Resonance - This article is part of a series.

Part 12: This Article

Episode 12: A Great Man
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Joji jolted up as though torn from his slumber. He shot upright with a gasp and shortness of breath; he felt lightness in his chest and throat and the flutter and patter of his beating heart.

A heavy sense of dread filled Joji; his skin now burned and his lungs felt empty.

The flicker of the light stole his attention, and it irked him. Not only the stuttering of the electricity and the cracking of the light, but the sound of the tapping sounded offensive and dangerous.

Joji became all too aware of the abrasive and suffocating feel of his thin covers against his skin. He gasped for air, but the dark walls felt closer than ever and any semblance of calm in his mind was desperately fighting the fires of discontent and doom, and losing.

He scratched the back of his head and the sound of his fingers digging into his scalp filled his ears.

He closed his eyes tightly, but only for a brief moment before opening them with a panicked urgency. The glowing purple eyes burned into his vision and followed him from the darkness behind his closed eyes. He felt the uneasy presence with him there in the room. It put the hairs on his arms on edge; and he felt it slowly creep closer.

Joji tried for air, but it felt thin and devoid of life. His insides itched, and he felt as though reality itself was distorted - he knew he was awake, but was he now trapped somewhere different? Where was the serenity of the Seraph? The glow of the eyes cut through his mind once more and his being shook with anger and fear that he had been ripped out of it- torn from Seraph and into this place. He scratched his head once more, his finger nails digging into his scalp with more vigour than before. Joji tapped his foot back and forth quickly.

Where was he? Where was the Seraph? Why wasn’t it coming to get him-

“Joji?”

Joji caught his breath with a violent recoil. The dark purple hue and shadow of the room lifted and the air felt breathable again.

“Joji, are you okay?”

Mikkel, who was sitting in the corner of the room peering over an open book, looked at him with a renewed worry.

“Mikkel?” asked Joji.

Mikkel’s wide eyes focused a little and Joji noticed a small twitch in his right eye.

“Lad?”

Joji wiped the sweat from his head.

“Where… Do you have a book?”

Mikkel’s brow sharpened, but relented.

“Oh this?” He raised the book in the air with one hand, gesturing at the paper hardback, “Yes, “The Burning Vineyards”, it’s interesting… you know I had never read anything outside of the mandatory education stuff, what with all the restricted reading and honestly, I’d never even seen a paper one… but it’s interesting. There are all sorts of contraband here, although I never thought it would be books that would pique my interest.”

Joji felt strangely at ease. There was something familiar and calming seeing Mikkel with a book, although Joji himself had seen only very few books; especially when he got to the metropolis. At home he could just about remember the…

“You know, you’ve been asleep for a couple of days.” Mikkel spoke again, putting the book down, folding the corner of the page gently.

Mikkel let the silence hang in the air, waiting for Joji to engage.

“That mech wow, you’ve got everyone in a bit of an uproar, you know.”

Joji smiled quickly from the corner of his mouth, but it quickly reverted to its neutral state.

“So, what do you think about it?”

“Think about what?” Joji asked.

“The whole mech thing.”

“Oh… I don’t know… it’s, I don’t know.”

“Hmmm, I see.”

The room sat in silence, but for once Joji was the one who felt the unease in it.

“Why?” asked Joji. “Ah, a little bit of curiosity! You’re quite predictable.” Mikkel perked up and sat forward. “Let me tell you this. This Seraph thing, I’d heard about it before. A looong time ago. Just part of a story, a legend, a myth, if you will; back when I was a kid - so a very long time ago.” He smiled and looked for Joji’s reaction - but none came.

“Of course, back then it was just a story. I knew nothing of the colonies… but the idea that there were these mechs that were untamable, so unbelievably powerful that they could fly in and save us all - it was an amazing thought. Obviously, like most things, the idea just faded away, just like all the other childhood stories.”

“When you got here, obviously the same stories came back around. Naturally, a lot of people didn’t believe any of it… they thought you were just some moody… well, they just didn’t believe the stories I guess.”

“But for the others… there was a quiet sense of hope. There was something… a little ray of hope.”

