11th Grade, 16 years old
Collins Hill High School
So this was the end. It had finally come. Hitori had wondered if it would ever really happen. For his mind’s sake, he’d believed it couldn’t, and he had done everything in his power to prevent it. Now he would be the one to see it, to see the last of it all. The first to fight, the last to fall. He had stood to the very end. And now it was over. Blood trickled down his face, and he knew that his death was near. One man could do all this, bring victory in the midst of failure, heave a last battle cry in the midst of total destruction, but man was still mortal. And what mortal could survive all he’d been through? None, and so he would perish along with his enemies, along with his friends, along with his loves.
Tenshi bolted around the corner ahead of Hitori. Taking cover behind a stack of crates, she leaned out only far enough to aim and fire. This was it, what it all came down to. It was all or nothing - today, only one side could prevail, and only one could survive. Hitori would not let his people fail. He would carry them through to the end. Humanity and hope would not end today or any day. They could not fail.
“Kiba!” Hitori shouted to his younger brother over the fray. “Take the South Side with the Dragon group and meet us at Point Twenty-One.”
“Hai!” Kiba chopped a nod, speaking into his hand radio as he moved promptly to carry out his orders.
“Tenshi, you take the Rogues. Go through the underground,” Hitori said into his fiancé’s ear, but she shook her hand stubbornly.
“Send Kanjou with the Rogue squad. I’m going with you. We’ll take Headquarters Zero together.”
“This mission is too dangerous…”
“Don’t pretend to tell me this entire revolution hasn’t been dangerous. Not fighting holds more danger, and you are not going into Zero alone.”
“But I always stand alone,” he said solemnly. It was true. His very name testified.
Tenshi reached out a hand to gently stroke his face. “Not today. Now get a move on, soldier! We’ve got a war to win!”
December 17, 623 A.U.
“Eternal Destiny is not just a technological wonder. It is a means by which humanity can be assured safety and happiness for all eternity.”
“With all due respect, Vice Prime Minister,” Yume, head of the Circle of Representatives in the Unified Government, interjected, “ED removes all grips on reality from the average person. With this system, the people will lose all semblance of free will. They are left entirely in the hands of ED’s controller, whoever that may be. Perhaps this system would work for the perfect leader of the people, but if it ends up in the wrong hands - and I assure you it eventually will - the results would be disastrous. And if the system happens to not work as planned, it may prove too difficult for society to recover from such a blinding reverie.”
Vice Prime Minister Joushi held up a hand. “But rather than blinding, I would call ED a method of opening the people’s eyes to what life can be. How can we, as a superior human race, turn away from such an opportunity as this? Since the beginning of time, man has dreamed of a utopian society. Now it lies within our reach - how can we not seize it?”
Yume shook his head in disagreement. “I must warn you of the dangers of acting hastily. Pressing forward without careful consideration of all possible outcomes is a sure path to destruction. I guarantee that if Eternal Destiny is put into effect, humanity will fall.”
11: 13 a.m., August 6, 666 A.U.
Hitori pressed a tiny button on the small device in his hand, and a miniature hologram immediately appeared before him. “This is for you, Yume.” Having lost his parents at a young age to the rigid rule of the Ten no Tasuke, Hitori had been practically raised by his godfather.
Tenshi put a hand on her lover’s shoulder. “He would be proud,” she said softly. “I know you won’t disappoint him.”
“I hope not.” Eternal Destiny had not been a bad idea, really. But it was doomed to fail. Sure, it had worked fine for about thirty years… but then it had fallen into the hands of Kamino Makoto, leader of the Ten no Tasuke. Most people were too captivated by the system to rebel. They were slaves to it, and Ai no Rei, the rebel group that Hitori was leader of, planned to set them free. If they failed, then all humanity would indeed fall.
“Freedom over destiny,” Hitori whispered to himself - it was the slogan of Ai no Rei - before he and Tenshi, leading the Delta group, sprang from their hiding place, storming Ten no Tasuke headquarters as a single unit. None stopped, looked back, or even faltered as their comrades fell around them. Their mission required them to drive forward regardless of the cost. This was their one chance, and if for a single instant they hesitated, they had no hope of victory. All or nothing.
July 2, 666 A.U.
“We must do this as one spirit,” Hitori said to the other leaders of Ai no Rei. Among the gathered were his love, Tenshi; his brother, Kiba; Negai, his most trusted friend; Henshin, who had recruited an impressive percentage of their manpower, certainly one the best diplomats among the rebels; Kage, the lone solider, a trained samurai who would fight until death to insure the victory of a cause he truly believed in; Kanjou, a true man of the people, a freedom fighter to the core; and Yuukou, son of the first controller of ED, Tomosu, and the only man among them - one of the few in the world - who was not at all under the influence of ED and so could not be affected by its power.
Kage rarely spoke at all, and when he did speak, he kept his comments short and direct. But at this particular meeting, he had plenty to say. After all, this was what his whole life came down to. As far as he was concerned, everything revolved around their move against the Ten no Tasuke. “If we plan to take out Makoto’s government, we must do it fast and hard. The move must be decisive - either total victory or total defeat. There will be no second chance. If we are too slow in executing the plan once it is underway, Makoto can destroy all of humanity using the power of ED. This is a constant threat. We all know that he would rather see the world destroyed than his power lost.”
