This is a pretty "heavy" chapter...
TinSouRe heaved a sigh and pursed her lips, clearly irritated with the line of questions. Kieran wasn't in the mood to care about her feelings.
"And in all your research, just how close were you too a cure?" he asked sharply.
She returned her attention to the console in front of her. "We've discussed this."
"No, you just said you didn't have one," he argued. "I want to know how close you were."
She was purposely dodging the question, which only served to frustrate him more. This time, she ignored him completely.
Ursula had been peppering her with questions as well, but she had been clearly upset, and not in her right mind. When Cuore had suggested, for what had to be the fourth time, to inject herself with the virus to give them the needed antibodies, the princess had rather darkly commented that they should instead give it to TinSouRe.
She had said that perhaps that would make the woman work a little faster on the cure.
It was then Ceodore had pulled her into the hallway outside. That had been a few minutes ago, and they had yet to return. Kieran was quite nearly to his breaking point as well, and having the woman avoid his questions all together wasn't helping.
"So now you're just going to ignore me?" Kieran asked.
TinSouRe continued her work. "I fail to see what continuing this conversation will accomplish. You are clearly irrational."
He glared at her, "You stick-up b-"
Cuore gently grabbed hold of his arm with both her hands, whispering a soothing; "Kieran," under her breath, just loudly enough for him to hear.
It sent shivers down his spine, both her touch and voice, but he wasn't all that happy with the teal haired young woman, either. He twisted out of her grasp, keeping his gaze anywhere but on her. Despite how aggravated he was, he did take a deep breath and try to keep some of the heat from his voice.
"Your right," he admitted, placing both hands on the runic display and forcing TinSouRe to halt her commands. "I am irrational. You just told me my best friend has a very serious illness."
She sighed once more and frowned at him, "I also told you I would do everything in my power to develop a cure."
"I don't trust you," Kieran replied, holding her gaze. "You've already lied to us several times."
"I don't need to prove my intensions to you." the Lunarian woman said haughtily. "You are not my patient."
She swept by him and Kieran clamped down on the urge to swear, hands pulling into fists on the console. She was a frustrating person to deal with, and he would be lying if he said he wasn't troubled.
In more way then one.
As Kieran tried to calm down, he heard Cuore follow the woman across the room to a different display, this time near the pod where they had put the Uo'Ru body.
There was still no discernable reason it had tried to enter the safe zone, and Kieran had a bad feeling they would find out why before this horrible trip had ended.
"TinSouRe," Cuore said, voice tone pleading. "I know that we're bothering you, but I'd like to help, if I can."
"We've already discussed that, as well." the woman said. "Your friends would seem to disagree with your decision."
Kieran glared over his shoulder, wondering why she had to make it sound like they were controlling Cuore. She did what she wanted. That was evident.
Cuore looked mildly annoyed. "It's not up to them."
"Still, it is a risky move," TinSouRe said, glancing up from her work. "It may work, but it may not."
"But what other option do we have?" the teal haired young woman said. "You've said yourself you've never been close to a cure, and nothing has changed now. You're still where you've always been in your research."
"Actually," BarZenDao said quietly from across the room. "That isn't true. We have an Uo'Ru that we can look over. TinSouRe hasn't had that in a long while. It might…" he trailed off, tipping his head to one side.
TinSouRe and he were apparently speaking telepathically if the way they were locked in a stare was any indication.
Cuore glanced between them and frowned, "You know I can hear you,"
"I can't." Kieran complained, turning around and crossing his arms.
TinSouRe frowned at him, "You are of little help to this situation."
He glared at her, "I don't even know what the situation is, because you refuse to tell me!"
Cuore sighed and reached out to touch his arm again. This time it was hesitant and he didn't pull away. "Tempers are high," she whispered, dropping her gaze. "We're all worried. TinSouRe has a lot of work to do, and I intend to help her. She's agreed to show me the last attempt she made on the cure. I may not have much knowledge about biology or diseases, but a fresh point of view might be of help."
Kieran hated that she wasn't looking at him, but he knew trying to talk to her now, of all times, would only lead to more confusion and heartache.
"What should I do?" he asked, flicking a glance at the Lunarians. BarZenDao looked uncomfortable, and didn't say anything, but TinSouRe had a reply on her lips instantly.