“What did you think?” Joji cut in, catching Mikkel off-guard.

“What did I think… I’ll be honest, I didn’t really care either way. You seem like a nice kid… I was more interested in you.”

Mikkel smiled at Joji.

“But boy… let me tell you, after this… there are no more doubters. There is just something… otherworldly about that thing. Something powerful, something, magical, and I’ll tell you, I haven’t seen this much hope and positivity around this place since I got here.”

Joji flinched as a sharp pain split through his temple. He scrunched his eyes shut tightly at the sensation and the Seraph’s purple eyes stared through into his soul as he did. Joji felt the agonising pull to the sensation, no bliss, at piloting the Seraph. It was as though it was watching over him - calling to him.

“Joji?”

“What?” shot back Joji, rubbing his forehead.

Mikkel hesitated, but he continued talking nonetheless.

“I guess they finally have something to believe in; some sort of light when all they’ve known is the heavy darkness of the UGA. You’ve done that for them.” Mikkel finished.

“I don’t want- I -,” Joji paused and sighed, the shadow of the Seraph hung over him as he searched for the right words, “I know. I know, and I wish I could say that’s what’s on my mind, but-”

“Joji,” Mikkel interrupted him, “What do you think makes a man great?”

Joji shook his head, puzzled. “What?”

“Greatness,” he replied, picking up The Burning Vineyards, “this story has some great heroes, some really great men. They do some amazing things, but even with some of the great deeds and sacrifices in the story, they all have their own personal goals, ambitions, and even flaws. What do you think makes a man great?”

The static and whirring in Joji’s mind came to a halt as it weaved its way around Mikkel’s question. What did Joji think made a man great? Was it even possible to be great in a world full of restrictions of centralised control - where speaking out, speaking with clarity and truth, was deemed a harmful act? Joji thought about the stories from his past, from his childhood.

“I don’t think I can be great.” Joji replied, “I think greatness is subjective. I think in this world too many see greatness as control, power, and wealth. If that’s what society thinks is greatness, that’s not what I want.”

Mikkel paused and put down the book.

“Hmm. I don’t think you’re answering truthfully.” Mikkel asserted.

“What? I told you what I think. I don’t know.”

Mikkel stood from his chair and strode slowly closer to Joji’s bed.

“I don’t know what you’re doubting about yourself, Joji Sekko.” said Mikkel calmly. “I think you’re right, this world, as cruel and harsh as it is, praises false idols where the cruel and morally despicable rise to the top amongst applause and baited approval.”

Joji looked up at Mikkel.

“But that’s not what I asked you. If you ask me, and I know you won’t,” Mikkel chuckled to himself, “I think what makes a man great is that he steps forward into the world despite the darkness, and in spite of society. A great man, Joji Sekko, is not a perfect man. They do not have angelic desires or aims; they are often driven by ambition and by their own flaws and insecurities and selfish desires. And despite this, despite harbouring their own shadows, they resonate with empathy, they fight for what is right. And maybe what is deemed right and just, just happens to align with their own goals; what makes a man great is that in spite of society, and in spite of themselves, they step forward to make a difference. It’s not easy to be a great man.”

A sweeping and swirling wave of emotion crashed over Joji. His heart swelled with doubt and confusion as his capacity for logical thinking gave way to the floodwater of feelings and emotions.

“But what if I don’t fight for what is right? What if all of this is a mistake and I let everyone down? What if I just want to run away? What if…”

Mikkel smiled.

“Lad, I have no idea how you can get that thing working; but I’ll tell you this - even whilst everyone sees it as the beacon of hope to break through this hell of a mess we’re in, I just see a big metal machine. I see a scared kid getting torn apart from fighting his way through this life, who keeps taking one step forward after another. You can doubt yourself, and you can doubt your intentions, but those feet of yours have got you here, and you keep deciding to step forward after all. I don’t know if you’ll fight for what is right or how any of this will work out, but I believe in you. Whatever direction those feet take you in next, I’m sure it’ll be right. I see a great man, and I trust in you.”

Episode 11 - Desynchronisation

Episode 13 - Coming soon