• 17- After the rain

    Written by Paula Spectacles in Countdown on 23 February 2013 à 01:36
    July 17th; 2050
     
    He hid among the crowd and lowered his hood when policemen patrolled nearby.
    Everything seemed to go according to his plan. The changing was on the air.
    He allowed himself to smoke a cigarette though well aware it was bad for his health.
    He sighed. The time he was a keen and conciliate diplomat was definitely over.
    Hellmet Pitsbulk had crossed the border once and forever. He clenched his fists. He couldn’t bear that failure of a President.
    « Why did Mikael had to fail? » he thought stopping in front of the main gate to subdue to the regular ID checking.
    “ACCESS DENIED”
    “What the heck? What’s with me?”
    - You! Follow us.
    “Never, it’s not like I’m simply an ordinary citizen idiots!”
    A man dressed in black looked eagerly at that standstill weirdo:
    - Would you rather prefer to be dragged by force? Come on.
    He was compelled to obey otherwise it would cause a fuss if anyone was able to recognize him on regards to the last twenty years since his disappearance from the regular society. If the truth was uncovered, right now he could easily get in trouble.
    - Uncover your head.
    Said a rough voice.
    He looked up. Absent-minded he had indeed get to the entrance of the precinct.
    Slowly he lifted his hood. His hair had turned to a fading golden brown shade but his turquoise blue eyes were still careful and alert, the eyes of an experienced and sneaky strategist.
    - Why am I here? What are my charges?
    - Don’t talk brash in that high tone. It’s not your turn to ask questions.
    He stood up and shot glance at the young man in front of him:
    - You were still in your tender early childhood while I struggled to become the head of the country. Be careful about who you’re talking to little brat.
    Anger had overcome carefulness and it was already too late when he realized what he had just said. He sighed at his own stupidity and sat back on his chair.
    - So you’re suspected of having stolen the “Shovel of Death”. It’s enough charge to condemn you, don’t you think?
    - I think so.
    He sighed and crossed his arms:
    - Guess what I plead guilty.
    - Is that so?
    - How to be ashamed of that? I did it for the sake of the world…
    - Ohoh who do we have here?
    That voice he would have preferred to never hear it again.
    The young policeman stood up steadily:
    - Good afternoon Mr. President.
    - Sit down and quit the formalities. I have an even more important matter to carry out here than greeting my subordinates.
    The young man gulped frightened and obeyed.
    The President stared at the man before him:
    - Well then, greetings Marcus, I almost had a heart attack finding out you were alive all along. Now you have to explain yourself about everything and I won’t let you go until I get to understand the real cause of this wonderful mess.
     
    The interrogatory carried out by the President himself lasted for one hour. At the end of It Marcus was allowed to leave right away.
    Hellmet Pitsbulk was simply stunned by the twist in the flow of events.
    It was unpredictable his worst enemy was still alive, hiding in the shadows of clandestineness for twenty years. What to do now?
    Marcus was the trump card, clearly the last trump card willing to reverse everything to the right way.
    He just had to speak and everyone would follow his path.
    There was nothing to do against him, nothing against the true leader of the opposition.
    If even his death was a fake how far could he go as the upholder of justice to defeat him?
    Hellmet Pitsbulk admitted for once he had lost.
     
    Marcus felt uneasy as to know where the events headed.
    Hiding in the shadows for so much time had definitely disadvantaged him.
    He bought the daily release of the New World Telegraph: dissimulating behind the newspaper’s pages he looked around. He could oversee Hellmet Pitsbulk had sent more than one hit man to his heels.
    He bumped unknowingly into someone and mumbled shyly a word of apology.
    The atmosphere was tense and unpleasant as though someone pressed the butt of a weapon against his ribs.
     
