Dialogue Excerpt

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“Why do you care, Astor?” Ches wondered, keeping his blank expression facing the ceiling. “You tried to turn me and France into clones of yourself, so surely, you don’t care about us. You only want me alive so that you have a host to make you stronger. I know that you could take control any time you’d like, but you never told me because you don’t want me to know that you’re going to try it someday.”

“Well… I thought about it. But in the end… I just thought it would have been better for everyone. I mean, I’ve never looked at it this way… but if I made every human on the Earth me… then what would I do afterward? There would be nobody except for the people of New Troy who are underground, but I don’t want to go back because… I’m afraid. That no one forgave me.” Astor chuckled. “I guess life really is like those phony movies.”

“That doesn’t explain why you care what happens to me. There are billions of others who’s soul you could latch on to.” “It’s not that easy. You can only merge souls with someone if they have half of it. And unless you die (I would feel that pain as well), I’m unable to have a body of my own, which sure beats living on the side of the road with people tossing things at you. I like to keep pride in the things I do, like most people, so technically we’re both doing this right now, storming out on your old man. We have the same achievements. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“...I guess that makes a little sense.” “And you are never alone because I’ll always be with you. I mean, I can’t control that, so don’t take it the wrong way... anyways, that gives me time to learn your goals, personality, and your side of the story, and you know, you’re not all that bad. You have good intentions… you’re.. a good person.”

“...You know… you changed pretty quickly.” Ches remarked, hearing this.

Astor sighed. “Listen, when I came in sync with you and your thoughts… I… seemed to look at the world in a different way… it was like all of my hatred and sadness had vanished, and it was only good intentions and thoughts… yet, my memories of the past still lurk in my– our mind. You changed me, Ches.”

“Heh, guess I did.”