SALVATION LOST
Written by Star
Volume One: Chapter Six
"Dance with the Devil"
The Earth began to rebel; extremes of weather and condition seemed to assault survivors on all fronts with flood, drought and famine a growing concern. With no foreseeable end in sight, Freeman feared the consequence for the vulnerable millions scattered across the globe.
It was this fear that kept him awake at night, desperate to seek a solution. He'd begun researching all possibilities, and the latest was his most ethically challenged. He'd consulted with Dave Sumner, a brilliant if not eccentric neurosurgeon; apart from being the best there was, he was the only one at Freeman's disposal. The two men had a long history together and Freeman wondered whether his desperation would cost him their friendship.
.o0o.
Noal practically skipped with glee as he walked away from the psychiatrist's office. Honda showed him the Sol suit that would be his, providing the final shove that Noal needed. Nothing would stop him from flying now! Unaware that his good mood was about to disappear, Noal stopped at a vending machine for a well-earned treat.
"Noal!"
"Er…?" Noal remarked, straining his neck to locate the voice.
"I need a word, in private." Milly whispered.
.o0o.
After Omega's manipulation of his mind, Shinya had spent an entire week in bed. Hun Rii poked him every so often to make sure he was still alive but otherwise ignored him.
The unexpected friendship with the older woman was the stroke of luck Aki never anticipated. With Shinya appearing to have no interest in her, Aki stopped jumping from shadow to shadow. Her nausea had stopped and with Hun Rii as her unwitting ally, Aki allowed hope to light her dark days once more.
.o0o.
Milly's words rushed forth like water breaking free from a dam and Noal couldn't help but marvel at how Freeman had kept this quiet.
"I didn't want you to find out this way," Milly whimpered, she had to share her fears with someone.
"No, I'm glad you told me." Noal replied tersely. "He can't help himself, can he?"
"Please don't get angry with him…" She replied hastily; the fury in Noal's eyes frightened her.
"He hasn't learned one, damn, thing!" Noal asserted.
"I'm sure there's a good reason; remember when he didn't lobby to have D-boy released from prison?"
"Unless Honda pulled D-boy's lifeless body from Pegas, there's no reason for Freeman not to tell us!"
.o0o.
"I wish we had some tea…" Aki sighed.
"Green tea…" Hun Rii agreed.
"With a hint of jasmine." They finished in unison.
'Ok, that was weird.' Shinya thought. He didn't expect to see Aki and Hun Rii standing side-by-side, chatting. The meal they were preparing smelt delicious, but he didn't have the nerve to approach them. Ever since Omega had used his memories to torture their brother, Shinya viewed his actions towards Aki in a very different light. What madness had come over him that made him hurt her in such a way?
"So what happened to you?" Hun Rii asked him, startling him from his thoughts.
"Why do you care?" He replied bluntly, eyeing her warily as she herded him out of the kitchen.
"Because Omega hasn't spoken to me since you returned."
"Don't worry, you're still the favourite." Shinya smirked.
"Well?" Hun Rii insisted.
"Nothing happened." He muttered. "I'm going for a walk."
.o0o.
"Not again, please!" D-boy begged. Since his awakening, Omega had tortured him with visions of his dead family and friends. The latest and most sickening he'd endured was the substitution of Shinya's memories, manipulated so that it was D-boy who tortured Miyuki, raped Aki…
"I pity her faith in such a weakling."
"She has nothing to do with this!" D-boy roared. "How could you let this happen?"
"You let her fly you to the Space Ring, surely you knew the risk?" Omega retorted, absolving himself of responsibility. "If anyone is responsible for what happened to that woman, it's you."
.o0o.
Noal stormed into Freeman's office, ready to give him a piece of his mind and then some. The older man was staring at a blank screen, unmoving even when Noal had slammed the door.
"Chief…" Noal started.
"Congratulations," Freeman interrupted. "You're free to fly again."
"That's not what I…"
"The war has changed, Noal. You're no longer fighting mindless creatures…" Freeman paused briefly, seeming lost for the right words. He turned to face Noal, his face ashen, shoulders drooping slightly.
"Sir?"
"Pegas recorded the battle between Blade and Evil. It seems that Sword did not follow Balzac to Earth," Freeman paused, closing his eyes briefly. "I suggest you sit down, but before you do, please make sure that the door is locked."
