Author’s note: Sorry for the tardiness. Changed the POV style. Blame the Doctor and Merlyn for that, they were causing a lot of problems. Also, if you feel like you got cheated of the plot, blame them too.

Episode 16: What Lies Ahead

As Arthur flipped through the pages of the diary, he quickly figured out the code used.

“A ROT13 cipher? How nostalgic.”

It was a simple code. Substitute the first half of the alphabet with the second half, and then write your message. Arthur himself had used it to encrypt his messages when he was five years old.

“Now, to change the n’s into a’s, v’s into i’s… there. All done.” He smiled involuntary, pleased with his success. “Now, what does it say?”

He read through the diary, speed reading through the paragraphs. At the end, he pieced together the important parts.

I don’t know who I came to be born here. These memories, Fox assure me are false, but I will write them down, just in case.

My real name is Yukiroh Taran. My real mother’s name is Allisa Taran. I have two younger siblings, Myna and Kyle.

I was involved in a accident. A truck?

My spinal cord received extreme damage. Soon I would have become a vegetable.

But I had a choice.

The face, the name, it all burns.

Xulan Durnal. He’s the one. He put me here. He offered me the choice. To experience a new life. Xulan Durnal… mother agreed.. it was the only I could have lived.

My head hurts..to many memories. Too much pain. Which one is real? What is false?

So I was right, thought Arthur.

Outwardly, his mouth changed into a thin, hard line. He had managed to get one name at least. Xulan Durnal. Now to arrange a meeting.

“Log out.”

The world around him dissolved, and slowly reformed into a twisted ceiling. Then the glass slid upwards with a click, and he was breathing real air again. He waited a second, re-orienting himself, and the next moment he was again ready for action.

He rose up and stretched his limbs, glancing around his basement as he did so. It was reasonably small, with a large amount of space taken up by his behemoth mainframe. Wires lay strewn about, connecting everything to everything else. The only illumination came through the three large monitors on top of a huge table on one side of the room. Three chairs lay in front of it, out of which two were occupied. Doctor Crane was sitting leisurely in one of them, with his legs resting on another chair.

“You!” The Doctor leapt up when he saw him.

“What?” said Arthur, annoyed at the noise.

“What was that all about?”, Crane asked. “You just beat up the guards at the warehouse!”

“They were legionnaires, Doc. And I didn’t beat them up too badly.” replied Arthur, as he took a seat in front of the monitors. A few short taps later, the search for Xulan Durnal was under way. The algorithm he had chosen was a harmless one, only combing through the public databases. Now if that didn’t yield any names, he would have to change his tactics.

“Don’t evade by using technicalities! You beat up the legionnaires, and I want to know why!”

“Why?” Arthur turned to face him. “They were going to get in my way. I didn’t have time for that, so I took the shortest path, available to me. Which was to beat them up.”

“Arthur, did you even hear what you said? The shortest path?” He sat down to face him directly. “You seriously think that by beating a few guards will help you catch Luthor faster?”

“Yes I do.” He replied evenly. “You don’t understand Doc-”

“Then help me understand. If the shortest path is so important, why don’t just go and kill Luthor? You can do that, right?”

“That’s not-”

“THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID!” Crane slammed his hand on the table. “Violence was not the shortest path for you, but the easiest one! You are just a thug who beats up people!”

“That’s not true. And you know it. I considered all the options, and I chose the best one.” Arthur replied calmly, matching his gaze with Crane.

“You are not trying to understand what I’m saying, Arthur!”

“Then explain better!”

Both of them paused, waiting for the other to speak. Finally, Doctor Crane spoke, although his voice was much quieter than before.

“Let’s just suppose, for the sake of the argument. Somehow, by beating those guards today, Luthor is caught. I don’t know how, but let’s just suppose, alright?”

“Alright.” said Arthur.

“Your mission, your goal, your grand quest for vengeance is over. Then what?” asked the Doctor.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.” Arthur replied resolutely.

