The Strike Trilogy
Page 39
“And we need an Earthling to do that?” Zaius asked. “We need someone who is not one of us behind these walls?”
“Yes,” Nova replied. “As Vincent always wanted, this transition from the old world to the new world must be as peaceful and as without bloodshed as possible. The people of this world are going to be afraid of us. They already are afraid of us, because of the Dark Nebula around Boston. We need to show them we are not here to eliminate them—not the majority of them, anyway. The people here need to accept us as their new rulers. And Daniel is going to help us with that.”
“Daniel, why don’t you stand up and say a few words?” Rigel said, motioning to Daniel.
Daniel stood up, clearing his throat. Beads of sweat grew on his forehead.
“Well, first of all, let me start by saying how honored I am to be allowed to be a part of this. And I understand the hesitancy from some of you about me being here, but let me assure you that I am one of you, even if I am not from your world. I believe in the same things as all of you. This world—my world, Earth—is broken. And it needs to be fixed. That’s why I became a politician, to help fix my world.”
Greylock smirked. “You’ve done a hell of a job. How many wars are going on in the world right now? I kinda lost count.”
The group of villains laughed.
“I know, you’re right,” Daniel said, holding his hands up. “You’re exactly right. My colleagues and I have failed spectacularly. That is why I went through the trouble of contacting Rigel and Nova. That is why I want to be a part of this. There needs to be a contact between the people who run this country now in Washington, and the New Capricious Council. And I am thrilled—I am humbled beyond belief—to be that person. As I said, I completely understand anyone being uncomfortable with me being from Earth and being the current governor of Rhode Island, so if anyone has any questions—any questions at all—I would be more than happy to answer each and every one of them after this meeting.”
Still sweating, Daniel nodded to Rigel, and then sat down.
“Thank you, Daniel,” Rigel said. “Governor Melfi is going to be an integral part of this leadership team—this transition team—and to have him available to deliver our message to his colleagues in Washington is going to result in us having to eliminate only who we need to, as Vincent always envisioned. Now, with your questions answered, we will continue on with what the Daybreaker has allowed us to tell you at this time.”
After the meeting, Nova walked with Rigel down the hall, away from the conference room.
“They are growing impatient, Rigel.”
“I know. But he is not ready.”
“I don’t know how much longer we are going to be able to tell the council that. We promised them they would be able—”
Rigel stopped and turned to Nova.
“I don’t care what they were promised. He is not ready. He has told me—he has told the both of us—that he is not ready to meet them yet. They will meet him when he is ready.”
Nova stepped toward Rigel, speaking in an angry whisper. “You know why he isn’t ready to meet them yet. Why are you talking to me like I’m one of them, like I’m one of the ones who doesn’t know? He’s not ready to meet them yet because he is still so confused. So uncontrollable, so volatile. And rumors within the council are starting to spread.”
“What kind of rumors?”
“Rumors that he’s not under our control—that he’s making decisions rashly, and that we are following him blindly. Or that he’s not making decisions at all, and we are the ones doing all the ruling. And you know why those rumors are spreading—because they are true. If the council knew what was happening, if they knew what you were truly doing with the Daybreaker, who knows what would happen. I told you we rushed him into the process too early, and now we—”
“Um, excuse me?”
Rigel and Nova turned to see Governor Melfi standing in front of them.
“Hi, Rigel, hi, Nova,” he said, the fear evident in his voice. “Hello. I just thought I would ask you a few questions. If you have time.”
Rigel stared at him. “Go.”
“I was just thinking—I want to say again how honored I am that you’ve let me be a part of this, and I’m so excited for what’s next. But…I couldn’t help but notice some impatience in there.”
“They are just eager to meet the Daybreaker.”
“Yes, I know, but I would hope their eagerness does not distract them from their commitment. From their commitment to helping build the new world. We’ve got a great team assembled here, and I really think some of their impatience and some of their suspicions could be alleviated if they were able to meet the Daybreaker.”
“He is not ready yet.”
“I know he’s not ready for them. But perhaps he is ready to meet me.”
Rigel turned to Nova, then looked back to Daniel.
“He knows me already,” Daniel said. “Or at least he probably does, from seeing me on television as the governor. And I’m from his world. I’m from literally only miles away from him. I think I would be a comforting face.”
Rigel stared at the governor. “He does not need comfort.”
“He might. Everyone needs comfort, even someone like him. It might be beneficial for him to see someone from his world. Someone from his own area of the country. And I could even convince him to meet the others.”
Rigel looked to Nova.
“It’s not time,” Nova said. “It’s not wise.”
“I just want to do what’s best for the council,” Daniel said. “And what’s best for the plan. It might be good for him.”
Rigel thought it over. “You may see him,” he said.
“What?” Nova asked. “Are you serious? You’re not going to let the council meet him, but you’re going to let him meet him?”
Rigel ignored Nova. “You may meet with him, Daniel. But very briefly. Follow me.”
