***
After the show which was going to be one heck of a memory for all those that were present, the people felt diverse emotions. It brought to the surface the memories that many people tried to avoid, to manage to get by everyday, but it helped them to get some closure.
Within a room within the four division base, Aryan sat down beside Simon, Mei and a girl with a pixie haircut.
Mei was stuffing her face full of rice and braised chicken soup while listening to the conversation taking place within the room.
"I managed to keep up right?" asked Simon with a slight smile as he drank a glass of whiskey.
"Don't start with me. I attended because you convinced me it would help people and my ability works better when influencing living beings than objects so..." Aryan said as he sank deeper into the couch he sat on, his thick, wavy hair sprawling on the leather.
He gazes at the ceiling with his brown eyes before continuing, looking as if he was reminiscing of old moments in his music career.
"...it was worth it."
"I really enjoyed the show. Though I was fighting off the tears," said the girl in the pixie haircut with a brilliant smile.
"Glad you enjoyed it, Megan," said Aryan.
He knew that Megan was an avid fan of his. She loved to listen to him sing and would accompany him everywhere if she got the chance. She was pretty protective of him as well. An example being her reaction to Amelia's act of grabbing Aryan's collar at the General Meeting.
He also knew there was something more to it, but he just couldn't be bothered to start with relationships right now.
"There's something you once said to me. I never forgot about it. It stuck with me throughout life. You said, 'As long as we're alive there's hope for change and joy.' Do you still believe that?" Simon asked with an inquisitive gaze.
The reason he asked this question was because he had known Aryan from before the apocalypse. They have sung together and he looked up to the man. Back then, Aryan was a lot more cheery and optimistic than he was now. Only he could notice the little cues that most people couldn't. Thus he asked.
"No," said Aryan. "I don't."
Everyone in the room looked at him. Megan looked at him in shock and confusion while Mei stopped eating and looked at Aryan.
"I want to tell you all that my heart is still strong. That my mind is still dedicated to saving the world and all that, but the truth is, I'm tired," said Aryan as he sat up.
"I got on that stage tonight to help people get closure, because I understand the feeling of not being able to accept reality. I have my own dead that have been haunting me at night. Fighting gets tiresome the more you do it, especially when the end of it can't be seen. I don't really have faith that we could see a new earth one day. It would be more accurate to say that I'm willing to sacrifice a lot to get this over with. Either way."
Simon was befuddled.
"Then why do you fight everyday, then?" he asked.
Aryan smiled hollowly.
"I'm not fighting for myself. There's someone I lost who would be really disappointed if I let myself die without fighting. Not much of a motivation, but it helps me do my job as an Invigorated," he replied. "The afterlife would be a bitch if she was to nag me throughout all time."
Mei swallowed and laid the bowls she was eating from down before she spoke.
"You've gotten worse since last time," she said. "However, I still can't blame you after all this time. You're better off than most I've seen. You still need me to keep you from going insane though."
"He needs you?" asked Simon as he raised his brow, thinking of a different 'need'.
"Yeah. I kinda do. Since we've barely been able to talk in the last months you probably don't know me as well as you think," said Aryan with a sheepish smile.
"You see Aryan can be an insensitive jerk. He never means to be most of the time, but the damage will already be done. You can say I'm his manager," said Mei as she patted Aryan's shoulder with grin.
Megan gave the ignorant Mei a sharp look. Jealous was doodled all over her face.
"What's your story? You seem like a ray of sunshine," said Simon.
"Ohohoho," laughed Mei as she continued to pat Aryan's shoulder harder and harder. "No one simply fights without a reason. For me, it's because I have someone I'm fighting for. My younger brother. That's my reason to be a ray of sunshine. And this guy needs a whole lot of that."
Aryan sighed.
Mei grabbed her food again and began to eat hungrily.
"Umm... we've given her all our portions. How is she still not full?" asked Simon in bewilderment.
"It's not that she's not full. She just enjoys eating. She's a top grade glutton," said Aryan.
"Hey! Don't... talk about it," said Mei in a shy voice, turning to the side.
***
A plane landed awaiting to carry the individual that it was supposed to pick up.
Three figures stood, with one looking at the other two with her back to the plane.
A girl with shoulder length black hair and hazel coloured eyes smiled warmly at Amelia.
"Thanks for your help," said Amelia as she caressed Emma's shoulder.
"You know it wasn't me. Mother Earth cares for her children. She's always eager to respond after an attack like this," said Emma.
"Nonsense, I saw you joining the work effort without her influence. You played a big part in this," said Amelia reassuringly.
Emma couldn't respond. She just smiled sheepishly and accepted the praise.
"The 'Green Atmosphere' as Mother calls it, should be able to handle a few more weeks," she said.
"We're really grateful. But isn't she overexerting herself when she has to gather up enough energy to expel the threat?" asked Amelia.
"That's true but she still wants to make an effort to save those that she can."
"I see."
Emma paused a bit before hugging Amelia.
"I wish you luck. There's still some problems that Mother couldn't solve s-"
"Don't worry. Those are our problems. You can go and rest at home," said Amelia reassuringly.
"Okay then, I'll be on my way," said Emma's as she turned and walked towards the plane. A few elite Invigorated received her, Sandra being among them.
She waved at Amelia as she welcomed Emma on board.
Shortly after, the plane set off, disappearing into the distance.
Amelia watched it leave and then turned to Darius who was behind her and sighed.
"I really need a break," she said thinking about how brutal the past 4 days had been for her.