I hate technology. I hate it with a passion. I've been meaning to start watching Avatar: The Last Airbender because my BFF is obsessed with it. I finally got the disk from the library and my computer REFUSES to read it, no matter what I do! So, I thought I'd write something before I took a hammer to the computer. If one thing will make me feel better, it's that wonderful SDRUS! I can tell that you guys are wondering what will happen next... Well here goes! These are some more scenes I've been looking forward to, so I'm just gonna have a field day! ^_^
KALVIN'S POV
He took another deep, painful breath. His chest ached unbearably. He was going to die. Holiday had been very frank with him about that. He liked that. He was glad that she wasn't sugar coating anything. It made everything so much easier...
So much easier...
He smiled at the soft, cool hand that was methodically stroking his cheek. He gazed up at that pale, tear-stained face. That had been the first sight he had been treated to upon opening his eyes. Such a beautiful sight... She wasn't saying anything. It was as if she was afraid to break into a fit of sobs if she so much as opened her mouth.
Holiday came to his bedside and looked down at him. Her eyes, a slightly more murky shade of green than Breach's, were full of sadness. "I'm sorry, Skal-er-Kalvin. I can't find Wolfgang anywhere."
"I figured..." Kalvin nodded his head calmly. "That's okay, Doctor. I'm not expecting him to come."
"Wh-Why won't he c-come?" Breach choked, wiping her eyes with one of her small hands. "Y-You're his b-best friend..."
"He doesn't want to remember me like this." Kalvin explained, closing his eyes. "He's seen me win fights. He's seen me stand tall. He's seen me endure. He's seen me come back from the brink of death. He doesn't want any memories of me dying for real." He paused to let out a long stream of coughs out of his sandpapery throat. "He doesn't want this to be his last memory of me."
"How do you know this?" Breach sniffled.
Kalvin's face broke into a grin. "I'm his best friend." He turned his head toward Holiday. "How long do I have?"
"Not long." Holiday murmured, looking him solemnly in the eye. "Truthfully, you should have gone by this point." She reached out and gently brushed back some of his sweaty brown locks. "I'll leave you two alone." She started to walk away.
"Doctor?"
Holiday turned to look back at him.
"Thanks...for all you did for me. I appreciate it."
She simply smiled and nodded. "No problem." The door closed and Kalvin and Breach were alone.
"Why?" Breach whispered. "Why did you have Rex cure you?"
Kalvin lifted his arm. As he did so, he felt an odd sensation, as if water was running from his fingertips, down his arm, and out of his body through his shoulder. The water was his strength. It was flowing away, like a river. He'd have to hurry. "I didn't want to live as I was. That wasn't the real me. This is." He tried to lift his head, but felt more of that flowing draining sensation and thought better of it. "I'm a selfish person, Breach."
"No, you're not!" Breach immediately protested, reaching out to grasp his lifted hand. "You're one of the most selfless people I know."
Kalvin chuckled. It hurt so badly when he did that... "You see the good in everyone, Breach. Me, Wolfgang, Circe, Rex..." He stopped talking as his vision blurred. Eventually, it cleared and he started talking again. "And I don't want you to be sad."
"How can I not be sad?" Breach gasped, her eyes widening with horror. "You're my friend and I'm not going to be able to see you anymore!"
"No, you won't see me." Kalvin agreed, taking a shaky breath. "But I'll always see you. Always."
Breach was silent for a moment. She brushed her hair out of her eyes and stared down at him. There was a look of dawning comprehension on her face as she met his steadfast gaze. "Kalvin...you..."
Kalvin forced his hand to move further up, until it was caressing Breach's cheek. She moved a few millimeters closer. "I hope you don't mind..." He could see her eyes drifting shut. "...if I'm selfish..." He could feel her breath on his lips. "...just one more time..." He felt two lips, as cool as a spring breeze, as soft as rose petals, and as gentle as a feather pressing against his own. He kissed them softly, carefully, timidly. His movements were limited, after all. To his delight, he felt Breach move on her own accord, deepening the kiss to a level of chaste passion. After what seemed like ages, the two simultaneously pulled away. Before he could lose his courage, Kalvin said the words he had been longing to say for years: "I love you, Breach."