Nova followed Rigel and Daniel toward the Daybreaker’s office. “Rigel, this isn’t—this isn’t what we’ve planned.”
“We will be there with Daniel,” Rigel replied. “And it will help the Daybreaker to see someone he recognizes.”
After lightly knocking on the door to the Daybreaker’s office, Rigel turned the doorknob and stepped inside.
“Hello, Daybreaker,” the red giant said. “I hope we aren’t interrupting you.”
Standing on his tippy-toes behind Rigel, Daniel peered over the red giant’s shoulder. The governor was shocked by how young the Daybreaker looked in person. He was just a normal, seventeen-year-old boy with thick dark hair, appearing like any other student that the governor met on his many trips to the high schools around his state. At the moment, the Daybreaker was wearing a white suit jacket, white pants, and white tie, and looking out a massive window at the city of Harrison below him. The window was right behind the Daybreaker’s desk, and it ran the entire length of the back wall of the office, reaching from the floor to the ceiling.
Following a silence, the Daybreaker turned away from the lights of Harrison and looked toward the door. The governor furrowed his brow, surprised; the Daybreaker looked sickly, with pale skin, dark blue circles under his eyes, and an expression that was mostly blank.
“Would you like us to come another time?” Rigel asked.
“No,” the Daybreaker replied. His voice, too, was that of a teenager. But filled with longing, and without energy. “I was just thinking.”
Rigel motioned to the governor. “If you’d like, I’m interested in introducing you to a friend of ours.”
The Daybreaker glanced at the governor, then looked back to Rigel. “I told you I don’t want to see anyone but you and Nova.”
“I know, but I thought it would be good for you to meet this person. He’s going to help us. Do you rec
ognize him?”
The Daybreaker looked the governor over. “He looks vaguely familiar.”
“Hi, Daybreaker,” Daniel said nervously, stepping forward with his hand outstretched. “My name’s Daniel Melfi. I’m the governor of Rhode Island. You might have seen me on television. Or maybe online.”
The Daybreaker looked down at Daniel’s hand, then shook it. “Yes, I recognize you.” The Daybreaker turned and walked back to the window. “Why is he here?”
“Well,” Rigel said, “he has offered to help us, sir. He came to Nova and I recently with some wonderful ideas, and we agreed it would be great to have him on the council. It will be incredibly helpful to have one of this country’s current leaders able to spread our voice to the other leaders of the United States.”
The Daybreaker didn’t turn around. “Okay. I can understand that.”
“Would—would you like to speak with him?” Nova asked.
“Sure. Leave us and close the door.”
Daniel spun to Rigel, surprised, his eyes wide.
“You want—you want us to leave you alone with him?” Rigel said.
“Yes. I’ll let you know when we’re done speaking.”
Daniel stared at Rigel, anxious, with fear across his face. But Rigel only nodded.
“Okay,” the red giant said. “We’ll be right outside.”
Rigel and Nova walked out of the office and closed the door. Daniel was left alone with the Daybreaker.
“Thank—thank you for agreeing to speak with me, Daybreaker,” Daniel began. “I understand you don’t do this with most people.”
“No, I don’t,” the Daybreaker said. He finally turned away from the window and sat down at his desk. “Take a seat. Tell me why you’re here.”
Daniel sat down in a chair across from the Daybreaker. “Well, let me first say how honored I am to be a part of this. This is—this is truly a world-changing event. This is a historic time for the planet Earth: a time when we have made contact with beings from another world. I could not be more grateful and beyond proud to be involved with it.”
Daniel waited for a response, but the Daybreaker simply stared at him.
“For my whole life,” Daniel continued, “I’ve always wanted to be a part of something like this. Part of a moment that will be remembered forever. I’ve always known I was meant to guide this world towards something better, and it’s why I became a politician. This is truly a dream come true for me.”
“I’m glad we could help you with that,” the Daybreaker said.
Daniel nodded. “You have. And I’m glad I can help you. In any way that I can. Whatever needs to be done, whatever message you need me to deliver to Washington, to the people of the world, I will do it. You just need to tell me what to say.
“Because there are going to be other people out there like us, who know this world needs fixing. Terrible things happen here everyday, Daybreaker. You know that. This is a horrible world we live in. But it doesn’t need to be. It wasn’t always. And now we have the means to fix that. In ways I never could before as governor. I thank you for that.”
The Daybreaker stood up and walked to the window. “So let me get this straight. You are willing to turn your back on your people—your country—to help us. You are willing to do what we have to do to remake this world.”
“I am. I absolutely am. Rigel and Nova have laid out the plan for me, and I am on board. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do: make Earth a better place. And no one is going to be able to do it as well as you and this council.”
“You understand the methods we are going to use to change this world?”
“I do.”
“You understand how this is going to look? To the other people of Earth? To the people of Rhode Island who elected you, even to your own family? When they see that you’ve aligned yourself with us, they are going to feel betrayed. Like you lied to them, turned on them.”
