At 1 AM of day 198. egon lay on a couch in his room, stretching his legs on a small box with the labels "explosive material" and "treat with care" on it.
A knock came at the door.
"come in."
the door opened and through it, stepped dr. erdmann warner greeting him.
erdmann walked towards egon and sat on a plain wooden chair, facing the couch.
"what brings you?" Egon asked. Erdmann has never sought him
"A favor.", Erdmann said, pulling out a folded A4 paper from his pocket and put it on the table. "I need you to go to my house and put this on my bed. the address is on the back."
Egon picked up the paper, folded it once more, and placed it back on the table. Then he asked,"Who's it for?"
"My daughter," Erdmann replied. His voice was flat. "though I doubt she's still alive."
"You have a daughter?"
"And a wife" Erdmann added, almost lazily. "But I don't care much about this one."
"Well that's fairly honest." Egon said like a dry joke.
"this one, I wish to be dead." Erdmann said, smiling faintly.
"Why don't you deliver it yourself?"
"I thought about it for a while. can't seem to find the courage to do it."
"We've both seen what's out there. I'm not denying that." Egon said. "But half a year of silence, cameras staring at a world with no movement or life. That doesn't make a difference? We hid away until there was nothing left to fear. You worry for nothing, my friend."
"It's a huge risk, and I choose not to take it."
"Fine, I'll deliver your letter. But think again. you might not get another chance."
"I've made peace with wasted wasted chanced. I don't tire myself with could've-beens anymore."
"It doesn't have to be" Egon said. One last attempt. "We have a plan, now. A vision"
"Speeches only work on those who don't know."
"So you choose to wait with the cattle?" Egon wasn't asking. He was saddened, disappointed even."Rot with them, Is that what you want?"
"I'll be a catalyst of chaos. I'll make it faster. Less expensive."
A silence stretched. Egon wasn't sure what to say following these words.
"Endings aren't always pretty." Erdmann said. "they're ugly, cruel, and hollow. The luckiest get it fast and painless."
He got up, ready to leave. "Let's hope this one is."