Chapter 10
Rex is dead(or is he?), and will Seven finally submit to Van Kliess?! Kinda a DUN DUN DUUUUUUUUUUUN kinda chapter, plz enjoy! This is back to rated T for swearing. P.S. there's a lot of animosity between Casten and Seven now.
Seven was huddled in the corner of a wall, knees pulled to her chest, arms crossed on them and her chin was balanced on them. The girls eyes were closed softly, and she was heavy in thought, I guess you could say. Her arms and legs were shackled. Seven was reliving all the people she'd killed by accident. Ranging from Russian pirates, to a kool aid delivery guy. Now adding Rex to the list. Seven also was fluttering over vivid memories she had acquired alongside Rex. Right now she was reliving a calming memory.
Cold wind nipped at my bare shoulders, and I kicked my dangling legs. I was sitting on the edge of the roof in Providence HQ. It was about five in the morning, I had been up here all night. I had just finished a huge chemistry project with plasma with Cezar. I also had just plowed through mountain of manila folders stamped with bright red ink, reading, CLASSIFIED. Just boring stuff about criminal records of villains that showed up everyday, and crimes that they committed. I was wondering, if Providence, had any free time off 24-7, or let any of their agents off easy with minimum work. Well obviously not, besides it wasn't like White even cared about my safety and exhaustion at all. I rubbed by neck roughly. I looked down at my arms, which were glowing faintly, unlike the flashing nanite bands on my arms.
I allowed Navitus a little freedom, and I exhaled blowing out blue light, kinda like how you see steam from your breath rising when it's really cold. I watched the blue energy flicker and swirl up towards the stars. Speaking of the stars, they were incredibly visible right now and shone brightly above my head, the moon was a waning gibbous right now, and slightly illuminated the area around it. I leaned back on my hands, and let my mind wander among the stars, gazing up and muttering their names, as more blue energy floated out of my mouth. I heard a creak of a door opening behind me, as it opens a person shuffles out behind me a few feet, probably looking at me.
"Ay caramba Blanca Nieve. You're still up? Weren't you supposed to be in bed hours ago?" The person says, with a voice I recognize.
"Wow Rex, you sound like Dos." I let my head fall over backwards, and I look at the Hispanic upside down.
"Is that a good thing?" He grins. Rex is barefoot, wearing his sleeping shorts and shirtless.
"I don't know? Is it?" I ask him and roll my head back around and he sits next to me on my right. I'm wearing a spaghetti strap tank top, and pajama shorts made of sweatpants material, both black. My long hair is sprawled out everywhere. Rex shrugs. "You tired?"
I shake my head side to side, "I could sleep, I'm too worked up to, though."Why are you up here?"
Rex shrugged again, "Eh, I don't know something's been keeping me up."
"What?" I asked, not reading his mind, not wanting to be rude.
"Nothing." Rex looked away, out into the desert. "Sable up?"
"Yeah, he just went off." I waved my hand out, knowing my horse had flown off along the cliffs.
"Why didn't you go with him?"
"Didn't feel like it."
What Rex said next surprised me, "Seven are you okay? You seem really upset."
I was genuinely amazed, I wondered if he was learning mind reading from me, but the thought was trivial. "Yeah, sure." I stoically glanced away from him.
"Lies." Rex snickered and scooted closer to me, "Really? Tell me what's going on."
"I'm. . . um. . . having issues with the mechanical failure of my nanites every now and then. They just fidget and then try pushing against my usual energy. Like their trying to change." I looked away, not wanting to look him in the eye.
"Sorry." Rex said.
"Not your fault." I looked back at him.
"If it makes you feel better, Bobo and I are gonna stage a breakout soon. Wanna join? We could use a ninja on our side." Rex nudged me with his elbow.
"Alright, convince me." I said, imitating his coy smirk.
Rex grinned and lowered his voice, "Join the dark side Seven, I am your partner. . . . . And we have cookies."
I punched him in the arm,"I guess I'll consider." Then I smiled softly, pulling a grin out of Rex. A faint light sprung on the horizon line, signaling dawn.
Rex chuckled and leaned against me before standing. "Let's go to bed." Rex held his hand out to me.
I took it and he pulled me up, locking his fingers with mine. We both walked back down the stairs, together. Not racing, not strolling, not in a rush, but together.
Seven's thought's were interrupted by disturbance in the room. Seven raised her head and her eyes adjusted to the light. She stared at the person standing before her.
