[Message from KC]: Hello! I am back for another update! Sorry it took so long, life just caught up to me :P and I know I say the same things in all of my messages:
-Reviews. Please. I can not stress this enough. Even if it's only a few words. Any type of review would be welcome at this point. I give major props to the only person who is reviewing right now (in fact she's my only motivation for updating right now) so keep in mind that more reviews=quicker and more chapter updates. I would also like to know more about what you guys think so far. Things you like, dislike (because if you tell me I can fix it, which I would actually appreciate), favorite chapters, scenes, characters, or even least favorite. I just want to know.
-plus, different poll on my profile now :P It won't take more than a minuet to vote...so go do it NAO!
P.S. The title of the chapter is entitled 'Locked-In Syndrome' not because of some hidden literary meaning, the chapter is literally about locked-in syndrome (or some form of it rather)
Chapter XX.
"Locked-In" Syndrome
"What is her plan for these filthy things anyway?" Anaxagoras growled, scowling down at the murky green stone as he and Meno stood upon a large balcony that overlooked Atmosia. He twirled the stone in between his fingers for a few moments, until he looked back up at Meno.
"I'm not sure," She replied with a slight shrug, "Whatever her plan was, it involved one of the two sciences…which means we needed Skyler for it."
"And unfortunately…" Cypress stated, with a smile as she glided out on to the balcony beside her lieutenants, "She is no longer our ally…but I've fortunately thought of something else. If we can't use Skyler, than do either of you two know a gifted Scientist to which we can gain easy access?"
"I'm sorry Master," Meno began, bowing in apology before Cypress, "I'm afraid I know not of who you speak of."
"As do I," Anaxagoras stated, looking down at the ground (knowing he was already on thin ice).
"Oh please you two," Cypress smiled, turning her back towards them and waving her hand in the space in front of her. A greenish smoke trailed from her fingertips and hung in the air before her. The vapors began to swirl before her and took the form of an oval that hung in front of her. But then, the image of something began to show through the haze. The image came into focus, almost as though Cypress had summoned a mirror from the greenish vapors, yet inside, they did not see their reflections. Rather, they saw a very familiar magenta haired Twilight Knight.
"That little runt Sora?" Anaxagoras scoffed, looking in the face of the young girl.
"That little runt is more powerful than both of you combined!" Cypress hissed, turning to them, "And her power is exactly what I need!" She snapped, turning away from them once again. She clapped her hands together, as a stream of clear water slithered out on to the balcony, much like a large snake. The water then bubbled up and took the form of Anaximander.
"You called for me," He stated flatly, bowing before his master. Cypress smiled at him confidently as she placed her hand upon his head.
"Rise," She stated, as he obliged, "I have a task for you…" She then placed her own murky green stone in his palm, and closed his fingers tightly around the stone, "Go to my sister's ship. Find the little girl."
"Sora?" He asked calmly.
"Indeed," Cypress smiled, nodding at him, "Place this amongst her things…and don't forget to give her this as well." She concluded, handing him a white envelope, upon which was silvery lettering.
"This looks like your sister's writing…" Anaximander stated, looking up at his Master. Cypress said nothing. She merely smiled deviously and gestured him to leave.
"Oh…" Cypress then called before he could slip off into the darkness, "And I forgot to mention…don't let anyone see you…"
"Yes master…" Anaximander stated, dissolving into the thin white mist and disappearing before them.
"And as for you," She stated, turning to Anaxagoras, "I've picked up some interesting information about my future heir…I believe she is letting her hormones get the better of her." She smiled darkly, "I'd like you to use your powers of overshadowing to…help her on, so to speak…and cause a little mayhem on the Tempest. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal," Anaxagoras smiled wickedly, knowing exactly what Cypress had meant.
"Now if you'll excuse me," Cypress then stated, "I must attend to our two very special guests…" Cypress then, turned away, stepping back into her obsidian sanctum. She began to head down one of the dark hallways, where she passed by a young red-haired man, casually leaning against one of the walls.
"What do you have up your sleeve?" Anaximenes demanded, crossing his arms as he turned to Cypress. She said nothing. She replied, by looking him over several times, as though trying to tell him to watch his tongue.
"That is none of your business," She smiled, turning around once she was halfway down the hallway, "It's your job to stay silent and do as you're told."
"Well I'm getting tired of that!" Anaximenes blurted out, wishing that he could keep his mouth shut. Cypress then turned back around to face him, and he could feel his body paralyze with fear as she walked back towards him.
