“Do you want to talk?” Lily asked him. Bastion didn’t respond at first. He just willed Lily to leave him. After she was outside his body and she had formed completely, he hugged her tight for a moment. “What is this for?” she laughed nervously. He gave out a low chuckle.
“I might not get any real contact with you for a while.”
“I’ll always be there for you.”
“Yeah, but you won’t be able to leave my body once I’m strapped to that machine.”
“So you’re going through with it?”
“Shouldn’t I?”
“I don’t know,” Lily said, putting a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s what you want. Not what they want.”
“But…do I really have a choice? If I don’t do this, everyone could die.”
“Yeah,” she trailed off. She could barely look him in the eyes. “I know.”
“Do you believe them?” he asked her. She shrugged her shoulders.
“I don’t know. It’s a lot to take in at once, and it’s a huge decision. Once you’re in that machine, you probably can’t change your mind.”
“I would be trapped in a prison cell all over again,” he sighed. “Doesn’t matter if I can walk through Paradise from time to time. It’s still a prison. And you’ll be experiencing the same. You can’t just leave my body and walk around or feel the breeze. Look at the ocean or fly. We’ll be chained down, like we’ve been our whole lives, to serve the very people who oppressed us from the beginning.” Bastion paused to laugh. “How does that make sense?”
“It’s up to you,” she said to him, putting a finger on his chest and over his heart. “It doesn’t matter how they manipulated our lives to arrive at this moment, you still have to make the decision. That’s the one thing you do have control over.”
“You’re right,” Bastion replied. He took her hands into his. “You’re absolutely right.”
“What are you thinking?” she laughed nervously. “You’re getting that scary look in your eyes again.”
“Let’s just say that I have a few more questions for our hosts.”
“Okay.”
“Do you want to go back inside like you are, or inside of me?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Then come with me as you are,” he said, pulling her toward the building. They entered to see the expectant faces of Tillian, Veer, and the Sages. They all waited for his answer—one that he was not yet ready to give.
“I have a couple of questions,” he said. He noticed that Veer was sweating profusely.
“Sure,” Veer said. “Anything you like.”
“If the bridge and gates are destroyed…everyone dies?”
“Yes.”
“This is fact?”
“Well, no,” Tillian said as Veer glared at him angrily. “They are theories. But based on what we’ve assessed, that is the most likely scenario.”
“So in other words, the worst that can happen is that everyone on this current world loses their shell. You say that they will die, but really, they aren’t dead. They just lose their shield in a sense. It doesn’t affect those on Paradise or Oblivion at all.”
“No, it doesn’t affect them but—”
“So it actually levels the field,” Bastion said. “It makes us all equals, doesn’t it?”
“Why would you kill off—”
“I’m sick of hierarchies,” Bastion shouted at them, causing them to jump up in fear. “I’m tired of people trying to impose themselves on others. Even the ‘good guys’ do horrible things in order to further their cause. The only reason they’re considered good is because they think they are. At least the bad guys own up to their actions.”
“What are you saying?” Veer scoffed. “You would prefer that Oblivion and Paradise merge with our world? That we…we just fight among each other like barbarians?”
“It might not go like you say. We know what lies before us now. We know that if we die in Paradise or Oblivion, we cease to exist, and that is way scarier than what we thought before. Only those that don’t care for their existence will embrace death. But most of us? We’ll make sure we’re careful.”
“This is madness,” Tillian said, but Bastion wasn’t finished.
“I haven’t seen Oblivion, but I’m sure they aren’t just slaughtering each other left and right down there. They’re probably biding their time, building up their forces, and then executing a plan as perfectly as they possibly can to take down their opponent. I don’t think it’s as chaotic as you make it sound.”
“No,” Tillian replied. “It’s not. It’s the way you just described…but that doesn’t matter. If you break the gates, they will surely go after those on this world and the ones in Paradise.”
