*Warning, there is some non-graphic torture in this chapter.*

Hurry up and Save Me

Digit wasn't an idiot. Her IQ broke the charts, the majority of her brain was run by a computer, hell she could do advanced algebra on her fingers. So all in all, she could put two and two together when she realized she was utterly and hopelessly fucked.

When you return to a place you once considered home, there is a tightening sensation in your chest. Nostalgia. Sadness. Regret. Darkness. Whatever the feeling, Digit was more than familiar with it. Vixen did that to her. And it was a feeling she hated. An emotion she wished she hadn't been programmed into feeling.

Digit's eyes fluttered open to a bright light. Her pupils dilated at the sudden burst of light and she scrunched up her face. She tried to squirm away from the light, but found herself immobile. That snapped Digit very quickly to reality.

The blackette's eyelids shot open and lasered on every inch of her location.

No. No. No. NO. NOOOOOOOOO.

"Mavis… no…"

Dark faded walls of black surrounded Digit on every side. It was old wood, split in parts and allowing light to peek in very faintly between the planks. The ceiling was an eternity above with the ground a galaxy below her. Barn-turned factory was wiped clear of all its insides beside the cement floor and v-shaped roof. Every window was covered in steel plates and even the double barn doors were torn off and replaced with a single long door resembling a safe lock.

Suspended mid-air, Digit found herself strapped to a steel lab table hanging in the center of the barn by a long series of metal contraptions going from floor to ceiling. Her frame was rid of her disguise clothes and replaced by a pair of white shorts (too short to be even called shorts) and a white tank top cut just under her ribs. Black leather strips kept her fastened tight to the table and different metal contraptions kept her arms spread flat with her forearms bared upwards.

And of course. The magic cancelling bracelets on her wrists.

Despite the panic clouding her mind, the image of her green Fairy Tail mark exposed gave Digit even the slightest comfort.

But not much.

Digit tugged fiercely on the restraints. She bared her canines and kicked and thrashed as much as she could to no avail. She wasn't surprised. He was too smart to make this easy.

"Please! Please! Please!" Digit whispered, her body tense. Her magenta eyes searched for any way of escape to find none. The table she was strapped to was a good fifteen feet from the ground, the only way for anyone to reach her being a spiral staircase with a platform positioned right beside her. Atop the platform was numerous machines and tools she knew very well. Each had been used on her before.

Digit couldn't fathom anything in those moments. And then it all crashed on her.

"I'm back," Digit croaked. Her body fell against the leather bindings and her teeth clenched so hard she thought they would break. "He found me… they warned me. I didn't listen. God, I'm so stupid. The only place I never wanted to come back to… and here I am."

Footsteps. Someone had entered the barn.

Digit held her breath when the footsteps began ascending the staircase out of her line of sight until a blonde head popped up onto the platform. Every nerve in Digit's body screamed all her body systems surrendered to fear.

Kai.

"Electrolite," Kai sang. The doctor gracefully pulled himself onto the platform beside Digit, surveying the girl suspended vertically in the air with nothing short of glee. The pristine white lab coat fluttered around his tall form like a cape and the glass eye spun like a top. "Welcome back."

Digit shuddered, body instinctively trying to get further from the doctor's reach. "Get away. Get away! GET AWAY FROM ME!" Digit screamed.

Kai didn't even blink as he slid towards Digit. "Oh but Electrolite… the fun hasn't even started." His laugh was bone-chilling. "Now… Let's make up for lost time, my dear!"

Digit closed her eyes and let out a dry sob the moment she heard the scraping of a metal tool coming towards her. Sure, she put on a face, but Digit was still human, and she still felt emotions.

Predominantly fear.

Fairy Tail! Guys! I fucked up. I thought I was doing the right thing. But I'm scared. I'm scared! Laxus, Gus! Please save me!

XXX

Laxus trudged a ways behind the group. Ice was leading the way, Erza right at his back like a shadow. Lucy and Natsu flanked her sides with Horologium summoned and carrying the unconscious Gus. Laxus wasn't paying much attention though. His mind was on someone else entirely.

Gray innocently cleared his throat beside Laxus, drawing the blonde's attention. The ice mage was only in his boxers but Laxus felt no need to point that out and merely raised an eyebrow.