"What the hell do you want Casten?" Seven snarled at her twin brother, which was at the top of the kill list right now.
"Alice, I-I just, I. . . I was following orders. If you really loved him then why-"
"I wasn't in love with Rex. We were friends. He was the only male out there, other than my family, I didn't despise. And I don't mean you, or Van Kliess, or the Pack even for the fact. Rex showed me a special type of kindness and care, that anyone ever would have. Go to hell Casten."
"So your mad at me, I don't care. Your really saying that you don't like our kind. You betray all of us." Casten said.
"Tell me Casten, who, who is our kind? Those programs who died and were sent to computer system world? A safe haven for all programs. It's not even safe there!" Seven growled.
"You haven't ever been there, how do you know? And what's wrong with killing a guy? I mean come one, you used to do it all the time!"
"So?! I didn't kill the only living being who could cure EVOs. Rex was more than a fighter, he was special. Unlike me, he wasn't a killer, he was still naive and pure. Like how Robert Frost said, Nature's first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf, So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day, Nothing gold can stay. Rex was gold, he never did anything to hurt anyone! He's always done good things even though he tried to act rebellious and tough! Me on the other hand, I'm not gold, my innocence didn't stay, I'm a mercenary. Cold and hard. I'm not that naive, or innocent, or pure. You know that." Seven quoted.
"You didn't act strong when he died." Casten crossed his arms.
"He was like a brother to me, how would you take it if I died. Hm? You wouldn't be strong. You're not gold, or green. You're a homicidal son of a bitch."
Casten opened his mouth, "And your no better."
Before Seven could hurl another heavy winded list of swears at Casten, the door slid upwards revealing the father of the two. "Casten, leave us."
Seven stared wide eyed, yet stoic, as Van Kliess walked in and Casten exited. The elder EVO knelt beside Seven. "I know, your. . . . . Upset. You two were good friends. . . . . I figured. I understand your offer is still valid, now that those circumstances are in the past. Can you look me in the eye and tell me, your ready to become one of us, your ready to come home. To me."
"No. I'm not joining you, but you can torture me, hit me, destroy me. Molecularly separate me. Do your best. I'm not coming home." Seven said sternly.
Van Kliess frowned, "Corra, Seven, my dear… Why do you make this so hard, I just want you back."
"You don't get it? Do you? You attempt kissing me, you try to drug me, and you kill one of my best friends. And you say you want me back? Your sending some mixed messages."
"I'm sorry you're confused. But there are ways you could make it up to me, and me to you?" Van Kliess titled his head. Seven raised cautious eyebrow.
Pain. Nerve damage, and muscular contractions. More pain. The laceration growing worse, I feel like I can't breathe. I let out a hollow scream, another high-pitched one echoing mine. The puncture throbs, I feel hot water thrown onto it, burning my flesh. Maybe it's blood. I feel like I can't breathe. I feel like I can't move. The pain grows worse, I feel like I'm being dragged, meters, kilometers, the pain gets worse with every movement. The sharp shard slipping and scratching between my ribs, like nails on a chalkboard, or fork on a plate. More throbbing. The pain begins to subside. I can hear my head screaming, pounding in my ears. I hear voices, some loud, some scratching, some cruel. But they all seem slow and fuzzy, I can't make out a single word. Like their trying to speak to me underwater. I world spins, colors fade into one another, in a blur. It's sickening, and I feel nauseous. The swirls blend into blackness, with little flecks of pure white, sliver, and electric blue. Like constellations. Then the fall down onto me like glitter, sticking to my skin and throwing me everywhere. I'm startled awake into my memories, as they wash over me like a wave.
The moment Six saved me from the rubble in Mexico. When I dove headfirst out of a plane and pounded a massive EVO with my oversized fists. The part when Van Kliess was destroyed in the reactor. When Black Knight tried taking over the world. When I became the mecha-robot. The second Six and I were rescued by the phantom in black. The split second I saw Seven's eyes for the first time and fell under her trance. The days I realized I was madly in love. Seven's sudden, rare, dangerous smiles. The long flowing wavy jet hair. The glittery, flowing, flicking neon blue eyes. Her round, full, sensuous, red lips. The dimples and freckles that seem perfectly placed on her nose and cheeks. That silky, light, fair skin that radiates a bioluminescent aura. The eye-catching hexagonal circuit lines that dance across her left bicep. Smooth supple curves, and well toned defined muscles. Elegance with every step, bend, and flex. How many times exactly has she saved my life? Maybe five, eight even? I'm losing track.
