Chapter 13: Trial of Shadow
Maria…Maria…MARIA!
The name continued to race through Shadow's mind as he lay there in cold sweat. He tossed and turned and clawed at the sky. Whatever he dreamt it wasn't pretty.
In the subconscious…
Dashing down the corridor of Colony Ark with a gun in his hand, Shadow was determined to get out before G.U.N. caught up with them. Maria was far behind, telling Shadow all the while to keep going until he reached the pod. It wasn't until he was inside the pod that he realized how far Maria was away from him. He clawed the surface of the glass, screaming something unheard of.
Maria was on the floor struggling to get up with several soldiers behind her. One pointed a pistol at the back of her head. Tears ran down her eyes and she smiled at Shadow. He leveled down and detached from the Colony. No longer did he see his beloved's face. Only the sound of a gun shot and a gleam of white…
Awakened, Shadow was now on the floor next to the bed; his sheets were wrapped around him in an embrace. For the first time ever he showed his true emotions-in tears. He'd given what Maria asked and he still felt empty and alone. This planet and its inhabitants, they meant nothing…except for Amy.
In a weird way she was just like Maria. She cared for others before herself and loved those who would give her a favor. What had he done?
"Maria…I don't know what to do…" he whispered to himself. "Should I…"
"Save the people…make them happy."
"That's it?"
"She needs you now…they all need you. Go to her…go to Amy."
"Yes, I will."
He twisted himself out of the sheets and got on his feet. No moping around was going on any more. Time to act.