Breach's face was blurred now, but Kalvin could see the emotion on it. "I...I love you too..." She whispered.
"I know." Kalvin sighed and closed his eyes. "But not in the same way..." His breaths were becoming shallow and short. "Listen...Breach..." He tried to grasp her hand as tightly as he could, but his fingers were slipping feebly. "Take care of...everyone for me..." He could an odd feeling overcoming him, like he was going to sleep. Only he wouldn't be waking up from this one... He had to talk fast. "Tell...tell Wolfgang...that...that I'm...sorry...and that...he's...the best...friend...I could have ever...ever hoped for..."
"I will." Breach was crying again. "I promise."
"I...I want you...to...live..." Kalvin's tongue was flopping around uselessly, making it hard to form words. "I want you...to live...well... Live...for my sake...for your sake..." He couldn't feel anymore. It was like he was surrounded by clouds. "Love...for your sake..."
His mouth stopped moving at that point. His fingers became limp and fell from Breach's hand. He could no longer hear her breathing.
All he was aware of...was light...and peace...
…...
REX'S POV
The long ride had given Rex time to regain his composure and the fast-moving air dried all of the tears on his face. He was clutching giant handfuls of white fur in his hands, holding on for dear life as Wolfgang ran across the ground. "Wolfgang, where are we going?" He asked for what was probably the thousandth time. Again, the wolf Evo didn't answer. He could hear the sounds of people screaming or expressing shock as Wolfgang tore down the road. Rex nearly fell off as he turned a sharp corner and started bolting down an alley.
"Wolfgang, STOP!" Rex shouted as a brick wall came into view. He felt himself being flung off of the canine's back as they stopped abruptly in front of the wall. "Ow..." He stood up, rubbing his head. "What's the idea? Where's the person you want me to-" He stopped as Wolfgang scratched at the wall, causing it to swing open like a door.
Wolfgang turned toward Rex, his red eyes troubled but determined. "Follow me."
Rex followed Wolfgang through the wall, which closed instantly behind them. He was in a dark, dry cavern, with only the wolf's steps to guide him. As he walked, he became aware of a fresh gust of air brushing his face. All at once, Wolfgang ran ahead of him and blinding sunlight flooded his vision. Squinting, Rex ran out of the opening and into a grassy field. "Whoa..." He stared around at the towering oak and maple trees that surrounded the clearing. The hallway they had run through was a hole in a huge hill.
"Stay close." Wolfgang murmured, waiting for Rex to come up alongside him before beginning to walk.
Rex kept one hand on Wolfgang's mane as he walked next to him. "I'm sorry..." He muttered out of the blue."
Wolfgang glanced back at him without breaking stride. "For what?"
"For curing Kalvin." Rex trembled at the memory. "He just...wanted to be cured...and now...I...I killed him." He shook his head. "I just couldn't stop, even when that metal was ripping out of his..." He shuddered.
"You gave him what he wanted. I can't fault you for that." Wolfgang's voice had a slight edge to it that told Rex that he was slightly angry, despite his comforting words. "I don't like it, but it wasn't my decision."
'He's angry at Kalvin...' Rex realized and didn't say anything further on the matter.
After a few minutes, Wolfgang spoke again. "We're almost there. I should warn you: what I am about to show you is not for the weak-minded. You should prepare yourself."
Rex gulped nervously. "Why do I need to see it?"
"Because..." Wolfgang stopped at the mouth of a cave. "It may be able to cure you."
"Cure me?"
"Of your amnesia." Wolfgang clarified. "It searches through your mind, finding memories and bringing them to the surface."
"Really?" Rex stared into the dark cavern. Was he finally going to remember everything? Everything he wrote in his journal, and beyond? A hopeful expression lit up his face. "Okay, let's go!" He took a step forward, only to be stopped by Wolfgang.
"Let me go first. It knows me."
"Okay." Rex followed Wolfgang into the caverns and waited as the canine turned a corner and disappeared down another cavern. He thought he heard a creepy noise echoing through the darkness... Irrational fear flooded his veins and he quickly proceeded to back as far away from the cave as he could. The noise came again. He moved further away...
