13

The Mess Meal

~~~~OO~~~~

Tyson wasn't sure he'd heard correctly. "Wh-what did you say?"

"I said," Boris said, "she's dead."

It felt like the ground had slipped from below his feet. "I don't believe you."

"Don't then," Boris said smugly, "Though I owe you my gratitude."

At Tyson's confused look, he elaborated, "Science doesn't apply on her until she consents. Because she regained consciousness as June," Boris spat the name out with disdain, "we had to change her. Erase all her memories of her life with you and give her back her own memories – of the real person she was before BEGA happenings. And until she stepped in the procedure willingly, we couldn't do a thing."

Tyson's throat tightened. Despite so little chances, she had woken up as June. He now realised why June was so beaten up. They had no doubt resorted to force once June did not succumb through talks.

"Thanks to your...ah, motivating encounter, she gave in her willingness to reset her memories. Long story short," Boris turned and knocked on the door, "no one's going to answer when you call out 'sister' again."

A guard opened the door from outside and throwing one last glance at Tyson, Boris stepped out.

"Wait – you –" Tyson started but he was late. He collided straight with the closed door. At least the electric barrier was gone.

He groaned with pain and sat resting his back against the door. A part of him still doubted the credibility of Boris Balkov but deep down, he knew how easily after knowing about his lies June would have agreed to change herself. They had erased everything of June from within that girl killing his only sister in the process.

He suddenly started missing Hilary way too much.

~~~~OO~~~~

When his door slid open after probably a whole day of staring at the walls, Tyson was glad to have something as a distraction.

"Mess Meals," The guard said and hoisted Tyson up.

"I can walk on my own," he growled and the guard left his arm. He was dressed in dark blue uniform complete with black boots and gloves. He had two guns – one in his hands, one strapped to his belt and a spear strapped to his back which seemed weird to Tyson.

"What's a Mess Meal?" Tyson asked, trying to clear his head a bit. "I mean I know it has got to do with food."

"Done on every Saturday evening," the guard replied in a very heavy accented voice and definitely in a rather put out tone, "Everyone in the facility is let in the Mess Hall to eat together. Helps to protect the sanity of prisoners and I am not answering anymore questions."

Tyson, who had just opened his mouth to ask something again, clamped it shut.

They walked past three more cells, Tyson guessed some of his friends would be in here – he had seen Ray on his way to washroom earlier. The guard stopped him past the last cell and motioning the other guards positioned outside each cell to have a watch on him, went ahead to punch in codes in the automated fibre glass doors.

He considered making a run for it but in the hallway filled with so many guards and dangerous weapons, he discouraged the idea. Behind him, another cell opened. He was so glad to see Max coming out of it that he wanted to hug the blond to death then and there but he controlled himself. This, perhaps, was not the place.

"Tyson!" Max squealed with delight and the guard shot him a glare. He mumbled an apology and Tyson couldn't help but let the infectious smile of Max Tate spread on his lips. The huge doors slid open and Max and Tyson were taken out one by one. Tyson noticed the doorframe acted like a metal detector because it buzzed when the guards passed by it.

They were not allowed to talk but Tyson felt glad that Max was there. This place had done quite a visible damage to him. Max's whole body was pale like he hadn't eaten in days and his eyes were sunken. Even the new twinkle in them and the morning bath couldn't hide that fact.

They walked down hallways of black marble floors and stone walls, their footsteps echoing in the silence. Tyson tried keeping track of the way but he soon felt his head would explode. There were simply too many turns and crossways... it appeared they were navigating through a maze.

Finally they reached two large oak doors manned by men in jumpsuits who grinned at the guards and pushed the doors open.

"The Mess Hall," Max mouthed to him.

Various groups of people rested inside together, laughing, joking and chatting so freely it almost looked like they had entered a new world. There were drinking challenges and knife throwing contests going on, and the place essentially smelled of fresh salt water. There were several long wooden tables labelled for various people. 'Security Personnel' had guards sitting around; men in black cloaks occupied the one labelled 'Clerics', 'Lab Personnel' had men in white lab coats – scientists – Tyson guessed. There was bound to be a research facility too then. He kept that thought aside for later use.

Another table was labelled as 'Agents' and it had the least number of people and the most normal looking ones – without any specific uniform code. 'Workers' table had men in jumpsuits, like the one who had been manning the oak doors and they seemed to be in a nice debate with the Lab Personnels. Lastly, Tyson spotted the table labelled 'Prisoners'.

No sooner did the guards left after motioning them towards that table, that Max pulled Tyson in a bone-crushing hug. "TYSON! I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU! The way you were sleeping for the past 12 days we thought you were dead!"

Tyson hugged him tighter, but didn't reply. He still felt bitter thinking about June. Max pulled away and put an arm around his shoulder, "Dude, we saw what happened. Don't worry, things will be fine."

Tyson wanted to ask how, but they had reached the table and everyone welcomed him with smiling faces and all the questions were forgotten. Tala, Daichi and Kenny sat there with many other prisoners – all dressed in sky blue shirts and pants. His friends were definitely looking paler and smaller since he had last seen them. Again, the early morning baths couldn't quite cover the damage this place was inflicting upon them.

