Our Manufactured Reality

Chapter 24: After it's All Over

It was time to leave the camp. Morning had come fast... even though I didn't sleep a wink. I suspected none of the R.E.P. team had. It seemed as though I was surrounded by a faceless mob as I laced up my boots. Although we all had the same goal in mind, it was difficult to see the end of the road in a promising light.

I began clearing my head of all it's thoughts. I focused on the blades of grass beneath my feet. The way my shoelaces were intertwined in a lopsided manner. The way the tops of the trees seemed to touch the clouds like a knife through butter.

While attempting to stop the frigid wind from making my cheeks turn blisteringly red, Corey and Alex approached the crowd. Alex had been following Corey around a lot-- like a kind of apprentice.

"Alright," Corey interrupted everyone's chatting. "Continue preparing. I'll try to keep this short." He put his hands on his hips, and some heads chose to turn his way. "Anyway, today's the day!" A small cheer rose from the back of the crowd. Corey smiled slightly. "Yeah, today's the day. The day we fight!"

"Yeah!" I yelled with some people nearby. We were all invested on pure hope. Whether it was foolish or not, it was still there, fueling us to not look back.

"Yes, today is the day we fight. We've been preparing for a fight with the machines for a while. And I think everything we've been doing had been leading up to this point..." He shifted. "I know we've lost a lot of people along the way, and it's been hard..." My mind conjured up a mental image of Deborah. "It has been quite been a journey. Quite the ride. And I know that we will always be there for each other. Even in this battle, we will stand by each other's side. And... I think that's something the robots might not have. Sure they don't have feelings, senses, or a heart, but they also don't have each other's backs. Yes, they have other robots to cover each other, but they don't have a strong bond to one another. That's what we have. We are all in this together. No matter where you were before, or where you are now, this fight is for all of us. Because are all in the same place right now... And that's what the goal for today is... to change our position. To get on top... Back on top." A few people nodded in response. "It's gonna be rough. You all know that... But we can do it. I've seen how you all can work together, and I believe in this team. So, let's go out there and fight! Fight until we can't anymore!" A wave of shouts and cheers overtook the group. "Fight until the daylight dims and moon shines on the remnants of our mechanical foes! Fight until we save humanity! Fight until we win!"

Everyone hollered faithfully. I did too. Then, suddenly I caught a glimpse of Harper cheering while standing next to Alex. When did she get here? She's coming? Wait. I thought she was in recovery for her arm. My eyes slid down to the thick bandage around her limb, yet my brain still had too many questions. How? How is she okay enough to fight? With just- just one bandage? I need to talk to her. No- she wanted her space. Right? Space? But then why is she here in a crowd where she's knows I am too?

Ugh. I wanted to approach her, but didn't want to make the wrong call. She meant too much to me now. It was awful. Like being helplessly adrift on a life-raft. Or pinned against a wall in a pool as a wave compressed your chest mercilessly.

In the end, I decided just to stay where I was. Today is about fighting the robots, not my own emotions. I can't think about little things like-- oh no, here she comes.

"Hey..." Suddenly Harper was standing in front of me, one hand methodically rubbing her forearm. "So, I've been thinking, and I think-- I don't know... I just feel like this whole thing spiraled out of control, and that maybe we were moving too fast." I nodded, slightly empty on the inside, just trying to hear her out. "Anyway, I really want to be friends."

"Of course." I forced a smile. She'd backed me into a corner. There was nothing I could say to make her change her mind. Somehow-- through one tiny difference in our memory banks-- we'd sailed away on different ships. She was still on the high seas, discerning new territory, and I'd ridden a wave to calm waters. My mind was free of questions, and her's was not.

I began to turn around when I felt her hand on my shoulder-- meeting my arm with a sharp force, and then quickly drawing back, hovering over my skin. I rotated my head to look at her-- just enough to see her face without shifting my firmly planted feet.

"I'm sorry we're on different pages. I'll get there soon... I just... don't want to lose you."

That statement caught my attention. She didn't want to lose me. Me. She knew we were drifting too. Now, finally, she had projected these feelings out loud.

Neither of us wanted to lose the other. We had come too far to fall short of a lasting peace.

"I don't want to lose you either," I revolved to meet her deep, dusty blue eyes. "I never meant to lose you in the first place." My mind flashed back to the time she was taken. A.I.M. Running. Facing the robot to save her. Harper joining the fight after I thought she was safe.

Winning. Losing. Shot. Lost.

"You didn't." She knew what I was referring to. "You never lost me. A.I.M. separated us, but we were always going to find our way back. It wasn't your fault. Or mine. It was just A.I.M.'s. He's a freaking robot, for gosh sake. We are in a post-apocalyptic world if you haven't noticed!" She laughed, and I cracked a grin as well. I stepped in closer, as she gathered her thoughts. We were breaking down barriers; still on the edge of the cliff, but now grasping the rope. "Charlie, you never lost me. And, I think I should've said this a long time ago... but... you and I... we've just grown so close over this time I've spent with you. I mean, I guess throughout the time I've really been alive. And... I think that maybe... once this is all over..." I was on the edge of my seat. Her emotions bubbled to the surface as her cheeks turned red. "We should-- uh..."

"What?" I whispered almost inaudibly.

"We should-- spend more time together." She looked at the ground, overwhelmed. Is that what she wanted to say? Spend more time together? Weren't we planning to do that already? "Yeah."

"Uh-- okay. Sure. Once this is... all over." Fortunately, my stumbling response was cut-short by the sound of Corey's voice calling us to gather round. It just wasn't the time to talk. And maybe it would never feel like the perfect moment to, but right now were needed to help the cause.

Besides, there was always: "after this is all over."

It would always be there. Like chasing the horizon.