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It wasn’t that Gen was completely unaware of the possibility they’d be slaughtered the moment the Americans arrived at their base; he just couldn’t truly conceptualize it until the gunfire exploded around the barricade. Kaseki and the others had yet to craft the diamond battery, and their time was almost up. The petrification plan was the only way they could deal with the weaponry imbalance between them and their enemy. It had to work.
The walls tremoured, and debris from the blasts showered Gen with dirt and bits of wood. Even with Senku’s exceptional fort design, four bastions engineered to withstand attacks from black powder weapons, it was only a matter of time. Tsukasa and Hyoga had once stood at the top, as the Stone World’s apex predators, and as the Kingdom of Science’s enemies, but now, even they paled in comparison.
There was still no sign of the battle team, so he could only assume the atrocities that took place during their confrontation with Stanley. Earlier, he heard gunshots echo far off in the forest. He shivered, clutching the speakers he was carrying closer to his chest, as if somehow they could soothe his anxiety. He stared into the dark treeline, then up at the night sky, hoping that his friends would manage to outsmart their enemies.
Now, he could only hope that they were still breathing.
Grenades were raining down over the barricade, because apparently, thousands of rounds of machine gun fire weren’t enough. While Gen’s instinct was to turn and flee, Taiju had other ideas, none of which included self-preservation.
“Dear Taiju,” Gen started to say. He wanted to beckon his friend away from the carnage and back into the safety of the inner tower. There was no way they could hold their position like this.
“I gotta hold them back!”
Taiju scooped up undetonated grenades and hurled them back over the wall. Gen was mortified, but he didn’t even have a second to reason with him before a thunderous blast put an end to Taiju’s endeavour. The shockwave propelled his body into the air, then dragged him through the dirt, but it was the cloud of fire that burned through him with sickening fervour.
Gen rushed forward, his body trembling as he skidded to his knees beside Taiju’s still form. A metallic tang filled his nostrils, followed by burning hair. Gen’s hand shook as he placed it over Taiju’s chest. His clothes flaked away, or was it his skin? Gen couldn’t differentiate the two because he was so badly charred.
“Wake up…” he heard himself say, “aren’t you supposed to be invincible, Dear Taiju?”
Gen’s heart hammered against his ribs, his eyes glued to his friend’s blackened body. He couldn’t breathe, much less move. Was this the hand they were dealt? Was it inevitable the moment they faced off against a group that made bringing back the lethal weapons of mordern day its top priority? These Americans were ruthless, fighting without even a shred of honour.
The ground beneath him shook, and the pop of gunfire behind him made his skin crawl. Gen looked over his shoulder, but immediately wished he hadn’t. One moment, Ryusui stood with the hostage, then the next, blood exploded from his chest.
A strangled cry tore through Gen’s throat, his eyes filling with tears. Ryusui lay on the ground, weakly clutching at his stomach, but even with the distance between them, Gen could see blood pouring from the wound.
He crawled towards Ryusui, his vision blurred. As weak as he was, there had to be something he could do. Xeno stood over Ryusui, his eyes shining with something Gen couldn’t quite place. They were here for him, weren’t they? Bloodshed wasn’t necessary if they surrendered. No one else had to die. With shaking hands, Gen tore off his obi then fastened it to a stick. He raised it above his head, angling it so it was within view of the soldiers, just beyond the barricade.
Gunshots. Gen scrambled back.
They were desperate. More desperate than they should be when they had four hostages of their own, plus everyone back in Corn City. And yet, they hadn’t made a single attempt to negotiate. Senku once said communication technology was the strongest weapon in two million years of history. The lack thereof would be reason enough to fight brazenly, especially if they thought their leader’s life was at stake. In other words, the Kingdom of Science had full control of the airwaves.
He had to tell Senku.
Gen stepped out from his hiding place behind one of the huts. He peered beyond crumbling walls and into the inky darkness of the forest. He had to make a run for it–through the fort and down to the river where Senku was working on the diamonds. If he could just get to Senku, maybe they could afford one last play and come out on top. Not unscathed, but victorious.
With all the courage he could muster, Gen dashed across the courtyard, his leather shoes kicking up dirt as he pushed forward. He locked eyes with Xeno as he passed by; the scientist’s eyes were wide and doe-like, as if the carnage around them wasn’t his men’s doing. He was still tied up, looking from Gen to Ryusui.
He seemed to lack his usual composure, addressing Gen with unfiltered sentiment. “Some of you could still live if you could just think logically for one moment and–”
“And surrender?” Gen cut him off. He knelt down, wrapping shaky fingers around the grip of Ryusui’s gun. It was rudimentary compared to the Americans’ firearms, but to get Xeno to cooperate, it was more than enough.
“It’s funny you say that, Dear Xeno, you see, your soldiers weren’t exactly receptive to my white flag,” he lilted, but his tone lacked its usual enthusiasm.
Gen steadily raised the gun. He tensed his arm, not allowing it to tremble. He couldn’t let the Americans reclaim their key hostage, and Xeno needed to know he was serious.
“Let’s go, we need to find Dear Senku,” he ordered. Gen lined up the barrel with Xeno’s head, but he was met with smug defiance.
“You expect me to believe that you pose any threat? Stanley will be here any moment,” Xeno remarked as if he were commenting on the weather.
