Elemorts

Chapter XXXV - Extreme Prejudice

Sparxtrike gunned the car down the road between gentle, sloping hills. It was brightly lit with luminescent white strips, but the hills were shrouded in darkness, looming all around in the form of rolling black silhouettes. Almost over, she thought as she exhaled and let her tense shoulders relax.

"You are making a big mistake," Oblitz called out from the rear seat. A partition was between him and Sparxtrike, and his hands were bound in ener-cuffs. "You are better than this." He had sat somewhat silently initially, but his pleas had started becoming more frequent and more intense since they had drawn closer to the old headquarters of Oracle.

"Better than what? Than taking a two-bit, corrupt, mad scientist to meet his well-deserved fate?" Sparxtrike retorted for the thirteenth time since they had set out from Digitch space territory.

"You keep telling yourself that. But—"

"I will!" Sparxtrike interrupted. "Now, not another word!"

They fell silent... but only for a moment.

"You will regret it when you find out what they did to me," Oblitz said pleadingly.

"Should have thought of that when you decided to work with them — assisted them in their horrendous experiments," Sparxtrike said, shrugging and trying her best to ignore his eyes in the rearview mirror. "You knew what you were getting into. What did you think would happen when you tried to leave? I hear you were the one who pushed to acquire mer subjects."

"I saved your life!" Oblitz pressed on. "Does that mean nothing to you?"

"Ah, can't bear to reflect on your actions, can you? Well, I thought I was saving yours. But you betrayed me — and our planet. Now, that means a lot to me."

"Our planet is also assisting Oracle," Oblitz yelled. "Can't you see? I left Oracle, but Zapstrom is still with them. You condemn me for the same actions your home planet facilitates now!"

Can't get there sooner, Sparxtrike thought. "Maintaining political alliance is very different than actively conducting experiments on innocent mer, leaving them scarred for life... or worse," Sparxtrike rebutted.

"Well, I think they are very sim—"

"I don't care what you think. Look... for the last time... I am merely fulfilling my duty. If I don't, I will be terminated from my job, and soon enough, I may find myself being arrested and escorted with you. It's either you or my job, and I certainly don't envy your position. So, forgive me for choosing my job." With that, Sparxtrike swerved around a bend between the hills, drove onto a driveway, and raced on. Oblitz lurched in his seat.

The headquarters were visible near the horizon now at the end of the driveway, nestled between rounded, sloping hills.

As Sparxtrike had expected, the old headquarters were barely lit even at this hour. She knew Oracle had already shifted to their new headquarters somewhere. Only a handful of their staff remained behind, along with some Wystal and Zapstromiss reinforcements to wrap things up and attend to some leftover undisclosed matters.

The hulking silhouette of the central lab of about sixty floors was nevertheless still outlined against the night sky and backdrop of rolling hills. Apart from the muted magenta Oracle logo on its top, Sparxtrike could see faint lights emanating from just a few scattered windows on various floors.

Fortunately, Oblitz had grown quiet now. No more debates on morality, Sparxtrike thought in relief. By now, he has realized he deserves this, she tried to convince herself but did not succeed completely. Sparxtrike stole a glance through the rearview mirror and saw that he was staring ahead, wide-eyed.