I begin to lose my grip of reality and imagination. Did we ever actually meet, is she just a hallucination in my imagination? Did she ever truly exist? Is there a Seven really out there somewhere? I feel like she's there, but hard to grasp, like a dream. My thoughts are beginning to blur. I feel frigid cold, like someone dipped a bucket of ice water on my head, like a brain freeze. All I remember is her existence, I try to seek a bold memory of her, of Seven, but it all fades to black.
0100010100100101010010101010 010101
Light, blinding, bold light, then something walks up and blocks the vibrance and casts an eerie shadow over me. It's tall and black, with long hair. I'm on the cold ground. Probably dirt and little pine needles. Yesterday's events pour over me in a storm of thoughts. I gasp and lunge backward from the shadow and hit my head, and sharp jagged shards of pain jut from my chest. There's crusty burgundy puddles around me, my brain classifying it dried blood. The incision throbbed angrily, and it felt like it was on fire with every intake of air. A clear voice speaks to me.
"Easy Rex. Just me." A muscular black horse with a long mane and tail and bird-like wings, hovers over me.
"Sable?" My voice come across dry, scratchy, and hoarse(that's my little pun). "That really you?" I hiss in pain as I sit up and look down at my crimson blood covered chest.
"Yep, try not to move. Rex, didn't Seven give you the vile?" Sable lowered his head and blew warm air on me through his nostrils.
My eyes widen and I remember the crystalline illuminate cylindrical jar Seven gave me that was on the chain. I pull it off under my shirt and hold it out for him to see. When he saw it, Sable pranced about, stomping the ground.
"And you haven't taken it yet? You idiot! It's her alleviating corrective! It's a healer. It's can heal any injury and wound. You were supposed to take it." Sable pawed the ground.
"Que - huh? What is inside? The glowing white stuff?" I ask looking down at the opalescent liquid in the crystal vial.
"You seriously don't know?" Sable twisted his neck side to side, which was probably a shake of a head in horse gestures, "Those Rex, are her tears." Sable raised his snout towards the vial.
"Her whaaaa?" I was dumbfounded as I stared at Seven's bonded pair.
"Tears Rex. Seven barely ever cries, it's painful for her, I can feel the throbbing. It causes Seven physical pain to create tears. She knew you were better off with them. She wanted you to hold onto them so you couldn't be hurt."
"So these can heal anything?" I held it up.
"She meant for you to have them, and your pretty susceptible to infection right now, and your chances of life are dwindling, so I recommend you take them." Sable nodded toward the gash.
"Yeah." I grunted, "So I just swallow them?"
"Yeah, but just so you know, the healing process with be several times worse than the actual wound." Sable did something that I took as a horse grimace.
"Kay, I understand." I unscrewed the cork stopper and and inhaled deeply, Sable watched me intently. I nodded and tipped my head back, and the let the liquid trickle back down my throat. The opalescent liquid almost had an instant effect. A searing singeing pain spread across my chest, almost like a heart attack. I could feel my toes and fingers twitching. My whole body begins to convulse into seizures. I look down to see little trails of smoke erupting from the wound. I can feel my flesh regrowing and stitching together. Damn, Sable was right, this felt like hell. I made futile tiny sharp intakes of breath trying to get air to my system. The pain is now unbearable, it's rising up my throat, and into my head, to down my legs to my tips of my feet. Before I can scream, fatigue overtakes me.
I awake with someone gently nudging me, and a cool feeling spreads across my body, almost as if I had just dove underwater into a cool pool of water, like every muscle, tendon, bone, nerve is at it's best and is rejoicing into the sweetness of freedom. I hear a clatter of a knife on the ground. I feel rested, alive, awake, refreshed, and strong.
"Welcome back from the light." Sable swished his tail and lowered his head to help me stand.
"Gracias." My voice is clear, full, and replenished. I wrap my arms around the horse's neck and he rises, making me stand, clutching at his withers, to steady myself.
"How do you feel?" Sable turns his head around to look me in the eye, and nudges me in the chest.
"Good." I say, not even coming close to the reinvigorating feeling.
"So, what are we gonna do?" Sable asked me.
"If your talking about getting Seven out of there, I'm with you." I defiantly said.
"Rex, I have. . . A confession. If you knew something, about someone, that would reveal their past, but hurt them severely. Would you tell them?"
"I, I don't know Sable. Wait a second- Did you know, about Van Kliess, and Seven's real twin brother, Casten?" I realized.
