Power Doesn't Die

Chapter 13: Power Doesn't Die

What a great sleep.

No weird dreams, visions, or cryptic messages.

Just me and the darkness. I never thought just being in the dark could bring such relaxation and contentment. Can't I just stay like this forever? Forever in the darkness?

"Cole…"

Well that didn't last long.

"You've taken the first step in the right direction. You will serve the Assassins well, as you should. But…"

"But what?"

"I sense another threat on the horizon…"

Well there always seems to be one.

"What do you mean?"

"Well you see. All that power you harness, control… there's… another side…"

I remained silent.

"All the good you have done… there's… another side…"

"There's another side… another side of you…"

"Another side of me?" I asked.

"There always has to be another side… everything has two… sides… you see? *Power doesn't die… it's passed on."

He brought up a series of black screens. One by one they all began to play; when one finished, another one would begin immediately afterwards. They all seemed to be in some type of order.

The first clip was one of the first decisions I ever made; feed the people or let them starve.

The second was another, important decision; whose health mattered more when it came to getting rid of the plague. Mine… or theirs…

The third was choosing a poster; a poster that portrayed me as a hero to the people or a poster that showed me as a tyrant, ruling all that I could see with an iron fist. Demanding order in the way I saw fit.

The fourth was an important decision I had to make; activate the ray sphere and potentially increase my power at the expense of others, or to destroy it, making sure that no one, good or bad, could ever get to it.

The fifth was the most critical decision of my life and probably explains why I'm here now. Save humanity or help destroy it. Activate the RFI or side with the beast and create a new conduit race.

I made all the right choices there, choices that made me into the hero that everyone had grown to love and adore. But what stood out was that each time I made those good decisions, a red mist went appeared on top of my head, swirled, then disappeared. Each time it was larger. I never noticed that…

" Some people… saw it…"

He brought up a clip of New Marais (Man is this guy everywhere?) where I was in the middle of fighting some swamp freaks that had invaded the town. The clip focused on a conversation going on between two cops.

"Hey look, there's MacGrath. Probably up to no good again." One of them said.

"Ever since he's rolled into town, things have been going for the better. We have the best defense, possibly in the world, against those swamp bastards and those militia pigs. What makes you think he's up to no good?"

"He just gives off some strange aura. I mean yeah, he seems to be a good guy and all, but something about him seems… sinister… dark… evil."

"Man, did you have too much of that moonshine? He may not look it, but he's got the nicest soul, the biggest heart out of anyone here! I've never seen someone so self sacrificing, motivational, strong. This guy's an angel sent straight out of heaven."

"I just…"

"You'll be okay." In the clip, I was currently in the middle of healing a group of people.

"Now, does that look evil to you?"

The other cop didn't respond. The clip stopped and faded away.

"Power can manifest itself, become whole. It's… it's… malleable…"

Those screens went away and this time he brought up three photos. Each of them was of Kessler jamming his ice cold fingers into my skull. I really hated when he did that. But the visions he gave me, to be honest, were still interesting.

Then the photos turned to an infrared hue.

"He used it to… to try to stop the creation of this… demon. It was a futile attempt. It's always been here, living in the shadows. Growing… learning… playing… waiting… a lot of waiting… And now it's followed you here…"

When I looked closely at the photos, there was a bright golden light glowing prominently in Kessler's metallic attachments.

" He used to try to show you the truth. He wanted to share its wisdom with you. He knew his time was running out. He used it to… extend his time…"

I stood there baffled by what Sixteen was telling me. This is insane… crazy… but it all seems to be true.

"Identify… learn…"

When I put my hand on top of one of the photos and moved my hand to Kessler's metallic arm, a series of numbers began to scramble above me. After some time they spelled out: ID: Lightning of Eden.

Lightning of Eden?

"A rare ability. Only found in individuals like you and him. Only found in individuals with the gene, as proper control lied solely within our genes. Proper control for all the pieces lied solely in our genes…"

"But its concept exists in many others… like you… like him… like us. Within anyone who harbors the gene."

"When power mixed with the fruit, it became whole… The Power of Eden at one's finger tips…"

There's no possible way this thing is still lingering around.

Wait… shit.

In my anger, I left Kessler's body at ground zero to rot. It's been quite some time between that and the destruction of Empire City. If we're supposedly being watched…

Oh man…

"But he's dead now, that means that power died with him too, right?" I asked. I was halfway scared to death. If this thing is still lingering around and the Templars somehow get their grubby hands on it… damn.

And I'm not even completely sure that the RFI completely killed off the conduits.

"Please say yes…"

"Power doesn't die… it's passed on…"

= One of my favorite quotes from Subject Sixteen. I just find it so powerful =D

Subject Sixteen slithered into my head. Sorry if it's a little short =3

One of two things are possible: Cole could be inducted into the brotherhood now OR he would be inducted towards the end. What would you guys like to see? Go to the poll on my profile and vote or leave a review! =3

Thanks for reading & review if it isn't too much trouble =)