The Liberal Assassin

Soft. The ground was too soft and it was warm too!

As the sleepy haze cleared, my senses sharpened and I became more aware of my surroundings. There was movement in the room and the lights were too bright. Stabbing pain reminded me of why I should have pretended to be asleep. Surely the guards on duty would report that I was awake for that was a rather loud groan.

"Titus, are you awake?" the hoarse yet familiar whisper shocked me into opening my eyes again.

I cursed once more as light stabbed my vision but it didn't stop me from trying to verify if it was really him.

My voice was raw from both emotions and the long passage of time. Those forest green eyes were too real to be a mere dream as the same smell of snow and steel greeted me. At that moment, I knew it hadn't been a dream.

"Nash!"

"Thank goodness!" he sighed with a shaky grin. I've never seen him cry but the unshed tears sparkling in those eyes came close. I stored the precious image into the deepest recess of my memory bank and swore to never forget it as long as I lived.

"Khronos said you would be up any moment now but you showed no signs of waking even after making a full recovery. Whatever that they've done to you was a little tricky to fix but that genius managed to patch you together. It's over now, Rion and Arvin have been apprehended."

Apprehended? Somehow my mind couldn't understand the word. Nash blinked owlishly at the confused expression I wore. I don't think he realised there was an information gap from being held captive over an unknown period of time.

"I thought we were supposed to kill them?"

The question brought understanding to my old man and he grinned. "Spencer took them in after we broke through. There wasn't a need to kill them so don't worry, your promise to Sable is still valid although we nearly lost you."

Now we're getting somewhere. Even so, I still had so many questions.

"What's going...?"

Nash didn't let me speak. Instead, the old man smiled and enveloped me in a firm hug. I thought I heard a sniffle but I passed it off as my imagination. Clearly, I was still half asleep.

"It's a little late but… Welcome back, Titus."

The words echoed in an almost surreal manner with only the crushing pressure of the embrace anchoring me to the present.

I wasn't dead. I was safe.

The pieces fell into place slowly and as reality sunk in, I buried myself deeper into Nash's c.h.e.s.t. The final mission was a success, despite the fall through in the plan. It's the best news I've had my whole life.

Nash didn't pull away so I took my time to revel in the warmth. "So what exactly happened?"

Nash released me from his hold and sighed. The creases on his forehead deepened as he recounted the events during my absence.

"Arvin and Rion are currently babysat by Spencer as I mentioned."

The news made me relax a little but seeing how Nash scrunched up his face to select his next words, I felt the blood pounding in my veins. My heart lurched at the thought of how someone might have died because of my failure.

"During the two weeks you were out of commission, Spencer and the Patrol Guards tried to keep the people calm in the Inner City. The borders have opened and people from the Slums are raiding everything from the Inner City. Factions are developing and Luna is in complete chaos. With no leader and no suppression, everyone is fighting for control over the situation."

I sighed in both relief and resignation. As much as I was prepared for the mess to happen, I wished that someone could have stepped up to take control of the situation while I was unconscious. On the bright side for once, nobody was dead yet.

"Didn't anyone try to take control of the situation while I was recovering?"

I saw how Nash stiffened a little. That wasn't a good sign. Either no one was available to take over the reins or the situation boiled over beyond control. Both possibilities were unfavourable and I g.r.o.a.n.e.d inwardly. Two weeks was a long time for the chaos to cause enough destruction and I wasn't sure if there was anything left to salvage with the mass destruction, panic and unrest.

The door opened, shocking both of us slightly. However, that was soon replaced by worry when a rather dishevelled Khronos carried in a heavily bleeding maroon head.

Despite weak and shaky limbs, I went over to help Khronos get the required medical equipment. Nash took over carrying Rush's deadweight while the scientist snapped on gloves and prepared shots.

"What happened?" I asked Khronos while hooking up the tubes to the devices.

The mad genius scowled. "Nice to see you up and about again, Titus. The idiot tried to take up the responsibility and bring order to this chaos. He was finally done in by a mob calling for the Night Walker's appearance."

"They're calling for the Night Walker?"

At my sheer incredulous tone, the scientist growled and shot me the scariest glare. If Nash wasn't around or if Rush's life wasn't in immediate danger, he would've stabbed me a thousand times over with the syringe in his gloved hand.

"In case you haven't realised, you're now considered a hero. Congratulations for opening their eyes to the truth and removing the evil who happened to be the only leaders they've ever known. Thanks to your disappearing act for two whole weeks, everybody is claiming they can be a better leader."

Without looking back in my direction, fully absorbed in the task of saving Rush's life, I was shooed out of the room with Nash pulling me along gently.