.o0o.
Desperate for news on D-boy, Aki was almost tempted to go after Shinya and find out what happened. He'd seemed so utterly human to her this past week; it was difficult for Aki to believe that he was the same monster who'd raped her.
I'll think about it tomorrow…Though this had worked well for her thus far, it was only a matter of time before certain events would force her to acknowledge what she'd been through. There was also the possibility of Hun Rii being called off to do Omega's bidding…
Aki shuddered at the thought; would she be left at Shinya's mercy again?
.o0o.
"She appears behind Blade, here," Freeman remarked, pausing the tape. "Pegas was too far away for any audio, but it's a safe bet he's in Omega's hands now."
Noal remained silent, his eyes wide from shock.
"Curiously, Pegas doesn't follow after Blade." Freeman mused.
"What about Aki? Why didn't she come back with Pegas?" Noal asked anxiously.
"A very good question." Freeman sighed in frustration and pressed play…
"Return to base, Pegas."
"I must protect Aki."
"Radam will take you; GO!"
"I must protect…pro…te…cct…system override…I must return to base…"The screen went blank and the room fell silent. Freeman watched as Noal cradled his head in his hands, deciding finally that he'd never reveal the last of Pegas' recording. He shuddered to ponder the fate of the former Navigator of the Blue Earth, knowing from the last seconds on the tape that she wasn't alone.
.o0o.
"You hunted our sister; it was our job to protect her!"
"Now you're sounding like a broken record, a whining child, Takaya. Be the man our father raised you to be!"
"I'm doing exactly what he wants me to do; resist and give Radam hell!"
"Our battle isn't as simple as it once was, the tide has changed. More importantly, you aren't in a position to dictate your terms!"
"What you're offering…I can't, won't. Kengo, if you were in my situation…" D-boy appealed.
"I'd recognise the opportunity being handed to me."
.o0o.
"Since when have you two been girlfriends?" Shinya snapped, tired of answering to Hun Rii. She heckled him even when he acquiesced to her unspoken demand to leave their living quarters.
"Don't change the subject. What happened up there?" Hun Rii seethed.
"We finally broke him," Shinya answered. "He was crying like a baby when I left."
"Congratulations," She deadpanned. "You're not concerned?"
"Why would I be? He turned his back on us, his family." Shinya reminded her as he turned to leave.
"So…it doesn't it strike you as odd, that Omega would want him alive?" She purred slyly, grinning as he halted slightly.
.o0o.
"You're putting me in charge?"
"You're the most experience, well respected; the choice was obvious. Do you accept?"
Noal was dumbfounded. It was so much to take in, but what else could he do? If D-boy and Aki really were…
He wouldn't think about it. He'd just go about his business, keep on fighting because that's what they'd want him to do, what he'd want them to do.
"Of course I accept, Sir." Noal stood, saluting. "Who else will show these babies how to get the job done?" He finished, forcing a grin.
"You'll be the one to make the tough decisions and live with the consequences. I know you're more than capable."
"I won't let you down."
"No, you won't." Freeman smiled. "Go speak to your men, Field Commander."
Freeman felt some of the burden lift from his shoulders as Noal threw him one more salute. He was proud of Noal, not that he didn't expect him to accept the offer.
Perhaps Noal would understand now, the loneliness of command. Some decisions were simple, others harder to make; Noal would learn this with time. Perhaps Noal would even learn that those in charge often made sacrifices, even though it would keep him awake and haunt his days.
.o0o.
Honda stared in horror as Pegas sent the room into a panic.
"Stop Pegas, that's an order!"
"No further use for this emerald crystal…ten…nine…"
"Get Freeman down here, NOW!"
"This emerald crystal is obsolete. Self-destruction of this unit is imminent…"
To be continued in: Chapter Seven – ROUND ONE
DISCLAIMER
The author does not claim to own Tekkaman Blade, Tekkaman Blade II or Teknoman – they are the property of Tatsunoko. The author does claim the Salvation Lost concept, deviating from the original series and all original characters created henceforth. Please do not borrow any characters or ideas without my permission…or I'll unleash sugar-crazed Chibi's to track you down.