Hello people. This is chapter one of A Lost Memory, the fifth installment of the Evil Within Saga. I hope it is up to your expectations.
Look, I know I promised A Shield-Maiden's Strife would be the last book but with the way it was going, the rest of the storyline was drifting away from how I had it planned. I decided to cut SMS a little short and start a whole 'nother book.
I don't own Cyberchase or Huntik. Max is mine. Echo belongs exclusively to Kawaii Stella and her story Picking up the Broken Glass.
Chapter One
Finding One's Self Again
Previously on Cyberchase: A Shield-maiden's Strife. . . .
To say Matthias only ran a brain scan on Max would have been a huge understatement. Not only had he run a brain scan, he ran every mental test he could think of not just once, but as many as four times. He tried convincing himself that he was looking for something, anything, that would indicate a problem after Pi had forced his way in. But, deep down, he knew the truth. He knew he was looking for something that would make him feel justified in kicking Pi out of their lives.
He sat down on the stool, exhausted; staring at the multitude of results from the numerous scans. Nothing. Her brain looked perfect. And Marbles couldn't help but feel incredibly upset with himself for acting so rashly. Pi had been a friend to him for a long time, but none of Max's pain and suffering would've happened if Pi hadn't allowed her to join the warriors. If Ada, Motherboard, and himself hadn't supported her.
We're equally to blame for this. Marbles thought, stroking Max's cheek. I hope your journey to find yourself again won't be as painful as getting where you were before this.
No. It's really all my fault. If it weren't for me being impatient, Hacker wouldn't have been created and Max never would've had to suffer for nine years. If it weren't for Hacker, Ledge would not have been made and Max would not have seen death before her time. It's because of me that she's suffered so. Marbles wiped his eyes off on his sleeve, then picked Max up in both arms. I'm sorry, Max. I'm sorry for everything.
As he carried Max away, he tried to imagine would it would be like for her to have to relive everything. What her journey would be like in the rediscovery of herself. Would she be frightened? Confused? Would her memories coming back only make things worse? Worse, would she hate him, her father, for being the powder that started the fire that lead to her misery?
Marbles laid Max out on the bed and covered her in the heavy quilt; brushing her short hair back with only a finger. He was amazed by how deeply she was sleeping now. The slightest touch or sound used to be enough to awaken her from even the deepest REM sleep. He almost wished she could stay like this forever, so that way her path to rediscovering herself would be painless.
Rising, Marbles snatched the puzzlebox off the bedside table and left the room with it. He wouldn't give it to Max just yet. Nor would he give her his notes on borg-making just yet either. Not until it was time.
And now, the conclusion. . . .
Following the yell announcing the attacker's coming, Levi was the first to respond. Spinning on his toes, Levi raised his sword and broke it in two – surprising Lok who hadn't expected Ves'nekt to be a pair of duel swords. In that moment, Levi proved himself to be a spectacular sword-fighter. He blocked, parried, and slashed with the twin Ves'nekt; forcing the attacker back against a tree.
"Solomon, go!" Nathan said.
Solomon's staff separated. He tapped the tips on the ground, and flicked them at the attacker; caging the fighter in a mound of dirt up to his neck. Nathan danced forward – lightning sticks ignited – and touched the mound; electrifying the attacker. The attacker groaned in pain, then went limp.
"Good job, guys." Lok said, calling the Boltflare spell to his hand. The four remaining warriors approached Levi and his captive. Lok held the spell up, illuminating the face of their opponent.
"It's Absolem Adair, the traitor." Zeke said.
Everyone nodded in agreement. Even agreeing to the idea that Absolem could know something about Ledge and the Grimm Wreaker II. But, as of the moment, Absolem didn't seem so interested in giving away any secrets, known or unknown. So, the five warriors had to wait until Absolem awakened.
They sat in complete silence, mediating on the day's events – at least Nathan, Levi, Solomon, and Zeke were. Lok was engaged in miserable thoughts involving Max's missing memories. In the past, Lok had respected and revered Master Pi. Lok had learned quite a bit of advanced Seeker Magic from Pi since becoming a Page. Lok had learned Magic should only be used for the benefit of everyone of Cyberspace. It should never be used against someone except in self-defense. Lok doubted Max would ever willingly attack Master Pi, even if Lok had been present during Max's evil rampage. He had seen what could happen when a gargoyle was provoked into violence. That was a side of Max he never wanted to see again. Ever.
"Have you come to kill me?"
