The Medieval Delusion

Chapter 14

"Has he gone nuts?"

"I guess. If he wins, it's game over for Xana."

"You're going to die hard and die alone, Milo Salian," said Xana, swinging the sword ruthlessly. Milo was employing every trick he knew, every power he had. That was when he noticed that someone was running down the stairs. Aelita had gotten free. She prepared an energy field in her right hand. Silently, Milo nodded. Then he started talking to Xana.

"I feel sorry for you, Xana. Is there anything you want to do in the last few moments of your life? Repent, maybe?"

"I will not repent," said Xana. "I am the victim of you insufferable bastards. If you had simply let me go about my business, I would not have had to kill anyone."

"Even now your ego gets in the way of the truth," said Milo. "I wish you luck in the afterlife, Xana. Do tell me if there is one." Then he flung himself to the ground, kicking Xana's legs out from under him. He then positioned the double-sword at Xana's neck. "On three, Aelita?"

"On three. One. Two. Three." Milo stabbed in and Aelita threw the field. Xana's blood ran yellow out of his neck before he exploded. He uttered one final sentence before he died.

"Hector of Carthage will continue for me."

"Who is Hector of Carthage?" Milo yelled. But it was too late. Xana was gone, just a stain on the floor. Milo embraced Aelita as they felt the bliss of materialization flow over them.

In a second they found themselves sprawled on the floor in the Scanner Room with the others except Xanite. Everyone stood up. Aelita and Milo were still holding hands.

"Frazier Pohonp," said Milo, and they dashed into the elevator and went up to the laboratory. They saw William and Jeremy fighting the Imprisoned One. Apparently he was winning. Then he pulled out a gun when he saw them.

"I didn't want to kill anyone," he said. "But I'm in trouble now." William kicked the gun out of his hand. It flew through the air and Aelita caught it. Pohonp started to appeal to her as she held it unsteadily in her hands, aiming at no one. "You are my child, Aelita, flesh of my flesh, blood of my blood. Help me get rid of these children and we can be a family." Aelita pointed the gun at Milo, not speaking. The Imprisoned One's eyes glowed with victory. "Just pull the trigger. It might seem hard, but it's for the best. I beseech you, Aelita. Prove once and for all that you're a Hopper." Aelita just stood there for a minute, breathing slowly. Then she whirled around and promptly shot Pohonp. There was no blood. He started to flake away, as though he was materializing from a virtual world. He had given his soul to Xana. Now Xana was taking it back. He, too, uttered final words. "I see now. I was an evil man. I beg you, stop Hector of Carthage!" Then he was gone, and Aelita dropped the gun. She seemed to be beyond crying.

"He saw the way," said Milo. "Just as he was dying, he really did see the way."

"I see it too," said a voice from the computer monitor.

"Xanite! You aren't dead?" asked Milo, rushing to the screen. Everyone crowded around to see Xanite on the monitor, standing in the tower Aelita had been locked in.

"Not until you shut down the game. But you have to do it. Once you do, I'm in the Digital Sea. If you don't, Xana will come back again through me. But don't worry. You weakened Xana so much that I won't actually die," said Xanite with a grin. "I can do research. Once I break away from Xana I can contact you. We can see what will happen." Aelita gulped and stepped forward.

"Xanite. You're like my brother."

"I am your brother. Frazier Pohonp made us both," said Xanite. "That's why I have to come back. I can't leave my sister behind."

"I'll miss you," said Aelita, swallowing hard. "I don't want you to die again. Not after all of this."

"I won't be dead. But you guys have to find out who Hector of Carthage is. Looks like there isn't a happy ending to this fairy tale," said Xanite glumly.

"That's okay," said Milo, thinking back on everything he had done. "Sometimes, there's just more story to be told."

Log of Xanite

Entry #1

I have started research into breaking free. Where it will lead me, I do not know. What I can say is that Hector of Carthage may not come for years or years. But as Milo put it, there is more story to be told.

Author's Note

Felix speaking. I have to apologize that this is such a short story. I intended it to be five chapters when I started. But it had to be told how it was. I just thought I would leave you all the name of the next installment in the Calling Chronicles. It's going to be called 'Coming to a Head.' It takes place when everyone is an adult. I will now promote it with a lame, commercial style barrage of questions: Who is Hector of Carthage? Will Xanite be rescued? Is there going to be a World War Three? Find out these things and more in 'Coming to a Head!

I'm sorry you all had to hear that.