Chapter 9: Archer Scolding and Rider's Pain
The ambulance left and Archer's attention is now at Rider, Athena, Sniper, Illumina, and Strider who is still in bad shape.
"I do not know where you got that crazy idea you can handle this yourself. Magician has almost been killed," said Archer.
"Magician was fine through the whole way until Axl transported her," protested Athena.
"Ok that leaves her out of that mess. Then tell me what is the big idea that all of you went without consulting me," said Archer.
"It was my fault. I talk to Magician to ask her of the coordinates. I let her babble on of people who she wanted to be on this expedition. I should of stopped her and have some of you guys around," said Rider.
"Again Rider you are useless. You manage to disobey and tell me information first," said Archer as he smacks Rider in the face and Rider is in the ground. All that were in that room was in shock. Zero was not pleased at Archer. Axl was not happy either. Both have the attention of killing Archer. Rider stands up and Archer walks away.
"Let me teach him a lesson," said Athena who is being hold back by Rider's tears. Strider looks at Archer in hatred. Iris went to Rider's aid.
"Why do you let him hit you," said Athena. Rider did not say anything. Strider look at Rider.
"No guy has the right to hit a female. I know from experience," said Strider as she had her flashbacks.
"Tamako Hokisho," said a guys voice as Strider was on a kimono look like a servant.
"Yes love," said Tamako as she looks at her husband. The guy was disrespectful and hit Tamako in the face.
"You are a worthless wife. The dishes are not done. Dinner is not ready. The garden is still looks horrible. What do you think I married?" shouted the guy. Strider looks at the guy mad.
"I have been trying my best. I am about due with our son," said Tamako. The guy hits her again.
"You are again worthless. Even with child you bare," said the guy as he was ready to hit her his hardest is when Strider stopped him.
"Hayate Hokisho. I did not raise you to hit on woman especially if she is pregnant," said Strider.
"Strider this is a family's feud. I did not want you to barge in something like this. Your job is to protect not to invade," said Hayate. Strider looks mad and Hayate and help Tamako out as her flashbacks ended.
"I vow myself that no matter who is the female she won't be touch under my watch," Strider thought, "And yet I am letting it happened again."
"I agree with Strider on that one. A woman should not be harmed if she is not the start of the fight," said Axl.
"He... He find me useless because I am blind," sobbed Rider. Everyone look at Rider. Rider calm herself down alittle.
"About 30 years ago. I was activated. I work for Marco McGrellan. He had other reploid servants but none were built by his hands. I was the only one. Marco had not treated me like his other servants. He had treated me like his slave. Anything went wrong would means the blame is on me. He would punish me by grabbing hooks and pierce through both of my armor. Then he will take some frayed wires and wrapped it around me and plug the wires to an outlet. The electrical surges would go through my body and I would be in wailing pain. Though who helped me through all of this was Marco's son Nathan. Nathan I would called a brother. He had visions of going out and start a new life. However Marco want Nathan to run the family's business. Nathan refuses but Marco kept him from going to college. One day I helped Nathan to escape and he went on to college. Every time he gets to write a letter I would receive it. When he was graduating, he wrote a final letter to me that he was accepted and start his job soon. I was happy for him. Marco found that letter. I remember his words he said that day. 'If you been receiving letters and read them then I take something you held dear.' He took me hook me up then grab a harpoon and jabbed them into my optical receptors. Both of my eyes were heavily damage and I could not see anymore. The last time I have been there was the day I have escaped. I am still called Rider but not Rider McGrellan. I am called Rider Star," said Rider. Strider looks at Rider. A reploid surviving her creators beating. Strider has something similar but then again she fought back. Strider was thankful that her creators were nice but the son she raised was not.
"Well if I can help I can try to fix those optical nerves and hopefully get your site back. After all, I had fix reploids before," said Athena. Illumina and everyone look at Athena with the exception of Strider.
"What you think spending time with my creator I did not pick up something?" said Athena.
"Dr. Melody Halsberg did revive Spirit and fix majority of the reploids in the Search and Rescue team. I won't be surprised that you have some of her knowledge," said Strider.
"Well that makes sense. Did you ever fix a reploid yourself?" asked Iris. Athena smiled.
"Yes I have. I have also done DNA resurrection before it was banned. Not a pleasant past but I have manage to resurrect three reploids then they turned Maverick so I have to kill them myself before anyone else get hurt. I reconstruct Illumina here who turns out fine and I fixed Strider countless times. Which reminds me Strider we need to fix you up from your injuries," said Athena. Everyone looks at Strider who was still sparking here and there.
"Ok then fix Strider up. I will be next. I am in no rush. My eyes can still be hidden within a visor," said Rider as she hidden herself.
"No point of doing that when I can still see you," said Sniper. Rider reappeared and remembered Magician is at the hospital.
"Athena, Strider why don't you follow me to Dr. Marril he probably let you use his equipments," said Rider.
"I know where he is thank you," said Athena. Rider again cloaked herself and left. Axl and Zero were not in a happy mood. Iris took Zero by the hand and Zero looked at Iris.
"It will be fine. We should not worry about it for now. If the situation comes up then we will do something about it," said Iris. Zero started to calm down a little from Iris words.
"Still Archer does not have any right-" said Axl as Illumina was right behind Axl looking at him.