“No! You need to think about it now! You’re so consumed with vengeance that you don’t stop to consider the repercussions. You need to slow down. Look, I know that you feel angry, but-”

“Angry? You’re wrong, doctor. I’m not angry. I don’t hate Alexei Luthor. Hate, anger, disgust… you can define all of them. There are no words for what I feel, Doc.”

As he spoke, Arthur’s fist tightened and cracked the handles of the chair. He paused briefly to look at the pieces, then spoke again.

“It just boils over me. The rage I feel… you can’t imagine it. Can you? Can you feel it burning you up? And now, with him so close, you’re asking me to slow down?”

The machine beeped briefly at the end, indicating the search complete.

“Now, if you excuse me,” said Arthur, reaching for the console, “I have work-”

Crane cut him off, shutting down the monitor before he could look at it.

“No.”, he said, “I am not letting you do this until you cool off.”

“Cool off?” Arthur pushed the chair and asked, his cracking voice revealing his rising temper.

“Yes. Stop the damn obsession about Luthor, or at least stop using it as an excuse to beat people up. Until you do that, I am not letting you go any further. If you continue like this, you’re going to do something you regret. Your goal isn’t worth the path you have taken, and it’s high time you realized this! And you can consider all the options again, and beat me up, but I’m not going down without a fight!”

Breathe. Calm down. Breathe and calm down. This isn’t worth getting angry over. Let it go… repeated Arthur in his head. He clenched and unclenched his fists, imagining his anger fading away. And it worked.

When he looked again, Crane had got up and started pulling apart the wires connecting the monitor. But he had stopped with the wires in his hands, surprised by the lack of a reaction.

“You’re not going to stop me?”

“I know you consider me egotistical, but I’m not, Doc.” replied Arthur, slowly rising from his chair. “And to prove it, I’m going outside, where I will think about your opinions with, as you said, ‘a cool head’. And after that, if I am wrong, I will come back and apologize. Alright?” he said, dusting off his pants and walking towards the staircase.

“Alright, I guess.” said the Doctor, clearly surprised by the turn of events.

“See you in a hour, Doc.” Arthur’s voice sounded from the top of the stairs.

“That boy really knows how to surprise people.” the Doctor muttered to himself.

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>

“I can’t do this anymore.” Arthur said, hanging over the pit of superheated water. Letting go meant second degree burns. Not letting go meant Merlyn stomping over his hands, until he started again. Or fell down. Wasn’t much of a difference, anyway.

He had doing the pull ups all morning, every morning since he had met Merlyn. At first, he thought the volcanic springs was going to be a relaxing session. Like a sauna. Especially after the all-night sparring. But he was soon corrected after he dipped his feet accidentally in the water. Had it kept it there for even more than a second, his skin would have burned.

“What?” asked Merlyn, raising his feet.

“I said, I can’t do this anymore!” said Arthur, as he lifted himself up from the edge.

“I am done. You can kill me now. Or hand me over to the soldiers. I don’t care anymore. I’m done.” he said, panting on the ground. Day after day, he had doing the same thing, over and over again. Finally he had snapped.

“Okay. You’re done. I get it.” Merlyn replied. “I pushed you too hard. I’m sorry.”

“Damn right.” said Arthur, trying to control his breathing and failing. His muscles were starting to burn. It would hurt all through the night and as soon as it would begin to fade away, he would be forced to begin again. But no more. He was done.

“Very well. Then today, you will learn two things.” Merlyn replied. The ominous way he said was the only warning Arthur got as Merlyn’s foot landed on his gut.

“What the hell?” Arthur scrambled away as he sought to defend himself. But he was tired. Even in his best form, he had never defeated Merlyn. Doing so now was impossible.

“There’s no being DONE on the battlefield!” The blow landed cleanly, pushing Arthur back. “No MERCY because you are tired!” Another blow, landing below the ribs. Spittles of blood flew from Arthur’s mouth.

“Nobody will come to save you! You will beg for mercy! Beg again. And again. And again. And again.” Each of the sentences were punctuated by a blow. All of them were aimed at the same spot, and all of them landed cleanly below the ribs. Every time the fist connected, the air completely escaped his lungs. His vision began to blur, and his eyes no longer could keep up with the punches.