"You good? You've been all stony since we got off the train," Gray said.

Laxus shrugged.

"He's thinking about Diiiiigggiiit~" Happy sang, popping up between the mages.

Laxus flicked a lightning bolt at the exceed, causing Happy to scream and rush inside of Horologium. Gray snorted and Laxus gave the back of the clock the veil eye.

Happy was spot-on. It pissed Laxus off how obvious he was. No one had done this to him before, made him feel so much.

But then again, he'd never met someone quite like Digit before.

Groaning, Laxus brought a calloused hand down his face. He was pissed off to say the least and not even because of whatever he felt for Digit. He was pissed because as soon as he had found her, she was taken away. And there was no way she could just escape without consequences this time. Laxus knew she was strong, that's one of the things he admired so much about the ravenette, but she wasn't a machine. Unlike she believed.

Laxus gave Gray a nod and the stripper took the hint and let the convo drop. Laxus craned his neck to get a better look at Ice. The strange mage had his hood up, hiding his features. While he knew Ice wasn't what they originally thought, Laxus couldn't find it inside himself to not trust the mage. He'd be a hypocrite if he was. Out of all the guild, he's done the most bad shit himself so he can't judge.

"Where are you leading us?" Lucy suddenly chimed.

Ice kept walking forward. They were heading through an unfamiliar part of the woods since the train had been a no go after the sudden plan change.

"To Vixen. I can't teleport more than two people at a time, so I'm taking us through a shortcut."

Natsu crossed his arms. "Won't Kai be suspicious why you haven't just teleported back?"

At the mention of Kai's name, Ice twitched. The hooded teen's steps faltered but he kept on going.

"I sent him a message on my lacrima saying I had exhausted my magic. I've been travelling a lot lately, so it's believable enough," Ice responded tonelessly. "Plus, Vixen is far when taking train, but not so much when you cut through the forest. We should be there soon."

Lucy clenched a hand to her keys seemingly on reflex. "I see."

The group continued through the woods in silence for a few more minutes, brushing aside branches and kicking grass aside before Erza took a stride forward and began walking beside Ice. The teleportation mage swallowed thickly beneath his hood and Erza watched him closely out of the corner of her eye.

"You said your name was Ice, correct?"

Ice hesitated only a moment. "Yes."

"Last name?"

"Don't have one."

Erza's eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

Hunching his shoulders, Ice took a sharp turn behind the next tree they passed. He didn't know whether they were interrogating him or just trying to make conversation, but he didn't like where this subject was headed.

"It's not important. I just don't have a last name anymore. I only go by Ice now," he answered briskly.

"Now?" Erza pressed.

Ice huffed out his nose and clenched his fists into his hoodie. "Why are you asking me so many questions? I already said I'd help you, no need to try and be friendly with me."

"Wasn't trying to," Erza answered calmly. "You just seem like a person who doesn't get many friendly conversations."

Ice didn't know how to respond to that. These mages were weird. Didn't they know he was a killer? He would never get Fairy Tail.

The teleportation mage held his tongue for a minute before muttering.

"I changed my name when I became an assassin. Couldn't have my family in danger, so I adopted the name Ice. Made things easier. Safer."

Erza was stunned that he actually replied for a moment. A smile slowly crawled across her face, startling Ice far more than she was.

"Well there is no need for fake names at Fairy Tail. Everyone is safe there."

Ice's eyes met the ground. Everyone is safe there, huh? Doubtful. With the life I've had, there isn't a place in the world I could call home at this point.

"Vixen should be approaching," Ice mumbled, changing the conversation entirely now.

The group continued through the woods for moments longer until a pool of red leaves tumbled on them from above. The trees, previously brown trunks with green leaves, evolved into the white trunks and firey leaves unique to Vixen. All of Team Natsu had been to Vixen before so they weren't as awestruck as Laxus was. The lightning mage caught one of the crimson leaves mid-air and turned it over.

"Weird."

The sound of shuffling made the group pause as Gus began twitching inside of Horologium. His head jumped from side to side until green eyes slid open warily. Lucy opened the front of Horologium as Gus rightened himself and looked around.

"Are we in Vixen?" the android asked. His eyes scanned his surroundings dubiously before locking on Lucy. "Why are we here?"