"And why exactly should I care about what you want," Cypress asked, in almost a whisper, as she brushed her pale hand across his face. He replied, by swatting her hand away from his face. He then watched in slight shock (for he wasn't sure why he had swatted her away in the first place) and in some horror as he waited for her to eviscerate him, so something horrid like that. Rather, Cypress smiled, and placed her pale arms around his neck, standing terrifyingly close to him.
"Why you clever little boy…" She smiled, caressing the back of his head with her frigid hands, "You're not a coward at all are you? No…as it would seem you've put on quite the façade… you had Meno, myself, your brothers, and even yourself fooled this whole time, but my question to you, is why would you go through all the trouble to make yourself seem so weak in the eyes of others? What is it that you're hiding?" She then whispered in his ear as her lips brushed up against his skin.
"You'll just have to find out for yourself," He stated almost silently as he gently pulled away from you and headed down the hall.
"No need," Cypress laughed quietly to herself, "I already know."
The next day was somber to say the least. The dark clouds that hung over Atmosia began to stretch across all of Atmos, coating once beautiful terras in a thick layer of snow. There was never really such a thing as seasons in Atmos, seeing as how the weather on most terras remained the same all year. And, it was apparent that the locals and the ecosystem were starting to suffer from the sudden cold. Typically, when one thinks of snow, people usually think of beauty. However the only thing that the snow reminded the Atmosians of was death and suffering.
At first, when the snow began to spread, every terra in which it covered thought that they were the next in line to be culled. However, when they began to evacuate, Cypress never came. It was as though she was torturing the people, holding the treat literally over their heads, but never coming to act on it.
"What do you propose we should do now?" Nova asked, leaning upon the silver railing on the balcony outside of the flight deck. Advent was standing beside her, letting the cold air sting her face as they flew through the air.
"What if I were to die tomorrow?" Advent inquired, turning to look at Nova, "Then you would have to decide the proper course of action…"
"Excuse me Master but I-" Nova began. She then stopped once Advent turned and gave her a sharp look. Nova sighed and looked down at the ground.
"We can't do anything…" Advent replied.
"Well on the positive side," Nova sighed, looking into the gray clouds, "According to Jynx, the Sky Knights will be ready for battle within a few weeks."
"Then that's when we'll storm the citadel," Advent stated, "I know that numbers do not win wars, but there is a clear advantage to having them."
"Then you have a plan?" Nova asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No," Advent sighed, "But then again I rarely do…" She added, turning away from Nova, and heading back on to the flight deck. Nova then let out a sigh as she turned to look at the dark grey clouds before her. A shiver then went down her spine as the Tempest II sailed through the freezing air. She looked to the clouds once more before turning around and heading back on to the flight deck herself. Little to their knowledge though, the twilight knights were not alone.
Anaximander slipped through what little cracks and crevices of the ship in his vaporous form, looking down at the twilight knights as he gently floated above their heads. Where as his brother, Anaxagoras, stalked and kept a close eye upon them from within the very shadows cast upon the walls. He kept a particular watch on one Twilight Knight from within the darkness. His dark eyes were fixated on Finn, as he walked about the ship casually, completely oblivious to what ill-fate was about to befall him. While, Anaximander kept a watch on Sora, gently floating above her head in the form of an almost invisible mist.
For a split second, Sora left her crystal bag alone in the botanica for a few moments as she turned to look at a strange and exotic plant. He seized this moment and took a human form, kneeling beside Sora's bag. He slipped the murky green stone into the largest pocket, with the letter attached to it. He then heard Sora approaching and immediately formed back into the unseen mist. Sora lifted her bag off of the ground, ignorant of what was now inside of it, and she stepped out of the botanica. Anaximander let out a slight laugh as he phased through the walls of the ship, and began to gently float back to the obsidian sanctum.
Meanwhile, Anaxagoras was having more difficulty. He followed Finn for what felt like hours, awaiting the perfect time to strike. But he was never alone for one moment. At every chance Anaxagoras thought he had to possess Finn's body, someone entered the room, or hallway. It was as though some higher power was trying to send him a message telling him not to overshadow Finn.
By this point, he was watching the teen speak with Aerrow about matters unimportant, clenching his fists and grinding his teeth wishing that Aerrow would leave the hallway. That way, Finn would be completely alone. He watched as Aerrow nodded and smiled as he turned away from Finn and stepped out of the hall. Anaxagoras did not hesitate. He leapt from the shadows, and into the hallway.
