VITAL SPARK BY KONDORU

Standard Disclaimers

Thanks to TJ for Betaing.

Part Ten; The Man who Killed the Sun Known as Moon

It was the dark of the moon.

He had come to a decision…

Casshern strode dimly along the dark corridor; his confident step was in complete contrast to his inner feelings.

Casshern was going to kill Luna.

Braiking Boss was right; Luna was getting too powerful politically.

If Casshern did not do `something` there would be conflict and others would die.

In an immortal world; Casshern well knew the value of life; This way, just one person would perish.

It was sad it was someone he loved.

Anyway, Casshern was sure that by now his master would have sent Dio or Leda…To assassinate Luna, him or both? Casshern had no idea.

So, Casshern was pre-empting them. Even a pariah such as him had honour.

He walked on towards his destiny.

"So…" a grating voice accused. A shape stepped out of a darkened doorway.

It was Liza. She was carrying a pile of books under one arm. "You are going to kill my Mistress?"

Casshern nodded. He couldn't bring himself to say anything.

"Why?"

Casshern hung his head "…I have my orders…" Was all he could say.

Liza turned up her nose. "Are you some kind of a thrall, then?" she sneered in utter contempt.

Casshern nodded, "I'm afraid so." was all he could say to that.

"And after all the kindness she has shown you? You're despicable!"

This was by no means the worst thing Casshern had been called. He did not react to that.

"Go, Liza, I have no quarrel with you." Casshern pointed down the corridor.

"And let you kill Luna? Over my dead body!"

Casshern rushed her. Liza dropped the books and extended a blade set in her wrist, Casshern had seen such devices many a time; many light class battlebots had them.

It came as a bit of a surprise that a General Purpose robot should be fitted with one.

This fazed him not; he dodged her rapid swing.

Casshern leapt, fists striking Lizas flank and eye with a crunch of metal and plastic. His opponent fell to the ground with a grunt.

She lay still in a pool of red hair.

Casshern checked Liza over very carefully in case of a ruse.

Liza was not dead. He had crushed in her chest and given her a crack on the skull to be sure. She was still alive, and could be repaired.

Casshern walked on, shaking his head. Perhaps Luna was right. He was saveable.

But what he was about to do would damn him forever; He knew that.

Luna, as was her wont, was sat in meditation in her chamber of pools. She looked up briefly as he walked in.

"It's the Dark of the Moon." Casshern told her.

"And?" Luna said in a manner that suggested she wasn't really interested in astronomical observations.

"I have decided."

Luna looked into his eyes. She knew just what Casshern was about to do.

"Luna. I'm going to kill you."

"So be it." Her voice was oddly unemotional. It was as if she was mentally preparing for her end.

"You're not mad at me?" His voice was plaintive.

She shook her head. "How could I be? You're just a machine, Casshern; you have no choice in what you do."

That hurt.

But it was true. Yes, it was true.

"Luna," he was weeping, "I'll make this one promise to you." He paused, sniffing, "After I have killed you, I will not return to Braiking Boss, instead I'll go into the wilds and live alone, to atone for my sins. I will harm no other being."

Luna gave a sad smile. "Don't make promises you cannot keep, Casshern. You were made to be a killing machine. You cannot help yourself anymore than the sun and the moon cease to shine."

Casshern shook his head in sadness,

He stepped forwards.

Luna held her ground. "One more thing, Casshern."

"Yes?" he had heard too many plead for mercy.

"I'm the Lady who Gives Life, remember that. "She paused. "If I die, then the world will change...And not for the better. All beings will become subject to death."

Casshern saw a glimmer of hope, "so then…So then, I can die too?"

She nodded. "But it may be for the best."

"Death is all I deserve. Yes, I won't go back on my decision". He felt suddenly light-hearted.

Casshern stepped forwards.

Luna looked him square in the face. There was no condemnation in her eyes, rather they were serene.

Casshern grabbed her, he punched right though her chest with his fingers. "Forgive me, forgive me," he murmured.

There was so much blood, it spattered Cassherns masked face.

There was more blood than a slight body had a right to be full of. Luna sank slowly into the water, which was now crimson with her blood.

Casshern sighed, and dismissed his mask, tasting Luna's blood as it ran down his face. It tasted of iron.

Funny how blood of humans should be like the iron bodies of robots...And his own unknown kind.

Perhaps they were all kin after all.

After all, they all possessed the Vital Spark.

Casshern collapsed.

The grim Assassin had experienced both heaven and hell, but now he was transported to a different plane altogether.

Casshern fell into the Unbeing of Nirvana.

He did not wake for many decades.