Chapter 137

One for the Road

  Woosh.

  The hermetic seals on my cockpit hiss their release, letting me know that I have landed. That is my one and only sign that I have in fact come to a complete stop. Everything hurts.

  My mind, body, and most importantly my soul feel like I have been pressed through the ringer, then squeezed and dried into jerky.

  Surprisingly enough it is Jess and my non-asshole brother who are the first two, well three to greet me. I don’t know what it is, but being this close to death. Having to fight to keep my soul intact, and to keep from vomiting everywhere, lets me realize that there really is a tiny life form growing within Jess.

  Seeing that life, I can’t help but wonder if I really was cursed all those lifetimes ago, or if that was just the sick musings of a mind being pushed beyond all reasonable comprehension of what should have been possible.

  Regardless of the fact, I feel like complete garbage, though I can’t help but feel slightly better at the fact that I managed to save one life. A life that will never know of me, in a universe that will all but forget my existence here shortly.

  Slish-slosh.

  As I move to exit the vehicle, I feel the all too familiar sensation of certs piling up on me.

  “What are those?” Jess asks.

  “Yeah, did you make a stop in Vegas?” Chet asks, seeing my new treasure-trove of certs.

  “No, these are certs.”

  “Certs? Like from Certsies Palace?”

  I shake my head, only to cause the world to spin around me slightly. Then I try to explain, “these are certs, wait, you don’t have them here?” I ask.

  Then I remember how they were only a thing in my original universe, but that I wasn’t able to use them in the fourteenth universe until I made it there. Even then I was the only one who could use them, and even then it was only because I had actually set foot on the 13th universe. Well Día and I both, as she was there if only for a moment to see my Jess.

  At that, I feel like there is something that I am missing. Mentally I try to go through what I gained from each universe, as I am certain each universe offers something. The fourteenth universe, or Día’s universe allowed me to increase my attributes by working out. Then there were parts I gained from other universes. But there is something key that I think I am missing.

  “Hey, is it just me, or can everyone infuse spirit energy into their attacks here?” I ask, following up on my hunch.

  “Well you can, but it is generally only recommended for a last ditch effort. Basically, a real way to go out with a bang, a final F-you, if you will.” Chet said.

  Then like that, I realized this universe had been chosen specifically as it would allow me to kill the Behemoth proper. Or maybe I always knew how.

  “Can you add it to Healing magic?” I ask, suddenly wondering if I put myself through all that pain an misery for nothing.

  “What? For Healing magic? No, this is a way to boost your attack, but each time you use your spirit in such a way, you effectively cut off your permanent potential. Wait, did you do that just now?” Chet asked, suddenly concerned for me.

  “Ah forget it, my Spirit regenerates.” I say dismissively.

  “Regenerates?”

  “Yeah, don’t worry about it.” I say, as I slink my way out of the cockpit filled with certs from slaying the behemoth.

  “What do you want to do with these?” Chet asked.

  Seeing the certs, I just shrug. “I grant them to you two. Take them quickly to unlock your class its rarity, then level said class.” I admit.

  “We already have our classes.” Jess says.

  I so want to argue with her, but I am exhausted and nearly beyond the point of caring. “Just do it. You should unlock your second class with those coins. Make sure you spend 49 on improving your potential. Then the rest will…”

  “What? What is an Apex level class? Also, what is this Spiritual Psychic?” Jess asks.

  Hearing that class, I hold up a finger. Then I realize I generated the certs by killing the Behemoth by infusing my literal soul into my psychic attacks. With that realization, I almost want to stop them, but wonder if they will be able to heal their soul after using such a class.

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  “It says that everything we do will cost us our soul points. But we can at least use these certs to buy levels in our other classes.” Chet said, a bit hesitantly.

  “Good.” I say, still groggy, but I hope that some of this will stick with them, even after the inevitable reset. Then thinking about the reset, I realize a very important question.

  “Hey, where exactly is General Sharma?”

  “I think she is waiting for you in the prayer room.” Jess responded.