    He walked fast. His identity discovered he was no longer safe.
    He trembled because of every glance, every suspicious look people too curious shot at him.
    Isha rushed to be at the hospital on time, it has been quite a bit of time since she last came to work again.
    Someone bumped into her and mumbled an apology. She swirled and saw a man wearing a dark red cloak walking fast towards the crowd.
    His silhouette seemed oddily familiar.
    - Wait! She exclaimed.
    The man startled and turned to look at her. His eyes widened.
    Marcus hadn’t expected to meet Isha here in that particular place.
    He looked around swiftly and put a finger on his mouth:
    - Sssht, let’s talk elsewhere.
     
    Marcus was stunned. He stopped in the threshold before making his way into the guest room. He came to the bed and stared at his dead son whose face expression was soft and peaceful.
    Marcus leaned forward and gave Hitori a kiss on the forehead.
    - May you rest in peace, he whispered his throat tightened by emotion.
    He stood up and bent over the balcony his head into his hands.
    He couldn’t let himself cry even if he so wanted to. Disappearing without giving news during twenty years had to be repaid one way or another.
    Moreover the bandages told themselves the infamous truth.
    He preferred not thinking about how Hitori had been tortured to death even though he was innocent.
    - What are you going to do?
    He swirled and saw Isha stood near the bed.
    He sighed heavily:
    - What to do? Today I’ve lost a son and you’ve lost your beloved.
    Guess I have to meet again with Theodora first. I have sure a lot to tell her.
     
    July 15th, 2040
     
    Sen Maa Kloud and his comrades got unexpectedly easy to the machinery room.
    Mikael was suddenly nervous.
    - What’s wrong? Ashley inquired
    - Nothing much, he answered turning to look at Theodora. To be honest we have only one half of the key.
    - What? Seven voices screamed.
    - Wh- why- why don’t you tell us earlier? Ashley yelled.
    - The strategy was able to work but the Official class acted faster than us.
    - No way! No way! NO WAY! What I’ve done to make such a careless son!
    - It was Marcus’ idea at first.
    Ashley calmed down and looked at her son with a quizzical eye:
    - Did you just say Marcus?
    - Yeah.
    Ashley looked at Mikael, then Theodora, Sen Maa Kloud and Isha:
    - Who is Marcus?
    - You seem to know him, why do you ask?
    - Do we talk about the one I think about? He is supposed to be dead if you see what I mean.
    - He sure was alive the last time we met not long ago. He asked me to give the first half of the key to the Lonesome people.
    Ashley frowned:
    - From any point of view it is strange if you are telling the truth.
    - Possible or impossible the big deal is now we can’t defuse the bomb.
    - Wait Mikael was it that thing you entrusted to me while I was leaving my former office at the New World Telegraph? Alys asked.
    - Yes it was.
    - I had to return it back in exchange for Hitori’s freedom.
    - Very good Alys, very good and now what are we supposed to do knowing that?
    - To our charge Nokira and I were not aware of the nature of that object otherwise…
    Theodora sighed:
    - Now we should wait.
    - Congratulations for getting there but your path ends here.
    Finally they faced Hellmet Pitsbulk their worst enemy.
    Fritz went ahead towards Hellmet Pitsbulk while reloading his weapon. The President remained calm and lifted a hand:
    - You won’t pass.
    Fritz walked faster then began to run.
    Hellmet Pitsbulk blocked his movements at the very last by an arm lock forcing him to let go of his weapon.
    - Is it him you’re calling leader?
    - Release that man Hellmet!
    The President startled: who dared call him by his first name?
    He looked up and skipped a breath.
    Presumably a time traveller who was not there the minute before had arrived.
    He wore a dark red cloak, head covered by a large hood.
    In the shadows, bright turquoise blue eyes shot glance at him.
    To redeem his composure, the President stuck out the chest:
    - No one is allowed to call me by my first name or else the few ones are my nearest collaborators. So who are you to miss so badly with manners?
    His interlocutor squeezed his jaw. He stepped forward and took the man by his collar:
    - Stop kidding me, WHO misses the most with his duties out there? Who is that opportunist student who came to me several years ago to study politics, took my place in the end and is doing everything possible to knock me out furthermore break me apart?
    - Me?
    - Yes you, so much you, the worst of you.
    - What of it? I’m not even sure you’re that person. Marcus Kokuboheki is forever dead once killed and for eternity.
    He knew he had hit the sensitive point of the man standing before him who drapped the cloak over his face to wipe any emotion in his face expression. Marcus felt his lips shiver and straightened the jaw to stop it from shivering:
    - You get a point. Killing coldly because it’s the most proper adjective the dearest being I ever cherished is killing me as well, once and forever because a father’s love for his son is absolutely irreplaceable.
    Slowly Marcus lifted his hood.
    - It’s been a while Hellmet. Be sure I won’t go easy on you.
     