"What the-!" Finn exclaimed, turning to look at the shadowy figure before him. Anaxagoras then immediately leapt towards his figure, bit rather than knocking Finn to the ground, he phased through him, or rather, into him. Finn let out a scream of pain as he gripped his chest and his eyes began to glow a bright green. He stopped after a few seconds and stood upright, looking down at his hands and feet triumphantly.
"HELLO!" Finn shouted, "Somebody come in here! Hello!" He continued to shout, but he suddenly realized that there was no voice coming from his mouth. In fact, he as it seemed, he wasn't even in control of his own body. All he could do was watch himself walk forward. He could still feel, and process what was going on, he just couldn't move.
"HELLO!" He continued in a feeble attempt to break through to any of the other knights, "ADVENT? NOVA! PIPER! ANYONE! HELP!"
"I'd shut up if I were you," He then heard himself speak, as he noted he was standing in front of a mirror, "No one can hear you except for me…and all of your yelling is starting to get on my nerves…"
"Who are you?" Finn asked himself, looking into the mirror. It was frightening him and disturbing him at the same time as he watched his own reflection laugh at him, knowing there was nothing he could do about it.
"You already know the answer to that question," He replied darkly, with a sinister smile.
"Well what did you do to me?" Finn shouted, waiting for his reflection to reply.
"I've overshadowed you," His reflection replied casually, "You are now trapped within the confines of your own mind…and I may do as I wish with your body…"
"Get OUT!" Finn demanded, wishing that he had control of his arms, "Get out of me now! What do you want with me anyway? Go overshadow Aerrow or the Dark Ace!"
"Remember what I said earlier about making noise?" His reflection replied darkly, "Besides…that's none of your business as to why the Master needs to use you…but if you promise to shut up…I'll make sure that when I kill you once I'm finished, your death with be tolerable…"
"What do you mean TOLERABLE?" Finn shouted in fear, but he was given no reply by his reflection. He just watched helplessly from within his own mind as his body stepped out of the hallway and headed towards the recreation deck. He stepped through the doors, and noted that there was only one person in the room. Cyclonis was sitting on one of the scarlet couches with her face buried in a book. She heard him step into the room, and turned to look at him.
"Finn," She began quietly, rising to her feet, "…hello…"
"Hey…" He began casually, looking her up and down. She watched him, watching her, and in truth, it made her uncomfortable. She had never been looked at in such a way before.
"Listen," She began, looking around the room to make sure that they were alone, "As long as it is just the two of us here-"
"We're alone…" He interrupted, looking over her in that way again, "Does that bother you?"
"N-no…" Cyclonis replied, looking down at the floor. She knew something was off about Finn. He wasn't acting at all like himself, and Anaxagoras knew that she was possibly on to him, "Listen…I wanted to talk to you in private…about what happened on the night of the conference."
"Don't say anything!" Finn tried to shout, but the sounds of his cries merely echoed in his head, never once leaving his mouth, "It's not me! Can't you see that?"
"You…didn't enjoy it?" Finn asked casually, looking down at his fingernails.
"What?" Cyclonis asked, slightly confused by his strange behavior, "N-no! I did…please don't misinterpret that-"
"Wait…" Finn thought, knowing that whatever he had to say was going to be trapped within his mind until he no longer overshadowed, "She…she liked it? Why didn't she tell me…"
"It's just that…" Cyclonis continued, looking down at the ground, "I don't think it is in the best interest of the squadron…or for us for that matter…if we pursue these feelings…"
"I don't think so…" Finn thought, feeling distraught, knowing that he couldn't tell her so at that particular moment.
"I disagree," The words left his mouth, much to Finn's surprise. Cyclonis looked a little surprised, and relieved at the same time. She approached him, as though she wanted to place her hands on him, but there was something about the way he was looking at her that unnerved her so, "Is something the matter?" He asked, stepping towards her.
"Run…" Finn thought, as he noted the look of confusion on her face, "Cyclonis please…run!" But it was no use, for she could not hear him.
"It's just that…" Cyclonis began, looking him up and down as he placed his hand on her face. Finn was relieved to find that he could still feel, and was at least in some control of his senses, "You're not acting like yourself…"
"How would you know," He replied haughtily as he placed his hands on her waist and began to pull her in slightly, "You've only known me for a few weeks…"
"Excuse me?" Cyclonis asked, slightly offended by his remark.
