Well... this is going to be an emotional ride in this chapter. :/ You'll find out once you read this chapter, but... yeah, that's all I'm totally going to say. XD I've had this chapter written for... I don't know how many weeks, but I know that this is one of the strongest chapters I have ever written, and I hope you'll like this!
DCFan4ever: Thank you~! Those feels will explode once you read this chapter, so be ready. ^_^
Alyssa: Favorite what? XD If you're talking about characters, then it is hands down, Oblio. But then again, I do adore Kerith and Angel.
MikuHatsuneLove: Be patient, dear. :) I hope they'll make it out okay- Oh wait, I'm the one writing this. XD
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~Chapter Twenty-Five: Secrets Revealed~
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"You want us to do what?" Luce asked in shock. Without notice, she felt Oblio's hand touch hers, their fingers intertwine before Rasa could reply.
"I think I should explain more of this first so that we won't get your undergarments in a bunch, you two," Rasa replied calmly, turning his chair around to face the giant computer screen. With a single press of a button on the keyboard, a view from another building was shown. Rasa adjusted his earpiece and pressed a button on it. "McCall, do you have the information we needed?" One of the men who was standing outside of the two doors looked around and then placed two fingers to his earpiece.
"Yes, sir," he replied, staring at the camera. "Stilinski is speaking with Tan as we speak, and we'll get more information from him about D-Coy as soon as we can."
"Understood, McCall," Rasa replied, turning off the communication button. He turned his chair back to the two's attention. "There you have it. In case something goes wrong, we have two of our top agents to take care of the mess so you can help find D-Coy." Lima went to the two and smiled at them as calmly as she can.
"We have badges of identity for you two once you're ready to head over there. It should take you at least ten minutes to head towards Tan Industries." Luce nodded and headed to follow Oblio back to the floor above the headquarters. "One more thing you two," Lima continued, and before the elevator door opened, she said, "Make sure to wear your normal clothing and not what you're wearing now." Lightning crew went inside the elevator and waited until they made it to the second floor. Luce thought of what Lima said, but she thought that she would say something else. Maybe she should tell Oblio?
"For a second, I thought she was going to say something like, 'You two better go on a date.'" Oblio chuckled and crossed his arms.
"I think after all of this is over, we should... leave this city," the bluenette said. Luce blinked and looked at him worriedly.
"For good?" Oblio smiled and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Not really; think of it as a road trip. It'll be just you and me." Luce smiled, stepping back as soon as the elevator doors opened.
"I wonder if Claire can trust you being with me alone." She headed into her room so she can change, so Oblio will do the same as well. When Luce started brushing her teeth, she began to think of what will happen when she and Oblio will head off to get away from Central City. Where will they be going, is the question, because he could take her across the country or even head to a foreign country.
But, there's so much to do now, including saving Dare and MacCoy, spend some time with Angel and the others. Hell, she hadn't contacted her father ever since he left to France for a movie shoot. She feels homesick, but she is home. At least with Oblio, because he's all that she's wanted. Right now, she wants to find her two friends and stop Tan for good.
Finished brushing her teeth and hair, Luce found clothes that will help show no proof that she's affiliated with DCI. She headed outside as soon as she was done changing, seeing Oblio waiting for her. He smiled at her, and she smiled back at him, but it was a sad one like from earlier.
"What's up?" Oblio asked Luce, noticing the sadness in her smile. The brunette knew he would noticed, so her smiled faded and looked down at the floor of the elevator.
"Do you think we're going to make it out of there, Oblio?" Luce asked. The Asian thought of it, even though thinking of it is threatening him.
"If Rasa told us that we have backup there, then we should trust him. Whatever happens, I'll make sure that you get out alive." Luce immediately grabbed him and wrapped her arms around him, her head laying next to his chest.
"My love, you're more important than me in this, remember?" Oblio didn't realized that he was pinned to the wall, but he didn't care now. When his hands met her cheeks, he said, his face coming close to hers.
"I know," he replied simply. Before any of them can make a move, the elevator door opened, and Rasa and Lima noticed they were about to kiss, but the older brunette placed a hand to her heart and was touched by their almost perfect moment. The two stepped away from each other, one of them blushing and the other heading to the two to get the I.D. badges.
"Oblio," Rasa said before the blue haired Asian could make it back to the elevator. He turned around to see the African-American cross his arms and his stare determined and serious. "We'll keep an eye on y'all over there. You two be careful, alright?" Oblio nodded and headed to the elevator with Luce, giving her the badge. Luce placed her hands behind her back and sighed, realizing how hard her heart pounding is. The bluenette tilted his head to Luce.
