Sound and Fury

Chapter Three: Pronouncements

He was nowhere and everywhere, neither alive nor dead. A strange, indescribable sensation filled his very essence. Every so often, he would try to reach out and touch the shimmering reality that surrounded him, only to realize that he had no hands, no arms, no body. It was as though he was experiencing an entirely new kind of phantom limb syndrome. Feeling the need to stretch his arms or scratch an itch only to find it impossible since there was no physical him. Instead, there was…something else. Something quite unlike anything else on the planet. Of the few who knew of his existence, some called him a Cyber-Elf. Yet, he was as unlike Cyber-Elves as he was other reploids in the days before his current situation. He had been so many things over his long lifespan, but one constant remained – his sense of identity. He was still X, with all that name entailed. However, he was no longer the mighty warrior who felled Mavericks capable of destroying entire cities within minutes. Now, he was little more than a floating mass of energy, struggling to keep itself together. Soon, very soon, he would have to let go and embrace the long night that waited for him. There did not seem to be anything left to tie him to this world – the copy that had committed genocide using his visage was nothing more than scrap. Omega, the lingering threat, was also gone and the humans and reploids of the world were protected by his oldest and best friend. Everything appeared ready for him to finally step off the stage of life, his role at an end.

And yet…and yet…

Something held him back. Whatever it was that prompted this defied logical explanation. It was best described as a feeling. The kind of feeling that could only come to someone who had spent over a century fighting in the deadliest battles ever recorded by history. Deep inside his being, he knew that leaving now would be a mistake, that he had one last obligation to meet before he could finally rest. This feeling was especially hard to bear as he desperately wanted to rest. Life had exacted a massive toll from him, and there was a strong desire on his part to finally put an end to it. Glory through battle and death was never something he wanted, but in the end, that seemed to be his lasting contribution to the world. Even his great city had become a twisted nightmare of its original purpose, a hungry beast feeding on his mechanical brethren, instead of a sanctuary where humans and reploids could finally live together without hatred or fear.

And so, he held on, clinging to the Mother Elf, of all beings. She who he had once sacrificed his own body to imprison was now his only means of continued life. Had he a mouth, X would have smiled at the thought. Sensing his thoughts, the Mother Elf spoke to him through the strange bond that now connected them.

“What is it?” She asked without actually speaking.

“I can sense something. A change. Events will soon come to a resolution, be it for good or ill.

“This is why you stay?”

“Yes. After this, I will have to leave.”

The Elf did not respond, instead simply letting X feel her sorrow through their bond. She had come to enjoy his presence. The light he gave off comforted her, a sensation she valued after the years she spent in darkness. She would miss him.

“Everything must come to an end. Even me. My time passed long ago. I only hope to leave behind a world with hope for the future.”

“It has that,” she responded. A feeling of a smile passed to her from X.

“Yes, I know. But he will still need my help. I can’t abandon my friend just yet. Not before the final storm comes.”

Again, the Mother Elf did not respond, instead continuing to bathe him in her own light, hoping to give him the strength necessary for what lay ahead.

000

Zero’s first sensation upon awakening was one of numbness, emanating from his hands. This was no doubt due to the examination performed after his return yesterday. When Ciel had dragged him to the medlab, Racinolle promptly scolded him about his lack of common sense.

“Really,” she had said, “how difficult is it to keep your hands away from overheated materials?”

He had wanted to respond that hanging from the side of a train that was actively trying to kill you made one desperate for any hand hold available, but decided against it. Not only would Ciel have taken her side, but the simple fact was that trying to argue with the Resistance’s chief medic over health habits was like trying to convince Signas – you were just wasting time.

At least, Zero thought that was true of the former Maverick Hunter commander. His memory still gave him trouble from time to time. A great deal of his desert exodus involved attempts to recall memories of his former life. Simple things such as names, faces, voices and more seemed to taunt him with knowledge hidden just out of view.

After rejoining the Resistance, he had convinced himself that most of those memories had been recovered, allowing for a reasonably accurate assessment of who he was. He might not remember Dr. Cain’s birthday, but the reploid certainly did remember meeting the old crank for the first time. That interesting experience which only comes when one awakens in an unfamiliar lab with no memory of his life up to that point and being greeted by a man whose only motive was a genuine desire to help. He missed that man a great deal, owing the human far more than he had ever been able to repay.

