The Experiment

by Costanza, Christopher

  When we walked in I could see Neros hiding behind a large control console towards the back of the room. I instantly spotted the end of a gun peeking around it.

  I took cover behind another one of the other consoles to my right. “Kayin he’s got a gun!”

  Kayin didn’t even flinch; he just kept going towards him.

  I yelled out “What are you doing!”

  Kayin laughed and loudly said “He won’t shoot… He’s smart enough to know I’ll put three in him before he even gets a shot off… You’re done Neros! Just face your punishment like a man! It’s all over; we’re freeing the natives and destroying all of Horus’ research!”

  “I am the Commander of this ship! How dare you give me orders!.. You better kill me boy!”

  Then he blindly fired a shot from behind the console.

  Again… Kayin didn’t even flinch. He just kept moving closer.

  Neros yelled “You know the ACI isn’t going to let you get away with this! We have all the power on Aeris and your leaders agreed what we’re doing is well worth the benefits… You’ll be the ones on trial, fool!”

  “The people of Aeris won’t be able to help you! We own everyone and everything!”

  Kayin stopped…

  “Did you see the man who came in with me Neros… Go ahead, take a look… I won’t shoot you.”

  “Do you take me for an idiot boy!?”

  “Fine… I just thought you might want to look at the man who’s responsible for you still being alive right now…”

  There was just silence… Neros had nothing to say. I saw him reposition himself, as if he were planning on making a move…

  “Because you see… I originally planned to execute you as soon as we took the flight room… Then, after some thought, I decided that I was going to try and take you alive so I could give you the same type of drawn out agonizing death suffered by the natives…”

  Kayin paused and Neros still had no response…

  “I was going to strap you to one of Horus’ tables and make you suffer as long as I could without killing you...”

  Neros yelled out “You’re going to regret this! Even if you kill me and take the ship, you’re all dead men! If you care about your lives surrender and I promise to spare you from execution!”

  Kayin just ignored him and continued.

  “This man, Atlas, convinced me that if I did that, I’d be allowing myself to let you people change who I am… To make me like you… But I have to tell you, I’m starting to go back to my old way of thinking… You have five seconds Neros!”

  Kayin started to count and Neros let out a rage filled scream.

  He began to come out from behind the console and yelled “I’ll kill you!”

  Kayin and I both raised our guns and fired… And just as Kayin said, he didn’t even get a chance to shoot back…

  Neros was on the ground and I could see a pool of blood forming around him… We’d each put at least two or three bullets into him… When I got closer, I could see one had gone through his eye and blown out the back of his skull, instantly killing him… It was almost over…

  Kayin ran over to the console, kicked Neros a few times, dragged him off to the side and tried to contact our people on the planet.

  He put out the message. “This is Kayin, we have seized the Sirius! Please report, communication is now safe!”

  He repeated it several times and we just stood there waiting…

  I looked at him and said “What’s taking so long?”

  “… They must still be fighting… I’m sure we’ll hear from someone any second…”

  After a few minutes there was still no word, so he put out the message a few more times.

  He turned to me and said. “How could no one be free to pick up a radio!.. It has to mean things aren’t going well.”

  “Just be patient… we had the easy part of all this. They’re a lot more soldiers on the planet and the mines are really big. They haven’t been at it for very long either…”

  Kayin started pacing back and forth, mumbling something to himself about making a mistake and acting too soon.

  Then he slammed his fists down on the console and leaned over it.

  Just as I was about to say something, the radio cut on…

  Chapter 15

  As the hours went by, we kept receiving word that more mining sites were being freed.

  Unfortunately, the eleven sites 3 wasn’t able to influence were proving more difficult to take over. Kayin had to start ordering our people to take transport ships down and help them, along with sending any available soldiers from the seized sites.

  It was a struggle… But once the opposing soldiers saw how many of us were involved and word spread to them about our plans, they started to surrender. There were only a few remaining small groups that refused to comply… Unfortunately, they chose to fight to the end…

  It was a truly sad thing, so many men died fighting against us, simply because they didn’t understand what was happening. I’d even had to kill a few of them myself… Though I knew the fighting on X-451 was much more intense… I wanted to go down and help but Kayin ordered me not to.

  At first I got upset and argued with him, but I quickly realized he probably wanted to go too… He knew he couldn’t and it was probably destroying him on the inside, just like it was me. So I stopped and obeyed his order.

  It couldn’t be helped… The more people that were let in on the plan, the greater the chances of word getting back to Neros… This was the way it had to be in order for us to succeed… It was simply the harsh reality of the situation we’ve been forced into…

  Reports were coming in from all the different sections of the ship that our people were taking over with minimal casualties on both sides. The remaining natives had been freed and they were getting them ready to be returned to X-451.

  Everything was unfolding perfectly… Just as if it were meant to happen this way… I truly felt that the universe itself was on our side.

  It seemed as though everyone just needed some inspiration to do the right thing. Kayin knew it all along…

  This whole experience had temporarily distorted my view of humanity. And even though Kayin was just as angry, he always believed this is what would happen. He knew most of the people on this ship were good and willing to make up for what we’ve done.

