Chapter 49

We are changing our future

"Welcome, buddy," he said, widening his arms and I didn't hesitate and walk towards him and hugged him tightly. I hold my tears and be not emotional for the moment, but I'm so happy that he's okay. That once again we got to see each other again. When we lose our arms on each other, I could see the smile on his face and it's like he'd never done it before. "Glad you made it here, buddy."

"I know... it's a long way but we made it." I said, scratching my head. "But what are you doing here? And them?"

He nodded, notified by my curiosity. "It's a long story but I'm willing to tell you all about the gathering here, Dy. But for now, someone would like to see you."

"Who?" and when I ask him, he didn't answer instead he pointed a direction where the person whom I wanted to see come out from the sea of crowd. And from that moment, I couldn't hold my tears and my emotion just flow out. I run into her direction and hugged her tight. Her sobs make me want to hold her forever and I couldn't ruin the moment because these past few weeks, I've been thinking about my Mom and seeing her today is like a gift. My heart was full of mixed emotion and happiness was limited to define it. I couldn't just say anything but the gesture says it all.

I miss my Mom.

When I lose my hugged on her, I cupped her face and kiss her every corner of her face. "God, I miss you, Mom."

She just laughs, and that's music to my ears. "I miss you too, my son. How are you holding up?"

"Never better." I smiled, "just be with my family is enough and everything that happens goes away." I couldn't contain my happiness, it's overflowing and everyone around us showered their support and love to us. "Do you know what we are doing here?"

"That's my part to tell, buddy." Conrad said, "and I probably should start now before everything got too late."

When Conrad and Althea lead their way to the stage, everyone put up their attention on them. This is the moment they're waiting for and I think they're prepared for what's coming. I have been wanting to see how my brother would come to gather a lot of people and follow his lead and I couldn't imagine that that time has come. He's now leading and I think it's a much big movement to take on.

Mom and I take a position at the corner and I also introduce her to Al who's been good to me all along of the process. The two of them get along to each other and my Mom was thankful enough that Al has been there to take part in my brother's plan.

When my brother steps into the stage, I took a deep breath and prepare myself to listen to his announcement. This is too surreal. I never thought it would become like this.

"Good day, people. You may have seen me from earlier on this stage but now, I would like formally to introduce myself to everybody at this place. I'm Conrad Bertrand, former technology supervisor of the High Council and a Null person." His words start a murmur around and I could tell that they're listening now to a former member of the High Council. They had doubts and hesitations and it's their rights. "I'm not here as part of the High Council. Just make me clear that. I'm here as a Defector of their cruel system and from this day forward we're putting down the High Council." And that also follows a lot of murmurs around when they aren't sure if he's saying because they know how powerful the High Council is.

I understand their sentiments and I know the feeling of what might get wrong. Just like what happened to the building where the defectors are staying.

"Guys, please listen to me," he said, trying to get everyone's attention. Some want to leave and never hear any more of his words, but some are still interested in what he can give to the Null People. "I'm not trying to put our lives here in danger. I'm trying to end our miserable lives here. For years I have been trying to get inside, manipulating every move of the High Council... I could finally say that I'm close to defeating them but this time, I couldn't do it on my own. I need every one of you to be part of something big that would make an impact on every one of our lives. The thing is... I can't promise the life we would have after but I'm trying to impose that if we act together, we can win this fight against the High Council."

But what happened next, I didn't expect that they will counter what proposal my brother suggested. They are all against his idea and it's not a good thing.

"They're not listening to your brother." Mom said. The people around us were throwing such hurtful words about my brother and I tried to stop cussing on him and start listening to what the purpose of what he's saying but they don't care.

They won't listen.

Maybe this is why the High Council were doing the process of Rebirth because some people can't learn the truth. They are always left behind to what they believe. It is the cancer of our world. We only learn from what we know not from whatever around us that would foster our experiences and grow as a person. That's the sad truth about our world now. The mentality of everyone scared me somehow. But there's still room for everyone. A chance of hope. To give them light about the world now.

They shouldn't always be scared about the high oppressing power of the government, they should start thinking about how they make their world cruel as it can make a better without risking each other lives. They think it's always gonna be a game. They think fighting is not worth it. They think nothing has been good to them now.

