Max, Eunice and Azmuth were in the room customized by the Chief Mechanic. The Magistrate lay anesthetized on the bed, his body being carefully manipulated by metal arms that protruded from the walls of the room. One arm gently inserted a needle into the vein of his patient's right arm. Another placed the oxygen mask over his face. Two metal limbs positioned the IV bags on specific holders to administer the fluids. Another syringe of anesthetic was administered to Max, now with the dosage optimized to maintain sedation for the entire treatment.
"We're ready, Miss Eunice," said the computer, "can we begin the procedures?"
Eunice bowed her head towards Azmuth, and after the scientist nodded slightly, she replied:
"Yes, you may begin."
"Yes, Miss."
Three new arms, with a conical end and a small spherical lens at each end, came out of the wall behind the Magistrate's head and positioned themselves in three axes around Max Tennyson's skull.
"Initiating Stereotaxis process."
A thin green laser was emitted from the three lenses and they crossed each other like a three dimensional Cartesian plane. The crossing point was inside the Magistrate's skull. Eunice looked at one of the computer screens that showed an MRI image of Max's head. A small glow was moving across the image in accordance with the faint, controlled movement of his arms.
Azmuth finally said:
"Come on, Eunice. Max needs to rest, and our watching isn't going to make the treatment go any faster" He then walked to the door, which opened automatically, and proceeded down the hall.
Eunice followed him.
They walked down the ship's corridor in silence until they reached the command bridge. The pilot's chair was empty, and in the windows were beams of stars stretched to infinity by the speed of light. Azmuth approached and jumped on one of the paneled surfaces, looking at the landscape outside.
Eunice walked cautiously around the room. She massaged her knuckles and occasionally glanced at the scientist, then returned her gaze to any other point on the command bridge.
"Come on, speak up," Azmuth said.
"Excuse me, sir?" said Eunice.
"Come on, ask what you want to ask," Azmuth turned and stared at her. "What do you want to know?"
Eunice stared into the scientist's large, green and, at that moment, dull eyes. Then she said:
"How could you?"
Azmuth sighed, then said:
"All current technology was based on another that was flawed and damaged. That is the way of science. Could it be that in the future I will be able to develop a technology like the Omnitrix without its current problems? It is possible. But a problem never appears out of nowhere, it is created…"
Eunice continued to stare at him.
"Even when it is not your intention." Azmuth finally said.
"Is that why you were developing the Ultimatrix?"
"I always thought the name they gave it was ridiculous, but yes."
"And were you succeeding, sir?"
"No…"
Eunice looked away and stared at the ground.
"Instead," Azmuth continued, "I just created more problems."
"Are you referring to the evolutionary mechanism or-"
"No," interrupted the scientist. "It wasn't even fully established as a function of the new device yet, it was just a test I was doing. I'm talking about the whole political issue and the disgusting nostalgia that inspired some of our colleagues of the species!"
"Fathzi…"
"Exactly." Azmuth closed his eyes.
"What happened between you, sir?"
"At first, nothing. My history with him actually began with his father, Rhubio ."
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Rhubio was an engine engineer, he was a dreamer and from a young age he believed in the technological potential of Galvan as a way to bring better living conditions for Galvanians and all species in the galaxy.
With the outbreak of the Galvanian War, the welfare of non-galvanians became secondary in the thinking of the natives, and it was no different with Rhubio. He had lost his father and a brother in battle, and in a matter of a few months he became second in command of the third Galvan fleet.
It fell to me to be the leader of the war science department. My team and I had already created numerous technological aberrations, but surely the Galvanian mechamorph armor was the worst of them.
As soon as it was released for use by the troops, within a matter of days the war had turned in our favor. If the objective was to overlap with the other planets in order to have the necessary strength to request peace, unfortunately the result was not the desired one. In possession of a technology capable of overpowering any and all enemy weaponry in a matter of seconds, the galvanic troops decimated a large number of species in our local galaxy.
Rhubio had been one of the first to use the armor. He had applied for it as a test user, if that was what it took to get the technology to win the war, he said. Perhaps because he was the one most exposed to the armor technology, he was also the first to introduce the Armored Psychosis. I hate that name too, but again I didn't choose it.
