“I know you would like to stop the Ragnarok,” he starts.
“No, I…” I struggle to find words. I know that thinking that way makes me a traitor, and it feels like I am already hanging by a thread.
“Relax. I want to stop it too.” He laughs.
His admission surprises me, though I guess a small part of me knew. He seems way too comfortable saying that, not bothering to lower his voice at all.
“There are many more scientists who feel like I do too,” he continues, shifting his lumbering body around in an attempt to find a comfortable position.
“If you don't want it to happen, why do you keep helping?” It's an obvious question.
He lets out a sigh. “I wish it were that easy, kid. But if we stopped working, they would still keep pushing forward. The number of scientists who believe the Ragnarok needs to happen outnumbers those who don't, by about a dozen to one. The cogs are already in place, and the wheels are in motion. Our only real chance to stop it is an all-out attack.”
“On this bunker?” I interrupt.
“No.” He pauses as his mind goes elsewhere for a moment. “We have to attack the main compound in Egypt.”
My thoughts drift back to Atom and all the Genesys. Does he intend to kill them?
“What about the Genesys?” I pry.
Farouk's eyes dart back and forth, and I can tell that he is playing the anticipated attack in his head, reviewing his plan. His eyes finally settle on me. “I don't know yet. Killing them would stop any Ragnarok attempt, because they are the pillars of Dr. Anfang's entire plan. But it would have to be all or nothing. Killing a couple of them won't stop anything. And if, for some reason, we don't succeed at stopping them, we do have to give humanity its best chance. That's why we can't do anything to this bunker or any of the others. If we fail at stopping them, the Genesys must succeed.”
He seems to be convincing himself as much as he is convincing me. I take in what he said. It's a bit overwhelming, but I understand his logic. If Dr. Anfang is successful in setting off the Ragnarok, humanity does need to survive. Atom and the Genesys are the best option if that happens.
“So, what do you want me to do?” I ask, eager for his response. He has things planned out, and I'm beginning to trust his judgment.
“You need to get as many drones as you can to fight with us. Build an army,” he replies.
I chuckle at his request, “They hate me.”
“Never said it would be easy.” He smiles at me. “But if you were able to change how you think, I'm sure you can change how any of the other drones think.”
“How do I do that?” My mind is still processing. “What do I need to do to change them?”
His smile fades. “I have no idea. I know that your changes began after you were shot.”
“So I'm supposed to shoot them?” I snap.
“No. At least, I don't think so.” His voice is calm. “But when you were shot and close to death, you changed. It triggered something inside you. I watched you back at the compound, and you had a new sense of wonder and curiosity. You were appreciative of life.”
Farouk stands, leaving me on the ground with my thoughts. A part of me is excited about what he’s asking me to do, but a larger portion is scared out of my mind.
He turns back to me before he enters the stadium. “Two lefts, a right, left, right. Third door on the right. That's your room. Oh, and kid, however you do it, it has to be covert. No one can know what we are doing.”
I fall onto my back before he disappears into the stadium. How am I supposed to do all this? I’m secluded from all the other drones, and even if I wasn't, none of them are talking to me. The only one that’s paid any attention to me is 13, and I'm pretty sure he hates me.
The sky above me blankets the ground with the ashy brown clouds that I am sure have the city's fires as their source. It's a far cry from what I saw on the roof of the compound with Atom. Thousands and thousands of stars. The stark difference is disappointing. Do the outsiders, the humans, not see the beauty that exists around them? Are they so content with destroying the world around them that they leave these scientists with no other choice than to eliminate them?
Before my mind decides to side with the scientists, I think back to the older man and the girl in the field. I'm reminded of the large gathering of people back in Egypt when Atom and I ran to the pyramid. They were dancing, singing, and eating that delicious chicken. I still can't believe we managed to escape that situation.
Farouk's plan hangs over me. It's impossible.
I look around and realize that I am outside the stadium, and there is no one around, no one to stop me. If I wanted to run now, I could. I get to my feet and look up at the towering wall. Then I peer over my shoulder in the direction of the city.
Before my mind can process what’s happening, I'm running. My legs are carrying me farther and farther away from the stadium.
The air filling my lungs is sharp and painful to my nostrils, but I push forward, I push harder. My feet propel my body faster and faster. Soon my mind has cleared of any thoughts. The plan, Atom, the Ragnarok—all but shadows in my mind right now. I only care about the physical release, the pain that my muscles fight off to push me harder.
I catch glimpses of various things in my peripherals as I run. Piles of
