Android

Chapter Two - Family Reunion

It takes a while to reach the Fortress, and it's not a very enjoyable road trip. As you ride, you constantly catch the two soldiers staring back at you. They shift uncomfortably in their seats every time you make eye contact with them. What a rude way to spend a full ten minutes. These speeders aren't as fun as you thought they'd be...

The soldier on the opposite speeder pulls up to his comrade. "Do you think he's an... android?" he asks your captor, a female guard. She replies by shaking her head helplessly and whispering back, "Honestly, I don't know. He's bleeding, ain't he? That must make him human."

The male soldier casts a nervous glance back at you. "I've heard that the 'droids have blood, but it's poisonous to humans. One touch and you're a goner. Wouldn't want to test that for truth."

His female comrade shudders and scoots away from you slightly. "Let's just carry out our duty for now."

You ride the rest of the way in uneasy silence until you finally reach your destination: the Munerian Fortress. As you approach the front gates, you stare in awe at the sheer massiveness of the place. Good heavens, it's gigantic! Four huge walls stand erect around a giant fortified building covered in snow. The walls are fashioned like those you would find surrounding a medieval castle, except entirely made of steel. That doesn't make them any less regal. In fact, the entire place is like a metal palace. Amazing!

Though you wish you were arriving as a welcome guest, you're not, sadly. The colossal gates swing open with a certain solemnity that instantly returns your fears. You really want that Elektra girl to be with you now.

Your captors direct their speeders through the foreboding gates. As you pass into the long corridors that lead to an equipment station, you see more soldiers. Lots and lots of them. All of them stare at you as if you are their sworn enemy, which is most likely not too far from reality.

Once you reach the equipment station, you are unceremoniously dragged off the speeder. Perhaps you'll get to ride it some other time, when you're not being kidnapped. Your captors push you roughly down more long halls than you though were able to fit in this place. The inner workings of this Fortress are a labyrinth, I'm telling you. You're %100 sure that you'd get lost within a matter of seconds if you tried to escape. So that option is quickly put out of the question.

After much twisting and turning through the halls, you finally arrive in front of a pair of large iron doors. Two guards stand vigil here, but when they see the soldiers that are escorting you, they reach for the handles and hold the doors open. Your captors enter with you reluctantly in tow.

The heavy iron doors are shut behind you with a resounding clang once you completely enter the spacious room. An ominous silence follows while you wait for heaven knows what. Your captors flank you on either side to prevent you from running away, even though you've already ruled that option out. They seem afraid to touch you, especially where your blood has dried on your hands and head. Talk about paranoia.

Directly in front of you is a long table, such as one that might be found at a war council. All of the chairs were empty, although you notice that there are many of them. You wonder where everyone is, and you wish they'd come soon so that this whole ordeal can be over. You're tired and confused, and quite frankly, it's boring in here. Waiting in this room is about as much fun as the snow speeder ride, and that's saying something.

Just when you feel like another minute of this awkward silence would surely kill you, a door opens at the far end of the room and three men walk in. One of them moves briskly towards the table while the other two follow behind him. They sound like they're trying to convince him about something.

"Please, Latimer, if you would reconsider the consequences of throwing our men straight into the heart of enemy lines--" one of the men says, but is quickly cut off by the briskly walking man. "I have already made up my mind, Tobias," he answers. "I do not intend to change it so late in the process."

The man named Latimer looks up, and when he catches sight of you he completely stops in his tracks. His two followers stare at him curiously and one asks him if something is wrong. Latimer shakes his head almost imperceptibly in disbelief. He is gazing at you as if you have met before. It's a bit unnerving, actually.

"Tobias, Reuben," Latimer addresses the two men without looking at them, "leave us for now. Guards, you may return to your quarters. Thank you." Latimer's men begin to protest, but one stern look from him and they know they can't argue. Your captors are more than happy to leave you in the care of someone else. They slip out as soon as possible and shut the iron doors behind them. Now you are alone with the man called Latimer and his unsettling familiarity.

For a long time you both stand in silence, taking in one another's appearances. Latimer looks to be in his late fourties, with short salt-and-pepper hair and creases left on his face from a lifetime of frowns (or serious concentration). His steely eyes seem to pierce right through you in recognition, as if he was meeting an old friend whom he hadn't seen or heard of in several years.

Suddenly, Latimer runs to you and...embraces...you? Well, this is all rather awkward and befuddling. You stand in shock as he continues to hold you tightly. A few tears drop from his eyes onto your shoulders as he he whispers to himself, "Oh my gosh, it's you. It's really you. My son, my son..." His fingers run through your hair in a very soothing way, and even though you are not sad you feel strangely consoled.

After a while, Latimer steps back and grips your shoulders. "I never thought I'd see you again, Aurelius," he says with a wide smile. "Certainly not under these circumstances."

This might be a good time to confess the truth. Get on with it before he starts blubbering again. (Oh, sorry, was that too harsh?) You stare apologetically at him as you try to find the right words for what you're about to say. "Ah... I'm sorry, I don't-- I do not believe we've...um... I don't know you." Not very eloquent, but at least you conveyed the message.

Latimer is utterly crestfallen. No, more than that. I'd go so far as to say he looks heartbroken, poor man. His smile falls, and the tears of joy he'd been crying moments before stop their flowing immediately. His face hardens as he says, "I thought for sure that you'd remember me. Especially after the break-in... They told me your memory had been wiped, but I hoped that somehow you hadn't forgotten..." His voice trails off.

Do you dare venture to ask the question? Yes, you do.

"Who are you, exactly? And how do you know me?"

Latimer gives a sad grimace. "Aurelius, I am your creator."