178

The atmosphere was quiet and windless. People moving on with their own life while ignoring everything that was going on around them. A couple, holding hand walking slowly, passing a bench. Both were smiling, no doubt enjoying each other’s presence. Both were minding their own business. Both were ignoring the man sitting on the bench.
The man on the bench however was observing the couple as they passed him by.
“A lovely couple…” Chiron said.
Chiron sighed as the couple disappeared in the mist of the trees. There was no one else there saved a few birds singing happily celebrating the warm summer. “Too warm...”, he thought. He was sweating but he tried to forget the discomfort by continuing on reading his book. The book was already crumbling, stolen, or rather a souvenir taken from a varsity library years ago.
“War is peace, freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength… the truth could not stray farther than this”. He said that every time he finished up the book. He closed up the book and there was a person, walking towards him, wearing a dark blue shirt with an ugly tie.
“Afternoon Chiron, I see you still have your favorite book”. Link was Chiron’s colleague back when they were both serving the same course.
“I like Orwell's dystopia idea."
“Right, anyway, have you heard the news?”
“Yes, I’ve heard. It came at a surprise”.
“Really? Why do I have the feeling that you are not telling me the truth?”
Chiron was taken aback by Link question. Nevertheless, he kept his posture cool. “What do you mean?”
“Oh come on, I know you are involved in it. All the evidences my contacts provide lead to you. One way or another, the roads end right at you”. Link was serious on this. Never had Chiron saw Link being so serious. The cold hard stare was penetrating Chiron’s composure slowly; slowly but for certain. Silence conquered the moment. “How could you do this to me? We have known each other since we started our pioneer project!”
“I see that there is no need for hiding anymore. For how long have you found out about me?”
“Since Prometheus’ hacking. Somebody was caught but it seems that he was merely a puppet.”
“Lithium. He was a fool. You are right, he was serving a puppeteer.”
“And you are, Him?” Link was careful to stress on the word Him, the notorious shadowy figure that eluded power that be.
“Yes, I am Him. But you too are a fool Link. For all this, you should have suspected me. In fact, this mystery has not ended yet.”
“Yet? It has. I’ve caught you…”
“You’ve caught me alright but the story does not end here”, Chiron was quick to cut Link. “You my friend, is also playing Lithium’s part. You are a puppet”.
“If I was the puppet, then I am the puppet with that outsmarted his master. The story ends with you Chiron”.
“Wrong Link, there is a war going on, a war on the other level. I am simply the war loser.”
“You are lying. If I was a puppet, where’s my string then?” Link took something from his pocket and pointed it towards Chiron.
“It hurts doesn’t it? Being manipulated for a greater purpose”, a sneer came from Chiron’s breath.
“An odd attitude for a man who is on the other end of a gun.”
“We control the Sphere. The Guilds are nothing but pup…” Chiron stopped short. A great pain was emerging from his back. A pain so great that he could no longer concentrate on Link.
“Chiron!”
“Link… stay out of this…“
Link spotted the assailant and shot a few bullets. He was about to run towards the shooter but he couldn’t move his feet. Moments later, he couldn’t even stand on his feet. In the end, he laid besides Chiron.
“Chiron… who was… that?”
“Crazy.”
“Crazy?”
“Use the Force Luke”.
“What the fuck?”
"Let go Luke... Luke, trust me”.
He woke up and realized he forgot to switch off the television.