"Just shut it…" He muttered, moving to push his lips against hers.
"What!" Cyclonis snapped, pushing him away from her, "No! Finn, this isn't like you! I know that for a fact! What on earth has gotten into you?"
"One of Cypress' crazy goons!" Finn exclaimed in a vague attempt to communicate, "Cyclonis go get someone! Anyone! Just get out of here!" Cyclonis pushed him off of her and quickly headed for the door to the hall.
"I'm sorry," The Pseudo-Finn began, gently seizing her by the elbow. She turned to look at him, with anger in her eyes. She then noted that the strange look was gone, and replaced with that of a more sincere. Obviously, Anaxagoras was re-assessing his strategy.
"Apology excepted," Cyclonis sighed, turning away from the door.
"NO!" Finn shouted, "Don't listen to him! Please! Just get out of here! How can you not tell that this isn't me!"
"Good," The Pseudo-Finn replied with a pleasant smile as he pulled her back against him. He pushed his lips against hers, parting them, and making an attempt to part hers. At first, she refused, but feeling his soft tongue against her lips, made her cave. They held on for what seemed like hours, mouths opened, tongues twisting and writing behind their lips. Finn then felt his body pull away from her, and their lips parted. She looked at him in confusion as he smiled at her and took a step back, playfully gesturing her to follow him.
"What are you doing?" Finn demanded, but his pseudo-self gave him no answer. She followed him all the way into the men's residential wing, where he stopped in front of his room.
"Aren't you coming in?" He asked quietly. She took a deep breath and took a few steps towards him.
"Hey!" They heard a voice snap from down the hall then. They both turned to look, and noted that the Dark Ace was headed towards them, "Cyclonis what are you doing here? You know it's restricted!"
"I'm sorry," She replied nervously, looking down at the ground, "I was…just talking to Finn about something…"
"In his room?" Ace sighed, with disappointment, looking to the two of them. He then turned his gaze to Cyclonis, "leave…" He demanded, pointing down the hallway. She said nothing as she accepted his wishes and left the hallway. Finn then gave Ace a hateful look as he moved to close his door. Ace looked quizzically at Finn, and shoved his foot in the door before it could shut, "What has gotten into you?" Ace demanded, throwing the door back open.
"Get out," the Pseudo-Finn demanded, looking hatefully at Ace, "I don't owe you any explanations…" Ace took a deep breath, trying to ignore the impertinence. He then took the false Finn by the wrist and dragged him out into the hallway, "Let go!" he hissed, trying to make Ace release his grasp on him.
"No!" Ace snapped, "If you're not going to follow Advent's rules, than you'll have to explain yourself to her! You'd better have a good reason for trying to bring our leader's daughter into your room Finn…"
"I said let GO!" The fake Finn hissed, wrenching one of his hands free. With an inhuman force, the Pseudo-Finn threw his hand across Ace's face. Ace let out a scream as he released the teen from his grip. The false Finn then looked down at Ace, noting that he had both of his hands firmly pressed against his face, right where he had been struck (Which was practically the entire right side of his face). A sufficient amount of blood was seeping from in between his fingers, and with shock, Ace pulled his hands away from his face to reveal four long gashes in his skin, stretching from his forehead to his neck.
"What the hell Finn!" Ace shouted, applying pressure to the wound again. He looked at the teen, and noticed that something was definitely amiss. Finn looked crazed. He stared down at Ace almost as though he wanted to kill him, right there. There was some unseen evil flickering in his eyes and Ace's blood was collected under the fingernails of his right hand.
"What on earth is going on in here!" Nova demanded, rushing into the hallway. She looked down at the bleeding Ace, and then to Finn. She looked stunned, for she didn't think that someone like Finn was capable of doing something like that, "What did you do?" Nova demanded, seizing his bloodied hand, and turning to look at Ace, "For heaven's sake Anteres? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine…" Ace replied looking a little pale as he stumbled to his feet. Nova then turned her attention to the Pseudo-Finn, and stared darkly into his eyes for a few moments.
"You're not Finn…" Nova stated darkly, as though literally looking inside of him.
"Thank god for you Nova!" Finn shouted from trapped within his mind.
"If I'm not Finn," The false Finn replied, pulling his hand away from Nova, "Then tell me…who am I?"