    - It’s been a while Hellmet. Be sure I won’t go easy on you.
    A dead silence weighted the atmosphere. Everyone was shocked.
    Theodora raised hands to her mouth taking a step back:
    - Why? Just… why?
    - I’m sorry Dora, really sorry.
    - Don’t tell me you’re sorry! She screamed. Sorry for what? You were absent for the past twenty years and you dare saying you’re sorry!
    - I do not seek for your forgiveness. I know, know so well I did things the wrong way.
    - Where were you all this time? What were you doing?
    - I can’t tell yet. When the bomb will be defused and the world saved we will have all the time necessary to talk.
    - Have you ever thought it could be too late to just apology and go on?
    - Please don’t rub it in. I know so painfully what you’re feeling right now.
    He lowered his guard and breathed deeply:
    - That’s why we can only look forward if we don’t want to fall apart Dora.
    Let’s walk together. Again. If you wish so, I will not force you.
    - You…
    - I love you.
    He said those words without looking imploringly at her. His confession seemed sincere.
    The man talked before the hero.
    However Theodora was not for all that touched. All that pain, that time loss made no sense. She didn’t even want to listen to his story later on.
    If the key was complete to manage the defusing or if the world blew up whatever, all she wanted to was coming back to reason and reality.
    What if the unreal had became the real?

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  • Theodora Kokuboheki

    Written by Paula Spectacles in Characters on 15 February 2013 à 18:53
    theodora_TK
    Name:
    Theodora Kokuboheki
     
    Age:
    60
     
    Biography:
    She puts the values in which she trusts before everything else. She is a calm and stolid person who despises violence and injustice willing to spread the good around her. She never loses herself thus she looks a bit cold hearted at first encounter. She is kind and caring with friends but usually hard-nosed when facing foes. She has to handle everyday the pain to have lost her family, her beloved and her son whom she cherished the most.She used to be Sempai/Hitori's mother and now is the co founder of the United Countries Committee created after the Traumatism to bring peace to the new world.  She is skilled in diplomacy and planned on making a peace treaty with Society's high spheres of power until she learned about the death of her son and decided to join the war of Countdown.

