Chapter 1: Fly Away
Now, I'd love to say that Mel and I were inseparable when she was growing up and that neither of us kept anything from each other, but aside from the earlier being true for the first few years of her life, that pretty much wasn't the case. I also wish I could say that during my time under the OEA, I led a simple life worthy of little notice, but that wouldn't be true either.
Though I didn't join Roe's foolhardy crusade, neither did I take the OEA lying down. As soon as I could pool the resources, I bought an old printing press, and there, I birthed The Dove, which at the time was a small publication criticizing the Damien administration and its violations against human rights, particularly the OEA.
At first, I thought I'd be constantly on the run while publishing the paper, but I guess Lex decided to leave me alone, and that allowed what started out as a one-man paper to grow into a legitimate publication. People all over Othros flocked to work with The Dove (no pun intended) with one sole purpose in their hearts, which was to remind Othros of how she once was in her days of glory and how she should be forever: free. As time passed, our writers grew by the dozens, our readers grew by the millions, and I quickly became editor-in-chief of planet's best selling periodical.
However, as all good things come to an end, after thirteen years of life, so did The Dove.
I remember the day well since it was on the night of Melody's grade school graduation ceremony. I was so proud of her as I watched her go up on stage and get her diploma and medals (She graduated with honors.), and I was just as proud of her when she chose to be simple and celebrate the event by eating in our favorite burger place with just the two of us instead of doing so in some expensive restaurant with a whole slew of people as most do.
One of the biggest faults I recall ever committing in my life was failing to tell Melody about her real family. She did know that she was adopted, but I felt she had to know how she ended up with me, and more importantly, she had to know how Faith had died. I planned to make up for my negligence that night, though, so after laughing about how she almost left her diploma on her seat before we left, I got serious.
Within a few minutes, I was able to tell Melody most of what I knew. I never met Faith's parents, so what I told Melody about them was a bit limited, but otherwise, everything from wen I met her to how she died a martyr and how I found Melody was more or less complete.
"There's something I still don't get, though," she said.
"What is it?"
"Why did my sister choose you to take care of me? I mean, it's not that I'd rather have it differently, but still, why you?"
I felt a tear form in my eye as she spoke, but when I moved to wipe it off, there was nothing there.
"Mel, I really loved your sister, and I'd like to believe that she really loved me, so I guess she figured that I would be able to pass that love on to you."
And for the first time in a very long time, I felt myself blush.
"Uhh…not that I love you the way I loved your sister. I loved her romantically; I love you…"
I searched my mind for what to say, and like the teenage girl that she was, Mel pounced on the opportunity to make me blush even more.
"So how do you love me, Brett?" she asked sweetly.
How did I love her?
It definitely wasn't what I had with Faith, but back then, I didn't think it felt like a fatherly kind of love either.
But thankfully (at the time), I was saved from my frantic soul-searching by a loud ring.
"Yes," I said in relief. (Whether I did so accidentally or purposely, I'll never know.)
Mel just laughed at my silliness as I went to answer the call, but that didn't keep me from trying to get the last word in.
"I love you; that's that."
It was a pretty lame retort, but a good last line since I wouldn't say anything to that effect to Mel again for another three years.
"What is it?" I asked on the line.
"Sir!" the guy on the other side said loudly, "It's horrible! There are soldiers surrounding the press. They're demanding that we evacuate the building before they burn it down!"
"What? Under whose authority are they doing this?"
"They say their orders came from the president himself. What do you want us to do, sir?"
"Try to stall, but otherwise, do as they say. I'll be there as soon as I can."
Not waiting for his response, I hung up and got on the move. I was already at the door when I noticed that Mel was staring at me, wondering what was going on.
"Something's up. I'm going to the printing press," I explained, and just as I did on the line, I didn't wait for her response, but I was still able to make out a soft "Be carful" from her before I left.
Damning the planet's relative lack of repulsor technology, I broke just about every traffic rule in existence on my way to The Dove's headquarters, but despite its proximity to my home, I arrived only to see the building on fire.
Without hesitating, I headed straight into the building to see if anything could be salvaged and if anyone was left behind. Sadly, however, everything of use had been destroyed beyond repair, and the only ones left behind were smoldering carcasses whose former inhabitants' last memories of life in this realm were of chaos, pain, and fire.
"Idealistic fools," I heard a voice say, "They always make things so much more difficult than they need be."
And seemingly out fire, I saw Lex's dark figure lurk towards me.
"Aren't you going to ask why I'm doing this?" he asked.
"Not really; the answer to that is obvious," I replied, trying to keep my cool, "My question is: Why now? You could've done this right when I started publishing the paper; I would've preferred it if you had, in fact. Less people would've been hurt that way."
"What can I say? Your writing entertains me," he said with a smile, "But you know, too much of a good thing is bad. Your little paper was getting too big, and more importantly, too influential. Roe's rebellion has doubled in size each year after The Dove went worldwide, and as amusing as it is to play with my other old friend, I don't like him getting an unfair advantage."
"I see," I said, "I'm surprised you came all the way here to do your own dirty work, though. Isn't the president's safety a top priority?"
"A little fire can't hurt the likes of us, and I wouldn't pass up the chance to talk to my old master."
"So I suppose you'll be taking me away now, right?"
"I could, but what I'd rather do is make life hell for you while you're here."
"So what do you want?"
"I want you to join me, of course."
"You're as stupid as I left you, Lex. If I had any interest in joining you, I would've the moment you took over."
"I didn't think you would," he said, showing but the faintest bit of disappointment, "So leave then. You know what the OEA requires. It'd be easier for everyone that way."
"What about Melody?" I asked, "Will any harm come upon her?"
He stepped back, looking almost offended by the question.
"Brett, Faith might've been your lover, but she was already a close friend of mine before she even met you. Just as I'd never harm her, I'd never harm her sister or anyone else of her blood needlessly."
Deciding to ignore that last word, I pressed on.
"So if I leave, you won't touch her?"
"I swear. I'll even let Tricia stay too, just so someone can protect her. It's a pretty good deal, if I may say so myself."
I paused and considered his offer.
"I'll think about it," I said finally.
Despite the anti-climactic response, however, Lex just smiled.
"You do that, Brett," he said, "But remember that today I just spared you instead of taking advantage of this situation before me. I wonder…Is it mercy, or am I simply setting you up for a far greater fall?"
"I think we both know the answer to that."
"Oh, I think only one of us does," he said, his smile growing even wider, "Goodbye, Brett, and for your sake, I hope I never see you again."
And walking back into the fire, the same way he arrived, he made his leave.
As I pondered what had just transpired, I heard a noise. It clearly wasn't human, but it definitely sounded like something alive. It was then that I noticed a birdcage near the front desk with three doves inside that seemed miraculously spared from the flames. The sight of the cage shattered any doubts Lex might've planted in my mind as I remembered an image from long ago.
I released the doves from the cage but before setting them free, I picked up a pen and some pieces of paper I found and began to write. To the first dove, I gave a letter to Tricia, telling her what had transpired and to take care of Melody, to the second, I gave a letter to Roe, telling him that I finally accepted his offer to join the rebellion, and to the last, I gave a letter to Lex, in which I wrote a short old saying in Othros's ancient tongue.
'Even a bird is free to fly.
Cage it, and it cries.
And its cries will be heard
In every part of the world.'