"We'll be fine, Luce," he said so caring and gently. Luce sighed again and tried to smile, but it didn't help. Oblio let out his left hand and smiled. The brunette calmed down and took his hand, smiling back at him. Once they headed outside, the two hopped on the motorcycle and headed off to Tan Industries. The ride was simply a breeze, but finally being at the enemy's building was a nerve wrecker. Lightning crew went inside and noticed how empty the main hall was, but that doesn't mean there won't be a small amount of employees.
"Oblio, Luce!" a voice whispered harshly. The brunette covered her mouth to prevent herself from developing a noise, while Oblio noticed the person who was in the camera talking to Rasa was the one who said their names. Luce breathed out of relief and smiled.
"Is it you, McCall?" she asked. The dirty blond smiled and nodded.
"Yes, Luce. Stilinski and I received news about where Tan put Dare and MacCoy. They are currently on the top floor, but to get there means that you have to enter his office. You two appeared at the right time, since he's at lunch with Stilinski." Luce and Oblio nodded.
"Besides our badges, do we have uniforms to help cover us?" Oblio asked. McCall looked at the two nervously.
"But he might have a... never mind, but your uniform is down the hall, third door to your left, and for you ma'am, the same, but to your right." The crew went to the direction the DCI agent said, and found the doors titled, "Changing Room". Luce and Oblio went their separate ways for now, and changed into the clothing that was available. Oblio went out first, sporting a black leather jacket with a crow's foot as a zipper, simple dark blue jeans, and shoes that resembled his other pair back at his home.
Luce came out wearing an outfit that looks military based, but it's suited as a work uniform, which includes a buttoned up black short sleeve shirt with a golden armband labeled "M.O.C." added to a sleeve. Her skirt was blue like Oblio's hair, like one of her thigh high socks, the other one being golden like the armband, and her shoes were simple, but beautiful Mary Jane's that surprisingly fit her. The only problem was her tie, since she never knew how to tie one.
Oblio noticed and went a step closer to her. Luce noticed where his hands are going, and she cringed, closing her eyes and blushing so that it can be over with. Luce opened her eyes, realizing what Oblio's hands were doing. They were fixing her tie, since she clearly doesn't know how to fix one. Despite that, the brunette felt like that Oblio was looking at her chest.
"I'm not that kind of guy," he stated nonchalantly, as if he read her mind. "But if any man touches you anywhere inappropriately, I'll take care of him." Luce smiled hopefully and together, they head into the elevator and went to the top floor. The sound effect was on cue, and the door opened, and it shows simple hallway heading to a door, which leads to Dr. Tan's office. They head towards it and amazingly, the door was unlocked.
"I can't believe he didn't lock his office up," Oblio said to Luce. She laughed quietly. Once they head into his office, the view of the city was breathtaking, even if the gray clouds were in view. "I'll look for the two, if you can find information to send to Rasa and Lima, let me know." Luce nodded, seeing Oblio head to another door from their left. Luce decided to use that time to look for details about Tan Step and whatnot.
It seems Tan wasn't smart enough for his "employees" to go through his stuff without fingerprints or anything else like that. Opening the drawers Luce noticed something that was hand written and it looked old due to the color fading.
This was a torn journal entry from December of 1993. Why would Dr. Tan have a note written long ago? What was also interesting is that Luce was born in 1995, so she gets to see what's been written for almost twenty years. Carefully straightening the paper, Luce began reading the note Tan wrote down.
December 24th, 1993 5:30 P.M.
The Possible Day
I'm really anxious for my wife right now. She said she was fine, but at around today or tomorrow, she might go into labor. She's been prepared ever since the beginning of this month. Who knows when our child will be here? I wonder if it will be a girl or boy?
Bernice said that she would be happy with either, but she told me that she's always wanted a girl. Despite her wish, I hope for a son so that he can be my successor for Tan Industries. I'm only thirty-two, so by the time he's twenty, he can watch what I do and then do job shadowing. I hope that one of our desires will come true, so that we'll both be happy and have a wonderful family.
December 25th, 1993 6:17 P.M.
A Gift, or a Curse?
I have never thought that this would happen too sudden... My dearly beloved Bernice died from giving birth to our son. Not that I'm not prepared to be a single parent, but she made a vow with me to stay with our child. Sadly, that vow is broken, thanks to the what the doctor told me right after five minutes of being forced away out of the room. I just can't believe she's gone... and right after she let our son into the world.
