A/N: Make sure to pay attention to the NUMBER OF DAYS
(Day 8)
Earth: Handler's Corners
The sun seemed particularly a little too gleeful as it cast its rays down on the quaint town of Handler's Corners. The desert heat rolled off the sandy lands in droves and doing a shimmery waltz across the blacktop of the diner parking lot. Inside, the air was pleasant, seats and table tops cool to the touch, and an inviting aroma of baking pizza permeated the atmosphere wafting in from the kitchen. One of the large booths was filled to the brim with its usual batch, Battle Force 5. The team hadn't shown their faces around town for quite some time and so with a little goading, had to force themselves to make an appearance to keep up their disguises. The one visit that they had chance lacked its usual pep and zeal as each individual picked at their pizzas. Agura stared blankly out the window while the Cortez Bros talked quietly to each other. Stanford murmured comments every now and again when he picked up on the conversation. AJ was slightly more cheery than the others, but that was just natural for him and Tezz had resigned himself to an opposite booth, content to run calculations and munch on his salad alone. It was Zoom who gave it away that something was deeply troubling the team. He just sat there between Agura and AJ, eyes glued to the table; never talking, never moving, never even batting an eye... From behind the counter, it was Grace who picked up on the signs and she watched in silent concern for a while before deciding to make herself know. With an idea in mind, she scraped together a batch of refills for the group of friends and made her approach.
"Hey guys!" Grace chirped, forcing her questions into a tight smile, "How's it going?"
"Absolutely, positively miserable, Grace," Stanford griped without realizing it until he received an elbow to the side.
"Fine. Everything's fine," Agura just about growled, "He's just being melodramatic is all."
"Melodramatic? About what?"
"Um...Vert's been...out of town for the past week and he's just being a baby," Agura responded hastily, casting a warning glare at Stanford.
"Okie dokie then, I guess I'll let you guys get back to your lunch then," Grace responded half-heartedly then.
"Thanks Grace."
Still concerned, but knowing it wasn't her place to push, Grace pulled away from the group and returned to her daily tasks as the only waitress of Zeke's Diner. Without warning, there was a loud chorus of complaints and a rattling of plates as if some great tumult taking place behind her. Whipping around, Grace stared wide-eyed in confusion at the ensemble of friends and took note of a certain person's absence. She looked about the dining area and wondered aloud where Zoom had gone. Agura was the first to answer, trying to hastily cover up how the BF5 scout had just picked up and ran out. With a quick excuse, Agura bolted out the door in a more orderly fashion after her young friend. Her hunting skills kicked in immediately as she began to track Zoom's steps from the dropped soda cup to the scuffs on the blacktop. All signs pointed her in the direction of the diner's side and that was where she found him. She made her approach on quiet footsteps and sat down at the picnic table without a word. All she did was just pull Zoom in a tight hug and just held him. After a short while, the scout stared up at the huntress with puffy eyes and blotched cheeks and she tried to smile at him, but her eyes must have said something else to the scout as he suddenly turned the hug on her. His grip was a lot tighter than hers, but just as comforting as Agura finally let her emotions show and the two friends just held each other as they both cried out the grieving spell.
(Red Homeworld-Prison Bay 99248)
What day was it? Just how long had he been there? These questions flowed through Vert's mind as he lay on the ground, unmoving. He dared not to or risk passing out again from the sore pains of his body. His thoughts remained muted in a fuzzy haze as he tried to discern what was reality and what was a dream. The red-garbed leader had lost count of the days as the relentless beatings forced him into a suspend state of mind. The unmerciful attacks just went on and on sometimes and it was affecting his sleep severely. The times he got to rest were scarce and far apart. With a groan, Vert adjusted on the hard floor, eyes fixed on the ceiling. He hadn't bothered to look at all since the tortures had started, but he knew in the back of his mind that his body was caked in a kaleidoscope array of bruises. The last beating he had hadn't been more than an hour ago and Vert knew why Krytus was being extra cruel that day. It was because the Reds had lost to Battle Force 5 once more and it was almost a slap to the face when Krytus decided to put Vert back in a cramped cell in his condition. Sometimes after one of the interrogations, the sentient would just leave his prisoner there for the night.
The only positive outlook Vert could find was in the brief moments of respite that Kyburi provided him. She would at least see to keeping him fed. It was so odd, her recent behavior, and he still remained unsure of her motives. It was sometime after the pain began to divide his focus that Vert stopped trying to understand what the huntress was doing. With a heavy sigh, he let his tired eyes fall shut only to snap open ten minutes later as the nightmarish visions passed. His heart raced as his sluggish mind processed the dreams; all of them circling around his friends, his life, childhood memories, etc. The blonde frowned as a deep want to see them again suddenly flooded his heart, but he knew he wouldn't. He would die on that god-forsaken planet in the name of justice...or something cliché like that...