But there is.

Just listen, act and do what is right.

That's the best we could do.

Althea steps forward and grab the microphone in Conrad's hand and stole the scene.

"How can we get our own freedom if we don't act with unity?" She firmly protested in front of thousand Null People. And with her conviction, she caught everyone's attention and stop their gossips around. "Did I get everyone's ears now? Have you ever consider your situation? I know everyone has their anger, guilt towards anything but if you just put that one thing onto what we are against, that would be beautiful—" but Althea was stopped when someone from the shouted 'who are you anyway?!' "Not everyone knows me here, for those who haven't gone through rebirth but I'm seeing a lot of familiar faces here. I'm a medical assistant of the High Council and fiancée of Conrad Bertrand. I'm not standing here being part of High Council. I stood there because I know what it felt about living in a Waste Land. I've been here before and I know how it sucks. That's why this gathering happened because there's a fight coming and we are outnumbered... we need you, we need every one of your dreams to live up with light. It is all we ever wanted, a life with peace and freedom. I hope every one of you considers fighting for your right... it is a chance we can risk for a better future."

Conrad gets the microphone from her, "If you just know Barry, he has been trying to group thousands of people who are joining the annual rebirth to manifest their purpose ever since but the always fail to come up at it and now we're not failing. Barry risks his life for the movement and now we're making his life worthy after all. This isn't just about Barry but every one of us. I know it takes a lot of courage, bravery into this fight but if we have come together—" Conrad didn't get a chance to finish his words when someone raises his hand.

"I'm in," he said, everyone is at peace. "I'm fighting for our rights."

And with that, it is followed by many counts of the head.

"I knew he would be a great leader," I mumbled, my mom, hear it.

"He has the guts of your father, son." She said, "he always has been like your father."

"Ahm... what about me?"

"You are me, son." She smiles, "you have a good heart that makes everyone believe in you. You're more than me, I guess..."

"Well... where do I get that, right?" I smirked. "I love you, Mom... and our family. I just hope father could see what Conrad is doing now."

"Oh, believe me, he knows what Conrad's doing now. He sees it from above."

"I hope he does."

When it's clear that everyone is now up to the fight against the High Council. I could see our chances on our feet and I'm hoping big that we would end up without any regrets on our tail.

"Don't you wish some of the members of the defectors should also have been here?" Al asked.

I thought about it for a moment and rain of faces of people there runs in my head. "Brighid... Cha... and there are some people who deserve to live. I don't know where they are now. But I'm hoping they're safe so when the fights over, we could see them again."

Al patted my shoulder, "I'm never losing hope, Dy."

"I know. They're just somewhere safe." I assured myself without even knowing their condition.

When my brother started to announce the plan, we are all ears and didn't leave traces of it. We are too much eager to win this fight. I know the High Council are also preparing for it. They may use their advanced weapons and technologies and surely have the number of people but that won't stop us because we are holding into rights and dreams. And we will fight even the last of us remains.

"As we march our way into the Noble Land, we won't stop until the High Council is gone. Are we ready to change our future?"

"We are!" everyone shouted in chorus. I could see their determination and courage to move forward. "We are changing our future!" they chanted, it creates goosebumps all over my body and I'm proud that I'm part of it.

It will change the history of our world.

The new world will rise after this.

When Conrad and Althea walk out of the stage and lead their way on our direction. I immediately congratulate him for the encouragement he did to everybody and how Althea made everyone realizes to point out a direction in life. My Mom formally gets to know her and she's so okay with her. She's happy that her son already found the love of his life and she's a good one. Conrad must keep her. She's worth it.

"And now, what should we do?"

"We deliver the message to the High Council," Conrad said.

"Alright! I'm prepared for it."

And as to today's date, the rebirth would no longer be a problem 'cause we are marching forward to the life we deserve. When we decided to leave the premises, we were in shock to see a lot of people who are waiting outside. They must have been heard about our movement. The more we are marching, the more we are winning. Conrad couldn't hide his happiness as there are more he's expecting to come. The world is changing and we made it change within our own hands.

Our fate shouldn't aspire with risk and danger but chance and hope. For our future, we fight.

We are the defectors, ruling against the HighCouncil.