35. No Choice

“What are you going to do about this, Deloris?” he said softly.

When the Gem awakens to call a Hero, the world is ill prepared...and its fate is placed in the hands of a 17 year old boy, named Wendell. 

Some will say this is nothing but a tale of fiction.
Let them think as they may. 

After all...I can't fix stupid.

Previously: Deloris finds her world turned upside down when her estranged ex-husband Morty reappears with an unlikely entourage: a troll, a warrior bodyguard, and three humans…including a wizard she thought was a figment of her husbands imagination! The group reveals the legendary Ithari embedded in a seemingly lifeless boy and plead for Deloris’ help.

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We always have a choice. Regardless of the circumstances or situation, we always have a choice—even if it’s nothing more than controlling how we will act under such conditions.

Granted, the choice may completely suck. But in reality, it’s still a choice,…so… 

Choose wisely.

“So, you control the citizens of Clockworks?”

“No, Dax,” Motherboard explained, “I do not control, nor do I have any desire to control anyone. What I do desire is to have peace and truth among our race. So my purpose is to expose the lies of the leadership and present the truth to the people, letting them decide for themselves.”

“But that could lead ta even bigger problems, don’tcha think? I’m curious why ya don’t just create yer own force and throw the bad apples out?”

The face on the screen smiled patiently. “There is always a possibility of things not turning out as we hope, but how is that eliminated in any scenario? Part of what makes a society strong is allowing people to choose for themselves. That also comes with the freedom to make mistakes…even to fail. Only when you look at that very process as a benefit, not something to fear, do you realize that people will rise to any challenge over time, if you allow them the freedom to choose and act.”

Dax shook his head and lit a match to his cigar. “I think you’re a notch higher on the looney scale than the old man over there, but you do make some sense.”

“I heard that,” Chuck shouted from the med lab doorway.

Motherboard grinned. “I simply have confidence in my people. We have flaws and much to overcome—but the only things of lasting value are when we do them of our own free will and choice, not by compulsion.” The image looked in the direction of the medical unit, where everyone else had gathered. “And with the appearance of the Gnolaum, that belief is more precious to me than ever.”

For two hours Nat and Deloris, with the help of Morty, ran tests on Wendell. Alhannah and Lili stood on the other side of the glass. Lili watched every monitor, listening to every bleep and blip, hanging on every word that was uttered.