Chapter 21
The black-cloaked image of Headmaster spread, holographically, throughout the Survivors' tower.
"Attention, all Survivors," Headmaster said. "Our tower has been disabled and is under attack from a platoon of pureblood humans we have identified as bearing the name 'Two Hundreds'. All able-bodied Survivors are required to exit the front door and defend your base of operations."
Everyone watching the hologram heard Marian Janssen's voice, quietly saying "Not me, right?"
"Of course not," Headmaster replied. The hologram flickered off.
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"War is hell, isn't it, Shey?" Lang said.
"Yes, it is," Shey said. "Gets the blood pumping, though, don't get me wrong."
"Oh, I agree," Lang said. "I could watch war all day."
"But it's hell," Shey conceded.
"Yes, yes it is," Lang said.
They clinked their teacups together and took sips, and from their safe perch atop the Survivors' tower, they watched the war rage below.
"War shouldn't exist," Shey said. "It's just not natural."
"You think it'll ever come to an end?" Lang asked.
"Oh, I hope so."
"Do you think we could do that?" Lang said, smirking broadly.
Shey turned to look at him. "We?"
"We. You and me, Shey. Put an end to war."
"Yeah?" Shey said. "You think?"
"We've got the je ne sais quoi," Lang said. "I'm tellin' you, big sister, you and me, the sole protectors of a peaceful world? We could have that in the bag."
"Yes, we could," Shey said, smiling. "I like the way you think, little brother. Let's you and me usher in this little era of peace."
"Yes, let's."
The siblings clinked their teacups together once again, with grins smug and broad.
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Jewel waited in his room until he was sure that nobody would catch him wandering the halls when he was supposed to be fighting. Finally, he entered the quarters of a specific group, but was surprised to find one of its members still there.
"Whoa, hi Grease," Jewel said. He decided to skip the part where the two would question each others' motives. "Say, do you know where your uncle keeps those really great cigars?"
"Yeah," Grease said, fishing them out. "Here, take the box."
"Thanks, fella," Jewel said. "Light 'em up."
He lit two of the cigars and passed one to Grease. They both inhaled deeply before considering each other.
"So, why the cigars?" Grease asked. "Do they fuel your power cells, or what?"
"Don't be an idiot, I'm electric," Jewel said. "The smokes just calm me down, help me think straight. Grease, tell me about your father."
"You mean Sand?"
"Yeah. Mud told me about him, but I'm still not clear on what his deal is."
Grease smiled. "My dad is like the greatest double-crossing scoundrel you'll ever meet in your life. His chosen organization are gonna crush the Survivors, then me and Gum and Uncle Mud and my mom and dad are gonna wipe out everything." He nodded to Jewel. "Not you, of course, or your old lady. It's only for killing humans."
"What does that make you?" Jewel said.
"Human. But come on, my dad's not stupid. He's not gonna kill himself or his family. Just, you know… the bad people."
"Uh-huh," Jewel said. "So, what exactly is this organization?"
"You know, I've got a pamphlet."
Grease reached into his compartment and pulled out a large laminated pamphlet. "Here we go," he said. "Name and address of the place. Thinking about taking a dive from the Survivors now that you know they're doomed, ah?"
Jewel looked over the pamphlet. There was the place's name, and its precise location in the world. "You could say that," Jewel said. "Say, Grease, did you know that I've catalogued over three hundred different ways to instantly and flawlessly kill somebody?"
"Really? That's bitchin'."
"Yeah," Jewel said. "I'm pretty great. Here's one of my methods right here."
Jewel held out his thumb and forefinger and pressed them to Grease's heart. They surged with electricity, and Grease's entire body sizzled. He looked indignant for a moment, then his heart stopped and he crumbled to the ground.
"Yeah, I am pretty great," Jewel repeated. "Huh." He looked at his hands. "Interesting. That was a very conceited thing to say. How very… me. Oh, I enjoy my old conceit very much, the kind of feelings I have that would inspire me to whip out my blades and slash indiscriminately at every damn thing that came into my face. Heh heh… heh heh…" Jewel broke out into riotous laughter. "Oh, yeah! Depression over! I'm free from the depths of worthlessness, and all it took…" He pressed his hand to Grease's still chest. "All it took was to feel a human's death right beneath my hands. It's been so long…"
Jewel stretched, experimentally waving his marble blades around. "Feels so good," he said. "I killed a man, and…" In his excitement, Jewel fumbled with the pamphlet Grease had given him. "And these people are next. I'm gonna find out what they're gonna do… and then I'm not gonna let them, because I'm gonna do it! I'm going to kill every human, and leave the mutants alive because I promised, and the mutants will all be so grateful that I rid them of the humans that I'll get what I want."
He chuckled, remembering a little rhyme he'd recited once. "Jewel will rewel the wewerld," he muttered. "Oh, yeah, I am so back. YOU HEAR THAT, WORLD? JEWEL IS BACK! NOW YOU'RE GONNA DIE! HA HA HA HA! HA HA HA HA… oh, yes. I'm through cowering. Depression over. Jewel is back. Depression over. Jewel is back. Jewel is back… there's no flock, no Survivors, no 'Them', only Jewel. Only Jewel."