His temper became increasingly unstable, with outbursts of anger and decision-making that bordered on psychopathy. Little by little, Rhubio became more and more devoid of feelings. And unfortunately he was not the only one.
With the advent of the mechamorph armor, increasingly cruel ideas were spreading among the military group, to the point that they developed a parallel force of combat and intelligence that they called the Galvanic Guardians, or G.G. as they were known by the emblems they wore on their uniforms.
Rhubio had even been considered to lead a very important position in the G.G., but his illness was getting worse and worse, making it impossible for him even to participate in a group of paramilitary psychopaths.
By this time I had already left the army for good and decided to dedicate myself entirely to life-protecting causes. I then became the head of the post-war science wing, treating and seeking treatments for the countless civilians and soldiers who suffered from the Galvanic Wars.
Forced into retirement, Rhubio had been sent back home. Although the army allowed us to treat wounded soldiers, at no time were we allowed to research or treat illnesses related to armored psychosis, because they feared that with the results, the government would bar soldiers from wearing the armor. So I decided to take care of Rhubio unofficially, visiting him daily to record his symptoms and propose therapeutic measures.
I will never forget those visits.
The very first time I approached Rhubio's house, I heard screams from inside the dwelling. The neighbors didn't come closer, just stared through the window openings. In the past I thought they feared Rhubio, but now I understand that they feared the army. Everyone knew the conditions under which the soldiers returned from the war. Just as everyone knew what happened to those who disobeyed the military.
As soon as I entered Rhubio's house that day, I had to hold him down to prevent him from assaulting his own family. His wife was cowering against a wall trying to protect her two children from their father's brutality. Fahtzi was the eldest son. With his eyes closed he was hugging his brother who was sobbing with tears.
There were several visits. I lost count of how many. There were several conversations, analysis of symptoms, prescription of medication, re-evaluation, containment measures when he got angry again, and more conversations. Finally, Rhubio was able to become functional again. Of course, with continued need for medication, and much less dreamy as before...
It was from visits to soldiers like Rhubio that I was able to obtain sufficient evidence to bar the use of galvanic armor, as well as to initiate the first movements for peace and an end to the war before the political class. In the end, it became clear to all galvanics that the army's desire was no longer to protect its people, but rather a relentless and psychopathic quest for power.
Okay, the war was over, but its after-effects remained in the midst of society. Rhubio and his family were in a very complicated financial situation, since the war heroes of old were now seen as crazy or mentally ill people who should be isolated from society. Rhubio's efforts to show the population that he was able to work, to interact, to live among all the others, were clear. But unfortunately for him, the sick person there was no longer him.
As soon as I became Chief Scientist of the Galvan Central Laboratory, I made a point of hiring Rhubio as the engine mechanic of my spaceship. His skills had always been impressive, and this was the opportunity he needed to show them off.
Years later I developed the Omnimatrix, or Omnitrix as they again decided to name it without my approval. I was en route to the Tretazyl galaxy, crossing the Milky Way, when my ship was pursued by Vilgax.
One of the shots from Vilgax's ship hit the left engine region, hitting Rhubio and eight other employees at the site. The consequence of this attack you already know, the Omnitrix was launched to Earth and the boy Tennyson found it. What few know was later when we returned to Galvan Prime.
I personally went to break the news to the families. Rhubio's wife Seliah cried a lot, but was understanding and thanked me for all the care I had taken for her husband and his family all these years. Fahtzi, on the other hand, who was a young teenager at the time, screamed and cursed at me as much as she could.
"You killed my father! "shouted Fahtzi, "You killed him little by little, and now you've decided to finish the job! For years they called him a madman, but the greatest madman on Galvan Prime is you! You! You murderer! You murdering bastard!"
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Azmuth kept his head down and his eyes closed. He seemed to meditate on the cries of the young Fahtzi that resounded in his mind.
"Mr. Azmuth?" asked Eunice.
"Don't worry, Eunice, I'm fine. "He opened his eyes and raised his head."
"Fahtzi said this because she was angry about the loss of her father. You know that's not true…"
"Are you really sure?" he raised his eyebrows in disbelief.
"You have done everything to help Rhubio and his family."
"If it weren't for my fault, Rhubio and his family wouldn't even need my help."
