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« on: December 08, 2022, 12:24:40 AM »
ELEVEN YEARS LATER
Tenant's Way
A much older James Zanasiu tumbled out of the gate Cimarron and Malte Kerzach rushing up to catch him. "Where... am... I?" he asked.
"Tenant's way. Dr Zanasiu I assume?" Cimarron asked.
"Yes, I need to get to Carson City Camp." James replied holding his head. He was still feeling a little woozy from the trip.
"We'll make sure you get there." Malte said assisting James out of the room.
"I'll get you a ride out of the city from there you're on your own."
"Thank you Cimarron." Malte said with a nod of his head.
"No problem. Just paying back the debt I owe you."
Malte and James Sr. were driven to the outskirts of the city where they took a cab to the airport landing in Nevada a few hours later. Soon enough they arrived at the Carson City Camp.
"Identifications please." the guard said. Malte and James handed their id's over the guard stopping for a few moments at Jame's ID. "Excuse me for a moment." The guard shut the door and picked up a phone speaking for a few moments before hanging the phone up. "Head to main building. Follow the bike" He motioned for another guard who got on a motorcycle that started heading off into the camp.
James followed the guard who lead the pair to the main building where General Corta was waiting for them. the car and motorcycle came to a halt. James stepped out of the car saluting Corta.
"James! It's good to see you again! I see that plan you Werner and Kerzach payed off." Corta said returning the salute.
"I'm just glad to be back. Now we can synthesize the cure and stop this in its tracks." James, Malte and Corta walked to the infirmary "We did it. I can't wait to tell Werner it worked."
"Let's get the cure done first." Corta waved his hand. "Werner would want the cure ready before contact."
James nodded his head in reply as the group arrived. The doctor readied a needle and drew some blood putting the vial in a cooler and ready for transport. "Now we should get to calling..." James trailed off as he saw the look on Corta's face.
"James... Werner's dead." Corta hung his head.
"How? When?"
"Two weeks ago. One of our agents went rogue and she stabbed him."
"Mr Zanaisu. He died defending myself Florence and James." Malte spoke up.
"Junior? Where is he?"
"He went through the gate to retrieve you. He didn't come out so he's probably wherever you got the cure from." James then realized the words Corta had used.
"Where is she?" he asked his tone being of restrained anger.
"Before you go off to confront her I have a message." Corta said taking out a small round object. Corta pressed a button and an holographic image of Werner appeared.
"Hello James." the image said. "If you're seeing this then either Shelton's Disease has claimed me or something else has happened. If it's Shelton's Disease then You did what you could and I hold no ill will toward you."
The image took a long sigh. "If it's the other... then I ask... no I beg you please don't hold it against her. I know you were the right choice but I find myself thinking if I had chosen her over you she might have found that peace."
The image took a drink from a glass before continuing. "I also wanted to say it has been an honor having you as a friend and please deliver this to Evelyn." The image held up a second object similar to the one the message was playing from.
"Make sure she gets it. farewell... friend." the image faded and disappeared. Corta handed James a second similar object.
James was breathing heavily. Part of him wanted to rip Pomson limb from limb, while the other part wanted to honor his friends wishes. "take me to her."
Evelyn Pomson was sitting in her cell the weight of the past few years weighing down on her. another raptor walked up to her.
"You're weak! A failure! just like your mother!" the raptor snarled.
"Father! I... I'm not a failure!"
"You couldn't even avenge me properly! You were taken out by a child half your age!"
"Evelyn! You don't have to listen to him!" a human walked up to the second raptor "You still have a chance!"
"A chance for what?! She was weak and the strong overcome the weak!"
"And yet you were essentially beaten by a bunch of nerds Halsey."
"Shut up! If there's one thing she was successful at it was kill you! Rectifying the problem of that relationship!"
"And yet I still treated her with more respect than you did."
"You dare speak of respect when you were too weak to lead the settlement?"
