“It’s not too late. It’s all part of the plan the universe has in store for us. The probability of everything that’s happened is far too great to occur by mere chance,” argues Xander passionately. “This knife is proof.”
“The probability of me being born at the exact second, minute, hour, day, and year that I was born opposed to the near-infinite other possible combination of outcomes is so small it blows my frickin’ mind, yet here I am,” says Leon smugly.
Their bickering is getting to me. The love of my life is trapped inside some digital prison while they argue about odds and probability.
“Enough!” I shout. “I don’t care about what is more probable. I don’t care about what my purpose in life is. If you ask me, it’s all pretty absurd. The universe itself is a cold, unreasonable
place. There is no clarity. It doesn’t give a fuck about your feelings or your longing for purpose in life. The only thing I care about right now is freeing Kalli and bringing Lethe to its knees for doing this to her. Destiny or no destiny. Are you with me or not?”
Xander and Leon’s eyes meet.
“Here’s what we’re going to do,” speaks Xander after a brief moment of contemplation. “You, me, and Leon will sneak into 34, take out a few droids and blow their servers. It’ll be a quick in and out.”
“I’m going too,” asserts Cyrus. “You saved my life. I owe it to you, Palin.”
This is really happening. Everything begins flying by me faster. I’m stuck in slow motion, locked inside my head, focused on what I must do. I may die soon. I understand this more than anyone. It isn’t something I can ignore any longer. This struggle will be nothing compared to the torment she must be going through, perhaps a fate worse than death. How many countless others are locked inside their machines? At least thousands of innocent people, with us as their only hope.
“Are you out of your mind?” screeches Jacee as she ambushes me at the gate. Her face, tight with anger. She is more upset than I’ve ever seen her before. “They just told me what you’re trying to do! That’s suicide!”
“You lied to me,” I reply coldly.
“I lied because I needed you! I didn’t want you killing yourself again for no reason. If they have her, she’s gone, Palin.”
“This is a quick in and out. They won’t even know we’re there. If something happens, well, that’s a risk I’m willing to take. If I were in her shoes, she’d do the same for me; and if you were the one trapped in some slave computer, I would risk my life for you too. This is not a debate. This is not a choice I can make. This is happening. This is our shot to make this world a better place. It’s about more than us now. You have to understand.”
“What’s wrong with the way things are!? Why can’t we grow old together here? You have it made here with me, Palin. You never have to worry about anything ever again. Please… I’m begging you. Stay.”
She almost makes me want to, but I know what I must do. I made a promise.
“Don’t you think I want to?” I ask as I peer directly into her sapphire eyes. “There is nothing I want more than to spend all day, every day, with you, and after I get back that’s exactly what I plan to do. I love you Jacee. I didn’t think it was possible to love again – to love more than one person, but I do. I love you, but I must do this. Please understand, I can’t live with myself if I don’t try. Xander’s did this plenty of times before, I’ll be back before dinner. There is absolutely nothing to worry about. I am still pissed you lied, but we’ll talk about that when I get back.”
She looks up at me as tears fall from her face. “Please,” she whimpers. “Don’t leave me.”
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, bear-hugging her tightly. “Take this. I want you to have it.” I pull the blue handled knife from my belt and hand it to her. “Think about this anytime you want to take your mind off something.” My lips kiss her head as she breaks from my embrace and disappears into the hallway still sobbing. Her sweet scent lingers on my skin.
I pause another second to breathe. Feet icing over as I remind myself once more what is on the line. I must do this.
Xander, Leon, and Cyrus wait for me outside the gates of Elysium, already geared up and armed.
“This is the beginning of something greater than us,” shouts Xander proudly. Most of the able in the cave are here to see us off. “This is the beginning of the end for the Lethe Corporation, and for anyone who stands in our way!” The entire desert explodes into screaming and cheers.
“This is about our fallen brothers and their fallen brothers before them! It’s our time to rise and take back what is ours! This is our world! No longer will we hide in their shadows while they
hunt us down! No longer will they profit off the broken backs of innocent people! Lethe Corp will face their judgment at our hands, and this time we will show no mercy!!”
The ground tremors from applause. People are going insane. Elysium is on fire.
“To victory!” Xander screams, leading our long march to 34 with his gun raised high. I spot Jacee in the crowd standing outside the gates. Tears still dripping from her sapphire eyes. She’ll be fine.
The four of us make it outside of 34 unnoticed as we align ourselves on a section of the wall right outside the south gate. The early, dawn sky is the texture of smooth metal. It’s lit with a moon so full