Lok opened his eyes and saw Absolem was staring at them; slanted eyes narrowed.
"Not unless you want us to." Solomon said.
"Quiet, you." Nathan said, nudging Solomon none-too-gently in the ribs. Then, he turned his attention back to Absolem. "We're on a quest from Master Pi. Our mission: to find out what we can about the boy, Ledge. You seem to know everything there is to know about the goings-on in Cyberspace. Do you know anything about this subject?"
"I don't suppose you're willing to give me something in return for my information?" Absolem said.
Levi unsheathed Ves'nekt and held the tip of the blade close to Absolem's throat. "We're willing to spare you for what you might know. Now, what do you know?"
Absolem swallowed. "Point taken." He said. "Completely acceptable trade."
"You're despicable." Zeke said. "'A warrior must always choose secrecy over life'. What kind of warrior are you?"
"Don't you dare quote Plain-warrior scripture with me!" Absolem spat in Kul'GahR. "I left that life a long time ago! I am a Warrior no longer!"
"That's for certain." Solomon said.
"Have some care." Absolem said. "There's quite a few things I kept from my Warrior days. Least of which is meditation and keeping fit."
"That's not all you keep." Lok said, roughly. "You keep whatever treasures from Shangri-La you can find and sell them well beyond their value."
"Is that a crime?"
"It's a crime against our order." Lok snapped. "Now, stop avoiding the issue and tell us what we want to know!"
Absolem sighed. "Very well. Ask away."
"Tell us everything you know about Ledge." Zeke said, hotly.
Absolem stared a hole through Zeke. "That tale is full of demons and monsters of all kinds. Are you sure that's what you want to know?"
"Start talking." Levi said, his sword drawing dangerously close to Absolem's exposed throat.
"I don't know everything about Ledge, son of Hieronymus Hacker. What I do know is fairly disturbing." Absolem said. "Ledge is the son of Hieronymus. He was born on Sensible Flatts about the time Hacker decided to set up camp – his home away from home. But, Hacker had no intention of actually being a father to Ledge, the father Ledge was hoping for. Ledge spent a lifetime waiting for the dad who would never come back. Ledge kept waiting for Hacker to come back for him, but Hacker never did. Ledge kept botching adoption interviews so he wouldn't be adopted – he seemed to know what people wanted to hear and said the opposite so they would leave him alone. When Hacker died, Ledge abandoned his life on Sensible Flatts to avenge his father's death. He blamed Max for everything. But he took his aggression out on everyone."
"Everyone?" Nathan asked. "Who's everyone?"
"Check inside the Wreaker II. You'll see." Absolem said.
"I'll do it." Zeke volunteered.
He stood up, slung his scythe and chain across his shoulder, and marched up the ramp to the Wreaker. He was barely gone a few minutes before he came back down the ramp; face white as though he had seen a ghost.
"There's three bodies in there. One is missing its the head. The other two have holes through their middles." Zeke said.
"Sounds like Ledge has been practicing a few dark Alchemic spells." Nathan said.
"I didn't think there was a light and dark to Alchemy." Solomon said.
"There's not." Lok said. "There's only Magic and how you use it." He motioned to Zeke. "Who did the bodies belong to?"
"I don't know their names." Zeke said. "But they were robots. One looked like a watermelon. The other looked like it had the body of a trashcan. And the third was like a dog of some kind."
"I don't know their names either." Lok said. "But they were there with Ledge and the Wicked Witch on the Northern Frontier when Shield-maiden Max was hanging from the Steel Crucifix."
"Ex-Shield-maiden Max." Nathan said.
"To me, she'll always be a Shield-maiden. And she'll always be my teacher." Lok said, roughly."
Nathan grunted but said nothing.
Absolem smirked. "So, Max lost her Shield-maiden's status, huh? I knew she couldn't hack it. Tell me, did she retire or did Master Pi take it from her?"
"That's none of your business!" Lok snapped. "Just because Max was an outsider – like me – doesn't mean she couldn't handle it! At least she remained faithful to the order . . . unlike you!"
"Touche." Absolem said. "No need to get so touchy about it."
"Is this all you know?" Levi demanded, pressing harder on Absolem's throat.
"Well, there is one more thing." Absolem said. "The Wreaker II did not appear here on Foresteria until only a few days ago. Then, this morning, he took off with a jet pack. No sooner had he left, than I knew he was going to cause trouble."
"He did. And he paid for it." Levi said.