"You are making a difficult situation worse. I think the most help you could be would be to remove yourself from it."
Kieran narrowed his eyes, wanting so very much to connect his fist with her face. Normally that sort of reaction was reserved for his roommates, but she had managed to strain every last nerve of his.
Cuore must have sensed his tension, because her fingers slowly tightened around his arm. "Maybe…" she said softly, hesitantly. "It would be better if you left."
That hurt more than it should have, and even though she wasn't looking at him, she flinched when he turned his gaze to her.
Cuore shook her head, "I'm not…I…just, let us work. Check on Ursula and Ceodore, would you?"
Kieran hesitated, fists clenched.
His logical side knew that he wasn't any help, but they didn't have to be so disrespectful about it.
"Well," he snapped, scowling at BarZenDao as he spoke. "I guess that makes sense. After all, I'm not on your level, am I?"
The boy blinked, but otherwise remained still. Cuore glanced up at him then, expression troubled. She dropped her hand from his arm and muttered; "Kieran…"
He sighed and waved a hand in dismissal. "It's fine. I get it."
Cuore bit her lip, crossing her arms over her chest in an obvious comforting gesture. He gave her a once over, not sure he wanted to leave her alone with the Lunarians. Not when he didn't trust them, when he didn't trust her not to try something drastic.
"I'll only leave if you promise me you won't do something stupid," Kieran whispered.
Cuore glanced up, looking surprised. She opened her mouth, closed it and then averted her gaze. She gave him a nod; it looked timid, but she wasn't a liar. He knew that much about her.
Shooting once last look at their deceitful hosts, he moved for the door.
Their goal was no longer freedom from these ruins, it was survival.
Ceodore winced as Ursula's fist connected with the wall so hard it dented the plate metal.
"I hate her!" the blonde princess screamed.
He hesitated before taking her hand and swiftly, gently, guiding it away from the wall and down to her side. "No, you don't."
"I do," Ursula said vehemently. "I hate them both for lying, for doing this…I hate this place, I hate the Uo'Ru, I-"
"Ursula," he cut off, resting a hand on her cheek to make her look at him.
Ceodore shook his head, "You're just upset,"
She smacked his hand away and glared at him. Despite how angry she looked, there were tears on her eyelashes.
"Of course I'm upset!" she yelled at him, flinging her hands wide open. "Why aren't you?! Don't you get it? Don't you get what this could mean?!"
Ceodore sighed again and tried to answer her question, but she was still ranting; "This is all their fault! We're in danger, you're in danger! Why don't you care?!"
"Of course I care!" he snapped over her tirade.
She blinked, probably surprised that he'd raise his voice. But she was spiraling out of control, and it wasn't helping his mindset any. He was trying to be brave, trying not to give into the fear that was so overwhelming. Trying to look on the bright side, even if that brightness was growing dimmer by the second.
"Do you think I'm that stupid where I don't understand that I could die, or turn into one of those things, or that all of us could die down here?" he asked her, trying to keep his tone even. "I do get it, but I'm not going to rant and rave like some lunatic! That's not going to help! And neither is blaming the Lunarians,"
Ursula made an enraged growling sound and looked very much like she wanted to slap him. Instead, she whirled around and punched the nearest wall again.
"No, you don't get it!" she sobbed loudly. "You don't understand how utterly terrified I am!"
It was jarring to hear Ursula admit being afraid of something, and even more to see her cry. He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen both of those things, and the sight of it now tugged on his own emotions.
She wasn't the only one that was terrified.
"Ursula," Ceodore murmured, taking both her shoulders and carefully turning her around. "Hey, hey…"
She didn't bother saying anything and flung her arms around him. The embrace was so desperate, so tight that it nearly hurt.
"I'm scared," she whispered tearfully. "Petrified…I can't do anything, I can't fix this…"
Ceodore sighed, closing his eyes and hugged her back. "I…I'm scared too, is that what you want me to say?"
She sniffed and buried her face into the side of his neck. "I don't know what I want to hear…I just want all of this to be over, I want you to be fine, I want to go home…"
"I know, and…we have to believe that will still happen…I'm trying so very hard not to be scared," he admitted, tightening his arms when she shuddered another sob. "I'm trying, but…"
Ursula shifted, pulling away enough to look at him, teary eyes studying his frantically. She bit her lip, "I'm selfish, like always."