The celestial mage leant Gus a hand and pulled him out onto his feet. "Ice said this is where Digit is," Lucy said as she thanked Horologium and sent him away.

"I need Digit to reboot my systems," Gus groaned. "I'm low after that short circuit."

Laxus raised an electrified hand and smacked Gus hard on the back to everyone's surprise. Gus shrieked and his body convulsed as his whole body went stiff then relaxed. Gus blinked several times and grinned at Laxus.

"Better?"

Whether the blonde had known he needed a charge or had just acted on instinct to hit Gus with over 300 megawatts of electricity, Gus wasn't complaining.

"Thanks, Sparky."

Laxus rolled his stormy eyes and shoved Gus forward. "Yeah yeah. Let's just keep walking. We can't afford to waste time."

Ice agreed and led the rest of the way silently. There was tension among the group. It had been there since they first headed out, but now it was so thick Ice was practically choking on it. At the far end of his vision Ice caught the familiar shine of steel and held up a hand for the group to stop.

"We're here."

If Ice had been choking on the tension before, he could have completely suffocated now.

"What's the plan?" Natsu muttered, eyes straight ahead where Ice's had been.

"There is one of him and many of us, it should not be complicated if we work together," Erza reasoned. "He may be smart, but he can't win in a fight of power."

Ice pressed his lips tight together. None of them knew. None of them knew Kai. How dangerous this was. How someone would not be leaving alive. They were just before the gates of hell and they were talking with hopeful outcomes.

Gus seemed to somehow see Ice's pinched look from beneath his hood.

"Ice? What do you think? You know more about him than all of us. I know the old Kai, the new one evolved with you. What would you do?"

What would I do? Run and never look back. Get as far away from the danger they are in as possible. Beg Kai for forgiveness so he doesn't blow my brains out.

Ice hummed lowly. "Kai knows everything. He likes to keep tabs on everything he is involved with." He raised his chin just enough to meet eyes with Gus. "I guarantee he knows all of you are here for Digit. He expected it, calculated for it, and more than likely has made a whole plan centered around you guys breaking in. In fact, he probably knows we are out here at this very minute."

Lucy shuddered noticeably and Erza placed a hand gently on the blonde's shoulder. Natsu huffed and cracked his knuckles. Gray seethed out his teeth, Happy frowning above him. Laxus grabbed the fuzzy rim of his huge coat and tossed it to the ground of the woods.

Gus picked up every one of their reactions. His internal diagnostics made a mental association with each of them. Lucy is scared, Erza is contemplating, Natsu is eager, Gray is frustrated, Happy is nervous, and Laxus is prepared. Ice was right, this is a really stupid plan. I can only calculate bad outcomes. There is an approximate 26% of success.

Gus licked his lips. They weren't dry but it was a programmed movement when he was anxious. He wanted Digit back. More than anything. And to say he knew this was stupid was an understatement.

But he was still going in. Because love made people do stupid things.

And Digit deserved all the love in the world.

Gus adjusted his clothes and rolled his mechanical shoulders back. He could see the flash registering in Ice's eyes. The warmth in the pits of the cold ice blue.

"I see you've made your choice."

An arm slid itself around Gus's shoulders and Natsu's bright hair popped up beside him.

"There never was one."

Ice did a double take as each of the mages nodded in agreement and lined up in preparation. They were all so strong. So stupid. But so fearless. This was what Fairy Tail was, Ice realized. It wasn't just some ignorant people with magic.

It was a family.

Ice felt a twinge of hope in his chest despite himself.

"I pray for all of your survival as well as Digit's," Ice said. "And please. Take Kai down."

Gus snorted. "I've been ready for fifteen years."

XXX

Maria drummed her nails along the table atop Kai's platform. It was only about five feet wide, but was comfortable enough for a table full of equipment along with Kai and herself to fit. And hovering beside the platform high above the ground positioned like Jesus on the cross…

Her.

Sneering, Maria slid across the platform to the very edge where it dropped off inches from Digit's suspended body. Kai was in the area behind the barn getting more tools, so it was just Maria and the low of her existence.

