It's been a week since the humiliation we've suffered at the hands of Skull. Over the past week I tried to interrogate Tyson; asked him about the past numbers. He kept brushing it off and I kept asking him until he told me that it's not in his place to tell me about it. So I asked him if I can talk to Dr. Animus but Tyson brushed that off too. He told me that Dr. Animus and the higher ups are busy right now; busy trying to come up with a way to take down our newest archenemy, Skull.
It's been a really stressful week, not only has the numbers been proven useless for the first time since our origin, the higher ups are not making any moves at all either. They're having some top secret debate on the present situation of Amphibia. I think we've earned the right to join in on these meetings but the higher ups certainly don't think so. We're always kept in the dark like this. We just get missions and carry them out. Are we not Amphibia's greatest assets? Why are we treated like this? Why don't they trust us? Maybe the higher ups are hiding something, maybe they know who Skull is.
The only good thing that happened this past week is Will's successful recovery. He's almost back to normal now but it'll take some more time for him to be at his best again. I made him swear to me that we will always continue to rely on each other and never go suicidal fighting mode like at Thedas ever again.
So basically this past week has been a big drag. We have a big problem at hand but we're getting nowhere close to solving it. Today is different though, at least I hope it is. The higher ups have finally stopped talking among themselves. They've reached a decision regarding the Skull matter. Tyson will brief us on what they have decided.
So the numbers are all together in the mission headquarters right now. Tyson is getting ready to debrief us on what comes next. That's when it happened again, this time I knew what was going on. Skull is back on air, and indeed he is. All the screens at the headquarters switch to showing Skull.
Skull is standing in the middle of a wasteland. No one lives near this area. It's actually pretty close to where we are right now. What happened to this place? I can't recall, was I ever told how that place became a wasteland? Anyways Skull is just standing there, motionless. He's taking in the area, it seems like this 10 km wasteland holds some special meaning for Skull.
After a while, Skull regains his composure and begins his speech.
"Hello. Skull here. I hope everyone is tuning in today. All of Amphibia should witness the beginning of their end. So let's take a moment and wait for everyone to join us. Tell all your friends and family to turn on their TV and tune in. I'll give you Amphibians a couple of minutes."
While waiting for people to tune in, Skull did something I did not expect him to do. He tugged on his Skull mask and took it off. The man behind the mask was someone I knew. It was him, I can't believe it, it was him. Skull is the bartender guy! The calm bartender guy who always keeps to his own, minding his own business. Right now the bartender guy is staring at me from the TV. He told me things were about to change for Amphibia! Was that a declaration of war? It hurts me to see him as Skull, I respected the man, wanted to be like him when I was older. Now all I see is a broken man with broken ambitions.
So the bartender guy thinks he waited long enough and starts talking again.
"Now let's continue. I will hold nothing back today. Take a good look at my face. This face belongs to the current leader of the allied rebel forces. Today marks the end of Amphibia. But, since I'm feeling generous I'll tell you all why you guys need to die. It's simple really. We just have to start from the beginning."
The bartender guy takes a deep breath and resumes talking.
"In the beginning, Amphibia was just like the other nations. We were all equal. Sure there were fights here and there but mostly the world was stable. Then Amphibia successfully created superhumans which they called the numbers. Not the numbers you found out about just weeks ago but their predecessors, the original numbers. Along with the numbers help, Amphibia rose to extreme heights. We became the most powerful nation on this planet!"
The bartender guy takes another big breath and his face changes to one of pure hatred.
"BUT THEN! But then! As Amphibia got so powerful, no other nation could ever cause Amphibia problems again. No one except the numbers. Do you know what they did next? Some of you probably know but are too damn scared to come out and expose Amphibia's fatal flaws. Amphibia changed their targets to the numbers. They told the Amphibians that the numbers were losing their minds and going out of control. They told you that the numbers wanted to take over Amphibia and terrorize us all. What did you all do then? You called the numbers monsters and allowed them to get taken out. How did Amphibia get powerful in the first place? Who made that happen? The numbers did! And how were they thanked for their service?"
Bartender guy looks around at his surroundings and motions everyone to look as well.
"This is where it happened. This is where the last of them were taken out. You know why this place is a fucked up wasteland? Because the last of the numbers were nuked to death here! That's fucking why! They were treated as beasts and nuked to a crisp here! What were you all doing when this happened? Fucking nothing right? The monsters were getting what they deserved so you just happily watched right? You fucking nation full of ungrateful neanderthals were just watching and celebrating right? That's why you need to die! Why do you deserve to live? To this day Amphibia has not changed its ways! Why do you think there are so many rebel groups? It's because Amphibia depletes, runs dry all the resources of all other nations for their own growth. Amphibia takes and never gives! Rebel groups started to form for this reason, angered by the inequality present in the world. Now, what was Amphibia's solution to counteract this movement?"
At this point the bartender guy could no longer keep his cool. He started stomping the ground and pacing back and forth. After a while he started talking again.
"They fucking created the numbers again! Because the first time it went so well right? So why not create them again and just let them keep the rebel groups under control. That's what they have been doing until I organized the rebel groups under one banner. In a matter of weeks, I managed to turn Amphibia upside down!"
Bartender guy spreads his arms wide and smiles.
"So, you higher ups hiding in your fancy offices; why don't you just nuke me too? That's how you take care of things right? Yeah, nuke me. Let's just get this over with. What are you waiting for? NUKE ME! I FUCKING DARE YOU!"
Bartender guy just stands there with his arms outstretched. He begins to laugh, he laughs loud and clear like a man with nothing to lose. What he says next is shocking.
"You can't nuke me right? The person next to you is probably holding a gun to your head right? You guys let your guard down! Amphibia is so powerful, we have nothing to worry about; that's what you thought right? It was so easy, because of that attitude, it was so easy to infiltrate your system. For a while now, members of other nations have been among you guys. They have been biding their time for this exact moment. Now do you see what's going on here? You no longer control Amphibia! These members from other nations will do anything I tell them to. That's because I promised them that I'll cleanse Amphibia. This world will never be fair and just as long as this blasted nation lives! The leaders never learn from their mistakes and the people are a herd of egoistic sheep with no sympathy for others. I will kill every last one of you here in Amphibia! Let this be a lesson to all other nations! This is what happens when people let greed and insanity take over them. I will right the wrongs of this world! After I'm done with that, you remaining nations better create a world much, much different from this one! A place where people don't backstab each other, a place where people care about each other, A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE DON'T KILL THEIR COMRADES!"
The bartender guy looks directly at the screen.
"Now, what else is Amphibia to do in this situation? Oh that's right, they have the numbers! Do what you do best Amphibia and send the numbers my way to do your dirty work. I'll be right here waiting. I'll take them on, I'll take them all on!"
What the fuck is this guy thinking? Sure he may have bested us once but he used a cheap trick then. And there were only 5 of us the last time. Does he really think he can beat all the numbers at once with no support?
That's when the revelation was revealed; what the bartender guy said next sent a chill down my spine.
"Many of you guys may think I'm a joke. When the numbers arrive, they'll do quick work of me and this whole situation will cease to exist. Maybe it's time to make my official introduction. For two decades, I have been preparing for this moment. I have been gathering my forces slowly but surely. I have been getting stronger, slowly but surely. My name is Jackson, but that probably doesn't mean anything to any of you. Rather I should say, my name is number one, that's right number one. THE LAST REMAINING MEMBER OF THE ORIGINAL GENERATION OF NUMBERS, THE LOST GENERATION AND I HAVE COME TO MAKE SURE YOU ALL PAY FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE!"