Chapter 6  Trial of the Technomage

 

“Um... hello?”

 

Justin looks around in the white... he can no longer hear the woman’s voice, but he can feel a presence... he raises his quarter staff... but as soon as he sees who it is... he lowers his weapon.

 

Joseph is standing right there in front of him, looking exactly the same as when Justin worked for Apocolypse Incorporate those few years ago. He walks up beside the technomage, looking down at him...

 

“You fancy yourself a hero...”

 

Justin nods...

 

“I guess so. I’m doing actual good now... not the fake kind that I was doing under your tutelage. My work... my inventions... are being used to save lives.”

 

“And what? You think that makes up for all the lives you are responsible for ending? All the people in the Wolfville Wizarding Academy...”

 

“That wasn’t me! You killed all those people... not me.”

 

“You built the bomb that Castor and Pollex used to destroy the castle... that makes it your fault.”

 

“NO! I built the bomb to protect Earth from outside attacks! I never thought it would be used to kill humans...”

 

“Justin... you were so worried about extraterrestrial threats to Earth that you never realized what I was... what my plans were. You are guilty... if of nothing else, then at least of not paying enough attention.”

 

Justin opens his mouth to protest... but closes it without speaking. Joseph gives a small grin...

 

“See... even you know it. Justin... you are GUILTY! You did not kill them with your on hands... but they died because of YOU! You were so blinded by your wish to defend the Earth, that you failed to notice what I was doing right under you nose. You are guilty!”

 

Justin turns his head away from Joseph... and mumbles something under his breath... Joseph takes a step toward him, straining to hear...

 

“I’m sorry... what was that? I couldn’t hear you...”

 

“Yes... yes... I am... guilty...”

 

Joseph steps back... almost shocked...

 

“You... admit you guilt!”

 

“Yes.”

 

“And... the guilty must be punished, correct?”

 

Justin slowly nods...

 

“... correct...”

 

“Well... now we have a new problem... don’t we? If you are guilty... and the guilty must be punished... then what should your punishment be? Tell me... what do you think you deserve?”

 

“You want the criminal to choose the sentence?”

 

Joseph shrugs...

 

“While I admit that for most crimes, allowing the guilty party to choose their own punishment would be rather counterproductive to the concept of justice... but in this case... I think that you are more apt to choose something that is actually fitting than a common criminal is. So... what should it be? Death is always a great option, by the way...”

 

“No...”

 

“Not death... but, it’s quick. One moment, and your punishment will be over. One single act, and you will have paid you debt to those whom died. It’s simple... it’s easy...”

 

“But... it’s not justice!”

 

Justin snaps his head toward Joseph.

 

“It’s not fair... don’t you see that? They died because of me! It’s to easy to just die! They deserve more than that... they deserve justice! Don’t you get it Joseph! I’m going to have to live the rest of my life knowing that they died because of my short-sightedness! They died because I allowed you to blind me to your own ambitions!

 

I killed them... just as if I had planted the bomb myself... and I will spend every moment of the rest of my life fighting to atone for what I did. Don’t you see... that is my punishment... that is the justice they deserve.”

 

Joseph steps back. He tilts his head to the side, and stares intently at the technomage...

 

“And... you are willing to grant them this justice? A life full of atonement... is that truly what you deserve?”

 

“It doesn’t matter... that’s the justice that the victims deserve... and that is what I will give to them. I’m just as guilty as you are... Castor and Pollex planted the bomb... but you gave the order... and I made it. If this world were perfect, all of us would be forced to atone... but with the three of you being so very much dead and all... I’ll just have to work four times as hard.”

 

Joseph nods his head slowly, and steps away from Justin.

 

“Very well... you have accepted responsibility for your actions... and you have accepted penance. You have passed this trial Justin...”

 

And with that, Joseph is gone. Justin glances around the white Plane, looking for his former boss, but the only person in his sight is Saphir, and he is deep in conversation with a much older looking man.

 

If the technomage strains his ears, he can just barely make out what they are saying to each other...

 

*        *        *        *        *        *

 

“Ryan... get up!”

 

She’s looking down at him with an almost apologetic look... Arrowny reaches out, gripping Sky Render before slowly getting to his feet.

 

“Crystal?”

 

“Yeah... it’s me.”

 

“I... don’t understand...”

 

Crystal takes a few steps back, and sits on the corner of Joseph’s old desk. She motions for Ryan to join her, but he stands still. She sighs, nodding her head...

 

“Right... an explanation... okay.

 

I am Crystal... the Crystal you knew... they Crystal you fought with... the Crystal you tried to save. But, I’m also more than that...

 

I am the Vessel of Jove... the god exists within me now. It’s what I was born for... even though I didn’t know it during my life.”

 

“You died... I tried to save you... but you died...”

 

She smiles slightly as he takes a couple steps toward her...

 

“I know you tried... Ryan... I know you tried. But, it’s alright! I knew I would die... I saw my own death when I used the Prophet Stone that night, before we went out... I knew it was going to happen. It wasn’t your fault.

 

Besides... I’m good! Better than good... I’m great! I’m connected now... not just to Jove... to the world... to the universe... to the very essence of creation! I know things now Ryan... things that nobody else knows... I know things about you, Ryan...”

 

“About me?”

 

“Yeah... about you. Haven’t you ever wondered why you can use magics that should have been bred out of your family over eight thousand years ago?”

 

“Well... now that you mention it...”

 

Arrowny closes the distance between the two of them, and sits on the other corner of the desk, as close to the edge as he can get without looking like he’s purposely keeping his distance.

 

Crystal smiles...

 

“It was me... Jove. I had the Children re-awaken your dormant magical powers. And, do you know why?”

 

Ryan, trying to process the information, just shakes his head... Crystal continues...

 

“You... you are my General. When I take my rightful place, you will rule this world at my side. You exist to rule beside me. Your family has been carefully bred... created simply so that you could exist, and conquer this world along with me. It is your destiny Ryan... it is your birthright.”

 

Crystal pushes herself across the desk, nearer to him. He doesn’t pull away... he hardly even notices when she reaches out and takes Sky Render from his hand...

 

“I can make you immortal... we will be together for all eternity...” she places one of her hands over his... “don’t you want that?”

 

Arrowny slowly nods...

 

“Yes...”

 

“Good...”

 

“No... not good. That’s what I want... but... you’re talking about global domination... that’s just... wrong...”

 

Suddenly, his eyes snap forward, wide in understanding...

 

“HEY! That sword is making him evil!”

 

Crystal laughs a little...

 

“Yeah... yeah it is. But the longer the sword has hold over him, the more it will corrupt him... and eventually, he won’t need it at all... he’ll just be naturally evil.”

 

Ryan suddenly looks very, very seriously at her...

 

“I’ll kill him before that happens...”

 

Crystal gives a soft smile, and places a hand on the side of Arrowny’s face...

 

“Ryan... you’ll be on our side too...”