Zero grunted as he rolled off of his cot, briefly reminiscing about the relative clarity that came with re-activation after a shutdown period in a stasis capsule, versus the comparative grogginess that came with a manual shutdown. Stasis capsules were another thing he missed, or at least his perception of what he thought were correct recollections of stasis capsules.

It aggravated him that memory loss seemed to be a recurring theme in his life. Not only did it lead to a great deal of unnecessary personal drama, it opened the door for any number of unpleasant surprises. His lack of memory regarding his own creation was something Sigma used to taunt and manipulate him for years and now Zero faced a similar situation regarding Weil. Before the reappearance of Omega, Zero felt certain that he was in possession of the truly vital memories regarding his life experiences. That comforting illusion was promptly destroyed once Weil revealed that Zero’s current body was a copy and Omega was actually the original. This, combined with the Dark Elf’s recognition of him, meant that an entire segment of his life – and a very important one at that – was missing. Worse, the only beings that knew the truth about those mysterious events were either a madman sworn to see the crimson reploid destroyed or a not quite dead, not quite alive energy form of the person who had been his best friend, but now had the aggravating habit of speaking in cryptic sentences on the infrequent occasions he made contact.

Thinking of his fellow former Maverick Hunter brought a grimace to Zero’s face as he put on his armor. The last time he had seen X, the blue spirit said that he would have to fade away soon, which left a hole in the reploid’s figurative gut. X had always been the constant in an otherwise unsteady world. Whenever he fought the Mavericks, in the back of Zero’s mind was always the complete certainty that, even if he fell, X would carry on and make the world safe. And fall Zero did, twice, while X had indeed been the one to carry on. The thought of a world where X was truly gone intimidated him on a deep level, but the resistance fighter was determined to justify the faith his friend had placed in him.

Of course, it wasn’t only X that had placed a great deal of trust in the reploid. The fact that he numbered among the few to have his own quarters was evidence enough of that. After returning from the desert, Zero had been ready to go back to the barracks with the rank and file, as he had done when first joining the Resistance, but Ciel insisted. Apparently, she had been saving a place for him. He had not done a great deal with it, or much of a miniscule deal, either. It remained basically as it was given to him – bare walls, a sleeping cot and a desk next to it. Zero had no personal possessions to put on display, and he was not one to gather knick-knacks solely for decorating purposes. There were no means of procuring such things anyway.

The sole exception to this scarce landscape was a picture given to him by Alouette, sitting in a frame on the table next to his cot. It featured Zero, Ciel and Alouette, drawn sometime after his first battle with Copy X and given to him as a ‘housewarming’ present when he came back. When she gave it to him, the reploid had expected it to be nothing more than the crayon stick figures usually produced by children. Instead, there was a surprising amount of detail on display. All three were clearly recognizable and showed proper depth and proportion. A perpetual reminder that there was more to the little girl than what showed on the surface, Zero found that he treasured it a great deal more than he thought he would.

His armor now in place, weapons by his side, Zero exited the room and walked down the hall towards the elevator. Ciel had asked him to meet her that morning at the supply depot. Colbor was going to give a report on the materials acquired from yesterday’s mission and the Resistance leader wanted him there to hear it. Which seemed a little odd – normally Colbor’s reports were simply filed and promptly forgotten, since most of it was just number-crunching anyway. Somehow, Zero had the feeling that this meeting had less to do with logging supplies and more to do with the general build up of Neo Arcadian strength. The elevator hit the bottom floor and Zero stepped out, returning the nods of a few soldiers who walked past. Entering the depot, he saw that Ciel and Colbor were already there, though it looked as if Ciel had just barely arrived ahead of him.

“You’re here,” she said with a smile. “Colbor, whenever you’re ready.” The goggled reploid nodded in response and began to speak.

“As you’re both aware, the increase in Neo Arcadian supply shipments has given us more opportunities to perform raiding operations to procure supplies. Most of the cargo we have recovered from these raids has been standard issue material – E-crystals, preserved food stuffs, spare parts, etc. However, there has been a steady influx of weapons with these latest shipments. Small to medium arms, plasma busters and rifles.” Colbor handed Zero the datapad he had been holding, which contained lists of the materials mentioned.

