Eureka Seven: The Sting of Silence, Part 2
Feeling a little lost? This is the continuation of "The Sting of Silence". I am Kaster Revised and have finally, after eight years, decided to finish my story. All the chapters are written and complete, they just need some revision. I'm going to just read over them, catch what mistakes I find, and then ship them out.
Sorry for the nearly decade long hiatus. Hopefully someone is still lingering around. If you're completely new, my story starts with Eureka Seven: Corrupted Hopes. The Sting of Silence is a sequel to that book. Feel free to drop a comment and let me know what you think! My writing style has changed over the years, which you'll notice in these upcoming chapters. This chapter was written nearly seven years ago, where as the last chapters were written only a few months ago. Goodluck and have fun.
Chapter 13: Survive
"Doctor, I'm not quite sure how much more of this he can take. His vitals are dropping significantly." The doctor, Alison, said as she removed the syringe from Renton body and tapped the tip. "The drug will keep him stabilized, but if we are to continue with this procedure for much longer…"
Renton lay limp in the chair, the writhing, yelling, and shaking finally calm after several hours of torture.
Admiral Colin remained silent and continued to stare at Renton. He stopped a few steps from the boy and lifted Renton's chin with the grip of his hand. "Are you still in there, Renton? This pain that you feel, does it not make your spirit cringe?" Renton's eyes tried to stare back, but his energy felt so drained. He coughed weakly and allowed his head to slip out of the Admiral's hand.
"How much longer will the drugs keep him awake?" The Admiral said.
"It's hard to say, even with the computers advanced registry system, it's still a decade behind the technology of our time. Judging by his weight and body composition, I would assume no more than an hour." Alison swallowed as she noticed Renton's pail body shivering in an untouchable chill.
"It's a sorrowful pity. We'll amplify the technique."
Alison quickly shot the man a look of astonishment. "Amplify the technique? That will overload his system entirely, Admiral."
Colin appeared to pause, if by the slightest motion. He then slowly turned and looked Alison directly in the eye. His eyes met hers, unmoving and precise to a direct point. "Do you mean to deny my order, Doctor?" He said so coolly, that Alison felt the threat echoing in her own soul.
The communicator on Alison's belt beeped. She caught quick look at the Admiral to see if he noticed, but he only continued to look at Renton who had become absolutely hysterical. The boy smiled at them. When she tried to tell him the torture would no longer be useful for interrogation, he simply waved her thought off as a flippant and unnecessary remark. Psychological damage would be a result if something wasn't done soon.
She pulled up the communicator and whispered, "Yes?"
"Admiral Colins?" The strong voice of the ship captain came through the communicator.
Alison looked at the device for a moment and then at Colins. "He is somewhat busy at the moment."
"There is a certain business in order that may," The man on the other side of the radio grumbled as he seemed to search for the right word, "interest him."
"I'll tell him as soon as possible."
The captain sighed. "That would probably be a good idea. It concerns the boy."
"Admiral," Alison said, but he seemed not to notice. "Colin!" she said, more loudly this time. He scarcely glanced at her.
"Yes?"
"The captain is requesting your presents on a matter. Perhaps it would be best to stop the interrogation. His mind is suffering," she said.
"The experiment was a success. We have gathered the information we needed."
"Experiment?" Alison repeated, the word like dirt on her tongue. "You mean to tell me that you made this boy suffer just as an experiment?" She spat back at him.
"Calm yourself, Alison, calm yourself." The Admiral murmured while shaking his head. This experiment is a perfect success. We have all the information I need." She turned around to see the Admiral kneeling down and looking up into Renton's tortured face. "We pushed him to his limit. And for that reason, he has revealed to us his true identity. He is who I believe him to be. Is that not so, son of Adrock?"
"And what is that exactly?" She asked and brushed back loose hair at the side of her head, her eyes turning to Renton once again.
He stood up and moved over to one of the counters and began to sketch down some notes on a little pad. A few moments passed by and he looked over at her. "Nothing other than the fact that he is one of us." Alison placed her hand on her mouth, looked at the ground, and then back up at him.
"What are you talking about?" She muttered silently, letting her own thinking wheels turn in her head.
"It's truth. I didn't know there were more until I noticed something strange about this boy. He was emitting an aura inappropriate to this time." The man sighed and cusped his arms behind himself. "This makes things more difficult and confirms my theory.
Alison looked at the lifeless body sitting in the chair. Not dead, but touching the very edge thereof. "Only a few were let through and the crack was completely sealed. His being here only means one thing…."
"Indeed," he replied and opened his mouth to continue, but just as he did, the door burst open.
