StarGaze

And The World Lives

"My friend, nothing is as it looks. Humans are a twisted species. In the final moments of the time I got to save this planet...or rather this planet in my dimension, I was making a run for someplace with a close friend, colonel Jeter. I just fought with another version of myself from a different dimension. He had chosen to join my ancestors and live forever. But he met his end by figuratively his own hands. No matter what choice I made on Enceladus, I was destined to die on the same day in the same place. I was hit in the back and Jeter literally dragged me to the place where the virus was about to go off. And then...

“Come on, we are almost there. Push a little more. You can’t give up at the last moment.” Jeter says, forcibly pushing my weary body into motion.

I can see the vents where the virus would be placed. But there’s no one there. I push myself after seeing victory so close. And then, a gunshot and Jeter’s hand slip off of my back. I stop to look around and find Jeter lying on the road. His head is bleeding. Then I see Yash emerging from the shadows, holding a pistol in his right hand, and shoots my leg. Then he points the weapon at my head.

“Did he tell you or you figured it out?” he asks with a notorious smile.

“He is an honorable man…or thing. He didn’t tell me shit.” I said. My head starts aching and I sit down on the road.

“Well, some people never change. I always wanted to corrupt you but you disappointed me every time. So, how does it feel to watch yourself die?” he asks, chuckling.

So it is true. That explains the perfect fighting techniques. But could that be possible? Endless questions arose in my mind.

“You're wondering how could you have ever become so miserable. Well, it’s a matter of choices and consequences. You chose to come back and die by my bullet, but he chose to stay with us and ended up being killed by himself. No matter what, you always die on the same day.” He said.

“Why be my friend?” I asked.

“Because it was the safest way. No one would ever suspect me because you trust me. and by staying with you I could keep an eye on your every movement. Of course, I had to kill some of my own to gain your trust.” He said while laughing.

“So the Yash in the crazy world was also one of you?” I ask in surprise.

“I think you know the answer to that question.” He said and looked at his watch.

“Running late for something?” I ask.

“Yeah, I got a world to destroy. Sleep tight, old friend.” He said and c****d his gun. And a gunshot is heard.

I open my eyes. Yash is lying on the ground and slowly changing into his original form. I look around and my search stops at a balcony window. There he is, smiling at me.

“I can’t be a helper, but I will always be a protector,” Rishabh shouts.

He jumps down from the balcony and lands perfectly. He then walks me to Yash’s body. His hand is holding a glass tube with a green liquid filled in it. It’s sealed on both sides. I take the pistol from the other hand and check its magazine, it’s missing one bullet.

“I don’t think you will be needing that,” Rishabh says and picks up the glass tube.

“You never know who’s your enemy,” I say and shoot him in the head.

I regret my decision immediately. But this is no time for regrets. I look at my watch, it shows 4:20 p.m. Ten minutes left and here I am, holding the key to open the world to the possibilities of new life forms. I take a good look at the liquid inside.

“Marvelous!” I exclaim. Then I look at the vent seal. A thought crosses my mind. What if they are right to do it? After all, they are millions of years older than us. The only problem I had with their plan is that they must have no power to decide the fate of our planet. And now the key lied in the hands of one of our own.

I don’t know about the others, but the only thing I have seen in my life is hate and deception. Humans are miserable and they are making the planet choke. This can hurt a lot of people, but deep down we know it’s the truth. Yes, there are some good people, but as we have taught ourselves, the majority wins.

I look at the clock again, it shows 4:25 p.m. My hands turn sweaty as I glance at the vents. Maybe I’m right, maybe I’m not. Maybe my sole opinion does not give me the right to kill everybody else. I’m going to die anyway, either of the wound or the timeline, so my only concern is the human race. We are going to destroy ourselves in a hundred years or less anyway, so why should I take the blame. Let the people see their mistakes and judge accordingly.

But I have the chance to get back at everyone who made me suffer and gave me pain. I have the ultimate power of destruction in my hands. I am the one true god at the moment. and it’s time for you all to pay.

With one minute left on the clock, I open the vent seal and the test tube lid. I take a deep breath and repeat to myself- choices and consequences, choices and consequences…

And then the moment of judgment finally arrives. My mind is as clear as a lake and my senses are hyperactive. I look at the liquid and then at the vent. My hands shake, but what needs to be done, needs to be done.

So as I already told you, nothing is as it seems. Rishabh, the same person who claimed that he didn't know me, had been protecting me since I was born. And the person who I considered my one true friend was planted as an enemy into my life. They were destined to die, I was destined to live inside your head. And that is all life is, unseen turns and difficult choices.