THE FIRE SAGA

BLAZE 120 - TERMINATION PT. 2

"What if I reverted you all?" I suggest. "You could get to know yourself and your children. Sure, it wouldn't guarantee they'd listen to you, but the consequences wouldn't need to be so severe when they don't." Severe like death. Yikes.

"Yes, and what if the sky opened up to rain unicorns? We could all ride around on rainbows, eating lollipops and never getting cavities."

"What's so ridiculous about all of you embracing humanity?"

"You think me single sighted, and for the most part I am," he admits. "I make no apologies for my science or the things I do for the cause, but this has become so much bigger."

"You genuinely lack the leader flair. Nothing you've done has anything to do with the greater good. It's all been about making a greater you."

"That's fair, but if I'm to sit on the throne, I still have to protect my seat, lest someone take it for themselves. These two." He points to Cathain and Alexandria. "They're dim-witted enough to believe they deserve to sit at my side. When the Tribunal is defeated, we'll be in the position we need to be. You'll see to that, and these two won't be kicking around to do something foolish enough to make my subjects doubt my rightful position. They're a liability termination will prevent."

"I'm not fighting the Tribunal."

"Isn't that the point of these experiments?" he counters. "Isn't that why you agreed to my provisions in the first place? You want the departure stones."

"To get my mother back," I clarify. "It has nothing to do with fighting the Tribunal. I'm not one of your Rebels. I'm not supporting your cause."

"How will you get her back?"

Point to Tayte. I'm not quite there in the plan parade. Step one is getting the departure stones. Step two is regaining control of my fire fuel from Tayte. I'm stuck on step one, which is ethically problematic. So long as Tayte's making me heel, I'm not getting those stones in a way my conscience can accept.

"Not your problem," I deflect.

"Everything's my problem in one way or another, and I always deal with my problems."

I look toward Cathain and Alexandria. "You're not dealing with them. You're trying to force me to do your dirty work."

"I didn't say I always deal with my problems directly. I said I always deal with my problems."

"You'd probably find it a lot more satisfying to handle your own business," I point out.

"You may find it equally satisfying to accept the things others want to give you," he offers. "For instance, I'm giving you this glorious gift. All you need do is choose."

I snort derisively. "Not interested."

"Is it that you want both? Is that the trouble? You're a greedy child?"

"I want neither."

"Then you're a rude child. Unpleasant. Not accepting gifts. Children these days incessantly disappoint their parents. You know what it'll take to keep from disappointing your father, don't you? You'll need to get your mother back. You can't do that without the stones, Sheyla. You won't get them unless I get what I want."

More points to Tayte. I've repeatedly disappointed my father and mother. The hope of them finally having a happily ever after keeps me going while everything falls apart around me. Somehow, they need to end up together. I've endured so much to get Mom back. Not the half-baked cake version, either. She's fully back and totally out of my reach without those stones. The issue is, they wouldn't forgive me if being together came at the cost of choosing their happiness over someone's life, even if that someone was Alexandria or Cathain. "I'm not choosing," I assert.