"ADMIRAL!" Xellien's powerful voice exploded into the room and Alison suddenly awoke from her daze. Colin raised a single brow and then slowly turned around to the new occupant within the room. The man neither heaved breath nor stumbled in his speech. "Admiral Colins." He said smoothly and smiled grimly. "I'm sure you would only be too kind to share with me what you are doing to my assistant.
Colin glanced at Renton. "We all have things we need. Unfortunately, the boy had such a need of mine. To acquire it, certain measures were required." He turned a slow eye back to Xellien. "But of course, I am wondering how is it you are here without guards surrounding you on both sides holding you in your correct place."
"The accusations you've placed against me were quickly placed in my inform. I relocated to this ship to disclose those accusations. I have direct command and authority from the UFF government." Xellien said and slowly stepped towards Renton. He knelt down slightly and lifted his chin, looking into his pale, rubbery eyes. "What have you done to this boy?"
"No different than you would have."
"And what does that imply, exactly, Admiral?" Xellien asked, looking up at the taller other.
"At this time, Doctor, you may be able to conceal your true intentions. But I grant you, in these times of terror and confusion, I do not let lightly on those who endanger this sacred country." He said and placed a sturdy hand on the arm of Renton's chair. "I will find out exactly what your purposes are, and the minute I have the evidence, I will condemn you and your cause." He waited a moment, staring Xellien directly in the eye. "I know who you are… Professor."
Xellien's stare did not falter by the slightest inc. "You will leave this room, Admiral." Xellien said with tone.
The admiral stared at him for some time and then the slightest smile inched at the corner of his lips. He looked over at Alison and waved an arm. "I cannot find reason for your lie, and I highly doubt you could of made it this far without your words being true. So I will concede this point. Farewell, Professor." Alison watched as the Admiral began to slowly leave out of the room. Before she lost her chance, she quickly grabbed a device from the crumbled form of the metal cabinet and started for the door.
"What have you done to this boy?" Xellien's voice followed right after her. She stopped instantly, feeling a cringe of guilt climbing up the edges of her stomach with vicious claws.
She only turned her head to the side, unwilling to face him. "We used Nano-019 machines on him."
Xellien raised a brow. "You used nano machines on a boy, they're purely experimental." She cringed at his words and gently nodded.
Xellien looked at her until his eyes began to scour about the chaos that covered the room. He sighed and nodded.
"You drove him to his limits, I see." Xellien muttered under his breath and brushed aside a pile of glass. The girl looked at him, glared, and then strutted out of the room. Xellien watched after her, a curious, almost smirkish grin on his face.
Xellien waited until the door closed. He stared at the metal panel for some time, watching the faint, shadowy reflection of his own personage. Within that reflection he could see his truer form, the form he left behind in order to pass in this time and replay his past mistakes.
A moan whimpered from Renton's lips. Xellien turned to the boy mercilessly strapped into the metal chair and began to study his condition.
"Renton. Renton, can you hear me?" he said, quieting his voice.
"Eureka?"
"No, I'm sorry Renton, Eureka isn't here."
"Eureka?" He said, this time a little more urgently.
"Do not worry. She escaped from the ship unscathed. I heard what happened. Forgive me, I could not prevent your pain." He reached up for a moment and brushed aside Renton's hair completely soaked in his salty sweat.
He gently shook his head and unstrapped him from the chair. Putting one arm around him, he lifted him to his feet and carefully balanced him against his side. "Do you think you can walk" Before he even got the words out, Renton fell straight to the floor, knees shaking wildly. "Well, it appears they've done more to you than I thought. Hold on now. Thankfully, this body is younger than my soul."
Xellien reached under with both arms and lifted Renton off of the ground. He then walked over to the door and opened it, to find a rather tall and overly fed man standing. One brow was raised rather high as if it were permanently stapled into that position.
The man didn't speak, and Xellien didn't find any reason to speak. They merely continued to stare at one another.
"May I be of assistance to you?"
The man grumbled silently, but his entire form seemed to shake. "I figured I ought to apologize for the action of Admiral Colins. I knew the order was a little unfounded, but his rank disabled me from doing much more than sit there and watch. Is the boy alright?" The man said and shot an inquisitive stare at Renton.
"I believe the Admiral sucked the life right out of him, Captain Maccal." The captain perked at the mention of his name.
"Ah, I see. I've already commanded the infirmary to remain on standby throughout the entire session. Seeing as how the admiral never gave such a command himself, nor did I expect he would."
"Very gracious of you." Xellien stiffly replied and gave a brisk smile. "I'm sorry, captain- but I feel tha-,"
"Are you absolutely sure, Doctor? The boy doesn't seem to be fairing all that well. It looks as if the very blood in his body has been poured out!" The man gruffly stuttered his excitement.