“That doesn’t seem too unusual. Those weapons are the standard type fitted for drones.” Zero responded as he perused the data.

“That’s just it – they’re already completely assembled, manufactured for immediate use,” Colbor said. Zero frowned.

“Why would Neo Arcadia need fully assembled arms? Pantheons and Generals heave their weapons designed into their body structure.” A disturbing thought began to form in his mind.

“There’s more,” Colbor continued. “In the last two weeks, we’ve carried out for separate raids, the most recent being the one you performed yesterday. At each of them we’ve discovered heavy ordnance such as mag cannons, stationary guns and something new.” Colbor motioned to a large object covered by a grey tarp. The three walked over to it and after Colbor gave a nod to the workers, the tarp was removed.

The closest thing Zero could compare it to was Fefnir’s attack vehicle, which he had to battle when chasing Elpizo across Neo Arcadia. However, this was far more bulky, no doubt due to the increased amount of armor plating. Heavy shielding covered the front, with not so much as a crack to allow in enemy fire. Two large cannons were mounted on either side, but they were slightly smaller than the ones Fefnir had used. They appeared to be the only offensive weapons, with no sign of smaller armaments present. Tank treads covered the three wheels located underneath the bulk of the vehicle, a clear indication that the designers expected firepower to compensate for a lack of maneuverability.

“We’ve acquired five of them so far. This one and another came from the supply train you raided yesterday,” Colbor said, his face becoming progressively grimmer. He then climbed on top of the attack vehicle and opened a hatch.

“Traditionally, weaponry on this scale has the operator built into it. It’s both easier and cheaper to produce. This model has a cockpit that uses a sensor grid to relay information to a driver. These things have been designed to be operated by someone who would want to get in and out.” Colbor finished speaking and climbed back down to stand next to Zero and Ciel.

“Last night, Hirondelle delivered his weekly intelligence report,” Ciel said. “While they haven’t been able to get close enough to confirm, his pilots have reported vehicles with descriptions matching these located just outside the Neo Arcadian perimeter.” Zero folded his arms.

“I can think of two explanations. Either Neo Arcadia has conscripted the remaining reploids they have within their territory or…” he paused for a second and all three exchanged glances.

“Neo Arcadia plans to send humans into combat.”

There was another pause as the full implications of that statement made themselves known to the three. Colbor grimaced, Ciel frowned and Zero’s face was as stone.

“What is Weil thinking?” Colbor asked. “He knows that humans can’t match reploids in combat, even if our troops aren’t designed for fighting.”

“Most likely he’s using this as a way to escalate the war effort. So far, it’s only been reploids fighting reploids. Once he gets humans involved, he changes the conflict to one he can more easily use against us.”

“Ciel’s right,” Zero said. “When he sends out images of reploids killing humans, it’s only going to further embitter Neo Arcadia against us.”

“Are we going to engage humans, Ms. Ciel?” Colbor asked the scientist. “I know you won’t want us to, but my troops need to be able to defend themselves when under fire.” Ciel closed her eyes for a moment before answering.

“You’re right when you say I don’t want us to. Too many have died already and this just means the battles are going to get bloodier and the war is going to last longer. But we do need to defend ourselves. Yes, your troops have full authorization to engage any human combatants.”

“Thank you, Ms. Ciel.”

“There’s going to be a command meeting at 1400 hours to discuss these recent developments. I’ll see you there.”

“Yes, Ms. Ciel.” Colbor saluted and returned to his duties, leaving Zero and Ciel alone.

“We’ll survive this, Ciel. Don’t worry.”

“I know, but so many others won’t. Zero, why is it that just when things seem like they might get better, they actually get worse? After what happened with Elpizo, it looked like Neo Arcadia would finally recognize our right to exist and end the fighting. Now, things are just as bad as ever. I wish…I just wish the death would stop.”

“It will Ciel, eventually.” Zero said. She gave a weak smile in response to his reassurance.

“Thanks. And I’m sorry for whining like that – it’s not going to solve anything and you have better things to do than listen to my whimpering.”

