Chapter 85 - Take That Step

The following day was mostly relaxed as the worst had already passed.

The things at the mansion had self-destructed alongside the quinjet, Zeel was barely able to salvage parts to build another.

John asked "Zeel can you do the thing now? And no more messing it up?"

He was clearly referring to Zeel mind fucking Sarah and the now-dead Mark.

Once again, John was still too trusting since he couldn't find a way to verify that Zeel would do exactly what was asked of him.

Zeel had the tendency to branch off his selected course if more opportunities present themselves.

"Wait for a while, we need to make sure everything is packed and well-deserving, that way they won't die part of the way," Alice replied giving John a look of deep meaning.

She had basically given him the approval to take Sarah and Sam along, given they fit certain conditions.

This was all John could ask for since Zeel would have denied him outright.

Thirty minutes later, the group was in a clearing near the school.

John Smith, Sam Goode, Sarah Hart, Alice Crawford, Maren Elizabeth, and Zeel Crawford.

Henri's and Lexa's stasis chambers were nearby, but Zeel kept them at a distance since floating bodies that are half dead would not be conducive to mental health.

"The reason we came out here is a test to see who could go and who would stay," Zeel said.

Alice continued where he left off, knowing he lacked a certain finesse to continue his explanation "Well, of course, members of the Cêpan and the Garde have to leave but you, Sam and you, Sarah, we are unsure of,"

"What do you mean, I have a family. I can't just get up and go where I want to," Sarah replied as she had not intended to leave in the first place.

"Have you seen Bernie Kozar around? That's because he was tasked with eliminating the Mogadorians running around town…. Here he is," Alice said as she caught the running Bernie Kozer and passed him to Zeel.

Zeel then checked the surface memory of the chimera since they were fairly intelligent species, enough for him to get a clear read on Bernie Kozar's adventures during the night.

"It's like I guessed, most of the parents were eliminated last night before the attack at the school.

The Mogadorians were unsure of who the number was so they did the next best thing.

Eliminate the parents of the students at the school," Zeel said and then explained further "I am regretful to tell you guys but your parents were also included: Sam your stepdad is dead, Sarah your mom, younger brother, and father is also dead,"

Zeel once again demonstrated his lack of finesse when relaying sensitive information.

The group watched in sorrow as Sarah sunk to her knees and started bawling out her lungs.

Sam, on the other hand, shed one tear and said "He was a bastard who was better off dead anyway,"

Unlike Sarah's seemingly perfect family, Sam was abused on a daily. He lacked the familial attachment one should expect from extended families.

Sarah cried for an entire hour, Zeel had forced himself to be understanding but it became a tedious task to accompany her in the grieving process.

"There are much worse things than losing a family, Sarah. Like losing your entire planet.

Consider these baby steps for becoming one of us. Everyone here has lost more than you can ever hope to, so stop bitching about it," Zeel said in a slightly annoyed tone, to which Sarah looked up at his face and then everyone else's.

She could see them looking at her with eyes containing only a bit of understanding but nothing else; no empathy, no sorrow, no regret. It was as if they were dull to such emotions.

Then she understood, everyone here has lost far more than she has, but they didn't give up, they're now fighting for their own planet and by extension …. hers as well.

John gave Zeel a condemning glare but couldn't do much else. Zeel's ability was a couple of times beyond his current ability.

Everyone knew the previous statement needed to be said but having Zeel say it was a bit of a low blow.

"Now, we are here because I want to test your resolve. Trust me, adventure is always loved and unwanted at the same time.

Alice and I have traveled to places you'll never see in your lifetimes, and what we have learned is 'The Journey never ends'," Zeel said staring into the sky at the familiar star.

"There is always another mountain to climb, another river to swim across, another lover to be betrayed, another brother to kill.

Sometimes there is no right choice, only the lesser of two evils. And in the worst times, there is only the choice to become evil, do the biggest evil deed you can so that things can get better.

We have realized that rock bottom is not the lowest you can go, I don't even think hell is," Alice added having both her memories and Zeel's to consider.

"Now, here you are standing on the precipice of what could be a happy life, devoid of sorrows unimaginable, free from anything beyond mortal pain, and I ask you to choose, rather I beg you to choose.

Sam forget about your father live your life to the fullest, have kids be a happy man, raise those kids to be good men as well, die feeling fulfilled and ignorant of what pains the world has to offer.

Sarah I know you won't believe this but I actually am very fond of you, the smile that hides the pain of adolescence, the pictures that show the beauty of the mundane, the confidence to be depressed but try for happiness anyway.

I hope you more than anyone choose to forget about John and the rest of us. Loving John is a two-edged sword with the sharpest end facing your own heart and not the enemy's," Zeel said which made everyone go into a daze for a moment, not knowing he had buried such philosophical viewpoints deep within.

"I wish we had more time to have you make an informed decision but I need a decision now.

Take a step forward to test your resolve, take a step back and I'll erase these memories and make sure you live a fulfilling life. Now choose,"

*step*

*step*