Braverte is contemplating what the implications are of what he has just been told. Bilicus can tell that Braverte is realizing the scope of things. So Bilicus continues.

“They will hunt you down and kill everyone you love, Braverte. They will do horrible things to Pulmo. Let me go, and I might still be able to salvage this situation.”

“Who is the head of Chayil?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never met him, I only heard his voice through a speaker.”

“What do they call the boss?”

“They call him God.”

Bravere looks up with a smile on his face.

“I have to kill a god?”

“Let me down. If I don’t fix this, my family will die.”

“Bilicus, while I sympathize, it doesn’t change what you’ve done. I know the public can be fooled by a good sob story and then justify your horrific actions as heroic or that you had no choice. But that way of thinking only works with people who weren’t affected by what you did. I saw the tears roll down mother’s cheeks. I heard the screams in the hallways as they visited their unresponsive children. I felt the pain when looking at fathers sitting on the ground in a corner with their heads down. I am sure you believe you did what was right and you had no choice. But can you take that and tell it to the parents who lost their kids, or the sons and daughters who lost their siblings? Do you think your justifications will lessen their pain?”

Bilicus lowers his head.

“The ones who chose to do the drugs would have done so regardless. I did my best to make the drugs as clean and effective as possible. I tried to make the best out of a bad situation. I did it to protect my family. I didn’t force anyone to take the drugs. I didn’t shove it down their throats, I didn’t market it, I didn’t even ask them what they wanted. I simply wanted to save my family and keep the people I love safe. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. And I didn’t. I cannot be held accountable for others’ actions. Plus, what would you have me do? Would you rather I ignore my family and let them die at the hands of those monsters?”

Braverte looks Bilicus right in the eyes and takes a step closer to him.

“Saying you followed orders doesn’t absolve you from responsibility. The guilt of taking a life doesn’t just disappear because you feel you can hand over the responsibility to someone else. The blood is on your hands, the souls of the ones you have killed will haunt you. For the person who gave the order, it is nothing but a vague taste of death that they orchestrated. They might lose sleep over it, but you will forever sleep in darkness. And because you wanted to save your family, you dragged thousands of families with you into the abyss. Your love for your family doesn’t save you from this. The fact that you love your family doesn’t give you the right to take what others love away from them. Your life ends today.”

Bilicus screams at Braverte in rage, letting lose a primal yell. Braverte stares at Bilicus with a deadpan. Bilicus starts crying during his scream, and then through his tears, he starts speaking.

“I just wanted to save my family.”

“I understand. I truly do. I would have done anything to save my son, my wife, my friends or my remaining family. But not at the expense of others. What you have done is create a cycle of pain that can only bring forth a bigger one.”

“I helped them. I gave them clean MYOS. I didn’t know that they would end up like zombies.”

“But when you did know, did you stop? Did you do anything to help?”

Bilicus doesn’t answer immediately; as the tears keep rolling down his face, he lowers his head as he replies.  

“I couldn’t risk it.”

“Bilicus, may you find peace in whatever comes next.”

Braverte grips his sword and starts taking a striking pose. Bilicus can see what is happening and panics.

“WAIT!”

Braverte stops thinking that perhaps Bilicus has some more information he can share. Bilicus looks Braverte right in the eyes as he pleads.

“Wait, wait. I need you to promise me something.”

Braverte doesn’t reply and just gazes at Bilicus. Bilicus continues.

“I need you to find my family and save them.”

“What?”

“It’s not their fault. They were dragged into this. I secretly sent countless mercenaries, assassins, and detectives to find them. But every time, they just ended up dead. But if it’s you … you can save them.”

“And why would I do that?”

“Because they are innocent in all this. They have nothing to do with this. And if I’m dead, they will lose their value as hostages immediately. But if Chayil knows you’re coming for them, they might keep them alive.”

“And how would I let them know?”

“Just tell Sachem. He is their puppet on this planet. I am sure they have something implanted in him for direct communication.”

“Wait, you sent mercenaries to find them, and they let you live even after killing them?”

“I think they enjoyed the cat and mouse game. Whenever the mercenaries’ bodies were found, they had a huge smiley face carved on their chest.  And I would always get a postcard with  a bloody smiley face on it the day after.”

“Hmm. I won’t promise anything, but I’ll see what I can do to save your family.”

“Thank you.”

Braverte raises his sword, pulls back his arm, and then pierces Bilicus’ chest with the blade. Braverte’s strike is clean and precise. Bilicus spits blood as his heart is pierced. The two lock eyes one more time and then Bilicus’ head drops for the last time.

Chapter 73 fin