Dream ♠ oo7

[defector]

There's a woman in front of him, a gun in her hand pointed at him, but he's not focused on that. What she's saying is far more important--that and the broadcast of the colonel behind her. The silver-haired man, in his white uniform, appears as composed as ever as he speaks. Dominic remembers once looking up to that, but now there's only a sense of resentment. He's the one who took him in when his family was killed, the one who allowed him to meet Anemone, but even so Dominic can't view the man with the same respect that he once did.

"The Coralians are invaders! Now is the time to stand up against them!" the colonel shouts to the world. Dread fills Dominic's stomach, especially since he knows from the woman that it's the opposite. Humans are the invaders, and he doesn't question if the colonel knows that. The man has to.

"Then, what he's trying to do right now is an unjust war with the intent of invasion?" he asks, already knowing the answer. What else could he be aiming for?

"Yes... but it won't end with just the Coralians being destroyed," the woman confirms, her face serious but passive, like she's heard this a hundred times by now. Dominic wouldn't be surprised if she had, although the thought makes him wonder just how in the dark he's been the entire time. It's not a pleasant one.

"... What do you mean?" The dread gets worse.

"This planet is the land of Kanan, a long sought refuge for us humans," the colonel continues to say. "That dream of hope will never be broken by the Coralians..."

"Since the Coralians are one with the land," the woman says meanwhile, "the destruction of them would also lead to the death of all life on this planet."

It can't be.

"In other words, Dewey's true objective is... to end civilization by means of destroying the Coralians," she finishes.

And even though a part of Dominic suspects that he always knew the colonel's motives were less-than-moral, ever since he realized the colonel didn't care about Anemone at all, it's still unbelievable. He's served under the man for half his life, and to know that this is what he's been working for all this time is something his mind's not willing to wrap itself around. To know that he's been used as a tool for this for so long--

(The first cup of coffee I ever drank was in imitation of someone I really looked up to)

(Is this person trying to become a god?)

(What is the reason I fight?)

(I am not just some leashed dog)

This can't possibly be. Dominic stares with wide eyes, not sure what to think anymore.

"I promise to definitely rebuild this world, into a world with no hatred and foolishness," the colonel says.

The colonel, he--

(Good boy)

(You failed at being a soldier, Dominic)

On the screen, the man finishes. "A righteous world."

Dominic falls to his knees, because oh god, this is real, isn't it? He's not dreaming, not hallucinating--this is all truly happening. Suddenly, he feels like he's a child all over again, surrounded by the destruction that was once his hometown, in shock. Because, truly, that's the only to describe what he's going through right now.

(Hey there, would you like to come with me? I will show you a righteous world)

With that, everything comes crashing down.

----

[Dominic wakes up, unsure how to feel about this. He got over it like, minutes after it happened but it was hardly one of his happier moments.

And then, of course, it occurs to him that everyone can see this. Great.]

Comments

[thoserookieeyes.livejournal.com]

[After the conversation they had, she thought she should make sure Dominic was alright. She was rather confused by the conversation, not even knowing what a Coralian was, but managed to see one rather upsetting point.]

Why... why would someone destroy an entire race?

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

[Curtly]

I don't know.

[resonancy.livejournal.com]

[...]

To want to destroy everyone like that... It's awful.

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

... He did quite a few things that could be considered that.

[resonancy.livejournal.com]

And everyone still thought he was right in what he wanted to do?

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

... Not many people knew exactly what he was doing. And those who did either didn't care or thought it to be the means to an end. Just... not the end they expected.

[solidarity.livejournal.com]

...Waging wars on earth just wasn't enough, huh?

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

... Apparently not. I don't know how he thinks.

[solidarity.livejournal.com]

A good soldier takes orders blindly, nothing more than a pawn of his government. Only when things get this bad do some begin to question their commanders. Others just keep on following.

[It's a concept Snake is more familiar with than he'd like to admit. Whatever world Dominic is from, things don't look too different.]

You didn't agree with him, huh.

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

Of course not! Who would agree with--with something like that?

[solidarity.livejournal.com]

Unless there was an uprising immediately following that broadcast, I'd assume the masses agreed.

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

That was because the masses were ignorant and had no idea what the colonel was really trying to accomplish!

[solidarity.livejournal.com]

And if nobody told you otherwise, wouldn't you have been in that same situation?

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

[Ouch. Dominic pauses for a moment, glaring. Defensive mode kicking in.]

At least I had my doubts before that! If I hadn't, I wouldn't have even been in that room at that moment.

[solidarity.livejournal.com]

[Snake regards Dominic's answer silently, watching his expression. He wasn't expecting such a strong response.]

...How did it all end?

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

[Looks away]

... I don't know.

[boat-lights.livejournal.com]

I do wonder just who is the righteous one in such a situation.

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

[... B|]

It figures you would.

[boat-lights.livejournal.com]

Oh? No words in your defense?

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

[Has he ever mentioned how much he hates you?]

I don't see the need to justify myself to someone like you.

[boat-lights.livejournal.com]

[Never directly. I think we'd rather enjoy that. :/b]

Ah, but have you ever had to justify your position to anyone else?

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

[Unfortunately, such a phrase is a tad too childish for Dominic to say. With that particular wording, at least.

Angrily:]

No, because most tend not to agree with world destruction either.

[boat-lights.livejournal.com]

Perhaps, most people simply did not give the man the chance to justify his actions.

It can be surprising just how much sense one can make when a ear is lent.

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

Oh? And what possible justification could he have for trying to destroy all of humanity?

[boat-lights.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be so presumptuous as to think that I understand the minds of others. Thus, I suppose, at best, I can only guess at his motivations.

But allow me to pose this question: supposing that an individual were to wrong you greatly -- would it not be understandable if you came to hate such an individual?