"Hmm. Not surprising." Absolem said. "Is he dead?"
"Yes." Nathan said.
"Hmm. Max kill him?" Absolem asked.
"No. And as to the 'who dunnit', that's none of your business either." Lok said.
Absolem had already caught on. Max hadn't killed Ledge. But she could have if given the chance. Is that how she lost her title? She nearly killed someone?
"Anything else?" Levi asked.
"That's all I know." Absolem said. "Can you let me go, now?"
"Fine." Nathan motioned to Solomon who released Absolem from his earthly prison.
With a gesture with his lightning rods, Nathan led them up the ramp into the Wreaker II. There, they hunted among Ledge's personal affects until they found a few items of interests: books on Alchemy, drawing tools and special paper and materials for the creation of Transmutation circles, and an old journal with pages yellow with age.
Lok's expertise as Seeker was little help in matters of Alchemy, but he did understand enough of it to read the journal. His coolant froze when he realized this was Dark Magic – Alchemy used at its worst. The journal's writer discussed how the art could be used to force people to do horrible things. Even an entry about Lifebending was scrawled in a few of the pages as well as the writers own notes on how it worked and the applications that could be used with such a thing.
"Sword-Thane Lok, what have you learned?" Nathan asked, leaning over Lok's shoulder to read.
Lok immediately snapped the journal shut. Nathan couldn't understand any of it anyway. It was written in plain English but neither of the warriors present understood English, except for Lok of course.
"I think Master Pi had better see these. We'll take it all." Lok said.
"Very well." Nathan said, agreeably.
They filled their bags with anything they could find pertaining to Ledge's plans before heading back to their coops and taking off.
1
When Dr. Matthias Marbles walked by Max's room, he was surprised to see her awake and sitting up. He had been sure - if not absolutely hoping - she would sleep for the rest of the night. Yet, here she was curled up on the bed with the strangest of looks on her face.
"Max, honey, are you alright?" Marbles asked.
Max's dark-brown eyes met Marbles' golden-brown ones. He could see the light he was so accustomed to seeing was gone. The weight of knowing the horrors in her life had been lifted off her shoulders. But Marbles still didn't think this was the same little girl he had made nearly eighteen years ago.
"Mattimeo's dead. Isn't he, Dad?" She asked.
Marbles kept the shock off his face, not surprised Max remembered Mattimeo - Pi said she would - but more surprised that she knew he was dead.
"I'm afraid it is true, sweetheart." Marbles said.
Max buried her face in her arms. "I'm going to miss him so much!" She admitted.
Marbles immediately entered the room and wedged himself between Max and the headboard. He gathered his daughter in his arms and held her tightly. He let her cry herself out, wondering if this was a fantasy designed by Pi, or if these were Max's true feelings for the obscure warrior Marbles new nothing about.
"I'm sorry, Max." Marbles said. "Really, I am."
Max's face settle in hard against his chest. Marbles squeezed her even tighter, realizing all his assumptions about Max being different was now wrong. She was different in more than one sense. But now, she was more like that child he once cuddled with before she left Control Central to be a Page on Shangri-La. Marbles was still a little upset that Max had to undergo a temporary "Death by Personality"1 like some sort of common criminal. For now, Max seemed so fragile. She wasn't the same wounded but jovial person he cared so much for. He wanted to stretch this moment out as long as he could.
Marbles had never been one to sing – that had always been Max's area of expertise – but he did allow a song to vibrate through his throat in a soft hum. He didn't know what he was humming, only that there was a song coming out. Max listened to the sound, then started whispering the lyrics; surprising Marbles who hadn't expected for her to know the song.
"I saw you standing in the middle of the thunder and lightning
I know you're feeling like you just can't win, but you're trying
It's hard to keep on keepin' on, when you're being pushed around
Don't even know which way is up, just keep spinning down, 'round, down…
"Every storm runs, runs out of rain
Just like every dark night turns into day
Every heartache will fade away
Just like every storm runs, runs out of rain
"So hold your head up and tell yourself that there's something more
Walk out that door
Go find a new rose, don't be afraid of the thorns
'Cause we all have thorns
Just put your feet up to the edge, put your face in the wind
And when you fall back down, keep on rememberin'
"Every storm runs, runs out of rain
Just like every dark night turns into day
Every heartache will fade away
Just like every storm runs, runs out of rain
"It's gonna run out of pain
It's gonna run out of sting
It's gonna leave you alone
It's gonna set you free
Set you free
"Every storm runs, runs out of rain
Just like every dark night turns into day
Every heartache will fade away
Just like every storm runs, runs out of rain
"It's gonna set you free,
It's gonna run out of pain,
It's gonna set you free."2
As the last note faded away, Max's eyes closed and she was fast asleep with her head leaning against Marbles' chest. Marbles hugged her tightly, kissed her on the forehead, then shifted her so her head was now in his lap. Then, he covered her with the quilt and continued to stroke her back and hair like he used to when she was a child.