"I-I. . . I wanted to tell Seven, but. . . but I. . . "
"You knew that Seven wasn't ever her real name, and you never mentioned it to her, did you?"
"Rex! I wanted to! I really did! But each day, each day that went by, she became less and less like this Corra, who couldn't control her killing. And became Seven - a crossbreed between this new, polished, refined, mercenary-like, Seven, who could control the Corra. The old Seven, the Corra, was different and cunning, manipulative. But the new Seven, was, elegant, agile, strong, and accomplished, very adept." Sable explained.
"So, you did it to protect her, from herself?" I asked understanding.
"Exactly."
"So back to the original question, how are we gonna get her back?"
"I can't believe I'm letting you do this to me." Seven refused to Van Kliess in the eye as he made adjustments to the high tech cuffs. The girl was wearing a black power suit. The base was a black jumpsuit, heavy black rubber boots the fit close to her legs. She had a silver metal belt with amps, same thing on her wrists and neck. Then a large glowing circular circuit amplifier on her back made of silver metal and a light blue glow. Like an Van Kliess's only on her back and in silver and blue. Seven's hands were in some special cuffs that went to her elbow, and locked around her hands, and wrists. They were pulled to her sides, and linked to a reactor like machine. They were in Van Kliess's main terminal lab.
"Yes, well, this is for the best of you. I'm just taking away your pain." Van Kliess said. "Each day, you are in pain because of your energy nanite, Navitus. It is hard to control, and not so easy to bond with, it doesn't always work with you. Am I correct?"
"So you doing this to help me, but you're getting something good out of it? I hardly call that quid pro quo." Seven sneered.
"Never mind that, you don't have forever to reject my offers when will you decide to join us? Providence, isn't coming for you, they would have already. Rex, is dead. No one is coming to save you. Can't you just submit?"
"Van Kliess, I have a million reasons. I'm not alone and I know how to take care of myself." Seven stoically raised her head.
"Oh really, your intelligent, why haven't you escaped yet?" Van Kliess asked placing a hand on her face.
"Maybe I'm waiting for the right opportunity." Seven said.
Van Kliess wrapped his arms around Seven, and held her to his chest, stroking her back, then letting go gently. "That, I'm dreading. I know your upset and disconsolate, I just want you to be happy. And I don't think you understand, we can make you, jovial."
"We?" Seven stayed stoic.
Casten walked through the opening in the lab and down the steps, then walked up behind the older of the three. He had on the exact same clothing as Seven, but in the opposites colors."Yes, we. Casten, I, and the whole Pack, will become your family. You will feel safe and at home. You just have to submit to me, and complete the tasks I ask you to do."
"Then why am I cuffed and restrained?"
"Because you haven't yielded to me yet." Van Kliess took a step back.
Seven eyed Van Kliess and Casten, knowing better, "What do you really want with my nanite Navitus?"
Van Kliess smiled an tilted his head, "Corra, Seven, sweetheart; I was personally thinking, your DNA and Casten's DNA are similar enough to transfer." The dark man's smile had a hint of poison in it.
"So you're hoping to transfer one of the world's most unstable, dangerous, reactive nanites into Casten, hoping that his DNA is identical enough, and powerful enough to survive the potent effects of Navitus?" Seven asked unemotionally, trying to cut to the chase.
"Technically." Casten grinned evilly.
"You realize we're nothing alike. This is a huge risk." Seven's eyes glared ferociously, but her expression remained the same.
Van Kliess exhaled and questioned right back, "Think of what we're trying to achieve. You seem almost worried, my dear. Are you fearful for Casten?"
"Why would I be fearful. I've never shown worry, or fear, or care, as a mercenary. Why should that change?" Seven pushed right back.
"Well Corra. Let's begin the cycle." Van Kliess said as Casten hooked himself up to the opposite end of the reactor and spoke to Seven using his similar telepathy.
"Alice, I was wondering, when we get out of this? Will you join us, will you become my partner?" Casten asked.
Seven glared back, and tossed her ankle length hair backwards. "Never. When I get out of this, I'm going to-"
Casten cut her off instantly, What? You gonna beat me up? Teach me lesson? You don't scare me."
Seven smirked, "I was going to say - destroy you if my Navitus doesn't first. Understand?"
God I love cheesy punch lines, I hope you guys liked it! Please review I always love it! But no flames pleases, just kind Constructive Criticism. Oh yeah, should I use Six in the rescue? Thanks!