Catalyst

Retaliation

"Sorry. Your Excellency Regerry Reginald, you are four years late. You cannot inflict anything on a ghost-like me." He is laughing hearing the order of Reginald.

We just smiled at him. Reginald is wrong in one thing. It was not Mr. Bartender who hold us, together. It is the misery we shared. It is the pain. Pushing ourselves, forward. We are all ghosts. Seeking justice.

" We are still not getting the support of many. Especially from the members of thinkers. They view us, as rebels. They still not believing, in our cause." He already sitting, comfortable. Studying all the information in his hand.

"It will never be an easy task. Freeing them, from the delusion. I believe it needs time ." I admit. I felt some hatred for the fools continuing to believe in their false promises.

" I am thinking about approaching them, personally. Let them hear what the things, we are fighting for. I am not losing hope. There is still a chance to change their mind. That's why I am going to talk to them personally." 

I am surprised by his sudden decision.

" I am sorry but I am disapproving of you. I do not trust them. You cannot change their mind. Especially, they always believe they are superior to us. They have a reputation to protect."

He looked at me. He is trying to read my mind.

"More than anything. I believe they are human. An emotional being.  We are above the label, they give us. We are more than that. It for the better promise of tomorrow."

Sometimes I do not understand. Where is he getting that hope?

"What are you planning to do. " 

"I am having a negotiation with the members of thinkers."

I know that he had already had a plan. He only informed me.

" Are sure of that? How about the council? Have you already informed them? I believe you need their approval before taking any action." He just smiled at me.

"That's what I am planning. I just want someone who will support me. It is the reason, I am telling it. "

" You want my help? In convincing the council."

"You have their high respect. Surely, it will be easier for you. To convince them."

" Sorry but I do not trust the thinkers. I never wanted to risk your life. You know how vital your role is in our organization. We only starting. It is a long way ahead of us."

My answer saddened him.

" I respect your decision. You should never lose hope in them. Soon, they will understand where we are coming from. I never really intended to begin a war between the classes. It is the system I want to abolish. It's the corruption we needed to defeat." 

He always had this hope, for the classes to be united. He still not giving up.

"Okay. Let me think about that. I am giving you a chance. I will conduct a careful investigation about them. Members of thinkers who wanted to talk, to you."

"You are always one step, ahead of us. I will not stop you. For our safety." He pats my shoulder and then left. 

I can never trust thinkers. As I always know, they demand something. In exchange for this negotiation to happen.

I am busy. Studying the background of the thinkers. I am not still convinced about them. I know that it is not easy to change his mind. I needed concrete evidence.

A loud voice calls my attention.

"Ishvah! Ishvah! Where are you?" 

"I am here, in the library. What the matter, with you?" It was Dean. He had messy hair. He looks afraid.

"Ishvah...." Catching his breath.

"Calm down. I could not understand, what are you saying." 

He takes a deep breath.

"I need your help. Mr. Bartender is gone. We could not find him. I am afraid there something might happen to him."

" Did you check our security  camera?" I try to be calm. I do not want to think anything.

"Yes, We found out. He left alone. There's something, he told you about?"

It reminds me of our last conversation. That changed my mood. I do not like, what I am thinking.

"Get the team. Meet in the armory." I hurriedly push the button. Giving signal to red alert.

" What do you mean by that? " Dean still doesn't understand anything.

" Follow my order. I will give you the briefing, afterward. We should wait for our teammates." 

I am now, standing in front of my teammates.

" We have a rescue mission. Prepare for battle. We are going into our enemy territory. Prepare for an attack, anytime. Anticipate a possible ambush. Mr. Mechanic's team is our reinforcement. We need to be quick but careful. Good luck, guys. " I can see the eagerness in their eyes. 

They are now, heading to the vehicles.

"Remember, we are always behind you. If you did not come back at the exact time. That we discussed. We will attack the building. I know we need to divide our group. To avoid getting attention to our enemy. Please, stay safe. Bring him back, alive." Mr. Mechanic bid us, goodbye.

We need to move quickly. Every second counts. The life of Mr. Bartender lay in our hands. 

We locate his signal, in a deserted building. We found no one. 

We are late. We found his body, laying on the ground. He was still warm. We rush to his aid. He is bathing, in his blood.

Dean checked his pulse.

"He still has a pulse. Medic!Medic!"

The doctor comes to his side, giving him first aid.

Mr. Mechanic slowly opened his eyes.

"Dean? Where is Ishvah?" 

"I am here." I am trying to stop the blood from flowing. 

He looked at me. Peace in my eyes.

" Stop it. There is nothing, you can do, anymore. Let me take a rest, now. I already wanted to join my family. They already waiting for me, a long time ago."

He is struggling to speak.

"But, we still need you. We cannot do, anything without you. Who will lead us, to victory? " Dean is now crying. Tears come flowing like waterfalls.

" Don't worry. You have still had, Ishvah. He is better than me." He almost caught his breath.

"Mr. Mechanic. There are still many things, that I do not know about. I not yet prepared."

"You already know what you need. You just need to believe in yourself. Come here, there's something I need to tell you.''

I leaned closer to him. He whispers something in my ear. His pulse becomes weaker. 

The Doctor gives him, CPR. A moment later, he is pronounced dead. He is at peace, now. His struggle ended.

" I want to kill every one of them. I will not spare anyone." Dean is now shouting. Firing his laser gun. Two of our teammates, holding him, now.

"Dean...calm down." I know it is not to calm him down. So, I give punched his face. He became silent but still sobbing.

"Please, listen to me. It's only the beginning. We need to regroup. In the meantime, we will take a rest. Give our last respect to Mr.Mechanic. Stand up. They are waiting for us." He was accompanied by another member of our team.

Mr. Mechanic welcome me." With a big surprise. He holding a man.

" I catch him. He trying to escape. What do you want to do with him? " He proudly shows me, his prisoner.

He looked familiar. He is one of the generals of Reginald.

" He was the only one?"

"I let him survive. I heard that he loves to sing. I want to hear him, singing." He had a devil's smile on his face.

" As I expected from you. Just kept him, alive. For now. I will personally attend to him after a funeral. "

"Yes, sir. Loud and clear." He gives me a salute. With a wide smile on his face.

Every member of visionary. Are here, given their last respect to Mr. Mechanic.

The fire consumes his body. We make it simple. No elaborate eulogies. After the ceremony. Everyone comes back to their station. Having a new reason to fight.

Conference hall.

"What happened?" Dean could not still believe everything that had happened.