Chapter 25

They were following the stranger, without a word. By Xavier’s labored breath, Cory could tell the former Ruler of Drena was still in shock. As he was himself. His own pained sobs that he couldn’t control matched Xavier’s hitched breathing.

“Who are you?” he forced himself to speak.

The stranger walking quickly in front of them didn’t turn, but did reply.

“I believe the right definition would be an automaton. Hector was my creator.”

“Hector, the one who lived to be 102 years old?” he asked, the memory of what Edgar had told him about the old man while in Aeria came to him.

“A bit longer than that,” the servant replied.

“Is he dead now?” Cory grabbed one of his arms with the other to stop some of the shaking that was almost making his teeth clatter.

“Yes. He died a few minutes ago, in the room where you were,” the automaton supplied dutifully.

“Why are we alive?” Xavier asked this time, and by the trembling of his voice, he was fighting his emotions as much as Cory. “No, why am I alive? I understand why Cory...”

“There is someone who can offer all the answers I cannot provide,” Hector’s creation replied in the same serene voice.

Cory stole a nervous glance in Xavier’s direction, and his eyes were met by troubled ones.

“I don’t care,” he said, looking straight at his former Master, now friend. “Why you’re alive, I mean. Because at least I’m not alone.”

Xavier cast his eyes down. If there was something the man could guess right now, if there was some premonition he feared, that was his to bear. That was what the lack of a reply was telling Cory right now.

“Hurry,” the automaton gestured for them to follow, as they seemed to begin their descent toward an inferior level.

Were they going underground? The temperature was starting to drop, although they were still inside the building.

Cory didn’t need to be told they were at the final point of their destination. In what looked like an ancient throne room, with tall columns sustaining the ceiling, at one end, on a tall iron chair, an imitation of the one he had seen Lucas on earlier, stood the Head Trainer.

Limbs of purple and violet light trembled, grown from the Head Trainer’s location, licking the walls and throwing frightening shadows on the walls.

“Stop what you’re doing! Stop it right now!” Cory hurried toward the grey hood sitting on the iron chair.

“Stop? The deed is done,” the Head Trainer replied, showing his yellowed teeth in a snarl.

Cory slowed his steps.

“Undone it,” he spoke.

His voice was strung with hurt.

“Even if I could, I wouldn’t,” the Head Trainer replied, his voice hollow, void of emotion. “What you are asking is impossible.”

“It cannot be!” Cory took another step.

“Who are you?” the Head Trainer leaned forward, as if he was trying to make Cory’s face in the semi darkness. The evil limbs of light could not offer much illumination.

“I am Cory the servant,” Cory replied. “You killed my friends! You killed Lucas! And I love him!”

“Ah, you are the mistake,” the Head Trainer stood back. “Is she really thinking I am impressed by her spawn? The least she could do was to send someone who could offer a bit of a challenge. But I suppose it was everything she could create out of her puny wrath.”

“I was created out of love, not hatred,” Cory replied, somehow the words coming to him easier, as he was slowly approaching.

“If you don’t want to die in terrible pain, I suggest that you stop where you are,” the Head Trainer pointed a long gnarled finger at him. “There is still some energy left in the machine.”

“I want answers!” Cory boomed, growing frustrated with how his feet didn’t seem to listen to him anymore, stopping him in place. Fear was getting the better of him, for now.

“The only answer you deserve is this: you’re too late. If it is any consolation, even if you hadn’t been, you couldn’t have done anything to stop me.”

“Undo everything, like Cory said!” Xavier spoke from behind.

The Head Trainer cocked his head to look at the other newcomer.

“Ah, my son. It was such a terrible overstep from your part to desert us like you did.”

“Stop calling me your son. I know you’re nothing but evil. You never cared for any of us. How can you be such a hypocrite?” Xavier shouted.

“Never cared, you say? But look at you. Alive. Unharmed,” the Head Trainer pointed out. “Come next to me, my son. This world waits for us.”

“What world? Are you that insane that you don’t see what you did?” Xavier became more agitated, and Cory caught his arm to prevent him from getting too close.

The purple and violet lights seemed to glow more menacingly the more they got closer. There was no way of telling what could happen to them, should they walk forward.

“I freed the world. For us. For you,” the Head Trainer stretched his arms, as he was expecting Xavier to come rushing to him.

“For me? As far as I know, you left me for dead,” Xavier spat. “Not that I ever wanted for you to come looking for me. Where I went after I left Drena, I was the happiest I had ever been.”

That seemed to give the Head Trainer pause, but only for a brief second.

“None of this matters anymore. Come join me, my son,” he called for Xavier again.

“Join you? Not in a million years! And stop calling me your son. Enough with this charade!”

“Xavier,” the Head Trainer shook his head. “What shouldn’t I call you my son? Of everyone I raised under my watchful eye, you are the most deserving. Flesh of my flesh, blood of my blood.”