Ceodore gave her a quizzical look and she laughed lowly, haltingly. "I'm supposed to be strong for you, I'm supposed to be the one comforting you, not the other way around. I'm just so afraid of losing you."
He closed his eyes, unable to say anything in reply. He was too afraid he'd be sobbing right along with her. Ursula rested her chin on his shoulder, speaking up again. "I love you, and I don't tell you that enough. I don't want to lose you."
It was Ceodore this time that rested his face in the crook of her neck. "I love you too," he whispered. "And I will fight this, that I promise you. This isn't over, we can't give up."
He felt her nod, relaxed as she combed one hand through the hairs on the back of his head. He swallowed and gently pushed her back so he could see her face. He brushed his thumb under one of her eyes, wiping at residue tears. "Are you alright?"
She nodded, offering a weak smile. "Yeah,"
Ursula took a deep breath. It wavered from her tears a few moments before. She leaned forward and kissed him ever so slightly. Her lips were salty from her tears, and she embraced him again afterwards.
"Can you just hold me for a minute?" she asked, sounding so shattered that it physically hurt.
Ceodore nodded and kissed the side of her head, not trusting himself to say anything. Not after the last few minutes. It was taking every ounce of willpower on his part to not break down right here and now, and most of that was coming from the fact that he didn't want to hurt the woman clinging to him anymore then he already had.
There were footsteps at the other end of the hallway, towards TinSouRe's lab, and Ceodore glanced up just enough to see who might be coming. If Ursula heard, she didn't care, and didn't move.
Kieran peeked around the corner, glanced at the princess, then at him. His expression was questioning, as if asking if everything was alright.
Ceodore nodded slightly, relived when Kieran returned the gesture and walked in the opposite direction without saying anything.
Words wouldn't be able to help at the moment, anyway.
Cuore slipped into the laboratory and looked around quickly to ensure that she was correct that it was empty.
TinSouRe and BarZenDao had gone to get food, or so they had said, while the others were resting somewhere else. It had been a quiet few hours since they had learned about the virus. No one had spoken much besides the initial, explosive reaction.
Every second seemed to drag on as they quickly and pointlessly tried to continue TinSouRe's work.
It was clear that the virus had adapted beyond the creation point, and even the Uo'Ru body they had now was useless to them. BarZenDao's blood was useless, even in the first stage of the virus, and Cuore didn't see any way the situation would change.
Not without a catalyst.
She punched in the rune command and opened TinSouRe's database, scrolling through the catalog of samples. She had watched the woman work and committed her codes to memory.
Cuore halted the display and double tapped the swirling design before her.
A cabinet off to one side of the room opened in response to her command input, revealing a stash of neatly kept vials and tubes.
A few of them were discolored or damaged from the crash, but the majority of the samples were aligned perfectly thanks to the bracers in place.
Cuore hopped down from the station and scanned the shelves, looking for what she needed.
Eyeing the tube of translucent liquid, she took a deep breath before plucking it from its restraints.
"You're going to do it anyway, aren't you?"
Cuore jumped, startled by the voice and glanced over her shoulder at the doorway.
BarZenDao was frowning at her. He stepped inside and let the doors zipped closed behind him.
"I…" Cuore said, debating lying and telling him this was just more research. But he gave her a look, one that said he already knew what she was doing.
"This is the only way," she pleaded, curling her fingers around the tube. "TinSouRe can't make a cure with the data she has now, and that means that you, that Ceodore…all the Uo'Ru on this ship…I won't let that happen."
BarZenDao blinked. "You believe you'll survive."
"I do." she replied firmly.
He eyed her, and she wondered what was going through his mind. He walked forward, stopping in front of her and continuing to stare.
"L'In?" he asked quietly.
Cuore's brow furrowed, "Why?" she repeated. "Why what?"
She could see his confusion as he spoke in uneasy tones, looking troubled. "Why would you risk your wellbeing for others?" The boy shook his head, "I don't understand. You gain nothing from this, and even though one of your…friends, is infected, your future is secured. So, why?"