When I was asked to hold my son, I just couldn't think of holding a child of mine that was held of my deceased wife. I got a closer look, and he looks like his mother, which breaks my heart more. For five years, we shared our love together, and I even tried my best to spend time with her while working at TanDance Corporation. Then on March of this year, she asked me if I wanted a child. I must have a successor, but at the same time, I couldn't say no, because I love her so much.
Tonight on Christmas, and once I get him tomorrow from the hospital, I have decided to name my son Oblio. It may be Italian, which is not one of our heritages, but it came to me because it means "oblivion". He may be my flesh and blood, but he crushed a part of my world when my loved one left the world with weak willpower to endure. But for my dead wife's wish, I will watch over him, and provide all the love he can get. And when I'm working, I shall make my own creations to keep him occupied and less lonely, because Bernice faced loneliness in her childhood, and I won't let my son be like her.
Luce bit her lip, trying to prevent tears from falling. How Oblio got his name is so sad, and even though Dr. Tan cared for him all his life until his plan of Tan Step was discovered, the definition was just heart wrenching. Luce noticed a VCR tape that was beside the note, called "Oblio's Birth". Luce looked to her right to see a TV with a VCR connected to it, so she stood up and head to the television, placed the tape in, and took hold of the remote in order for it to press play.
"You're doing great Bernice," a doctor said to the woman in labor, who is lucky that his back is covering the whole event to make it less graphic. The brunette began to breathe rapidly, nervous and wanting to stop the pain as soon as she can. A second later, crying can be heard in the background. Luce felt her heart stop for a moment.
"Hold this for me, Dr. Johnson," a familiar voice said behind the camera, who turns out to be Dr. Tan, but younger. Once the doctor got hold of the recording device, Dr. Tan went to his wife and planted a kiss on her head.
Luce never thought that he was caring and sweet during that time. Despite the shouting Bernice developed and the pain she had to endure, she really didn't mean to be harsh, but it was natural. Luce's brown eyes focused on the baby during the video, however. The black-haired infant was crying, but it's proof that he's alive and healthy. Once he opened his eyes, the color blue appeared.
"It's you," Luce whispered, placing a heart to her chest and smiling that he made it safe.
"He's beautiful," Bernice said weakly, tracing a finger to Oblio's cheek. "He has my eyes... and your hair; just... perfect... I have... the perfect name..." she trailed, her eyes slowly closing. The finger that caressed the infant's cheek went to the hospital bed with her arm.
"She's not breathing! Her skin's turning white! Turn off the camera!" Right before the holder of the camera did so, the sound of the heart monitor began to hear a loud and long beep, a flat line, to be exact.
Luce slowly went to pause the television, her eyes widened from the video she just witnessed. Oblio, born on Christmas Day, was also the day that his mother, Bernice died. Despite knowing the death of his mother, it felt like she was there, watching a tragedy and miracle happen. When the door opened behind her, it nearly scared her, but it was Oblio. Seeing him walk up to her made her lose it on the inside.
"I've found- Huh?" Oblio let out, right when Luce threw her arms around him. She was sobbing, and luckily, it wasn't loud due to her head being at his chest.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, Oblio!" The bluenette looked at her with confusion.
"What are you saying?" he asked, but when he looked at the TV, his blue eyes paid attention to the screen, seeing his mother dying after saying he's perfect. He frowned, knowing now why she's crying. "Oh, that video," he said quietly, placing an arm around her and putting his hand on her head, rubbing it. "Don't apologize, Luce. It happens to some mothers. Now that I'm nineteen, I can move on and put that in the past. My mother wouldn't want you to feel bad about her fate."
Even though she understands that, she felt that he doesn't deserve the loneliness he faced through almost two decades. Even if he's okay with being alone, it still felt that he should have friends to comfort him.
"She doesn't deserve that; you don't deserve this hell!" Her voice came to a whisper, so that there wouldn't be an interruption while she speaks. "You're so special, that shouldn't happen in the beginning of your life." Oblio grinned slightly, placing a hand on her chin. Luce felt the touch and looked up, realizing what's doing.
His lips pressed against Luce's, and it surprised her the second he kissed her. When it happened, Luce started to lose herself from the room they are in. She managed to kiss him back, and she lingered on to the moment. A few seconds later, he pulled away, noticing that there are still tears in her eyes.
"Listen, Luce," he said gently, wiping her tears away carefully with his thumb. "My mother left a lot of things for me before she left this world. She left me letters, gifts, and words of advice. I'll let you know a word of advice for you: 'You have more thing to love in life, they're as special as a brother or friend. You'll be with that person one day, but enjoy your happiest moments right now.' I'm with you, and that's all I want from this world."