"I know but right now we should let it slide. He has to be careful that the rest of us who are older than him are very considerate and will not hesitate to hurt him or worse kill him," interrupted Illumina. Axl looks at Illumina.
"Well as for the rest I am going to sleep. I have been a night watcher already for one night. I would like to catch some sleep," said Sniper as her stomach says another thing.
"Looks like you are more hungry than sleepy," said Illumina.
"Well I will introduce the others to Zero," said Axl as he also looks at the girl who is standing next to him.
"Oh yeah Iris this is Axl," said Zero as he looks at Axl. Iris looks at the black reploid with an X scar on his face.
"Please to meet you," said Iris. Axl blushed and hold his hand out shaking Iris's hand.
"Like wise. Well it would be rude of me not having everyone else not to get introduced to you," said Axl. Axl left with Zero and Iris. Sniper take Illumina to town where she had her spaghetti last time. Illumina followed her into town and Rider tag along behind.
"So you are joining us Rider," said Sniper. Rider uncloaked herself and still look sad.
"I might as well. After all I haven't shown you my apartment. You can sleep there when you finish eating," said Rider.
"Ok thank you Rider," said Sniper. The trio went to the restaurant and eat a good meal. Illumina tried the spaghetti and Sniper had the big breakfast. Rider had Pancakes with eggs and bacon. At the end all three finished their meals and Rider paid for them both.
"It is my treat," said Rider. Illumina and Sniper look at each other and all three left. Rider had lead them to the Innerspace apartments where it was not far from the restaurant they had eaten.
"Here we are, this is where Magician and I live," said Rider. Illumina look at the huge building and was shock to see how many windows there were a slate gray apartment. Rider walked in and the other two followed.
"Ah Rider its been a while. You want your key," said the font desk lady. Illumina look at the inside and find nice orange inside and the people here were lively. She felt like she was in a five star hotel. Sniper had that feeling as well.
"Yes ma'am," said Rider the front desk gave her the key to her apartment and Rider nudge the other two with her.
"I feel displace here," said Illumina. Rider look at both Sniper and Illumina and wonder what they meant.
"I felt like this place was a five star hotel," said Sniper. Both of them had that uncomfortable feeling and it was getting to Rider.
"Well now a days five star hotels has mini spas, message people, soft beds, and looks way better than this apartment," said Rider, "Magician used to work in one of those hotels and have magazines of them. This place just barely pass top five best apartments. If it wants to go one star hotel it just needs cooks and a huge kitchen."
"Why didn't they," said Illumina. Rider looks at Illumina and sighs. She still feels blue.
"The owner of this place finds that all of hotels tries to compete with one another and will shut down each other. He is right though so he kept this place as an apartment. To avoid losing any business and not compete with other hotels," said Rider. Rider got to the room that was the only one in Braille.
"This is our room," said Rider. The others look at the number. Room 511 A. Rider open the door. Illumina found a black cat sleeping on the couch. The place was fine nothing special. The cat opens its eyes and look at rider.
"Meow," said the cat as it jumps off the couch and walks straight toward Rider's leg.
"Hello Isis how is my favorite black cat today," said Rider as she holds the cat in her arms.
"I take it that is your cat," said Illumina. Rider felt the purr of Isis and smiled at the cat.
"Actually, magician found her as a kitten and decided to keep her. It did not bother me. Isis here is a good kitty," said Rider.
"Oh I see," said Illumina. Sniper had look around and saw three rooms total a kitchen and a living room.
"So where am I going to sleep," said Sniper. Rider went to the guest room and open it. It was pretty basic. Has a drawer, a bed, lights, and a mirror.
"It looks like a human can sleep here," said Illumina who is looking for a capsule that she was used to.
"Nowadays reploids and humans can sleep on beds. I know 700 years of the future it is a huge difference for you but hopefully you two might get adjusted," said Rider.
"I still find any place fine," said Sniper as she went to the support beam and get herself comfortable.
"I normally sleep on post that were harder than this but this place will do," said Sniper as she started to fall asleep.
"I will stay in this apartment until Sniper wakes up," said Illumina. Rider closed the door and let the sleepy reploid alone.
"This room here is my room," said Rider as she opens it. Illumina again saw nothing different like the guest room with only few pictures. Illumina walks in and saw the picture of the human boy and Rider goofing off.
"That boy in the picture is Nathan. That day it was summer and he wanted to play outside. I joined him. One of the servants taken that picture twice that day. Nathan has one and I have the other," said Rider.
"Have you ever wrote to him after you escaped," said Illumina. Rider looks down and sigh.
"I did once, I find out he was married and have three children. His wife wrote to me to stop writing or she will tell Marco my location. I got scared and stop writing to him," said Rider. Illumina put the picture down and walked out of the room. Rider followed her and they open the last room.
"This room is Magician's room," said Rider. Once the two open it an eerie feeling coming from the room. The room looks normal but the eerie feeling was like they are intruders.
"I forgot about this enchantment. Magician told me that she is the only one who can dispel the enchantment. Now I see why lets leave her room alone. We do not want anything that can cause troubles to us," said Rider. Illumina agreed and shut the door the enchantment spell wore off and a seal appears on the door.
"Well you can sit here in the living room. There are the magazines I say that magician used to work," said Rider.
"You better get going. Athena is probably done with Strider and wants you back to fix your eye sight," said Illumina.