“You shouldn’t feel ashamed of having a heart. That’s the reason these reploids follow you – they know you care about each and every one of them. Just believe in yourself.”

Ciel let out a small laugh.

“You keep saying that, despite the fact that I never listen. Thank you.”

It was at that moment the two realized how close they were, almost touching. They shared an awkward moment before Zero spoke.

“I should go. Cerveau wanted me to stop by his lab this morning. I’ll see you at the meeting.”

“Right,” Ciel acknowledged.

Perhaps quicker than he normally would have, Zero turned back down the corridor and headed in the direction of the elevator. He muttered something audible only to himself and focused his attention back onto the matter of Neo Arcadia and its sudden shift in tactics. It seemed unlike Weil to try something like this. Granted, Zero did not know much about the man, but he seemed perfectly content to throw the usual batch of reploids and drones at the Resistance. Could something have changed? Did it have something to do with the lockdown in Neo Arcadia? Stepping into the elevator, Zero was sure of one thing – Weil was not the type to keep secrets very long. Once he felt secure, the madman was sure to explain his reasoning in one long moment of gloating. What concerned the reploid more was his new position, and the lack of empathy he felt.

As a Maverick Hunter, he had fought with everything he had to keep humanity safe. In all his years of existence, he had never been placed in a situation where he was forced to take a human life. Now, it was likely that he would take a number of human lives. Outside of heavily armored vehicles, there was simply no way for a human to come close to harming him in direct combat. Part of him recognized that this would probably make any further missions easier due to the fact that he could deal with human guards easier than Pantheons, and they were less likely to still come after him when partially damaged.

Exiting the elevator, it struck Zero that he did not truly feel any great reluctance to kill the race he had previously sworn an oath to protect. Thinking it over, examining it, analyzing it, he saw no difference between human attackers and any Maverick. His thoughts drifted back to the Repliforce, or what he remembered of it. They had been unjustly accused of being Mavericks, yet he had hunted them anyway. That war had cost him someone very dear – Iris. He had fought and killed her…brother? Father? No, it had been her brother, Zero felt sure of that. In her grief, she had tried to take revenge, forcing him to kill her as well. The reploid idly wondered what X would have to say about all of this.

It did not take long to walk to Cerveau’s lab. Zero could have made his way blindfolded, he had been there often enough. Entering, he saw the scientist huddled over his workbench, examining his latest piece of equipment, as usual. Zero gave a discrete cough, prompting the visored scientist to look up and see who had broken his concentration.

“Ah, Zero, there you are. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Cerveau got up and walked over to another worktable, which had two items placed at the center of it. He picked them up and handed one to the red warrior.

“I’ve finished repairing your shield boomerang. Again. Honestly, would it be so hard for you to keep your tools in better condition? These custom pieces take quite a bit of time to repair.”

Zero took the shield boomerang, but said nothing. Cerveau had voiced his frustrations (and several variations thereof) many times since the two first met. It was just easier to simply let him speak his piece and then move on to other things.

“The recoil rod was completely destroyed during your fight with Omega. I tried to construct another from scratch, but the materials for such a project have been lacking lately, so I thought it would be more productive to repair a previous item.” Cerveau then handed Zero the other item he had been holding.

“Like the recoil rod, the triple rod was completely destroyed. But, the chain rod is a different story. Somehow, you managed to simply short out the energy shell. Still more than enough to put it out of commission, but it’s always easier to fix something instead of rebuilding it completely.”

The scientist handed Zero the rebuilt chain rod, and the crimson hunter looked ready to try it out when Cerveau quickly stopped him.

“Please don’t test that in here. I have more than enough repair work to do already, even with Doight’s help.”

Zero gave a slight shrug and fitted the weapon to his right gauntlet.

“I increased its length and durability. You can now use it as a spear, should the need arise. Just press down on the primary controls to do so. I only ask that you try to keep it in one piece this time.”

“No promises, but thanks.” Zero responded.

There was an expression on the scientist’s face which suggested that he hid not feel a great deal of reassurance from Zero’s statement. Rather than press the issue in search of a promise that would probably become broken, Cerveau decided to switch topics.

“This morning I received a message from Ciel, stating that there’s a meeting at 1400 hours. Has something happened?”

