The Minecraft Story: The Beginning: Chapter 46
"We interrogated the southerners," said the lieutenant, "However, we want to talk to you now, Marcus."
"Yes sir," Marcus agreed.
"I am assuming you're the leader of this squad?" asked the lieutenant.
"I suppose I am," Marcus sheepishly replied.
"Good, I'm Lieutenant Daegal, leader of the 43rd Redwater Garrison Squad." Marcus and Lt. Daegal exchanged a handshake. "I want you, these two men here, and Thomas Brines to come with me."
Brines? Marcus thought. His last name is Brines? How did I not know that? Did I really never ask?
The men were provided with some horses and they rode off. They only traveled for ten minutes before they trailed off the path and arrived at a small hidden base. The base was built into the side of a cave and was manned by twenty soldiers. The cave side proved natural defenses and had a ten block tall wall at the front.
Lt. Daegal had a table sat out in the open. They were joined by two southern commanders and were provided with some pork and baked potatoes.
"Now, I want to make this clear. I do believe you are from the south." Lt. Daegal started by pointing at Thomas. "However, I'm not sure I believe this whole story. I chose you three to come here for specific reasons." He pointed at Marcus. "You appear to be the leader." He pointed at Franz. "Thomas claims that you are the man that killed General Ausmin." He then pointed at Notch. "Thomas also claims that you are Notch."
Marcus's stomach sank, he didn't think about the others revealing Notch.
"Take off your hood," said Lt. Daegal.
"Oh, I assure you I am not Notch," said Notch.
"Are you saying he's lying?" asked Lt. Daegal.
"I think he has mistaken me, I am not Notch," Notch answered.
"Remove your hood anyway," Lt. Daegal demanded.
Notch paused before saying, "Very well." Notch slowly lifted his hood, revealing his face.
Why did you lie? Marcus thought. What's he going to think now that he realized Notch was lying?
"I will admit, you sure do look like him," said Lt. Daegal, "Which is why I want to know why Thomas here would've lied about that."
"But it is him," Thomas said, "You can see right there."
"Thomas," Marcus sharply whispered without thinking. Thomas turned to Marcus in surprise.
Lt. Daegal called over one of his men and whispered something to him. The soldier left and then came back with a crossbow and a firework. Lt. Daegal loaded the firework into the crossbow.
"This is a red firework," Lt. Daegal stated, "I fire this and my men will have full permission to execute your knights at the bridge." He stared deep into Marcus. "So I suggest you tell me what the hell is going on here."
"Lieutenant, there is no need for this," Marcus assured, "My friend here is just a little confused is all. He sustained some bad injuries in that ambush." Marcus looked down at Thomas's bandaged arm.
"Oh, so that's it, he's just a little confused," Lt. Daegal laughed, "Are you sure you're not trying to let our guard down, so a larger force can attack us?"
"No sir, we're here to help. We're trying to warn you of an incoming attack from the pigmen and two mutant creatures." Marcus argued.
"I heard you the first time you mentioned these mutants. Thomas also mentioned these mutants," said Lt. Daegal, "However, some claim you have a god on your side, while you three are saying that they are lying. That's raising a few red flags to me."
"Please lieutenant, we don't have much time. These creatures could arrive in Redwater anyday, we need to get to Redwater and prepare defenses." Marcus continued.
"You seem so eager to get into Redwater. Is it perhaps to sabotage our defenses from the inside and allow the rest of your Miter Knights to come in and slaughter us all?" Lt. Daegal accused.
"Lieutenant, you have to listen to-" said Marcus.
"No, I don't think I have to listen to any more of this anymore," Lt. Daegal cut off and then snapped his fingers. A group of soldiers then aimed their crossbows at the back of their heads. "I will not tolerate spies anywhere near Redwater. I've had enough of you Notch cultists. I've had enough of you slaughtering our citizens and driving us to extinction."
Lt. Daegal lifted the crossbow and pointed it into the air and began to squeeze the trigger.
"Wait! Stop! I am Notch!" Notch yelled, causing Lt. Daegal to pause, "I am Notch, I really am."
Lt. Daegal scoffed, "So, now you say you are Notch? You are a God?"
"Yes, I am," Notch answered.
"Prove it then," Lt. Daegal demanded.
Notch quietly exited his seat. He stood with an aura of confidence. With one swift motion, he jumped ten blocks in the air. Lt. Daegal was in disbelief. The soldiers stared mouth-agape as the God gracefully landed at the foot of the table.
As Notch landed, he looked Lt. Daegal directly in the eye, "I am Notch."
Notch sat back down in his chair. Lt. Daegal dismissed the archers behind them. However, he was curious as to why they had tried to keep this a secret.
As if Notch could read his mind, he answered, "I've been gone for a very long time. Humanity in which I have had to traverse this new world of Herobrine's creation without me. And look at what it's become. War, starvation, and now monsters." Notch clenched his fists. "I'm sorry. I could've, no, I should've been there. I should've been there guiding humanity back to the path of peace. But instead, I hid underground like a coward. I should've finished off Herobrine when I had the chance, but now he's back." Tears began to well up in Notch's eyes. "My absence has left the world in ruins. Even if Herobrine had never come back, humanity would still be in jeopardy of destroying itself. These monsters, all of this, is because of me, and I'm sorry. I'm not worthy of being a God. I'm not worthy of anything."
There was a brief moment of silence before Franz spoke up, "You're not the only one who made mistakes. I've killed so many people in my years of being a member of the Miter Knights. I spoke a word of resistance. I didn't even treat our own people right. I'm a monster just like the ones who crawl in the night. Even now, if my brother wasn't involved in this fight, I would've run away just like you did, Notch. We're no different. If anyone here is a real hero, it's my little brother, Marcus."
"You're wrong," said Marcus, "I'm no hero. I've sinned as well. I've gone along with everything the Miter Knights have done. Back in Morzen, I should've done more to help those people. I should've run in and got as many people out as possible, but instead, I just laid on the floor and cried like a child. I didn't get any better after that. In Zamafar, I killed soldiers who were just trying to defend their families. I killed a young boy who couldn't fight anymore because I was afraid for my own life. But that pales in comparison to how I've treated Thomas. He's been my slave since I first joined. I never once tried to free him. He freed himself. I didn't even know his last name was Brines until now." Marcus turned toward Thomas. "I'm sorry, Thomas. I should've done more, but I didn't because I too am a coward….But, maybe we can still try to do something."
Marcus turned to the lieutenant, "Lt. Daegal, I know that none of us are worthy, but I ask you, please allow us to assist you in destroying Herobrine. Please, let us help you."
Marcus waited for an answer. Lt. Daegal appeared to be fiddling with something under the table. He did not speak. Suddenly, he held up his firework crossbow into the air and fired it.
He's giving the signal to execute the knights? Marcus thought. I guess that's it. We don't deserve forgiveness. None of us do.
The firework erupted in the sky. The boom could be heard for miles in the quiet forest. However, to Marcus's surprise, the firework was green.
"Your men should be arriving here in about ten minutes," said Lt. Daegal, "Follow me to the war room, we should begin discussing defense."