Xavier staggered and took a step back. Cory was just as shocked, but he moved to grab the other’s hand.

“No, you’re lying,” Xavier whispered, his eyes fixed on the grey hood seated on the iron chair.

“Am I? Then how do you explain that you’re alive, unlike the others?”

“Cory’s alive, too,” Xavier babbled, grabbing at straws.

“He’s the anomaly. Nothing but a mistake. But you, my son, you were planned, and should you have been less of a slave to the human flesh I had to use to make your mold, you would have been witness to my master plan in motion. It no longer matters. I will tell you all about it. Come, child,” the Head Trainer spoke again.

His words were not gentle. They weren’t harsh, either. They fell with the cadence of a mechanism, one after the other.

“He doesn’t want to come to you,” Cory linked his fingers with Xavier’s in a fierce grip. “You took from him everything he loved. From all of us!”

“Xavier, my son, use one of those lethal weapons you brought with you, and terminate the anomaly. He is just trying to get between us,” the Head Trainer looked only at Xavier, as if he could not stand to pay Cory any mind.

“One of these, you mean?” Xavier used his free hand to pull a shotgun from his jacket.

Cory tried to hold the man behind, but Xavier began marching toward the iron chair, shooting once. The sound reverberated through the room, and the empty shell hit the polished floor. Using his good hand, Xavier reloaded and aimed at the Head Trainer again.

“Xavier!” Cory hurried after him, afraid of the menacing limbs of light that seemed to sense that their master was in danger and they were now flickering close to their point of origin.

Xavier moved like an unstoppable force, emptying his gun over and over again into the grey hood before him.

The Head Trainer began laughing.

“Have you forgotten my teachings already?” he asked. “My son, I am all powerful.”

Xavier pushed Cory out of his way and jumped on the platform on which the chair was located. Using his now useless shotgun, he began hitting the Head Trainer in the face over and over again, growling like a wounded animal.

Cory hurried and pulled him back, pushing him on the floor, hoping to keep him there, stop him from getting hurt. Before them, the Head Trainer was laughing. He didn’t look wounded in the least.

“You’re not human,” Xavier mumbled. “You’re not ... anything. You have no soul,” he said, as he crouched to the floor, overwhelmed by his own pain.

“Oh, but I am everything, my child. And despite your lack of respect you’re showing me right now, I am still ready to welcome you into my arms. Remove the anomaly, and come to me.”

“No,” Xavier refused, crawling back, as if he was trying to get as far away from the Head Trainer as he could.

“Ah, do you really want me to do all the work?” the Head Trainer scolded him. “Fine.”

His attention turned to Cory.

“You see, servant,” the last word was spat in disgust, unlike the unemotional discourse of the Head Trainer so far. “We do have a bit of a dilemma here. I am tied to the chair and I am bound to stay here, so I can control the world.”

Control the world? Cory took a close look at the Head Trainer. And then he noticed. The twisted fingers were digging deep into the arms of the chair. For all the lack of emotions the Head Trainer had exhibited so far, he seemed to find it strenuous to keep up with the appearances. From time to time, he was moving one arm, to point at them while he spoke, but he was quick to put his hands back, as if he feared something was going to slip out of his control.

“You need Xavier, to keep all that power in check, right?” Cory spoke.

The hood turned toward him.

“Clever for a servant. But, of course, she tried to invest you with at least a semblance of strength. Cleverness would not serve you here and now, nonetheless. To continue what I was saying, we have a dilemma. Or better said, the dilemma is yours. You could attempt to destroy me, with the little power you have in you.”

Power? Cory wondered, and looked down at his hands. A small flicker of warm, bright light was twirling in his right palm.

“But, if you do that, I will just transfer all my power to Xavier. Given that you have already consumed yours, you will be defenseless. And I will destroy you, guiding Xavier’s hand.”

“Xavier won’t listen to you. You’re lying,” Cory spoke, as he took one step toward the Head Trainer.

“Wait, not so fast,” the Head Trainer smiled, showing his horrifying teeth again. “You could choose to destroy Xavier, using the little power she gave you.”

“I have no intention to do that,” Cory shook his head.

The power in his right hand was growing. He could feel it.

“Are you certain? Even if it would bring you back your friends? The man you say you love?” the Head Trainer continued. “The entire world? Think about it. All in exchange for one soul. For one human being. It’s not like the choice is difficult, right?”

“You’re talking nonsense,” Cory said. “I would never raise my hand against a friend. I would never kill a human being in cold blood, like you would. And how could Xavier’s death reverse the destruction you created? You told me it was impossible.”

The Head Trainer seemed to enjoy their exchange.

“I lied. Kill Xavier, and restore the world as it was. It is a simple choice. I don’t understand how you’re not taking the chance I’m giving you already.”