Luce chuckled, closing her eyes and placed her hand to where his cupped her cheek. With confidence, she tenderly kissed Oblio passionately. Luce pulled back and smiled, letting the negative feelings go. "I'm sure that your mother wouldn't let this happen. After all, she said that-" The front door made a noise, and it was about to be opened. Tan was there, so Oblio took Luce's wrist and headed to the door Oblio just got out of.
"Damn..." Oblio said darkly. "I thought we have more time." Luce motioned for him to stay where he is and went through the room they're in to make sure there's a way out. Once she was done investigating, she turned to Oblio. It looks like D-Coy is going to have to wait again.
"I think we should leave-" Luce said, but stopped when she noticed something shocking. The blue lighted robot got hold of Oblio, and the pink one stealthy took captive of Luce. "Let us go!" she scolded the two robots. She struggled, trying to get to Oblio before anything bad happens. The robots took the two back inside Tan's office, and there he was in the flesh.
"Well, well, well," a familiar voice picked up, footsteps on the wooden floor making a noise as he spoke. Luce looked up, and her heart thudded when she recognized the man speaking. "If it isn't one of my guests from the party. I was sad that I didn't get to see you dance, but I think I know the reason why." His chuckling sounded so dark and humble. "You were worried about your crew partner, also known as my son."
"Your plans will end soon," Luce said with a glare. "Oblio and I get out and get backup, and then you will fall." Oblio remained silent, admiring her bravery, but something about what's happening now will make things worse if he doesn't say anything.
The bluenette knows that he will regret saying what he's about to say. His blue eyes turned dark and lost its light, looking at his father. "If you release us, I will help you, Father." Tan smiled, and with a snap from his fingers, the blue robot removed Oblio from its grasp, and he gracefully stood beside his father. Luce felt betrayed, scared, and insecure, her eyes widen with fear. What the hell is he thinking?!
"That's my son," Tan said, patting him on the shoulder. "CYPH-78 and 56, take her to the dining hall. I'm sure that we will have a fun family reunion... with a new member of the family." Before he stepped out of his office with his son, he turned his head to Luce, who's trying to get herself out of the robots' grasp. "I'll let you keep that outfit, despite that being for my beautiful, but no longer living wife..." Luce widen her eyes. Knowing that she was wearing Oblio's mother's crew uniform made her heart sank. When that happened, she admitted defeat and let the robots take her to where Tan obeyed them to go.
The bluenette, his blue eyes darkened with pity and emotion, frowned and stopped his walking for a bit to look at the slumped brunette being taken away to the same place, but in a different direction. He's doing this to save her, but he has yet to find out what the price he has to pay is.
"I'm sorry, Luce..." Oblio whispered.
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~Chapter Twenty-Six coming soon...~
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Oh... My... God... What have I done? D:
I made a reference to a show I adore, Teen Wolf. The last names McCall and Stilinski belong to one of the main characters of that show, so I thought I add it in for fun. I actually made another one at the beginning of the story, and that would be Luce's older brother named Derek, another reference~! XD Also, if you want to see the clothing Luce and Oblio were wearing in this chapter, be sure to look at my profile! Spoiler, Oblio's outfit is just his DC3 outfit. :3
For the years of the characters, of course, they are around eighteen to nineteen (except for Glitch, Lil' T, Dr. Tan, and DCI crew), but to make it easier, I'll put the dates of their birth. DCI, Dr. Tan, and D-Cypher are the exceptions because it's really unpredictable. DCI look like they're in their twenties or maybe early thirties, but I just want it that way. Dr. Tan is middle aged (around late forties and early fifties), and I could be wrong for the accurate age range, and D-Cypher are robots, so depending on the year they were created, who knows what exact year is it? :P This story takes place in 2013, by the way.
Luce: April 29th, 1995
Oblio: December 25th, 1993
Angel: February 14th, 1994
Mo: November 11th, 1994
Glitch: November 26th, 1998
Emilia: February 3rd, 1995
Dare: February 28th, 1995
MacCoy: August 24th, 1995
Bodie: November 23rd, 1994
Miss Aubrey: October 20th, 1995
Taye: March 9th, 1995
Lil' T: October 30th, 1999
Kerith and Jaryn: June 4th, 1993
Rasa: October 16th, 1982
Lima: December 9th, 1983
Dr. Tan: December 31st, 1964
I also want to clarify that I am going to take a break with this story. I don't know how long it will last, but I do know that I really want to finish my Black Butler story, so that will be my main focus until I complete that story. I've been having writer's block on it, but I'll be sure to finish it as soon as possible. It's only three more chapters so it shouldn't take long, not to mention, I'm on spring break! :D See you soon! ^_^