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  • 16. Ceasefire

    Written by Paula Spectacles in Countdown on 10 February 2013 à 20:02
    Makeup checked. Waiting for the cab called half an hour ago to be sure to arrive on time.
    Going before all to the ministery to gather the needed papers. Looking eagerly by the window at the streets unfolding fast. The cab driver had to be paid, he was a good driver he could keep the change. Slipping out the cab in a rush. Walking hastily towards the committee’s main corridor. Greeting politely the other diplomats.
    Theodora Kokuboheki sat down with a sigh of relief. She crossed her hands under her chin and breathed deeply to redeem her composure. As foreign minister participating in the public debate about Society’s status was one of her many duties.
    However this time the debate was going wrong. Surprisingly the comittee’s president had some difficulties to silence the assembly.
    - Keep calm! Keep calm or we won’t be able to debate reasonably! He yelled from his desk.
    Mrs Kokuboheki looked at the situation with a quizzical eye. What was going on there? Those people usually so serious were suddenly gossiping like children in a playground.
    The president turned his gaze to her. He stood up and came to her:
    - I’m sorry Theodora. It was too late we have failed.
    She looked up. She could really read consideration but also pity in his eyes.
    - We can still hope for a new beginning but not everyone will see that prospere time coming.
    She raised an eyebrow:
    - Be honest, I think I am quite capable of overtaking everything after losing my beloved as well as my son and enduring the consequences of the Traumatism.
    - Seemingly Hellmet Pitsbulk refuses to negociate whilst there is no one to stand against him as the official opposition anymore.
    Theodora blinked. Her eyes widened in shock. She stood up abruptly:
    - What- what are you saying? No- no way… Hitori… is dead?
    - Yes.
    She clenched her fists. She bit hard her lower lip to restrain her anger.
    And so Hellmet Pitsbulk pretended to be The President, the figurehead of changing but what “new world” was Society his parody of democracy?
    The public debate went on for one hour. She barely paid attention to what was said while only taking notes mechanically to make her report to the minister council.
    Back in her apartement at lunchtime she couldn’t eat anything.
    She drank a few cups of coffee to get better and fell upon the sofa.
    Eyes opened she looked at the sky beyond the window.
    “What I’ve done to deserve such life?” she thought with despair.
    She didn’t like to remain single. It made so many memories to resurface.
    Emptiness was so painful.
    Alone she could let go of her tears. She felt desperate, weary, sleepy, melancholic all of these emotions at the same time.
    She was exhausted she needed a break and everything would restart better as planified.
    Her cell phone vibrated awaking her with a start. She rubbed her eyes and realized it was already 3 in the afternoon. It was the Prime minister calling her personally.
    - Hello?
    - Good afternoon sorry to bother you in such a hard time Theodora. Can you come to the presidential palace as soon as possible? I have a peculiar favour to ask you.
    - Sure, you know I’m the right person to call for such things.
    - I’m not joking.
    - Neither do I. You want me to engage negociation with the high political sphere of Society don’t you? I have nothing to lose trying to conciliate both parts after all.
    They met within the next hour. The Prime minister explained his strategy and inquired if she could do it. She nodded:
    - Right it will be done.
    - Well then good luck. See you in the next world.
    Now she had the key for the defusing. The future of the world lingered between her hands.
     
    July 15th, 2040:
     
    Both sides fought head on. The battlefield had become a storm of movements, light and shadows.
    Sun disappeared behind clouds. The temperature dropped.
    The steam coming from the ground settled a ghostly atmosphere.
    Out of supplies and weapons in shorter time than expected the Lonesome people were panting.
    All of a sudden Sen Maa Kloud startled and looked behind. The air was different from before. It felt like it was going to explode the wind had stopped blowing.
    - What’s wrong Sen? Ashley inquired.
    - Seems like one is trying hard to leap through time.
    A red light lit the air, giving life to an interdimensional portail.
    A silhouette took shape in the threshold. The person standing there was a mid aged woman with mid length golden brown hair and azure blue eyes.
    Out of breath she landed and collapsed on the ground.
    Diligently Sen Maa Kloud caught hold of her before she had fallen face ahead.
    She pulled herself together and walked ahead to face the Official army.
    - Wait… Ashley intervened.
    The newcomer shot glance at the Official troopers and clenched her fists.
    - Who is your chief?
    - Here milady, said the squad officer from before. What is your business here?
    She sketched a faint scowl and crossed her arms over her chest:
    - You dare ask me carelessly that sort of things? Ask yourself who I am the answer will be pretty self-explanatory.
    - Who are you?
    - You don’t remember me, do you? Or you must be stupid that’s it. You have killed my family and you expect me to remain silent and stolid. No I won’t. I have had enough of faking smiles when everything went wrong and liars and nonsense commitments. Bear in mind within a few years I’ll become the co founder of the United Countries Committee and the foreign minister of the Afterward Republic. But for now I’m mostly known as Mrs. Theodora Kokuboheki. Do you see better whom you are dealing with right now?
    The squad officer raised an eyebrow. Kokuboheki? He knew this name from somewhere. The late Prime minister’s he realized in shock. This woman called Theodora… could she be?
    - His wife?
    Theodora nodded:
    - Smart cookie yes you got it right.
    - And what are you going to do? Standing there and wait for a miracle? Reality is they won’t come back. Your husband and your son are gone you should bear it in mind.
    Theodora sighed but remained impassive:
    - We can still negociate. It is not already too late. If you let that bomb explode this is the end of everything. The world will never be the same. Its balance will be tipped. Temperatures will come up and down, back and forth from the lowest to the highest and then again from the highest to the lowest. Continents will no longer exist. Made from their scattering there will be only isolated lands gathered together by floating roads on the sea. Undersea the government will build a huge world called Society where most survivors will make a new living for themselves. Families will be shattered. Is this what you want?
    - Obviously not.
     
