Chapter 8: The Codex Entries

She was not fine with Sam.

Searing pain tore through her delicate body.

She remembered Samuels betrayal of Slayer, in a way she felt as if he betrayed her too.

She sat up looking around. Her armor was stripped off and her right side of her body was covered in bandages. The sudden movement caused her to wince, in an attempt to get out she fell off the decent sized bed.

Her thoughts were muddled, so much pain. She couldn't stop thinking about it- about him. Was he okay? Is he safe? So many questions burned through her head.

"SLAYER!" Is what she screamed out. She fought the blanket tangled in her feet and the wires on her body, she ripped the sensors off herself in her frenzy. When she opened her eyes everything was blurry. So blurry. She's somewhere being held captive she knew it. "Let- GO" She yelled as she thrashed and kicked at the blankets. Once they were off she heard what sounded like a grunt and turned to it. "Slayer?" She asked

The gray blob that faded into a figure approached her seeming confused

"Who's Slayer?" A male voice rang. Rori observed he had a shaven head and a pair of glasses on "Wait you don't mean the Doomslayer. Do you?"

Rori nodded and despite her pain started limping to the door.

"Where are you going you're hurt!" Rori turned to him.

"I don't give a shit! I have to find him!"

"Wait Rori-"

"How the fuck do you know my name?" She turned to him, he coward away a bit.

"I'm... I work for ARC."

"Who?"

"Samuel Hayden? You know?"

"YOU." Rori lunged and they toppled to the ground.

"W-Wait I'm just an intern!" He exclaimed trying to push her off.

"Why are you in the med bay then." Rori snarled. She grabbed a scalpel from the table above her and held it to his neck.

"J-Just hear me out!" He exclaimed. Rori nodded letting him talk. "I'm here to help you."

"And how exactly are you going to do that?!" She hissed.

"Helping you find Slayer. There's no chance of winning against the demons without him." He smiled sheepishly as she looked at him, something was telling her that he was being honest. "All I ask in Return is you tell me of what he is like. I- uh for research purposes obviously." She stared at him intensely, anger swirled in her multi colored eyes as she studied over his face.

"Fine." She stumbled off him and back to her bed. Intern guy stood and walked over to her making sure her bed was made.

"Rest now I'll come back later with whatever I can gather."

"What are you doing in here?" Intern guy whirled around at the voice fear on his face.

"Dr. Hayden! I-I was just checking up on our guest. The medic team is still... Aha... Lacking."

"I appreciate your concern. You can now get back to your post." Samuel said. The intern nodded and scurried out, now leaving the two alone. Rori glared at him as he approached.

"Get away from me." She hissed. Samuel sat in a chair by her bed looking at her. "I'm so going to rip your damned face off once my arm is healed." Rori growled out. Samuel sighed.

"Rori, you have to understand. There is an energy crisis."

"Is there Hayden? Seems like earth has more important problems THAN FUCKING ENERGY." She exclaimed angrily.

"You're right, Rori. It does." Samuel nodded he spoke softly despite her tone. "It had not occured to me that it had gotten this bad..."

"You should of thought about that before you betrayed him." She huffed.

"I did what I did-"

"I know I know for the greater good of humanity or what the fuck ever. Now how long have I been here?"

"You've been asleep for months Rori... I-I honestly thought you wouldn't wake."

"Sam." She turned to look at him finally sighing in defeat. "I'm sorry. But that was your fault-"

"-No it was his." Samuel cut her off and she looked to him offended.

"How fucking dare you?! You're the one who electrocuted me!" Rori yelled.

"I- The shock was supposed to paralyze you long enough for me to carry you out without you struggling not put you in a coma." Samuel sighed. "I- Suppose it is partially my fault..." Now that was something she never thought she'd hear. "It wasn't supposed to be this way. "

"Some things don't always go as we planned them." Rori said leaning back on her bed and closing her eyes. "I love ya Sam but I wish you would listen. You had the right Idea... Just shit hit the fan. I just. I can't do this anymore with you." Samuel stayed silent. Nodding, he understood that she might need space, but still after all they'd been through?

"After all this time? You're just... Leaving? Humanity needs us."

"Humanity." She said pausing and turning to look him dead in his slit. "Needs him."

"No, they need you." He said. She laughed weakly.

"Do you see me, Samuel? I am but a mere woman. A mortal made of delicate flesh." She leaned against her raised pillows. "I'm nearly falling apart. So no, humanity don't need me to save them. They need Doomguy." She sighed tiredly. Samuel stared at her as she began dozing off. He needed to tell her. Just be upfront and tell the truth.

