Chapter 8: Leghorn The Commander
Leghorn's Point of View
The General's instructions had been stark: whatever new President Lawrence Abstainace was planning was not for the city's well-being. This whole mess began years ago when Emerson's mother, Arlene, embarked on a solo mission. She stumbled upon a rare transfiguration box containing Celestial energy. She brought it home to her husband, Arnold, who extracted the energy for research. Arnold discovered it possessed the power to unlock all the possibilities he and the former president, Pedro Abstainace, had envisioned for building a New Arcadia City.
The Light Realm was immediately notified, and I was dispatched to retrieve the Celestial energy source and return it to its rightful home. It was said to be a piece of a star that had fallen from the Light Realm many years ago, transforming into this powerful relic through years of cultivation. However, the Light Realm knew that if the Arcadians persisted on this path, they would be attempting to take godly matters into their own hands.
Yet, during that mission years ago, I faced a decision I might now regret. I should have returned the celestial energy orb to the Light Realm intact. Things would have been different, and I wouldn't be cleaning up a mess that could have been avoided. But what is free will and life if I cannot make decisions from the heart instead of simply following commands? There's no point in dwelling on past choices now. The only thing that matters is what I do next.
Emerson and I parted ways the day he left New Arcadia City. He told me our paths had crossed for a reason but hoped they wouldn't again, as that would mean the past had returned to haunt us. Unfortunately, that day has come. I know Emerson won't be pleased to see me; he'll know this isn't a friendly check-in. Although he was just a child when these events unfolded, he consistently showed wisdom beyond his age. He bravely ventured into The Undergrid as a young boy and ultimately became their leader in the past few years. His true identity remains hidden as he maintains a low profile, but he is highly respected, leading a crew of rebel pillagers who abandoned New Arcadia City's laws to preserve an older way of life before the technological uprising. Among their ranks is Pedro Abstainace's daughter, Meriella, their top scout. She embodies virtue and justice and is one of the few individuals the Light Realm has been closely monitoring—because of me. She was the first human to have celestial core energy embedded in her DNA as her life source, which stopped her aging at 26.
After everything, I made Emerson promise to take her in among his people, even though he wasn't entirely happy about it. He understood its importance and the stakes involved if the Arcadians used her as a test subject. Despite her father being the President, he showed no mercy in achieving his goals, which is what led us to this situation in the first place.
I need to get to The Undergrid while the day is still young. Then I'll be able to locate Emerson. I decided to fire up my jetpack and fly right over. The distance is considerable, but I have time today.
As I stepped into the North part of The Undergrid, the familiar scent of damp earth and decay hit me like a punch to the gut. It had been years since I'd last set foot in these parts, but the memories lingered: memories of a mission gone sideways, of choices made, and of consequences that still haunted me. As I navigated the tunnels, the sound of protesters chanting and the hum of Arcadia patrol drones filled the air. The Undergrid was a powder keg, waiting to ignite. I quickened my pace, my eyes scanning the crowds for any sign of Emerson.
Finally, I arrived at the pillagers' quarters, a makeshift haven hidden deep within the tunnels. I spotted a woman with bright pink hair, and my instincts told me she'd know where to find Emerson.
"Excuse me," I said, approaching her. "I'm looking for Emerson Maximus. Can you tell me where I might find him?"
She nodded, her expression guarded. "He's in the meditation room. But be warned, he's not in the best of moods".
I nodded my thanks and made my way to the meditation room. The red velvet curtain that served as a door was a new addition, but the sense of unease that settled in the pit of my stomach was all too familiar. I pushed aside the curtain and stepped inside. Emerson sat cross-legged on a carpet, his eyes closed in meditation. The room was lavish, filled with gold and timber that seemed out of place in the dingy Undergrid.
"Emerson," I said, my voice low.
He opened his eyes, and for a moment, I saw the kid I'd met all those years ago. But then his expression hardened, and he rose to his feet. "So we meet again, my long-lost acquaintance," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. "I regret to say yes, we do. I'm sure you know why I'm here, Emerson".
Emerson's eyes narrowed. "You come for the code of the vault that holds the celestial energy orb... or should I say, the fragment that's left of it after your selfish use thereof?"
I winced, knowing I'd made a mistake all those years ago. "You know I hadn't a choice in the matter".
Emerson's expression turned bitter. "Everyone always has a choice, Commander. You chose to put your feelings before the mission, and now humanity suffers the consequences. So tell me, was it worth it?"
I looked away, unable to meet Emerson's accusatory gaze. "I am yet to find out".
Emerson's laughter was cold and mirthless. "Well, certainly you shall find out soon. I sent my best scout to the vault days ago. Your intel has failed to tell you that the celestial orb is already missing".
My gut twisted with unease. This was not what I'd expected. "And you're only telling me this now? Why didn't you do something or say something?"
Emerson's anger boiled over, his voice rising. "Is that not your duty? My duty is to my people of The Undergrid. You know very well when I turned my back on the New Arcadia City, I did it for good! After what they've done to my parents... they can all rot, and so can you!"
I took a step forward, my hands open in a calming gesture. "Em, what happened? You used to have dreams of a peaceful life and love".
Emerson's expression turned bitter. "I was a kid. Kids grow up".
I shook my head, my heart aching for the kid I'd once known. "You could be leading The Undergrid to success, but you're choosing to use your people to loot all things of old materialistic value. I thought you were wiser than this".
Emerson's eyes flashed with anger. "I am wiser, to know that people will ruin themselves and whatever life you give them, just because that's what they do, and your efforts will be wasted. Just like when you were faced with freewill, you took it. They always take and take and take. That's what humans do".
I took another step forward, my voice gentle. "But you weren't raised like this, Em. You have a good heart. Your parents wouldn't have wanted this".
Emerson's laughter was a harsh, mocking sound. "My parents? The dad who only had time for science and dreams and the mom who sacrificed her life to help him achieve it. My parents didn't care about me! The last fond memories I made with them was that lousy abandoned amusement park up the hill on the West, back when life was good and there was no New Arcadia City. That's why I built them a memorial bench to bury their memories as it is. So don't talk to me about what they would have wanted".
"You're just hurt, Em, I know you still care deep down," I pressed on, my voice soft. "Someone born with a good heart like yours... It stays. No matter how hard you're trying to be the nonchalant cold guy. Just remember when you're ready to be YOU, your people will follow you anywhere, and you will move mountains".
Emerson gave me a death stare and walked off saying, "We're serving chicken nuggets tonight if you're staying. I'm off, don't follow me". He disappeared into the underground tunnels. I knew better than to follow him. What I mentioned may have resonated strongly with him, and he might require some solitude. I will settle in and certainly reach out to General Leghorn before determining my next steps and awaiting Emerson's return.