    All motors roaring the Jeep swallowed kilometers fast crossing the road to the nuclear power plant right to left, left to right to dodge the bullets.
    The passengers were rolling around, just lucky that they didn’t fall off the vehicle.
    All was Isha focused on was to protect Hitori’s body tightened against her heart.
    They got around the nuclear power plant fast.
    Sen Maa Kloud parked the vehicle nearby.
    The nuclear factory was a giant building made of metal, glass and concrete.
    It was disproportional as all other official buildings ordered by Hellmet Pitsbulk.
    In the end it looked like a fortress.
    - Everybody may wait here I’ll go first he could only say feeling impressed and scared awhile.
     
    An alert message showed up on Fritz Davis’ screen to notice him about the presence of intruders. They have entered by Ground G at the back of the station now running through Ground E. He was supposed to guard the main laboratory located three floors up on Ground B. A confrontation was inevitable in the next hour however their weapons disadvantaged them. The single blow of any high volt or fire weapon could wreak havoc in the building by provoking an explosion.
    Fritz was tempted to move towards them but a better strategy was to take them by surprise from behind so that they were cornered and unable to escape until their arrestation.
    Ambushed behind a reactor Sen Maa Kloud analysed the battlefield in a single round look: fortunately the coast seemed to be clear. However he ordered his people to wait for green light to make their move.
    They have reached the station too fast, too easily. Their enemies shouldn’t be far.
    Find just in time the access key to the machinery room.
    Switch on the control panels and understand their functioning.
    Defuse the “Shovel of Death” in a very short time before the explosion.
    That’s all they had to do and the world was saved.
    Obviously it was not going to be as easy as they thought it would be.
    Fritz was cautious but not stupid. Though he resented opening fire a gun was hanging at his belt just in case the adversary side would be stronger than expected.
    His enemies have now reached Ground C. They were approaching really fast.
    It left him no other choice than leaving his action station.
    He went downstairs by the emergency exit, laid low behind the door in wait for their coming. He possessed the key. They couldn’t do anything without his help and he was not going to give up that easily.
    Sen Maa Kloud went ahead through the corridor as advance man. There was no one around. He was completely alone. Weird.
    - You won’t pass. You can’t defeat me with the weapons you are currently using.
    Sen startled and turned around. A young man wearing a mechanic coat was glancing at him. Cables and various pieces of metal and machinery spouted out his pockets. His dishevelled hair gave of him the image of a mad scientist.
    He moved forward.
    And so did Sen Maa Kloud.
    They had exactly the same movements. They could oversee each other’s intentions very precisely. Like they were looking at each other in a mirror.
    Sen Maa Kloud saw this fight as a battle against himself.
    Who did he want to become: the coward or the hero?
    Time ran back along the flow of his memories.
     
