consider what might have been.

Though, he’s too late – the sun has risen many times since then.