Vert halted his train of thought and squashed those words immediately. The Earth was well worth the sacrifice and if he gave up, it would spell certain doom for everyone he loved, but it only seemed more tantalizing as he considered giving up...anything for one full night of sleep...no, he couldn't and he stopped the landslide of thoughts right then and there. Eventually his eyes fell shut once more, the hum of the bars hypnotizing him into a dull sense of peace. His thoughts always attacked him in that weakened state, so he redirected their approach down a more recent path. He realized he hadn't seen Kyburi since that morning and she usually stopped by once or twice daily. The occurrence was still extremely strange to Vert, but if he ever tried to pursue the reasons behind her actions, he either got a threat or she changed the subject completely. The sudden sounds of a scuffle roused Vert from his thoughts as curiosity got the better of him and he pushed himself halfway off the ground with great strain.
Shouts reached his ears, but they were too far off to make sense and Vert struggled to his feet, hope bubbling. Was it his team? Did they actually manage to find him? The red-garbed leader fidgeted in anticipation, but the moment seemed a tad anti-climactic as Kyburi pranced into the holding bay, posture revealing nothing to be amiss. Vert cocked his head in confusion at her, but she shook hers and sliced the air in front of her neck. So he held back the batch of questions building inside him until finally Kyburi gave him the go ahead to speak, "What's going on?"
"It's...a new prisoner," she said in a low tone.
"New prisoner?" Vert stared at her before the answer sunk in, "No...it can't...it just can't..."
"Yes, it is-"
"How? How did they get him?"
"I had no choice. I had to do it. If Krytus ever found out-"
"Found out what, exactly?" Vert interrupted, eyeing her dangerously.
"If he ever found out that I changed...that I betrayed him..."
"Wait...are you saying that me and you are...allies?...friends?"
Kyburi seemed to hesitate, but nodded as she put a sincere look on her face. Doubt's shadow crossed Vert's mind as he battled the conflicting thoughts. So, apparently she had just randomly switched sides...okay then. Unable to think a good response, the red-garbed leader decided to extend his hand towards her instead. Kyburi regarded the small gesture incredulously before shaking it firmly with her own; a symbol of their supposed partnership. The magnitude of the event weighed heavily on Vert's mind briefly, but a suspicious thorn kept itself embedded in the decision. Could he really trust Kyburi? Vert couldn't answer and he almost felt like he had no other choice but to accept it. Kyburi's hand flew from his as the door to the prison bay slid aside, revealing Krytus. He had a smug look, more than usual, and he sauntered up to Vert's cell; obviously there to brag.
"Hello, human," he greeted with a fanged grin.
"Oh save it, Krytus, I already-" Vert rasped, but shut up immediately when he registered Kyburi's alarmed stare.
"You already, what?"
"Nothing...what do you want? Come to beat me up some more or did you just miss me?"
"I'd watch out, human, "Krytus warned, "You have more to be concerned about now than yourself."
"Is that so?" Vert replied, snarkiness gone.
"Quite. We have a special guest that's going to be staying here awhile. You'll be meeting him shortly. Maybe, after we, have another chat."
"Greetings human," a cruel voice echoed across the confines of the room, "I see you're awake at last.
Krytus sauntered across the length of the interrogation room and towered above the curled form of Vert who clutched at his sides in pain and exhaustion. The red-clad leader was hauled to his feet by the back of his shocksuit and made to stand. Vert tried to remain straight, but he was in too much pain and the claws of agony kept him doubled over. Krytus cackled as he overlooked the damage he had done to his prisoner: Vert's eye swollen shut, dark bruises lining his jaw and throat, and a battered body. The sadictive sentient couldn't have asked for a better situation. He circled Vert once before pausing in front of the hunched prisoner. Forming an idea, Krytus boasted a threatening taunt and got the response he was expecting. Vert lunged for the sentient and found his gut connecting with Krytus' fist, stealing the breath from his lungs. Vert sank to the ground in a fit of coughs as he clutched at his abdomen, head swirling in delirium. Krytus smiled darkly and turned away from the wretching prisoner. Vert struggled to breath as dizziness struck him. It hurt to think as he stared at Krytus' exposed back. He'd been stuck in the interrogation room for hours upon end with barely enough time to recover between Krytus' visits. Each time he returned, the tortures got worse. He had no time to react when Krytus rounded on him, fist poised to strike. Vert flinched away, but the blow never came. The only thing he registered was the humiliation of falling for his captor's trick as Krytus laughed throatily.
