Jake Barry
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Mutually Assured - Chapter 3
🕑 Added 2023-01-09 17:17:41 +0000 UTCI wipe the sweat from my brow with a shaky hand. My body is trembling. Her burst of anger was unexpected. My verbal prodding had more of an effect than I had anticipated, and I was not expecting such a reaction. I could not stand to be looked down on, and so I sought to get a rise out of her. The force of her hands sent me flying backward. Her voice thundered from above, causing my entire body to vibrate. She had such a powerful presence. It was terrifying. She is terrifying.
I feel myself calming down. The anger and fear begin to subside as I focus on my true goal, ending this war.
"Before we discuss anything, I feel it necessary for us to better understand each other. This is the first time we are meeting, and I believe we got off on the wrong foot. For us to truly start over, let us begin by reintroducing ourselves."
"Go ahead. This should be interesting."
"Despite my current position, I was once a nobody. The fifth son of twelve siblings, child of two humble farmers in the countryside. I was always taught to hate your kind, but I refused to believe as I was told. One should develop their own views through experience, no? That was until one of your kind went on a killing spree through my village. It happened in the early days of the war."
I begin to pace back and forth as I speak, unable to stand still. The story is too painful, and I know I will succumb to anger again if I do not vent it somehow.
"We refer to it as 'The Massacre of Orandale', but I doubt you would find it in your history books. Why would it be there, since we are merely 'bugs'? Well, those 'bugs' were my family and friends. What happened to me was just a taste of the cruelty those bigger than us casually subject us to. Many in my position would have sworn revenge, but all I wanted was an answer. I wanted to know why it had happened, and how it could be prevented in the future. That feeling guided me as I attained power. Until I became a leader."
I notice the titaness shifting in her seat. She seems serious, for lack of better words. I can only hope that my story has made her feel at least a little empathetic. It may be easier for her to view me as a bug, but hearing my story should make it impossible for her not to feel something. Even so, she shows none of this. A leader should not easily show their emotions, after all.
"First of all, I am sorry to hear about what happened to your village. I know it is incredibly hypocritical of me, but I am sincere."
She stands up, pushing her chair back. She turns and begins to walk around the desk as she speaks. Her steps are slow, but land with force that it felt all the way up here on her desk. Rhythmic rumbling shakes the ground I stand on, more intensely than when her servant had been carrying me.
"As for my story, I am afraid it is not nearly as dramatic as yours. Unlike you, I was essentially born into this position; my mother being the previous ruler of this nation, and my father being unknown to me. Admittedly, I am relatively 'fresh' in the seat of power, having been a ruler for just under a decade. I remember when I was young my mother sat down with me to explain the war. She told me about the little people we were in conflict with; beings so beneath us that they did not garner personhood. That is how it has always been, really. I never had a reason to question it. It was natural for you to be at our mercy."
She stops once she has compeleted a full circle around her desk, returning to where she started. Her gaze falls on me once more and she holds out her hands, palms aimed at me.
"There is blood on my hands, enough to stain them entirely red many times over. You might not believe me, but I have no interest in spilling more blood. I do not enjoy violence, but it continues to be necessary. What will I say to the fallen when I meet again in the next life?"
"I understand that feeling all too well. A responsibility to continue the fighting in the name of justice. Such a responsibility often feels more like a curse. When I was elected into office, there was pressure to turn the tides of war. It did not matter how, it just needed to be effective. It was the righteous thing to do. That took the form of a cruel weapon."
I watch her body lower into her seat. Seeing someone so enormous moving so quickly is unsettling. I become tense, anticipating another phyisical threat. She does leans forward, but maintains a comfortable distance this time.
"Perhaps we inherited this war? In my case, my mother had me swear to take care of our nation. I know for a fact that she wanted your kind wiped out. She was never shy about expressing that. As for me, well, I simply continue her will. I kill those who kill us."
The two of us share a moment of silence. I suppose it could also be called a moment of understanding. It is clear that we both assumed too much about the other. Despite her arrogance, she is a fellow leader. One that cares for her people, as I do mine.
"Perhaps we are more similar than either of us realized?"
As soon as I utter the words, her expression becomes bothered. She glares at me like before, and I fear I might have set back our progress. I should have realized that would offend her. Thankfully, she does not express her feelings through action. Instead, she cocks her head to one side and replies with a question.
"And what makes you think that? I have nothing in common with a Lilliputian. Nor a commoner, for that matter."
I consider my next words carefully. I could bring her attention to our biology; how Lillis and Brobs possess virtually identical DNA. Apart from their heightened senses and...the obvious size difference...we are the same. This is a scientific fact. No, I feel that would do nothing to convince a royal, let alone one so proud. There must be something more basic.
"I believe you do. You and I are leaders. We shoulder burdens very few outside this room could ever understand. Would you disagree?"