  It’s funny… For the first time since this all started I was happy to be here. This whole time I had viewed it as the worst decision of my life, followed by unimaginable nightmares… It wasn’t until just now that I realized how good it felt to be a part of this.

  Even though it would have happened with or without me, I was lucky enough to be here when it did and lend my support… In fact, this was the first meaningful thing I’d ever done with my life. And we’d still get to return home with the chrysos and help the people of Aeris too… Even the protective field around the Capital had to have lost power by now….

  Everyone who refused to cooperate was detained in the holding rooms originally used to treat the natives. The next day they would be mining, whether they liked it or not… We had a massive task ahead of us, the harder we worked, the sooner went home.

  Once it was finally confirmed all sections of the Sirius and all the mining sites had been taken over by our people I felt such a relief. Even though we had a long way to go until this was all over, I felt like I was free.

  Everyone seemed so happy… I suppose we all were. And even though I couldn’t forgive myself at the moment, it was a good start.

  As I stood there listening to the communications continue to come in with good news, I felt someone take my hand… It was Sara... I smiled at her and tightened my grip…

  “I’m not mad… I know it was because you care about me…”

  “I’m glad you listened… We were badly pinned down and when we first went in they took out…”

  She stopped me.

  “I’ve heard enough about death for one lifetime…”


  She leaned up against me and I put my arm around her…

  The three of us stayed on the flight deck for hours discussing what to do next. We had all agreed that mining operations would resume first thing in the morning and everyone available would participate; no matter what division they were in.

  We had years of work ahead of us but this is the only way. Anything was better than what Horus and Neros were doing… I think everyone was ready to work as hard as they could to get this mission accomplished and return home to Aeris with a clean conscience.

  Sara and I were off to the side talking alone when I heard 3 come in over the radio.

  “Kayin, Atlas, it’s 3!”

  Kayin gave me a funny look… “You talk to him.”

  “3 this is Atlas! I was wondering when we’d hear from you… We’ve gotten word from all the mining sites. It’s over!”

  “I know, I’m having one of your men fly me to all the different sites… I want to let them all know you’ll be coming to meet them… We’re going to need to go around to every site. I have a new plan!”

  Kayin and I looked at each other and he walked over and picked up the radio.

  “What are you talking about? Just take them and go… you’re their leader now 3.”

  “Trust me!.. I’ll get back to you when I’ve got them all together!”

  Kayin looked annoyed. “3 come in!... 3!!!”

  He turned to me. “What is he doing now?..”

  “I don’t know but he hasn’t let us down yet…”

  Sara said “Maybe you’ll be surprised…” and she smiled.

  Kayin scoffed. “I don’t have time to think about him right now… We’ve gotta get the Sirius landed and start getting everyone ready for the mines.”

  He got back on the radio and put a message out to the entire ship.

  “Everyone, this is Kayin… I’d say commander but I’m not one… I’m just filling in until we get back to Aeris… As you may already know, my plan is to land the ship and allow everyone available to focus on mining so we can get home… I know it’s hard work and it isn’t what you signed up for but it’s what we have to do now… And I’ll be right there alongside you. When I say every available person, I mean it.”

  He paused “And I want to say thank you to everyone who had to courage to stand up to Neros and the ACI… We risked our lives to fight against evil and won… You should all be very proud… Now let’s get to work so we can restore the atmosphere and help everyone on Aeris! Just as we’ve helped the natives of X-451… All crew, prepare for landing.”

  I smiled and said “I don’t know Kayin… You certainly sounded like a Commander. And I was really impressed when we took the flight deck. You were perfect… Maybe you found your new calling?”

  He started shaking his head. “Atlas… Once I get back to Aeris, I’m never leaving again, picking up a gun… or having anything to do with the ACI…”

  “I don’t blame you… I feel the exact same way.”

  As the ship landed, Sara and I sat next to each other; she kept her hand on mine.

  Even after everything I’d just been through, all of a sudden I was nervous about meeting with the natives… I was trying to come up with something to say… An apology that 3 would be able to relay in a way they’d understand… From what I’ve seen they had to be intelligent enough to recognize remorse.

  Maybe they’d be able to tell, just by looking at us…

  Sara must have noticed I was brooding…

  “Atlas, what’s wrong?.. Aren’t you happy?”

  I turned to her and smiled. “Yeah, of course… I’m just thinking about the natives. Even though we freed them, so much has happened… I’m just wondering if they’ll be able to forgive us or even understand when we try to say we’re sorry.”

  “Don’t worry. I have a feeling 3 will make sure they understand what happened… Maybe that’s why he’s arranging for you and Kayin to meet all of them?”

  “Yeah I hope so…”

  Kayin started to address the ship again. “We’ll be landing soon. The Sirius is entering the atmosphere as I speak. Please take the proper precautions in case we experience turbulence… Once we land everyone is free to do whatever they want… Relax, take some time to look around the planet… Anything… Because tomorrow starts our long journey towards mining the rest of the chrysos.”