The bluenette rubbed a fingernail absentmindedly along the pricks all up and down her arms where Kai had been putting his serum. Contrary to what that moron Ice believed, Maria was very aware Kai was injecting her with dark magic. The injections causing her arms to crack like rock and glow bright violet in between the cracks. Her skin chipped away day by day and replaced itself with the purple stone-like shell. From her fingertips to her elbows the cracked skin hummed in energy. Under her eyes it had started to crack down her cheeks. She knew it was dragging her further into the evil. The madness.

And she loved it.

She wasn't born a mage like the rest of the world. She wasn't born as some special being with powers for everyone to gawk at and admire. She had no loving family that made her feel special, just some old saps who she'd abandoned long ago. All she had was her technology. It was her one specialty, and she was a damn genius. Everyone in Magnolia knew how good she was.

And then Digit came into town.

Then it was all about the technology dragon slayer. A mage. Some special high-uppity being for everyone to fawn over all over again.

She blessed the day Kai had sent Ice after her.

Maria reached out a violet hand and grasped a chunk of Digit's spiked hair. The mage moaned lightly in her restraints. Kai had knocked her out hours ago and she was just coming to. Maria despised the sight of those magenta eyes.

Yanking hard on the hair, Maria smiled at the faint cry that ripped from Digit's throat.

"Wakey wakey, Bitch-it."

Digit lolled her head in Maria's hold and gaped at the younger girl. "Maria… you… your body, what did he-"

"Kai made me better!" Maria snapped. "He's using his genius to make me one with darkness. Nothing like he's going to do to you."

Digit grit her teeth as Maria let go of her hair and glared. Her body was already raw under the leather straps.

"You are becoming a monstrosity. He's just using you," Digit said.

"I'm not an experiment like you," Maria snapped.

Digit felt no need to argue with Maria further. If she wanted to escape, she needed to preserve her energy. Maria was not worth the effort Digit would lash out the moment she found an opening. Not another fifteen years would be spent under Kai's torture. Digit was stronger than when she was just a kid, she had friends, and her guild who taught her how to face the hardships in her life.

She was no longer his experiment.

"You're right," Digit muttered. I'm much stronger.

The sound of a screeching door being pushed aside caught both girls' attention as Kai fluttered into the gray metallic room in a flash of white. Maria swooned and to Digit's horror, leapt off the huge platform and landed elegantly on the floor far below. Digit's breath caught in her throat.

Kai's work for sure.

Maria skipped up to Kai and sprung onto him just as he caught her and spun her around.

"Purple really does suit you, my dear," Kai said as he set Maria on her feet.

Maria flushed and giggled in a way Digit could only describe as maniacally. The blackette gagged and dug her nails into her palm. That explained Maria's relationship with Kai. Sick and fucked relationship.

Kai's glass eye rotated a moment before seeming to laser in on Digit. It didn't have a pupil obviously, but it still made Digit feel as if she was pinned by the fogginess of it. It still made every nerve in her body go tense, her brain flash into overdrive, her internal fans tornado.

"Electrolite!" Kai said. "I'm so glad you could join me again."

Maria scowled. "Ecstatic."

Kai seemed to have completely tuned her out. "You've made me wait so long. Did you have fun playing normal? You are a little old to still be playing pretend."

Digit dug her nails into her palm.

"Ah well," Kai gave an over exaggerated sigh. "The fun is over anyways. Well, mine isn't. But I'm smart enough to know you won't find the same things I do as fun." Polished shoes slapped across the floor towards the staircase and thumped as they began to ascend. "I can't wait for Ice to join us. You've met him before. He was the one to give you that surprise flight awhile back. The church? Oh and don't fret, I didn't mean for him to kill you, just give you a warning." Kai reached the final step and sashayed up to Digit. "But you already know that."

Having Kai near was like being held in front of a lion soaked in blood. Predator and prey.

Digit remained silent, instinctively leaning away and Kai's hand reached for her. Rough fingers gripped her wrist just below her bindings. And on top of her guild mark. Digit didn't miss the sudden blank look that wiped Kai's face. He was staring at her mark intently. And if Digit didn't have the misfortunate of knowing him so well, she would made missed what that blank expression really meant.

Kai was pissed.

"First things first," Kai growled lowly. His hand slid back and wrapped around a tool Digit couldn't see from the table. "I need to remove this ungodly mark."

Digit could feel her heart stop beating. No. No, he's not.

