A Hero in the Dark: 2nd Edition

Chapter 71: Our Broadcast!

"Do you realize how senseless you are?!" Setrákus scolds in the co-pilot's chair. "Letting Samuel and Sutekh escape was one thing, but meeting with John Smith! It's another level of stupidity!"

"I'm sorry, Beloved Leader," I utter in my seat, too ashamed to look up at him. "I didn't know what else to do. You were in the vats, healing, and I—Ella and I were left on our own. I thought she was going to let every prisoner in West Virginia free."

"So be it," he states. "It would've been a minor inconvenience compared to what you've done today." He pauses, watching me. "You do realize what you did, do you?"

"I tried to convince him..."

"You inevitably put yourself in harm's way."

"What?"

"MogPro, for one," he goes on. "Whatever you've done to those agents, they thought it best to assassinate you for it, and again with John Smith! I have said this before: The Loric are stubborn, more stubborn than you think they are. They will not see reason, no matter what you say or how many times you say it. They will always see what we're doing is wrong even when it isn't. And what would have happened if John Smith lured you back to his side?"

"He wouldn't."

"Really? Are you willing to bet your life on that?" I swallow. "Don't think I didn't see how close you were to submitting. Don't think I didn't hear your entire exchange. I am not a fool, Emily! Do not treat me as one! You must learn to accept Mogadorian Progress in full. I understand you don't want to hurt anybody, but you must learn to let these feelings go."

Every word of his is accurate, is strong, enunciated with a heaviness that I can't fathom. "I'm trying," I tell him.

"You need to try harder," he persists. "You must learn to think as I do if you are ever to assume your role as my right hand. You must, or I will assign another one of my bests to take a hand over your home country in the end."

"No. You said I could—"

"Then you must start acting like the leader I need you to be," he says. "You must be strong, forceful, direct; no matter how much others plead for your mercy. You give others a chance and they will crawl all over you. You must stand by your values; let no one stomp all over them."

"Conquer. Consume. Cauterize," I recite, remembering the passage from his Great Book. "I understand, Beloved Leader. I'll be better in the future."

"Not in the future," he says. "Now. I need this now."

"I will."

"Prove it to me," he demands.

"How?"

"Prove it to me the only way you know how, Emily," he orders strictly, as if I'm a dog that's done a grave misdeed, and all at once, I know what he's expecting. "If you know what's best for you, do it. Look me in the eyes and tell me the truth."

I stand from the chair and fall to my knees. I look up at him, into his dark black eyes, and as embarrassing as it is to even think of saying it in front of Carsonick, I say it so it's crystal clear anyway, "I'm really sorry for my behaviour, Beloved Leader. It was wrong, and I know I shouldn't have acted the way I did. I want to be better. I don't want you to have to regret appointing me as your right hand. I'll do as you do from now on, speak as you speak, think as you think; I swear it on my life! Please, forgive me, Beloved Leader. Forgive me."

He stares at me hard, unblinking; I try not to blink either. I don't deter. I know he's checking me, making sure it's not a lie. "Good. Now let's let the world know what it is we truly want."

He bares his teeth into a proud, willing smile, waiting for my response, and despite how nervous I am, I take a breath and nod. "Yes, Beloved Leader." I smile then too. "I'm glad you're healthy again by the way. You have no idea how worried I was, and um, thanks for saving my life."

Setrákus smiles a much more placid smile, then hits a big blue button on the control panel. A holographic projector appears on half of the windshield, displaying Setrákus's face. As soon as a light blinks red in the corner, he takes a breath. "Have I not been patient?" he begins, rather patiently and matter-of-fact. "My warships hold your world's most important cities. It should be clear by now that there is no other way forward. And yet, you still resist..." I wonder how much of this he's reviewing internally before repeating aloud. I wonder if he even needs to plan what he's going to say like I am. "I gave you an ultimatum and only the wise leaders of Russia saw the wisdom in my words." He pauses, and all I can do is wonder what or when he did this—given humanity an... ultimatum? I don't even know what that is. "I understand how paradigm shifts can be difficult. I understand that acknowledging humanity's subservience is troubling for the unenlightened. I assure you; I am not a monster. I do not wish to see your cities razed, to shed blood needlessly. If you do not see the truth in this, listen to my associate instead. Emily?"

He gestures to me, and I step up to his side, take a deep breath, and start: "He's telling the truth. I know what you must think of him; trust me, I felt it too. I'm human like you, and I didn't ask for these powers. I didn't ask for aliens to come to Earth. I didn't ask for war..." I cherry-pick my words carefully, opting for honesty over anything. "When I met him, I was terrified, like you must be now. He hurt me, imprisoned me; I thought for sure that he'd kill me. I know this isn't very reassuring, but you need to know that he never did. I'm still here. I'm stronger than I ever was. More than that, I'm safe. He promised me, promised safety, security, guidance—and it's followed through! There's nothing you need to worry about." I take a breath. "You might not want to hear this, but your fears, uncertainties, your loss of control... it's in your head. If you listen to what he has to say... and, maybe, give him a chance...? It's all I ask. This doesn't need to end in bloodshed. No one needs to die. These warships... these aliens... it can go away. But only if you obey. He knows what he's doing, so why not? What do you have to lose?"