Chapter Thirty-Four

Chapter Thirty-Four

The control room was quiet for a long time, minus the occasional tapping of the techs still working at their stations. Or pretending to work, in any case. Eoin, standing in the far corner of the room, tried to get EDJ’s attention by silently waving his arms. When EDJ noticed, the assistant pointed to one of the tech stations and back at the door in an urgent manner. Probably DJ and Lui causing trouble, EDJ thought. Go take care of it yourself. He shot Eoin a death stare and a subtle nod toward Hanna, indicating which was the priority. “I have one final test, if it makes things easier,” EDJ offered, turning his attention back to Hanna. She glanced up at him curiously. “If you would be so inclined…” EDJ motioned to follow him to the work station nearest his desk. EDJ waved the tech away and typed away on the keyboard, flipping switches and pressing buttons on the console. A panel in the station slid away and a glass lockout box with a button inside rose to the surface. EDJ opened the box and stepped aside. 

“What’s this?” Hanna asked, stepping forward and staring at the large, red button. 

“Your final test,” EDJ said with a smile. “At the push of this button, fifty fully armed super rockets will be launched at the city of your choice. The question is: Are you willing to inflict such evil on an unsuspecting city?” 

“What?” Hanna turned to EDJ, confused. “How could you ask that of me?”

“Because I think you can do it,” EDJ answered confidently. He turned to type on the keyboard. “So which city will you choose? How about London? No particular reason, but we need at least one target. Aaaand, there we go. All set.” As EDJ finished typing, the monitors changed to show various street views of the city. 

Hanna turned back to the screens and watched. “So many people…” she whispered, eyes wide. The destruction of an entire city… populations… homes… families… lives… Hanna looked down at the button. “Will it… really destroy the city?” she hesitantly asked. 

“You bet!” EDJ answered cheerily. “All you have to do is press the button. I can change the city, if you’d like.” Hanna shook her head, looking at the screens again. “It’s a big decision, I understand,” EDJ continued casually. “You can stay and think on it as long as you like. I’m here to provide moral support, but the decision is ultimately up to you.” He watched her for a moment. “Can you do it? Can you end the lives of thousands of innocent people with a single act?”

“That’s not what you’re asking,” Hanna whispered. “The real question is, am I truly evil?” 

“Unfortunately, that is one question that I cannot answer for you,” EDJ replied.

Hanna watched the screens quietly. Men, women, children, teachers, students, families, friends, business partners, tourists, law enforcement, beggars, nurses. The street cameras showed numerous walks of life, various religions, most ages, and almost every tone of skin known to mankind. Hanna watched them go about their lives, completely oblivious to the threat. 

Hanna avoided people, that was no secret. Humans individually were tolerable at best, barring a few already established friends. En masse they were either a nuisance or a threat, neither of which Hanna much cared for. Groups were especially prone to like-minded stupidity. Hope for humanity was never particularly high, with there being just as many reasons to hate it as there were to love it. “I’m supposed to protect them,” Hanna whispered. 

EDJ tilted his head. “Interesting. Is humanity worth protecting?” 

Hanna looked down at the red button again. All those lives cut short, Hanna thought. They’ll die. 

Of course they’ll die, the voice in the back of her head spoke up. Today, tomorrow, fifty years from now. What’s it matter when? They’re going to die anyway. 

Hanna frowned, eyes distant. But all their hopes and dreams…

What about MY hopes and dreams?! the voice shouted at her. Not once has anyone taken into consideration what I want. You risk your life every day protecting people who don’t even know you exist. What’s the point?! Even now, their lives are in your hands and they don’t even know it. They deserve a reminder. 

Hanna chewed on her lip again. I can’t.

Sure, you can, the voice answered. Think about all the little bits and pieces of bodies left in that room. Compared to that, this is a breeze! It’s just a button. 

That was self defense, Hanna countered. I didn’t mean to… this is different. This is intentional. These people are innocent.

The voice laughed. There’s no such thing as innocent, it said. Isn’t that what they keep telling us? No one is innocent. 

Hanna’s brows furrowed. No, that’s not right. You’re twisting the truth. These people are important. They matter. 

The world is filled with billions of people, the voice continued apathetically. Wars, natural disasters, and accidents happen all the time. A couple thousand people isn’t going to make that much of a difference in the grand scheme of things. People are only ever a means to an end. Another resource. This world runs on survival of the fittest. The bigger army wins. The stronger fighter survives. 

That’s not true, Hanna insisted. There are plenty of cases where-

Kill or be killed, the voice interrupted. Those are your only options. Or did you conveniently forget that lesson too?

Hanna’s shoulders fell. I don’t… I can’t… 

You can’t, but I can. Hanna’s hand moved, stopping inches above the button. 

No, Hanna thought. I won’t let you. 

Why? the voice asked. What has humanity ever done for us, huh?

Hanna stood almost frozen, hand trembling as it hovered in place. Nothing, Hanna finally answered. 

Nothing, the voice confirmed. Absolutely right. What humanity’s done to us, to its own, to everyone they deem subhuman… that’s more than enough to justify ridding the world of a few cities. 

Hanna thought of the members of her team back home, the other genetically modified and spliced humans, created to protect the world. She thought of the way her Original treated her and the last words they said to each other. Then she thought of Kandi, Mariah, DJ, and Lui. And yet… Her thoughts lingered on Lui. …and yet…

EDJ intently watched Hanna, patiently waiting for her decision to play out. Eoin came up beside him. 

“Sir!” Eoin whispered as urgently as he could. 

“Shhh,” EDJ hushed. “Don’t interrupt.” 

“Sir,” Eoin insisted, “The priso-”

“I don’t care, go take care of it yourself,” EDJ cut him off and sent the assistant away. Hanna did not seem to notice the exchange in the least, for which EDJ was grateful. Having a thought, EDJ quietly stepped back to his desk and pressed a few buttons and switches. He pulled up the feed of the room DJ and Lui were in. As expected, the room was empty with the door busted again. Scrolling through the model of the castle, EDJ found the two wandering down a hallway. He looked up at the guards in the control room and motioned for some of them to assist in recapturing the escape artists. EDJ flipped switches and entered commands, closing some doors and opening others in an attempt to redirect the two into another containment room. Thankfully, the guards helped “guide” the escapees into one of the guest suites, temporarily locking them in again. 

EDJ turned back to Hanna. She had not moved a muscle. She stood still with her hand hovering over the red button, staring at it in indecision. EDJ cautiously stepped up to her. “Hanna?” She slowly turned, her blank stare going right through him. Right out of a horror movie. EDJ cleared his throat and smiled politely before speaking. “What would you do if I said you could see your friends?” 

The blank stare immediately turned into fury and focus. “You kidnapped my friends again?” Hanna accused. 

EDJ held up his hands innocently. “Of course not. In fact, they came here on their own. Looking for you.” The anger melted into doubt and Hanna looked away. “Must be nice to have friends that care so much,” EDJ continued. “I let them know what you were going through. They also might have seen your little outburst.” 

Hanna’s eyes widened. “T-they… they saw that?” she asked, voice faltering. 

EDJ nodded. “Afraid so.” He went back to the desk and pulled open a drawer, retrieving something. “I would understand if you can’t bear to face them, knowing what they’ve seen. They did come all this way though…” EDJ walked back to Hanna. “Would you care to see them before you make a decision? I can have one of the guards escort you.” Hanna nodded. “Very well. You’ll need this.” EDJ gently took Hanna’s hand and placed a key in her palm. “I’ll have them show you the door, but only you can decide whether or not to walk through it.” He smiled politely as he stepped back and nodded to a guard. “Please enjoy your time with your friends.”