The simulation continued on. More years of my life sped away, and Time Dilation came and went. I battled, and I killed the Salamander Commander, Bonzo. It was an inevitable plot point, and it was something that Ender felt guilty about. Battle School continued to sap my life away as the stress beat down onto my mind, but I was used to it at this point. I knew all of Ender's tactics thanks to the novel, and I was able to win every single battle.
Soon, I was promoted to command school. Sadly, command school was in a different region of the solar system, and it took a space-voyage of several months to get there. When we finally arrived on Eros, Graff took me to his room, which was quite small.
"Why are we here?"
"Ender, do you remember what you said to me when you first came to Battle School?"
"No."
"You asked if we could have drinks together when you came to command school."
Graff took out bottles of juice. He also took out some cups, and he poured some of the juice for me.
"Here."
He passed the cup to me.
"We should have a seat," he said.
"Sir, why are you doing this?"
"It's... the least I can do."
We made casual banter back and forth.
***
(How old am I? Fraggy?)
He wasn't there. He wouldn't be able to tell me my age.
(It doesn't matter anyways.)
Soon, I met Mazer Rackham, and got into a casual fight with him that left us a little bruised. He said he was my enemy, but I knew what he was: a teacher. Mazer Rackham was a pivotal character in the movie, and he said he created a program for me: a game that would replicate battles with Formics.
This was a complete and utter lie. There was a reason why Orson Scott Card's book was called "Ender's Game." It was due to the fact that the main protagonist thought his "final examination" was a game created by Mazer Rackham. The truth was this: Ender was actually controlling the fleet that fought the buggers, and every single time a ship was destroyed, numerous human lives were lost.
I met all the characters I met before, such as Bean, Petra, and Dink. Even Alai. Shen and Fly Molo were here. They made the cut, and now we were commanders of this fleet. These were people I came to know and trust.
I wondered how I could turn these events around. What if I told them that the "game" we were playing was actually real? Could I change the events? I didn't do that. I had to preserve the original novel, but the notion intrigued me.
We were introduced to the M.D. Device, which stood for the Molecular Detachment Device. The laser worked by detaching molecules, and it was able to penetrate the Formics shields. Petra controlled the canon, and I would give her the order to fire it.
(So much responsibility. So much power.)
I stood up late, strategizing and planning. Everyone was operating on tight sleep schedules, and we could be woken up at any minute for a battle. After winning as many as possible, we were finally at the home-world of the Formics. This was disguised as the "last game to graduate."
The time was now. The time for me to fire on the planet. In the novel, it said that the M.D. Device broke the entire planet, and reduced it to nothing but atoms. I sacrificed every single ship we had to bring the Little Doctor closer to the globe, so we could give the shot. We were so close...
If I gave Petra the order to fire, I would be a genocidal monster, worst than Hitler. Hitler killed the Jewish and, World War 2 resulted in the death of 65 million people. If I made the order, I would kill billions of lifeforms. I would be worse than him.
As if time slowed down, I gave the order out of nothing but instinct.
"FIRE ON THE PLANET!!"
The beam shot forward. I saw the impact hit the Formic's world, and I watched it implode and explode. How could I describe it? Knowing that you destroyed something as versatile and large as a world? Knowing that you eradicated trillions of lifeforms, and took away a trillion futures?
(I'm evil. Like I said... I would destroy a world.)
[Some Constellations are shocked by the implications.]
[Some Constellations are wondering if this counts towards your evil.]
[Some Constellations are wondering if this counts towards your good.]
[Some Constellations are arguing that this is a simulation, so it isn't real.]
The chat was exploding. For some reason, I felt guilty. I felt horrible after seeing that planet destroyed. When I turned to look at the teachers, and the numerous officers, I saw them crying from joy, or from relief.
"Ender!! We won!! We won the game!!"
The friends I made along this several year long journey looked at me, and I could see how happy they were. I felt dread.
"Ender, you did it. We won!!" Graff said as he approached him.
"I know I killed all of the Formics."
"What?"
"Do you think I didn't figure it out?"
I could see the look on Colonel Graff's face.
"Ender, what are you saying?"
"I knew that there were people on those ships. I knew this entire time."
"What?"
"Do you think I'm stupid, Graff?"
"No, no, Ender...."
"No sacrifice, no victory," I said. "We beat the Formics."
[Some Constellations are shocked by what you said.]
Mazer Rackham approached me.
"You knew this entire time...?" He whispered.
"I knew. I'm sorry..."
"Ender... I..."
"Not right now, Graff. I just want to be alone."
I pushed past everyone, and waited for the next plot points. Russian marines stationed on this base would be ordered to kill me by the Polemarch, but I didn't care anymore.
***
Graff and Mazer came to talk to me. They asked me questions, and they congratulated me. They said I did the right thing, but I didn't feel as if I did. I fought for humanity, so what? In this story, in this Earth, humans would be preparing to fight a civil war. Americans would be accusing Russia of preparing for land war, people would be divided, the League would be doubted, and people would be clamoring for me.
Ender Wiggin, the boy who fought the Formics and saved humanity. Ender Wiggin, who had to spend years of his life being groomed into the perfect soldier. Ender Wiggin, who always had to be cool, calm, and collected. I felt tired with life.
