The rubble was the most exciting part, as he'd been digging away at the soil for days to find the things he needed for this newest project, the reaching claw he'd attached to his arm swooped down and collected the pieces he had so desired, the bits bungying out like stacking cups, one inside another with a shrunken bulldozer claw attached, like clockwork, it worked perfectly, retracting up to him and he placed the substance into the bag. Edd grinned, his project for cleaner air would be successful at the rate at which he was going! The success and fame was enough to keep him going! Eddward Vincent, Saviour of New Eden! The thought made him giggle, oh he could barely contain his excitement! He rushed through the city, repetitively saying 'excuse me' to everyone as he ran the claw now attached to his belt and the bag in his hands. His short legs running as fast as they could until he ran smack into another individual, the bag in his hands shooting sky high and Edd hit the ground with a thud.
"O-ow… I'm so sorry…" He looked up and blinked. "Oh, hello, Kevin." He smiled when Kevin extended his hand, using it to get up. The male might have been a caste lower than him but that didn't stop him from making friends with him, or the other castes for that matter.
"Where you off to in such a hurry?" Kevin asked with a small smirk playing on his thin lips.
"Just back to my lab, I have the final pieces for a project I've been working on…" He trailed off, searching frantically for the bag he'd dropped upon impact with the other male's (rather sculpted) chest. "Oh goodness… where did it go?"
"Looking for this, cutie?" The familiar voice was accompanied by teal hair that had Edd sighing in relief. Nathan had his bag, that was much more fortunate than he usually was.
"Thank you, very much, Nathan." Edd smiled. "I thought it would be lost."
"Nah, I caught it, nearly hit me on the head."
"I'm sorry…" He reached for the bag but Nat held it out of his reach.
"The cost to return it is one kiss." He teased.
"Nathan that's not funny, that's illegal, now give me back my bag!" Edd demanded.
"I didn't realise that telling jokes was illegal." Nat snickered, handing the bag back.
Edd held it close to his chest. "It's not funny."
"Is that cuz you're already on probation for one count of it?" A new voice joined the mix.
Edd didn't respond, looking down, his grip on the burlap bag tightened. He remembered all too well what his crimes were and what the sentence had been for his partner… class level had saved Edd once, he doubted the King would be so generous again.
"Aw, c'mon fag," one of the newcomer's friends snickered. "Give us a reason to get you arreste-"
"Enough, David." The newcomer spoke. "There's no need to be so rude. It's no laughing matter."
Xavier, a member of Edd's own class, he wasn't much a horrible person as he tended towards brutal honesty. He wasn't mean, just… had no filter.
"Edd is very aware of the consequences of his actions. Poor Martin's life cut so short." Xavier sighed. "I fail to see the humour in both crime and punishment."
Edd still wouldn't speak, lump caught in his throat. Martin was really a sore topic, brown eyes that had so much hope for New Eden, who hoped to unite the castes against the King. Dreaming of a world where everyone was free to be where they want, where class didn't exist… but then he was only a Worm. Worms rarely ever got by in the end. He remembered warm summer nights talking about things they wanted with all their hearts, dreaming of future events, scheming to run away… in the end, Martin died holding Edd's heart in his hands.
"Edd, what do you have to say for yourself?" Xavier spoke again. Kevin ground his teeth, Xavier was just stepping on nerves today, one two three crunch.
"He doesn't have to say anything to you." Kevin spat. "Go bug someone else."
"I apologise if I've hurt any feelings, but it was a crime he committed. He has to face his life knowing that his reckless actions has ended someone's life."
Edd began shaking. He'd been forced to witness his lover's death. He remembered the choking on blood, the struggle to keep the smile on his face while the ax was brought down on his bruised and battered body.
"Xavier, you're not helping him realise his sins any faster, so why don't you just… go away." Nat tried, hand on Edd's shoulder.
"Very well. I shall see you later then, Edd. I'm eager to see the progress on your project." And with that said Xavier turned to leave. Rarely was he this bittersweet, but it seemed the disgusting air and summer heat had gotten to him too.
