Chapter 26…
The ear-splitting crack of a shotgun blast reverberated around the training room. The rubber slug that had just exited Ruination's barrel flew wildly off target, leaving a long scratch in the floor right next to the paper bullseye.
"How's your shoulder?" Rust questioned, gingerly patting Mauve on her upper back.
"Throbbing…" Mauve spat through gritted teeth. She lowered Ruination and took one hand off the weapon, moving it to the small welt that was developing on her shoulder joint. She rubbed the area gently and applied some of her aura to lessen the wound's severity.
"So I assume you won't be using shotguns again, hmm?"
"Unlikely," Mauve agreed. "Y'know, I thought Asher's rifle was bad for my health…"
Rust chuckled at her statement, remembering back to the training nights Team MARS used to spend together back at Beacon.
"If I can be honest," Rust began, gingerly accepting Ruination from Mauve and sliding the weapon onto his back. "Gunplay was never your strong suit…"
Mauve pouted. "I'm not bad with guns!"
"You excel at shooting lots and lots of bullets in a general direction," Rust explained. "Precision shooting… not so much…"
"Fair enough," Mauve cracked her neck. "I guess I'll just need more practice…"
"Hopefully not with Ruination… I don't think you can handle it yet. Have you asked Asher about this? The shotgun he keeps handy uses a smaller shell… I think."
"I'll uh- I'll see what he's up to later…" Mauve stuttered, averting her gaze for a moment.
Rust sighed and kicked his steel toed boots against the floor for a moment. "Are you two all right? It's been three days since we spoke with the General… you're not feuding with Asher again, are you? Because that was a brief time of tension I don't want to re-experience."
"No… nothing like that one time," Mauve sighed. "We agreed to talk things out in case we ever got in a fight again."
"Have you?"
"Yes…" Mauve trailed off. "We're not fighting or anything… but I can tell he's still a little upset."
"Were all a little upset," Rust butt-in. "I never believed him about not caring about Sage anymore… he spoke up when we were confronting Ironwood."
"But he still is just so closed off sometimes," Mauve squeezed her eyes shut in frustration. "I love him… but he doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve…"
"He never has…" Rust agreed. "Look, don't pressure him into anything… just try to approach the topic softly, alright?"
"Alright," Mauve nodded. "Wanna call it a day?"
Rust pulled out his scroll to check the time, realizing that it was growing later in the evening. "I guess so… let's clean up."
The clean up time was relatively short, consisting of putting the targets away and sweeping up the spent shell casings for recycling. Mauve and Rust left the training rooms in companionable silence, heading back towards the dorm.
The remainders of Team MARS had been shut away the last three days as per Ironwood's orders. They hadn't received much in the way of updates from the General; this either meant that there were no developments about Sage's situation, or that Ironwood was keeping them in the dark… again.
As Mauve and Rust returned to the dorm, they walked past the rather empty cafeteria.
"You hungry?" Rust asked, sniffing the air before turning his eyes to view Mauve.
"Not really," Mauve shook her head, her ears twitching slightly. "I had lunch a little late."
"Alright then," Rust sighed. "I'm gonna run to the cafeteria, do you want anything?"
"I'm good," Mauve replied as they entered the hallway where the dorm could be found. "See you later?"
"Of course!" Rust nodded. "I've got my scroll on me if you need me…"
"Thanks Rust…"
The hulking boy left in the opposite direction, leaving Mauve to take the final few steps to the door of their dorm. She wrapped her gloved hand around the handle and twisted, yelping in surprise when the door flew open and she stumbled into Asher's chest.
"Woah there!" Asher laughed, wrapping his arms around her to steady her. "You alright?"
"Me?" Mauve blinked. "What…? Were you looking for the peephole and waiting for the right moment?"
"Just a coincidence, I assure you," Asher chuckled. He released his partner from his arms and dusted off his pants. Asher then turned and allowed Mauve entry to the room, closing the door behind her to allow them some privacy. "How did things go with Rust?"
Asher's eyes flicked back to the door for a moment. "Speaking of him…"
"He's in the cafeteria," Mauve answered Asher's incoming question. "And it sucked… how he shoots that death trap repeatedly is beyond my understanding."
Asher laughed again at her statement and used his hand to ruffle the ears of the shorter girl. Mauve smiled at his gentle touch but felt a nagging feeling inside her chest. She and Asher had always gotten along very well- even before they were dating; however, there was something about his friendliness right now that seemed artificial, as if he was putting on a happy face for her.
Mauve appreciated that… but she also loathed it. She wanted Asher to be happy, not pretend to be happy for her sake…
"You headed somewhere?" Mauve quirked a silver eyebrow in curiosity.
"The medical wing," Asher answered rather quickly. "It has to do with the weird dreams… Fern wanted me to spend the night there…"
"Spend the night huh?" Mauve cocked her hip. "Are you being unfaithful?"
"Har har," Asher narrowed his eyes. "Anyways… he wants to monitor me while I sleep, so you don't get to use me as a pillow tonight."