“And when you’re done begging, you will scream.” Merlyn grabbed him by the throat and pulled him close, staring into the eyes. And Arthur stared back at the wild, animalistic eyes of his teacher. Eyes without remorse or mercy. The eyes of a killer.

“Scream and die. But you won’t die. No, death would be a mercy. They won’t kill you. They will break you.” Merlyn’s grip tightened around Arthur’s neck. He tried to free himself, but his strength and breath had been completely sapped away. This was the end.

Merlyn continued conversationally, unhurriedly, in a calm, soothing manner. “And when you have broken, they will again mold you. And then, only then, will you be done.”

He let go, and Arthur fell helplessly on the ground.

The seriousness disappeared, and it was replaced by a big, fake smile. But the eyes remained that of a killer.

“The second lesson, is that I know the importance of listening. And so you get a break for the rest for the day! Enjoy!” he cheerfully said and walked away, whistling a tune to himself.

>

****************************************************************************

The cool evening air was a warm welcome to Arthur. As he rode around the city on his bike, he was saw the many things that had changed in his absence. And the few that had remained the same.

As he parked outside the Sealey Park, he recalled his childhood. The last time he was here, he was with his whole family.

Father, me and … No. Not now.

He strolled inside, and calmly sat down on a corner seat. They were the best ones, offering unmatched visibility and making it impossible for anyone to sneak upon him.

Sealey park was one of the larger park in the city, and it was evident from the crowd that was present. Families, lovers, yoga groups, and children of all ages were present everywhere he could see.

And for the moment, he pretended to be a part of them. That moment was over as soon as began.

Looked into the abyss and became a monster. Too late for me to be normal, isn’t it?

And that was the question which remained.

What happens after I’m done?

He hadn’t let it show, but the question had rattled him. Because he honestly didn’t know.

Should I go back? Have I stayed in Hell so long that I belong there?

He contemplated.

They will break you, and mold you…

He had been broken, but somehow pieced himself together.

And after it’s done, the pieces will again fall apart…

There wasn’t anything for him, he realized. Doctor Crane was right. The whole thing with Alexei was his last mission. Rushing wouldn’t help, in any case. He would proceed slowly and carefully… and end it properly. End everything properly.

“Do you mind if I sit here?” The voice belonged to a middle aged woman. She was well dressed and carried a handbag in one arm. At first glance, she appeared to be a kind, caring mother. Yet years of training had given Arthur an uncanny intuition about people. And that intuition revealed that the woman was not simple as she appeared.

“No, not at all. Please do.” Arthur said as pleasantly as he could.

She sat down quietly, on the other corner of the bench. Then the knitting yarn came out from her bag. For several minutes, only the clickety sounds of the needles could be heard.

“Did anything happen?” She asked.

And there it is.

“Not really, no. Look, I really should get going-” Arthur tried to end the conversation, but the woman was having none of it.

“My husband was in the war. When he returned, he often had the same look as on your face. Haunted.” she said, never taking her eyes of Arthur.

His curiosity awakened, Arthur asked, “What happened to your husband?”

“He committed suicide. Couldn’t bear living anymore.” she said, intently looking at Arthur’s face. “Why did you ask?”

“I just wanted to know, I guess.” replied Arthur.

“Well, it’s only fair that I get to ask in return, isn’t it?” said the woman, revealing a small smile. Realizing he had fallen in her trap, he sighed. “Alright. Ask away.”

“So, what happened? Let me guess. You fell in with a bad crowd in school, and now you are in trouble. So much that it looks hopeless, and you are now sitting here thinking of a suicide. Am I right?” she asked, putting her needles and yarn away.

“I guess that’s right, in a sense.” replied Arthur, uncomfortable with her concern.

“What about your parents? Do they know?” she asked, drawing closer.

“My parents are dead.” he replied. “My father died five years ago.”

“I’m sorry.” she said, obviously worried. “And what about your friends?”

Friends?

“I don’t have any friends.” He replied, surveying her features. It changed from concerned to sadness, then back to concern again.