She sighed, trying how best to explain it to him. He didn't understand love, he didn't understand living in a world where your life was more than survival.
"BarZenDao…" she started. "It hurts me that others are hurt. I have a chance to save lives, and that is always worth any risk."
He blinked. "Is it? Your life outweighs mine, outweighs Ceodore's, outweighs the Uo'Ru. You are more important."
She frowned, "According to whom? Everyone is important."
"You are…unique, you are the last of your kind."
She sighed, "Every soul deserves to be saved. My future is secure, but without Ceodore, it's not the same. With the knowledge that I could have saved him, you, and the others, it's not as bright. I do this because…well, because I…love."
"There's that word again…" he mumbled. His expression was troubled, confused, and Cuore smiled, setting a hand on his shoulder. "Some sacrifices are worth making."
BarZenDao looked up at her, "How…do you know which ones are?"
Her smile grew, "If it saves someone, then it's worth it. If it ends pain, or suffering…it's worth it. If it feels right, then it's worth it."
He seemed to be even more confused, and Cuore hesitated, dropping her hand to her side. "Are you…going to try and stop me?"
BarZenDao grinned then, "That would be pointless. I can't talk you out of it; you're far beyond reason. And I already know I am no match for you physically."
She giggled, and he smiled ever so slightly.
"Thank you," she told him, squeezing his shoulder again.
He nodded to the vial, "That is…the most virulent strain of the Uo'Ru Ven'Jix…"
"I wanted to accelerate the process." Cuore said, shrugging. "This seemed the easiest way."
Cuore licked her lips, holding up the vial. "If…if I change if I…become…something else, my friends won't have the ability, by their choice, to take me down."
"I understand." BarZenDao said.
She nodded, "Then…thank you again."
He bowed slightly and she nodded. "Alright. Let's do this."
Ceodore didn't have much of an appetite, and he wasn't sure if it was because of the bad news he'd received or because he was stick of gray paste.
Still, he forced himself to at least choke down a few spoonful's while trying to come up with a conversation topic. Ursula was sitting next to him, absently stirring her dinner with the metal utensil and staring into it as if answers would spring forth.
She'd been quiet and clingy the past few hours, and Ceodore wished there was something he could say to make her feel better. As it stood, he wasn't sure what to do.
Kieran was across the room, just as silent, and he hadn't even bother to get food. He was tinkering with something, but it wasn't easy to make out.
Frowning, Ceodore cleared his throat. "So…"
Ursula looked up, giving him a weary look. Kieran snorted from across the room.
The prince frowned, "Alright, so I'm bad at starting conversations…would someone else like to try?"
Ursula went back to staring at her food, though she had stopped swirling it. Kieran glanced up, "Are we still planning on building the matter transportation device to get out of here?"
Ceodore shifted in his chair. "I…hadn't thought about it. I suppose we should."
Ursula propped her chin on her hand and pushed her bowl of food away. "I guess…"
Her body posture screamed despair and Ceodore winced, reaching out to stroke her arm. "We should, because once all of this works out, we can go home."
She smiled at him, but it was strained.
"We will get out of here…" Kieran muttered. He wrenched something into place on whatever he was working on. It made a loud 'clinking' sound.
Curious, Ceodore craned his neck to try and see what he was working on. "What are you doing?"
The young man shrugged and held up one of the weapons TinSouRe had used. "A slinger, or…a SevRhen, if you will. I modified the force calibration and the target aperture…I think, anyway. It needs to be tested."
"You modified the what with the what?" Ursula asked, giving him an odd look.
"I made it cooler." he replied, grinning slightly.
Ceodore frowned again, "Are you sure you should be messing with that? Seems dangerous."
"Yeah," Ursula seconded, sitting up straight. "And where did you get one?"
Kieran shrugged again and went back to working on it. "I got bored. Went exploring. Found some storage units."
The two royals exchanged a glance.
Ceodore knew arguing with his friend would only prove useless and incite a fight. But he couldn't help the worry that surfaced at his attitude and his recklessness. He was clearly dealing with the situation poorly.
The doors to the room opened and TinSouRe entered, gazing around for a moment. Ceodore did not miss the way Ursula averted her gaze from the woman or the dark look Kieran shot her.
