Part 17

This was it. This was the end. I stood with one foot over the edge, poised to take that last step. I leaned forward, and...

Something slammed into me from the side, bowling me over. When I stopped rolling I opened my eyes and looked around. I was laying right next to the edge, and sitting next to me was...

: What the HELL do you think you're doing!?

: You! What are YOU doing?!

: I'm keeping you from making a terrible mistake. Do you really think that stepping out into that nothingness is going to get you out of here?

: I DON'T CARE! I'm sick of this! I'm sick of not knowing what's going on, sick of being powerless, and sick of this damn city!

: So you think just giving up is the answer?

: Dr. Tiegan? What are you doing here?

: I could ask you the same thing. What did I tell you earlier? You can't leave. You have unfinished business.

: What the hell does that even mean! What "unfinished business?"

: The city, moron! You have to have figured out that you are connected to this place. What you do affects this city, and what happens in the city affects you. Look at what's happening down there!

They both led me to the bluff where I could see the town.

: What's...what's happening?



Yes, two disasters hit almost simultaneously. Coincidence?

: You see what's happening? The city is in trouble, because of you.

: But, but, this doesn't make any sense.

: It doesn't need to make sense. Yes, you don't get it. But you have a purpose here. You have to know that. You are the Mayor of City Name. And right now, the city is in trouble.

: . Let's get to work.




By the end of the day, the cities emergency services had dealt with the fires and smog clouds. I was back in the City Hall emergency command center.

: Hey, were those military forces I noticed out there helping set up?

: Yeah, the military purchased some land to set up an Air Force base.



: So far the base is pretty small but it will probably expand. Also it's location right next to the prison has really deterred breakouts.

: Hey guys, how are things going?

: Pretty good, Doctor. The disasters have been taken care of, it looks like.

: Thanks mostly to your leadership, from what I hear.

: Well, I wouldn't say that...I wasn't the one out there fighting the fires or cleaning up those chemicals.

: You sell yourself short, Your Honor. I doubt the emergency services would have been quite as effective without you. After all, this city needs you.

: So I keep hearing. Also I can't help but noticing that the city expanded yet again.




: So, I was wondering if you were hungry? You've been working here pretty much all day. Let's go check out that new Italian restaurant in New City Name.

: Sure, why not? I just need to go throw some files in my office. I'll be right back.

I walked out of the command center and let the door close behind me. But not all the way. Instead, I pressed my back to the wall and my ear to the slightly-open door.

: That was close. He was almost gone.

: Yeah, but I think we got him back in time.

: Yeah, if he had stepped off that ledge it would have been all over. You think he'll finally accept his place here?

: I don't know. But I think he's finally beginning to accept one thing; he's not going anywhere.