Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16
Almost detached from the situation, Pekok raised up a hand to his face and wiped off Nora-Ceph’s spit, then dried his hand on her shirt. Nora-Ceph winced when he touched her shoulder, and she wanted to make a step back, but he suddenly grabbed her and pulled her close.
”That wasn’t particularly smart, my dear”, he said in a toneless voice. ”What did you expect this to accomplish?” Nora-Ceph swallowed hard. She didn’t know either. It had been a spontaneous act of resistance, fueled by the pain she had felt when watching Simon-Ceph die.
The pain she had felt when the rest of the medical team, the rest of the Ceph she used to be, just fell to their knees and surrendered. For the first time, she realized that they were now truly all individuals, for the better or worse.
And she wasn’t willing to give up this individuality. Especially not to Pekok.
”No answer?” He said and tilted his head. She returned his stare and refused to be intimidated.
”You won’t get away with this”, she said, which made Pekok laugh.
”That’s a bit cliché, isn’t it? Telling the villain that they won’t get away with it when they’ve already gotten away with it? But I’m sorry to disappoint you, dear. I’m not the villain in this story. In fact, you’re not the villain either. You’re just collateral damage. The true villains here are the humans. Their refusal to accept another intelligent species next to themselves turned them into despicable beings. So many Cephs died because of humanity’s perceived superiority. It’s a shame.”
”How long are you going to keep talking?” Nora-Ceph asked, dryly. ”Anything more about your master plan I should know?”
”Oh, many things. But I’m not going to be that guy. I’m giving you a choice now: Join me or keep up your refusal. Go on. Pick one.”
The choice was obvious. There was only one option if she wanted to stay true to herself. To stay true to the Ceph she had been. Nora-Ceph clenched her teeth and gave Pekok a hateful stare.
”I guess refusal it is”, he said.
And snapped her neck.
The cleanup happened in silence. Simon-Ceph was picked up by two others from the medical team. The blood was mopped up, and the floor scrubbed. But nobody dared to touch Nora-Ceph. Nobody dared to even look at her.
One by one, the team left the room until only Quelz was left. He waited some more, to make sure nobody would come back. Then he kneeled down next to Nora-Ceph.
Carefully, he moved her hair out of her face. Her neck was in a slightly weird angle, proof that it was indeed broken. Tiny blood vessels in her eyes had burst.
”I’m sorry”, Quelz whispered. ”None of this should have happened. I shouldn’t have volunteered to give you up. I shouldn’t have split up myself completely. I shouldn’t have … I shouldn’t have …” Tears fell from his eyes onto Nora-Cephs ashy skin and rolled down her cheeks. ”I wish I could go back and prevent all this.”
Quelz picked up Nora-Ceph and held her in his arms as if she was just sleeping, her head resting against his chest. She was heavier than expected, as it’s common with people who aren’t conscious. Or dead. Quelz was slightly shaking every time the word appeared in his thoughts.
Dead. Dead. Dead. Nora-Ceph was dead. And it was his fault. Maybe not directly, but he could have prevented it. If only … if only …
”Hey! Where are you taking her body?” Pekok stopped Quelz right before he was able to leave through the front door.
”I … I’m going to bury her”, Quelz said in a choked up voice. ”She shouldn’t lie on the floor like this.” Pekok’s piercing stare made him almost drop Nora-Ceph, but he was able to hold onto her.
”Burn her”, Pekok said. ”Burn her and scatter the ashes. Nothing shall be left of her. She didn’t want to be part of this, so she won’t, not even her memory.” He was just about to turn away when he stopped again. ”What is your name?” He asked Quelz.
”I … my name?”
”Yes. Your name. I know that the medical team and Nora are all hybrids from the same Ceph, but I haven’t been able to determine who’s the brain yet. Considering that two hybrids have already attacked me, I think it might be important to have a talk with the brain.”
”I’m afraid this won’t be possible”, Quelz said.
”Why?”
”Because the other hybrid, the one that attacked you, he was the brain. Quelz was his name. I … I am Simon-Ceph.” Quelz hoped, with a heart that was beating up to his throat, that Pekok would accept the lie.
”I see. That explains the rebellious spirit. Carry on. Burn her.”
Quelz left.
And he never returned.
Nora-Ceph was dead, but he would make sure that her spirit wasn’t. Her resistance. Her refusal to give in.
She would only be truly dead when there was no memory of her left.
and 
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