“Maybe they will. Maybe not. But who are you to decide the fate of these worlds? I’m sure there are people that deserved Paradise but they were sent to Oblivion. Did you think of that?”
“It’s possible but—”
“And I’m sure there are those in Oblivion that could have changed for the better if they were only given the opportunity. But you’ve taken that away from them. Imagine if I had snapped. How am I any different than them?”
“But you are different,” Veer said cautiously. “When the Quietus had you captive, they slowly introduced the chemicals that make up the stones into your system, along with all the other boys and girls you were with. It was in the water and food they gave you.”
“That’s how we are able to control you when you are unconscious,” Tillian said. “But it’s not to oppress you or take away your freedom. It was to ensure your survival. What if you had died? Where would we all be?”
“And when I go in the machine…will I be conscious then? Or will you be able to control my every decision? Deciding for me who goes to Oblivion and who doesn’t?”
“You’ll be conscious, of course. We’re not monsters.”
“No, I’m the monster,” Bastion said. “You should have let me die. Because at least then you would have looked for another. And perhaps then you would have found the Emissary you wanted. Because I’m not that person. I’m not doing this.”
“Bastion, you can’t let this happen!” Veer shouted in exasperation. “You’ll be killing us all!”
“That’s how you see it,” Bastion replied. “I’m thinking of it as wiping the slate clean. And you know what? It’s not because of some bitter hatred I have for the people of this world. In actuality, I love them more than I thought possible. I was willing to sacrifice myself for them all, but then I started thinking of who I’m about to trust, and I knew I couldn’t go through with it. With how you’ve used the Quietus, the Yama, the stones, Me, and everyone else…I know that you are incapable of telling me the whole truth, and if you won’t do that, there’s no point in placing my complete trust in you.”
“What lies have we told?” Veer asked him. “Please, tell us.”
“It’s not what you’ve said. It’s what you haven’t. Tell me. Who’s in charge?”
“I…I don’t understand,” Veer stammered as Catherine looked to her Sages and nodded.
“Who’s in charge?” Bastion yelled, taking a step toward him. “It’s a simple question. Lily, to me.” Lily nodded and began transforming into her stone form. Bastion kept a close watch over her, and when she was finished, he made sure to fuse her within him before he continued. “It’s not you two who are the leaders of all this. There’s no way it could be. Not in a world this violent. There is no way you would be able to attract so many warriors and get the Quietus to do your bidding unless you used force. And from what I’ve seen today, your particular skills are in manipulation. That means that someone else is handling the dirty work. So tell me, before I cut off one of your heads…WHO’S IN CHARGE?!”
“Ecio,” Veer said quickly, putting up his hands in surrender. “He’s the one.”
“And who is that?”
“He’s the current Emissary. He’s been looking for an heir. Someone to take over his
job.”
“And did he truly want an heir? Or a body?”
“A body,” Tillian said sheepishly. “That’s all he needs.”
“And then he can rule however he pleases, couldn’t he?” Bastion asked. “Being free of this job…he could really rule all three worlds. Without anyone to truly stop him. Anyone that opposes him…he could just kill and then kill them again once they went to Paradise or Oblivion.”
“He’s—”
“SHUT UP!” Bastion snapped at them. “You’re done talking. You only speak when I have a question that needs answered.” But before he could continue, a rumbling outside the building caught their attention. His neck snapped behind him toward Catherine and the other two Sages but it wasn’t them. The distant rumbling sound, like a stampede was near, was coming from the outside.
“Reinforcements,” Catherine muttered. Bastion sighed and turned back to Veer and Tillian.
“Who’s that?”
“Everyone we could manage,” Tillian said low. “Yama and Delilah.”
“We’re not going to survive that,” Talia stated matter-of-factly. “We need a plan.”
“And you can’t go unconscious,” Catherine warned Bastion. “We can’t risk them gaining control of you.”