Xellien paused patiently. He realized the intentions of this captain; a kind heart, but a slightly blind mind. "Forgive me more my bluntness captain, but I have to take my leave. I'm afraid these spaces have become a danger to us, and I'm afraid for the safety of my assistant and others. Those whom were within my trust are now under my responsibility."
"Ah, I see. Understandable. The Admiral is a feisty one, if you care to ask me. But you are right. I am keeping you, though I must insist you at least stop by the infirmary. He should be rejuvenated before travel. Isn't that so, Doctor?" The captain gave a brisk smile at Renton and then back up at Xellien. The Professor grimaced at the Captain's smile. This elderly fellow clearly had no comprehending of how much pain and agony Renton had just gone through.
"I will do just that, Captain. Thank you for your time. May you wish me much luck." Before the Captain could waste another precious moment of their time, he left. Things were becoming uneven, the world that Xellien thought he had such a tight hold on, was beginning to turn his back on him. Just like before. Colin knew, and that change everything.
His eyes tenderly looked upon the boy he carried, his body so frail in his arm, but he knew the spirit to be so strong inside. The boy would survive.
"Forgive me, Renton, but I must unite the two of you again. You two are the key to many great things. Apart, everything will fail. But together, my plans are insured." He whispered and turned the corner.
Renton thought he could hear the distance billowing waves of ocean water crashing on sandy beaches. The sound was so pleasant to his ears, so relaxing. He listened for just a moment more until gently, very gently, the sound grew into silence.
His eyes slowly slid open to see a face waving back and forth above his head. It took a moment, but the features suddenly became clear. "Xellien?" He croaked through a thirsty throat. He coughed and realized the two strong arms carrying him down the long hall. He tried to remember where he was, but his brain felt so foggy and warm, he didn't really care either way.
"Ah, Renton, this is good. For that moment there, I was worried we might be facing a case of never awaking again." The elderly man gave him a once over and then turned a tight corner.
"Where am I? What," he struggled for a moment as his mind literally numbed, "is going on?"
"You're aboard a U.F Carrier just over Senneka. You won't be here for long." They rounded another corner, but that was all Renton could make out, everything still blurred before his eyes.
"Where's Eureka?" He asked, starting to feel his legs and arms again.
Xellien remained silent for a moment. Renton waited for an answer, wondered, and then fear began to take over the emptiness inside him. "Where is she, Professor?" He asked, more sternly than before.
"To be perfectly honest with you Dear Renton, I have absolutely no idea."
His eyes grew wide and his mind kicked into full awareness. "What o you mean you don't know?"
"As in I haven't a clue, the answer escapes me, or that which you seek cannot be found here. By the time I got here, Eureka and Shara had already escaped on their own. Feel assured that Eureka is perfectly safe at this time. I know this with no morsel of doubt." He stopped looked down at the ground and then at Renton. "Can you walk now?"
Renton rubbed the sides of his legs and wiggled his toes. He took a breath and slipped out of his arms and down onto the metal floot. A burst of feeling shot up his legs and grasped the based o his spine. "Ah." He muttered and crouched on the floor.
"I'll give you a moment." Xellien said as he looked over Renton. "But only a moment, we must leave quickly. This admiral of sorts will find his methods."
"How do you know Eureka is safe?" Renton asked, ignoring everything else not concerning his love.
"Answered simply enough, she's with Shara."
"How does that make a difference?"
Xellien raised a brow and twisted his head just a tidbit. "Because I have placed trust higher than hers in only so few. One, ironically enough, being her own son." He shook his head and knelt down next to Renton would waited for the tingles to subside from his legs. "Just have a little with me?"
Renton lifted his head and locked eye contact with this elderly man who he knew only so well. This man being one who could read his emotions and his desires without even so much as a glance in his direction. But as his eyes dug at the man, for whatever reason that engaged his inner mind, he trusted him.
Renton gently lowered his head in the smallest nod. Xellien smiled broadly and stood up. "Excellent, then we best better be going. Colin is has most likely made his quicker move, and more likely the captain will attempt to slow him down. Things are stirring strangely now, more so than I had predicted." He looked down the hall. "But I will compensate, that I promise you Renton. Now stand and let's leave this ship while it's still possible."
Renton staggered to his feet, sharp spikes and pains tingling through his body as he did so. Gritting his teeth, he began to step, walk, and then run down the hall with Xellien easily beside him.
As the pain shook at him, his thoughts turned to Eureka. He wanted to be afraid, and in part he was, but he couldn't shake this feeling of trust he had for Xellien. Despite what the Coralians had said in warning him, he felt some sort of protection from this man. If it were real, then he knew he would be safe, but if it were fake, then this man's power of manipulation was more powerful and frightening than he could imagine.
He looked up at the man running beside him, face still and calm with a fraction of grin on the side of his lips. Who was this man, Renton wondered, and why did the Coralian's distrust him so? Should he do the same?
