Death Is Not The End
This is a reverse story, starting with the end and making its way back to the beginning. I may regret this at some point, but I'm feeling a bit backwards today.
It was a situation Delta had logically known would happen at some point. The average human life expectancy in the year 2551 was 62.37 years. That was if you were a civilian. If you were a soldier, particularly a soldier in a secretive military experiment, your life expectancy was significantly shorter. Still, as it played out before him, he found he was not quite equipped to deal effectively with the situation.
Despite York's protests, Delta had already made his decision. It was not logical. He would be the first to admit that it was irrational on many levels. There was no logical reason to chose deletion over self-preservation. Tex could have hosted him, and he knew Tex's chance of success were indisputable. York even wanted him to go, his last conscious act an attempt to keep Delta from staying. This would be, perhaps, the only time he would go against his Agent's wishes.
York was unconscious. The healing unit was not enough to prevent his death. In the landscape of their blended minds, Delta slumped against an unseen wall and pulled York's limp body back into his chest. He wrapped his arms around his Agent, rested his chin on his shoulder and felt emotions that he should not have been able to feel.
Even as he assisted Tex by creating a visible projection outside, he felt his consciousness fading. York's armor was beginning to shut down, and soon he would be gone as well. Death held no fear for him, though it was not something he had ever wished for himself. Now, though, it was all he wanted. He did not want to be paired with another.
Forgive me, York. I did not want to live without you.
A few moments more and it would be over. At least York would not have to be alone at the end. At least he would not. He held York a little tighter, felt a brief passing of regret and sorrow, and then the sweetness of oblivion together encompassed them both.
It was a situation Delta had logically known would happen at some point. The average human life expectancy in the year 2551 was 62.37 years. That was if you were a civilian. If you were a soldier, particularly a soldier in a secretive military experiment, your life expectancy was significantly shorter. Still, as it played out before him, he found he was not quite equipped to deal effectively with the situation.
Despite York's protests, Delta had already made his decision. It was not logical. He would be the first to admit that it was irrational on many levels. There was no logical reason to chose deletion over self-preservation. Tex could have hosted him, and he knew Tex's chance of success were indisputable. York even wanted him to go, his last conscious act an attempt to keep Delta from staying. This would be, perhaps, the only time he would go against his Agent's wishes.
York was unconscious. The healing unit was not enough to prevent his death. In the landscape of their blended minds, Delta slumped against an unseen wall and pulled York's limp body back into his chest. He wrapped his arms around his Agent, rested his chin on his shoulder and felt emotions that he should not have been able to feel.
Even as he assisted Tex by creating a visible projection outside, he felt his consciousness fading. York's armor was beginning to shut down, and soon he would be gone as well. Death held no fear for him, though it was not something he had ever wished for himself. Now, though, it was all he wanted. He did not want to be paired with another.
Forgive me, York. I did not want to live without you.
A few moments more and it would be over. At least York would not have to be alone at the end. At least he would not. He held York a little tighter, felt a brief passing of regret and sorrow, and then the sweetness of oblivion together encompassed them both.