"I weep for my misfortune…"
"Well then," Asher clapped his hands together. He leaned forwards and pecked her lips gently with his. "See you tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow," Mauve nodded and smiled. "I hope you'll be alright…"
"Of course I'll be alright!" Asher smiled gently. He waved his hand and left the room, shutting the door gently behind him.
Mauve looked down at her feet and sighed. "Not exactly what I meant…"
Later…
"You got any drugs that'll put me to sleep?" Asher grumbled, turning his head to view Doctor Fern. He had to be careful when moving his head, not wanting to accidentally tear off any of the carefully applied electrodes.
"If you were a more annoying patient I would just use my fist," Fern joked back, idly staring at a magazine to amuse himself. "Have you tried counting beowulf's? I heard that usually works…"
"You should have been a comedian," Asher shot back.
"I wanted to be a dancer, actually," Fern chuckled as he shut his magazine and looked at Asher. "To answer your question though… I don't want to give you anything, might screw up the readings we take."
"Fine," Asher sighed, turning his eyes back to the ceiling.
There was silence for a moment, Asher tried his best to slow his breathing in that time.
"Is there anything that helps you sleep?" Fern questioned. "I think we have a few white noise machines in the maternity ward."
"You have a maternity ward… here?"
"You'd be surprised," Fern sighed. "We have a free bin of protection on the front desk… but a lot of students just don't use it…"
"It was a little awkward…"
"It was hilarious," Fern laughed. "You gave us enough water-cooler gossip to get us through our shift!"
"I'm honoured…" Asher drawled. "I never really liked white noise machines… do you have a fan or something?"
"Like a desk fan?" Fern mused. "Let me check."
The green haired doctor stood up and left the room, dimming the lights just before he left. Asher sighed and settled back into the lumpy hospital mattress he had been provided, gently closing his eyes and trying his best to stay calm.
But how could he be calm? Mauve clearly knew that he was unhappy, despite his best attempts to appear otherwise. He and Rust had been more distant with each other the last few days. He was having increasingly strange dreams with a cryptic figure who remembered him and a person he had once considered a close friend tore them all a new one and disappeared into the night… possibly because he wanted to protect them… possibly because he actually chose his uncle over them.
There was a lot on his plate… that was for sure…
"I'm back!" Fern yelled/whispered, setting a small plastic fan onto the room's tiny desk.
"I heard the door open…" Asher complained. "Look doc… would you mind stepping out for a bit? It's kinda hard to sleep when you're around…"
"Fine," Fern nodded, flicking on the fan and grasping the door handle. "I'll be back in ten…"
The door opened and closed softly, leaving Asher alone with the fan. The cool breeze it generated helped him relax a little bit, and the soft hum of the internal motor tuned out his turbulent thoughts.
He was missing a comforting and familiar weight… but she was back in the dorm room in their shared bunk.
It took a few minutes, but Asher finally drifted off. Things were different this time though… as he felt his consciousness fading, a strange sensation took over, his stomach spiking as if he was in freefall.
Asher found himself standing in the mysterious void again, not reliving a dream like he usually did.
"What?" Asher stuttered out, spinning around to view the barren landscape. "No memory?"
"No memory this time," spoke the stranger, their indiscernible form erupting from the shadows. The mysterious figure approached Asher from the front, their movements easily predicted and non-threatening.
"Why not?" Asher questioned.
"Because you were trying to come here this time," the stranger explained. "When you come voluntarily, or are at least open to it, the transition becomes less confusing… I speak from experience."
"Well, since we've got time," Asher took a seat on the barren ground. "Can we chat properly this time?"
"Our time is still limited," the stranger settled down to face him directly. "We need to be quick… your mind cannot handle the stress for long."
"Who are you?"
"I have answered this question already, I do not know," the stranger muttered. "I am as much of a mystery to myself than I am to you… but I was like you once, I think."
"How old are you?"
"I can't remember when I was last on Remnant… but I can only assume I have spent centuries here… perhaps longer…"
"You mentioned to me that you had the same ability as me?" Asher questioned. "You bounce around between… here… and Remnant."
"Yes," the stranger affirmed. "My semblance was nearly identical to yours… including the manifestation of smoke…"
"Do you think our semblances are connected to this place somehow?"
"Take a guess," the stranger snorted loudly, sweeping their "arm" to show off the murky and smoke filled landscape. "I was as confused as you were… and I didn't have a guide."
"Then what happened? Why are you here still?"
"I got stuck…"
"Stuck?"
The stranger sighed, propping themselves up on their "arms" and leaning back. "I told you before… we have limited time, but that is merely because your consciousness tries to protect you…"
"Okay…"
"I brought my body here… I think I was in battle… and I stayed too long," the stranger muttered. "I am a part of "the place" now… as much as the rocks and the smoke."
"But how did you get stuck?" Asher shook his head in confusion. "I look fine… compared to you…"
"It may have been the beast… I am not sure."
"What do you mean by 'the beast?' We're not alone here?" Asher whispered the last part, his grey eyes flicking around to view the landscape.