“No,” Cory shook his head. “Your so called chance is not tempting me at all. It goes against everything I believe in.”

“Ah, hence the dilemma,” the Head Trainer smiled with what seemed like satisfaction.

“I’ll take your chance!” Xavier cried out from behind.

Cory turned. Xavier was holding a small revolver at his temple. He was trembling, and tears were falling down his cheeks, but his eyes were like a sky in turmoil, as they were looking at the grey hood on the dais.

“Xavier, no!” he shouted and lunged toward his friend.

“Xavier!” the Head Trainer almost stood up.

The deafening sound of the revolver gone off made everyone stop for a second. Cory kneeled next to his friend and pulled Xavier’s head into his lap.

“No, no, not you too!” he sobbed, cradling the man in his arms.

“The human propensity for drama is beyond the pale,” the Head Trainer commented. “Xavier must have thought this would stop me. But of course, we are just as much at odds as before.”

“He’s your son!” Cory cried and pulled Xavier up as much as he could, as if he was hoping the Head Trainer was going to be impressed with seeing his own flesh and blood lifeless.

“As much as I wished for this not to be the outcome, there is nothing I can do,” the Head Trainer spoke. “Of course, it is in your power to bring him back.”

“How?” Cory asked, using one hand to wipe away his tears.

“Aren’t you afraid I’m lying to you now? Use that pathetic power you have. But, seriously, wouldn’t you use it for someone else? Lucas, perhaps? Or is your so called affection as frail as your entire existence?”

“Lucas is already gone. And everybody else is,” Cory said.

The Head Trainer was lying. That he knew. But nothing could tempt him now out of doing the right thing. He looked at the trembling flicker of light in his hand and placed his palm gently over Xavier’s temple, whispering a prayer.

He could feel something moving under his palm. He was amazed to watch the bullet coming out, the bloodied skin closing.

And then, the strangest thing happened, and Cory remembered the dream. He wasn’t healing Xavier. He wasn’t bringing him back from the dead. The bullet was moving, as if on its own, back into the weapon, and now he was standing next to Xavier, as the man was holding the gun to his temple, shouting like before.

He stopped for a second, and everything else stopped, too. He watched the Head Trainer, immobilized on the iron chair. Then he watched Xavier, the pure hatred etched onto his face, as the man was looking at the one claiming to be his father.

He needed to find a way. His eyes traveled at the back of the room, where Hector’s automaton was waiting, looking every bit as serene as before. Now he knew what to do. He wrenched the weapon out of Xavier’s hand.

The sound of the bullet flying, followed by the noise than only a ricochet could cause, restored the flow of time.

“Help me keep Xavier from hurting himself!” he called at the automaton.

The servant moved with maximum efficiency and caught Xavier’s arms, pulling him aside.

“What the hell? Let me go! Let me! Cory! Have the machine let me be! Cory, you can’t do this!” Xavier tried to fight the automaton’s hold, but to no avail. “You can’t! Let the others live! How can you choose me over them? Don’t you remember how I hurt you?”

“Silence him, please,” Cory asked the automaton again. “Just for a little while. I’m really sorry, Xavier, you’ll understand later. Please forgive me.”

Xavier’s eyes were filled with sorrow and rage, as the automaton efficiently produced a leather strap to place over his prisoner’s mouth. Only muffled cries could be heard now.

Cory turned his attention to the Head Trainer. Now certain of himself, sure of his faith, he moved toward the grey hood.

“What are you doing? Stay where you are!” the Head Trainer demanded, impatiently.

For the first time, Cory could tell there was fear what he could read in the Head Trainer’s eyes.

“Don’t you understand what I’m telling you? Are you that dimwitted?” the Head Trainer almost screamed, as Cory stopped next to him. “I’m telling you that killing my son would bring everyone back!”

Cory shook his head.

“No, it won’t,” he said. “It is just a ploy to make me betray my true self. My faith.”

“Your faith,” the Head Trainer spat the word. “She’s nothing but a tale! I am the One!”

“No,” Cory shook his head again. “You’re empty, can’t you see?”

“I am the most powerful! I destroyed the world because I could!” the Head Trainer babbled, whitish froth at the mouth. “What better proof than this do you need?”

“It’s easy to destroy,” Cory said gently, as he placed one hand over the Head Trainer’s. “To build, to create, that is the true power.”

“You can’t do anything against me,” the Head Trainer felt more and more agitated. “You’re nothing but a servant!”

“Yes, that is what I am,” Cory nodded in agreement. “What do you fear? My power is gone,” he added, as he opened his other palm, to show that there was no flicker of light left there.

The Head Trainer’s eyes filled with malicious glee.

“You lost it! You lost it!” he rejoiced, shaking in his chair with hysterical laughter.

