fifth light [action/video]
[Epsilon is seated on one of the benches in her memorial garden, which is near the edge of the Gardens. Standing before her is a very tall, muscular woman with short, blonde hair, dressed simply in pants and a sleeveless t-shirt. She appears human, but if someone were to study her very closely, they might realize that she is not breathing, and she does not blink. The two women are too preoccupied with each other to realize the Vine is recording them.
At first, nothing seems to be overtly wrong. Epsilon appears quite calm. Then the taller woman speaks, her voice low.]
There's nothing left now.
[Epsilon's eyes widen, but she holds the woman's gaze.] You mean--everyone?
There was no one to protect them, after you were gone.
I-- [As the full meaning of this sinks in, Epsilon's calm suddenly breaks, and she buries her head in her hands.]
[The other woman continues to speak, implacably.] You watched it happening, and you were too weak to act. It's your fault.
[Epsilon looks up again, and although her expression is as pained and twisted as if she's been crying, there are no actual tears on her face.] I accept responsibility for my choice.
For all their deaths?
[Though Epsilon cannot answer this question verbally, she nods. Another few moments pass before she can speak again, her voice edged with desperation. She doesn't want to be alone. In spite of the woman's anger, Epsilon knows her--though the robot she remembers was male in form. Nonetheless, this person is a part of her world, something that remains.] Stay with me, Heracles.
With a weak little traitor like you?
[Epsilon nods again.] Yes.
[After a hesitation, the woman snorts.] All right. There's nowhere else I could go, now. I'll stay with you, to remind you. You shouldn't be allowed any peace after what you've done. What you didn't do. [Heracles sits beside her on the bench.]
[Epsilon does not object. She's aware that this woman might not be real, could well be another of the Gardens' illusions. Heracles died before she herself did; how would Heracles know what had happened after? Yet Epsilon has no way to contradict her words. It is all too possible that they could be true. She has feared that possibility since arriving here. She has no knowledge of what happened after she was destroyed. Her children, dead. Everyone dead. She can see the flowers all around her, so bright and tall, but they seem so far away.]
At first, nothing seems to be overtly wrong. Epsilon appears quite calm. Then the taller woman speaks, her voice low.]
There's nothing left now.
[Epsilon's eyes widen, but she holds the woman's gaze.] You mean--everyone?
There was no one to protect them, after you were gone.
I-- [As the full meaning of this sinks in, Epsilon's calm suddenly breaks, and she buries her head in her hands.]
[The other woman continues to speak, implacably.] You watched it happening, and you were too weak to act. It's your fault.
[Epsilon looks up again, and although her expression is as pained and twisted as if she's been crying, there are no actual tears on her face.] I accept responsibility for my choice.
For all their deaths?
[Though Epsilon cannot answer this question verbally, she nods. Another few moments pass before she can speak again, her voice edged with desperation. She doesn't want to be alone. In spite of the woman's anger, Epsilon knows her--though the robot she remembers was male in form. Nonetheless, this person is a part of her world, something that remains.] Stay with me, Heracles.
With a weak little traitor like you?
[Epsilon nods again.] Yes.
[After a hesitation, the woman snorts.] All right. There's nowhere else I could go, now. I'll stay with you, to remind you. You shouldn't be allowed any peace after what you've done. What you didn't do. [Heracles sits beside her on the bench.]
[Epsilon does not object. She's aware that this woman might not be real, could well be another of the Gardens' illusions. Heracles died before she herself did; how would Heracles know what had happened after? Yet Epsilon has no way to contradict her words. It is all too possible that they could be true. She has feared that possibility since arriving here. She has no knowledge of what happened after she was destroyed. Her children, dead. Everyone dead. She can see the flowers all around her, so bright and tall, but they seem so far away.]