"But it's not just Azrael, remember? If Katie manages to use 'that' and beat Callum then she might be able to extract his blood. Not only would we have enough blood for two potential Requiems, but three."
The opening dialogue was spoken by none other than the Crow, continuing to scratch his bearded chin even after having beaten the Angel. Raising his head, he turned to August.
"What about you, Rivera? What do you think about creating new Requiem weapons for us to... use?"
Azazel wasn't just puzzled by August's new face, no. More accurately, he was horrified. All he'd asked was a simple question and the Reaper already manifested such a frightening expression. Did Azazel dare step forward; invoke Rivera's merciless wrath?
"Requiems should be destroyed. That was the point of what Dad did when he destroyed the Old World and created the New one. He knew his generation would continue for eternity, and because of that, they'd always have enemies. As long as Requiems continue to exist, they will continue to spawn enemies for themselves, their families, and by extension, the world. What Requiems hold is not godlike power or anything paranormal in the slightest. What lies at the center of a Requiem's strength is what's slammed into their bones from the second they're born: 'human nature.' Humanity's relentless ambition is what makes us unique. If we fail to acknowledge that and continuously reproduce then we'll just fall victim to the sins of the past we were supposed to end when Dad destroyed the Old World!" August yelled, grabbing his partner's shoulders.
Only then did he realize what he'd just said--not to mention the impression it'd left on Azazel. Stepping back after releasing his fingers from Karlo's attire, August retracted his hung head with a dejected sigh.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean? What do you mean if we continually 'reproduce' then we'll just end up repeating the mistakes of the past? You just said that we, as parents, should be better than our parents to ensure our children don't go down the same path we do. Are you saying we should accept the way things were? Allow Retly to bombard us with attacks, take you, Alex, and Katie? Is the path of suicide really the path you're telling us we should've taken?"
"No... of course not. But look around you, Azazel! How long have we been doing the same things? Attacking and destroying, ridding innocent people of their innocent lives. This cycle continues despite Dad's sacrifice! And if he died having not brought about any change, then WHAT GOOD DID HE DIE FOR!?"
August yelled. For the first time in a while, Augustus Rivera yelled at him. More times than usual, it was the opposite. For Azazel to be on the receiving end for once; if this were any other situation, he'd surely laugh at the irony. But what August was saying wasn't just wrong--it was borderline disgraceful.
"'Bringing freedom to the world is enough for me'," Azazel quoted.
"Huh?" August hummed, justifiably confused.
"Do you truly think Ben would be so selfless to say something like that? The New World wasn't made so the people of Earth could live without trouble--there's a reason only Alex was Incarnated, to begin with. The New World was made so we could blissfully live in ignorance without worrying about 'peace' or 'justice.' I admit that the Requiems garner hatred and destruction more than anyone, but that's our mission. You are the savior of the New World: the Requiem Reaper. Do your job and protect us; ensure we have a future to reach at the end of the road."
As Azazel stepped forward after his speech, his fist slammed against August's chest, sending his eyes to widen... looking into the Detective's azure pupils. Just one look at his 'brother's' expression and he was forced to look away.
"I'm sorry..."
"You remember, don't you? You saved me. Me. A Karlo, destined to bring ruin to the Earth just like my father did before. The worst man ever, and you had hope for me. Don't you think we should do the same, not just for this World, but for our children?" Azazel asked.
"What lays at the end of a Requiem's journey might be freedom but what scatters the road until that end? If it's a multitude of innocent corpses then maybe it's not worth it. Maybe we should remain the way we always were and blissfully live like this for eternity. Dad paid the price for freedom and look where that got him. He sacrificed himself for that freedom, look where that got us. The same history, the same mistakes, the same violence--perpetuated over and over until what? We all die, leaving nothing behind for the generation ahead?" August shook his head after asking that.
Azazel was silent. He stepped back and looked to the night sky, filled to the brim with sparkling stars.
"What do you think 'freedom' is, August?" The Detective queried.
"Well, to be able to do anything you want, without anyone holding you down. That's what you lacked when Kuno was manipulating you to be the Crow and what Katie lacked because of her abusive parents. The decision to do anything you want--despite somebody's age or condition, that 'freedom' is what everyone was granted the second they were born. Just because they were born into this world--they're 'free.' That's what freedom is to me, at least," answered the Reaper quickly.
"I remember something from the Old World. After you came back and we attacked Heaven, after Uraku formed the Island--Blaire, you and I lived together. One day, you were out, so it was just me and her. We didn't do anything at all. Instead, we just watched a Ghibli movie together, in the middle of the summer... as the birds chirped outside our window, perched against the branches. At that moment, I wasn't grateful to you or Ben, no. During that time, more than ever before, I felt thankful to myself. But I didn't have to be surrounded by anybody to enjoy those minuscule moments of freedom. I felt the same way reading a book with nobody at home on a rainy day. The daily commute to work, saying hi to Alex on my way there.
