“The World War,” said Maitho. Raiden’s words didn’t surprise him. After everything he had seen, he discovered that he accepted the information without resistance. Yet he once again felt a sense of being the only one kept out of the loop. It was as though he barely knew anything about himself while others did.
“Yes,” said Raiden. “Though you were just as headstrong then and met your,” he paused, searching for the right word, “end before we could get you on our side.”
“Why didn’t anyone say anything?” said Maitho. “Why didn’t Charon speak about my past?”
“What do you expect us to say? Hello Maitho. I don't know if you realize this but you fought in World War 2 and we know you a little. Oh but we would like you to join us so we can save the world. As for Charon, that is a question that won’t offer an answer right now. All you need to know is that you were on the frontlines. You fought until your last breath, but even you could not escape death for long. As much as we tried to get you out of the battlefield, you managed to find yourself back into it.”
Raiden, in a motion so smooth it seemed as though he was dancing while he was seated, placed his forearm on the refrigerator and opened its door with a flick of his finger. Still keeping his eyes on the other passengers, he extracted a single bottle of beer, thumbed open the cap, and down the entire drink in one go.
Maitho watched all of this without being influenced. At least, not until his stomach emitted a sound that could best be described as an animalistic growl. The noise was audible in the small space and especially when there was no noise other than the muted hum of the engines. Before he could attempt to recover his pride, he found a bottle extended out to him.
“Don’t be stubborn,” said Raiden. “Even your headstrong attitude needs energy, you know.”
“Not so headstrong when I was willing to end everything in one ignorant decision,” said Maitho. He eyed the bottle for a few seconds, contemplating on whether he should accept the offering or simply choose to allow himself to be sober for a while longer. In the end, he realized that it didn’t matter. He raised his hand to grab the bottle.
"You're talking about your trip down the River Styx."
Maitho nodded, a sense of regret exploding within him. "That, yes." It was all he could conjure.
“Tell me Maitho,” said Raiden. Clinking his beer against Maitho’s without a warning. “What do you want?”
Maitho had barely taken a sip when he pulled the bottle away from his lips. He squinted at the Norse Guardian, wondering where the conversation was headed towards. “How do you want me to answer that?”
Raiden shrugged. He handed a bottle to Epona, which she accepted after a moment’s hesitation. “That's not for me to figure out.”
Feeling a sense of exhaustion flow over him, Maitho allowed a sign of exasperation to escape him, making no attempt to hide it. “I don’t know,” he said, twirling the bottle in his hands as he gazed into its depths, as though somehow, it would divulge the answers he was looking for. “Right now, I just want Quinn to be okay.”
Maitho tried to lose himself in the cozy interior of the van, wanting to believe that nothing of the outside world could trouble him there. But he realized that his reaction was perhaps the answer he was looking for. The simple idea that he could find a place that could make him feel comfortable, without holding him attached to any grand purpose, was something he might enjoy. It could definitely be something he wanted. Up until a few days ago, he was caught in a repetitive lifestyle. He would wake up, focus on saving someone, and then come home to an empty apartment. It was challenging at times, and perhaps even dangerous, but it was a life that was laid out for him. There were no grand decisions. He understood his role and he was happy to accept it.
He became aware of his thoughts. Was that what he truly wanted? For someone else to make the decisions for him? Why was he even thinking that way in the first place? What compelled him to look at life as though it only mattered in the short run?
“That’s it?” said Raiden.
This time, Maitho couldn’t suppress his impatience. He looked up at the Norse Guardian. “Do you get some satisfaction from trying to interrogate me? Is that what this is?”
Raiden shook his head. “No. But I wanted to understand the person you are in this life when things are at their worst.”
“Oh yeah?” Maitho lifted his shoulders with a pursed lip, trying to look nonchalant but failing at it miserably. “What are you seeing? Perhaps you’re going to call me a coward and launch into a speech about why you think that way. Maybe present some scientific theories while you are at it.”
Raiden leaned forward. “You fought for your brothers.” There was something in his voice. It sounded like a tone of respect. But Maitho knew that it wasn’t directed at him. Or at least, not the present version of him. “You were there when your division walked into the Serchio River Valley, hoping to free it from the enemy. But you know how that went. You came against overwhelming odds and were forced to withdraw. I’m sure you know your history. They called your division ‘inferior’. Yet they had no idea the courage you showed, especially when you were up against four battalions of Italian fascists, who were at that point backed by three battalions from their friends in the Fuhrer’s army. Not pretty odds.”
There was silence. It was a pause for Raiden to collect his thoughts. During that time, Maitho could not speak a single word. No retort formed on his lips. Instead, he simply took another drink from the bottle.
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“It happened when your division was retreating. One of the men found a bullet ripping through his leg. Sure, you could chalk it out to dramatic coincidences, but I see it as one of war’s unfortunate incidents. With your entire division providing covering fire, you ran back for the fallen man.” Raiden’s eyes bored into Maitho’s. “You didn’t hesitate. You just ran back to save that man. For all you knew, you were going back to discover a dead body. But that didn’t stop you.”