Shaking his head, the thought slipped from his mind. The kind smile on his face wouldn't take him or Eureka from their plan. They would keep their promise to Norbu . They would stop him and bring him back. For now he could work to discover what this man intended to do with his time in the past. He would find it.
Blue skies and white clouds all over in their natural positions, the sky. Eureka sat on the bench looking up at the sky, her thoughts were where they had been for the last hours between leaving the ship and now.
"Renton." She whispered quietly.
"What was that?" Shara said as she sat right down next to her. She held to large grey duffle bags.
Eureka looked at her and then back up at the sky. "Nothing."
"Fascinating," she said, not honestly. "This is the last bus ride to our destination. Have you been drinking water like I asked?" Shara waited for an answer, but she didn't get one. "You're a grown woman. You can take care of yourself, I apologize."
From that point Shara became completely silent. A single bench, on a single asphalt road, in a large, green grassy field that drew on plainly and pointlessly. On the right of the bench was a large blue sign with the letters "U.T.T." plastered at the top. Whatever it meant, Eureka didn't care. They traveled to a place with a name, but she couldn't remember the name. Shara may have mentioned it at some time, but Eureka didn't think she paid attention at the time.
"You should stop that, you know." Shara said as though they had been making conversation for some time. Eureka didn't make a response, she kept her eyes on a cloud that drifted slowly through the blue vastness. "You're being selfish towards Renton."
Eureka felt her entire attention center in on Shara at once. In her mind she felt as though she had just burst through the surface of water after having been down for hours. "What?" She said, squeezing her brows together.
"I said you're being selfish."
"But how?"
"Well look at yourself. How is your self pity any respect to him?"
Eureka wasn't quite sure what she was talking about. "I… I don't know what you mean?"
Shara looked at her for a moment and then tilted her head. "You are a strange one, aren't you? Well how else do I put it?" She swung one knee over the other and leaned back in the bench. "Renton means a lot to you right?" Eureka nodde. "I didn't think it took much thought for me, but then I guess I'm the only me there is, isn't there?" She chuckled to herself. "You're absent, Eureka, your thoughts are completely on him. While worrying for him isn't wrong, dwelling on those feelings to the point of self pity, is a sin."
"But I do not pity myself. I'm only worried for Renton." Eureka said as the concept twisted at her mind. How was she doing something wrong?
"Now don't turn on me, I'm only telling you what you need to here. You're doing nothing wrong, you're worry is the proof of your love. But, you're doing nothing but worrying and your love has become selfish."
"My love is selfish?" Eureka said, shocked.
Shara looked at Eureka for a moment and then pursed her lips. "I guess I have to choose my words a little more wisely when it comes to talking to you." She squinted down at the base of the bench, caught in deep thought.
"Ah, I have it." Shara said. "You see Eureka, what would it be better for you to do. Should you dwell on your worry for Renton and having left him, or should you concentrate on what you're going to do now in joining back with him?"
Eureka paused. She felt something tick inside her head, a thought of some sort that seemed to pull this all together. She tried to concentrate on the feeling, that meaning buried deep inside her. Suddenly she realized what she meant. "I'm not helping him by only worrying about him, am I?"
Shara smiled tightly and nodded her head in short nods. "Exactly! Worry about him only will do you no good."
"But what else can I do? He's so far out there." Eureka looked out towards the clouds stretching over the side in broad waves. "I can't do anything for him."
"My friend, you're acting as though you're just adjusting to this world for the first time." Eureka looked at her but made no comment. "And somehow I think that's true. But listen Eureka, there is one thing you can do that Renton himself is thinking about himself right. So I would hope he's thinking about."
"What is it?"
"Survive." Shara smiled and leaned back in her chair.
Eureka couldn't understand why it hadn't exactly occurred to her sooner. Concentrating so much on Renton and doing nothing but feel sorry for herself. It really was selfish.
She felt the sting of tears sift at the tips of her eyes and bubble at the rims of her nose, but she pushed back the feel and swallowed. "I'll do whatever I can to survive." Eureka said in her determination. "I promise him."
Shara watched from the side of the bench, partly entertained, partly impressed.
A loud hum burst from above and roared in deep rumbles. The air around them became violent, pushing over the duffle bags and tossing their hair up into the air.
"It's here." Shara yelled through the wind and picked up her lopsided duffle bag.
"What is?" Eureka asked, shielding her eyes from the intense wind.
"The Universal Trapar Transit. Come on, this will take us to our last destination." Eureka looked up to see a large black shuttle slowly dropping towards them. It seemed to be the same side as the Nirvash in height, and the design somewhat reminded her of the UF transport shuttles.
She gripped her duffle bag and stood up. Whatever waves would come her way, she would find Renton again. She would survive until that time came. She promised.