Chapter 22

-Me-

So it's been a few months and... What? Did you want me to tell you what happened? "Sigh" fine. After leaving the meeting I gave a call to my brother who, in turn, informed Crysea who, in turn, picked me up and brought me home. I spent the next few weeks working on the gear for the incoming soldiers and improving my own. My arms' efficiency has been greatly improved, by greatly I mean cool-down reduced by half and the amount it can sustain before overheating has been doubled.

I've been working on a PFF or projectable force-field. The theory behind it, since it's my arm and attached to my nervous system and whatnot, is that when I 'will it' it will produce a half-dome forward-facing deflective shield. It’s designed to reflect projectiles and outright stop melee attacks, though, it's not that great at taking damage head on. So the weakness is the center. Should work on that as well.

As for the gear for the incoming soldiers, it's just duplicates of the experimentals I have. Though, a little weaker due to the mass production... or well, the soon to be mass production... well... Current? Mass production? Dammit I don't know. All of this shit is finally starting to get to me. Do you know how much I hate killing? Well, let me tell you. Right now I've already thrown up twice. What? Sure it takes a while but it does hit home. I hate... it so much. I... just want to live happily with my siblings again, with Crysea... why can't I just be happy...? Why does this all have to happen? Please just... make it stop...

Ah, well... almost lost myself there. Anyway, as I was saying, while I was doing this Crysea was out gathering information. We can exchange memories so she just travels about and I'm able to sort out what's important and what's not. It's so freakin cool! If you were able to share memories or thoughts or images with the one you love... hell, you might not ever want to talk again. You're able to understand each other on a deeper and far greater level... Dammit sidetracked again.

It seems as though they're amassing an army from the countries that I assassinated while Ru and Drek are playing the innocent bystander/victim card. Very wise, deters actions from you and actually helps gain favor from the public. With less asshole after your head things will be much smoother for us, Ru. Ah, but that means that those assholes are going to be after me... we~ll~ shit. Didn't plan for that... oops.

“Hurp.” Ah, hold on while I go throw up again….. Sorry bout that. That’s really it for catching up, right now I’ve found a nice little corner in my lab and am currently wallowing in sweat, tears, and vomit. Why? Well, as I’ve said… everything has finally caught up to me. Guess what I found out around the time I left the city? Heh… heh heh… my sister… she uh, she caught a disease about 7 months ago. Docs said it was incurable. Go figure… heh… you know what? They replaced her the day she got sick. Didn’t even wait to see if she could be cured. Just tossed her aside like a rag doll. Respectable my ass, I’m glad I killed that bastard. I hope he rots in hell… Ah, I shouldn’t wish that on anyone. It’s bad.

“Sydney… Sydney, my sweet little sister… I’m so sorry… I was too late… I…” I feel as though I’ve created an ocean of tears by now. What do I do? What… if Sami… no don’t go down that trail of thought. ‘But what if? Are you sure you can protect him? Hell! What you’re doing now, you’re going to lose everything you know? Saemik, Crysea, Damien, Lower G, the children, the forest, Rita, everyone. You’re going to lose them all.’ “Shut up.” ‘You’re over your head this time. You took a dive in the kiddie pool. You’ll fail, you’ll lose, and you’ll die.’ “Shut up..” ‘All because you wanted to save a dying race. Shoulda just let them all die, you wouldn’t have to suffer as much as you are now. You can still make it, just kill her. Kill the queen and the rest will soon follow.’ “Shut up…” ‘You’ll be able to save your brother. Live happily ever after with your brother safe and alive and well. All you need to do is kill her. End them, and everything will be alright.’ “SHUT UP!” ‘Heh, not really, you fucked up long before any of this happened. It’s only natural that this would happen.’ “Go away.” Awww, I’ve been quiet for a while now but I think it’s best I started making myself a little more… presentable to the others, don’t ya think? Heh heh, come on, you know it’s true.’ “Leave me alone.” ‘Heh heh, well you’ll want me sooner or later. Till then…’

I was sweating… my eyes? Dark voids right now. I don’t know what I look but that’s probably an accurate description of me right now. Why… is this… so… ha.r.d….. Mommy… Daddy… sister… brother… please don’t leave me… I fell asleep. My bed a puddle of tears, sweat, and vomit…

-Rita-

“Hey boss, I got the info you wanted.” A goon approached.