The next day, I felt a needle being shoved into my neck, and I fell asleep. When I woke up, I heard thumping, and knew that people were fighting on this base. They wanted to kill. Except the Russian Marines here. They probably didn't. So many people "loved" me. I was like Jesus. The Messiah. I was like Moses as he split the ocean, and led the people. They viewed me as a hero.
The people on Earth did, anyways. I was the most brilliant child in this world who beat the Formics. All of the battles I won were broadcasted to the people, and I inspired hope. I also inspired despair as well. Where would Ender go? Would he come back to Earth? I could never go back to my home planet in this simulation. Too many people would want to use me to control their precious armies, and fight each other. Their paranoia and distrust for each other would divide the Earth once again.
As time went on, I met Valentine. She was older. She was different again. She told me she was Demosthenes, and how she used all of her political power to keep me away from Earth.
***
I became a governor of a new planet. Humans were spread across the universe. I grew older and older, and the Constellations came and went. Right now, I was in a helicopter ride with a boy, and we were exploring this new world.
(It should be here.)
I saw the Giant's skull.
(The egg of a Formic queen should be here.)
I got out of the helicopter. I crept through the ruins of this village, and remembered more of the novel.
(The Formics can communicate with telepathy. They actually penetrated Ender's dreams, and learned about him. All in the effort to convince him to save their last queen. They modeled this planet to look like the End of the World.)
I explored this environment. This wasn't the end of everything. I saw playground equipment, and crept through the a field, and I saw a well that led into a dark chamber. I climbed down, and I found a door.
[End of the World.]
When I opened it, I saw it again. A void deeper than anything you could possibly imagination. I crept forward, but couldn't help but feel afraid. Where was the egg?
I found a podium. There was device on it that shouldn't have been here.
(My phone?)
It was my smartphone. I picked it up.
[Chat is booting up.]
[Hello, Ethan.]
I saw the message. I opened the keyboard on my phone, and typed away.
[Who is this?]
[EG9.]
[How is this possible?]
[Don't question it.]
[Why are you messaging me?]
[Because you just won the simulation. After you put this phone down, you will be freed from the simulation.]
The implications startled me.
[What are the additional rewards?]
[You'll get it when you'll get it. It will be on your phone. I apologize. I didn't give you the gift earlier.]
[What gift?]
[You'll see it when you'll see it.]
[Stop playing this game. Who are you?]
[A writer. Nothing else. I want you to make it to the end of this world.]
[Why?]
[Because I'm rooting for you. I want you to beat the Constellations, beat the Dokkaebi, and see the truth of this world.]
[If I put this phone down right now, I get to leave?]
[Yes.]
[Do you need to tell me anything else?]
[No. I just want to give you the blessing of the story.]
I put the phone down. The second I did, everything went still, as if time slowed to a crawl. When I turned around, I saw people standing behind me. All of the characters I met were staring at me. I even saw Peter.
"You did great, Ethan," Valentine said.
"You killed the Formics," Peter added.
I looked at them, and even saw the body of Asa Butterfield in a I.F. uniform. Reflexively, I looked at my hands, and saw I was back in my body.
"We're sorry we had to do this," Graff said. "We just hope you can forgive us."
"Are you real?! How is this possible?!"
"Ethan, we're real as you want us to be. That is the power of the story."
Everyone came closer, and hugged me tightly. Even Peter.
"Ethan, everything comes to an end," Peter said.
I felt tears burst from my eyes.
"I'm afraid to go back," I whispered.
"We know you are."
"I-I was happy here. For a little bit."
"We know. Sadly, this isn't you're story. Not anymore."
[You are being released from the "Ender's Game" simulation.]
I felt time bend and warp. I felt my mind going to sleep, and I saw everything fade away in prismatic light. I heard everyone say, "Even if the story ends, you'll be there to remember it. We'll always be with you."
"Thank you."
***
I stood in a Barnes and Nobles shop. The "Ender's Game" book I held was gone, as if it evaporated.
[Legendary Fable "Ender's Game" is sleeping.]
I saw that message.
"I won...."
I fell to my knees as I said it. I felt real tears leek from my eyes.
(Fraggy!! Fraggy?! Where are you?)
[He re.]
(How old am I? Mentally?)
[L et me che ck.]
I waited for a moment.
[Y ou r mi nd is 21 yea rs old.]
(Am I... Am I free from the simulation?)
[Yes. Th is is yo ur re ality.]
I didn't know what to feel. I felt happy, but it was also bittersweet. I could confidently say that "Ender's Game" was a home to me. After living there for so long, I became use to it. How could I feel normal again?
As I thought those things, I heard a notification sound from my phone. It was in my pants pocket, and I could feel it vibrate. I quickly grabbed it, and I saw a notification from my Google email.
[You have a new mail.]
I opened the app, and saw a message.
[Dear Ethan,
All stories need a proper protagonist. Sadly, you are not the protagonist. Still, it doesn't mean you are powerless. I have given you a gift that can help you rival the likes of Anna Croft. It is a .TXT attachment.
-EG9]
(Is it TWSA?)
If it was TWSA... I would be able to know so much of the future. I looked at the attachment, but balked at the title.
[ASS.TXT]
I then remembered. No one really liked Anna Croft because she killed Yu Junghyeok a lot of times. The author decided to appease the fans by naming his side story for her "Anna Side Stories." Hence, the acronym.
(I wished it was TWSA. This is just as good though.)
I sat down, and opened the attachment. It was time to read ASS now.