His friends obviously thought she was the cause of all of this, and no matter how correct they were, it was uncalled for.
"Where is Cuore?" the woman asked after a moment.
Ceodore blinked, "I thought she was with you and BarZenDao."
"BarZenDao left my side not long ago. Cuore was not with us." the woman answered.
Ursula looked thoughtful. "Cuore didn't say anything…maybe she's sleeping?"
"Without someone telling her too?" Kieran said. His voice was slightly alarmed and he stood, heading for the door before anyone else could say or do anything.
Ceodore wasn't sure why, but he had to agree that something seemed amiss, and he had a terrible feeling in his gut.
They hurried down the corridor to the laboratory and the doors zipped open. Ursula and Kieran slid inside and Ceodore paused for only a moment to make sure TinSouRe was coming before joining them.
BarZenDao glanced at them as they entered and frowned, but said nothing. Ceodore could tell that he was tense, and that only proved the point that something was wrong.
"Where's Cuore?" Ursula asked. Her voice was sharp but uneasy, as if she both wanted and feared the answer to her question.
The boy hesitated, and he stepped aside from the wall he'd been standing in front of. Cuore was behind him, looking fine as far as they could tell, but was standing within a glass capsule of some sort embedded in the wall.
It was like another room, but small, only large enough for perhaps two people. She blinked at them and held up one hand looking apologetic.
"Don't be mad," she said.
Her voice was muffled by the glass, but it still came through easily enough.
"About what?" Kieran asked, taking another cautious step forward.
Cuore and BarZenDao exchanged a glance and the boy nodded at her before holding up an empty vial for them to see.
Ceodore's eyes widened, "Cuore, you didn't,"
She moved to cover her upper left arm in a gesture that looked unconscious. "I did what was necessary."
Ceodore wanted to argue with her but a lot of things happened at once; Ursula snapped something obscene behind him, sounding angry, and Kieran darted forward to grab BarZenDao roughly by the front of his robe.
He slammed him back against the wall near the enclosure where Cuore was.
"What the hell did you do?!" he shouted.
The boy managed to muster a glare at him and didn't struggle in his grasp, but still winced. "Release me,"
Kieran's already enraged glared hardened, "I asked you-"
"Stop it!" Cuore said, leaning into the front of the capsule. "BarZenDao didn't do anything. This was my choice. He was only making sure I sealed this containment chamber up."
Ceodore risked a glance over his shoulder at TinSouRe. Her expression was unreadable as she watched the scene unfolding.
Kieran shifted his look to Cuore, and she sighed, speaking up again. "Please, release him."
There was a visible hesitation before Kieran did as she asked. The boy slid a few steps away from the dark haired young man, looking a little unsure but wisely staying silent.
Cuore shook her head and looked at them again. "Don't be mad," she repeated.
"Mad?" Kieran asked. "You lied to me!" he said, slamming an open palm against the glass.
Cuore shook her head, "No, I promised you I wouldn't do anything stupid. This isn't stupid; this is a calculated risk! I know it will work!"
Ursula shook her head even as Kieran struck the glass again, looking too angry to form words.
"You don't know that!" the blonde princess insisted.
Cuore narrowed her eyes, "This was the only way I could prove to you it would work,"
"And what if it doesn't?!" Ceodore asked, walking forward. Kieran had vacated his spot after the chamber took another hit to it. He was pacing, a hand over his eyes.
Ceodore pressed his hands against the glass. "Cuore, what were you thinking? What if you die, what if-"
She cut him off, shaking her head. "It will work, I know it will!"
"Just think about it for a second if it doesn't," he pleaded, desperate. This was exactly what he knew would happen, exactly what he knew she would try if she thought there was no other way.
The girl was too selfless for her own good.
Cuore clutched her hands to her chest, "I'm willing to take that risk. If it doesn't work, if I…if things don't go as planned, then I left the plans for the TrAce'De-Mar with BarZenDao, and I've contained myself in this capsule in case the virus mutates further. None of you will be harmed, I've made sure of that."
Ursula gave a frustrated groaned, placing her head in her hands and beginning to pace. Ceodore wanted to say something, anything, to show Cuore how wrong this was, how utterly stupid, but nothing came to mind.
Besides, what would that gain? She'd infected herself; there was nothing they could do but hope she was right.