“Which is why we must not fail,” Hitori said firmly. “Makoto will wipe out everyone without a second thought if he knows he is defeated, so we must make sure that we do not let him reach that point. He must die immediately. Kage, you will fight Makoto. You are the only one with enough skill to defeat him in time.” Kage nodded his head silently, accepting his task. Hitori held out his hand in the middle of the circle. “All or nothing. Freedom over destiny.”
“All or nothing. Freedom over destiny,” repeated his brethren, his closest friends and kin, as they placed their hands over his. This would be their moment.
12:37 p.m., August 6, 666 A.U.
Only Tenshi, Hitori, and three others were left of the Deltas. They had made it to Point Nineteen, which meant they had little distance to cover before reaching Point Twenty-One. From there, they could take Headquarters Zero. Hitori held his hand radio close to his mouth and spoke softly into it. “Dragons, report progress, over.” Only static came through. “Dragons, Deltas requesting report. Kiba, do you read?”
Hitori was surprised when the sound of coughing came through from the other side. “Delta Leader, this is Dragon Three. Everyone else is dead, including Dragon Leader, over.”
“Dead?” Hitori breathed. Kiba was dead? He closed his eyes tightly against the wave of pain. Tenshi gripped his shoulder firmly. Swallowing the emotions that welled up inside him, Hitori spoke into the radio again. “Dragon Three, report your position, sending help immediately…”
“Negative, sir. I’m done. Good luck to you all.”
The static immediately resumed. Hitori swallowed. “That’s a whole squad we’ve lost, and we’re not even to Point Twenty-One yet….” The lives themselves aside - each of which he valued greatly - that was a lot to take before victory was even within their grasp.
“Hitori! Hitori, do you read?” came a voice over the radio.
“Over, Henshin.” Henshin was the assigned leader of the Aero squad.
“We lost Yuukou.”
“What?”
“I’ve taken a hit and can’t walk. Sending the rest of my squad to you now, sir.”
“Henshin, if you need assistance…”
“Negative, Hitori. You make sure to take Makoto down. That’s all the assistance I need. Over.”
Hitori exhaled heavily. They were taking more casualties than he’d hoped. “All other groups, report.”
“Moonlights intact minus two. Being held off at Eleven West, sir. Won’t be able to make it to you.”
“Over, Moonlight. Status report on Kage?”
“He escaped and is on his way to you now.”
“Good.” At least they’d been dealt one lucky card. “Rogues?”
“This is Kanjou. We’ve taken casualties and are down by half. Proceed with mission without us. Over.”
“Flights, report.” Only static. “Negai? Negai! Do you read?”
“Here,” came a raspy voice from behind him. Hitori turned, and his jaw nearly dropped as he saw his friend staggering toward him, clutching at a mortal stomach wound. Negai had just made it to Hitori and Tenshi before he collapsed. Hitori caught his friend in his arms.
“Negai!”
“They’ve put up more resistance than we thought,” Negai choked out before breaking into a fit of coughing, hacking out a stream of blood. “All my squad… I’m sorry, Hitori.”
“Negai, it’s okay, really. We’ll get through this, I promise. Then you and me are gonna take a vacation together. How ‘bout it? We deserve one, huh, after all this? You still wanna go visit America? See someplace besides Honshu?”
Negai tried to laugh, but it came out as a wracking cough. “Forget it, Hitori. I’m done for. Hurry up and get rid of Makoto, and then go marry this beautiful girl you’ve had your heart set on our whole lives.”
“Negai, no! Don’t leave me! Negai!” But it was too late. The young man was already dead. This time, Hitori simply could not hold back the tears, and sobs wracked his body. “Iie!” His voice cracked, and he held his deceased friend close.
Tenshi placed a hand on Hitori’s shoulder. He turned to see tears streaking down her face, slicing through the blood and grime. “Be strong for him.”
“Hitori!” Kage suddenly appeared beside him. “It’s time. We must move now.”
“We have to wait for the rest of the Aeros - they’re on their way.”
“We don’t have time for that. It has to be now if it’s gonna be ever.”
Tenshi squeezed Hitori’s shoulder. “We’re all with you, soldier.”
Hitori drew a deep breath. “Deltas, move out.”
1:21 p.m., August 6, 666 A.U.
The rebels of Ai no Rei had expected for Point Twenty-One to be well guarded. They had been right. Two dozen of the Ten no Tasuke’s best soldiers were posted there, and of course they were waiting for the band of rebels, having been notified of the invasion on Ten no Tasuke headquarters already.
Fighting hard, the three remaining members of Delta brought down nearly half of the soldiers before they fell. This left Hitori, Tenshi, and Kage fighting together. They stood back-to-back, each covering the others’ weak spots. Behind him, Hitori heard Tenshi cry out and immediately felt his heart stop. No, not her… Anyone but…
“Tenshi!” Whirling around, the rebel leader found his love collapsed onto the ground, a wound to the chest that was obviously her death mark. It couldn’t be… it couldn’t…. He was immediately at her side, cradling her weak body in his arms, leaving Kage to fend for himself.