"It's not close to us… but your repeat presence has made it suspicious," the stranger muttered, leaning close to Asher again. "I do not know what it is… merely that it hides in the smoke… and watches."
"Should I be worr-" Asher was cut off when his throat constricted, the air squeezing out of his throat. He fell to the ground and began to roll, feebly grabbing at his chest and neck.
"Try to force yourself here more," the stranger muttered, gazing down at Asher's form impassively. "It was good speaking with you… I hope you can say the same about me… Asher…"
Asher vision burst into a colour of light, as if he was running through a dark tunnel and towards sunlight. His view of the world twisted and expanded until he was viewing the unremarkable ceiling of the hospital hallways.
He heard yelling and fast paced muttering all around him. He could hear the squeak of stretcher wheels against a tiled floor. In a sudden rush of clarity Asher realized he was in motion, feeling the whooshing of air against his face and skin.
"Hey," Asher muttered, lifting his head to view the people surrounding him. "Something going on?"
He was surrounded by white coated doctors and technicians, each and every one of them giving him a wild look. Fern was amongst them, his face red with shock and his clipboard falling from his hands.
"Whats going on here?" Asher peered around the sterile hallway.
Doctor Fern said nothing, rushing forwards and grabbing Asher's head. The fair haired boy yelped as the doctor peered into his eyes for a moment before pressing his fingers against Asher's neck to take his pulse.
"How do you feel?" Fern demanded, his tone more forceful than Asher was familiar with.
"Not too bad," Asher answered, rolling his neck gently around to stretch his muscles. "Why the stretcher? Is everything alright?"
Fern seemed to deflate a little bit, letting out a long breath and waving away the other doctors and technicians. The doctor pushed Asher back down on the stretcher and pulled him into a vacant room, shutting the door for some privacy.
"What's the last thing you remember?" Fern asked, taking a deep breath and turning to the wall to grab some basic medical tools.
"I fell asleep, then I had another one of the dreams," Asher answered, propping himself up on his elbows. "Did you get any good readings?"
"A lack of readings…" Fern deadpanned as he spun around, a stethoscope clenched in his white-knuckled hands.. 'It was the strangest thing… after you fell asleep… your brain just… went quiet…"
"Wh- what?" Asher stuttered, sweat trickling down his forehead at the implications.
"Asher… we were rushing you to emergency care for resuscitation," Fern answered, adjusting his glasses with his hand. "Make no mistake… for a few minutes you were braindead…"
Halfway across Remnant…
Lavender peered down at her half finished cup of tea. The main square of Vermillion's home village was bustling with activity, with the inhabitants of the small town rushing around in the late morning sunlight.
She and the rest of her team were sitting in the heat of the sun, all gathered around an old wooden table that was set up in front of the village's only cafe.
"How's the drink?" Her team leader asked, getting Lavender's attention. Vermillion was sitting across from her and looking radiant in the heat of the sun. Her tan had deepened somewhat, leaving her with an even gold complexion. Lavender was a little jealous… while she and Teal didn't burn much in the sun, their skin was still considerably paler than their leader's, even with constant exposure…
Honey on the other hand…
The golden haired girl was sitting on Lavenders left side, laying a bottle of ice cold water against her forehead. She was wearing a gigantic straw sun hat that she had borrowed from Vermillion's mother. Her appearance was comical to say the least and wasn't helped by the heaps of sunscreen she had lathered onto her red face.
"This drink is pretty good… Teal?" Lavender muttered into her cup, taking a long sip of the liquid and trying to look natural.
"Still looking at us," Teal answered, her eyes flicking back to her teammates. "Maybe Honey should walk away…?"
"No," Vermillion gently shook her head, blue eyes glued on the table. "Wherever she goes they follow… were not leaving her alone for a moment, got it?"
"Thank you," Honey whispered, her green eyes wide under the brim of her hat. "What do they want with me?"
"I dunno," Teal whispered back. "I told you guys that I ran into the dweeby looking guy the other night… his name was 'Simons' I think?"
"Can you tell us what he was like again?" Lavender questioned, taking another sip of her tea.
"Polite… and really freaking friendly… almost nauseatingly so," Teal mused. "He said he was on vacation… which was weird. I don't ask too many questions… you guys know that…"
"Yes, out of the four of us you were the worst choice to run into them," Vermillion huffed. "Look… we only know two things…"
The tall redhead leaned into the table. "One… nobody in town knows why they are here… and two, they're keeping tabs on Honey… for whatever reason…"
At the mention of her name the golden haired girl sank deeper into her seat, pulling down the brim of her hat to shield her face. Off in the distance, seated at the furthest table from them sat a wiry man adorned with religious iconography, a hulking woman, a green eyed stranger, another woman with a wedge like haircut and finally the brown haired "Simons" who had a beaming smile stuck on his face. The five mysterious strangers snapped their attention away once Honey turned her gaze in their direction, participating in a clearly fake conversation with one another.
Lavender shakily sighed into her hand and swirled her finger on the rim of her cup.
Things had been weird lately… like really, really weird…