31 Chispa Takes Control

When Socrates came back from laying Dr. Sam on his bed, he grabbed Chispa by the arm and pulled him aside. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Take your hands off me,” Chispa said fiercely. “I’m doing what you are too cowardly to do. We’re going to war with the soldiers. We’ll avenge our beloved father. And they will know to never threaten us again.”

“No,” Socrates said. “This is wrong. Dr. Sam believed in peace.”

Chispa’s eyes hardened. “My father, our father, believed in peace and justice. He taught us that peace cannot exist without justice, and justice cannot exist without force. We are going in force to demand justice for what they did to our father… what they did to all of us.”

“This is not your decision,” Socrates said. “You’re not in charge. Dr. Sam was preparing me to succeed him and create the perfect republic. That was his dream.”

“Our father’s dream was to bring civilization and order to a broken world. And they killed him for it. His dream became our nightmare.” Chispa made a flourish with his hand. “No, Crates, his dream is over. It’s our turn to decide what kind of world we’ll live in.”

“And what kind of world is that?” Socrates asked.

Chispa said nothing.

After a moment Socrates asked again more forcefully, “What kind of world is that?!”

“A world of fire,” Chispa shouted. “The Bible said first will be the flood, then will come the fire. Dr. Sam believed in the Bible, so we will fulfill its prophecies. We’re going to burn this world down. Are you with me or against me, Crates? Make your decision now.”

“I’m not against you, Paul,” Socrates said. “I’m against what you’re doing.”

“There is no Paul!” Chispa shouted. “And if you’re against what I’m doing, you are against me.” Chispa looked out at the others who had come back in to watch the exchange. “Who among you are not cowards and will join me in avenging our father? Choose now.”

“I’m with you,” Horse said.

“We’re with you,” Sartre said, standing next to Neech. “And Volt.”

“Epic?”

She nodded. “Yeah.”

“Kierka?”

She thought a moment, then said, “Yeah, okay.”

“Thoreau.” Chispa walked to him. “Thor, we have always been friends. I need you. I need your power.”

“Socrates is right,” Thoreau said. “Dr. Sam didn’t want to burn down the world. He wanted to save it.”

“Was that our father’s last word? Save the world? No. He said ‘fight.’ He wanted us to protect ourselves. He wanted justice.”

“And we had our justice. You killed fifty men for one man’s life. Is that not enough? Isn’t that more than justice?”

“Are fifty corrupt lives worth one good man’s life? I think not. Those fifty men’s lives weren’t worth Plato’s life.” Chispa looked into Thoreau’s eyes. “This is no time to fail us, Thor. I need your powers.”

“I won’t be part of this.”

Chispa breathed out as he stepped back from him. “All right. Sart. Volt. Horse. Take Crates and Thor to the clinic basement and lock them inside the medicine vault.”

“Yes, sir,” Sartre said.

“You’ve lost your mind,” Socrates said.

“No, I’ve found it. The truth will do that.”

“Come on,” Volt said, grabbing Socrates’s arm.

“You too,” Horse said to Thoreau.

After they were taken out of the room, Dante said, “Socrates is right, though. This isn’t what Dr. Sam would want.”

“No, it’s not,” Rand said.

Spinny stood silently next to them, too afraid to speak.

Chispa looked at them, his eyes bright with fury. “You three of all people, telling me what’s right?” He stuck his finger out at them. “This is your fault. This all happened because of you and your gold lust. Our father’s blood is on your hands.”

The women began shaking. Rand started crying.

“You think you will tell me what’s right? Let me tell you, one way or another, you will atone for Dr. Sam’s life and all the pain you’ve brought us. You will fight with me, or you will be locked up with the other cowards. Do you understand?”

They all nodded.

“Decide now. Which will it be?”

“We’ll fight with you,” Dante said.

“Rand? Spinny? Pascal?”

“Yes, sir,” they said.

“I will accept your commitment. Kierka, I want you to listen to all the dissenters. If any of them speak any word against me or our cause, I want to know immediately.”

“Yes, sir.”

He turned to the one electric left. Franklin.

“What about you, Franklin? You are our best eyes. Are you with me?”

He shook his head slowly. “No. I’m not. Socrates was right. This isn’t what Dr. Sam would want us to do.”

Chispa breathed out slowly. “Oh, Franklin.”

“What are you going to do now, Chispa? Boil my blood? Cut off my flesh? Or will you lock me up too?”

“No, my brother. Dr. Sam loved you as he did me. You were the first I met from the colony. You helped rescue me.” He shook his head. “But if you’re against me, you can’t stay here.”

“I was here before you were. This is my home.”

“It’s not anymore. I’m sorry, but I banish you. Get your things and go. You can take one of the scooters. If I see you on the property, I will consider it an act of treason.”

“I fear for you, old friend,” Franklin said.

“There is no need to fear for me. Just to fear me.”

Franklin glanced back at them all, then turned and walked to his room.

Sartre passed him as he walked back in. “Sir,” Sartre said. “Thor could just vibrate himself out of the basement vault. He could bring this whole place down.”

“Then don’t let him,” Chispa said.

“How will I do that?”

“Take one of the soldier’s grenades. Let them know that if he tries to use his power, you will toss in the grenade.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Also, the only water you give them will contain colloidal silver.”

“Yes, sir.”

“One more thing. Do not feed the rebel captain to the pigs. I will make a scepter from his head and a jacket from his skin. I will wear him into battle.”

“Yes, sir. Sir, how long will we keep Crates and Thor locked up?”

Chispa looked at him for a moment, then said, “Only until they die.”