    The smoke darkened the sky. Clouds had surrounded the sun.
    Despair and destruction best described the scene.
    Buildings were replaced by rubble. Electric cables sizzled. The strength of the explosion had provoked a general blackout all over the city. There were not enough nuclear shelters to welcome everyone. People were fighting each other for a piece of food, for any small reason just to survive at any cost.
    Fritz stood in the middle of the wreckage of Pitsbulk City. Voiceless he stumbled and fell ahead towards the ground. Everyone said it was an accident, a damn accident.
    - Dammit! He uttered coughing dust.
    He looked at his hand, the hand to have pushed the ultimate button.
    He executed the orders without thinking about the consequences.
    He groped around him for something hard and sharp. There was a piece of glass.
    He slid it around his wrist. A drop of blood streamed along his arm.
    The pain anyhow unbearable was the price to pay according to him.
    He blacked out. Next time he awoke he found himself in a submarine, bundled into a sterile medical unity.
    His wrist was bandaged. Upon the bandage he wore a bracelet saying his new name was Sen Maa Kloud. “New name?” he thought with a start. He realized then he had no memories. He couldn’t remember who he used to be.
    That world called Society was going to be his new home where he could restart everything and make a living.
    But still reality haunted him in his nightmares. In the depth of the night he recalled the circumstances that charged him heavily.
    He woke up in sweat and tears, unable to continue sleeping for a while.
    He had been stupid to obey blindly the orders given. The person responsible was he and not his higher ups. He thought he deserved to be arrested but no one cared about him any longer. So he settled in Society’s surroundings and opened a backstreet hardware store. It turned out to be a good deal. He didn’t attract attention and made a quite good living to provide for his needs. He didn’t want to cause trouble hoping he could get a neutral and peaceful life. He became publicly as invisible as a ghost. He never left the shadows of his quirky store. He was almost waiting eagerly for death to take him to repay for his dealings.
    The balance changed when he met Sempai one ordinary day.
    Sempai could use him as a sneaker. It was not well paid but the job could let him come back to the good side. He just had to sneak information for the Lonesome revolutionary. That way he could take revenge against those who asked him to cross the line and push the button. Moreover he could repay for his debt towards mankind.
    He did not accepted at first. It was too easy. You made yourself responsible for the end of the world, earned a living from a good deal based on your cowardice and your fear of being arrested and then come back to the good side so soon? No way people would not accept this.
    But, thinking about it twice, was it not as well his aim to denounce the regime? Why did they give him the order to launch the bomb in the first place?
    Forcibly it was too late but he could still try to understand the causes according to the consequences. It was at that time he began to carry on experimentations about time travelling.
     
    He got a hit what pulled him out his thoughts.
    He looked at Fritz Davis in other words at himself.
    To win he had to accept this part of him that told him he was not a hero. Not really a coward either, just himself an ordinary mechanic involved in a trail of events that went far beyond his knowledge and his understanding.
    He sighed. It was going to be hard but he must bore it.
    When the merging occurred he got back his memories from the old days.
    When his eyes opened again he smiled.
    Admitting his mistakes and his responsibilities was the least he could do. Now he got the improbable opportunity to come back to the past and repair his failures.
    But… was it the right thing to do?

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  • 15- Rest in peace

    Written by Paula Spectacles in Countdown on 3 February 2013 à 14:16

    July 17th, 2050:
     