Vert felt his blood boil in anger at Krytus' control over him. Not thinking clearly, the BF5 leader rose shakily, preparing to rush the sentient when a crippling pain lanced down his back. With of a cry of surprise, Vert slipped to his hands and knees; smoke curling from his shocksuit. The whine of a stun baton became apparent to him as a Sark stepped up, holding the weapon close to the prisoner's back again. The shocking pain returned and he was forced onto his side as his body convulsed in agonizing spasms. Krytus waved the guard away, stepping over Vert in sick amusement. The blonde gasped out loud when he finally found his breath, the tension in his muscles fading. The room spun as he was jerked off the ground by a forceful hand. Krytus' blood red visage poisoned his line of sight afterwards, the sentient's expression unreadable until their faces were inches apart.
"You really are a glutton for punishment," Krytus whispered in a hiss, "What did you hope to accomplish by attacking me?"
"Maybe take you down a peg or two," Vert rasped, trying to not go cross-eyed. "It'd be real embarrassing to explain to your girlfriend that you got your shell cracked by me, wouldn't it?"
Vert felt his stomach drop as he was thrown to the floor in anger. He skidded a few centimeters as Krytus moved in. He managed to his knees when the sentient's foot flew out, connecting with Vert's side. The blonded rolled back, gasping as another kick sent his back colliding with the wall. Krytus yelled for his prisoner to rise and fight back, but everytime Vert even got the chance, he was forced back down by a swift kick to the ribs. The sentient's fingers found Vert's hair and he was hauled upwards to his feet once more. Krytus, almost glowing with rage, slammed Vert back into the wall and delivered a powerful right hook to Vert's stomach. He kept going until the last blow felt close to a cannon blast as Krytus let go and Vert slid to the floor in pain. His throat felt raw as he coughed hard, blood spilling from his mouth. He wiped at it hesitantly before more coughing nearly choked him to the floor. Krytus stepped back, fuming, but smiling as he snapped his fingers. Two sark emerged from the doorway and collected the fallen prisoner. Their master directed them to them to the far off wall where chains hung. Vert tried to struggle, but he was soon bound to the wall; wrists and neck shackled heavily to it. Krytus cleared his throat once, drawing the blonde's attention away from the restraints to a remote in the sentient's grasp.
"Earth's coordinates, boy. Tell me."
Vert, through the swelling in his face, mananged a weak glare and kept his mouth shut. The defiance was answer enough and Krytus frowned in mild irritation. He shrugged it off and with a fanged smirk, thumbed the remote in his hand. At once an electric charge jumped through Vert's restraints and sent volts of electricity into his bound limbs. The surge jolted his muscles back into painful spasms and Krytus increased the output. A scream ripped clean from his mouth as he pulled against the restraints, but they held and he screamed louder as the electric charge tore through his abused nerves. The shocking stopped suddenly as Krytus thumbed the device. Vert slumped forward, panting and trying to control the painful twitches in his muscles. A taunting fingered hovered above the power control as Krytus asked him once more. The violent shocks returned when Vert didn't answer quick enough and the red-clad leader was soon dragged back down into pain. He felt like his mind was on overload as he convulsed against the chains, his throat aching as another scream ripped from him. His vision went whited out when the charge spiked and his body went slack as he passed out against the wall. Krytus growled in frustration as he eyed his prisoner. He walked out with a growl, leaving Vert chained.
Hours passed when Vert finally came too, his mind a blur of motion as he looked around. The only thought at the forefront of his mind was the terrible ache in his body. His neck protested his movements, but he needed to know if Krytus was still there. The lights were dimmed for once and he had to squint to see in the darkness. No one was with him, that much he could tell. He groaned aloud, letting his head hang for a second as he tried to pull at the wrist cuffs. The chains jangled in his ears as his hands remained suspended in them. He sighed angrily, straightening his stiff legs and back. The blonde leaned backwards on the wall, trying to find comfort in its support. He tried desperately to ignore where he was, wanting nothing more than to sleep. He drifted off for a second, but started awake when flashes of his team flooded his mind. Fears of them being caught and tortured because of him were becoming frequent after a week of captivity on the sentient homeworld. He grimaced as he recalled the warm touch of Sage's hand to his cheek or the tightest hug that Sherman could give. He almost smiled at the thought of hearing Agura and Stanford argue or watching Tezz trying to fit in with the others. He missed it all and he closed his eyes in the hopes of waking up back home and all of this being one large, pizza-induced nightmare. Light suddenly flooded the interrogation room and Vert jerked his head up in sick anxiety. The ray in the darkness came from the doorway where a diminuitive figure lurked.