"Someone else thinks you belong to them. I need to show them how wrong they are," Kai seethed, bringing out some weird lacrima shaped like a blade.

"Kai, don't!" Digit finally screamed, trying to wrench her hand away. "You sick fuck! I don't belong to you. I belong to Fairy Tail!" Her magenta eyes were wide in fear despite her fiery words. "And I always will. They are my family. This mark proves that. Even if you take it away, it will always be with me."

Kai didn't respond for a moment and merely lifted the lacrima. "Sad to see you are still playing pretend." Digit gasped as her forearm was tugged into view and Kai aimed the lacrima just below her elbow. "But you are my experiment. Have been since that very day fifteen years ago."

And he brought the blade down.

It's funny.

Digit could do nothing but stare as the part of her from the elbow down shattered like glass. No blood, just shattered. It was like Maria's body, the deep cracks in her skin one would only usually find on ceramic plates. The blade had swung like a violet eagle snatching away Digit's lower arm, cracking it to unrecognizable pieces. But it happened. And now all that remained was a stump.

But yeah, that was bleeding.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"

Digit's body heaved as pain electrocuted the whole left side of her body. Kai was still staring in distaste, now fiddling with the lacrima blade.

"How bothersome. Now I have to clean this. Do you know how long it took me to figure out how to implant a lacrima with dark magic, then bend it to my willing? Well, the correct answer is six years, but it did turn out beautifully. Wouldn't you say? Much more humane than just cutting your arm off."

Digit's hearing was muted. Her brain systems with flashing red as she could do nothing but stare at where her arm used to be.

Has he not done enough? What more could he do? This isn't science! This is torture! Fairy Tail, where are you? I can't do this alone.

Gasping in deep breaths, Digit hung limply as Kai began stitching her up. She couldn't even resist, her brain was still in shock.

My arm is gone. He took my arm. My mark…

"Now I can add that new bionic arm feature I'd been wanting to use on you! After I sew this up, I can get the attachment and link it to your circulatory system. You should be able to use the arm in approximately three days," Kai droned on as he continued tying up the stump with what Digit now realized were wires.

Digit couldn't form any responses still.

It was just like fifteen years ago. It was going to happen all over again.

"Mavis," Digit choked under her breath as Kai stepped away to clean the lacrima. "Help me."

"Kai!" Maria snapped from below.

Digit's eyes groggily swerved to see a figure standing beside Maria. Kai huffed from the platform.

Wait… what's that smell?

"Ice! It's about time you showed up. Awfully slow for teleportation, aren't you," Kai said tonelessly.

Ice seemed to shrug. The blue hoodie was cast over his face still, Digit noticed. He looked the same as he did at the church. Those arms shoving her, reminding her this was all going to happen. If only she'd run away then. No.

This was inevitable.

"I exhausted my magic. I sent you a message," Ice muttered. "What have you started on, I heard a scr-" A choked noise left Ice as his eyes fell on Digit's arm. With his head craned up to look at her, Digit could clearly see the horror present in his icy gaze. "-eam."

Awful... The pain is awful... My arm is screaming. Make it stop. And god that smell!

Kai snorted, shuffling around the platform. "Nothing yet. Just establishing some rules now that my Electrolite is back. Care to join us up here?"

Digit stared dumbly at Ice as she sagged against her binding. If that smell is what I think it is… it's time to end this. I won't go through this again. Now or never.

Digit let out a loud cry.

"You'll have to kill me," Digit said.

All eyes flew to Digit at the empty words.

Maria did a double take below. "Excuse me?"

Digit inhaled deeply and let her head raise. Her arm was trembling all the way down to her elbow. Pink eyes shone under the hanging lights on the ceiling, narrowed in pure, raw emotion. Her sagged body clenched as her breath exhaled sharply.

"You heard me."

Kai let the lacrima rest on the steel lab table. "You are talking nonsense, Electrolite."

"Bite me!" Digit screamed. "I'm not a tool. I'm not an experiment. I used to be a scared little girl, but I'm not anymore. I've grown from my experiences. And I will not go through them again. This past year or so has made my entire existence. I would die willingly now that I've been able to join something as amazing as Fairy Tail."

Her gaze flicked to the stump that was where her mark once laid. "And I'm not gonna spend any more time being your plaything. If I learned anything at that guild, it's that I get to decide my fate. You all don't."