Maybe... the reason I was born... was to have those little moments. Because to me, after everything I went through, that was enough to satisfy me. That was my 'freedom.' Then, all that shit with the Incarnations happened, my freedom was threatened. Heh, your father and I had our differences but that's one thing about him I can say was admirable. Because of him, I learned: if someone tries to steal my freedom, I'll steal theirs first. That's why I'm fighting right now. I don't know why, but when it comes to taking back freedom, strength flows through me. At this time next year, we'll be at peace in the Capital, having our little moments of freedom... just like we were destined to."
And August was speechless. What more could he say in return? How blind had he been and how long before he'd realized the truth was staring at him right in the face? The truth of his nature he'd been ignorant to since the start of this erratic battle--why was he selfless? Why did the lives of others matter more than those that he cared for? He thought back to three years ago, when he stood beside Katie on Riverton, their feet surrounded by disfigured corpses.
'I've never been abused but I've had family who has been. I want to fight for those close to me, not the people I can't even see. Whether that's noble or not isn't my concern. As long as my family is happy; that's good enough for me.'
How hypocritical of him. To speak so confidently about why he fought, to lie to her face like that--if only Kate had heard their conversation. Then again, if she was ever told about the contents of this conversation, she would never forgive him for the lie he told that day. Katie's 'freedom' was different than the others. What she sought wasn't 'freedom' specifically, rather, she called it 'justice.' But why? On the surface, Katie always seemed so simple. She had human desires, urges, dreams. Maybe she was always like this and they didn't wanna see it, but both her father and her uncle had to ask the same question.
If Katie was always like this, and this destruction is where her 'justice' led her, what version of her had they been seeing before? Their thoughts about Death's Source vessel were interrupted by the familiar sounds of overhead propellers. Not only did they upturn their heads, but somewhere across the city, atop a rooftop, Natalia and Jefferson sat up too.
Throwing Callum onto her back, Katie groaned. They all looked to the skies despite their wounds, spotting the same thing soaring across the clouds. An airship.
"They're right on time," said Alex, standing over Hana healing Ace in Kima's arms.
"You're gonna be in for one hell of a surprise, Callum," whispered Katie to the unconscious Founder tied to her rear.
at the expected rendezvous, everyone reconvened at the airship in tandem. Having heard the sound of multiple thumps gradually entering the piloted airship, the pilot upturned an eyebrow seeing everyone jump in through the sliding doors. Turning their head after everyone's arrival, they left the cockpit to spot the crowded cargo bay, hand against the doorframe.
"Oh, you're all back in one piece. And here I thought one of you would die, especially considering the circumstances surrounding the attack. Katie, Ace, Alex, Kima. Did any of you get penalized yet?" They asked.
"Thanks for reminding me, Kosuke," August said.
He turned to the singled-out quartet, and with just one look, their fate was sealed. Handcuffs attached their wrists, restricting their freedom as their shoulders were forced downward, their knees slamming against the metal ground. Most of them grunted, but Katie was as unwavering as ever. She just glared ahead at the white-haired Reaper with lifeless blue eyes. Azazel looked away from his daughter, and sighed.
"Why the long face? Don't tell me you're surprised that insubordinate actions lead to consequences. When we get back to the Capital, you'll be locked below the Tower. If you resist, I won't hesitate to use lethal force against any of you," August said.
"That's fine. But it's not like you didn't know how things were…" Katie continued to stare at him with that uncaring facade as she spoke.
"Tch." August clicked his teeth. "That's the same face Dad had when we saw him in Heaven during our ambush. To think the hatred would infect our own, and entrap you, too…" he said.
August and Katie shared one more glance at one another's contrasting eyes before the Reaper turned away. Walking past Rizia on the way to the cockpit, his hand tapped their shoulder.
"We'll be constraining you. Please don't resist and make things more worse than they already are," August suggested to them.
"I understand, sir. Don't worry—we'll sit beside one another again eventually."
Sending them a kind smile, August slid his hand from their body. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he entered the cockpit and locked the door behind him. Walking to Kosuke, he locked cuffs around their wrists, then stepped back after he'd finished. Juxtaposing their content face with a warm smile, his face was apathetic—a gift for the man who saved them, they tapped their chin and looked into Riz's black eyes.
"When the world crumbles in the distant, I only hope I'll be in your arms, Detective Karlo," said Kosuke.
"Heh." He chuckled. "To be honest… anything seems better than the world we live in right now."
With four of Riot's members cuffed on the airship, it continued flying through the skies and over the desert, to reach their destination.
Their home: Evolutionary City.
To Be Continued.