"Cartesian," the first one says.
     "Bemused," exclaims the next.
These words the ones that once before,
     left every neuron vexed.
"Incorrigible," comes quick as last,
     my mind is still intact,
but then begins the onslaught
     of my fragile mind; attacked.

It hurts, the pain, Dear God, please stop.
     I push through fog to think.
He drops me to my knees
     as muted muscles let me sink.
Yolanda's there above me
     fighting hard against the clones.
Showers of sparks rain over me
     as blade collides with bones.

It's not enough. I have to help,
     but lack somehow the strength.
As words continue cutting me,
     like sword with phantom length.
The memories doth rearrange
     beneath my conscious thought.
Forming many pictures
     of the lessons I've been taught.

A storm I see; a blackened sky.
     A king adorned with crown.
A beating heart, the cobble street.
     and a market in a town.
And then Celine, she's standing there,
     whilst worlds around her change.
The settings and the clothing
     and the sky revolves so strange.

"Come on," he yells; the maddened man.
     "It's time for the reveal."
He finished the decryption
     and the words to break the seal.
Is this the prize I wanted so,
     the risk prepared to take.
To bid my love for fairest queen:
     A gamble. A mistake.

Too tempted was I, far too so.
     my lust for the unknown.
Mayhap my greatest downfall be,
     my consequence alone.
Blow by blow, she's still alive.
     the memories meet my lips.
The waters of the past intent
     to drown remaining ships.

I struggle, choke, he carries on:
     "Penultimate. Extreme"
The words come thick and fast
     as the actors join the scene.
And through the pins, that stab me so,
     I hear a Bertholdt speak.
In breaks through conscious jumble,
     so my mind begins to leak.

"Red Cell was your inheritance.
     From our father, Sir Eugene"
My father, but I never knew...
     What does his sentence mean?
"You found a way to free you mind.
     Machines became your home."
His offensive still continues:
     "Portabello, Russia, Ohm."

Veraksys stole my body,
     and into cage they locked away,
their opponent's greatest treasure
     Red Cell's King of future day.
To use it in persuasions game,
     and blackmail to their favour.
To make opponent squeeze and squirm,
     an experience to savour.

Slowly as the backdrop tolls,
     Celine begins to grow.
I see her face get older,
     as the years start to flow.
Then moving through the years,
     I see a couple much in love.
Sharing days of happiness
     as the sun parades above.

They're often seated under shade,
     and to each other reading.
Laughing as they share in joy,
     a simple life proceeding.
And then I see, the boy is me;
     a life spent with Celine.
My love above all others,
     like a truth escaping dream.

The pieces fit, my mind complete
     for the first time since I woke.
I know now who I am,
     and add to wheel another spoke.
I'm George of fair Verona.
     I'm in love with sweet Celine.
Reciting plays and poetry,
     our lives a playwright's scene.

That face I'd know it anywhere;
     The contours subtle shape.
The auburn hair that tumbles down
     o'er shoulders, guarding nape.
She smiles at me, that simper pure,
     alluring just the same.
I love her, now, forever more,
     a fire from flourished flame.

I blink, it fades. Again, it's gone,
     I'm back in XIV.
The androids battle far from done,
     yet down from twelve to three.
She stands there panting catching breath
     feeding human parts.
As Bertholdt's snide and terse remarks
     hit fighter as she darts.

He sees me blink "At last! You're back!
     It's time to celebrate!"
She turns, he catches her off guard
     this time she moved too late.
"Tell me what you dreamt of
     the night of your first kill"
he holds her close, she cannot move
     "The night you found your thrill."

I'm so confused! But know for sure.
     our memories not the same.
His past ablaze with hate and death,
     in sick and twisted game.
But mine was different, filled with love;
     a sanctuary of kind.
A world despite eternity,
     that he could never find.

Presenting her in front of me
     a Bertholdt holds us each.
So close, we're almost touching,
     so close, but out of reach.
He moves his hand to meet his head,
     and presses next to ear.
As mask retracts with dreadful speed,
     and the shroud doth disappear.

My mouth agape. How can it be?
     I cannot comprehend.
The madness of this world doth twist,
     the truths I know distend.
The others follow in his stead,
     and lit in sordid shrine;
The face bestowed on enemy,
     I dread to say is mine.

Yolanda shrieks and turns away.
     Her breath turns into sob.
as the flower of joy stands stamen bare,
     for the petals he doth rob.
"Look at me" the android barks
     and roughly grabs her chin.
Turning her against her will,
     to face the face of sin.

"Your mother's killer in the flesh
     he taught me all I know.
The poison worked so swiftly."
     The damage starts to show.
But Bertholdt was responsible.
     Not I. I'd not commit,
a crime against another.
     No! For that my mind unfit.

She looks at me far closely
     than I've ever seen before.
Inspecting me for defects
     that afflict a heart so sore.
I see those eyes, awash with tears;
     the pain exudes as river,
to destroy her strong composure
     and assign her lips to quiver.
Bertholdt catches several drops
     of misery's best wine.
He brings his fingers to his nose
     and samples his malign.
"Tell her!" shouts the android
     with a force that pains my ears.
"Tell her what you did.
     The sin I nursed for many years."

I answer back with croak in voice,
     "I don't know what you mean.
The only life I've ever lived,
     is the one with sweet Celine."
She clasps a hand to waving lips
     and the pain I see increases.
She's having trouble holding on;
     her world reduced to pieces.

"No," she stutters, "No!" again.
     "No! It cannot be"
She swallows hard and blinks
     through aching ode to memory.
I miss the piece of puzzle,
     the one I know she only bears.
An ugly truth, she cannot stand
     that at her conscience tears.

"I hoped your mind would be in tact,
     so God could take my soul.
But seeing as it's not..."
     The android deftly takes control.
"I have no further use for you."
     A knife from side appears
and to my neck he holds it close,
     and whispers in my ears.

"She'll pay for this. She robbed your mind.
     No longer are we one."
Yolanda breaks and wails "George!
     Forgive me! It is done!"
A rising tone parades the room
     it gallivants throughout,
drenching abject silence
     with an end to sonic drought

Bertholdt drops us to our knees,
     and bolts for only door.
The three in sequence, one by one,
     escape the wailing roar.
Yet as they reach it, into view,
     a band of bodies form.
Marcus and compatriots,
     unto the exit swarm.

The Bertholdts batter, beat and burst.
     Alas they cannot leave.
Prevented from escaping,
     by a group he'd ne'er believe.
He screams at them to let him through,
     the blows his men now take.
How can they take that beating,
     yet their bones refuse to break?

The pitch is now inaudible,
     she takes my hands in hers.
"I love you George,
     I truly do. Forever I am yours!"
"Celine?" I question, could it be?
     My love forevermore?
As shell of pure blue brilliance blasts
     and she slumps down to the floor.