CLANG!
Rex stepped on a large, metal object and fell on the cave floor with a thud. "What the..." He got up onto his knees and touched what he had tripped over. "Huh..." He looked up as Wolfgang reappeared.
"What happened?"
"I tripped over this." Rex held up the metal item. Wolfgang drew back with a gasp. "What?"
"Put it in the sunlight..." His voice was strained.
Rex obeyed and winced as sharp light was reflected into his eyes. The object in question looked like a glove... A big, gold, metal glove. "I read about this in my journal..." Rex realized. "Didn't this belong to-"
"Van Kleiss." Wolfgang's voice was heavy. "Yes..." He bent down over it. "All this time...Beta said that Alpha lived in these caves...that he was sick..." He touched the glove. "So...this is the truth..." He shook his head before turning to Rex. "Come. I've calmed it down. It'll see you now."
Rex nodded his head, not trusting himself to speak. The cavern he was being directed to was the one that had made that scary noise... 'Don't think about it!' He told himself. 'If you don't do this, you'll always regret it!' Steeling his nerve, he started down the tunnel.
The first thing he was aware of was a wind that chilled him to the bone. A shiver went down his spine and it took all of his will power to keep going. Then, he heard a sinister hissing noise. It was like steam rising from a deep crack in the earth. Finally, he heard the voice...that serpentine, childish voice.
"Come...Come closer... Help...you..."
The voice was downright freaky, but its words were kind enough. Rex focused on putting one foot in front of the other, trying not to lose what little nerve he had left. The air was getting colder...
The cave widened out until he was standing in a giant room. The freezing entity was all around him. He could hear hissing...awful sounds...
An explosion. A huge explosion... He is covered in rubble... Someone is pulling him out... A man with shades...wearing a green suit...
Six...they are training...running laps around the Petting Zoo... Holiday is measuring his Biometrics.
Bobo is on his bike. They're breaking out, riding away...free...going to the basketball court. A blond haired boy is sticking up for him. Noah... He's meeting his best friend for the first time!
Three Evos are attacking...a mutated lizard, a mechanical wolf, and a four-armed girl. They work for a man named Van Kleiss... Their names...Skalamander, Biowulf and Breach.
No...Kalvin, Wolfgang, and Breach... Those are their names...
A claw is being jabbed into his chest, draining him...hurting him...
Six is saving him. He's being treated by Holiday. They remind him...of what having parents would be like...
He's holding a pale-skinned girl in his arms. Her name is...Circe... Yes, he remembers her!
Holding her in his arms...holding...a girl...in his arms... Not Circe...no... Breach!
He's in her one place with the little blond girl. He's scared. He can't get out... He's her...favorite... Shiny...that's what she's calling him... She seems so lonely, so sad. So helpless...
He's out of the place. He's watching her being taken down to the Petting Zoo. He feels...sorry for her.
He's outside the containment unit, passing food through a flap. Putting his hand through... She's reaching out and grasping his hand. Running her thumb in slow circles around his palm. It sends a pleasant tingling sensation through his body. He doesn't want it to stop...
Her hand...it's resting on his arm as he places his own hand over it. He had broken her out of her cell in order to give her some exercise.
They're outside her cell now... She's very...very close. He can feel her gentle hands...her lips lightly touching his cheek. He's just about to kiss her. His heart feels like it's about to burst.
He is about to tell her something important when the guards interrupt him.
He's on a ship, going to the Amazon. There, he may learn more about his past. He meets Gabriel Rylander. Finds out that he has a brother... Watches Rylander and Van Kleiss disintegrate... Manages to get back to Six and Holiday. He's telling Holiday about his brother.
He dropped something...a green crystal...that Breach had given him...
Breach isn't there. Why isn't she there? He was about to tell her how he felt about her! White says that she was just using him... He doesn't want to believe it...
He doesn't believe it! Six has set him straight. His talk with Skalamander...poor, poor Skalamander... It only steels his reserve. Skalamander is hurt, very badly. Maybe he can help him. They can find Breach and-
Breach is taking Skalamander away. She's glaring hatefully at him. Why? It hurts...that she would look at him like that...
