After the End - Epilogue
1. Love
(Two days after VonReichter's death)
"Lucas?"
The sun is setting on the golden-tinged jungle. Lucas is sitting on a rock by a small stream that flows by the compound. He turns to see Cybersix's form silhouetted against the light. He silently moves over. She comes to sit beside him.
"It seems," He says quietly. "That things are finally starting to calm down."
"Yes." Cybersix looks at the sparkling water. A stillness has entered her... she has imagined this moment of hundred times, but never guessed that she would be so calm.
"Lucas?"
"Yes?"
"I was speaking to Rue today... she told me something... the answer to the question we've both wanted to know."
He looks into her eyes, curiosity lighting in his.
"She told me that types... and Cybers, and all the others... can be with humans safely. They've done it before."
"They can?... Are you saying...?"
"Of course that's what I'm saying. " Cybersix finishes for him. She puts her hand in his and looks him into his eyes. "I want to be with you, Lucas."
Lucas blinks. He's dreamt so often of hearing those words so many times it takes a moment for him to process that they're real. "You do? But do you mean... now?"
"Yes now. Why wait any longer? I still have a lot of work to do here, Lucas, but it can wait until tomorrow."
Lucas stands up, still holding her hand. "You mean we. We have a lot of work to do."
Cybersix smiles at him. She also stands up and together they walk back toward the buildings.
2. Loss
(Four days after VonReichter's death)
"Goodbye, Yashimoto. Thanks for all your help."
Yashimoto looks out of the hatch of the small plane and waves at her. "You're welcome, Cybersix. I'll see you when you get back to Merridiana." He disappears into the plane's interior.
Cybersix stands back as the plane starts down the short runway. She trusts the techno who's flying Yashimoto home - and that's a good feeling.
When the plane is gone, she starts back toward the compound's main residence, walking along a narrow, twisting path. Her mind instantly becomes absorbed in everything she has to do - the distribution of sustenance has become a major headache, and-
She stops on the path looks behind her. There, almost completely hidden in the shadow of the canopy, a pair of feet are sticking out beside a massive tree. Somewhat reluctantly, she walks back to take a look.
It's Sylvester. He's lying on his side, curled up in a ball. Cybersix leans down to check him over, but deep inside she already knows what's wrong.
He's dead. You should've seen this coming. You shouldn't be surprised. She looks more closely at the body: There are no apparent injuries, no clue as to how Sylvester killed himself. Could he have died from lack of sustenance, after so short a time? She knows for certain his last dose was only four days ago... No, that doesn't make sense.
She notices that Sylvester is clutching something shiny in his two hands. VonReichter's monocle.
There's only one other explanation as to why he died. Was it possible for humans to die of grief? Ah, but Sylvester wasn't human, and Cybersix is sure it was possible for him.
So VonReichter has claimed another life. And, in Sylvester's case, a soul as well.
Guilt rushes over her like a wave. Once again she remembers Sylvester as a small child; caring, gentle, sensitive. Almost too open for his own good. Why didn't she notice the crisis he was in? Why hadn't she done more to help? She should have seen this coming.
All because of VonReichter's brainwashing, or training, or whatever it was he'd done to turn a spirit that was so much good into one who did so much evil.
But that's it, she realizes. Sylvester had been too much good. Even when he had willingly served VonReichter he hadn't been evil. He'd been acting out of love.
She sighs, the guilt in her heart turning to resigned sorrow. She picks up Sylvester's body - it's already starting to get stiff - and continues down the path.
Soon she encounters the fixed idea who's standing guard near the entrance of the compound proper. He watches her coming curiously. "Is Sylvester hurt?" He asks.
"No, 55." Cybersix answers quietly. "He's dead."
The fixed idea looks confused, then his face turns fearful. "We all gonna die, right? Can't live without Master."
"Oh, no." She tries to reassure him. "Sylvester wanted to die. You don't have to die if you don't want to."
"Why did Sylvester die?"
"Because... because he was lonely for Master."