“Thanks John, you’re dismissed.” Rita dismissed his subordinate.

“Yes sir.”

‘It would seem they’re finally moving out to take my country. Sky, you sure know how to start an uproar. Speaking of, why haven’t I heard from you in these past few months…? I should go check on him.’ Rita gathered is equipment and set out to Sky’s underground base. As he was exiting the building he was stopped many times for questions on reformation of the building, city management, and other miniscule problems. He simply told them to leave it on his desk and that he’ll get to it when he returns.

‘The ride there was uneventful. No one dare challenged the new usurper. Everyone knows the ironclad rule, those who are strong stand on top and right now, he is the top.’ His thoughts contained. ‘Though Sky did kill that man and put me here, if it came between us, he’d lose. Well, at least seven out of ten times.’ As his thoughts finished he arrived at the base and proceeded to enter.

“It’s dark. Unnaturally so. Sky, what happened.” A slight sense of anxiety washed over Rita as he descended with the elevator, but you could never tell by looking. The elevator finally touched the bottom level and opened its door and further darkness greeted him. “Even here.” He began walking to the one source of light he eventually found and upon arrival a retched smell invaded his olfactory senses. “The hell? Sky? What happened?”

-Me-

A voice. How nice. It would seem I’ve lost it again. Hm? Still there huh voice? Well you’re pretty persistent little voice. “Ouch! Huh? Oh, Rita, why are you here?” I started rubbing my face from where Rita apparently decked me.

“To see why you’ve been silent for so long, apparently it finally all came crashing down.”

“Ye…yeah. It did. Did…did this happen to you too?” I needed to know.

“No, then again I’m not called Rita Redblood for no reason. Killing for me is the same as all these constructions are for you. I was born and raised for it. You are not.” He lifted me up and checked me over. I must look like a mess.

“You look like a sack of shit that went through a sewage plant, landed on a dinosaur ass smothered in thousand year old shit and finally rinsed with sweaty armpit juice of a thousand fat football players. Subtly speaking.” I looked at him with an expression saying ‘HOW THE HELL IS THAT SUBTLE?’

“Subtly? I think it could use a few more stages if I do say so myself.” I forced a smile.

“Enough with the façade, talk. Use as many words as you need.” Rita, you really are my brother huh? Mom must have had a kid before she met dad.

“Alright. I guess I’ll just tell you everything.” And I did just that. I literally told him everything from the first day I could remember anything. He never said a word, only giving slight nods here and there indicating he understood and allowed me to continue. We probably talked for hours, it may have been a whole day, I don’t even know, but I eventually finished my story.

“As I thought, you really aren’t meant for killing people, you’re much to kind.” Rita, after such a long story, that’s the first thing you say? Really? Well, honestly, I kinda expected that, still not any less disappointing. “So, let me ask you a question. Answer it, no fake answers, just give it to me straight.”

I stayed silent for a bit but I finally nodded and said, “Yeah, I promise.”

“Do you want to continue?” simple words, universal meaning.

I thought about it. Long and hard, it must have been at least another hour before I finally answered. “No. I don’t. I just… want to finally get some rest. I just want to have my family back. I just want to live for once… but I also want to make a home for Crysea. I want to be able to be welcomed by the Syrlyns with open arms and smiles. Rita, is it so much to ask for just a little bit of happiness? Is it a sin to be happy? Is it wrong to want anything? Rita…am I…a nightmare? I’m… losing my grip Rita. I don’t know how much longer I can hold on. Where did I go wrong Rita? Rita…” I was crying. New tears flowed liked a melancholy stream ostracized from the rivers. Rita pulled me close, an unusual approach from his usual ways. It didn’t matter…

“My dear brother.” Only those words and I fell asleep again.

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Okay, I’m soooo freakin sorry these chapters are out so late. Work had me super busy but then after that I found an awesome dragon game and kinda…. Forgot about everything else. But I’m back, and hopefully work won’t get in the way and I’ve learned my lesson. Again, I apologize. But hey, two chapters some light in the tunnel right? I know I know, not an excuse. Well, please enjoy.