Heritage

Heritage (Chapter 52)

Chapter 52: Ethan

It's a funny feeling, falling from grace. How did things get here? I've spent my entire life dedicating myself to an institution that I thought was the brightest light in the galaxy. Only to find out that the light was just a flash-bang that hides the bullets behind it.

My government is nothing more than organized thugs in fancy suits and shiny pins. The whole reason we went to deep space in the first place was so that we could find a better way to do things. A global nuclear war did nothing to deter us from the very thing we were trying to gain when we were fighting amongst ourselves...power.

There's no way the UEDF and the allied planets therein are fighting the Sekrid for a dead husk of a cosmic creature. There's something more. There has to be. Argalia has to hold that secret. Lucky for me, my son is already there to find out.

"You may want to watch your head when you get out there. Pissed off people tend to throw things," A soldier says from across the transport vehicle.

I look him in the eyes.

"You know, I used to look to you. The UEDF's crown jewel. There wasn't a single campaign over the past twenty years that you haven't spearheaded. And once you got that big ass ship...man, you were the shit. Why'd you have to shoot him?"

I give a scoff and a smile "Aren't you not allowed to talk to me about anything? Let alone the crime I committed?" I ask.

The realization hits him and almost reflexively he responds "Oh, yes sir, sorry," as he turns away.

"It's fine. I was just busting your balls kid. And you don't have to call me sir anymore. Saying one day you and everyone else might understand," I stare out of the narrow, tinted window, the view turning from city streets to row after row of screaming people calling for my head on a platter.

"Would be the furthest thing from the truth. They already hate me kid. And nothing I can do will change that. You wanna know why I did it?"

I turn back to the guard, seriousness in my face "Simple really. I did it for my family. I could go on and on about how corrupt everything is. The secret plans the government has made with even more secret death weapons and yadda yadda, but in the end, it all boils down to family. He threatened them, I didn't see a way out, and so I shot him. The funny thing is, no one ever guesses that as your motive. It's always some grand scheme. But why should it be in this day and age? Just take a look out of the window kid. You can see the indoctrination painted everywhere. I don't need some grand scheme to prove that. I don't have to prove anything. I just need to stop it," I finish.

The kid just sits there, flabbergasted at my rant. His eyes drop to the floor.

He looks back up at me.

"But...how can you do that if you're locked up?"

I smile wide. "Well that's the million-dollar question now...isn't it kid?"

"Reyes...my name is Gabriel Reyes..."

the truck finally comes to a stop in front of the courthouse. A narrow walkway up the stairs is the only path open between the sea of protesting people.

Reyes stands up and moves to the door of the cabin. I stand up beside him.

"Well Mr. Reyes, are you ready to protect me from obscenities and flying tomatoes?" I ask sarcastically.

Reyes chuckles as he quickly opens the door, holding me by an arm and leading me up the walkway. I hear people yelling and cursing my name. It's a cacophony of noise that I'm glad goes silent after we cross through the courthouse doors to the inside.