"Here's our Sleeping Beauty," greeted Tala, "Who kissed you awake, princess?"

"Shut up." Tyson laughed. Daichi jumped over him and Kenny hugged him. After a bit of chatting up, Max and Daichi started to play with spoons pretending them to be swords. Tyson smiled at seeing them. Kids.

"I haven't touched them...yet."

His feet felt numb as Tyson forced that voice out of his head. He didn't want to think what Boris could or could not do to his friends. And at that precise moment, someone approached their table and he'd be damned if he thought of anything else in her presence.

Hilary was standing there wearing that beautiful smile with just the right amount of happiness and excitement that even though she had been his girlfriend for over a year now, Tyson's heart did a big somersault upon seeing her. She was wearing light blue pants of the standard prisoner uniform and a black t-shirt so she stood out from other prisoners. Her hairs were a mess, messier that June and that was saying something. She probably hadn't slept for days; there were dark circles under her eyes, but she was still the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.

He jumped to his feet, toppling off two chairs, and threw his arms around her and almost as if on instinct, her arms wrapped around his waist. He ignored all the guards who had their weapons out in a flash. For a while nothing else mattered. A meteor could've fallen and wiped out half of human population and Tyson wouldn't have cared. Because in that moment, he felt himself lighten up from the entire load he was carrying inside him. All the guilt, worry, bitterness, anger and resentment – it just seemed to vanish away by her touch.

How did she have this effect on him? He would never know. But he suddenly realized how alone he truly had been those last days and how much he had missed her.

And then, Hilary pulled away and punched Tyson square in the face.

"What-"

She grabbed him by his collar, her face inches from him. "I swear to God Tyson, if you ever..." her voice trailed away as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Tyson understood without her saying. Max had said that they had seen his encounter with June which meant Hilary had seen him getting blasted away. He had been unconscious for 12 days and considering how isolated prisoners were kept here locked up in cells Hilary would've known nothing about how he was. If he had been in her place, he would be dying with worry too. Not to mention her punch hurt badly.

"Never," he promised and Hilary hugged him again, silent tears hitting his shoulder.

He didn't want to leave her, he had missed her terribly. But the guards, workers and clerics were glaring and frowning at them. They had taken up too much time. And he didn't want to test the patience of these people.

He placed a light kiss on her cheek and they both sat down at the table, Tyson still holding her hand.

Ray and Kai were brought in soon after that along with some other prisoners. As soon as the announcements were made for the guards to line up for food and the dudes in Dark Blue uniform lined up like trained ants, the big doors of the Hall were closed.

Tyson looked around. There was no sign of Hiro. He started to get up but Max pulled him down.

"Don't. Hiro won't come," Max said, not meeting his eyes.

"What do you mean?"

Max glanced at Ray and Tala. An understanding passed between them like it's time. Ray nodded to them and spoke to Tyson – "I think you should know this Tyson... Hiro is being kept under special supervision directly under Boris. Last Mess Meal, Hades told us so. You remember him, right?"

"Of course I bloody remember that bastard," How could he not? "But why Hiro? What's he done to them?"

"BEGA," Hilary said. Tyson looked at her incredulously, "You're telling me this is some revenge bullshit?"

"Sort of," she said, "But mainly..." she took a deep breath and looked around. Tala nodded to her. "We all have been brought here because we know the secret of Boris."

"What secre- Oh. June."

"Yes," Kenny shifted in his seat. "Hades clearly said that the first time they attacked, they only wanted June back but since we knew too much about her, we had to be removed from the scene too. It's only my guess, but I think BioVolt has been using her powers since a long time. Back in the first championship to create artificial bit-beasts and then with BEGA to... I don't know. But I have been researching her powers since past three years and I can guarantee she has billions of uses."

"That still doesn't explain why we are here." Either he had gone insane and was unable to understand anything going on, or was Boris.

"It does," Kai said at last. He crossed his arms over his chest. "We – especially you Tyson – led the side against Boris every time. He wouldn't want us knowing and propagating... his secret weapon."

"So... if Hiro and I hadn't told you guys about June, you wouldn't be here?" That was it. It was his entire fault. It had to be. No one ever knew about June before that vacation and everything had been fine till then.

"No – Tyson -" Hilary turned him so that he faced her, "No one is blaming you, alright? None of us. And you also must not. We all knew that once Boris and Voltaire come out of Jail they will break havoc. It's not your fault and you're not going to believe anyone who says otherwise. Even that thick stupid brain of yours. Understand?"

"No. It's my fault. I shouldn't have pulled you all in this mess."

"No," At times like this, Tyson couldn't decide whether he liked Hilary's bossy attitude or not. "Even if you didn't tell us, we'd have known eventually. And if not for June, this way or the other we all were destined to land in somewhere like this because Boris and Voltaire wouldn't die without having a revenge. But now, we have to concentrate to getting out of here because at least I don't want to spend a whole life in that grey cell and for that you – Tyson Granger – need to keep a clear head." She finished and stared straight in his eyes, daring him to say anything else.

