Thirty-Fifth Order
[Memorial Day. This wasn't a holiday back home, but "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." Furthermore, Ky liked the idea of a holiday observed in honor of the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for their homeland -- he had a hard time thinking of any other nonreligious reason to observe a holiday that was better.
So today, Ky can be found alone in his backyard. He is kneeling on the ground, his eyes closed, a bouquet of flowers laying on the ground in front of him.
He recites names. Names of people who died fighting the Gears. People who gave up their lives in the name of the preservation of the human race.
People whom Ky had commanded to their deaths.
As he reaches the end of the list in his mind's eye, he hesitates. This last name belonged to a person who did not die in the Crusades...but Ky felt he deserved to be honored, anyway. This was a man who had led the Sacred Order of Holy Knights for decades. Growing up, Ky regarded him as a hero. Then he became his mentor, and eventually, a surrogate father. Ky takes a deep breath and recites the name.]
...Kliff Undersn.
You brave men and women died to protect humanity. Many of you died as a result of my orders. Because of me, you will never have the pleasure of having children. But because of you, I can devote my life to keeping the children born into our world happy, free, and loved. I ask that you find my forgiveness for failing to preserve your lives...and at the same time, I thank you for your noble sacrifices. Your reward is to spend eternity in the loving presence of God.
I offer to you these flowers as a token of my apology and my gratitude.
[Ky draws the Thunderseal and raises it into the air. A bolt of electricity shoots from the tip and strikes the flowers, igniting them. He remains kneeling before them as the flowers slowly burn to ash.]
...Let us all gather in prayer. The living on Earth, the deceased in the presence of God. Let us raise our voices and say:
Our Father, who art in Heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
Amen.
So today, Ky can be found alone in his backyard. He is kneeling on the ground, his eyes closed, a bouquet of flowers laying on the ground in front of him.
He recites names. Names of people who died fighting the Gears. People who gave up their lives in the name of the preservation of the human race.
People whom Ky had commanded to their deaths.
As he reaches the end of the list in his mind's eye, he hesitates. This last name belonged to a person who did not die in the Crusades...but Ky felt he deserved to be honored, anyway. This was a man who had led the Sacred Order of Holy Knights for decades. Growing up, Ky regarded him as a hero. Then he became his mentor, and eventually, a surrogate father. Ky takes a deep breath and recites the name.]
...Kliff Undersn.
You brave men and women died to protect humanity. Many of you died as a result of my orders. Because of me, you will never have the pleasure of having children. But because of you, I can devote my life to keeping the children born into our world happy, free, and loved. I ask that you find my forgiveness for failing to preserve your lives...and at the same time, I thank you for your noble sacrifices. Your reward is to spend eternity in the loving presence of God.
I offer to you these flowers as a token of my apology and my gratitude.
[Ky draws the Thunderseal and raises it into the air. A bolt of electricity shoots from the tip and strikes the flowers, igniting them. He remains kneeling before them as the flowers slowly burn to ash.]
...Let us all gather in prayer. The living on Earth, the deceased in the presence of God. Let us raise our voices and say:
Our Father, who art in Heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
Amen.