"Kyburi?" he whispered, his cracked lips twisting around her name like water.
She shushed him with a placating hiss, sealing the door behind her. Vert peered up at her curiously until she came uncomfortably close at which point he felt a pressing hand on his shoulder as she slowly undid the locks to his chains. They fell away noisily, leaving Vert only trapped to the wall by the huntress before him. He felt elated to be free, but he snapped to attention as Kyburi helped him up. He leaned on the wall heavily, legs quaking from the stress. He grunted in surprise when Kyburi closed the gap and had him pinned, her hands pressing against his shoulders. He tensed up, but noticed how the move lacked aggression; being much more gentle than he thought was possible. He was too stunned to react as she drew closer, her orange eyes gleaming in the dim light. She breathed heavily, inhaling his human scent that was like a spice to her senses. Kyburi let her claws slip up to his neck, scratching his shocksuit. She moved a hand, trailing a nail along his chin softly before she pressed her lips to his in one swift move. He went wide-eyed at her aggression, a heat spreading along his cheeks as she pulled away suddenly. The huntress stared up at him expectantly, quirking her lips upwards at the shock in his eyes. She mumbled something, pressing her mouth to his once more with tenderness and subdued passion. He was prepared that time as he took in the shape of her lips against his. They were soft and warm and he felt himself becoming clouded by a hungry desire, until he remembered who she was.
"What are you doing?" he gasped, holding her at arm's length.
"What I want," she muttered huskily, "I desire to be with a man who would willingly show me kindness.
"I don't understand...what about Krytus?"
"I'm just a toy for his self-indulgence. He uses me, human."
"But aren't you using me right now?"
"It's more than that and you can't honestly tell me you don't want this."
"K-kyburi, I don't...we c-can't. It's not right..." he stuttered, facing growing redder as she drew close.
"Let me show you how wrong it can be then," she purred lustily, gripping his chin.
Vert felt his mouth go dry as she stared deep into his eyes, a cloud of lust fogging his senses. His conscience screamed for him to get a hold of the situation and stop her. His body worked against him as his arms fell away and she pressed in close, pinning him to the wall. He grew acutely aware of their bodies touching, the sensation so foreign he nearly protested until her mouth found his again. She massaged her lips against him luxuriously and his defenses seemed to melt beneath her fire. The moment grew more heated and in a daring motion, he wrapped his arms around her petite waist. He deepened their kiss, his mind hazy as she circled her arms around his neck. They stayed together for a minute, Kyburi's melodic purrs vibrating in his head before she pulled away. Her ginger gaze was alight as she took in his flushed cheeks and hungry eyes. He didn't protest as he was shoved against the wall, her mouth finding his neck. She trailed teasing nips along his bare skin, making him shudder when she licked away the blood. She snickered to herself, her former foe like putty in her claws as she grasped his hand and towed him behind her as she trailed to the door. Her fading affection left Vert a window of clarity as he blinked several times. He shook off his lust haze and a sickening feeling nailed him in the gut as she tugged him down several corridors. He glanced nervously over his shoulder, fearing the sudden appearance of Krytus or any of the other reds. He ran into her when they halted, Kyburi misreading his action as impatience. She growled huskily, dragging him into the next room. He knew where he was at once, his face paling at the wide chamber. Orange globes of light floated lazily in the air as she pulled him towards a central platform.
"Kyburi, wait. I can't do this," he pleaded, finding a voice of reason at last.
"Why not? You seemed so accepting of it minutes ago," Kyburi drawled, her voice low and unsettling, "Do you think me unworthy of you, human?"
"What? No! I just...what if Krytus-"
"Oh ease yourself. Even he knows not to enter my quarters unannounced."
"Still though. We're supposed to be enemies. I could never explain to the others..."
"Then don't. This can be forever between us if you would just shut your mouth and let go," she hissed.
It was as if she had cast some spell over him when his protests died in his throat as she attacked his lips once more with hers. It wasn't long until her advances had pushed them to the edge of the platform, Vert stumbling backwards across the lip of it. Kyburi purred sadistically, climbing atop him as her claws ravaged his suit. She drew red lines along his neck as she kissed him hungrily. His body molded to hers without question and he lost himself in a daze as she had her way; peeling away what protection he had between them. The next hour was spent in a questionable bliss as Kyburi showed him the wonders of a sentient and he showed her the energy of a human. He fell into a deep sleep beside her, his mind bogged down in her exotic spell. Her warmth disappeared from his arms as she flashed away to recharge her core.
