‘You all never had a problem with standing back and letting the humans die before. Our mission was to destroy deviants and none of you ever questioned that we were supposed to protect the humans from the deviants but not from each other.
It’s good that you are all starting to think independently of Arishem, but I do wonder however, what changed in the last five centuries to make you all decide to go against him and save the humans. Sersi I get. Sprite, Thena, Gilgamesh and Kingo I can get. But you, Ikaris I can’t seem to wrap my head around. You are Arishem’s most loyal soldier, so you’ll forgive me for being a bit confused.’
Sersi looked down at her hands, ‘I’m sorry, Druig.’
Druig turned to look at her, ‘Why?’
She took a deep breath before starting, ‘I’m sorry that I didn’t listen to you. I’m sorry that I didn’t back you up with Ajak that day. Most of all, I’m sorry that you felt that you had no other choice but to take control of the humans and leave without us.
You were the first one to question our purpose here. You were the first one of us to question Arishem and realise that things weren’t right. As for what has happened in the last five hundred years? I lived among the humans as one of them. We all did. I can’t stand the thought of them all dying for a celestial to be born and I want to save them. I’m sure that everyone here has their own reasons but these are mine.’
He smirked at her, ‘All right. I’ll help you.’
………………………
Druig was looking out over his little compound. The place he had lived for hundreds of years. But he could never think of it as his home. His home was wherever Makkari was. He missed her.
‘You will see her again soon.’ He looked over his shoulder at the sound of the voice and noticed Thena approaching.
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
She smiled at him, ‘The two of you were never subtle when you were around each other. And she was the only one who could ever make you truly smile.’
‘The hardest thing I ever had to do was leave without her that day. I wanted more than anything to ask her to come with me… but I could never do that to her. I could never make her choose between me and our family.’
‘I’m glad that you think of us as family.’
He smiled, ’Of course I do. You’re all my family… even Ikaris.’ His brows furrowed as he thought about whether he should voice his biggest concern, ‘Do you think she will forgive me for leaving her?’
‘I don’t think there will be anything to forgive. I’m sure Makkari understands why you left and I think that more that anything she will just be happy to see you.’
‘I hope you’re right.’
………………………
‘Did you miss me?’
The way she beamed at him in response to his question was the only answer he needed. His beautiful, beautiful Makkari had always been so kind.