The Medieval Delusion
Chapter 11
"Willy, Willy, Willy. What am I ever going to do with you? You won't listen to me, you won't deal with me, you maintain that I'm evil even though I care for my daughter."
"You care for the bit of yourself you hid in her. You aren't capable of caring for anyone."
"Xanite is going to die along with me and Xana. I don't even know how Aelita survives when I don't."
"She's a good person. Xanite is too, but he's a part of Xana. He could survive with you dead, but not with Xana dead."
"You have one or two good insights. Maybe I'll harvest your brain and uplink it once you're dead."
"Are you going to kill me, Mr. Pohonp? Because that is the point of no return. If you murder me, you're evil, and nothing you can do will change that."
"There is no 'good' or 'evil.' They are the same thing as the Hierarchy. There is only the Hierarchy. I am strong. You are not. Therefore I am good and you are not."
"You were insane long before you became Frazier Pohonp, Franz. The Hierarchy is the lie that evil uses to excuse itself. Good and strong are not the same things. I do not fear death, Franz Hopper. I do not fear you."
"How reliable is Xx?" asked Yumi as they ran.
"Very," said Xanite. "We can trust him. He's indebted to Milo. He'll help us."
How are Jeremy and William doing? Milo thought to Aelita. The reply came immediately.
Not good. But William will win. Have faith.
The connection took no energy to use. Milo and Aelita were in constant contact. It almost felt as though she was with them. Of course, he had to relay what she said to the others, but in essence, they were together.
"Three hours until midnight," said Ulrich. "We can make it if we can keep up running. Can we?"
"Are you kidding? Of course," said Odd. "This is the return of Xana we're talking about. The only thing I can even say to that is 'No Surrender.'"
"I can add to that. 'Never Look Back,'" said Yumi.
"The Pale Horse will not catch me yet," said Xanite with a grin.
"For the want of a nail the war was lost. But for want of goodness and justice it was won," said Milo. "Aelita says that we won last time. There's a precedent. Xana has never won a battle without the help of a servant. There's no one this time. No monsters, no Xanadores, nothing. We're going to get rid of him for good. We're going to win."
"There's the two remaining commanders," said Xanite. "They'll happily stand in our way."
"That's just right, isn't it, rogues?" came a voice. "I am Commander Frederick and I will fight you to the death."
"Look, Freddy," said Odd. "We really don't have time for this, and you didn't bring any soldiers. If you want to survive, you can leave."
"Commander Frederick, what do you know of Princess Aelita?" asked Milo.
"She was kidnapped by Xana from her true love, who was a knight from somewhere or other. Why?"
"We're trying to rescue her. I'm her true love. Sir Milo," said Milo. "If you really believe it was kidnapping and Aelita deserves to be rescued, you'll help us, not stop us." Frederick stood there, pondering the idea.
"Every creature fears death, Willy."
"I don't. I was a Xanadore. I know what 'a fate worse then death' is."
"Then suffer death, if it is so unimportant!"
"William!"
"William!"
"Jeremy, Aelita, if he kills me, make sure they beat the game."
"Okay."