42 Deus Occidere - Part II

15th March

Staghead, Artemis, Freehold territory

Alexander is passionate - I can see that from how he talks. Passionate for something that isn't my dream, that doesn't allow him to support that dream. And I can see a fire encompassing him, something his mother used to have. Seeing that, I know I won't be able to sway him. But maybe, one day, he might see my point.

Alexander seems somewhat out of breath. As if this argument has exhausted all his energy. We've been talking, arguing with each other for quite some time now, and I see his point, I do. The point he makes is one that me and Aria constantly talked about. Will the world really change through our actions? Is it okay to use any means necessary, if it's to achieve a goal as noble as ours?

And, to begin with, we did try to work in a more peaceful and less drastic way. Our original plan for achieving our goals, was to win this world, convince people to see our view, and change it from the inside. But even as we laid out our plans, it became clear that our goal would never be achieved that way. Definitely not in our lifetime, or our children's, or our grandchildren's, or in any generation after that.

There is naturally opposition and unwanted side effects of every change. Globalisation was supposed to unite the world through trade and economic growth, but it ended up creating a new generation of protectionists and nationalists who opposed it. It led to the creation of super-states and giant transnationals, who have now become the real power on Earth, replacing elected officials.

That's just how the world is, and always will be. No meaningful change can be made from the inside. But the thought came to us, that if we tried to change this world from the outside, things might be different. Perhaps the world would be forced to change despite its' stubborn nature. And that's how Project Artemis was born. Why we decided to go to the moon. Why I'm now trying to create a new country that can challenge the world from the outside. But would Alexander understand that? Would it change his mind if I said all that to him. I don't think so. I see that now. I'm all alone. I alone will have to bear the weight of the world on my shoulders. Because that's just the way it is. So, this is fine. I'll just let him go, and accept that I'm all alone.

"If that's what you really think, then there's nothing left for us to discuss."

"Huh?"

Alexander blinks, perplexed, as I get off the bar stool, and begin heading towards the door. I guess this might be for the best. If I do this, if I let him go, he can live the normal life that he seems to want. Perhaps nothing he does will ever change the world, but you can say that about almost anyone. They can accept that they aren't ever going to do something greater than themselves. For me, I can't understand that, but I'm sure that for some, just a simple life like that is all it means to be alive.

"Wait."

I turn around to see Alexander walking towards me. Unlike before, he doesn't push me to the door, but rather stands about a metre away from me. The look in his eyes... that look is something that is all to familiar, and all too beautiful to me. When a person has such a look of fiery determination in their eyes... it both scares and enchants me.

"Wait, you old bastard."

Alexander speaks raggedly, breathing hard from the anger that he must be feeling, "you don't get to leave after that. I'm not done yet, you useless father. I don't care for that world you want. The world that you desire. I reject it, and I reject your way of thinking. The world can change without being forced to. This world, humanity, we can change without someone like you forcing it on us. It might take longer, it might be harder, but we will. I'll do it. I'll prove it to you. That the world can change on its' own. I'll do it. And I'll end this dream of yours."

Alexander's display leaves me both shocked and amazed. I'm speechless. I was wrong about him. I had only really considered two possibilities. That he would work with me to achieve my dream, or that he would reject me, and lead a simple life on Earth. I'm such a fool. There's always another option. But this declaration from Alexander... I don't know if I ever would've considered he would do this, though now that he has, I think that I should've seen this coming. He has Aria's drive and determination, and my strategic mind and ambition, as well as a deep rooted hatred of me. No wonder this is the path that he has chosen. It makes me laugh.

And I do. I laugh so hard that I can't stop myself, and I feel tears roll down my face. I can vaguely hear Alexander asking if I'm okay, and that just makes me laugh all that much harder. He just declared me his enemy, and now he shows me sympathy? Alexander rejected me, my world, and my way of thinking, yet now he shows me kindness? I wonder if that's just the type of person he is, or if this is the bond between family.

"Sorry. I don't think I was respecting you enough. Your a much bigger person than I thought you were."

"Huh?"

"Don't worry about it. If you don't get it, that's fine," I say, straightening myself up, "if that's the path you want to take, then that's fine too. I'm not going to stop you, even if it makes us enemies one day. Try and change the world from the inside then, before I change it on my own."

I extend out a hand to him. He wipes his hand on the side of his pants, then shakes my hand firmly.

I agreed with Alexander before leaving that he would have a seat on the shuttle down to Earth within the week. Me and all of my security team, including the ones that had been here before I arrived, left for the Old Settlement. It will only take about fifteen minutes to walk there from Alexander's temporary apartment. Even though there are other things I should be thinking about, I can't get my conversation with Alexander out of my head. It makes me want to laugh. I feel so excited for some reason.

I'm not as upset by this turn of events as I probably should be. It would've been nice if Alexander had agreed to stay and work with me, to achieve me and his mother's dream, but this sounds good too. It definitely intrigues me. It's exciting. Will it be my dream that takes over the world, or will Alexander succeed in changing the world from within? I want to see it. How this will turn out. And even if Alexander doesn't end up doing anything, that's fine too. If he can live a peaceful life, that's also fine. But I think I would prefer if he really does oppose me. That would definitely be interesting. Just thinking about it makes me excited.

Moving back to the present, however, today is an important day. Meeting Alexander was almost a sideshow compared to everything else happening today. At the moment, as I'm walking to the former DELOS offices, in one of the conference rooms in that building, the provisional government is meeting for the first time, to vote and debate on a constitution for the moon. Of course, the seats are stacked to ensure that Jazz's, or rather my plan, is accepted, but that doesn't make today any less important. Finally, there will be one more action to be taken today. One more plan that I need to put into action. And certainly, it will be the most important of them all. Today will be the day that on Earth, everyone will learn that there is no option but to acknowledge the moon.