"We won't be harmed?" Kieran said, staring at her as if she'd lost her mind. "What do you think this is doing to us right now, Cuore?"
She sighed and closed her eyes, "You know what I mean…"
"What about you're Eidolons? What do you think they would say?" he continued.
She glared at him, "They aren't here right now,"
"Well I am and I'm telling you-"
"I'm telling you it was my choice!" she snapped. Cuore sighed again and tipped her head back, shaking it, before looking at them once more. "Don't you get it? This could save lives, it could save a lot of lives, it could save you, Ceodore,"
"At what cost?" he asked her.
She offered half a smile, "At a price I was willing to pay."
He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against the glass cover. "Cuore…" he said, completely drained.
"You have to trust me," she said, pleading once more. "Just, trust me. Give this time. You'll see, it will work. My body will fight off the virus and provide the needed anti-bodies. My Maenad lineage will finally be good for something."
TinSouRe spoke up, "If her DNA does adapt, I will gain very helpful knowledge indeed."
Ursula wheeled around and glared at the woman, "Are you serious right now?! What is wrong with you? It's like you're a robot, like you don't even feel anything!"
The woman frowned, "I understand your upset, but what's done is done. All we can do now is hope that she is correct and that the data gathered provides us what we need."
The princess pointed accusingly at her, "I don't give a damn about what you need, TinSouRe. I'm sorry that you didn't burn in hell with the rest of your planet."
Ceodore flinched at the venom in her voice, at the dark look she shot the Lunarian and opened his mouth to say something before she spun around and stormed off, out of the room.
He hesitated, not sure if he should leave her be or go after her.
Kieran caught his eye and shook his head. "I'll talk to her, you stay here with Cuore."
Ceodore thought about arguing, but he could tell that Kieran wanted to run just as badly as the princess did, not to mention the fact that he, too, was beyond angry.
Finally he nodded slightly and watched his friend leave, avoiding looking in the direction of TinSouRe. The woman didn't seem bothered by what had happened; instead, she looked annoyed that they were being so disruptive.
"I'm sorry," Cuore mumbled. "Not that I did this but that…that…"
"That you hurt us?" Ceodore asked. He managed to keep his voice soft, despite how much he just wanted to shake her.
"Yes," Cuore admitted, biting her lip. "If it saves your life, then it was worth it, still."
"I'm not worth dying over," he argued.
She smiled and gave a short laugh. "That's not for you to decide."
Kieran didn't have to go far to find Ursula, since she was just in the hallway outside a few feet away from the door.
He expected to find her bashing holes into anything and everything, but instead he saw her sitting on the floor, knees drawn up to her chest and tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I should have let Ceodore talk to her," he thought, frowning at himself.
Carefully he walked over and stood in front of her, sighing. "Ursula,"
"I'm not in the mood right now, Kieran. Just go away." she snapped, head buried in her knees.
He hesitated, but knew that despite what she said, she needed someone to talk too. He'd known her long enough to know that. If she was alone, she would only continue to stew in her emotions and it would take twice as long for her to recover.
It was a risky move, pushing her buttons, but it was also exactly what she needed. Besides, it wasn't the first time he'd purposely riled her up.
"Too bad." he said. "I'm not going anywhere, because obviously you need company."
Ursula gave a sharp laugh and looked up, "Really? And that company is going to be you?"
"Apparently." Kieran replied, crossing his arms. "It's just like you,"
She frowned, "What is?"
"To run away."
He saw her stiffen, her eyes narrow, her hands tighten around her legs.
"Something scary that you can't hit and make better and you run." he remarked, feigning indifference. "I shouldn't be surprised, and yet…"
In a flash, she was on her feet and had given him a shove. "Shut up!"
"Or what?" he challenged. "You're going to hit me? Is that going to help Cuore? Or cure Ceodore? Or get us home?"
"No, but it sure as hell will make me feel better!" she shouted, shoving him again.
This time he hit the opposite wall. Reflex told him to shove her back, but he wouldn't ever do that to her.
"Then go for it," he taunted. "Because like always, everything is about you, isn't it? So make yourself feel better, by all means, since you can't do anything else to help."