“Hitori…”
He held the teenage girl close to him, hoping vainly that his love might somehow save her. He had lost everyone…. He couldn’t… she couldn’t… “No, no, Tenshi, don’t you leave me too. Aishiteru, love….” His voice cracked as he kissed her forehead gently.
Tenshi offered Hitori a weak smile. “I’ve always loved you,” she whispered, not having the strength to raise her voice any more than that. “I always will. You hold the world in your hands, Hitori. Save them. Save them like I couldn’t.” Her breath came shorter and shorter.
“Iie!” Please, God, don’t take her too. Tenshi allowed her eyes to flutter shut, content just to die in the arms of her love. Hitori was not so satisfied. “Iie! Don’t! Please, love, come back! Come back to me!”
“Hitori! Watch out!” Kage abruptly leapt to intercept a shot fired at Hitori’s heart, taking the shot to his own chest. The young man flew backward, crashing to the floor meters away.
“Kage!” Hitori rushed to his friend’s side, never letting Tenshi go as he did. “You baka, why the hell did you do that? You’ve still got the final battle ahead of you!”
“No, you do,” rasped the lone warrior. “Go…” Hitori shook his head, his mouth agape in speechless horror. “Go! Now! Leave us, we’re done!”
With one last look at his love, Hitori dropped her lifeless body and bolted away as fast as he possibly could.
2:09 p.m., August 6, 666 A.U.
“I will not let you control us, Makoto!”
Kamino Makoto merely laughed at the boy. Hitori was finally here, facing his enemy. Makoto was before him now, and it was up to him to end it and save the world. “I’m more commonly referred to, child,” the man said casually, “as Kami-sama. You do me injustice by addressing me so informally.” It was safe to say he didn’t seem overly concerned with the rebellion, no doubt thinking himself invincible. Hitori would have to fix that flaw in his logic. “If you would kindly show proper respect…” Makoto continued, chuckling.
“Never!” The smirk never left the man’s face as the teenage rebel faced him down. “You are no God, Makoto. You never will be. If there is a God up there, he sure as hell is nothing like you!”
Hitori drew his katana, the sword Yume had passed down to him, having no son of his own to carry on his family’s legacy. Instead, his legacy had passed to Hitori, and the boy now carried it on his own shoulders. He could not fail—for Yume, for Kiba, for Negai, for Kage, for Tenshi… Their deaths would not go to waste.
April 4, 660 A.U.
“Hitori, we’ll be free one day, won’t we?”
“Of course, Kiba. We’ll destroy Kamino Makoto and Eternal Destiny, and then everyone will be free.”
3:00 p.m., August 6, 666 A.U. (After Unity)
So this was the end. Hitori had tried to stop Makoto, but he had failed.
“Yamete!” the sixteen-year-old boy cried, but it was too late.
The man had used ED to wipe out all of the human race, just as they’d feared he would. It was over. Everyone outside of Headquarters Zero would now be dead. And it didn’t matter anymore if Hitori survived, even though he knew that he would not.
Makoto was dead. He had succeeded in accomplishing that much. The human race was free, though their freedom had come in the form of death. Freedom over destiny… “Gomen nasai, Tenshi, Kiba… I failed you. Perhaps it was all for nothing after all.”
The end had come. Hitori had believed it never would. The human race ended today. Eternal Destiny, their security for all eternity, had been their end. Yume had guessed it would happen. He had been right. Humanity had fallen. The young rebel leader now lay there dying, soaking in blood and memories as darkness swirled around him, and he knew his end was near. He would perish along with his love, his friends, everyone.
Sunlight leaked down from above. Hitori smiled weakly. The human race had ended, but the world had somehow survived them. Perhaps it could start over again, as if nothing had ever happened. It didn’t really care if they lived or died. Just another species come and gone.
Hitori had always heard that a person’s life flashed before his eyes before he died. He didn’t see his life before him. Instead, he just saw the faces of all those he’d loved. Yume, Kiba, Tenshi, Negai, Kage, Yuukou, Kanjou, Henshin… all of them gone now… “Aishiteru… minna…” At last, after what seemed like far too long a day, Hitori breathed his last like so many who had died in his arms. The last of man, the last of destiny… And thus the lonely rebel found his freedom.
Japanese Terminology:
ai no rei: spirit of love
aishiteru: I love you
baka: idiot
gomen nasai: very sorry
hai: yes
iie: no
Kami-sama: God
katana: Japanese sword
minna: everyone
samurai: Japanese warrior
ten no tasuke: godsend
unmei no owari: end of destiny
yamete: stop
Name Translations:
Henshin: Change
Hitori: Alone
Joushi: Superior
Kage: Shadow
Kamino Makoto: Wisdom of God
* In Japan, a person’s family name comes first.
Kanjou: Feeling/Emotion
Kiba: Fang
Negai: Hope/Prayer
Tenshi: Angel
Tomosu: Candlelight
Yume: Dream
Yuukou: Friendship
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