“The OCTAVIUS technology is too dangerous, Mein Herr, and should be retired,” said Dr. Wernher Hartmann.

 

“Would you have our enemies be the ones who would wield it then?” asked Nicolai.

 

The two men sat on a bench, in Gorky Park.

 

They watched the families and especially the children as they laughed and played and ran.

 

Balloons hung in the air, as an occasional child lost its tiny grip on temporary happiness.

 

Wernher watched a red balloon float away into the blue sky.

 

“Nein. It should be eliminated, is what I am meaning. The human race is not able to handle it responsibly, I am afraid. Not for quite some time,” he added.

 

“What do we do about the OCTAVIUS principals, then?” asked Nicolai.

 

Dr. Wernher Hartmann looked at him.

 

—————

 

Hartmann remembered the time history had asked him to intervene, and he had found himself lacking.

 

It had cost him his family, then.

 

To do the right thing, now?

 

He feared it would cost him his soul.

 

He thought of the boy, so long ago.

 

He remembered his promise.

 

He remembered his shame.

 

He sat there, wondering if he could kill Nicolai, and then himself.

 

What would that solve, really?

 

Two more graves out of billions?

 

The problem would no longer be his, to be sure.

 

But, was it even his now?

 

—————

 

Where there is life, there is hope – a wise man had once written.

 

But, he was perhaps not as worldly as himself.

 

Ach, all these questions.

 

I am tired, he thought.

 

—————

 

He sat and looked at Nicolai, and smelled the air, and felt the sun.

 

Some birds flew by, and there was always that sound of children laughing, near them, in the park.

 

Life is good – a wise man had once said.

 

—————

 

“This is a problem too large for any one man, mein Herr,” he finally said.

 

“But, surely you can assist us with the extraditions, or terminations?” asked Nicolai.

 

Dr. Wernher Hartmann made a decision.

 

“Nicolai, mein freund, this is something that is now beyond me,” he said.

 

“What do you mean?” asked Nicolai.

 

Dr. Wernher Hartmann rose and shook Nicolai’s hand.

 

Then, he walked over to where his Hayabusa stood on its stand, waiting for him.

 

He carefully removed his helmet, and place his gloves on the tank.

 

He twisted the throttle, made sure the bike was in neutral as he squeezed the clutch, and pressed the ignition button.

 

The motorcycle roared to life, and he twisted the throttle, revving it to the red line.

 

Then, he put on his gloves.

 

He checked that the .500 Magnum and his Walther .22 were secure, and glanced into each saddlebag, making sure the contents were there.

 

He smiled when he saw Barbara’s wedding ring, zip-tied to the trigger guard of his .500 Magnum.

 

In all the excitement, no one had noticed that she had given it to him.

 

She had asked a favor of him.

 

He grinned, remembering how she’d whispered it, and then kissed his cheek.

 

“Danke, Vater!” she said to Matthias Jaeger’s father.

 

He thought about her request, and about everything that had happened.

 

At least he could do that one small thing.

 

Wernher thoughts turned to Ted and Sarah Ghent.

 

Sarah’s sacrifice and relentless courage reminded him of the boy, that he had so long ago saved from the knife of Dr. Josef Mengele,  for some reason.

 

He put the ‘Busa into gear, and shot off down the highway, on one wheel.

 

 

—————