by Terry Schott
The old man join the others and turned to face Cooper. His face was sad as he spoke. “What did you think you were doing, son?”
“I—” Cooper paused. “I thought you would know.”
“I need you to say it.” The old man motioned to the others. “They must hear why you did what you did.”
Cooper swallowed and looked down at the gloves. “They were doomed. Our people—my people—deserve better than to live as slaves from birth 'til death. I wanted to give them a chance at happiness.”
The old man raised one hand and a rectangle of light appeared above it. “In order to give them happiness, you killed them.”
“Yes.”
“Millions of them. Innocent people.”
“I didn’t truly kill them. I sent them to a different reality. When they died here, they were sent back to the Game world.”
The old man raised one eyebrow and nodded at the light above his hand. A scene appeared. The black flash that Cooper had created with the Artifact. The view of the planet expanded as the pulse did, the scene zooming out to show the entire planet as it was enveloped by the black flash. Then, the view zoomed back in and showed them what happened as the black light touched the people. It passed through them, disintegrating them instantly. The old man shook his head. “The pulse eliminated every living person from this planet in the time it took to travel across the world.” He looked at Cooper and shook his head. “Son, you wiped your entire race of people from the surface of the Dream in under ten seconds.”
Cooper stared at the old man, his eyes wide. “But they were sent back into the Game world. They will have more opportunities, a chance to be happy and free.”
“Have you noticed what your actions did to the power on this planet?” a woman from the group asked.
“It doesn’t seem to be working. This is a small town, though. I’m sure it’s fine in the larger cities.”
“It isn’t. At present, there is no power on the planet.”
“What? Oh god.” Cooper felt sick to his stomach. He bent over as a wave of nausea gripped him.
“That’s right,” the old man said. “The Game exists on Tygon, and Tygon is a simulation powered from this world.”
Cooper fell to his knees. “No.” I haven’t sent them anywhere. I’ve killed everyone on this planet. Another memory flashed through his mind. Young Addisyn hugging him with Trew and Danni in the background. Her first day of school. He looked at the old man, his eyes filled with tears. Terrible pain gripped his soul. “I’ve destroyed Tygon and the Game as well?”
The old man sighed and bowed his head. The others behind him did the same.
Cooper lowered his head and sobbed, then looked up and wiped at his eyes.
The old man held his hand palm up and a red pop bottle cap appeared. “You have made a terrible mistake, Cooper. Your recklessness has resulted in the destruction of worlds, the death of billions.”
Cooper shook his head. This can’t be real. I have to be dreaming. There has to be some way to . . . . He blinked. “I can fix this.”
“What?”
“Is there some way that I can fix this?”
The old man’s expression became curious. “What makes you think something like this can be fixed?”
“Because I’m still alive and you are here. There must be more to the universe than I know. Can you teach me? Can you help me save them?”
The old man raised one eyebrow and looked at the singing man. The singing man picked up the bottle cap and approached Cooper. “The universe is a magical place, Cooper. Every moment, something happens that was impossible only a moment before. Miracles rarely happen, but that does not mean they do not exist. Accept this token and join us. We will teach you as best we can so that you might gain a chance—albeit an infinitely small one—to right some of the wrongs that you have committed.”
Cooper accepted the red pop bottle cap and pressed it against the glove on his right hand. The bottle cap attached itself to his glove with a hiss.
“Good.” The old man nodded. “Now your training begins.”
To Be Continued...
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