Pillars of Fire:
Flames of MarsBy: Ian Steil
Introduction
There he stood, with the detonator in his hand. His finger was on the button, sweat truckling down his forehead, arms and legs singeing from battle wounds. He was fine with the pain though, it reminded him that this seemingly impossible dream was actually a very serious reality. He gripped the black device in his hand with more tension as he questioned the possibilities.
40 kilograms worth of explosives is plenty for this job, placed strategically in the power core; the explosion would ignite a chain reaction that would destroy all of this.
He loosened his grip a little bit and began to toss the detonator in the air, letting it softly land in his hand each time as the artificial gravity took its toll.
The chamber he was in was incredibly expansive, at least a kilometer diameter, he was standing in the epicenter of the sphere.
Standing there, both decisions seemed to have a severe drawback to them. On one hand, detonation would ensure complete and total destruction, and an end to it all, ensuring the safety of the solar system. Suddenly, the powerful voice pierced his mind again.
"Why do you trouble yourself so?"
Because I can't let you do this.
"Because you can't accept what you are?"
No, because something like you shouldn't exist.
"Tell me, what do you fight for?"
Freedom, justice, truth, and life.
"Odd, I was under the impression that these no longer existed."
Only because of things like you.
The detonator landed in his hand for one last time, and he placed his finger over the button.
"You're not going to do it."
You already know?
"Not really, the situation is too unstable for me to be 100 accurate in my predictions."
You know there can be only one of us.
"Yes, we both know that, but you won't do it, not yet at least."
How did it come to this?
"It's a very long story…but we have time. Let's start at the beginning."