Richmond, British
Columbia, Canada
UNSC
Richmond Outpost
August
7, 1999
1015
Local Time
Charlie woke up with his head
spinning. He opened his heavy eyelids and found himself in one of the
interrogation rooms. He tried to stand up, but realized that he was handcuffed
to the chair. Both his hands were locked to the armrests. Beside him was a
mirror, but Charlie knew it wasn’t just any mirror. It was a transparent window
and a room on the other side. Charlie looked at his reflection and saw a bruise
on the side of his head.
“Hello?” Charlie called out as he
wriggled in his chair.
His voice echoed in the room as he
continued to call out. Charlie wasn’t sure if he had died. He only had bits and
pieces of memory recalling his last conscious moments in his quarters. He
remembered closing his eyes and bidding farewell to his men and Sarah.
Everything went so fast after that. Hawkes and Casey lunged at him. Charlie
recalled the gun going off and then a sharp pain to his head. After that, he
remembered he was lying on the ground and his vision turning black as his marines
crouched in front of him.
“Hawkes? Casey?” Charlie called out.
After a few minutes, the door
opened. Charlie saw Cole standing outside the door as Hawkes and Casey walked
in. Charlie watched as Cole shut the door and then turned to face his marines. The
pair sat down in front of Charlie and looked at him silently. Both Hawkes and
Casey did not spoke a word, but continued to stare at Charlie. Charlie was
beginning to feel uneasy and he looked at the mirror.
“Am I dead?” Charlie asked with
uncertainty.
“No, you’re not.” Casey finally
spoke.
“Oh.” Charlie blinked his eyes.
“Still trying to kill yourself?”
Hawkes asked.
“I don’t know man. I really got
nothing to live for.” Charlie closed his eyes.
“Didn’t you say you wanted to save
humanity?” Casey asked.
“A person like me isn’t going to
make a difference. Just put me out of misery.” Charlie shrugged.
“Look Zyrok, I know you. You are a
good man. Look at the alliance you started with the Scavengers.” Casey pointed
out.
“Don’t forget, you risked your life
all the time in the missions for us so we come home in one piece.” Hawkes
added.
“There are a few good men left in
this world. You’re one of them.” Casey pointed at Charlie.
“Thanks.” Charlie smiled nervously.
“We need a good man to lead us and
to teach others that there is still goodness in humanity despite the current
society.” Hawkes pitched in.
“And it is the good men that fall
first…” Charlie countered.
“Not if they can pick themselves up
and dust themselves off. They turn from good to great.” Casey reasoned.
“That’s only if you have purpose in
life.” Charlie spoke with a solemn face.
“Then let us help you find a
purpose.” Hawkes offered his help.
“Let’s take a look. Your previous
purpose was to find Sarah correct?” Casey asked.
“As much as it pains me to talk
about it, yes.” Charlie nodded.
“How about you live for Sarah?” Casey questioned.
“I don’t think that’s possible.” Charlie shook his head.
“Fine.” Casey rubbed his chin in
thought.
“Zyrok, what if you never had that
conversation with Sarah? What if you never found her yet?” Hawkes asked with a
grin.
“Yes, wouldn’t you still be looking
for her? Hence you would still have your purpose.” Casey nodded in agreement.
“That’s just hiding the truth.”
Charlie shook his head.
“The truth can change over time.”
Hawkes countered.
Charlie thought for a moment about
Hawkes’ idea. If he pretended that he never met Sarah and continued on with his
search for her, he would still have his purpose. Downside is Charlie already
knew the truth; Sarah was married and loved another man. He loved her, but he
was too late. Charlie would have to put the truth about Sarah into the deepest
and darkest corner of his mind. He would have to lock it up and pretended it
never happened.
“One day, the truth will be spilled.”
Charlie commented.
“It will, not unless you keep
telling yourself and other people that you are still looking for Sarah. Don’t
ever think about the conversation that took place.” Hawkes replied.
“That’s hard.” Charlie complained.
“That’s the only way Zyrok.” Casey
replied.
“Zyrok…I just had another brilliant
idea.” Hawkes grinned.
“What?” Charlie asked.
“It’s the names…” Hawkes smiled
looking very pleased with his idea in mind.
“Continue, please.” Charlie
wondered.
“You go by two names correct?
Charlie and Zyrok?” Hawkes asked.
“Yes…” Charlie raised his eyebrow.
“Most of us call you by Zyrok
instead of Charlie. Does anyone call you Charlie instead?” Hawkes asked.
“Sarah and Mary, I think.” Charlie
was beginning to see a connection.
“Then that’s it.” Hawkes exclaimed.
“Calm down Hawkes.” Casey
interrupted.
“Zyrok, you need to forget the past.
Forget Charlie. You are now Zyrok.” Hawkes explained.
“What are you proposing?” Casey was
amused.
“Repeat after me Zyrok, okay?”
Hawkes requested.
“Okay…” Charlie was uncertain of
Hawkes’ plans.
“Charlie is the past. Zyrok is the
future.” Hawkes spoke out loud.
“Haha.” Charlie laughed.
“Say it man.” Hawkes ordered.
“Fine. Charlie is the past. Zyrok is
the future.” Charlie repeated.
“Who are you again?” Hawkes
questioned.
“I’m Charlie or Zyrok.” Charlie
replied.
“No, you are now Zyrok. Charlie is
long gone and with the past as well.” Hawkes stated.
“This is brainwashing.” Charlie
complained.
“No, it’s for your own good sir.”
Hawkes explained.
“How so?” Charlie smirked.
“Every time your past comes back,
tell yourself that you are Zyrok and your purpose is to find Sarah.” Hawkes
explained.
“It’s for the best.” Casey added.
“Very well.” Charlie sighed.
“Once we release your restraints,
Charlie is no more. You are now Zyrok and will become Zyrok once you stand up.”
Hawkes stood up.
“The decision is yours to make.”
Casey stood beside Charlie and unlocked his handcuffs.