The three people in the room stared at Digit wide eyed, Ice hiding tears beneath the ever present shadow on his face.

"Kill me. Or I'll kill myself," Digit continued. "My friends will not find me as the heaps of scrap metal you will make of me. Not if I can help it. I'm gonna die as Digit Lilac Mayori, not as Experiment Electrolite. I may be 12% robot, but I'm 100% done with your bullshit!"

She's amazing, Ice thought.

"So that's all I'm gonna say," Digit hissed. "Best drive that lacrima through my chest. Because I'm not going down without a fight."

Tears were now obviously streaming down Ice's face.

This is what Gus meant. This is who he's saving. This is Digit. Digit of Fairy Tail.

"And one last thing, Kai," Digit spat. The doctor raised his brows at her. "For a genius, you are a real idiot for getting rid of one of my magic cancelling bracelets."

Kai's mouth dropped as Digit raised her stump.

Without wasting a moment, Digit's right hand glowed a bright neon.

"Virus!" Pixilated crystals suddenly protruded from Digit's skin in every direction. The pixels shimmered in a series of blues and greens across Digit's body in mock scales, jabbing out in every direction and ripping through her restraints. Digit smirked as her body dropped from the platform, and hurtled towards the ground. "Ice!"

Acting on instinct, Ice teleported across the room in a flash and caught Digit bridal style in his arms. The teen wheezed under the girl's sudden body weight and stared at Digit's beaming face in absolute shock.

"How did you know I was on your side?" Ice whispered.

"Gus talks in his sleep." Digit grinned. "And also, dragon smell? Hello? I can smell Natsu's burnt toast smell from miles away. And you also reek of Gus, I can put two and two together."

Despite the situation, Ice found himself smiling. "Nice to meet you, Digit."

"Nice of you to rescue me, Ice."

Ice then frowned at the two looming presences by them. "I know you know about the bombs. So don't thank me yet."

The blackette rolled out of Ice's arms to see Maria steaming beside them. The purple cracks on her body spread, chipping further across her face.

"You TRAITOR! I knew it!" Maria screeched. Her purple hand raised back and Digit and Ice braced themselves. Maria was about to launch forward when a laugh interrupted them.

Digit and Ice rounded their heads up to see Kai cackling atop the platform. The doctor was practically losing it as he writhed above.

"Oh, my subjects! You are all so interesting!" Kai chirped. He ceased his laughter to lean over the edge and laser down on Ice and Digit. "Electrolite! Of course he would decide to try and help you. I've planned on it since he let that android live! How predictable!"

Digit cradled her stump.

Ice gaped. "Y-You!"

Kai sneered. "Christian. Don't play with me. How dumb do you think I am?"

Christian. Ice shuddered. "D-Don't call me-!"

"Christian Raphael Winters!" Kai hollered.

Stop it.

"Experiment 34! Hired specifically for the purpose of gathering me Intel on Experiment 1, or Experiment Electrolite! I'm a scientist, Ice! I know my subjects. I've known every single one of your betrayals."

Please stop!

"Ignore him," Digit demanded. "He's trying to antagonize you."

Kai licked his lips. "I know you are deathly afraid of Vulcans, your favorite color is emerald, you are allergic to peaches and pecans, your pet peeve is when people tap their fingers, you started killing because you witnessed an assassin kill your abusive and homophobic father when you were ten, your first kill was a sixteen year old boy who strangled his girlfriend, your favorite animal is a fox, and you are hopelessly falling for Electrolite's super android Gus." Kai listed off airily.

Ice trembled more with each one as Kai counted off fingers.

"Oh and there are approximately five mages and a cat waiting outside this barn for your signal."

Digit stared sideways as Ice stood on the verge of breaking down. She didn't blame him, nor was she surprised. Kai knew everything about people and it tended to go all the way back as far as birth.

It was just Kai. He was called a genius for a reason.

Digit stroked a hand slowly across her arm, clenched her teeth and rammed her side into Ice. The hooded Mage blinked and shook his head.

"Get ready!" Digit said.

Ice nodded.

"Now," Kai hummed. "It seems things have only one outcome from here on out. Go ahead, signal your little buddies. Let the party begin!"