"I can't believe that guy… he's being so strange… just ignore him Edd." Nat looked around. "Edd?" The brainiac had disappeared, bag in hand, darting down alleyways and running for his home. The large, steel door, closed behind him with a clang and he dropped to the floor. The wonderful memories pouring over him and ending with the crash of reality that he really should have seen coming. If only he'd never met Martin. If only he'd never spoken of dreams with him. Maybe he'd be alive. Still smiling, still breathing, with those dreams and ambitions that had made Edd so hopeful to hear. With the memories, so did tears pour, hands clasping at his ears in an attempt to make the ringing go away, the bag dropping to the floor with a clatter. He'd never be able to move on. He'd never be able to continue his life without those soft, sweet days and nights spent hand in hand. Martin… his Martin. Dead. Executed. It should have been Edd. At least then Martin could spread his ideas on to everyone else… bring the hope up, raise it, nurse it, feed it, until everyone had accepted his ideals and rose up with him in an act of passionate belief to tear down King Eugene's homophobic reign.
Then something new was sparked in Edd. Why should Martin's idea's die with him? Perhaps Edd's life now would be easily spent under the things he'd learned from Martin. After all, Edd had the resources to continue the dream, he had the know how and the intelligence to create and make things that would help his cause… no, Martin's death wasn't a tragedy.
Martin's death was a spark.
Wiping his tears he stood, grasping the bag once more and with a determined look he continued on to the lab. First, he'd finish this project. Next, he'd start what Martin didn't have the power to. He'd make this world better for everyone, he'd make everything better. Perhaps when life was finally a thing to be enjoyed instead of endured, he could find room in his heart to love once more.
~.~.~
With the pieces in part and the machine built, he set it up in the park, thousands of faces all mirroring the one pseudo peace they pretended to live in a world that was supposed to be free from sorrow. Eden… such a lie.
The machine started with a whirr and they all stopped and stared at the top class scientist that had set it there and suddenly the sun showed through the smog and they gawked and murmured, smiles on their faces, children squealing and asking what this warmth was as the sun had seemed to be so covered by the cold of the industry they knew.
"Wow! This is astounding!" The loudest of the praises he heard came from a Con. He smiled, pushing his goggles back over the hat he wore.
"Clear air will bring about a new age!" His voice stopped them all and they looked so optimistic, it reinforced the confidence he had built up. He saw Kevin among those in the crowd, he looked confused but not upset, he didn't pay attention as it would cause his confidence to disappear. "Breathe freely, this is free. Everyone should be free." A few people seemed to lose their smiles and put on confused looks.
"Which is why I declare war on the King. Let love and life be free!" For a moment the silence was nerve wracking but slowly cheers began ringing through. "No harsh taxes, no cruel punishment for love, no more of this! I'm so sick of it!" He could imagine Martin's face as he spoke these words, his heart flying and fluttering once more as it had when he was alive. You cannot truly kill someone who was loved. "Why should such unfair treatment be placed on those simply for breathing?! Why are punishments for lower classes more rash than those for higher classes?! It ends here. I encourage you to think on your own choices, think about your way of life. Are you truly happy with it?!"
Several people shouted no.
"Then let's do something about it! Down with the King!" Cheers caused him to grin, but Kevin's shocked, fearful face nearly wiped it from him. No… this had to be done, this was for more than just freeing love, this was for equality, this was for the poor people who were taxed higher than the rich, this was for everyone, not just Martin. He stepped down from his place on the machine and started walking back for his home, feeling fantastic. He would not rest until the talk was no longer talk, until action was taken, and King Eugene was thrown off his pedestal. No more would there be distrust between neighbours, no longer would there be favour for one caste over another. Worms and Mad Scientists were equal, Acrobats and Hunters were equal, as were Cons and Farmers. Who was to say one was better than the other? One man who deemed himself royalty? Or everyone else?
In the middle of his thoughts, he felt a hand grab his wrist and he turned. Kevin. Freckled, sunkissed, Kevin, worried green eyes stared into his own blue and he pulled his hand free and continued on his way, though he could hear the crunching of Kevin's boots on grass and dead leaves.
"Edd, what's this all about?" He asked, adjusting the harness in which his weapons would normally be attached.
