Dribbles - 28. The Lucky One

“Marked for Ascension, I see.” Felix tapped a few buttons on his computer and robotic arms picked up my car and began working underneath. “That makes sense then.”

“What makes sense?” Elian asked. He fingered the sunburst on his forehead.

“Why someone would cut your brake lines. They failed because you lost all the fluid. You designate your successor?”

Elian gaped at him. “I-I did. Every lottery winner has to before Rising.”

The mechanic shook his head. “I’m real sorry to hear that.”

It was his last night on Earth, the last time he’d see these stars from this position, so Elian went on the last drive he’d ever take to a secret spot high in the mountains... or he tried to. He wasn’t very high up when his brakes quit working, so going over the edge left him banged up and bruised, but still very much alive. On the eve of the ceremony, only one person had answered his distress call to rescue him from a long walk and possibly missing his own Rising.

There would be hell to pay for Cresil though. His younger brother had quietly supported him, the one person who hadn’t bombarded him with requests to be his successor, so Elian had thought to reward that lack of social climbing by gifting him with his rank once his Ascension had been fulfilled.

But he was the sole person who’d benefit from Elian’s death, so the culprit behind the deadly plot could only be him. “How long until you can fix the brakes?”

“A few hours, but I don’t have any plans tonight. I can take you back to The Complex now if you need to go now.”

Elian stared out at the stars, saying his good-bye to the only ones he could see through the light pollution. He had a lot to do: a brother to disinherit, a new successor to be chosen....

“What about you?” Elian asked Felix. “I’m surprised you aren’t there already.”

“I wasn’t gonna go to the Rising. I can’t afford to take a day off because I support my parents off the shop. But I guess now that I met the guy who’s the lottery winner this year, I might stay to see that. I’ve never spoken to a person who was going to Ascend.”

“Me either,” Elian confided. “I’m terrified I’ll scream when this body dissolves.”

“You’re all beat up from the crash and not whining at all. You’re stronger than most initiates.”

He had a point. Pampered by the luxury of a life of fulfillment, some didn’t want to give it up. Maybe it was fear more than pain that caused their screams. “Thank you for your kind words.” They’d give him strength. Felix’s boon hasn’t been decided yet. “I wasn’t sure what I wanted for my boon, since I’d designated my only living family as my successor and I can’t take anything with me. But now that Cresil tried to have me killed, I know what I will ask for—his dissolution of rank. I’m going to need a new heir though. Whoever it is could Ascend within ten years, if not sooner, based on the current lottery numbers but would live in luxury until then.”

“Sounds like a big decision. Sorry you have to make it again.”

Elian cocked his head sideways. “I think I already have.”

Felix smiled ruefully. “I’m sure you had a lot of people asking for it. That must make it really hard to make a decision, even if you have a lot of options to choose from.”

“You’re not wrong about that. Bribes, threats, ingratiating reminders of past relationships... I’ve heard it all. You know what I didn’t hear? One person who understood that making this choice was difficult for me. I could pick a stranger out of the masses at my Ascension like so many others before me, but I want to know the person I leave in my place deserves it.”

Ushering him to a car in the corner of the lot, Felix chuckled. “Good luck! It’s not easy seeing behind the masks people wear when they want something.”

“Felix, do you know what your name means?”

He shook his head.

Elian smiled. “Well, you should look it up, because I think whoever named you must have had the prophetic ability.”

“My ma?” Felix snorted. “I don’t think so.”

“Well maybe you’ll change your mind because I want you to be my successor.”