Legacy's Ghost

Episode 35: Seed of Greatness

Under cover of darkness, and fully dressed in a black cloak, Edmond and the Ghost escort me back to the safety of the TAG wing of the monastery where they deposit me back into my old room.

I open the door and they follow me inside. Then, Edmond places a hand on my shoulder. "The Ghost sill be standing guard outside your door while you sleep. Then he will escort you to my office for me to watch over you while he sleeps."

I nod.

"In the afternoon, Gamma, Magnus, and Tradon will each take turns meeting with you. If you'd like, you may council with me afterward, and then you are expected to have your answer in the morning. Until then, the Ghost is instructed not to speak with you to avoid the appearance of favoritism."

I stare up at him, each word slowly seeping into my body and mind like a tiny weight, compounding until by the end, I can barely move.

"What about the scientists?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

The Ghost steps closer. Though I can't see his face in the shadowy recesses of his hood, I remember it from the tunnels. And I imagine the worry and concern that I saw when he says, "So long as there's a breath in my body, they won't touch a hair on your head without your permission."

I nod again, pressing my shaking hands to my sides. So much hinges on this one decision. A decision that a twelve-year-old boy shouldn't have to make by myself. I'll decide my fate. I'll decide whether I'll go with the Ghost, or the PPNs or the LAs. I'll decide whether to become a warrior, a savior, or nothing at all.

The thoughts running through my mind—what ifs, how abouts, and then there's pepper my head, over and over like a Chinese water torture, until tears spring to my eyes. I shake my head, ignoring the pounding of my heart, or the way it sounds like water is rushing through my ear drums.

"I can't choose," I finally say. "What if I'm wrong? What if I got to the LAs and accidentally kill both armies instead of just the swarm. What if I go to the PPNs and I can't lead? Or worse. They realize I'm no god. Because I'm not. Then what?"

I turn to the Ghost. "What if we disappear and where we needed to be was right here fighting the Swarm all along?" I shake my head, slowly sinking to my knees. "I can't choose. I'm a kid. A kid that hasn't been in TAG school learning to lead. To make big decisions. I've only fought for me and what I need. Not the whole colony."

Over and over again, I repeat, "I can't do it." Until I'm resting my head on my knees, silently sobbing into my knees.

Edmond sits next to me and wraps an arm around my shoulder, squeezing. The Ghost drops to the floor in front of me but says nothing.

When my sobs slow to sniffles, Edmond pulls the hood back from my face, takes the goggles off my eyes, and then removes the compression-like mask from my face until there's no barrier between my face and his.

I wipe at my purple eyes with a gloved hand and sniff, gritting my teeth to keep from breaking into sobs again.

The wrinkles around Edmond's eyes seem to etch deeper as he runs a hand over my coarse white hair. "From the moment I saw you on the doorstep of the monastery, I knew you were special," he says. "Your mom wouldn't have dragged her bruised and battered body all the way to our doorsteps unless she knew it too."

He offers me a small smile, that quickly wavers, revealing sad, heartbroken eyes, the depth of which I'm sure I'll never understand. Like there's a story behind that statement that he hasn't told me. That I'm not ready to hear.

Edmond swallows then lifts his chin regally as if trying to show strength. "I believe she knew you were destined for greatness. She knew you were the key to peace between us and the Swarm. Whether that is peace through death, or peace through something else, I don't know yet. But. . ."

He presses his hand to my chest. "I believe deep down you know the path you are to take. Trust your gut. Listen to the spirits of those who have passed. They'll guide you to your best future. Sometimes the best road is not the easiest. Sometimes to grow strong you must be hewn down and rebuilt."

Edmond grabs my hands and squeezes them before slowly lumbering to his feet. "What I do know is that you have an honest heart to your core. You have strength and grit and tenacity that few possess. Whatever decision you make tomorrow will be the best one. I know it. I believe it. I believe in you."

He pats my head one more time, then says with a soul-rending sigh, "Get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a busy day."