Things are going to be different, now. He thought.
"Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't know you were going to be here."
Marbles looked up and saw Echo standing, apprehensively in the doorway. Her vivid green eyes were on his golden-brown ones, then on Max now fast asleep in his lap.
"It's alright, Echo." Marbles said. "You can still stay here."
"Are you sure? I can sleep in Lok's old room if that would be more suitable." Echo said.
"It'll be fine. I just can't leave Max right now. That's all." Marbles said.
"Aren't you tired at all?"
"A little. I can just go into stand-by for the night. It's not quite the same as sleep-mode but it does suffice and is better than complete sleep-deprivation."
Echo made a slow beeline for the vacant bed still tucked against the other wall and grabbed her nightshirt. She pointed to the bathroom and Marbles nodded in understanding. After today's events, he could go for a shower himself. He mentally reminded himself to take one in the morning before the Cyber-head Council meeting.
Echo swept into the bathroom, showered, and returned to the bed. She snuggled underneath the covers, propped her head up on her arm, and stared at Marbles. The relationship between the two borgs baffled her. Marbles was nothing like Echo's biological father. Echo wondered if Max knew how lucky she was having a real father who cared about her so much.
"Dr Marbles, do you mind if I ask you something?"
"Of course, Echo. What is it?"
Echo faltered a moment, then "I'm not sure how to say it, exactly, without it coming out wrong -"
"Just try. I won't be offended."
Echo took a breath. "How did you get Max to love you so much? Did you program her that way?"
Marbles was quiet for a while as he thought about what she was asking. He leaned his head back against the wall, his finger still softly combing through Max's hair.
"In a way I did." He admitted.
"So . . . everything Max feels about you is simulated?"
"No, nothing like that." Marbles sighed. "When I made Max, I made her for a specific purpose in mind - just like all inventor cyborgs are supposed to. I wanted her to be my daughter and I wanted to be her father. But my one example of what a father is supposed to be like was my own and he wasn't a very good one. I was afraid I wouldn't be good enough for her. I was afraid she would hate me. So, during the copy-transfer, some of my fears of not measuring up to ideal father standards must have reached her and she became an easy child to deal with."
"So, you were afraid you would be like your own father?"
"Yes."
"What was he like? Your dad?"
"I would not like to speak ill of Net, but he was lazy and arrogant. He was less of a father to me and my brother, Cooper, and more of a creator. Net never wanted to be Motherboard's chief technician and when the first chance came, he passed it off to me and my brother; leaving us to finish his grandfather's legacy before our time."
Echo nodded, not wanting say what was on her mind. Instead, she turned the conversation back to him and Max. "Well, whatever you did, you succeeded in making her care quite a bit about you. But, that only raises one more question."
"What's that?"
"What's she going to do when you come to the end of your life?"
Marbles felt his coolant freeze. "That is something I hope I never have to think about. But, I can only hope Max will accept it when the time comes."
"What if she doesn't?" Echo pressed. "What if – what if we have a repeat of the . . . you-know-what incident on you-know-where?"
Marbles didn't want to answer that question. Nor did he want to think about what was being said. Instead, he pursed his lips and said, "Go to sleep, Echo."
But Echo didn't go to sleep right away. Instead, she watched Max and Marbles, thinking about how this moment was picture perfect and deserved to be captured in her sketchbook.
Reaching into the waterproof Shangrinese bag given to her prior to her return to her plane, Echo took out her sketchbook, pencil, marker for detailing, and colored pencils. Then, leaning against the headboard with a pillow behind her back, she began to draw; taking care to capture every detail as she saw it. Within a couple of hours, she had a perfect rendition of the scene in front of her. Satisfied it was finished, Echo rolled over and went to sleep.