  “Prayer room?” I ask.

  “Yeah, it was a converted closet, but they have made it look nice.” Chet replies.

  I begin to walk, well stumble in the direction that Chet indicated. “Hey easy there. Let me guide you.”

  “You sure?” I ask.

  “Yeah, it is the least I could do. You did just save the universe and all.” He said, as he looked at me with a note of concern on his face. The look he had was one where it looked like I would keel over and die at any moment. Judging by the way I was currently feeling, I couldn’t help but think this opinion wasn’t too far off the mark. Still I decided to continue forward. One step, then another.

  All the while I could feel my soul slowly building back up, but it was incredibly painful to experience real time.

  “Do you have any food?” I ask.

  “Sure thing. You still like Dwenvarian fish right?”

  “Bleh! Did the me from here like that stuff?” I ask, as my mind pulls up images of floor after floor of having to fight through mud fish from the Dwenvarian temple.

  “Yeah, was his favorite.”

  “Honestly, no wonder he was a monster if that is the type of stuff he ate. Honestly, the writing was clearly on the wall that he was unstable with that as his go-to source of food.” I answer.

  Chet for his part just laughs, a wide laugh that makes me realize why I used to look up to my older brother.

  “Wow, I can’t help but thank you for breaking the stereotype.” I say.

  “Stereotype?”

  “Yeah, I thought that all Chet’s were terrible. Was beginning to think it had something to do with the name. Fortunately, you fixed that assumption.” I reply.

  “Same. For bit there I thought all Kyle’s were megalomaniacs, you probably still are, but at least you are decent about it.” Chet said.

  With that, “thanks for the consolation put down.”

  “Any time.”

  With that, I actually found myself smiling. It felt good to smile. It had been a long time since I had managed to have a good moment with anyone from my immediate family. Even if this was a bizzarro universe, I was glad I got to at least experience some good memories.

  “How are mom and dad?” I ask, finally broaching the topic that had been on my mind for a while.

  “Ouch. I don’t really know.”

  “You don’t?”

  “No, you…well the you from here did a whole number on them. Brainwashed them against me, well us. Now that the other Kyle is gone, they are getting better, but it is clear they are still angry at me.” Chet admitted.

  Hearing that I couldn’t help but nod in agreement. “Yeah, our family seems to be dysfunctional in any universe. I mentally castrated the bastard version of you from my universe, then healed both mom and dad and they still act as if I am a monster. Honestly at this point, I am thinking about giving up on them.”

  “I know how you feel, but you should try at least once more. Then again, I don’t know why you would take advise from someone who has a face you hate and lives in an alternate universe, but at the very least by trying one more time when you get back, you can at least rest assured knowing you tried everything.” Chet said.

  With that I couldn’t help but nod in agreement. “You know, you aren’t half bad.”

  “I’m all bad?” He asked, smiling.

  Hearing him give one of my favorite Muppet one liners back at me, I realized he was likely the true hero that all the other prophecies spoke about.

  “Touché.” I say as I let a faint smile cover my face.

  Before I realize it, I notice that we have stopped walking.

  Seeing my confusion as to why we are standing still, Chet pauses then answer. “Oh, we are here. I should probably let you go, but I was just having a good time talking to you.”

  Looking at Chet I know how he feels, I was also having fun just being able to talk to him as well.

  Silence.

  There is that awkward pause that always seems to come from one of these odd family reunions, where you know you have to say goodbye. Then before you go, you make sure not to mention the fact that in ten minutes time, everything we just spoke about, everything we just did will be undone and forgotten.

  Yeah, I decide to leave it assumed that he will forget me. Not wanting to drag out this moment, though I really wonder what life would be like, if there were never any of these apocalypses that happened and if I was able to live in that one thousand years of peace. Still, the universe is what it is, and I am just a pawn in the scheme of time.

  “Thanks.” I say as I move to enter the room.

  “Oh, your food. If you don’t like Dwenvarian Fish, then what would you like?” Chet asks.