"You had no way of knowing that the armor would cause the psycho-. Now I understand when you say "creating trouble without intending to."
Azmuth nodded.
"While it was not my desire to cause harm, it does not absolve me of responsibility for the damage I caused."
"And even after all these years, Fahtzi has not even considered forgiving you?"
"Forgive me? Ha! It seems that he hates me even more…"
◇───────◇───────◇
Fahtzi has become the worst kind of individual: one who chooses to forget his own history and live at the mercy of a fantasy he has invented about the facts.
The first chance he got, he joined the army. The same army that led his grandfather and his uncle to their deaths and, of course, to his father's entire situation. For him, they were all war heroes who were disrespected by the population they were sworn to protect. Were the low-ranking soldiers as much a victim of the situation as the civilians? Yes, they were. But to think that the army's actions were justified because they "aimed to protect the population", that was never true.
Well, he joined the army, grew up in the military hierarchy and decided to embark on another sector of society: politics. With a discourse of recovering the values of a past of unreal glory, Fahtzi gained notoriety and eventually achieved a seat on the Galvan Council. I have never been particularly adept at inserting myself in the midst of politics, but it was not very difficult to see that Fahtzi pleased a rather peculiar portion of the population. Mainly wealthy people and great communicational leaders.
I spent years seeing Fahtzi only through images shown in TV news and interviews, however, about four months ago I received a call at the laboratory's reception desk because Councilman Fahtzi would like a meeting with me.
It was at this meeting that I discovered that information about the Ultimatrix had been leaked.
"I am a man of vision, do you understand Azmuth? "Fahtzi said, "and my vision is for a future for Galvan beyond the current passive and subjugated stance."
Azmuth kept his hands on his back and with his eyes closed listened to the Councilman's speech.
"And for my vision to come true, Azmuth, you must be open to collaborating with your planet and your people.
The scientist opened his eyes and stared at Fahtzi.
"We know about the new prototype you are building here. Just as we know of the potential this technology holds, just as we know from the reports on the earthling. You," Fahtzi put his index finger on the scientist's chest and repeated, "You must grant this potential to Galvan and his people.
Of course I denied it.
But he didn't give up, obviously.
As the days went by, he returned more and more often, some visits were full of pleasantries and compliments, others had a level of tension where there were clearly hidden threats in his words.
More and more news was released to the media with rumors and attempts to defame me to the population. It was clear how much influence Fahtzi had over various sectors of society.
Until in the end we reached the meeting that preceded the collective resignation.
"Don't you realize that there is no other option than for you to make the right decision, scientist!" said Fahtzi.
"Right decision?" said Azmuth, already out of patience for having to deal with this subject again.
"Of course it is! Galvan must become a protagonist in our galaxy again! To be great! Be respected! Be feared if need be!"
"There, you finally managed to be sincere with your ambitions, Fahtzi," said Azmuth, "I really don't understand how you can see the terrible period of our history, when fear could be seen on any face, as something to be aspired to again!"
"If it takes fear to achieve our goals for a better world then-"
"Better world!?" interrupted Azmuth indignantly "You lived during the war period! That was a better world!"
"Our kind was respected!"
"Our species has never been so disrespected in our entire history! We were synonymous with disgrace, ruin, destruction, cowardice and death!"
"A price to be paid for the-"
"For what? If you come with arguments like the end justifies the means , kid, it's because you forgot that among the "means" that were used was your father, Rhubio, who fell ill for this end !"
"Don't you dare speak that name. You don't have the right!"
"And you have the right to come to my laboratory and make this kind of ridiculous scandal? Don't give me those ignoble arguments, my dear boy!" said Azmuth.
"Very well then. We're done here. You have three days to give me an answer, if not…"
And the rest you already know.
Among Fahtzi's threats was to penalize every single employee in the laboratory. I don't know what he could do. Interrogate? Torture? When in doubt, I pushed them all away so that their anger would remain all focused on me.
And Eunice, I'm sorry. I failed you twice...
Yes, I did. I had no right to deceive you and forcefully shut you down like I did that time, I thought I could really get you off the planet. Later, when I discovered that the planet was already sealed off to me, with my every move being strictly monitored, I had no choice but to hide you in my office and schedule your reactivation for a few weeks later, when I figured that at least the lab searches would be over.