“Yeah,” Zero said. “It looks like Neo Arcadia has-”

He was cut off by the arrival of Doight, the elder reploid looking as though he was in a hurry to announce that the sky was starting to fall.

“Cerveau, you’d better come take a look at this! Oh, Zero, you’re here too! You’ll want to hear this as well!”

“What is it?” Zero asked.

“There’s a transmission coming in from Neo Arcadia, and it’s on all the broadcast frequencies.”

“It appears the lockdown is over,” Cerveau said as the three made their way to Command and Control. A large number of reploids were already there, watching the large monitor intently.

“What is going on?” Cerveau asked aloud to no one in particular.

“Weil just announced he was stepping down as leader of Neo Arcadia!” a trooper responded.

“Shh!” another trooper scolded, and everyone present fixed their eyes to the images presented to them on the screen….

000

….not made this decision lightly.” Weil said, standing behind a podium located on the steps in front of the Councilor’s Hall.

“Yet, it has become clear to me even in the relatively short amount of time I have spent in this position that the responsibilities and obligations of the office you have so graciously bestowed upon me are beyond my abilities to effectively meet. I assure all of you that this has not been a decision made lightly, or on the spur of the moment. A great deal of thought and consideration has been made regarding my decision, and I have chosen the best of the options available to me. However, I do not intend to leave Neo Arcadia directionless, without a firm and steady hand to guide it on its way. Therefore, I have the distinction of being the first to introduce you to the new leader of Neo Arcadia, Master General Harlan Abram Drake!”

The man who walked up to the podium showed no hint of hesitation or anxiety. Instead, there was a controlled, commanding presence. Only a brief hint of emotion was present when the general took the position Weil had previously occupied. It was there for less than a second, but for those who looked carefully, an expression akin to a hungry predator ready to devour its prey could be seen.

“Brethren of Neo Arcadia, it honors me to have this great trust placed in my hands at such a critical hour. For this is a dangerous time that our nation faces. Over two months ago, we all watched with horror as our founder, our protector, our leader, Master X, was brutally murdered by the Resistance during one of their continued attempts to destabilize and ultimately destroy our home. Like all of you, I watched helplessly as the assassin cut away at our leader, damaging his systems beyond the point of repair. The image of our proud protector, valiantly standing against his malicious enemy, was a moving experience for me and I feel sure that all of you would say the same. To be bound by a monitor with the shining beacon of heroism that time after time again protected us from all the evils in this world, to see that pre-eminent example of the ideal for which we all strive, was something I shall never forget should I live to see the ending of the world. For it is not something that should be forgotten, not by those who cherish notions of peace, freedom, and justice. The fate of our great leader was a great alarm for the strong people of Neo Arcadia.

I do not know how many people are listening to me at this moment from the comfort of their homes, but I wish to relay a message to each and every person living in this blessed land. This message comes from the innermost area of my soul and I fervently hope that it will receive a welcome from the innermost area of yours. It is a message burdened by the weight of the struggle that comes before us, but one that also is carried by the open and honest intentions of a man who dearly wishes for nothing less than the best for the people he has sworn to defend and protect, even at the cost of his life. I know, deep within my heart of hearts, that X would expect no less from me, and I do not intend to dishonor his memory by failing to uphold my obligations to you, the people.

Since its conception during the darkest days of the Maverick Wars, Neo Arcadia has acted to master the many crises that it faced and ultimately overcame. When faced by a threat, we have moved decisively to combat it. Never have we buried our heads in the sand in the vain hope that danger will simply pass us by. We are a people courageous enough to stare danger in the eye, see what it is capable of, and then act decisively to combat it with our heads held high. I truly believe that we, as a people, are never as strong as when the enemy is at our wall, thinking us to be weak, for that is when we rise to the occasion, proving our superiority. For there is an enemy waiting for us, constantly testing us, searching for even the slightest sign of weakness, which will be a sign for it to strike.