    Yet useless, always late the “White Rabbit” had not took his part in the war for now as the last joker he had always been.
    As usual everyone has left Nokira the dumb odd jobber behind.
    He smirked slightly while he mopped the hall of the presidential palace.
    No one noticed him but he was there at the right place, the right moment before the uprising.
    The President has had the full powers for twenty years but soon his dictatorship was going to end.
    Nokira regretted not to have travel along with Alys and Mikael to the world of 2040. It felt like Alys ignored him ever since she had reunited with her brother.
    He wasn’t brave, he wasn’t incredible but he was simply Nokira and that was enough.
    He didn’t seek for any more acknowledgment than being respected and accepted by others with his strength but also his weaknesses. He looked back at the floor he had just finished cleaning. In less than a minute Official people would go in and screw up his hard work done to make the place clean and pleasant for them.
    It was a price to pay for his status as Lonesome not being discovered by accident but it splitted him between two sides. Pretending being an ordinary worker and then switching back to his real self as activist seemed false: who did he want to be in the end? What side would he choose?
    He was usually honest to himself: clearly this state of mind pictured him as an opportunist who was collaborating with the regime by interest, that interest being to stay alive at any cost. It didn’t fit his moral standings him who valued honesty and loyalty to himself and others.
    All that wealth showed off in every corner of the presidential palace yet earned at so much sacrifices.
    Where that gold decorating the walls came from and how it has been acquired? The same could have been asked for those luxurious decorations?
    It made him sad to think about the people who died trying to denounce the regime’s dealings. The Lonesome people were quite a few these days but used to count more fighters in the past and unfortunately it couldn’t be helped otherwise everyone would have been arrested. It was obvious to tell one was conscious of the duty implied when joining the revolutionary.
    But still there was the fear of jail and/or death and not everyone was able to dwell with such personal risk. Only a few people were enough selfless to vow allegiance to the cause.
    And even less people to take part in that special squad known under the name of “Wonderland Squad”. Those who did were the first names listed on top of the Official blacklist.
    The dangerous matter was Nokira was really playing cat and mouse with the devil. Oficially he was identified as Nokira but under the mask he was most called the “White Rabbit”.
    The other members of the squad were Sempai the “Mad Hatter” with Sen Maa Kloud the “March Hare” and Moto Rorola the “Queen of Heart” in reference to Lewis Caroll’s characters given it fitted accurately the purpose of the squad, protecting the Wonderland family.
    Among the family members there were famous intellectuals who were pursued by the regime for their subversive works that made people conscious of the absurdity and the unlegitimacy of such political disaster as the regime of Hellmet Pitsbulk.
    The Official class had almost localized all the members of the family but failed in finding the youngest inheriters Alys and Mikael.
    Nokira sighed heavily. It was time to take a break. He unpacked his lunchbox and sat  on the palace’s staircase.
    He was surpassed by the flow of events how Society’s balance has been turned upside down so fast, so easily. His cell phone vibrated interrupting his thougts.
    A message showed up from Moto Rorola. She asked him to head back to the mansion right away regardless all other priorities.
    He assumed something terrible must have happened her calling him in emergency while he was still at work.
     
    July 15th, 2040:
     
