The feeling of guilt was not so quick to fade as Brainbox's history was revealed to those who were there to listen. In fact, it seemed to clench tighter onto my conscience. As the ghostbot's memory files were open, and as we learned how he died, I reached for my signifcant other's hand. I had been lucky that White had declared that he was coming with me; the moment I had been caught word of Brainbot truly regaining his memory, we were enjoying what little time we had together in recent days.
Brainbox was someone that I would have loved to have met when revenge was not coursing through his incorporeal circuits. I could have helped him, I would have gotten the police to listen to what he had to say. Or I could have been, had it been the present. When he was murdered, I was a pre-teen reeking havok in Aekea, a town that had not been open to the public, and a town that Brainbox would never live to see. It was a place that would have loved him and protected him. Brainbox would have truly been appreciated as the predecessor for the technology my clients thrived on. He was the grandfather to the Faktori Bots, especially little Bludeau. The two could have learned so much from each other and could have taught each other what love truly was.
I could feel the tension rising as the ghost grew more agitated, and I could see it on the faces of other Gaians around him. Many had fawned over him, trying to gain a few moments of fame by being in his presence or having him respond to them somehow. Others claimed to be in love with him, tried to destroy him, or pushed him too far in their attempts to solve his enigmatic past. It was only a matter of time before they were all gone. I knew, finally, that Brainbox would not go peacefully. What his fate was, I could not say. But one thing I did know was that I would do my best to make it as painless as possible for either side. The ghosts could not linger or mesh with Gaian society any longer.
As Brainbox shouted furiously to the crowd, I tightened my grip on White's hand and pulled him back from the ghost. Retrostacja leapt in front of me, ready to defend me at all costs. But as the phantasmal electric currents rushed from the robot's body, the mechanical dog was quick to think otherwise. I didn't take any offense to my pet as the crowd dispersed in shouts of terror. Those that remained were foolish ghost hunters, thinking they could subdue Brainbox or fanatic fans who could not stop gawking.
I was unable to save Brainbox from the unjust death that he had been dealt. But as I roused the stunned fangirls and boys from their stupor and shoved them into motion, I was positive about one thing. There was no way I would let him down this time, when it mattered most.
 PQ and Retrostacja · Mon Dec 13, 2010 @ 04:53am · 0 Comments |