In the morning, Marbles awoke to the sound of his alarm going off on the other side of the wall. The sound disoriented him before he remembered that he had set it to get ready in time to go to the meeting. The weight in his lap reminded him of Max and he looked down; noticing how child-like Max's face was when she slept. The lines of life's worries and the horrors she had experienced were now gone, replaced by a sense of peace. Her face soft and her hand bunching up the hem of his cotton white tee. Marbles wanted to stay here a while longer and just wanted to watch her; wishing he didn't have to go to that meeting.
But he did. And as Motherboard's Chief Engineer and representative, Marbles had to go to the meeting. He carefully massaged her knuckles until she released him. Then, Marbles moved her head onto her pillow and covered her with the quilt before going over to Echo's bed and shaking her awake.
"Hey. How soon are you planning to go back to your plane?"
"Not anytime soon." Echo said, stretching. "What's going on?"
"I have to go to a meeting. Do you mind watching Max while I'm gone?"
"I don't think she actually needs to be watched but I'll keep her company."
"Smart alleck." Marbles said, smiling. He lightly patted her arm and left.
Ada was just waking up in Marbles' room when he entered. She looked at him, noticing his rumpled clothing and the dark circles under his eyes. She knew, right off, that he had spent the night with Max.
She watched him gather some clean clothes and head into the bathroom for a shower. While he washed, Ada dressed and put her hair up in its buns; wondering if Marbles should really be at this meeting today or not.
0
Pi looked at the mess of textbooks, notebooks, and a single, black-bound journal now littering his floor. The five apprentices kneeling before him had presented him with all the notes they had gathered. But, just as Pi feared, their search for answers had only raised more questions than it answered.
"Is this all you could find on Ledge and his plans?" Pi asked.
"Yes, Master." Nathan said. "We apologize that it isn't much."
"Your apology is unnecessary, Nathan. We will learn what we can from this. Thank you. You are dismissed." Pi said.
The warriors rose and left Pi to his musings. He knew he should at least sort through the information in front of him, but he didn't have time. He had to go to the meeting.
1
"Dr. Marbles, I just wanted to say how sorry I am to hear about your daughter. My sister and I feel your pain." Said Judge Trudy.
Marbles suddenly looked uncomfortable. "Yeah, about that . . . there's something I have to say to you before the meeting actually begins."
"Matthias." Pi warned.
"Erasmus, the time for secrets is over." Marbles said, firmly.
"What's going on?" Zeus asked.
"Max is alive." Marbles said. "But she's not the same anymore. Her memories have been erased."
There was a moment of silence while everyone tried to absorb this.
"Wait. Back up a minute and answer me two questions. One, if Max is alive, than why did you say she was dead? Two, Why is she missing her memories?" asked Ollie, head of Solaria.
"The truth is, Max was dead. She was murdered only a few days ago." Marbles said. He paused as a collective gasp sounded out in the room. "But, she is alive now thanks to a mysterious magical source. A person who can pass through the gates without having to abide by the laws of Equivalent Exchange. We said Max was dead so we could draw out her murderer. The plan worked and her murderer appeared in an attempt to kill her again because he never believed what the news report said."
"Fine. But, why were her memories missing?" asked Ava.
"That was my doing." Motherboard admitted. Everyone stared open-mouthed at their leader's confession. For Motherboard to order for a mindwipe was completely unbelievable no matter how anyone looked at it. "I asked Erasmus to erase Max's memories of the trauma she received. She wasn't the same anymore. All the pain, suffering, and torture she endured only weakened her mind. She wasn't able to handle it anymore. People offering her help or comfort became an enemy to her. She recoiled from the simplest of touches. Touch her access shaft and she curled up as though waiting for the pain."
"So, you did it to help her? To heal her?" said the Poddleville Mayor.
"Absolutely." Motherboard said. "In time, her memories will come back, slowly, giving her a chance to accept it. Then, everything physical that was taken away will be given back."
"I take it you took something else away, eh Erasmus?" said Sheriff Judy.
"Well, for starters, she's not a warrior anymore. Nor is she a shape-shifter." Pi said.
"Sounds like a punishment." Said Zeus.
"Hardly." Pi said.
"Max had PTSD." Said Motherboard. "If you could see the trauma she endured, you would understand. The torture before the kill. Max had to suffer before she died; slowly dying until the pain grew too much and her fragile cyborg body couldn't handle it anymore."
"How was she killed?" asked Ava.
Everyone looked at Marbles who was now hunched over on his seat. The retelling of Max's death did not sit well with him. They waited, expecting him to speak. After all, the news report said she had died at home in the presence of her family. But Marbles remained silent.
"The Steel Crucifix."