    His pulse dropped and fainted.
    Her heart tightened. He rested peacefully his forehead embracing the curve of her neck.
    He wanted to fly higher beyond the line defined by his condition of average being but fell on the ground, fallen angel, wings broken.
    She lied him down beside her and wrapped his body in a gold blanket although he had already passed away.
    Alys kissed Hitori on the forehead and closed his eyelids for eternity.
    The sadness formed a hole in her heart. They had done everything possible and yet it had been useless in the end. Seeing his pale skin shining flawlessly in the sunlight broke her from the very inside.
    Eyes wide open she was screaming silently in pain her cheeks streaming of tears.
    “- No way… no way… NO way!”
    She slammed the car door in a bang.
    The battlefield had became a mess of miscealleanous wrecked buildings and gunshots.
    She coughed because of the dust:
    - Monsters… You have… no shame. Why on earth, WHY?
    When the smoke faded she could glimpse sight of her comrades.
    They were barely hanging on, out of energy, cornered by Offcial military men.
    The Official army…
    She clenched her fists, gritted her teeth.
    - MONSTERS! She yelled.
    Everyone startled. Alys jumped off the ground and ran into the Official army wihout a thought.
    - Idiots you are only a bunch of shameless idiots!
    Stolid the squad officer stepped forward and grasped her fist.
    - Hold back a battlefield is not a playground for children, young lady.
    Alys swept her tears with foolhardiness:
    - Some say I’m a crying baby, others that I do everything wrong but honestly I don’t care.
    I am who I am but no longer an innocent child you can put aside the real battle.
    Do not think I come to you without weapons but the one I’m carrying is not physical nor originally made for provoking war.
    He pushed her away like a weightless little bird.
    - Oh well I have a better idea.
    He turned to look at the Lonesome fighters:
    - Let’s see how much they valued their precious cause.
    He grabbed her by the waist and kept her temple at gunpoint:
    - Give up weapons or she will be the first to die!
    At hearing that, Alys bit her lower lip to stop it from shivering.
    Mikael was willing to intervene but Ashley stopped him on time.
    The squad officer chuckled madly:
    - At last you are starting to realize you can do nothing against the army. It would be wise of you to surrender right now.
    - Why? Why him? Alys whispered.
    - What are you talking about?
    Alys lifted her gaze to look into the sky. It seemed the sun was brighter even hidden by clouds.
    - Just say why this world is unfair. Why we still need needless wars to maintain peace. Why death is the end of life. Why people are persecuted because of their ideals. Why am I feeling hopeless but revolted, guilty but regretful, sad but alive all at the same time.
    - Isn’t the job to find answers yours?
    - You will fall if you let hatred consume your heart. You did give the order to shoot, didn’t you?
    - I fear I don’t see what you’re talking about.
    - You sure know what I mean.
    The soldier lowered his gun and put her back to her feet.
    - It was an order delivered by the almighty Hellmet Pitsbulk in the first place. It’s unlikely I would have done this according to my own will.
    - So do you think all your actions are accredited by obeying blindly to Hellmet Pitsbulk?
    But the one justice calls murderer is rightfully you because you and your men were the ones to carry out the supreme orders of Hellmet Pitsbulk and commit the assassination, right?
    Yes before you complain about it I called it assassination because it was none of a legitimate penalty. A man’s life is priceless and can’t be worth repaid with simple apologies.
    Sen Maa Kloud and the others were soeechless. Alys never showed so sincerely and so truthfully her feelings before. She was more of a shy and calm character, very caring about others.
    To let her lose her countenance something serious must have happened.
    It was flames he saw burning in her eyes.
    He noticed blood stains tainted her hands.
    Eyes mid closed she clasped her hands over her chest and breathed deeply:
    - Real heroes are ready to sacrifice themselves even before the beginning of war but still we should ask ourselves why it has became so easy, too easy, to take a life away. The world will change after the defusing of the “Shovel of Death” for the better or for the worse but it won’t substitute to emptiness and regret. We will think if only things went that or this way but it will be too late to step back. Heaven is a no return journey. Today mankind has lost a great man who has found in his fight the true meaning of life, how to feel human.
    When families were shattered, when power overwhelmed justice, when helplessness was a crime he stood alone, no matter the risk for himself, the outcome or the pain to handle.
    Truth was talking through his golden heart. And so this is why I hereby ask you to cease this war. The price is too high for earning the new world we all dream of by fire.
    Silent, Sen Maa Kloud nodded.
    Isha smiled and lowered her gun.
    Ashley and the committee reprensentatives approved and stood up next to Alys.
    Mikael agreed, feeling proud of his little sister’s bravery.
    The ceasefire didn’t last long though, the interval of a heart beating.
     
    July 17th, 2050:
     
    Nokira came back as fast as he could.
    Before he grasped the handle, Moto Rorola hastily unlocked the main door.
    - Hurry up come in.
    - What is so serious that I had to quit work right away? If they were to discover my real identity, I am a dead man.
    He turned around and regretted to have talked so harsh.
    Moto Rorola gulped. She was pale, her eyes swollen.
    - I- I’m sorry I didn’t want to…
    - Never mind. Follow me.
    - Yeah.
    She preceded him upstairs, entered in the guest room and so did Nokira.
    Sempai was bedridden, his head resting peacefully on the pillow.
    His hands were abandoned on the blanket, cold as ice.
    Nokira shook his head in disbelief.
    Moto Rorola nodded silently.
    - I want you to join the war.


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