Maybe In The Next Life

Betrayal

Meda was sitting with Druig and Makkari catching up after all their years apart when every screen in the lab started flashing red. Sersi came running into the room, and looked to Phastos for some kind of answer.

"It's started," he said grimly.

"What about the Unimind?"

"I haven't figured out a way to connect us but I am close, I am very very close."

"How much longer?"

"I don't know Sersi," Phastos said clearly too stressed to be dealing with all the questions Sersi had for him. Instead he held a device out to Makkari, "Find the point of Emergence."

With a quick salute to Phastos she took off, leaving just a slight breeze behind her. There was an understanding among the group that it was soon to be go time. They all headed to the statue chamber where their mission had started all those years ago. Standing with her back to the wall Meda felt the familiar sensation of her suit forming on her body. Meda was feeling more like herself than she had in years, feeling like she was prepared for what lied ahead.

"You always knew the end was coming. It must be a relief to know you were right all along," Kingo said as he approached Thena. She looked at him from the side of her eyes but ignored his statement.

"That deviant is still tracking us."

"Revenge won't bring peace for you Thena."

"No but killing him might."

Meda moved to stand beside Thena. She could see Druig staring at her sadly from across the room.  

"I am close to figuring it out guys, so close," Phastos said excitedly from his work table. Just then Ikaris' voice came from the shadows.

"I've let this go on long enough. I wanted you to leave this world in peace without knowing about the Emergence but I failed," he was walking menacing and slow towards Phastos as everyone looked on confused.

"Boss, what are you doing?" Kingo asked. Ikaris ignored him and addressed Sersi instead.

"I wish Ajak hadn't chosen you." A beam shot from Ikaris to the table in front of Phastos, destroying the bracelets he had been working on.

"He lied to us," Druig said stepping forward. "He already knew about the Emergence."

"No, he didn't," Sersi said.

"I've known all along. One of the so called perks of being Ajak's second." 

Sersi stared at him in horror. "So you were never gonna let us stop the Emergence?"

"No I only wanted to protect you from the Deviants."

"If Ajak wanted you to take her place, why did she choose me? What have you done?"

Meda knew from the look in his eyes what had happened. After all they had been through Meda didn't want to believe it. The betrayal felt like a stone in her stomach as she spoke up.  

"He killed her."

"I had to," he said crossing his arms in front of him. Like a protection. A defense.

"She loved you," Sersi was now crying.

"Did she?"

"She loved you."

"Did you think it was easy to live with the truth? To know that one day all of this would end. To keep on lying to you," he was clearly trying to appeal to Sersi's forgiving nature stepping towards her, but Sersi took just as many steps back. Ikaris then turned to the rest of the team.

"If we gave humanity the choice how many of them would be willing to die so that billions more could be born?" 

"We are not giving them a choice," Phastos' voice came out strong and clear even though Meda could see his hands shaking.

"You are so pathetic. I am an Eternal, Phastos. I exist for Arishem. As do you, this is who you are."

"I will not change a single thing about who I am, born or made, but I do not exist for Arishem I exist for my family."

"Then you are making the same mistake Ajak did."

"What are you going to do Ikaris?" Meda called out.

"Nothing you can change." 

His eyes narrowed and started to glow but before anything could happen Makkari came racing into the room.

"I found Tiamut."

"No Get out of here," Kingo yelled as he pushed Makkari out of the way of Ikaris' blast. He turned to face Ikaris. "You do not turn against your family."

At the same time Thena yelled out, "Gilgamesh died because of you," and swung her sword, aiming for his head. Ikaris stopped it with one hand.

"You won't succeed against me and I will kill every one of you if I have to." 

He turned to leave but Sprite caught him before he could. "Wait I am going with you," and with a wave of her hands the two disappeared from the room. 

"Why did she leave with Ikaris?" Sersi said looking around as if Sprite might appear back at any moment.

"Because she loves him," Kingo responded. "Oh you guys didn't pick up on that? Karun, let's go."

Phastos held his hand out in front of Kingo's chest. "Wait, where the hell are you going?" 

"I can't help you guys, I still think Ikaris is right." 

"So that's it? huh? Just gonna follow him?" Meda spat out all of her built up anger coming out at Kingo. He looked at her with a sad smile but pushed his way past Phastos anyways.

"I love the people of this planet but if you stop this Emergence you are preventing so many other worlds like this one from being created. I still have faith in Arishem but I refuse to hurt any of you for my beliefs."

"We need you," Sersi tried one last time to convince him to stay.

"Even with my help, we are no match. It's Ikaris, but I hope to see you on the next planet," and with that he walked away. Once again Meda could only watch as her family fell apart. She slumped down into a chair holding her head in her hands. She felt Druig's hand on her shoulder trying to comfort her. Karun looked down the hallway at Kingo and then at the dejected eternals.

"Everything you did for us we are grateful. It has been an honour. I will miss all of you guys."