Clarity

Chapter 1: Going Up In Flames

I should've known everything would go wrong. I trusted Handsome Jack. I trusted the one man I looked up to my whole life and I ended up here, being restrained down to the same chair by my feet and my one non-cybernetic arm, in the chair  he promised me would be the chair I got to rule over Helios with. Was he really just the bad guy everyone thought he was?

I had the drive that forcefully was stuck into the side of my head still present. It stung my brain but yet, I didn't notice it much. My mind had started to wander onto these new thoughts as I felt as if my soul was crushed. Tears had begun to streak down my cheeks, forming in both my eyes.

I wasn't crying for being unable to rule, I was crying from being betrayed by my hero. Sure I wanted to rule over Helios and be able to be in the position I dreamed of, but somewhere along the way of this insane journey my heart grew an attachment. An attachment to Jack. Maybe I should've known better.

"Listen kiddo you're not going anywhe- Rhys, are you crying~?" Jack's holographic self asked from the tv screen, his voice drove daggers into my heart and only made my emotional state even worse.
I seemed to break down like a child, one who was just told the worst of news. But it was true, I really am in that circumstance. "What does it matter?" I asked in a low, shaky tone.
I don't know if it was glitch or if Jack actually felt remorseful, but he seemed to pause for a moment.
His face had disappeared from the tv screen and his holographic self was in front of me again as the drive was removed from my head, he stood, staring. Though his appearance was always blue, I thought I might've saw a blue expression on his face.

I saw his arm reach forward, which was in turn forcing my robotic arm move, having control of my cybernetics. What he did next would surprise me. He reached for a tissue and started to make me gingerly wipe away all my tears.
I couldn't help it, I couldn't speak, I just stared. As if my mouth had been sewn shut and my body entirely frozen and under different control. Thought it was partially true, Jack had control of my right arm and my heart.

"Rhys..." Jack started, his voice had a tone of seriousness, yet it felt gentle at the same time, or was I just imagining things again?
"You know...." Jack started again, sitting down on the desk infront of Rhys. He looked genuine. "Spending all that time there in your head, I knew all of what you thought. Every memory. Every feeling. Every thought." The taller holographic male continued.

I had my head lowered, staring at the floor hard as tears kept flowing heavy from my eyes. The thought of Jack knowing everything would regularly've  scared me, but at this moment I didn't care.
I could hear the flames roaring in the distance. It was on fire. The whole place- just like I was right now. But I was defeated, ready to give up.

"I lost everything I ever had. Took it all for granted. Everyone left or turned on me. My boss, my team, my girlfriend, fuck, my own goddamned daughter~."

Jack trailed off, a pained look filling his face. "I can understand your pain, Rhys." A weak smile filled the holograph's face.

The whole place was still filling quickly with flames, smoke starting to filter into the room. I was terrified but at the same time, I felt calmed. Could this be the end?
The holograph took what looked like a deep breath "There's no way out now, Rhysie. So let's have one final moment together, kay~?" He seemed to smile sadly as the room kept filling with smoke.

I could see him raise his hand to his throat, making the motion of choking himself, which in turn made my robotic arm rise and I had started to involuntarily choke myself. "I-If I die... You die too~" I choked out my words, becoming hard to breath with the lack of oxygen.
Jack stared at me solemnly, as he squeezes a little tighter. "I know Rhys, I know~" he started "We'll go down together~".