"You're right, I had my flaws. I screwed up from time to time. But I gave them choice. I didn't force my will on them unlike you. Unlike what you taught your daughter. You never cared about her!"
"I am her father! She will choose me!"
"Look at her! she needs help not chastising!"
"What she needs is firm discipline!"
"What she needs is a friend, a kind heart." The human walked over and knelt down. "Someone who believes she can do good even after all she's done."
Pomson's face was a mix of emotions: anger, regret, sadness and rage. "I..." she started only for the raptor and human to disappear. Footfalls from the hallway broke her train of thought and she heard the steps stop in front of her cell.
She heard the door unlock and another human walk into her cell. She locked eyes and for once she froze. She couldn't bear to look the human in the eye.
"Evelyn Pomson..." James said as he walked to a table. half of which was behind a reinforced clear plastic wall.
Evelyn couldn't find the words to respond. She continued looking away from James.
"I thought you'd want to know Wener's plan worked. "The cure is being synthesized as we speak." James's eyes were locked on her. "And I hear you murdered Werner while he was defending my son and his friends." James was speaking with restrained anger and rage.
"But I am doing what Werner wants. This is your one chance to come clean, I'm doing this for Werner not you. Until you prove yourself you stay away from me and my family." James got up to leave but stopped. "Oh that reminds me." James placed the object in a slide and slide it to Pomsons side.
"Werner had a final message for you as well." James turned and left the room.
Pomson watched James leave before she slowly made her way over. She found a small round holographic projector. Pomson gulped and pressed the button. She saw the hologram appear as she once again saw the image of her former lover.
"Hello Evelyn. If you're watching this then Shelton's Disease has claimed me. I... I have so much to say yet so little time." The image sighed shaking his head. "I want to apologize. I let my concern for you cloud my judgement. You could have been the right choice."
The hologram shook his head. "I never thought that I... I loved you Evelyn... I should have spent the years I had left with you."
Evelyn felt tears run down her face as she moved to put her hand on the hologram's cheek. She watched as it turned solid upon her touch. "Werner..."
"Please Evelyn turn back. Become the good person I know you are it's not too late." The hologram gave a sad sigh shaking his head. "Goodbye Evelyn. I love you and remember I will always be with you." the hologram faded as the raptor and human reappeared.
"Touching..." the raptor snarled. "The fool thinks his simple message and redeem you? You're utterly irredeemable!"
"Evelyn." The human said outstretching his hand. "Take my hand. Let go of him. He can't control you anymore."
Pomson looked between the two finally landing on the human. "I want to be free of him."
"Finally! You made a good choice for once..." the raptor started only to be interrupted.
"Not him..." Pomson said looking to the raptor. "I want to be free of you."
The raptor felt a blast of wind blowing hard at him tearing bits and pieces off him. He gave an enraged roar as soon the wind consumed him as his image turned to dust.
"You made the right choice. This are your first steps. I will be with you every step of the way." The human walked toward Pomson and seemingly merged with her.
General Corta entered the room. Pomson hadn't even heard his footsteps "Have you made your choice on the plea deal?"
"Yes." Evelyn nodded her head. "I'm taking it. I deserve the time. I want to do whatever it takes."
"I'll notify the judge." Corta turned to leave noting the projector on the table. he said nothing and left the room.
Evelyn looked off to the door as if she saw something. "I'm sorry..."
From the door a spirit watched the scene. "I forgive you." He didn't notice a second figure walk up to him before they placed a hand on his shoulder.
"It's time to go."
The spirit turned around and saw a man in a black suit. "Is she going to be okay?"
"Yes she will be Werner." the man said.
"You know you aren't how I imagined you would be."
"I appear however I need to be. I don't always go for the reaper look."
Pomson looked up and squinted her eyes. She wasn't sure but she thought she saw something.
Werner gave a nod and another smile before he turned away with the figure. The two disappeared down the hallway as they walked.
Evelyn for the first time felt at peace with everything. She sat down and closed her eyes smiling.