  Hearing that, I just smirk. “Surprise me.”

  “Okay.” Chet says, a look of doubt on his face. I know the feeling as I hate when people give me the same food order, as I know it will inevitably be something they don’t care for or what is more often the case, something they are allergic to. Of course, none of that matters as I go into the converted closet, flick on the lights and see a decomposing General Sharma.

  Click.

  Zzz-za.

  The lights flick on in that odd way that only terribly wired broom closets can pull off. Well broom closets and every room in a horror movie. Still, I am there and I see the General lying in a heap on the ground.

  “Ah, so you managed to pull it off?” She asks, a slight smile appearing on her lips.

  Seeing her in such a state, I am reminded of my last memories of visiting Nana before she passed away. She had that same smile, one that said she was both so proud of me, and still expected great things from me in the future.

  “Yeah, I did.” I answer truthfully.

  At that Celestial General Sharma nods to herself. “Well then, please finish this, I don’t have much time left.”

  Hearing that, I let out a long sigh, as I realize that I am just so tired of constantly pushing myself to save universes. Universes that will forget everything I ever did for them. It’s not that I am vain. Well, I am, but at this point I feel I kind of deserve something, not just levels or consolation prizes. But you know recognition in some way? Maybe a hamburger named after me… something.

  “Do you have doubts?” She asks.

  Hearing that, I can’t help but scoff at the idea. “Of course, I have doubts. How much longer will this take? How much longer will I be forced to walk alone?” I ask.

  Hearing that Sharma just nods her head in understanding. “I can see how that would be a problem. All I can say is that I know what you have done. And I appreciate your effort. Even after this is over, know I will still be cheering you on from the sidelines, always.”

  Hearing that, I couldn’t help but remember that those were the exact words that Nana told me, before her passing. “Nana?” I asked.

  Sharma shook her head. “No, though I was there.” She said, as a pain filled her eyes.

  Hearing that, I realized she was likely just as unable to stop this as I was. Watching her, I could tell she was in pain, though she clearly put on a strong front to help ease my sympathetic pain I was now feeling. Just like Nana.

  So odd, I have been through a lot of these at this point, but only now do I remember the impact that Nana had on me. Maybe it was finally being able to reconnect with Chet, well a Chet. That connection bringing up long forgotten family memories that I had buried under layers of pain and guilt.

  Seeing the way she was in pain, but still just stared up at me made me realize the true sacrifice these Celestials go through. “Thank you.”

  Those are the last two words I say, before I activate my Revelation Sight, and cause the remaining outer shell of Sharma’s body to melt away.

  “Know that she would still be proud of you.” Sharma said.

  “Shut the fuck up.” I say, as I fight back a tear, while quickly focusing on every unprotected mind I can find and shred them with Mind Rend. Oddly enough, I cannot find the Behemoth’s mind anywhere.

  “What happened to the Behemoth?” I ask.

  “You seem to have already killed it permanently. Good job.” Sharma said.

  “Wait, that was from this universe? Then why did the Behemoth come back?” I ask, trying to take advantage of my final few seconds with the General.

  “Even when given the chance, you were the first person to truly offer your soul up in an attack to save the universe from the Behemoth.” Sharma said.

  Hearing that, I could kind of see where she was coming from. I mean who would willingly throw away their life to save the universe? The entire thing just seems stupid and unnecessary, until it is completely necessary.

  The final few seconds wind past us. Fortunately I apparently spent a day passed out in my cockpit as I came back, which gave me enough time to make sure I could find all the unprotected Prolaxian Herald minds and eradicate them.

I still felt strange not finding any sign of the Behemoth, but I had to take the General’s word on this, that I was done. Especially as I found myself once again back in the fourteenth universe, in my quarters aboard Día’s luxury liner.

  The minute I reappear, I feel the universe spin quickly about me, as I find myself suddenly passing out.

  Woosh.

  “Hey, are you about ready?” Día asks, entering my room and clearly looking at something on her personal display, before looking down to find me collapsing on the ground.

  “What? What happened?”