“That’s okay,” Bastion said with a smile. “I’ve come to an understanding of myself recently. If I do go unconscious, it won’t be until after I’ve given it everything I’ve got. I’m not that angry kid I used to be.”
“Then what are we doing here?” Daisy asked, unsheathing her hook sword eidolons. “They’re not too far away. Several miles out, but closing the gap quickly.”
“Where’s the Emissary now?” Bastion asked the two Delilah before him. Veer shook his head.
“I won’t tell,” he said, and a second later, Bastion’s Gladius was ran straight through his abdomen. He shrieked in pain as Bastion twisted and then pulled the blade back out. Veer crumpled to the ground, clutching his midsection. Tillian glanced down at his friend, shaking from head to toe, and then he stared at Bastion’s eidolon, stained in blood.
“He’s, uh, at the far edge of the island. Further north.”
“Thank you,” Bastion replied, sheathing his eidolon. “That’s where I’ll be headed after I finish up business here.”
“You won’t be able to beat him.”
“I don’t care what you have to say.” Bastion turned to leave and Tillian suddenly leapt forward, so fast that Catherine could barely register the movement. In one swift movement, Tillian reached his hand through Bastion, ripped his Gladius from his body, threw it to the ground and then stomped on it, shattering it to pieces. Bastion roared in agony as Daisy swiftly came to his side, cutting off Tillian’ head and catching Bastion before he hit the floor.
Chapter 18 – Bridge
“I should have been more careful,” Bastion groaned as Daisy eased him to the floor. Though he was already feeling better, he decided to lay there for a moment and catch his breath. The sensation was so violent and raw, it felt like Tillian had ripped out one of his lungs. Though his body was compensating for the loss, he knew that it would take a while before he was at a hundred percent.
“The Yama are outside the door,” Talia said, looking to the ceiling, “and crawling around the roof. The Delilah are being a lot more cautious, standing at a distance and observing.”
“I need to get this done,” Bastion muttered, taking the hand Daisy offered him and climbing to his feet. “I’ve got to get to that machine. Do you know where it is?”
“I think over here,” Daisy said, pointing to the outline of a person in the wall. “But there’s no guarantees that’s it. We didn’t see a demonstration, and with all the plans the Delilah had in place, it could be a trap for all we know.”
“I’ll have to risk it,” Bastion said, examining the outline closely. “Lily, have you got anything?”
“No clue,” she said from inside of him.
“Come on out. If this things tries to hold me here, I’ll need you to rip me away.”
“Sure,” she said, beginning to pour out of his body like a thick liquid onto the ground. She slowly formed into her human self. Bastion gave her a quick peck on the lips and she laughed.
“There’s no time for that!” she exclaimed. He gave her a sly smile.
“Always time,” he said, and she giggled again. Daisy was surprised by the exchange, and although she would never admit it, she felt a twinge of jealously at the sight.
“How do I get in this thing?” Bastion muttered, climbing into the grooves in the wall, matching his arms to where the arms were and so on. Once his entire body was pressed up against the wall, thin slivers of metal came out of slits in the wall and began to wrap over him like he was being mummified. Bastion was grateful that nothing covered his neck and face.
“Feel anything?” Lily asked as a low hum was heard in the distance. They were unsure if it was the machine or if it was the enemy outside. Catherine didn’t care which. She was tired of waiting.
“Let’s give them something to worry about,” Catherine said, nodding to Talia.
“You want to go out there?” she laughed.
“Not really, but it’s better than waiting for them to come to us.”
“Agreed,” Talia replied, unsheathing her eidolon. “Let’s go. Daisy, stay here.”
“Not arguing,” Daisy said as Catherine and Talia went out the door.
“It’s starting,” Bastion whispered as he closed his eyes. “Here we go.”
It felt like his body was being pulled forward, as if he was a kite and someone with uncanny speed and strength was taking him miles away from his starting destination. The wind blowing past his face was so strong that he couldn’t even see where he was. Yet somehow, he realized that it was just his consciousness flying away from him. His body was still secure in the machine.