"Freedom. No one is free from this hateful existence. If this is the only habitable land left for us, then why are we to live here under the tyrannous reign of a pig headed bigot? No… the taxes are unfair, the law against homosexuality is unfair, the caste system is unfair… if my crimes and Martin's were equal then why am I alive? Why am I shown pardon just because of my caste? It's not right."
"I'm with you on that, but declaring war on the King is suicide. I'm worried you've done something you can't take back."
"I don't want to take it back. I want to lead a revolution. Clean air, clean minds. I want to feel as free as I am. While I'm given so much more than others, I feel just as trapped as the Cons and the Worms. We are all equals. If anyone says otherwise then they are against me." Edd kept his voice flat, serious, opening the large steel door to his house and closing it once Kevin had come in behind him.
"I understand your point, Edd, but they're going to come after you now. You're not safe at all anymore." Kevin tried to reason with him.
"Good! I want them angry!" Edd retorted. "They should be scared, uncomfortable, or even mad that someone has dared to challenge them!"
Kevin sighed. "Well… if you're so adamant about this, I'll help. If you need a place to hide, my home, Nat's home, and Rolf's home are all open to you."
Edd smiled and hugged his friend. "Thank you. I believe hiding with Eddy and Ed would likely bring them trouble, it'd be the first place they looked."
"Let's pack up some of your things, Rolf's house is the least likely place they'd look so we'll hide you there. We have to hurry, it'll only be a matter of time before your little performance reaches the palace."
~.~.~
"What?!" The King snapped, face red with anger and his fists tightly clenched so that the palms of his hands had crescent shape marks on them. "Someone dare's oppose me?! I want him dead! Dead tonight! Do not fail, so help me, you'll be the one's suffering his death penalty in his place! I will not allow the people to think that they are able to just forget the laws and disrupt my kingdom!"
"Yes, your highness." The head of the guard bowed and stepped out to gather his men for the hunt.
King Eugene sighed and rested his forehead on his palm. Eventually he knew this would happen… but he didn't want it to, the longer his reign lasted, the happier he'd be. No, he'd stomp the flames of revolution out at the source, before they had time to settle and spread. Besides, in order to secure that which he strived so hard to continue, to keep secret, he needed more time. Time really was the keyword, in a world made of clockwork, time was a frequent say that no one could really deny. The Scientists tended to use it as often as pronouns. The King sighed, he really needed to relax.
He'd visit the harem, it'd be a wonderful venture, as the women that lived there really had no choice but to love on him and treat him as a god. All but three of them were so obedient. Sarah, Nazz, and Jourdon, they all seemed to care less, even think of him in such disgust! You'd think they'd love to be in his company! Sarah came from a family of Worms! Though she had the abilities of an Acrobat. Nazz would have ended with the Cons, but had the agility of an Acrobat , purely because of her ability with fabrics, and Jourdon might have ended in the Hunter's if she so desired, but was found, again, with the Worms. All lower class women, the entire harem was made of them, women whose families could no longer pay the taxes and in return gave their children for service. He had a few males that became slaves, not that he saw them much at all, besides their drop off.
As he thought he found himself at the door, pushing curtains back and stepping in, immediately there were women clinging to him and all his stress faded with cockiness taking its place. The usual suspects sitting in the corner as they didn't seem to care he'd come along. It just made him angry, he cleared his throat and with their sighs they stood, sitting closer and continuing their meaningless conversation on home.
"Ladies? Care to share with everyone else?" He spoke and they quieted, Joudon tying her hair back, Sarah getting hers braided by Nazz. They all seemed to be indifferent.
"I can't have one day can I?" He sighed, an over-dramatic tone to his voice. "And my day has been stressful… apparently one of the Scientists desires a change in the law… I want to help him, you see, but he won't listen to reason… Perhaps you three can assist me?" He asked, shooing the other women away. "You know him, after all."
They stopped and looked.
"Yeah, like you'd help anyone but yourself." Nazz huffed.
"I would! I just don't know how to talk to him, he seems to just be afraid of me… is there someone I can speak with to possibly grab his attention?" Eugene tried.
They were suspicious and shook their heads. "Not that we know of." They said in unison. Their readiness pissed him off and he stood.
"Tell me if you remember anything." He bid them adieu and left.
If it was the last thing he did, Eddward Vincent would die if it meant everyone he loved went first.