“No, I didn’t lose it,” Cory smiled.

The Head Trainer froze in his place.

“I used it,” Cory explained. “To save Xavier.”

“What?!” the Head Trainer exclaimed. “What do you mean?”

“I had to. It was the only way to revert the mortal wound he had inflicted upon himself.”

Under Cory’s hand, the Head Trainer was starting to shake again.

“No, it is impossible! You’re lying!” the Head Trainer shouted. “What are you doing to me? Let go of my hand!”

“I’m trying to help you,” Cory said gently. “Isn’t the emptiness inside you too great? I can deliver you from that.”

“No, no, no,” the Head Trainer growled, trying to move his hand from Cory’s.

“She’s waiting for you. Don’t you want to be forgiven?”

“No, I don’t want to be forgiven!” the Head Trainer shouted.

Black spittle sputtered, and a disgusting gurgle could be heard coming out of the Head Trainer’s throat.

“You’re killing me, how can you kill me when you’re so insignificant?” the Head Trainer gasped and coughed.

“I am not killing you. I’m offering you a way out,” Cory said gently.

“If I’m dead, you’ll never be able to bring your friends back from the dead,” the Head Trainer barked, his voice filled with hatred.

“That is not in your power,” Cory continued. “You did destroy the world, but that still didn’t make you feel whole, did it?”

“You’re nothing! I am all powerful!”

The Head Trainer leaned forward and crumpled into a pile at Cory’s feet. Cory knelt next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“Get away from me,” the Head Trainer pulled himself away from the human’s touch.

There was a thin smoke rising from the grey hood. Cory looked as the shape inside began shrinking, while horrid sounds announced the Head Trainer’s demise and he was forced to take a step back as a foul smell rose, too. Suddenly, the garments fell flat to the ground, with nothing to sustain them.

Cory moved to sit on the empty chair. If he were to be asked, he could not tell exactly how he knew what to do. But, when he placed his hands on the arms of the chair and grabbed them firmly, he let all his emotions flow through him. The love he felt for Lucas, the friendship he had for Dion, Ayn, and Xavier, the affection he had for everyone he had met along the road.

The limbs of light tried to reach him, but as they tangled around him, the ominous colors turned to a warm calm golden yellow. The temperature in the room began to rise.

Cory noticed vaguely as the automaton released Xavier from his hold.

“Cory,” Xavier whispered, and fell to his knees.

To Cory’s surprise, the automaton did the same thing. His eyelids were growing heavy, and he could feel as if he could not keep his head up anymore. Around him, there was nothing but warmth and light.

He could hear whispers around him, but his eyelids seemed to be heavy with sleep still.

“Hey, you’re not going to pretend you’re still sleepy,” he heard a familiar voice calling for him. “I know you’re not an early riser, but still, it’s been almost a week. And I can see you smiling.”

What a nice dream, he thought. There was no point to open his eyes, now was it?

“Hmm, do I really have to rely on my tried and tested methods to make you wake up? And here I thought you needed to take it easy,” the familiar voice continued.

He could feel the bed dipping under the weight of another person. Ah, the dream was just getting better. He giggled, as he felt teeth nibbling at his ear.

“Ah, I knew you were awake,” the voice chided him.

Well, if it was a dream, he could pretend to open his eyes. Especially since he could barely wait to see Lucas again. A pair of mischievous green eyes bore into his from above.

“I love your eyes,” he spoke and pulled one arm free from the blanket covering him to grab his lover by the back of his neck. “So beautiful.”

Lucas laughed and leaned over to kiss him. It didn’t take them long for their kiss to turn passionate. Soon enough, they were devouring each other.

“Really, guys,” someone intervened. “The entire world is waiting, and you just want to get freaky.”

What the hell was Ayn doing in his dream? He was going to have a word with that up to no good desert dweller, Cory frowned.

As Lucas moved away with a broad smile, he had to blink a few times. Not only Ayn was intruding into his dream, but also Xavier, Marcus, Edgar, Lena, Myra, Diane, Dion, John ... The entire room was full of people.

“I’m not dreaming?” he wondered out loud, and everyone began laughing, although he could hear some sighs of relief through the chuckles and giggles.

“No, you’re not,” Lucas offered him the answer.

“Wait, what happened? To everyone? And the Head Trainer?”

“Turned into fine dust, as he deserved it,” Xavier was the one to answer now.

“I’d say he deserved more than that, like a fine kicking in the balls,” Ayn began.

“We don’t know if he had balls,” Marcus intervened.

“The Trainers weren’t exactly human, so maybe a reproduction system was not needed,” Edgar said promptly.

“Stop it, that’s not even a matter to discuss,” Diane spoke next. “Really, do you believe these guys, Myra?” she addressed to the taller woman next to her.

“I think I do. That’s all they like talking about,” Myra grinned.