"I don't know," Nova hissed, throwing her hand on to his face, "But I'm going to find out!" She exclaimed as her arm began to glow, and in a flash of white light that flooded the hall, Nova disappeared, and all that was left in the room was Ace, and Finn's unconscious body.
"Doctor Constantine!" Ace then shouted, lifting Finn's body off of the ground, and rushing towards the infirmary.
"Good heavens!" Doctor Constantine exclaimed, as Finn's body lied upon one of the examination tables before her. Ace sat upon a table next to that one, where Cloud was gently using her powers to heal the scars on his face, "It appears whatever malevolent force has overcome the body of dear Finn has also trapped him…and from what you tell me Ace, Nova, inside of his own mind…"
"So…" Cyclonis began, standing with the other high priority twilight knights, "Finn was possessed…this whole time?" She asked, sounding a little relieved.
"Yes," Doctor Constantine nodded, "But I believe that he and Nova are trapped within him."
"Locked-In Syndrome?" Stork asked, turning to the Doctor.
"I believe so," Doctor Constantine nodded somberly.
"Well can't Cyclonis and I just use our powers to go inside his mind and wake him up?" Piper asked, "I've done it before with Advent."
"I'm afraid it doesn't work that way," Doctor Constantine sighed, looking down at the ground, "You could have prior to Finn falling unconscious, but I'm afraid if you made the attempt now, you would most likely either be trapped within yourself, or you would run the risk of completely demolishing the minds of all three occupants of Finn's body."
"There's got to be something we can do!" Aerrow exclaimed, looking down at Finn with some despair.
"I'm sorry to say that there is nothing that can be done," Constantine sighed, "All we can do is wait and hope that Nova and Finn can defeat whoever is overshadowing him."
"I don't understand though," Piper began, looking down at Finn's body, "How did he get knocked out anyway?"
"I think it had something to do with Nova entering his mind as well," Doctor Constantine sighed, placing her hand on the unconscious teen's forehead, "Even the most powerful minds have difficulty containing more than one conscious being. I'm sure that when Nova entered, Finn's mind probably couldn't handle sustaining all three within the same body, so he must have shut down."
"I thought Nova was a fighter though," Aerrow then added.
"That's right," Doctor Constantine replied, "…Oh! I understand now! You're wondering how she entered his mind in the first place. Well just between all of us, Advent's been teaching some of the other Twilight Knights Runeology and Symbology under the council's nose. It's very possible that Nova could know something."
"I've never heard of the science doing that!" Sora chirped, looking all too confused.
"I think only crystal mages can," Piper explained.
"Nova didn't have a crystal," The Dark Ace explained looking up at Constantine and the others, his scars still deep and only half healed, "So she couldn't have used either of the sciences, or crystal magic…"
"Very strange," Doctor Constantine sighed, gently running her hair through Finn's hair, "Well I will do what I can…I believe that I may be able to do something to get the body conscious, but I can't be too sure about getting them all out."
"Finn!" Nova called, pushing through a dark black fog in what appeared to be an endless void, "Finn are you in here?"
"Nova?" She heard him call from within the darkness, "Where are you?"
"I'm right here!" She stated calmly, "Just follow the sound of my voice!" She looked through the darkness, and saw nothing. She turned around to see someone running towards her from within the darkness. She moved to pull out her gun, on the off chance that it wasn't Finn, but neither of her guns were in their holsters.
"Nova!" Finn exclaimed, coming into focus. She let out a sigh as she stepped towards him and caught the blonde teen in her arms as he leapt towards her.
"Are you alright?" Nova asked, looking him over.
"I'm fine," Finn stated, only barely looking at Nova through the darkness, "What about the Dark Ace?"
"He's cut up pretty good," Nova sighed, "But he'll be fine…I must admit you gave us quite the scare…Wait…how did you know about Anteres?"
"I've seen everything!" Finn exclaimed, "It's just that someone else was in control! Nova you gotta believe me, I didn't do that stuff!"
"I know…" Nova replied, "I'm here to find out who did! Now tell me, what do you remember?"
"I was talking to Aerrow…" He replied, thinking for a moment, "And then, I was going to go find Cyclonis…to talk to her about-" He stopped for a moment, realizing that it probably wasn't the best idea to mention the kiss, "…it's not that important…anyway, then some guy jumped out of nowhere, and then…nothing!"
"That's no good," Nova sighed, looking down into the black abyss below her feet.
"Nova…" Finn then asked, trying to make eye contact with her, "How did you get in here anyway? I mean…how did you get in me?"