***

That night I walked around the small apartment before standing outside the door.

Sick of double-guessing myself and acting like a wuss, I took a deep breath and knocked on the door lightly, grimacing at the almost silent knock. I tried again louder and this time there was a muffled cry from the scientist inside.

"It's me."

Silence.

I was about to knock again when Khronos politely told me to scram. Like the obedient person I was, I knocked again.

"Look, I'm sorry that things didn't go as planned and so much chaos happened because of me. I know the deal is off and the mission is completed but I need one more favour. This will be the last time, Khronos! Please…"

From inside the bedroom, not even the rustle of clothes could be heard. I was about to turn around when the door swung open. The scientist looked dishevelled, not more so than usual, and haggard.

"For the record, I'm not mad about how the plan went to the ruins. Things happen when you least expect it. It was partially my fault that it happened so I'm not mad at how the plan didn't work. I'm mad because both you and the other idiot who shared your suicidal hero tendencies decided it was the best course of action to give your lives away so easily."

I nodded dumbly and entered the bedroom that even Khronos was a stranger to. If it weren't for the chaotic state outside and a dying man to care for, the scientist would definitely be holed up in his secret lab.

Taking a seat on the nearest furniture that happened to be a table, I explained to Khronos how I needed his help him to do another mass broadcast.

The scientist hummed in deep thoughts for a few moments.

"When do we start filming? It's best to get that video out there before things take a turn for worse."

Pulling out the Night Walker outfit from behind me, I couldn't help the boyish grin that grew into a wide smile. Khronos' smile was almost as wide and the twinkle returned to his eyes. Things would be just fine and I know it.

***

The length of the message was two minutes and fourteen seconds. It took twelve minutes to shoot it, two hours to prepare for the broadcast and a mere two seconds before the message was played live.

"Citizens of Luna. This is the Night Walker."

The moment the Night Walker spoke through every hacked device on Luna, the island fell into a trance-like silence. Khronos and I watched the reactions of the citizens through the camera network.

"The Parliament has fallen and their crimes are now out in the open. I admit that it is fairly disappointing to see how corruption continues. Have the long years under their rule blinded you? The hopes for a better Luna – one that every New-Man can live in peace, a society where we can learn from each other and help one another. To live with the freedom of knowledge, is that not what you want?"

Murmurs rose and died at the long pause in the video message. Some people tapped on their devices to ensure it was still functioning as it should.

"We are the survivors of the Great Explosion. Yet we fight over petty things that could have been negotiated in a peaceful manner. How can there still be tomorrow? We have failed. No, I have failed."

The moment the visor was removed, gasps of disbelief and some shouts could be heard. People stared at each other incredulously, not knowing what to think.

"I, Titus Crowley, take responsibility for everything. I was the mastermind behind the coup d'état and have taken the lives for the cause. From my rebellion, I brought chaos and mass destruction. For my crimes I ask Spencer Creed, Head of the Patrol Guards, to bring me to justice. I only ask for the people of Luna to seize this chance and elect a leader who can lead Luna with kindness and wisdom. Please stop this meaningless struggle for power, please stop hurting one another. The rebellion is over, it is time for us to start a new way of life, one that is better for everyone."

As the video message neared the end, I recalled how the emotions welled up in me. The Night Walker had been through so much and now, it was time for Titus Crowley to face the music.

With unshed tears in my blue eyes, the video message beseeched everyone.

"Time is limited. Life is precious. Luna doesn't have to be built upon lies and fear. There can be enough for everyone if we put our heads together. Find yourselves a leader who can rule with love and respect. That's all from the Night Walker."

As the video ended, so did my vigilante persona. Now, only Titus Crowley existed. There would be no more running from Spencer, no more hiding from plain sight. No more teleporting and jumping from rooftops, there was only a man awaiting his arrest.

It wasn't difficult for Spencer to find me. I was in the severely underused rented apartment just passing the time by reading the books Mrs Peterman gave me. Surely as a prisoner, I would be allowed some personal possessions. I began choosing the books I would like to take with me.

Earlier on, Nash promised to break me out of the prison after Spencer got his hands on me and Khronos promised to find me a new place to settle down after the breakout. We were wanted men who had gone through thick and thin but the thought of three grown men living under one roof made me chuckle. For the people who didn't know better, we would look like a family of two gay fathers and an adopted son.

The thoughts about an idle future seemed warm and fuzzy. I wasn't sure how much time had passed but the words on the page blurred. Yawning, I decided to take a nap. Spencer wasn't going to come knocking at my door in a minute so I could afford this small luxury. Snuggling into the pillow, I welcomed sleep with open arms.