079. Revolution, 8

(Uri)

There was too much left to do, to discover, to learn, to teach, to explain and to understand.

About the world, and for that child we saved and encountered.

I was bitter, missing so much from what's to come.

From the remaining pockets of society that will gradually consolidate and reconnect.

From the lingering networks that will help humanity as a whole superorganism recover faster and greatly.

And even from these fuckers from Solaris, who likely have suffered the same fate as everyone else ironically.

Through shared tragedy, there is a chance to grow better through cooperation; even if enmities and racism will always linger.

My - Disease. Disease. Disease?

U - Dying. Dying...

I woke up with only the child looking after me. Well, looking at me coldly only.

But it's not that she's emotionless or a full psychopath. I don't think so.

I try to raise a hand, but all I have now is a necrotic stump. It makes me feel awful. I'm really dying.

The pain has left room for a dizziness. I feel like I'm floating. As if my head had grown bigger and rested on a balloon now.

U - Myersa, listen to me. Learn. Learn. Learn. Okay?

My - Okay.

I can't make movements for her to imitate anymore. So this is where I'll be dying. This shabby clinic's room. Poorly lit. Smelling old and mould. No windows to the landscape. This is depressing.

I'm reaching the point where I'd prefer to have a gun in hand to end it. My hands have turned to stumps anyway. It's over. I don't know if my friend would have the guts to do it. And I can't ask it from this child.

U - Can you find Mushio? I'd like to go outside.

My - ...

She looks straight at me. She's looking like she's doing better at least. Much better. I don't get why she doesn't react nor answers for a moment.

U - He's gone, isn't he?

She nods, and repeats my sentence a few times, as if learning to speak like me.

I haven't had the chance to tell him more how to handle and educate her efficiently, but...

U - Well... He'll manage. You'll manage.

My - Dying?

U - Me, yes. You two, no. Not yet. You will learn everything. You will become adult before you know it. And then...

My - Then?

U - ... You will be safe. You will be loved. You will find your purpose through your passion. Right, I forgot to tell him you will find your own obsessive passions very soon most likely. He'll need to make you grow on them, utilizing them...

I feel my breath coming short. I stop and try to breathe. My lungs feel like two wild animals lurking and purring near me, ready to kill me. They'll rip my throat from the inside if I wake them up.

The child thinks. She looks like she's dead inside currently, but I know it's just an appearance and it won't last as she grows.

Now I wish I could have seen her grow... I'm tearing up. I was already attached to that brat.

My - Cry. Cry. Cry. Cry. Cry.

U - It's okay... You will be fine.

Her eyes reflect the dim light in weird ways. She has these metallic gleams all over her.

It's not a young child that is lesser than an adult I face. It's a person still accumulating knowledge to forge her opinions and future decisions.

U - Learn... Learn everything you can. As an adult, someday others will be counting on you, to help them.

She listens. What will she remember I can't say. I sigh.

I need to see the sky.

U - Where did he go?

My - Town.

She counts time and distance. She estimates time before return. A real machine already. He must have shown him the maps.

U - So you're a natural at maths...

My - Numbers! Numbers!

I chuckle. Mushio will be great for her then. He's a machine himself with mathematics.

She'd like to say more I can see, but she still lacks some vocabulary. She shows though as I had guessed a keen eye for something nice.

I manage to push the screen of the diagnosis display still strapped to my chest.

U - Read me the numbers...

She reads eagerly everything. I try to understand what everything means, but I'm not lying to myself. This is the end.

If my friend returns before, I'll ask to be left outside.

I want to feel the air and wind.

Otherwise...

U - Learn everything... Learn. Learn.

My - Learn. Learn. Learn.

I've closed my eyes. I feel how I'm melting inside. I have a last tear and smile.

I wish my decay hadn't been so sharp.

I feel my body collapsing, about to rupture like a pouch. My voice sounds awfully uneven.

U - Please... Wait for him outside.

My - Okay... Goodbye Uri.

I teared up and thankfully heard her leave.

The rest will be up to you two.

But I know you will be a good teacher my friend.

Both of them.

They will understand everything, and teach it to the next generation of humanity.

I wish them well.

I retire, but the show will carry on with them.

~

(Mushio)

I returned too late. I had brought back a wheelchair to help carry him. I didn't even unload it when I saw her sitting outside. I understood why.

She didn't cry, but even though she looked fairly unaffected, I could tell there was something. She was fidgeting.

That time I spent looking for things to help him, I now already regret not spending by his side.

The child follows me like a puppy as I head back inside.

She steps back instinctively when I reached the doors to the clinic, and then again when I reached the door to his room. I don't open it yet.

M - Did he say something?

My - Learn. Learn. Learn. To learn. Everything.

I feel lost. I peek inside. I see a puddle of flesh and almost clean bones lying around. It's disgusting...

It's horrifying.

I shut the door, trying to remain calm.

I get closer to the child, holding my tears. I kneeled down to her height.

M - Is that all he said?

My - Learn. Learn. Learn.

He could understand her nonsense... Face value...

M - he wants you to learn everything.

My - Learn. Me. You.

M - Right. Me and you...

I will miss him, but I will try my best. I stand up and give her my hand, but she doesn't grab it. She just mimics my movement.

I tap her open hand and we move on.

We unload what won't be useful and reload what we'll need for our next trip.

He advised me to tell her everything, even if she couldn't understand... So I open again the maps, and I try to explain where we should head to next.

I'm a little scared honestly...

But I'll try my best with this new team.

Soon enough, we're on our way, leaving this grave and city behind.

Goodbye my friend.

~