Something clicked in Maitho’s head. He started making connections, trying to arrange the pieces until he was able to come to a certain realization. “So what are you saying now? I should be that person instead of taking the easy way out?”
In a move that was completely unexpected, Raiden shook his head. Maitho was taken aback, feeling his body push back against the soft surface of the seat’s backrest. He looked for any traces of humor on Raiden’s face and found none.
“You stood up for a car. A car. An inanimate object.” Raiden presented his palm to stall any objections. “I don’t care what you think of Quinn. To everyone else, he was just a vehicle. A tool provided by the Devas that the Guardians can use when the need arises. Think I am being harsh?” He turned to Epona. “When was the last time you considered the car as a living entity?”
Epona’s face hardened. She looked as though she wanted nothing more than to reach across the gap and strike Raiden. The Norse Guardian must have noticed it too, since he smiled at her reaction. Yet he didn’t budge an inch away from her. “Your answers will help your friend,” he said.
“The others didnae” came the response from Epona. "Ah tried."
Raiden’s smile widened, as though he had been expecting that answer. He turned his attention to Maitho. “But you saw something there, didn’t you? You formed a connection. It was enough for you to face death itself. Make no mistake, Adahlia is stronger than all of us combined here, but to you, she was merely someone who had taken someone you considered a friend away from you. Just like your previous life, you were ready to die for a friend.” He allowed the words to sink in before continuing. “You are not a coward. You did not take the easy way out. You have always been that soldier Maitho. It is who you are. It’s just that you are the only one who does not seem to realize that.”
Maitho clenched his fists. His vision turned liquid, as though was watching the scene before him underwater. He then realized that tears had formed in his eyes involuntarily. “What are you going to gain from all of this? You are supposed to destroy me while you have the chance.”
“I’m not a murderer Maitho.”
“Yet you are willing to kill all Guardians.”
“To save humanity. But I am still not a murderer.”
Maitho chuckled. “I fail to see your logic.”
There was no response. Not immediately. Raiden seemed to genuinely ponder about what he wanted to say next. “The Guardians should die. All of them. Of that there is no doubt. But right now, we are talking about you.”
Maitho couldn’t completely avoid the trace of annoyance creeping into his voice. “Again, what is the point of all this?”
“I need you on my side,” said Raiden. "And for that, I need you to recognize yourself. Right now, you are barely even holding yourself together. Everyone seems to be making the choices for you and in turn, you simply defende yourself."
"Breaking into the Celtic base wasn't defensive," said Maitho, feeling as though he had to prtoect his pride.
"Really? Your same plan could have been used to actually destroy the weapon's room or even incapacitate the Guardians. Yet you chose to simply steal a few toys." Raiden indicated the bag that Epona had placed next to her. The woman instinctively moved her hand to cover it. "Oh don't worry. I'm not going to take it. But let me make a guess. You stole some weapons? I talked to Adahlia earlier and she said you went for the basement. I know the only thing of value there." He shook his head in disbelief. "Let me take this theory a step further. What if I guseed that all the weapons there in that bag are non-lethal?"
Maitho didn't answer. He couldn't find the words to defend himself. He wondered what would happen next. Would Raiden confiscate all the items they had managed to get out of the scene of destruction?
"Relax," said Raiden. "They are yours and after everything you have gone through, you deserve to hold on to them. But you see what I mean? You are just hoping to maybe make some kind of impact with your plans. They aren't going to work. Not until you decide to start facing your problems head-on."
"And what are you trying to do?"
"You volunteered to join us in exchange for Quinn's life. Noble, but I am not accepting that. I need more. I want you at your fullest capability." He thougth for a few seconds before responding. “You are the Ramanujam as I am the Hardy.”
“Are you calling yourself my mentor?”
“Who the hell are any o the names ye mentioned?” said Epona, confusion creasing her face.
Raiden spoke before Maitho could answer. “Srinivasan Ramanujan. Fantastic mathematician from India who used to write to Cambridge University about his ideas. It was one of the professors there, G. H. Hardy, who noticed the young man’s potential and invited him to Cambridge, going on to become a mentor figure.”
“Ye think ye are gaun'ae be that figure tae Maitho?”
“I already am.” Raiden spread his hands, then brought them down to rest on his knees. There was a twinkle in his eye, as though he was excited for what was to come next. “But I will still need Maitho here to truly grasp what he is capable of.”
“And what is that?” said Maitho.
“To change everything. I know that sounds like a riddle, but quite honestly, I am much in the dark as you are. All I know is everyone wants your power. And I believe you have experienced it recently.”
Visions of his encounter with Adahlia flashed in Maitho’s mind. He remembered the moment when he had gaped into the maw of the future, looking at multiple possibilities until he was able to pick one that suited him best. He didn’t know how he had done it, but knew that it had saved him from death. Well, at least the first time. “I don’t know what I did.”
“Then we have to find that out, don’t you think?”
Maitho shook his head. “Not until you tell me why you are going to kill all the Guardians.”
Raiden sighed. For a moment, it seemed as though he would deflect the question. Then he surprised everyone by providing a response. “Because it is the only way to save humanity.”