I recoil as one of her hands emerges from somewhere beneath the desk. It flies in my direction, changing course at the last second. It comes to rest to the right of me, landing with a boom. It is easily the size of my estate. She taps a finger against the surface, causing light tremors beneath my feet. She is growing impatient with me as I try to explain my reasoning. I should make haste.
"You have been Queen longer than I have been President. In all likelihood, you will continue to be Queen long after my term has ended. Though, that period may not be long, given the state of war. I estimate that both sides will wipe each other out by the end of the year. I have already lost many friends to this war. I would not like to lose any more. Tell me. Alyssa, has this endless conflict taken anyone dear to you?"
Her finger then stops tapping. She looks away for a moment, then back at me.
"It has not, Leon. At least, not yet. My friends and family have never been on the battlefield. However, some of them have fallen ill with your virus. They are fighting for their lives as we speak."
"That is all the more reason to resolve this as quickly as possible. You asked me what it is I want in return for the cure. What I want from you is not something that can be 'given', in the literal sense. I would gladly hand the cure over if it were not the only leverage I have. If I did that, what guarantee would I have that you would not kill me where I stand? It would be so easy for you, as you so clearly demonstrated for me. Furthermore, what would stop you from wiping out the rest of my people?"
She leans back, sitting up in her chair. I can tell by the look on her face that she understands where I am coming from, on some level. Judging by her calm demeanor, I do not think she is going to be hostile anymore.
"I see. What you are asking for is trust. I had expected a long list of ridiculous demands."
"That would be pointless. Nothing is as valuable as trust."
She pauses briefly to contemplate what I am saying.
"You are looking beyond this war. You wish to build a relationship with us."
"Is that so wrong?"
A smirk begins to form at the corner of her mouth. Her eyeslids droop as she looks me over.
"I must admit that I find you interesting. Perhaps we would have been friends, in another life? That is, assuming your body was a tad larger."
"Perhaps. While it is far too late to become friends, that is no reason for us to remain enemies. All I ask is that you convince me. I want to believe that the war truly will end once I relinquish this cure."
I pull out a small storage device from my pocket and hold it up for her.
"It is indeed the real cure. I know better than to try to decieve you. All other copies were destroyed. Several virologists manufactured it, so no one person could reproduce it on their own."
She stares at me with furrowed brows. I can tell she wants nothing more than to snatch it from me. I am sure she could, but I have a feeling she will not. She purses her lips, lost in thought. She appears to be contemplating. I grant her all the time she needs. I am aware that my request is not an easy one to fulfill. I only hope that she can think of something that will satisfy both of us.
"I wonder if our people can peacefully coexist? Your race is so small; so small that you are little more than dust to us. A careless sigh on my part would send you off the desk, into oblivion. The power of a careless action, lacking any malicious intent, would be so harmful."
The hand on the desk lifts up and she extends a finger. She brings it down in front of me, with her fingernail touching down just a few meters away.
"I am interested in finding out together. Climb onto my finger. Let us talk face to face."
My every instinct screams at me to remain on the ground. The only time our races have ever come into physical contact is in the instant before their boots hit the ground. This cannot be safe. I know this, and yet, I find myself taking a step forward. I take a deep breath to calm my nerves and approach. My eyes are fixed on her finger. It is easily as tall as a tower. I follow it to her hand, and then her arm, and to her shoulder, where it connects to the rest of her massive form. I cannot help but wonder how many hours it would take to hike up its length.
I step onto her nail, a wide, manicured plain of red polish that stretches out in every direction. There are no imperfections or chips, a clear sign of meticulous care. I hike up to the middle of it, which I believe will be safest. All the while, her eyes track me from on high. Once she confirms that I am in place, she begins to raise me up. I find myself unable to remain standing as I ascend, finding stability in a kneeling position, bracing myself with my hands. This only lasts for a few seconds, after which I am able to stand upright again.
Looking out into the distance, I see her face. It is impossibly big from this position. I had not paid much attention to her face, perhaps because I could not see it so well from far away. Her features are striking. Such is the majesty of a Queen.
Her face continues to grow as she brings her finger closer, before finally stopping. Her finger hovers there, level with her nose. I feel the intensity of her gaze, which is somehow different than before. I do not dare approach any edge, as I know a fall from this height would be deadly. I only hope that she can keep her finger still.
"There we are. You cannot say I am looking down on you now. I appreciate your willingness to cooperate with this. Now then, shall we continue?"
Comments
Jake Barry
Who knows? ;)
G
God I hope Alyssania doesn’t bertay Leo. but like how leo see the situation as unnecessary war that started for no reason besied how Brob see Lilies when they are the same btu is willing to do whatere it takes to project and save his people and build a better world with the brob in peace while Alyssania is was just giving the reposabailtes as queen and leader of her people and was just tought to see lilies as nothing more than dirt on the ground but after her meeting with leo and changing her view on them even if it’s just a little and even they can’t really be friends maybe they can be like colleagues or something like that but who knows.