One of her hands grabbed his shoulder and he winced, jarred by the wall behind him again when the back of his head hit it from the recoil. Ursula's other hand was indeed in a fist, but she didn't lift it and just screamed at him.
"This isn't about me! It's about them! About two people I don't want…I can't lose!"
She hung her head, "There's nothing I can do, nothing I can fight that will win us this battle, nothing I can say or do…" Fresh tears streaked down her cheek. "I'm so helpless and worthless and I hate everything about this!"
Her voice had dropped, then risen again, and she lifted her hand, fingers coiling into a fist.
Kieran flinched as her fist struck the wall panel next to his face, and he peeked one eye open at her, somewhat surprised she hadn't actually hit him.
She abruptly released him and staggered back, slumping against the opposite wall and closing her eyes. "I'm so tired…so tired of trying to be strong…"
He exhaled the breath he'd been holding as she slid back down the wall to her former position, resting her chin on the tops of her knees. Kieran pushed himself off the wall and moved to sit next to her.
Neither of them said anything for a few moments and finally she sniffed, whispering; "Thanks."
He nodded and glanced at her. "Feel better?"
Ursula cracked a crooked smile. "A little. You know how to make me mad, I'll give you that."
"You can't keep that all bottled up," he said with a shrug. "You'll just end up exploding at someone. Probably Ceodore. Better him then me, right?"
She laughed a single, teary laugh and looked at him. "Something like that…"
Kieran held out his hand, "Let me see your knuckles,"
She blinked and he eyed her. "I saw you wince when you hit the wall. Let me see."
The princess reluctantly sighed and pulled her gloves off, holding out both hands for him to see. Kieran frowned at the splotches of black and blue and red that speckled her knuckles, not to mention the spilt skin in places.
"How many walls have you been punching recently?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Ursula smirked that apprehensive smile again, "Too many."
"I thought you trained so this wouldn't happen?"
"When I get so…emotional I sort of…forget all that. I'm not thinking, I'm just…" she trailed off and blinked at him, expression shifting. "Kieran, how did you know I wouldn't punch you?"
He shrugged again, "I didn't."
"A risk,"
He nodded, "Maybe, but you needed a push." He swiped a thumb over her knuckles, "You should get these treated. If you keep using them when they're like this, you're bound to break some fingers or something."
He saw her smile widen and he frowned. "What?"
"Sometimes I forget what a nice person you can be," she said lightly. "You're…a really good friend."
Kieran rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to retort with something witty, but he stopped when her fingers tightened around his wrists, holding him in place.
The blonde woman's expression was serious, and she searched his face for a moment before speaking. "I mean that; you're a good friend. Promise me, promise me and mean it, Kieran, that I'm not going to lose you, too."
"Ursula," he said, shaking his head. "Ceodore and Cuore aren't lost, yet. We can-"
"Promise me," she insisted.
Kieran blinked at her, realizing she was deadly serious. How she thought she was going to lose him, or why it was so important to her, he wasn't sure.
She'd always been closer to Ceodore and Cuore, for obvious reasons. But maybe she was so desperate and sensitive at the moment that she needed any reassurance she could get.
"I promise."
Ursula's eyes watered and she averted her gaze, dropping his hands. "I'm so scared…I want…I want to do something, I want to help, but what are we supposed to do? This is viruses and monsters and…nothing I ever trained for. We should never have come here…"
Kieran shifted and leaned back against the wall, staring in front of him. "Ursula, life is never what you train for. You weren't exactly prepared for the whole creator thing, either, and that turned out fine."
"You of all people think that turned out alright?" she question, wiping off her eyes.
Kieran sighed, "Sometimes bad things happen. And sometimes, we get a chance to stop the bad things. This isn't over yet. I already told you I'd do whatever I could, and I mean it."
They sat in silence again and Ursula broke it when she whispered; "I'm sorry. I didn't…think…I didn't ask you how you were…"
He frowned, "I'm not well, let's just leave it at that."
"But you decided to come talk to me," she pointed out. "Why? Why didn't you let Ceodore?"
Kieran looked at her, admitting anxiously; "Because I wanted to run just as much as you did."
"I'm tired," Ursula repeated, more tears swimming in her eyes. "I'm scared and tired and…I can't lose them."
"Neither can I."