The governor nodded. “I understand that. They may feel that way at first. But I can read the writing on the wall, Daybreaker. I can see where the future lies. And it’s with you and the others in this skyscraper. Not with the people outside of it. You are the ones who are going to create real change in this world. And I know I want to be a part of it.”
“Even though you are not from our world,” the Daybreaker said. “Even if it means putting some of your colleagues in danger. Even if it means going back on what you told the people of your state. Even if it means betraying your friends in Washington.”
Daniel nodded. “I know what must be done. I know what’s best for me, in the long run. And that’s to align myself with you. No matter the cost to anyone else. They will understand, someday.”
The Daybreaker stood at the window, without turning around, without looking at Daniel. He only watched the flickering lights of the billboards outside and the cars driving through the streets far below. An airship drifted by the window. Daniel grew uncomfortable.
“You know,” Daniel began, his voice wavering. “We are actually very similar, you and I.”
“Oh yeah?” the Daybreaker asked.
“Yes. Rigel tells me—he tells me that before you found out who you really are, where you’re really from, he told me that you were a teenage kid living in Bridgton, Mass. I’m from Cranston, Rhode Island, originally. Not far from you at all.” The governor smiled. “So we are like homeboys, really.”
“Oh,” the Daybreaker said, “that’s nice.”
The Daybreaker turned around and walked toward Daniel.
“Ya know,” the governor began, “I bet we even went to some of the same—”
The Daybreaker reached out and grabbed Daniel by his neck. Daniel was shocked, clutching at the Daybreaker’s hand and trying to scream, but he couldn’t. As Daniel’s eyes bulged and he gasped for air, the Daybreaker’s grip only tightened. For the first time, the Daybreaker showed an emotion: anger.
Lifting Daniel up, the Daybreaker pulled him from his seat and forced him to stand. As he held the governor’s throat, the Daybreaker walked with him toward the window.
Finally, the Daybreaker let go of Daniel’s neck enough to allow him to speak.
“What are you—what are you doing?” the governor asked. “What’d I say? Please, please, what are you doing?”
The Daybreaker stepped forward with his hand still on Daniel’s throat and pressed Daniel’s back against the glass.
“You would go against anyone to join us,” the Daybreaker said. “Your friends, your peers, even your own family. Because you see us as better, you would align yourself with us. You see us as the future, and you would like to be a part of it, even if it means turning on everyone who has ever trusted and loved you. Why? For fame, for power?”
“No, that’s not true,” Daniel said, clawing at the Daybreaker’s arm with both of his hands. “That’s not what I meant—I was just saying—”
The Daybreaker lifted Daniel up by his neck and pressed him even harder against the window.
Daniel began to cry. “No, please, what are you doing? What did I say? You took it all wrong, I was just saying—”
“You would betray all that you know for something better. I can’t allow people like you to be a part of this.”
The Daybreaker’s hand—gripped around Daniel’s throat—began to glow with blue electricity. The electricity then spread from the Daybreaker’s fingers, through Daniel’s body, and into the massive window behind him. Streaks of blue energy spread across the glass like spider webs.
Daniel saw the streaks of blue electricity surrounding him. Then he heard the glass begin to crack.
“No, no, please,” Daniel said, tears falling down his cheeks. “I have a family. I have kids, a wife. Please. I have a son and a daughter, please, please, let me go. I’ll leave here, I’ll—”
Suddenly, the entire window behind Daniel shattered, in a hail of broken glass and a blue, electric flash. The air from the outside rushed into the skyscraper.
“No!” Daniel screamed, now dangling in the open air above the street. “Help me! Help me! Somebody help me! He’s going to kill me!”
With a bang, the door of the office flew open, and Rigel and Nova rushed in.
“Daybreaker!” Rigel shouted. “What are you doing? What—”
The Daybreaker let go of Daniel’s neck. With a scream, the governor sailed downward through the air and plummeted toward the ground. As Rigel and Nova ran across the office and reached the blown out window, they looked down to see the governor land on the roof of a parked taxicab, 110 floors below them. The taxi’s alarm went off and the people walking by on the street screamed. Daniel didn’t move. His body looked like a twisted paper clip.
The Daybreaker walked away from the window and toward his desk.
“Never bring people like that to see me ever again,” the boy said. “Have someone clean that up.”
Rigel and Nova stood at the broken window, looking down at Daniel’s body. Neither one of them said a word.
CHAPTER SEVEN
In a deserted area of Boston, Massachusetts, on the shore of the Charles River at 8:47 in the evening, a swirling portal of red energy appeared, snapping with electricity and floating in mid-air. Soon, four figures emerged from the mirrored portal, and as Strike, Orion, Keplar, and Scatterbolt stepped onto the damp ground of Boston, the gateway behind them disappeared with a loud SNAP!, leaving nothing of itself behind but a faint crackling and humming in the air. Now, thanks to Orion’s portal pistol, the four heroes were only a few dozen feet away from the outside of the Dark Nebula.