The dogs. He's fighting three fierce Evo dogs. He is smacked into the ground. Wall... Hard surfaces...
He knows everything that followed. So many words are coming together...
"You don't need to worry about anything, Rex. Until you remember, you're in good hands."
"Why do you do this?... Treat me differently than everyone else does, like I'm...worth something."
"You've been so nice to me, Rex... I don't know how to... "
"So, B...is there something about you that maybe I'd like to know about?"
"If you're so freaked out and willing to lie to me just because of what I might have written about you, maybe you're not someone I want to know!"
"You're better without those memories!"
"I want her to be happy. And you make her happy. Therefore, I want you to talk to her. Put this argument behind you. Let her know that you love her back."
"Awhile ago, I gave Breach something very precious. Then, she gave it to you. You need to promise me that you'll take good care of it. Whatever your feelings, whatever you decide, you need to promise to take good care of it. Take good care of her. Just...try."
Something precious...
Something...
The cold left him as suddenly as it entered. Rex fell to his knees, gasping for breath. His head felt like it was about to explode. Without knowing what he was doing, he stuck his hand into his pocket and withdrew the green crystal. He remembered...
"Take this. Maybe it'll bring you luck." Breach had said that...when he was leaving. That was when he had come so close to telling her...telling her...
"Oh man...Breach..." Rex clenched the crystal tightly in his hand. Tears were beginning to blur his vision. 'I'm such an idiot!'
"Tired..." The voice hissed. Distracted from his initial terror, Rex could detect something else in its voice: deep sadness. "Can't...bring back...any more..."
Rex stood up. "That's okay. You did more than enough. Thank you." He tried to look at the creature directly, but it was like trying to get a clear picture of mist or smoke. Occasionally, he could see the faint glow of blue eyes. "Is there anything I can do for you?"
The voice sounded like it was sobbing. "Nothing... Cannot stop...moving...so cold...no help..."
"I see..." Rex moved forward, further into the icy mist. He could feel frost beginning to form on his skin, but he ignored it. "Hold as still as you can." He put his hand out into the thickest part of the mist. Yes! He could feel the nanites. They were very spread out and vague, but they were there! 'Come on now...' He reached out with his own nanites, trying to make a connection. They were spreading...moving... He'd have to pull back soon... He'd have to... Yes! He had them! His nanites were moving, taking the extra, mutated nanites away...
The creature was solidifying. Becoming smaller. Warmer... It let out a deep sigh.
"Thank you..."
Then, Rex's hand was released and he took a step back. 'Huh...I wasn't expecting that...' Standing in front of him was a large, wolf-like dog with sky blue eyes. He knelt down. "Hey there..." He murmured, reaching out to pet the dog. "Poor dog..." The dog licked his hand and wagged its tail.
"Rex? Are you okay?" Wolfgang's voice echoed through the cave.
The dog froze in mid lick. It stared up at the cave mouth with a surprisingly human expression of sadness and reluctance on its face. It began to back away.
"Hold on. It's okay. It's only-"
Wolfgang's glowing red eyes appeared in the gloom. The dog turned tail and was soon lost in the darkness.
"Rex? What happened? Where is it?"
Rex looked back up at the dog Evo and smiled. "It's fine, Wolfgang. It cured me, and I cured it."
"What?" Wolfgang bounded over to him. "Well? Where is it?"
"It ran off."
Wolfgang let out a hiss of agitation. "What was it?"
"It was a dog...a big, blue eyed dog."
"I see..." Wolfgang nodded his head slowly before turning back to Rex. "Well, are you ready to go back to Providence?"
"Yeah." Rex looked down at the crystal in his hand and felt a now-familiar pang in his heart. "I think it's time to go back..."
WHOO! YEAH! I am AWESOME! OH! Sorry... This is just one of the best chappies yet, in my opinion... Just so you know, this is the home stretch. In a few chapters, we'll be all done. It makes me feel kinda sad...knowing it's gonna end soon... Ah well! PLEASE review this chapter. PLEASE GIMME SHINIES! And don't flame. Just...don't. Kay? Peace out, my homeys! ^_^