F.I. 55 looks down at the body. "Poor Sylvester."
"Yes. " Cybersix agrees. Fixed ideas can be very succinct sometimes.
3. Struggle
(One week after VonReichter's death)
With an effort, Cybersix slowly lifts her head from the damp pillow. She closes her eyes as the room spins. Her head throbs and every nerve feels like it's on fire. She forces her eyes open to see Lucas' shadowed form in front of her, holding a small glass of water. He puts his hand behind her back and starts to raise the glass to her lips. She determinedly grabs the glass from his hand and drinks from it herself.
She wasn't expecting it to be this bad. It angers her that , even after his
death,
She looks over at the light peeking out from beneath the edges of the window blind. Daylight again. She takes comfort in the fact that time is indeed passing. Kevin told her that the worst should be over in 48 hours - but then, he'd been talking about for humans.
She hands the glass back to Lucas. A wry smile forms on her face as she reminds herself how everyone has tried to talk her out of this. Quitting an addiction cold turkey was hard on the body, Kevin had said. Obviously. But she didn't care - she still doesn't. It needed to be done, and this is the fastest way to do it.
Kevin had questioned why she even wanted to get off the sustenance in the first place; he was close to figuring out how to make the addictive component, he said, and then he could teach Lucas or anyone else to make it: She would finally be self-sufficient. But that wasn't really true. As long as she still needed sustenance, she would be dependent on whomever could make it, and even if that person is a friend it would still be a dependency. She just wants to be totally free, not needing anything but food and water - like normal people.
Lucas had then brought up the fact that, with a little effort, she could learn to make sustenance herself. But then there would be the problem of getting the ingredients, and she's sure that VonReichter got most if not all of his supplies illegally. She will not go on doing what he did. And if she uses her superhuman "powers" as a result, so be it.
She lies back down and closes her eyes. An image of a vial of bright green liquid appears in front of her closed lids. Sustenance... how she hates it. All her life it has been the monkey on her back, the presence of Death at her shoulder, the hand of VonReichter hovering above her head. No, rational or not, she wants to be rid of it once and for all.
4. Hope
(Two weeks after VonReichter's death)
Cybersix straps herself into her seat. entering the plane, Lucas sits down beside her in does the same. He smiles at her, then reaches over to take her hand. She smiles back. It's amazing how much has changed between them since they made love. But then no, she thinks. Lucas' feelings toward her haven't changed one bit; the difference now she's finally able to acknowledge them for what they are - and return them.
Across the aisle of the tiny plane, Data 7 lies down between the two rows of seats. He insisted on coming, even though the trip would be awkward for him: he wants to see Julian again, Cybersix knows.
"I've never been one of these planes before. It just seems so flimsy." Kevin says nervously from the front seat.
"It flies just fine." Techno 55 assures him tiredly.
Lucas grins at Cybersix. "We are in so much trouble when we get back." He whispers.
"I know. " They'd both called into work to say that they couldn't finish out the semester. Their boss had, of course, demanded explanations. He'd wanted to speak to both of them personally. He wasn't thrilled when they'd told him that was impossible. More than likely the two of them - and Kevin, for that matter - have now lost their jobs.
That knowledge doesn't bother Cybersix at all, not in light of everything else that's happened.
She's been off the addictive component of sustenance for eight days now. She's still going through periods of withdrawal, but they're tolerable. She's going to make it - and in another week she's going to start dealing with the hormone.
It's an obstacle surmounted, but only one of many. Despite her best efforts to get them to try and find someone else, the kin had still pleaded with her to be their leader. Finally she'd relented and accepted the job. She has numerous challenges ahead of her; unraveling VonReichter's network of illegal activities, not to mention turning a bunch of amoral drones into respectable, independent citizens. But even if it takes her whole life, she's going to do it. To run way would be cowardly; to tell all her kin to fend for themselves would be cold. Cybersix wouldn't do either of those things, and no matter what Cybersix will stay true to herself.