We must therefore be resolved never to relent in our righteous cause to create a better world for future generations. We must be willing to make the necessary sacrifices that the leadership demands of us. There is a crisis before us, one that overshadows all previous human and historical experience. The combined might of the Neo Arcadian Army is now the only thing that stands between us and the eternal night of the Mavericks. We shall cry out in one voice that will forever warn any invader against the fallacy of harming the people of Neo Arcadia. This cry shall ring out over the lands, across the seas, and into the air as the sound of a people that will never give up, never surrender. It shall drown out the blood-lusted battle cries of the Mavericks, and echo throughout the very halls of eternity as a sign that Neo Arcadia- that humanity-shall not be ground into the dust and forced into slavery and chaos.

It is true that the capabilities of the Mavericks have been underestimated, as a result of broad concealment and misleading action. They have proven to be an insidious foe, one that cannily adapts to its surroundings, using the tactics of cowards and assassins. They have recovered a war machine from the height of the Maverick Wars, and used it to carry out their own vile intentions. Do not be fooled by the lies they hope to divide us with – it is no legendary hero fighting for them, merely a synthetic mockery of life itself.

I now make these proclamations for all to hear:

First: The Neo Arcadian Army, and the Neo Arcadian people have the strength to defend themselves from this threat. We have the most powerful army in history, and our people have the strength of will necessary to keep that army functioning until victory is achieved.

Second: The Mavericks will stop at nothing to see our society torn asunder and so we must therefore hold to everything that makes us a people. Our leaders, our institutions, our way of life must be defended against any who would wish them weakened, dismantled and ultimately destroyed.

Finally: We must act quickly and decisively to seize the initiative and thus, victory. Construction has already begun on a series of bases which, once operational, will allow us to finally deal the Mavericks a mortal blow from which they will never recover. We shall then see the dawn of a new age, one free from the shadow of the Mavericks, where we shall all take our place as the pre-eminent power on the face of the globe. Never forget that this is Neo Arcadia, the beacon, the hope, the city set upon a hill and that we will prevail!”

The crowd assembled around the council hall broke into cheers and applause, the sounds of which could be heard throughout the city. The people had been entranced by his every word, ready and eager for a sign that things would be alright, that their enemies would be punished. Neige would have been impressed with the way the General had manipulated the crowd, played on their pride and insecurities, had she not been a part of the cheering masses herself. The General stepped back from the podium and walked up the steps into the council hall, flanked by Weil and one other, though he would intermittently turn to the crowd to wave and shake his fist in triumph, a gesture that many of the people imitated. Realizing that a golden opportunity was about to slip through her fingers, Neige detached herself from the crowd and ran up the steps after him, only to find her way blocked by a familiar face.

“Craft!”

“The General has already made his statement for the day. Any questions will have to wait. Unless you want to try the Information Bureau, that is,” Craft said in his ‘official’ tone of voice.

“Hmph, typical. Well, at least now I know why you skipped out early. ‘Official business’ alright.”

“I said that you only needed to wait another day. I believe now is when you thank me.”

“For…”
“Giving you a reason to return home, where you wouldn’t be picked up by security patrols,” Craft answered.

“I hate it when you’re right. Fine, ‘thank you’. Now, since we’re feeling charitable, how about getting me an interview with the General?”

Craft frowned in response.

“I can’t do that. The General informed everyone that the Colonel is the only one with authority to bring in outside personnel.”

“It’s just an interview, Craft, not an interrogation. Wouldn’t he want to give the public a look at the man in charge?”

“I have my orders. You know I cannot go against them. I cannot allow personal feelings to override my official duties.” Craft did his best not to look at Neige as he said this.

“Oh, really? Then what was last night?” Neige asked as she positioned herself closer to the reploid.

“That…was completely personal,” Craft replied, very aware of the dangerous territory the conversation had just entered.

“Typical Craft,” Neige said with a wry smile. “Well, if I can’t get an interview with the Master General, how about a personal one-on-one with another high-ranking officer?”

“I doubt that any of the Guardians would consent to an interview, either,” Craft said.

“I meant you, lunkhead.” Neige responded in a slightly amused tone.

“Oh. Tonight?”

“Unless you have something you’d rather be doing?” Neige asked in a familiar teasing fashion.

“Er, uh, no.” Craft stammered, feeling flustered. Why was she capable of doing this to him?

“Great. I’ll see you at seven. My place. I’m sure you remember how to get there.” She gave a brief wink after speaking and descended back down the steps, leaving a rather confused reploid in her wake.