“Yes you do. Everybody has friends. You just have to look for them.” she replied, distressed at his reply.

“Not me.” said Arthur, questioning himself now.

Why am I so insistent in making her understand?

“Then make some.” said the woman, suddenly fierce. She grabbed his hands, and enclosed them in hers. “Everybody needs friends. You too.”

“Look, lady, lacking friends isn’t my problem. It’s just that…” he sighed in exasperation, wondering how he had got up in the whole act. “It’s that, I had a different life before, and now I… have a different one. And I can’t go back.. even though I want to.”

“Did you have friends in your old life?” she asked.

“Not really, no.”

“Then it’s useless trying to go back there.” she said, matching her gaze with Arthur. “Here’s what you will do. You go back to school-”

Arthur laughed weakly.

“Or your college… or whatever, and you talk to people. Alright?”

“Alright.”

“That’s an order.” she replied, the stern mother looking for arguments.

“Fine! I will go to my… college and talk and make friends. Satisfied?”

“And join a club. You have a hobby, don’t you?”

“I like archery… sort of.” he replied, genuinely frightened by the intensity of the emotions that the lady was showing.

“Good. Join the archery club and make friends. It might be hard for you leave your old life behind, but trust me, there are always people willing to help. Understand?” She grabbed him by the shoulders, making sure he looked into her eyes.

“I understand completely!” said Arthur, giving up before the lady.

“And if you can’t, or need help, you come to my dojo. Here - this my card.” Arthur quickly put it into his pocket without looking.

“Alright, ma’am, can I go now?” he freed himself from her grasp.

“Very well. But will you remember my words?” she asked, with one final glare.

“I will, I promise.” said Arthur, as he hurriedly escaped.

What the hell just happened? was his only thought.

****************************************************************************

The ride back home was shorter than he had expected. Perhaps it was the experience with the woman, or his new found resolution.

He walked in to find the Doctor stuffing his face with Chinese food, playing games on the mainframe. Two things he had expressedly forbidden.

“Look… I can explain…” said the Doctor, trying to hide away the takeout box.

“It’s alright, Doc. And you were right. I’m sorry, and I promise I won’t let it happen again.”

“You’re… SORRY? REALLY? This isn’t a dream or anything, is it? Arthur is really apologizing? Am I dreaming? Is it the end of the world? Quick, somebody check my pulse? Am I dead? Has -”

“That’s enough.” Arthur’s quick retort cut Doctor off. “Now, I have apologized to you, can we get back to Durnal?”

“You are also going to apologize to those soldiers you beat up.” said the Doctor, deciding to see how far he could go.

“Apologize to the soldiers? How the hell am I supposed to do that?”

“I don’t know. But you’ll find a way, I’m sure.” said the Doctor, starting to eat again.

“Fine! I will also apologize to those soldiers! Now can we get back to work?” said Arthur, grinding his teeth.

“And…” began Crane.

“Doctor, don’t push your luck.”

“we go back to work, is what I was going to say....” replied Doctor, wiping his mouth, “but we don’t need to, actually.”

“What do you mean?” said Arthur, crossing his arms. An ominous aura started to emerge.

“Well, we have Xulan’s house address-”

“Break and enter?” asked Arthur.

“No. It’s in a high-tech neighbourhood. Not worth the risk. And I thought you agreed to take things slow?”

“Fine. What about his computers?” asked Arthur, taking a seat in front of the monitors.

“His personal one is… disconnected from the network, so no chance there. And he works at Star University, which, you said-” Doctor paused and pointed at Arthur, daring him to contradict.

“Has better security than most government agencies.” finished Arthur.

“Exactly!” said the Doctor, triumphantly. “But don’t worry, I got you covered.” He said, tapping away at the keyboard.

Anything but that… Please… Anything but that..Pease… Anything but that..

Arthur mentally chanted to himself. He had a vague suspicion about what Doctor had done, and he didn’t like it.

“Look at that, will you!” said Doctor, pointing at one of the monitors.

Damn. thought Arthur, as he looked. He did exactly that.

“I got you enrolled at the University!”

Damn me to Hell.

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