I had believed the freak show would be over when I escaped from Michael, yet now here I stand, watching my brothers as they each fall apart in their own ways.
Any respect that Gaius had for wraith culture seems to have vanished along with his feeding hand. What little backbone Aellius has left is easily swayed by whoever shouts the loudest. Tacitus declares that he is “done with this”, and scurries back to his lab like the coward he is. I am surprised Hypnos does not follow him, I’ve sensed his panic rising these past moments as he presumably fears he will be the next target of this inquest. And, most outlandish of all, Brazen Torch believes my deeds to be worse than Michael’s, and is demanding my head. At first I assume that he is using this situation to his advantage, attempting to overthrow me for the sake of his own ambitions. However, it is weakness rather than a lust for power that I sense in his mind. Claudius presses on; I pity him, that he is the only one who seems to be keeping a rational mind.
(Claudius): “Just because some laws are mute, due to our current nature, does not make them all so! Of course we must uphold the laws concerning alien interaction! If we gain a victory through such means, then Michael will not truly have been defeated, but rather we will have inherited his ideals ourselves!”
It seems that few are listening to him, however. Even the scientists only support him as they believe that he will be gentler with them as Commander than Brazen Torch.
For a while I am speechless. All that I have risked, all that I have sacrificed, all for these men… and this is what it has come to… It is so beyond words, so terrible… If Michael could see us all now, he would probably laugh…
I find myself laughing, more than I ever have before, but it is devoid of humour and mirth.
“The things I have done, to keep you safe and alive… all those unspeakable deeds… and I see that it was all for nought. You are all CHILDREN who know NOTHING of what the galaxy is now! If not for my aid, Michael would have murdered you all a long time ago! And I doubt it will take him long to do so now...”
The thought of my brothers being killed- that final blow after so many losses- brings with it a hollowness that stops the laughter. In its place is distain for those I see as most responsible for leading the group astray. Those who deem me the bigger enemy than the abomination. I turn my attention to Brazen Torch first, and meet his gaze.
“It is true, Brazen Torch, that I killed Nala. But the sister that you knew was gone the moment that Michael took the ship. It was her that turned us all into hybrids, not him, and she would have made you serve and bow to him, one by one. You need never forgive me for my actions, so long as you remember that, without them, you would not be here now as a free man. ALL of you, ALL that you have left of yourselves is because of ME!”
Next I turn to Aellius, who cannot even look at me, and give a pointed glare, before addressing all of the men.
“You all stand there, raining down judgement! Not only upon myself, but sickeningly upon our deceased Mother, for decisions we took on behalf of the hive! Yet when have any of you ever had to make a choice of such significance? You now stand on the precipice of truly being Queenless men with no Commander, and soon you will learn what that means! If none of you can muster enough backbone to do what must be done in times of need, then you will soon find yourselves on your knees before your enemy! And with no one left to come and save you from the darkness!”
Claudius connects with me, begging me to stop, that this is hardly helping my cause. But that no longer matters to me, because for the first time in my life, I am FREE of any responsibility.
“I am no longer your Commander, that much is clear. So the decision is yours, brothers. Battle Michael, hide from him, attempt to join him… I’m sure he would be applauding YOU right now, Brazen Torch, were he to hear your words… it is entirely up to you. And if you wish to kill me, then do so and with my blessing! The truth is I wished to die a long time ago. The only reason I chose to carry on was to put an end to Michael, and to defend all of you. So if you no longer desire my protection, and I cannot be allowed to battle Michael in exile, then death will be most welcome.”
Claudius takes a step in front of me, hand on his blade, showing that it will not be ‘most welcome’ with him if Brazen Torch tries anything.
“But whatever you decide, first allow me to share with you all that I witnessed whilst I was a prisoner. Perhaps there will be some knowledge there that will be useful to you all in whatever you choose to do. And so, if you die, it will be through your own poor judgements, NOT because of me!”
I open my mind to them, and give to them ALL the memories I have of the last two weeks.