--Dreamwatch, A Small Weekend
It's funny how life brings us back around to where we've been.Ronnie had headed back to Chicago; Sarah, Teri, and Anon were on their way back to the Cities. And Scott and Jake were sharing a pitcher of Capital Hefeweitzen in a bar in Memorial Union.
Ronnie had offered field ops to do the mop-up work required after this kind of event, but D.X. had wanted to do the job himself. For one thing, he still didn't trust the Bigg-Little team, and besides, this one was his responsibility.
Scott had stayed back too. He knew his friend needed him.
"I'm sorry, D.X." he said. "I was hoping it was her."
"Thanks, Scott. But I'm not sorry. Liz was pretty miserable by the end. I'd hate to think of her alone for ten years...."
Jake shuddered involuntarily. "Liz would've tried to implement Project Rowena. I think we would've stopped her, but I'm glad we didn't have to try.
"It's unlikely she would've done lasting damage. But I didn't want to kill her again."
They were quiet for a moment or two, before Scott said, "Why no lasting damage?"
"Eh? Fundamental organizing principle of the universe, multiperson solipsism. Until the world is ready for GTS, GTS can have only limited impact. You know--you were in New York."
Scott looked at D.X., and said, softly, "What if the world is ready?"
Jake shook his head. "No chance. We live in a practical world, a scientific world. There's no room in it for GTS."
"Isn't there? Think about everything that's happened in the last decade. We've gone from Liz having permanent powers being novel to GTS Enterprises. We've had movies like Attack of the Fifty Foot Women and Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves. And most important, look at the content on the Internet.
"I don't know, D.X. Maybe we're not ready now, but I think we're getting closer to the day this thing is going to explode into the world's consciousness."
"God help us all if that's true," said D.X. "I love GTS as much as the next guy--let's face it, more. But this would be such a radical transformation for society. Think what would happen if anyone could access GTS; think how different our world would look."
Scott nodded. "I'm not saying it would be easy or good. But GTS is a force of nature, like a tsunami or a hurricane. And I worry one day it's going to blow in and hit humanity, and we're not going to know what hit us."
"Well," said D.X., "if you're right, then our organization is going to be busy. Because we're the only ones with the experience to help."
Scott sipped at his beer, and grimaced. "That's what bothers me," he said.
They were quiet for a few moments, before Scott said, "You know, it's funny. What we've become, you and I. We were both washouts in the traditional sense, and here we are, with power beyond what we can comprehend."
"True enough," allowed D.X. "Though I had an excuse. You were trying to stay in college forever."
"True enough. But still...we're both damn lucky for everything, you know."
"Luck," said D.X., solemnly. "It's a son of a bitch. I would trade all the power I ever had never to have met Liz, never to have felt the pain I felt when I killed her. The only things I wouldn't trade away are Teri, Sarah, and you--my wife and my best friends. And since I couldn't have met you without Liz, I'll bear up under it.
"But I don't have to like it--and I don't."
Scott sipped the beer and said, "D.X., you said Katrin trained you. How?"
"Huh? Same way I trained you, only she was a better teacher and I was a less gifted pupil."
"Why did she train you?"
D.X. looked off into the distance. "I don't know, Scott. I think it's because she saw in me a desire for balance. When she looked into my mind, she knew all I wanted was to keep my promise to Liz--nothing more. I harbored no ill will towards women or men.
"I think she thought my destiny lay along the path I followed--or maybe that it could, if she helped me. I'm grateful. If not for her guidance, I may have fallen into the Cadre's mindset--like Bigg and Little, who no matter how talented will never rise above their mindsets."
Machina closed his eyes. "I hope I've been a positive force. So much battling, so much war...but it brought peace, right? It brought stability."
"It did, Jake," said Scott, quietly, as a tear rolled down his friend's face. "You did it. It's thanks to you that people can enjoy GTS, not fear it. The Liz you loved would have been proud."
D.X. smiled wanly. "I hope so, Scott. I hope so."
* * *
The party was wrapping up, and the students were heading home to get some sleep. It was a Saturday night, and things were starting to get warm enough for students to roam Langdon freely.
John Fyock was a Junior. He'd been having a good time tonight--he'd finally gotten some action from Alexis Harrington, a cute Senior he'd pined for since his Freshman year. It was enough to carry his drunk self happily toward his apartment, blissful and free.
He bumped into the girl a little harder than he intended to. "Sorry," he drunkenly mumbled as he staggered away.
"Oh, no problem," said the girl. Then, "Say there, do you happen to have a few dollars I could borrow? I seem to have mislaid my purse."
He looked back a the girl. Damn, she was fine. If he hadn't just hooked up with Alexis....
"Uh, sorry, I don't have any cash on me right now. You, uh--y'needa walk back to your dorm or somethin'?"
"You'd like that, wouldn't you?"
"Huh?" he said to the girl, who was narrowing her eyes at him somewhat.
"Never mind," she said, turning on her heel and sashaying away. "I can take care of myself just fine. Just fine indeed."