Cyber Chronicles 2: Prime Voyage

Chapter 13: Past

The room was filled with the tantalizing aroma of a homemade meal, crafted with love by Lincoln's sister.

In front of them, a perfectly roasted chicken, its golden skin glistening, accompanied by a colorful medley of vegetables that looked and tasted almost organic despite it being artificially created. Fluffy mashed potatoes and freshly baked bread completed the comforting ensemble. Each bite carried the familiar flavors of home, offering solace and satisfaction in the midst of their unspoken questions. 

"So, you're serving in the army, huh?" Lincoln finally addressed Dexter, breaking the silence.

"Yeah," Dexter replied, his voice tinged with a hint of weariness as he took a piece of chicken. "So are Destry and Ash." This surprised Lincoln and surged his desire to delve deeper into their experiences, but he restrained himself, sensing that the time wasn't right to inquire further.

Kate mustered the courage to break the lingering silence with a question of her own. "What happened to you Lin?" Her voice carried a mix of concern and curiosity. Lincoln felt an overwhelming urge to confide in her, to reveal the truth to all of them. However, the uncertainty of his safety with them held him back. It seemed wiser to withhold certain details from Kate, at least for the time being. Nonetheless, he was determined not to deceive her. "Nothing..." he responded cryptically. "I was abducted, but managed to escape." Kate's eyes widened with astonishment as she pressed for more information. Lincoln offered another vague reply. "I took the first oppurtunity I got."

Dexter's gaze bore into Lincoln, intense and piercing. Lincoln sensed the question lingering on his tongue, but he knew Dexter wouldn't say anything in front of Kate. As his childhood friend, Dexter possessed a deep understanding of Lincoln that went beyond mere words. Lincoln realized that attempting to deceive him, even after being separated for five long years, would be useless. Dexter's intuition and familiarity with him were too strong to be overcome by lies. Lincoln silently acknowledged this unspoken understanding between them, reinforcing his resolve to shield Kate from the truth.

They stopped asking him questions and decided to tell him about the events that took place after his disapearance. Their parents' funeral was held a week later for two reasons. Firstly, their bodies needed to be autopsied, which took some time. Secondly, they had hoped Lincoln would return, thinking he had run away. However, they were later able to confirm that Lincoln might have been abducted and taken to Germany. The pieces of the puzzle began to align, supporting the chilling theory that their parents' deaths were not the result of random killings, but rather a calculated act orchestrated by German spies.

Though Lincoln already knew all of this.

Driven by a burning desire to uncover the truth and locate Lincoln, Dexter made the decision to join the army, hoping to bring an end to the unfolding events. Inspired by his determination, the others also embraced the same ambition, rallying behind the shared goal. As Lincoln listened to Dexter, he couldn't help but reflect on the unfortunate turn of events. He pondered how different their lives would have been, if the tragic circumstances had never transpired.

"So... What's your plan now?" Dexter asked Lincoln, prompting a response. Lincoln already had a clear course of action in mind before he escaped the facility, Dexter's words only solidified his determination. Lincoln had always despised war and wanted join the army to help put an end to it. His parents wanted peace, which was why they had moved to the outskirts of the country. It was brutally ironic that they still became victims of the very conflict they wanted to avoid. The reasons behind his family's targeting and the significance of what he possessed remained a mystery to Lincoln. Though deep within him, there was a nagging feeling of awareness, he just couldn't remember what it was. After losing his parents, all Lincoln wanted  was to fight, to protect others from experiencing the same pain he felt. But hidden beneath that desire was also a thirst for revenge.

When asked if he desired the power, he couldn't refuse. After all, it was precisely what he needed. With it, he thought he would be to rise through the ranks of the army and ultimately become the commander, with the goal of bringing peace to Canada. Now, more than ever, he was resolute in his decision.

"I'm going to enlist in the army," Lincoln replied. "I'm too far down this path to consider any other options."

Dexter remained silent, his disapproval evident. "Will you support me?" Lincoln inquired, and Dexter averted his gaze. "Let me think about it," he replied, rising from his seat. Lincoln mirrored his actions and followed Dexter out of the room. "Lin!" Kate called out as she followed him to the front door. Lincoln turned to her with a comforting smile before shutting the door behind him.

Dexter sighed as he took a seat on the porch, while Lincoln leaned against the door, blocking the peephole with his head. Closing his eyes, Lincoln's vision switched, granting him a third-person x-ray view of his own body. In this altered perception, he could also see Dexter in front of his body and Kate on the other side, leaning against the door and eavesdropping. The tension in the air was palpable.

"Is this truly what you want?" Dexter's voice carried a mix of concern and skepticism. Lincoln, resolute in his decision, responded without hesitation, "It's been my longing for years." Dexter lowered his head, his face hidden within his arms, his voice tinged with judgment. "Is this about revenge?" he questioned, unable to mask his apprehension.

"It's more than that." Lincoln simply replied. "War is a shitty thing, man..." Dexter uttered softly. "I've heard that before. But I'm already involved in this." Lincoln replied and noticed Kate leaving.

"Just because they took you doesn't mean you have to fight," Dexter argued. "It's more than that, Dex," Lincoln repeated. "How? Why? Please, tell me!" Dexter pleaded, "We fought to find you, we were so worried about you, Lin. And now you're telling me that you're going to put yourself in danger, again?! So tell me... why?"

Lincoln was hesitant but understood that the only way to reveal the truth was to demonstrate it to Dexter. Focusing his energy, he channeled it into his palm, releasing a surge of power into the dark neighborhood. The road glowed with a vibrant crimson energy before the blast dissipated into thin air. Dexter spun around, gasping in astonishment. "Was that you?" he asked, his voice a mix of confusion and awe, and Lincoln nodded slowly. "Show me your hands." Dexter demanded, suspecting Lincoln had used an energy blaster.

Dexter's eyes widened as Lincoln rolled up his sleeves. "What really happened to you?" Dexter asked, clearly shocked. Lincoln sighed, taking a seat beside Dexter on the porch. "It took them four years to grant me this power. I was in a coma all that time. Once I woke up, they experimented on me for over a year until I finally found a way to escape. I'm not really sure how they were able to grant it to me." Lincoln explained.

Dexter listened in silence, clearly at a loss for words. Lincoln realized it was best to reveal everything to his friend now. 

Lincoln checked to see if anyone was listening in on their conversation and continued, "I was given a choice, and I chose to have the power. It came at the cost of my memories, but I'm not really sure how it works, because I don't think I've forgotten anything yet. Maybe it was just a theory, I'm not sure. I was their only successful subject after all." 

"Why did you choose to have the power despite the drawbacks?" Dexter asked. "I wanted to end this war. I still do." Lincoln responded resolutely.

Dexter took a moment to absorb all that Lincoln had revealed. "So that's why... Then it seems like there's nothing holding you back, huh?" he remarked, a hint of determination in his voice. Lincoln shook his head. "Alright then, I'll help you get in. I'll support you, we'll support you. We're brothers after all. It doesn't matter how ridiculous it gets. I'm used to the reality of this world now, so I'll always have your back." Dexter declared confidently. A wave of warmth enveloped Lincoln as he nodded. "Thanks, man."