  Sara said “Looks like we’ll have some time to finally get to know each other.”

  We both laughed and got ready for the ship to land… Our hands locked together…

  I turned to her and said “I can’t wait.”

  Moments after the Sirius touched ground another familiar voice came over the radio.

  “This is Cassian, can anyone hear me? I saw the Sirius break through the clouds, whats going on?”

  I ran over “Kayin, I know that guy, he was the one I kept telling you got on my nerves at the first mining site we took 3 to… Let me talk to him.”

  Kayin backed up. “Go for it. I know I recruited him but it was so long ago... I don’t remember him.”

  “Cassian this is Atlas, come in.”

  “Atlas!? Is that really you?.. We did it man!.. There’s only one problem…”

  We all stood there waiting for him to say what it was…

  “I don’t really understand what’s happening but the natives have already gone back to mining…”

  Kayin got on. “What do you mean!?”

  “I mean they’re still mining… We can’t get them to stop. Every time we try they just start chanting that weird word they call us and work even faster… We don’t know what to do!”

  Kayin looked at me. “I knew this would happen because of 3’s plan!”

  He told Cassian to stand by and started calling for 3 over the radio.

  Eventually the pilot that was transporting 3 to the other sites answered and said he was down at one of the mines talking to the natives.

  I said “… Maybe they’re doing it because they’re grateful?.. Maybe 3 explained that we need it to save our planet?”

  Kayin started to leave the flight room. “I don’t know but I’m going down there right now.”

  I stopped him. “Wait for 3 to get back… I have a feeling he knows what’s going on… Plus you can’t communicate with them anyway Kayin… It’s a waste of time.”

  He turned around. “Atlas, this defeats the whole purpose of what we did!.. If they won’t stop working we might as well have just let this play out!”

  I suppose in some ways he was right… “No, you’re wrong… They’re doing it by choice. They won’t be suffering in those storage rooms anymore and getting injections that might kill them… Horus and Neros were brought to justice and their work will never fall into the wrong hands on Aeris… We accomplished a lot Kayin… Just wait until we see what 3 has to say.

  We don’t know anything yet.”

  He sighed and got back on the radio “Cassian, stand by for orders and tell everyone to let them be, all they’ll do is scare them and make it worse…”

  Then he called to the pilot and told him to have 3 contact us the moment he’s back on the ship.

  Kayin looked at me. I could see that he was extremely annoyed and growing more impatient by the minute… Emotions will still running high and it would probably be like this for quite some time. Especially since the natives still worship us.

  Just as 3 predicted… Due to extreme fear and reverence, they would continue to mine because they know their creators wanted it… That it’s what pleased us…

  I said “All we can do is wait…”

  After another twenty minutes or so, we finally heard 3’s voice on the radio. We were all standing off to the side talking so I ran over.

  “3! Still haven’t thought of a name yet?”

  I could hear him laughing when he came back on. “Not yet Atlas… I promise you’ll be the first to know.”

  Kayin walked up and took over. “3, why am I getting reports that the natives refuse to stop
mining? You can’t just convince them to leave?.. What’s going on?”

  “I only have six more sites to go to Kayin… Then I’ll come back to the Sirius and explain everything, I promise… It turns out I was wrong about a few things… We have a new situation… Or rather an old one that has reemerged… We’ll have plenty of time to talk when I get back to you, just be patient for me! Ok guys?”

  Kayin slammed his hand on the console. “Why do I feel like he’s always trying to purposely upset me? Why can’t he just explain it right now!.. Atlas get him back on and try to talk to him.”

  “I will if you want… but I think we should just listen to what he says… 3 said we have a new situation and I have a feeling he’s the only one who can deal with it... He probably just needs a little time and some help. Which includes us being patient Kayin.”

  Kayin sighed… “Fine, we’ll just wait.”

  Sara touched my arm. “We aren’t needed for a while… You want to go to the observation room and talk?”

  I looked at Kayin and he waved me away. “Might as well… Apparently we have to stand here like idiots and wait for his lordship 3 to tell us what’s going on…”

  I laughed. “Come on Kayin, he’s been a big help… And I think he’s kind of funny. I can’t help but laugh when you two go back and forth… If I’m not mistaken don’t friends usually do that?”

  He shot me a cold glare. ”Get out…”

  Sara and both started laughing. I said “Alright, alright I’m gone” and we left.

  On the way Sara didn’t waste any time, she asked “So do you still…”

  I already knew what she was going to say, so before she finished I replied “Yes.”

  “It’s so strange isn’t it?.. It’s like I’ve known you all my life or something.”

  I laughed. “Oh you have no idea how much better that makes me feel… I didn’t even know how to tell you that. I was worried you’d think it was crazy or weird…”

  Then I got serious. “Not being able to see you reminded me of times when I lost people I really cared about… You know what I mean?”

  She nodded. “Yes!.. And I really did think it would stop a long time ago but… Well here we are.”