No one was expecting for Ada Lovelace to say it, much less say anything at all. There wasn't a single person in that room who could tell what they were more shocked about: Ada using the name or the fact Max had died by use of the Steel Crucifix.
"Impossible." said the King of Happily-Ever-After-Ville. "The Steel Crucifix hasn't been in use for decades. Even our worst criminals aren't executed in that fashion any more."
"It happened!" Marbles said.
"Really? Did you see it happen?" asked the King.
"No. But we do have visual evidence of her death . . . and her murderer." Ada said.
"So who did it?" asked Zeus.
Neither Pi, Marbles, nor Ada wanted to say it. Claiming a kid could murder someone was a serious accusation. But, someone didn't seem to care.
"Ledge Hacker."
"NO! IT'S NOT TRUE! HOW DARE YOU ACCUSE THAT SWEETHEART KID OF MURDERING MAXANNE MARBLES!" Judge Trudy screamed at King Dudicus.
"Because it happened, Trudy!" Dudicus answered. "When Max was brought back, she showed us everything that happened. We saw Ledge's face in her memories."
"I won't believe it." said Trudy. "Ledge was just a misunderstood boy. Misunderstood but not a murderer."
Motherboard sighed. "This is getting us nowhere." She said. "Matthias, permission to show them what happened that day."
Marbles nodded. "Show them the video. Security code four-six-nine-see-sixteen-bee. Category, negas. Subcategory delta phi."
Motherboard's face was soon replaced by the video of Max's ordeal with Ledge. With every minute that passed, there could be no denying that Ledge was, indeed, guilty of murder.
Ada turned to Trudy. "Is that proof enough for you?" She asked. "Ledge killed my daughter and he did it using the worst method in our history."
"Tell me something, Ada." said Trudy. "Was this taken directly from Max's ROM?"
"Yes. She let us see it." Motherboard said instead of Ada.
"But why? Why would he kill her? Max never did anything to him!" said Sheriff Judy.
"He said it was for revenge. I believe there was an ulterior motive." said Pi. "As to what that motive is, I don't know."
"Then find out." said Trudy. "I won't believe Ledge killed her without a real reason."
Pi nodded but said nothing and the meeting continued.
For the most part, the meeting was about each Cybersite's financial positions. A few Cyberheads were looking for permission to expand their resources and Motherboard granted them. Then, the meeting was adjourned.
Marbles gathered his stuff and headed down to the hangar bay with Ada. Just ahead, he saw Pi and Red getting into a red and gold coop.
"Wait!" Marbles shouted, running to catch up with them.
Pi stopped and turned. "Yes?"
"Erasmus, there's something I need to ask you."
"Very well, Matthias. Speak."
"Last night, Max wept for Mattimeo. You said she would remember him. But, the way she wept for him . . . it wasn't like she was mourning the loss of a friend. But for someone much more important."
"I know what you're about to ask, Matthias. Yes, Max and Mattimeo were, indeed, in love. Warriors are not suppose to attach themselves to one person in this world as life is fleeting. But Max and Mattimeo did, breaking every law we ever made in regards to attachments."
"That's what I figure. But, are her feelings toward him now amplified or did she feel that way before you entered her mind?"
"I did nothing with her feelings to Mattimeo. I wanted her to be able to keep something from our world. Memories of Mattimeo - though altered so she does not know she was a warrior too - have been left intact. That is something I would never deprive her of. Never."
Marbles sighed and rubbed at his neck. "Thanks for telling me that, Erasmus. It puts my mind at ease."
Pi smiled. "I'm glad." He said. "Give Max my best."
"I will. And, I'm sorry about what I said yesterday."
"I understand, Matthias. You were upset with me. But, I suppose you were upset with yourself, too."
"Yes. I was. I never should've made Hacker. If it wasn't for him, Max would never have had to endure that kind of torture."
Pi put a hand on Marbles' light bulb and smiled at his friend. "You can't blame yourself for the actions of another borg, whether you made him or not. Remember one thing, Matthias. Hacker had the Free-will program. He chose his life of evil just like Max chose her life as a Shield-maiden. What he did does not reflect back to you. Therefore, nobody blames you for what Hacker has done. Not even Max."
I only wish she would. Marbles thought, not believing a single word that came out of his friend's mouth.
1"Death by Personality" - Babylon 5, Passing Through Gethsemane
2Lyrics to Every Storm Runs (Runs Out of Rain) by Gary Allan
