Ciara closed the distance between herself and her doppelganger, her eyes fixed upon the imposter with a mix of curiosity and determination.
The doppelganger, still groaning from the pain inflicted by Ciara's powers, mustered the strength to speak, her voice strained yet filled with a plea for understanding.
"Who... who are you?" the doppelganger managed to utter, her voice trembling. "And how did you find me?"
Ciara's grip tightened on the doppelganger's shoulder, her expression unyielding. "I am a Ciara from another world... not that it'll matter to you." she replied, her voice low and commanding.
"And I found you by following the traces of your mental wavelengths. You left a trail that led me straight to your base."
The doppelganger's eyes widened with a mixture of fear and confusion. "Please, listen to me," she pleaded, her voice strained.
"There's more to this than you know. I can't die yet... not until I've had my revenge. The Grand Federation must pay for what they did to Jerry."
The mention of Jerry's name struck a chord within Ciara. Though the Jerry in question was not the same one she knew, the emotional weight behind his name resonated with her. She arched an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued.
"Revenge?" Ciara questioned, her tone laced with skepticism. "Tell me more. Be honest with me, or you won't have much time left."
The doppelganger nodded, a flicker of relief crossing her features. She knew the gravity of the situation and understood that her survival depended on her ability to provide answers.
'I understand that Jerry is dead in this reality, but the circumstances of his death remain a mystery...'
If the Grand Federation were truly behind Jerry's death in this reality, wouldn't that make them her enemies?
Jerry was still Jerry in any universe, and while she would never desire another Jerry, she understood that Jerry couldn't have been in the wrong.
'I mean, isn't he a good guy in this reality? He is a local hero too...'
Ciara stared at her doppelganger for answers, and the latter nodded in obedience.
With a trembling voice, she began to reveal the depths of her connection to Jerry, painting a vivid picture of their shared past.
"Jerry... he wasn't just a friend, he was my everything," the doppelganger confessed, her voice thick with emotion. "We grew up together, with nothing but our dreams and each other. When I had the opportunity, I enrolled in the Grand Federation Military Academy, hoping to make a better life for both of us."
Ciara listened intently, her eyes locked onto her doppelganger, the lines of her face softening with empathy.
"But Jerry... he found his own path," the doppelganger continued, a mix of sorrow and pride in her voice. "He befriended Jared, Aloe, and the others. They called themselves the Freedom Fighters, fighting against oppression and corruption that had consumed our galaxy. They were labeled as rebels by the Grand Federation."
A pang of realization coursed through Ciara's heart. Jerry's hidden identity as a Freedom Fighter began to make sense, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place. She could now grasp the significance of his absence from her life during her time at the Grand Federation.
"We kept in touch, even though I was in the academy," the doppelganger continued, her voice filled with nostalgia. "But he never came to visit me there, and I never ventured close to any Grand Federation base. It was a secret we both kept, to protect each other."
The weight of the doppelganger's revelation settled upon Ciara, the depth of their friendship and the sacrifices they had made coming into focus. The doppelganger's voice trembled as she spoke, reliving the moment of discovery.
"It wasn't until one of my missions that I found out the truth," she whispered, her voice heavy with regret. "I stumbled upon a mission led by the Freedom Fighters. They were distributing resources to those in need, defying the Grand Federation's oppressive grip. And there he was, Jerry, fighting alongside them."
Tears welled in the doppelganger's eyes, a mixture of joy and anguish, as she exposed the truth that had altered the course of her life.
"I confronted him, demanded answers," she continued, her voice quivering. "He pleaded with me to understand, to join their cause. But I was torn. Loyalty to the Grand Federation clashed with the love I had for him. In the end, I had to make a choice."
Ciara's heart ached with the doppelganger's pain, the choices they had both faced and the diverging paths they had taken.
The realization of the parallel lives they had led, filled with struggle and sacrifice, knit their souls together in a bond that transcended their differences.
'She... she's just like me!'
Ciara knew what she would do if anyone tried to take Jerry away from her. She knew how her life would be without him standing by her side.
'Yet she lost such a person!'
At that moment, Ciara felt a strong surge of respect for the girl opposite her. She felt they were kindred souls!
"What choice did you make?" She asked, a soft smile forming on her face.
"Of course, I took Jerry's side! He was in the right. The Grand Federation tyranically governs the known world, and there have been a lot of problems with their administration that have been either ignored or swept under the rug!"
Ciara nodded, her smile growing wider.
"A lot of Zones would prefer self determination, secession, or at least some level of autonomy. But what do we get? Nothing!"
All the power now belonged to the Grand Federation, and every Zone was under hostage to act exactly as stipulated by the all-encompassing might of the zentih.
In the end, the Freedom Fighters were right in going against the system... even though they were criminalized for it.
"I have no idea where Jared and Aloe are. Last I heard from them was after Jerry died. They wanted me to join them, but I couldn't. I couldn't move on with my life while Jerry's death still haunted me."
"I understand..." Ciara whispered.
"I did see Jared recently, and he asked me to come with him, but I refused. I just... as long as the Grand Federation is still out there... I cant... I can't forgive then for what they did to Jerry. How they took him away from me!"
Silence enveloped the room as the ladies stared at each other, both having tears locked in their eyes.
"Is that why you went rogue? Turned to a life of crime?"
The doppelganger nodded slowly.
"The Freedom Fighters are indeed against the Grand Federation, but their main objective is helping people. It's too restrictive for me." She muttered as her eyes began to glow in more rage.
"There's only one thing I want now, and the Freedom Fighters can't do it for me. In the end, I have to do it myself."
Ciara watched all of this with a racing heart, her mind echoing with exhilaration and pride as she watched the doppelganger in front of her.
"And what is it that you want?" She asked, though it appeared both of them already knew the answer to the question.
"... To see the Grand Federation burn to the ground. And I want to be the one to do it!"
*