Tyson looked around at his friends. Ray gave him a terse nod and Max patted him. "Fine," he muttered at last and if not anything else, it was worth that smile that spread on Hilary's face.

"Are you sure you can clear your head, Tyson?" Daichi quipped, pointing his spoon at him, "Wouldn't you require ten brooms for sweeping that much rubbish?"

"At least its lot less than 75 brooms that you would require," Tyson said, and he noticed even Kai's lips turning in a thin smile.

"But... But he takes drugs! I saw it... in his mind... If you're not an idiot you too should've guessed that Hilary's rejection can't be the only reason for his breakdown! Your friend's addicted!"

Tyson forced down the guilt welling up inside him as he remembered how desperate June had sounded when she told him that and he had elected not to believe it. But then, had he ever truly believed her?

One of the guys in jumpsuit barked an order for them to line up for food and they obliged. As they inched forward in the line of 30 prisoners, Tala struck up a conversation with another prisoner. The food smelled appetizing and it was enough to lift Tyson's spirit a teensy little bit. They went back to their table and as they gorged in the food, Tala relayed what he had learned.

"This whole facility is built underground and it has served as the secret headquarters of BioVolt for years. It's called-"

"I thought InterPol clamped it down!" Ray said in a hushed tone.

"BioVolt was shut down but because no one knows about the existence of this place, it was left unharmed by any of the events. They call it 'Kryptos'" At Max's confused look, Tala sighed, "It's Greek for 'hidden'. There's camera surveillance 24x7–"

"Noticed that much," Daichi muttered.

"– and 12 inch steel walls separating various zones. We are in the South Zone – it comprises of Prison Compound, Mess Hall and the Training Arena."

"What's Training Arena?" Tyson asked but Tala ignored.

"Entry in the Prison Compound is only by logging in special codes which are changed daily. None of the prisoners have been out of the South Zone since long so they don't know what awaits there."

"Okay... sounds like it's going to be tough getting out of here," Kenny's comment pretty much summed what was going in everyone's mind. "Only if I had Dizzy...Argh!"

Suddenly the big oak doors flew open and in strode the person Tyson least wanted to see.

Hades strutted inside as if he fucking owned this place.

People saluted him, the clerics gave a him brief nod and greeted him. The occupants of the hall suddenly seemed to go stiffer than they previously were. Laughing and chatting hushed down noticeably. Most of the people weren't meeting his eyes.

He threw his cloak off and ordered two plates of food to be prepared as he lounged on his chair at ease titling it back on two legs. Dark hairs, sea-green eyes and rippling muscles, Hades was rather handsome in a rugged sort of way.

Every ounce of Tyson's blood wanted to confront him, or kill him preferably. He didn't notice that he had been gripping his spoon way too hard until Hilary nudged him in side. Hades was walking towards them.

"So," he said, all haughty and smug, "how are our special prisoners? Having fun, I hope?"

"You bastard!"

"Tyson, no!" Hilary shouted but Tyson was up and had Hades with the scruff of his neck. The guards dining there had their weapons out again and closed in on their table. Hades raised a hand to stop them from shooting.

"What have you done with my brother? WHERE IS HE?!" Tyson roared.

"Oh he's fine," Hades said, "He just has to pay for betraying us."

Tyson was white with rage. He raised his hand to punch Hades square in the face when there was a 'Boom!', a blue light and Tyson was blasted off 10 feet towards the wall.

"Tyson!" Hilary and Max shouted at the same time and ran towards him. The guards blocked them mid-way with their spears. Some others hoisted Tyson up. It had just been a big bang push, Tyson wasn't bleeding but he had hit the wall hard and that was going to bruise badly.

He got up dazed but his eyes were wide with realization. That was an energy blast! It wasn't as hard as the previous one that made him sleep for 12 days, but damn, it hurt. He looked up at his attacker, his heart thumping in his chest.

She stood at the entrance of the hall, her hand outstretched and blue curls of energy dancing around her palm. Her purple hairs were worn down in a braid though he could still see wisps of black - courtesy of the hair colour that he used to make June wear to disguise her. She had a dagger strapped to her belt and her grey t-shirt was soaked in sweat. He found her eyes distracting - steel silver, alert and intense with a haunted, scary emptiness to them - he thought he had recently seen them somewhere else but couldn't quite pinpoint where.

All in all, he was looking at a person he knew yet did not know.

The whole Hall went dead silent and everyone stood up acknowledging her presence. Only Hades seemed unaffected.

"I would like to know," he said walking towards her, "just what made you think I needed saving?" His tone was amused but authoritative, like someone commanding a subordinate.

She lowered her hand and spoke in Russian. Hades's expression turned grim and angry with each passing word. When she finished, he turned to address the whole hall.

"Everyone, positions!" He glared at them, the prisoners as if they were the cause for everything wrong in this world, "We have an emergency. Command Sequence 14 activated!"

~~~~OO~~~~