“I don’t want to use this, but if you’re uncooperative, I–”
There was a gunshot to his left, then pure agony exploded through Gen’s forearm. He staggered back, the gun clattering to the ground as he fought to keep himself upright. His arm burned with a sharp pain that radiated from the wound, down to his wrist, and up to his elbow. He doubled over, his hand hovering over his arm, scared to pull back his bloodied sleeve. Copper filled his nostrils, and his vision blurred. He choked on a cry as he pulled his arm against his stomach, pressing his hand over the bullet wound. He could deal with it later; for now, he needed to regain control and deliver his message to Senku.
Suddenly, a gloved hand clamped around his throat, wrenched his head to the side, and forced him to look up. Stanley’s golden eyes were narrowed with inextinguishable rage, his painted lips taut, a cigarette crushed between his teeth.
“Dear S-Stanley,” Gen croaked, his voice thick. “I wasn’t going to—”
“Shut up,” Stanley spoke calmly, his eyes darting from Gen to Xeno. “Every word outta your mouth is pure bullshit, and I don’t wanna hear it.”
He stepped in front of Xeno, his armour clanking as he put himself between them. Gen wanted to scoff; Xeno was never in any real danger, not when he pointed a gun at his head, and not for a single moment he was in the Kingdom of Science’s custody. Stanley didn’t see it that way, though. He stood there rigid and tense, guarding the other man with such ferocity, Gen wanted to laugh.
“Isn’t all this a little much?” He met Stanley’s eyes, searching for any shred of mercy left in them. “Yes, I told a few teensy-weensy lies, but you of all people should know Dear Xeno was never in danger.”
Stanley’s grip tightened, and Gen gagged. “You pointed a goddamn gun at him!”
Negotiation didn’t seem to be on the table; maybe it never was after they took Xeno hostage. Gen thought Stanley would abide by the code of conduct of the old world, but his intent was clear. He didn’t plan to let any of them escape with their lives.
Stanley released Gen’s throat, and for a moment, he thought the ex-soldier had a change of heart. Instead, a steel-clad knee smashed into his stomach and knocked the wind from his lungs. The metal tore through his skin with a bruising force, then his back slammed into the ground. He was dazed, his stomach throbbing, and his arm reignited with pain. Gen bit the inside of his cheek, desperate to stay quiet. He couldn’t let this unravel him, not when he still had a job to do.
“I’m gonna make this slow and painful.”
Stanley stomped down on Gen’s chest with the full weight of his rage. Metal studs bit into his flesh, tearing into him as the crushing force shattered his ribcage. Gen shrieked, the sound raw and guttural. There was no way he could hold it in. He sucked in air through his teeth, his breath stuttering as his lungs struggled to expand.
He blinked slowly, letting his tears slide down the side of his face and into his hairline. Stanley was watching him. Gen met his eyes through heavy lids.
“P-please…”
His blurry gaze drifted over to Ryusui, who lay choking on his own blood. Even though they both held Xeno at gunpoint, Stanley seemed to be leaving him alone. Was there a reason for this? Gen closed his eyes, trying to step into his mind. Had the situation been a playful one, he might have even impersonated his voice as he imagined what it would be like to be Stanley Snyder. Could it be their time together at the American Colony’s base? Gen had lied to them about the Medusa. In doing so, he bought the craft team enough time to finish the tunnel and secure victory. Stanley may have captured most of their pieces, but the Kingdom of Science walked away with his king.
It still didn’t make sense. Xeno was right there, completely unharmed, save for maybe the most minor ropeburn imaginable. Gen glanced towards the scientist, wordlessly watching Stanley enact his petty revenge.
But revenge for what? Playing a part in taking his precious leader hostage? That was laughable. Xeno was perfectly fine. He was probably in better condition than before, because for the past one hundred days, he had been around people who actually stimulated his scientific mind. Stanley should be happy to see Xeno, not pounding Gen into the ground like a madman. It wasn’t as if they stole his lover.
Oh.
Senku always said that a brain clouded by love is the most irrational kind. It leads to nothing but trouble.
Gen cleared his throat, blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth. He needed to say something– anything to get Stanley to back off.
“S-Stanley,” he dropped his usual term of endearment. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t know they were going to take Xeno hostage, I-I was just buying time because I didn’t want anyone to die.” His eyes were pitifully wet, and for once the waterworks weren't part of his act. “P-please forgive me, I-I didn’t mean to…”
Gen swore Stanley’s eyes softened, if only for a millisecond, but he quickly hardened his stare. He reached for his revolver, finger already on the trigger as he lined up the barrel with Gen’s head. “It’s too late for all that.”
Was this the end? Gen’s heart pounded erratically in his chest.
“Stan,” Xeno’s voice was soft. “Look at the horizon.”
As if broken from a trance, Stanley lowered his gun and turned away, eyes on Xeno and then on the sky.
Above the dense forest, a faint green glow blurred into the night. It was the same as 3,700 years ago. The petrification beam. The first time, he was performing at a massive venue, only catching a glimpse of it as it washed over the audience. Now, its glow radiated warmth and hope for a fresh start.
Gen closed his eyes. He was weary, his body battered and failing him. Each breath was like choking on glass as his lungs fought to expand beneath his splintered ribs. He didn’t know how, but the Kingdom of Science succeeded in producing a working Medusa.
He could rest now and wait for the healing light to wash over him.
But Gen still wanted to crawl to Senku.
He knew he physically couldn’t, but in these final moments, it was all he wanted. A brain clouded by love was illogical at best.
Encapsulated in stone, he’d stay awake, waiting as long as it took. Gen believed in Senku, in science, and that in time they’d all be reunited again. Even if it took another 3,700 years.