Scenes from the World - Late Night Coffee

Late Night Coffee

Cercon took a sip of his coffee as he stared out the window. He enjoyed how the hot, bitter liquid seemed to coat his throat as it slid down to his stomach. Taking a deep breath, Cercon took account of all that was going on around him. The diner was mostly empty, as it tended to be at three in the morning. A couple sat a few booths down from him, the forest green pleather clashing against the woman’s sparkling blue dress. The man’s black sport jacket hung on the side of his booth. They were slightly disheveled, likely from the excitement of their evening activities. The smell of alcohol, perfume, and pheromone radiated from them.  

The waitress wore a white blouse and black dress pants. It was likely the third or fourth day she wore the same clothes. Small stains were splattered across the material, and the fabric was saturated with the smell of cooking grease, coffee, and cigarettes. She was nervous, filled with anxiety. She bit at the skin around her nails, while she wiped down the long counter with a light bleach-water mix.  

The door behind him opened, ringing the attached bells. Cercon did not need to look to know who had stepped through the door. He could tell by the weight of his step, the sound of his movements, and the unique smell he knew all too well. There was no one he knew better, nor was there anyone who better knew him. 

“Azel.” Cercon said, still looking down at his cup of coffee. 

Azel was average in height and build. His brown trench coat was left unbuttoned to show the expensive blue suit he wore beneath it. Not the Cercon cared much about such things, but as it was Azel, he was fairly certain that every article he wore was of the highest quality.  

“Cercon.” he said, nodding his head respectfully. “Is it alright if I join you?” 

Cercon waved the man to sit. “By all means, join me for some coffee.” He signaled to the waitress.  

“I was surprised to feel your energy here of all places. I figured you would be on the beach somewhere in the Mediterranean.” 

“Why are you here Azel?” Cercon said shortly. “Are you here to gloat, or to make sure that the deed is done?” 

“Cercon, I am hurt by your accusation.” Azel had a sorrowful look in his eyes, his tone sincere. “After all this time, I thought you would know me better than that.” 

“My apologies, then. Please, enlighten me to the nature of this engagement.” 

“I simply thought that you could use some company in these final moments. No one should go alone. Despite our differences, not even you should endure that, my most cunning of opponents.” 

Cercon snorted, “I suppose I did give you a run for your money, I’ll never forget the way you looked in Italy.” 

“I underestimated the power of education. We had set up such a perfect system. Even after your Enlightenment took Europe, it still held strong throughout Asia.” 

“You treated people as if they were animals.” Cercon said, a touch of annoyance in his voice. 

“They are animals, and as such, long to be controlled, herded together.” 

“You forget that they are intelligent creatures, they have intuition, and vision.” 

“A vision that is easily tipped by greed. Look what happened when you inspired the English to improve their production.” 

“What happened? It led to them reaching for the stars. It allowed them to make their world smaller, to become more aware of their brethren, uniting them.” 

This time Azel snorted. “You and I have very different interpretations of the last two hundred years. These, humans, took your gift, your spark, and nearly destroyed each other with it. Mao may have been mine, but the rest? It was your smaller world that allowed for the subjugation of those they deemed as less than themselves. It was your gifts that gave them the ability to wage war unlike this planet had not seen since the Cataclysm and the fall of the Old Ones. We may have moved a few pieces, but it was you and your own that allowed these people to show their true nature.” 

Cercon had thought he would become fired from Azel’s words, but instead they seemed to only further calm him. Azel just did not understand true human nature. The real power that is held within the human race. 

“I concede that there have been heartbreaking moments, whose blame can only be laid on them. But, you cannot fault an entire race for the greed of a few. There will always be those who seek personal power and advancement over their peers. If not, then your people would have lost long ago. The strength is with those that have learned to use their abilities to aid one another. How many times had we seen a great catastrophe where, old enemies come together for the betterment of the whole? How many of those implements of war had been repurposed to save lives and improve society?” 

“Regardless, your time is done and your most recent efforts are surely being undone, but you can go from this world knowing you really did give it your best.” Azel said with a wide smile. 

Cercon returned the smile, fine cracks began to grow like spiderwebs across his skin. A dim red light, coursed along the lines, like the burning of coals in a fire. The time had come, and ultimately, he was grateful for the company of his adversary, it allowed him to one last chance to open his eyes. 

“You are mistaken. Your actions, though aggressive and effective, only helped to strengthen the foundation we have been building. Your people have brought to power those who seek to dominate. Your people have sought so much control and order that you allowed for the planet to be threatened. Nothing pulls people together like a great catastrophe, and you have played directly into our hands. The game is over, my friend. You just don’t know it yet.”  

The cracks split deep within Cercon’s body. It was pointless for Azel to retort, Cercon was already gone. He bore witness as the man who had challenged him on so many levels, shed his material form, to return to the energy of his people. Taking another sip of his coffee, he peered around the room. Azel could not see what Cercon saw in them. Simple animals that could not even pay enough attention to notice a man vanish before them. Azel placed ten dollars on the table, before walking back outside.