“Yes.”
“And more than you know, Dad. I’ve abandoned friends, endangered the Chosen Ones, endangered the mission, and ran from a cause I truly believe in.
“I don’t know if I deserve to go back. If the Council get me or if the Rebellion get me, it won’t matter: I’ve betrayed them all.”
“It’s true, you have done all those things. And there have been repercussions. And there will be more repercussions for the decisions you have made that I cannot protect you from. But to move forward as a better person, you need to think about why you chose those things. What was it that caused you to act that way?”
“I guess, my whole life I’ve just felt so alone. Like there is no hope for my dreams. I’m still afraid that no matter what I do, I will never be accepted or wanted. And then when I discovered how we were treating the Lower Levels…I just couldn’t take that as well. Being responsible for that much pain. Knowing that I am the cause of their suffering. I had to do what I could to help them. But then fighting broke out and I was so afraid: I didn’t want to be part of a war. I just wanted to be free. Free to be me, to have hope for my own life. To be given the opportunities that are given to the Chosen Ones. I couldn’t see any way I would ever be allowed to be me. Not on Janus. I was afraid of being hopeless. Of never being accepted for who I am.”
“And what now? Now that you have seen how powerful your decisions are, and how your actions affect the lives of others? Who do you want to be now?”
“I want go back to Janus. I can’t run away anymore. I should have never run in the first place. I can’t have everything I want if it means endangering other people. If I want to change my world, I can’t run from it: it’s about bettering humanity, not just me.
“I’m going to stand for what’s right, I’m going to be loyal to my friends, I’m going to protect the weak and give them strength. I choose to be part of a society of hope. I’m going to be a part of a new way of governing our people that brings equality, freedom, and hope.”
“That’s a fine cause, Siff. I pray you have the strength to bring it about.”
“You agree with me, then? About the Lower Levels?”
“If there are wiser ways to handle the Chosen Ones, then there must also be wiser ways to govern our own people. I will do what I can to convince the Council, but I do not know what it will take to change things, or if it is even possible. Our first concern when we cross the Gate however is going to be to protect Lucas. And so far I’ve only got one idea that I think will work.”
“What’s that?”
He smiles wryly, “Distraction.”
The rocks are less daunting this time around, perhaps it is the rest and the food, perhaps it is because her father is on her side. Perhaps it is because he is holding the future in his arms. Siff can’t help but think of the significance of giving the Chosen Ones a voice on Janus. Why did they never consider this before? Seeing them as just animals in a zoo: just something to gawk at and be in wonder of. How could they never have thought of them as human? How could she have never seen them as nothing more than a means to her own selfish ends? Lucas needs to live. How are we going to get him past the Council? Keep him alive long enough to have a voice?
The rocks get steeper as they climb above the tree-line, cliffs become evident overhead with treacherous falls all around. Siff looks out across the tube: the curve of the horizon lifting green lands and beautiful vistas to view. What a wonderful place to live. But with me here they are not safe. I have to make my own land safe. I have to help my people and make where I live a beautiful place. How am I ever going to do that?
“One step at a time, Siff.” Her father is looking back on her as she realizes that she has stopped walking to think, “If you’re tired I can carry you. I’ll do whatever I can to help you.”
“Thanks Dad. I was just lost in thought.”
“It’s going to be okay. Changing your world is a big responsibility, but I’ve seen all you’ve been able to do without any focus. I can’t wait to see what happens when you really put your mind to something that can help all of us.” Siff looks her father quizzically in the eyes, “I believe in you Siff. And I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you when you needed me before. I believe in you Siff. And I’m here for you now.”
She looks away and wipes a tear from her eye. Siff sniffles, “How far are we from the Gate?”
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
“Just around that corner. About a hundred yards. We’ll stop here and wake Lucas. Then we’ll wait for the green light.”
“What if the green light doesn’t come?”
“Then we’ll go through anyway, and hope for the best.”
Baldr sets Lucas down gently, “The burns are soothing, the lotion is doing its work. We need to get him to a med-bed to check on any internal injuries. Here, put this under his nose.”
Siff holds the smelling salts to Lucas’ face and watches his face spasm with disgust. He wakes in shock, “What happened? Where am I? What did you do to me?”
“Calm down,” Siff has her hand on his left shoulder, “it's okay Lucas, you’re safe. You were right and we were wrong, we’re going to get you out of here before they kill you. We need you on Janus.”
“She’s right, I’m sorry. So desperately sorry for what has happened to you. I’m going to do what I need to, to make it right.”
