Catalyst

Execution

There are flashing lights in the skies. The mist blurred my vision. I can hear him, gasping for breath. He needed help. I am footsteps, away from him.

No one can predict this will happen. His former, his excellency Regerry Reginald. Once, he was worshiped like a god. But now, I am hunting him like prey.

In the past, how noble he is, every time he is speaking with his people. But now, he is crawling on his feet. Trying everything, to get away from me.

As I come closer. I can see his oxygen mask, on the red line. He is losing his supply. With only ten percent left. Surely he cannot make it.

His people are waiting for his head. The former chief minister of Atheos. The group of most intelligent members of the thinker. 

Thinkers- the learned ones, the masters. The doer- the slaves.

Almost thousands of years are already passed. Since humans decided to conquer the universe. They travel out, into the cosmos. Seeking adventure, dreaming always for the best.

We are here on the moon. It serves as a spaceport for spaceships. Generations have already passed, before us. They conquer the moon and established a civilization. They build a bubble city, where artificial oxygen is supplied to the atmosphere. 

They set a system to ensure survival. They divided people into two classes. The doer and thinker. The master and the slaves. All merited by their intelligence. Our services are rendered, given by corresponding points. In what we exchange for the products and services, we needed for our survival. The nutrients needed by our body, are supplied by food pills. Eating is a privilege for the few.

How Regerry Reginald, fall from his grace. He made a mistake. The tiny spark burned down the entire system.

Torn and dusty clothes, kissing the ground. He is at my mercy. Once, he was called a pest but now, his executioner.

His strength escapes from him. When he realized that he cannot escape from me. He turned back. Now, he is facing me. 

Even, we were both wearing masks. I know he can easily remember who I am. Especially the face, that I have. He is that much. Feared most. He willingly offers his soul, just to erase this face. 

He is trembling. I do not know if it is tears of blood coming from my eyes.

"Kill me. Please, kill me. Now. I am begging you. Please, do not give me from these people."

"Your begging? How could his Excellency Regerry Reginald is now asking for mercy? The most intelligent man. Let me remind you, I am not Ishvi. I am Ishvah."

"I know who you are. The real you. Let me die, here. I want to die, in your hand. Give me a heroic death. Let my honor, remain in me."

"Honor? How could say that word? A monster like you. You have no right to say that word." My laser gun is pointed at his head.

The sounds of vehicles come nearer.

"Shot me, now. I am dead man, already. "

His voice is getting hoarse.

"Stand up! I know that you can still stand. Never use that lousy trick on me. I always know your expertise. Manipulating. You sabotage the system. You killed thousands of innocent people. They begged. But you never heard their cries. You indulge yourself in your fantasy. That you are, invisible. Huh. But now, it is time to wake up. Look at yourself."

"Let my people think that I die, a heroic death. That I die, fighting." He still pleading for my mercy.

My hatred is growing even more listening to his words.

"How could you still think that? Even in your death. You wanted them to believe in your lies.No hope for you. You are not human, anymore. Death is not enough for you."

He is trying to stand up. But the wound in his right leg could not permit him to do so.

"Never give me those people. Surely they will eat me, alive. Besides. You have nothing to get from me. I already lost my position, family and my friends betrayed me. All my dreams are shattered into pieces. I cannot face them anymore. 

"You need to face the consequences of your actions."

"No. Never. What did I do wrong? All I do is for the betterment of this society. Yes, it is not perfect but we need to hold unto it. Making sacrifices cannot be avoided. It is for the best. For us to survive."

"For yourself. You did, everything for yourself. You let yourself believe in your delusions. That is your hand lies. You let yourself define their happiness and misery. Because you envy them. You act like a god. But you will never be."

"Ishvi! Stop pretending. We are the same. You also wanted power. Never called this justice. You have no right to do, so. You are like me."

I grasp his neck, tight. His oxygen supply is decreasing, rapidly. His pulse rate increasing ."Never, ever mention that name to me. It's a curse coming from your mouth."

He is choking. He can hardly breathe. I saw in his eyes. He is afraid to die.

"What? You are afraid to die? Now, you are dying. Who do call? Whose god are you praying to? What does it feel that the last face, you gonna see? Is this ?"

I put away my mask. Surely it, my brother's memories flooded his mind. The anger, fear, and hopelessness. It's all I can see in his eyes. Powerless that he is now. I am sure it never crossed his mind.

Three years ago.

In the building apartment of my identical twin, Ishvi. He is the youngest member of Atheos. He is considered a genius, that once in a generation comes out. Coming from their parliament meeting.

The door automatically opens. Tammy welcomes him. Tammy is his robot. It has a round head and an oval-shaped body. A bipedal robot. We made it, together.

I serve him. As his chef. The food is highly-priced because it is imported from the earth. The agriculture system failed to be adapted, here.

"Welcome, home, Master." Tammy gives him, a glass of water.

"Thank you, Tammy." He sat down on a sofa. With a weary face. Stretching down his legs on the table.

"How is the meeting? You looked like you come from the warzone." I looked at him, smiling. While busy preparing his meal.

"Warzone? That's a good metaphor for our meeting. He placed the drinking glass on his side.

"You cannot easily defeat, a wolf in human clothing. I already told you about it. It is a wrong decision to enter Atheos. It is not for you. Why did you shift your course? From space explorer turning a politician. " I arranged the table for him.

"Politician? It is rarely used the word. You still reading, ancient literature. He walks nearer to the table. He sits down on the opposite side.

"Ancient? I called them classic. You cannot change a system in just a snap of a finger."

"I want to remind you that to be careful with your words. Maybe someone will notice that you cheated your placement tests."

"Hmmm. Do not worry about me. No one will give value to a humble doer like me. I am not that important. Unlike   a thinker like you."

"Ishvah, you can deny the fact that you are a thinker, not a doer who only knows to obey."

"I only exercise my freedom, to choose."

"Freedom? We have no freedom. Sometimes, I asked myself what the difference was between robots and machines.

"Last time I checked, I have a beating heart."

"Funny... " He tossed his salad. 

" Problem? As always it does. What are the issues, now?"