This was a development he had not expected, or even particularly wanted. Well, maybe he had wanted it, considering how often he thought of her during their time apart. The Lieutenant definitely had not expected things to go the way they did when he brought her home last night. He had walked her up to her apartment, the two going back and forth like old times, and then she had invited him in for some further catching up. And he had accepted. And then he realized it was several hours later, after daybreak, and a familiar warm body was lying next to him on a bed.

Craft shook his head, trying to make some sense of it. When they had parted ways before, it was a mutual recognition of the separate lives the two were going to lead, albeit with a fair amount of shouting included in all verbal exchanges. Now they had fallen back into their old pattern, as if nothing unpleasant had ever passed between them. Had he been intelligent, that morning the two would have talked about why a relationship between the two of them was unlikely to work. However, Craft knew from experience that being around Neige caused his cranial nodes to misfire, leading to all sorts of impulsive decisions, the kind he would not make with a clear head. The reploid let out a sigh and walked towards the council building. He wouldn’t have her any other way.

Meanwhile, a conversation of a rather different type was about to take place in the Council Hall. Weil had entered the vaunted building along with two others: General Drake and the Colonel he kept close to him at all times. There, away from the eyes and ears of the cattle that composed Neo Arcadia’s human population, the once exile from and former leader of the city-state felt it was finally safe to speak in a more casual manner.

“You’ve really managed to whip those fools into a frenzy. I suppose some congratulations are in order.” Weil said.

“All I have done is remind them of their own valued notions of glory and supremacy. Such things should not be forgotten, as they are the very foundation upon which all else is built.” Drake responded, not actually looking at the scientist while the three walked across the main room.

“Don’t tell me you actually believe the tripe you fed to that rabble. I thought you possessed some intelligence.”

The three had entered a private elevator on the far side of the main hall before Drake decided to answer. His back was to the scientist the entire time he spoke.

“Belief is what drives us, sustains us. It is what this city is founded on and gave it strength, despite corrupting influences. The reason you were exiled was because you did not believe in anything.”

“And I thought I was exiled because no one would recognize my right to rule and I used Omega to show them otherwise. Perhaps I should double-check my records of the events.”

The elevator had finally come to a stop several levels below the surface. The doors opened to reveal a gigantic laboratory, housed in a circular room with a construction area located in the middle. The rest of the lab contained numerous computers with unceasing streams of data flowing across their monitors.

“Even after all this time, you do not understand,” Drake said, his back still to Weil. “When Neo Arcadia crushes the Resistance, it will be because the people believed in crushing them. I shall act as their hand, delivering swift justice and rightful retribution. And the people shall love me for it, as I will have finally brought peace.”
“Oh, please. Just tell them to serve you or die. That’s how I planned to run things. Much simpler and easier, not to mention more fun.”

Drake had stopped walking, and instead stopped to look down from the balcony the three were standing on. Technicians hurried to and fro, all of them wearing the uniform of the Neo Arcadian Defense Corps. He made a slight motion of his head, almost imperceptible save for who intimately knew what to look for. The Colonel pressed a switch on a small pad she carried, causing Weil to fall to his knees in pain, unable to move or even make a sound, his pain was so great. This torment continued for a few minutes until the General made another motion of his head, a signal to the Colonel. She depressed another button on the pad, allowing the doctor a respite from the agony. He was still on his knees, lacking the strength to get up. Weil barely registered the fact that Drake was speaking to him.

“Your time has passed. A new morning has begun in Neo Arcadia, the start of a day that shall never end. Relics such as yourself now exist only to facilitate the coming of this new era. Any personal thoughts or feelings you might have are irrelevant. You shall remain intact and whole only so long as you show yourself to be an asset this land can use. Should you forget this mandate, Colonel Saint shall remind you. Now, return to your duties.” Drake never moved from his position the entire time he spoke. Saint was next to him, her eyes never leaving the fallen doctor.

“Oh, of course,” Weil responded, and finally managed to get to his feet. Slightly wobbly, he made his way to the nearby staircase, gripping the railing to keep his balance. Once he was out of her line of sight, the Colonel turned to line herself up with the General, both observing the constant motion below them.