Cyber Chronicles 2: Prime Voyage

Epilogue

"Lincoln?" A voice gently called out, the familiarity of it tugging at his mind like a distant melody. Although he struggled to match it with a person, the warmth in the voice was undeniable. It seemed like a voice heard only a few times, lingering at the edge of memory, yet carrying an indelible warmth that resonated with his heart.

As Lincoln's eyes fluttered open, the sunlight blurred his vision, gradually revealing the lush surroundings of grass beneath him. A light poke on his back from the grass added a tactile dimension to his disoriented awakening. Before him stood a woman, her hazel hair radiating against the sunlight, and her eyes, a mirror of warmth and affection, bore into his. 

"Mum?" The word escaped Lincoln's lips, a revelation dawning as his mind filled in elusive blanks.

His mother chuckled with a vibrancy that echoed through her voice. "Yes, Lin. You look like you've seen a ghost."

Sitting up, Lincoln glanced at his hands, soil clinging to them. "I feel like I've just woken up from a really long dream," he confessed, his expression reflecting a mix of wonder and realization.

"It seems like it was a bad dream," Emerald said, her voice a soothing melody. Bending down, she gently rubbed away a tear from Lincoln's eye with her thumb, the touch carrying reassurance.

"I don't remember it anymore," Lincoln admitted, his gaze scanning the surroundings. "Where are we?"

Emerald chuckled once again, her laughter carrying a motherly warmth. "God, Lincoln, what dream even was that? We saw you all comfortable and didn't want to wake you up, but I didn't think it'd be this bad."

"He probably aged while he slept," another familiar voice chimed in from behind. Lincoln turned to find his sister Kate, comfortably seated on a mat, engrossed in a book displayed on her holophone. "Which would explain the amnesia."

Lincoln sighed, a mix of confusion and bemusement on his face. "Take it easy on me; I'm seriously not sure what to feel right now."

Emerald looked at him with a worried gaze. "Well, we came to the park for a picnic, and you fell asleep, probably because you barely got sleep yesterday after that dangerous hike with Dex," she explained, standing up. Lincoln followed suit, absorbing the information.

"The hike, huh?" Lincoln mused, recalling their ordeal of getting stuck in a cave and breaking free. However, beyond that, his memory seemed to draw a blank.

He stretched, muscles awakening from their prolonged rest. "Where's Dad?" he asked, and Kate gasped theatrically, "Oh god, he actually is old." She quipped, earning an annoyed look from Lincoln.

Emerald chuckled, her tone carrying both amusement and concern. "He went to get some food; he must be almost here now." As if on cue, Lincoln's father, Alan, emerged into view, walking up the small grass hill toward them. His blonde hair and coffee brown eyes bore a striking resemblance to Lincoln, a slightly older version of him.

"Kiddo! You're finally up," his father exclaimed, the joy evident in his welcoming smile.

Alan gently placed the bags on the mat, offering a comforting pat on Lincoln's back. "You ever think of going back?" he asked.

"Going back where?" Lincoln inquired, puzzled. Kate chuckled in the background.

Alan laughed again, patting Lincoln's back once more. "Oh well, you just woke up; I can't tell you to go now, can I? Come, let's eat; I'm starving."

As they settled down to eat, the peculiar question didn't resurface. They shared sandwiches and conversations, and the more they talked, the more Lincoln's surroundings became familiar. Post-hike, his family had decided on a picnic, but everything else after that was a haze. It felt like he'd travelled back in time, a strange sensation lingering from what seemed like an extended dream.

He sighed, attributing the odd sensation to the after-effects of that intense dream. "So kiddo," Alan spoke up again, the tone shifting subtly, "There are people waiting for you, aren't there?" Lincoln couldn't quite grasp the meaning behind his father's question.

"My friends? They can wait; this is family time," Lincoln replied.

"Aw shucks, that means a lot," his father said, returning to his usual jovial self. His mother chimed in, "Right? I thought he was being distant."

"Mum, I told you, I'm going to spend a lot of time with you guys. Now that I've finished with that cave project," Lincoln explained proudly.

"What project, kiddo?" Alan asked, his brow furrowed.

"You know, the one I promised to finish before your anniversary next week," Lincoln explained, his smile reflecting his sense of accomplishment.

"Oh god, he's getting older by the minute," Kate quipped.

"Our anniversary isn't for almost two months, kiddo," Alan clarified, growing concerned.

"Two months? I thought it was yesterday, you know when..." Lincoln began, his eyes widening in realization.

"When, what?" Alan asked, concern etched on his face.

"When..." Lincoln hesitated, unable to find the words.

"Ah..." Emerald's voice quivered, and tears welled in her eyes. "Honey, I think it's time," she told Alan, who sighed.

"This is the dream, isn't it?" Lincoln questioned. "I'm just waiting to be woken up..."

Alan patted Lincoln on the head. "You need to wake yourself up."

"Ah... so that's how it is..." Lincoln mused.

Suddenly, his father pulled him into a tight hug. "At least you finally remember us," he reassured as his mother joined the embrace. "Now, you won't be alone," she added.

Tears streamed down Lincoln's face as he sighed. "Deep down, this was what you were waiting for, wasn't it?" Kate observed as she joined the hug. Lincoln tried to nod but found himself trapped in the tight embrace, crying harder in the comforting hold.

"You will never forget us again," Emerald affirmed.

"So go on, save the world, kiddo, make us proud," Alan added.

"Didn't you promise a world without war for your children?" Kate reminded. "You better keep that; my children need to be safe too."

Again, Lincoln attempted to nod, realizing he couldn't move an inch in the embrace. "Yeah..." he managed to say.

"It's okay, don't think too much about it," Alan comforted. "Be it your children, or grandchildren, or great-grandchildren, as long as you try your best, then one day there'll be a world with no war."

"I'll try my best..." Lincoln affirmed.

"Then go, we'll have your back. Take care of your little sister for us too," Alan said.

"I will. I love you all so much; I miss you so much," Lincoln expressed amidst sobs.

"We love you too; we'll be waiting for you, Lin," Emerald said, as their forms began to dematerialize, and the surroundings slowly absorbed into itself.

"Yeah," Lincoln responded as his body surged with an immense amount of energy.

"Obsune," Lincoln called out as everything went black for a moment.

Lincoln's eyes flickered open, and he found himself suspended about thirty meters above the ground. Observing his own body, he realized he was encased within a titan made of crimson energy, with his consciousness residing in its colossal head. The sensation of commanding the massive limbs of the titan began to envelop him, and he marveled at the power at his disposal.

Glancing downward, he spotted the crumpled form of Odirah's beneath the titan's feet. With a swift upward gaze, he locked eyes with a colossal beast, nearly matching his own titan in size.

Determined, Lincoln's fist crackled with ethereal energy as he prepared to unleash a powerful blow.

To be continued.