CHAPTER 23 - A BROTHER'S QUARREL
DQA was busier than it was the last time. Thousands and thousands of origionals and Dopplegangers were there. That was really fortunate too, concidering it aloud us to sneak in, unnoticed.
Knowing where O'Bryan's office was, we all made a beeline for it. Unfortunately, Brian Taylor, having worked with DQA for a long time, ran into several old friends. And Carter, Mason, Zane, and I were stopped several times. Other Dopplegangers were excited to meet Carter and Mason's origionals, as well as see them again.
Thankfully, the whole "Cilas thing" was kept so tight under wraps that nobody even noticed him, let alone announce that O'Bryan's biggest threat had just entered headquarters. That was just about the only bit of luck we had.
We had to dodge familiar faces a few times. Once, we saw Carl, or O'Bryan, walking around. Another time, he saw Harvey. As it turned out, Carter and Mason didn't like him any more than Zane and I did.
Everywhere we looked, Dopplegangers and origionals were holding pamphlets. They all read: DGA: DOPPLEGANGER GLOBAL ADMINISTRATION. I wasn't sure what it meant exactly, and I didn't want to find out.
I wanted to find O'Bryan.
We continued to make our way through the crowd, but stopped when we heard a loud tap tap.
I glanced up, Zane by my side. There, on the platform, in front of thousands of origionals and Dopplegangers, was Connor O'Bryan. (I could tell it was him because he held the machine in his hands.)
"Welcome, my friends," he began his speech. "Tonight, we gather here because we want it all. Dopplegangers, invisible to the human eye, want to break free. They want a say in the world, and they want a chance for freedom."
Everyone clapped.
O'Bryan held up his hand and silenced them. "And origionals - myself included - want their Dopplegangers to have the chance." More applause. "Is it fair that they live in the shadows? Fair that they can not live as we do? No. And that is why I stand before you today. To perpose a new way of life.
"I hold in my hand, a machine that will change all that. This," he said, pointing to it, "will change how people see us. All of us. No longer will Dopplegangers be invisible, and no longer will they be hidden. They will break free. They will start anew. And we, origionals, will help them. No more will the mere non-origionals rule things. No, not any more. Instead, we will show them what the world will be."
He pointed to the large DGA: DOPPLEGANGER GLOBAL ADMINISTRATION sign. "This is how it will be. The world - our world - is fill of chaos and evil. And that is the doing of them. We," he said louder, "will purge the world of that evil and make it a place for all. A place where all are accepted and known. A place where all can truely live, and no longer hide. Thank you."
The multitude applauded and O'Bryan bowed his head a little in thanks.
"Is that your plan?"
I turned my head to the side of the stage. Cilas had made his way up to the stage and was walking toward his brother. O'Bryan's face registered nothing but pure shock. Clearly, he hadn't thought we'd escape.
"Come on," Zane whispered, and I followed.
As I walked, I heard the brothers talk.
"Yes," O'Bryan answered. "That is, indeed my plan."
Cilas glanced at the crowd. "And did you tell them of the hunting?"
"The hunting?" O'Bryan questioned. "I've no idea what you mean."
Cilas smiled at the people. "The hunting," he began, "is what will happen when you become visible. You see, non-origionals - normal people - do not like different things. No, they like it all the same. You," he said, pointing at the people, "are different. When my brother turns on this machine, you will all become visible to human people. And it can not be reversed. Not yet anyway.
"The hunting is what will happen when something goes wrong. Humans band together more than any other species alive. They will stand side by side, and they will hunt each and every one of you. And when they learn they can't kill you, they'll imprision you. They'll do tests on you. You'll become lab rats, nothing more. Now, is that the life my brother has promised you? Is that the freedom he's guaranteed?
"They will think of you as animals. Eventually, of course, they'll learn that you can be killed. They'll learn what it takes, and then all the origionals will be hunted. There will be no more of you. Any of you. Yes, some of you will go into hiding, but is that any better than what you do now? No, you have freedom to walk the earth, feel the wind. Well," he laughed, "not if they're looking for you."
The room errupted in whispers. People talking to their neighbors. I'll say one thing about the O'Bryan brothers: they'd give Miss Peirske a run for her money with words, that's for sure.
I kept following Zane until we reached the stairs to the stage. Brian, Carter, and Mason were already there. We began to ascend.
O'Bryan stared at all of us, utter shock on his face. "Do you think you can stop me?"
"It's over," Brian said. "Give us the machine."
O'Bryan looked at the crowd. It seemed all of them sided with Cilas. None wanted to be hunted or killed or imprisioned.
"Well," he said finally, "this is how it begins."
He lifted the machine high in the air and slammed it on the ground. It broke into hundreds of pieces. He then ran for it, through the crowd, until he was gone.
Cilas lifted the largest piece of the machine he could find. "It's gone," he said quietly. "And so is Connor."
Brian sighed. "He knew. He knew that was the only way to stop him, so he destroyed it. And then he took off, the coward."
Zane, Carter, Mason and I had searched the crowds and come up empty-handed. O'Bryan was gone. He'd gotten out and there was no use looking. He and Carl and Harvey were gone.
"So, that's it then," Zane said, looking down at the busted machine. "There's no way to defeat him."
Cilas looked up at us. "Oh, there is always a way, Young Mr. Taylor."
"How?" I asked. "He destroyed your machine."
He looked into my eyes. I could see sadness in his. "He must be killed," he whispered. "It is the only way."
I looked at him in shock. "Killed? But -"
"It is the only way," he repeated. "I can think of no other. It saddens me, but it must be done. Him, Carl, and possibly their little side kick. There is no other way to end it."
Wow, so Cilas was willing to kill his brother, or at least have him killed, to save thousands of people. He was, indeed, quite a guy. I wasn't sure I could do that, though I'd never had a brother or sister, so I really didn't know. But still... Beth, my Mom, Ryan, Zane, Carter? I didn't know if I'd be able to do it. It took more strength than I had in me.
"We will win," Cilas said at last. "Mark my words."