Lucas grunts and shifts his weight to sit up against the cliff face, “You carried me through the forest.” He looks down across the scenery, “Even if I wanted to go back I wouldn’t make it through.”
“If we would have left you, the Council would have found out you survived and they would kill you. I’m sorry, Lucas. This is your only chance at living.”
“Maybe I want to be with my family. Maybe I want this pain to end.”
“We listened to you, Lucas. You have the power to help make sure this never happens again. We need your help. We need your voice on Janus. We need you to come with us.”
“So if I flee, I am torn apart by monsters. If I make it through the forest, I am killed by the gods. But if I go with you…?”
“You still could die. But, you might be able to save countless lives. Help us restructure how we do our mission. Teach us how to be better.”
“Death, death, or possible death. Why should I trust you?”
Siff looks in his eyes, “One thing I’ve learned is this, if I’m going to die, I want to die doing what I believe in. If there’s a chance we can change the world I’m going to take it. Possible death with a chance of saving the soul of humanity seems like a pretty good deal to me.”
“That’s a terrible deal. No-one should have to make that sacrifice. Sacrifice myself for those who murdered my family? How can I forgive such evil? Is humanity worth it?”
Baldr’s helmet starts beeping, “Green light incoming. We have seconds. What’s it going to be Lucas?”
The young man stands slowly and leans against the rock, “Is humanity worth it? I guess I can find out.”
“Come in Needle. Immediate ETA. Open the gate.” Baldr looks to his two young wards, “Move!”
They sprint around the corner and follow Baldr as he disappears through a hologram of the cliff-face. They enter a short steel hallway and burst through the open elevator door on the other side. The door closes behind them as Jupiter motions for Siff and Lucas to be silent. He does not know how much surveillance is up and running, but luckily it seems the visuals are still down. It is not long before they are connecting with the grav-module and preparing for their entrance from the Gate. As the elevator slows, Siff sees her father ready himself. The door slides open and in front of them is a team of six officers standing ready to escort Siff, a war zone blazing around them. Their shocked faces give Baldr the distraction he needs to open fire. An electric shock runs through all of them and knocks them unmoving to the floor.
“Don’t worry, they’ll be fine. We have to move fast. Get to the elevator.” They sprint across open ground, hoping to remain unseen and climb aboard. Jupiter opens the control panel and begins pulling wires out, “We need to get both of you to a place where you can disappear. This elevator is supposed to take us to an awaiting security detail. As soon as I change its landing port they’ll know something is wrong and come running. Lucas, you doing okay?”
“Elysium is a lot darker that I imagined. I have no idea where I am or what is going on.”
“We are in immediate danger. We need you to hide until the Council is ready to listen to you. If we get caught we all die. When these doors open we have to run to safety and get out of sight.”
“Got it.”
Jupiter works quickly pulling and rewiring, “I’m going to put us in the lower decks. Close to the lower levels. A lot of fighting has been taking place there, but it has since moved to a different sector so we should be safe. All the same, prepare yourselves to see some disturbing things.”
The doors close and they begin to move. A speaker in the elevator buzzes and comes to life,
“Emergency protocol, Needle. We’ve been attacked by rebels and delivery station is no longer secure.”
…
“Negative, Needle. New course determined.”
“The right damn thing for a change. Over and out.” Baldr pulls a wire from the control panel and the speaker goes silent, “Okay, we’re in the shit now. The doors are going to open in a few seconds and we are going to run. They won’t be far behind us. Are you ready?” Siff grits her teeth and nods her head, she has never seen her father like this; he was always so mellow and resigned to his place on the ship. What happened? There is a click as the elevator arrives at their level and the doors slide open. Siff watches her father step out first. Lucas follows her as they sprint for cover. They dive behind some rubble as gunfire rings about them, pinning them down. Panicking, she looks up to her father who smiles back, “Don’t be afraid, sweetheart, you’re going to make it. I told you we would need a distraction, and now is the time. You have to help Lucas disappear, I will hold them back. They are going to capture me, but you will have a chance. Get him to the first med-bed you can find, okay?”
“Dad, no.”
“It’s okay, they’ll arrest me, but they won’t find you.” He smiles, “I need to talk to the Council anyway, right?” Siff nods in somber agreement, holding back her tears. She gives her father a big hug and he returns it tightly. He holds her out at arms-length to get a good look at her face, “I love you sweetheart, and I’m so proud of you.”
“I love you too, Dad.”
Baldr’s helmet comes across his face, “Okay, get ready. It’s time to go.”