She closed her eyes. "I don't want to be strong right now."
Kieran gave her arm a tug, replying; "Then don't be,"
She took his advice and leaned over, sobbing into his shoulder.
Kieran tried not to recoil and just averted his gaze back down the hallway. He wasn't comfortable with the situation, but it was what the poor princess needed. His mission was a success.
She needed someone to pull her back from the brink of despair before she ended up doing something as stupid as Cuore. She was bound to hurt herself and he hated to see that happen.
In some ways, he and her weren't that different, and he suspected she'd need a verbal smack to the face to snap her back to reality.
Just like he had.
Kieran suppressed a sigh, wishing that they weren't trapped here. If they hadn't been, then none of this would have happened. His best friend and the woman he loved would still be unharmed and safe, and he wouldn't feel as helpless as Ursula did.
But the situation wasn't going to change, and so he had to keep going.
"Just like old times," he thought wryly. "My whole life…"
And suddenly a comment made years ago to him by a shadow-image of himself on a mounting sprang to mind; "Even now you have no idea what to do. You're so lost, aren't you? After all this time you are no different than the child who survived the coming of hell only to awake and realize that everything was gone. Lost, always lost. Always alone."
He could have laughed at the truth to the statement, and briefly he wondered if that phantom had been a doppelganger and not a ghost of the dark mists trapped there.
But one thing had changed; he wasn't alone anymore.
Not that the knowledge of his friendships were any consolation at the moment. In fact, they were the cause of his pain.
But things would be different. They had to be.
He couldn't lose everyone and everything he cared about.
Not again.
Never again.
Ursula stirred and sat up, glancing at him with a frown. "Thanks…I'm sorry."
"Better?" he asked.
She nodded and tugged her gloves back onto her hands, wincing at the bruises. "Yes. I…you have a way with words, Kieran."
She gently socked him in the arm and grinned slightly, "A terrible way, just so you know."
Kieran returned the grin and watched her stand, raising an eyebrow in question.
"I'm going back in. I need to check on Ceodore, and I don't like the idea of leaving our idealist friends alone with the Lunarians." she explained.
He nodded and she bit her lip, "Are you coming?"
"No." he answered quickly. "I…need some time."
Ursula hesitated, and he could tell she wanted to say something to make him feel better, but had no idea what.
He saved her the trouble and just shrugged. "I'll be fine. Just go."
The princess nodded and slipped inside the lab again, leaving him alone in the hallway. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, somewhat wishing he was twelve years old again so no one would blame him for crying.
How lucky Ursula was to get away with it.
Author's Note: Well, I did say it would be a heavy chapter...alllllll the emotional rollercoasters. All. Of. Them.
And, I gave depth to Ceodore's character. Someone conjure me up a medal, would you?
I actually found this chapter very interesting to write; it gave me some different topics and emotions to think about, and it was a little different to top it all off. I hope everyone will enjoy reading it.
To recap, yes, Cuore went and did something extremely stupid (but come on, you knew she was going too...it's Cuore). Ursula is having a major melt-down (for good reasons,) and the Lunarians...well, let's just say I've found it interesting to see the spilt in the reviews, and the changes chapter to chapter, on whether or not our heroes should be trusting them or not. Hmm...who can say? I could, but I won't. You'll just have to wait and see!
So, kind of a funny confession here...there were 2 scenes I cut from Lost and Found before posting it, and both of them involved Kieran and Ursula conversations. The reason I left them out was because those two...actually ended up with a lot of chemistry, and that would have just been awkward. Haha. However, I find their friendship a riot to write. They like...are too similar to each other and that causes friction, but at the same time, they are the other ones who can get away with harasses the other.
I had a guest reviewer leave me a very long review (thank you!) that I sadly can't reply too via PM. (I try to always reply to reviews, if I can). So, to answer your questions; no, my other stories that are original fiction aren't out anywhere...yet. I've been looking into Amazon kindle downloads, but for the time being they need to be edited beforehand. However, it is in my plan to get them "Published" at some point, thank you for asking! As for Rosa, well...I would do more with her if she was ever important to the story lines I write...I just never seem to need her around...haha.
As always, thanks to all my readers and reviewers, and don't be shy; drop me a review!
Until next chapter!