◇───────◇───────◇
"I really was quite confused when I awakened," Eunice said.
"I'm really sorry," Azmuth stared at the girl, "but I thought you were going to leave the planet after you woke up. I left clear instructions for you to leave Galvan with your receptacle…"
"Even if I wanted to, I couldn't, sir. The planet was under a state of siege and no one was able to enter or leave without authorization from the Council or the Army."
"What did you do after you woke up?"
"Well, obviously I didn't stand still…"
◇───────◇───────◇
As soon as I was reactivated I read the instructions you left me. I was very surprised at the silence in the laboratory, so famous for the great movement of scholars and scientists. In the first few days I dedicated myself to understanding what had happened during the period that I was off-line. Although the media was not a very reliable source of information "this was not difficult to realize "at least to punctuate the events, it was quite capable.
I saw information about the theft of the Superomnitrix, his reaction to the accusations, and Fahtzi's lame arguments that eventually led to his arrest, sir. Then, as the days passed, it became more and more clear the increasingly authoritarian presence of the army against the population.
Several Galvanians were interrogated, Mr. Azmuth, their homes were raided by G.G. agents and their families were kept in custody for several days until they would tell any information they deemed useful. All for the sake of protecting Galvan from a great evil.
As freedom diminished, the general feeling of dissatisfaction grew, but of course, there was still fear. I walked around the laboratory for days, thinking of ways to help the population, but practically all my plans depended on our voice breaking through the barriers imposed on Galvan.
One day I intercepted a communication from a plumber's ship requesting entry to Galvan. It was Magistrate Tennyson, lucky for us. Although he doesn't know the half of what happened on Galvan, he didn't hesitate to help us.
◇───────◇───────◇
"Max is a good friend," Azmuth said, staring at the ground.
"Yes, sir."
Azmuth kept his eyes lowered for a few seconds, then raised his head and said:
"And what was your final plan?"
"Ah, yes, so…"
◇───────◇───────◇
Using Dr. Vaexha's research from the 508 lab on new communication tools, I used one of her prototypes to communicate with the population through a sub-wave channel, undetectable by common devices. It was a long and laborious job, in which I invaded cell phones and computers, bringing a message of hope and asking for the support of the population to sign a request for a trial against Fahtzi.
With this document signed by a large number of Galvan citizens, I hoped that the Universal Criminal Court could bring to light Fahzti's crimes. Gradually, more and more people joined and assisted me in the arduous task of carrying the message in a hidden manner from the Council and soliciting the support of the population.
◇───────◇───────◇
"And how many signatures do you have at the moment?"
"Four billion, three hundred and fifty-seven million, nine hundred and forty-four thousand, and eighty-one signatures. Fifty-seven percent of Galvan's population."
"That is already more than the majority of the population! How did you do it?"
"The desire for change and freedom was the force that moved us" Eunice looked at the stars in the window to her left. "What amazes me are the other forty-three percent of the population."
"Don't judge them, Eunice, there is a sizeable group of people who feel that Fahtzi's choices are the best path to anything; but understand that there are also many in that percentage who are afraid and fearful of what Fahtzi and the army might do to them and their family."
"Yes, I understand, sir."
Azmuth rested a hand on his chin and began to twiddle one of his whiskers thoughtfully.
"I think now that perhaps this plan of yours might fail."
"Really? Why?"
"Fahtzi has the whole government structure in his favor, he will be able to manipulate the information at will before being subjected to a trial, after all, a trial report is always sent to the accused before the session."
"What do you think we should do then?"
"We won't waste your efforts, Eunice, don't worry, I just think that we should change the target of the Universal Criminal Court"
"How so, sir?"
"It will make sense soon. Now, we need to go to Calculnète, the planet of the rocks."
"But why? Mr. Azmuth, I'm sorry, but I thought we had already passed the communication barrier where you simply act without explaining anything."
"I will explain, don't worry. I only ask you to change our route to Calculnète, because we need to do some shopping if we intend to recover the Ultimatrix and bring our beloved First Manager to trial. We have no time to lose!"
A smile was drawn on the scientist's lips.