When the winds died down, and he was able to open his eyes, he was afraid.
He was standing on a bridge made of grated metal, with holes under him that were big enough to stick his foot in if he tried. There was a railing on each side of him, and the width of the bridge was five feet. But what fascinated him the most was the tunnel around the bridge, spiraling beneath it and over it. A kaleidoscope of every color imaginable, twinkling and shining so bright that he had to squint his eyes for fear of going blind. There was a haze in the air, making it even harder to see, but in the distance, he was sure he could make out the outline of a person. A silhouette that stood there the same as he did. He wasn’t sure if it was his reflection.
“Do you see this?” he asked Lily, but then he remembered that Lily was not with him. He tried not to think about her too much. He couldn’t turn back now. Turn…
Bastion swiveled his head behind him and saw that the tunnel ended only a few yards away. A dull, rusted, steel door lay in wait. On the edge of it, where the door met the spiraling tunnel, the colors were dull, and the rate of the spin was slower. The longer he looked at the door, the more he realized what it was.
Oblivion, he thought to himself. He faced forward and looked off into the distance.
Paradise is on the other side, he realized. The Emissary must be controlling that gate in particular. It made sense, considering that was where the Emissary resided in his off time. He looked at the grated floor at his feet. Our world is the bridge.
Bastion took a step forward and found that nothing happened. He wasn’t weighted down nor was he thrust in any direction. It felt normal.
Deciding to try something out, he touched the railing to his left. Immediately, he felt a great deal of energy being sapped from his body. Terrified, he let go and looked up. The silhouette was gone. Was that the Emissary?
Bastion pressed the tip of his finger against the railing and a miniscule, steady stream of energy began leaving his body. He let go.
So Oblivion would be the first to open, he thought to himself. It gave him an uneasy feeling. What if he was unable to defeat the Emissary? Then Paradi
se would still be shut…but then again, would that be so bad? Even if those in Oblivion killed everyone in his world, they could all go to Paradise, knowing that they were safe there. Of course, then the gates would be vulnerable. All anyone would have to do was find the Emissary’s body in the real world and dispose of him. The gates to Paradise would go down in no time, but surely those in Paradise would be ready by then for such an assault.
Once he thought it through, it seemed like everyone would have a fair chance.
“Here we go,” Bastion sighed as he turned to the Oblivion gate. He unsheathed his eidolon and made it bigger and stronger than usual. He wasn’t sure how much power it would take to break the gate, but considering the bridge was not a place people normally went to, he assumed it wouldn’t be a lot.
Bastion swung his eidolon down, slashing at the door from top to bottom, and a red, festering scar appeared. Bastion raised his arms and brought the eidolon down again, making an X in the door, and then he made sure to cut from top to bottom and left to right. When he was finished, he sheathed his eidolon, took his hands, and tried prying open the seam. He didn’t want to open it all the way, for he still wanted time to get to the Paradise gate, but he figured it was enough. A two foot hole was now in the middle of the Oblivion gate.
Bastion glanced inside for a second, but he could see nothing but darkness. There was no sounds. Not even a whisper. Feeling a little uneasy, he turned and began running along the bridge to the Paradise gate. At full speed, it only took him a few minutes, and he was surprised to find that it was left defenseless. Yet there had definitely been someone standing there before.
Of course, he thought to himself. The Emissary’s waiting for me on the outside.
It was a smart play. For one, it would be foolish to fight on the bridge. If they hit the rails at any time, their energy would be stripped away from them, and also, Bastion could damage the two gates all he wanted and it wouldn’t matter if he couldn’t stop the Emissary. With Bastion’s defeat, the Emissary could easily go back and repair the doors afterwards. Meanwhile, Bastion was already spending precious energy, trying to bring each gate down. He hadn’t even met the Emissary yet, and he was already scared of him.
The End of the Fantasy (Book #6 of the Sage Saga) Page 19