"Rori-"

"Dr. Hayden... We have a situation in the main lobby... Your presence is requested immediately." The nervous scientist stood awkwardly in the doorway, Samuel turned to her and nodded. Now looking back at the tawny woman he sighed.

"Get some rest Rori, we can continue this discussion later on." Rori said nothing as she laid there, knowing she was going to be too asleep to bother talking to him. Still she nodded and rolled over, Hayden nodded as she did.

Not wanting to disturb her he walked out quietly to see what the problem was.

XXxxXX

Its been a few weeks and Rori hadn't talked to Samuel, he hadn't returned since the 'problem'. At this point she was slightly worried about his well being, but then again the staff seemed fine. So she just deemed it as he didn't want to talk to her, which she was fine with.

If she was being honest she didn't want to talk to him either. Rori could walk now, she limped everywhere and would often have lunch with intern guy. On days like today she could use a warm bowl of soup.

Rori found it rather strange when people began confusing her with a woman named Ritza. So she asked Intern guy about it. He had smiled and said he would find the codex entries to share with her. Now she waited in their usual spot staring at the wall when she seen the smiling male approach her with a duffel bag.

"What's with the bag, short stuff." She asked putting a hand on her hip looking up to her friend.

"Look who's talking." He chuckled opening it up and moving some clothes out the way revealing Codex logs, one in particular caught her eye.

Ritza 006.

She smiled at him happy that he had gotten the information.

"You little sneak. You got 'em" Internguy chuckled at her as they began walking to the mess hall. He fixed his duffel bag and zipped it up.

"They aren't the originals, but I tried my best, this should reveal information about Doomguy and this woman named Ritza. From the first one I got to listen to... They seemed pretty close. They went way back, she was there when he was first brought to stand before the priests."

"Thats... Wow."

"That's what I said." Intern guy chuckled. "And I even had time to download ones that... Were about you." She looked to him confused.

"What do you mean 'about me'."

"I don't know but we can listen to them later, I only saw your name on them thought you'd want to know."

"Thank you." She said smiling. "You're a very considerate friend. Now lets get some food and skedaddle, dont want douche-bot ruining our lunch again." Rori said going and getting a bowl of soup, the chef had smiled at her and gave her a huge bowl knowing how much she loved the soup.

"Here you are Miss Rori. Enjoy your food!"

Rori looked at the soup, then at the chef before smiling happily.

"Thank you. I wish you a wonderful day." She said grabbing her bowl and walking away with Internguy in tow. He had gotten a big bowl too as they went to eat in his room, Samuel never traveled to these parts and for that Rori was grateful.

She didn't think she could talk to him again, she entered his room and he closed the door behind them. He set his stuff down and sighed, beginning to play the first codex entries. When it began to play he sat next to Rori on his bed and began to eat listening.

"Codex log... 001." A female voice sounded. "Subject Ritza. 5'9... Seemingly colorless eyes. We are looking at a supernatural being already. No human has ever looked like this and never will, we have already checked her eyes, no contacts, her blood is a type that can't be identified as human. This... Doesn't make sense... The others say she's a god. I cannot make that assumption as of now. But everything is pointing towards it... Its strange how after The Slayers Sarcophagus appeared, so did she. She seems to be in a coma like state as of right now, hopefully all goes well when she wakes."

Internguy looked to Rori having stopped eating his soup to listen.

"So how are they confusing me with a 5'10 woman?"

"I don't know. Lets play another shall we?" Rori just nodded. Internguy played another, before taking a bite of his soup.

"Codex log 002!" A female voice sounded her voice filled with excitement. "Further tests have shown that she is infact a god, and from the looks of it an old one. She was around way before earth. I've observed that this being does not need air, food or water but strangely has a fully operational digestion, circulatory, and reproduction system. She is slowly coming out of her stasis, I wonder why she is here, perhaps we could ask her once she fully wakes, I wonder what language she speaks! Maybe something ancient... For now though we will continue to run little harmless tests, I'm sure she is tougher than she looks, but I wouldn't want the chance of scarring her flawless skin and upsetting her. I do believe consent is in order, so we will wait for more vigorous testing after she wakes."

"DOCTOR TIMBRE YOU'RE NEEDED IN THE MEDBAY."

With that the codex log cut off.

"A god was walking around HQ?" Iternguy asked. He looked to Rori who had put her spoon down and looked quite confused.

"I guess so. I may have still been on earth while all this happened, who knows what Hayden did before I got to Mars."

"You were stationed on Mars-?"

"Rori report to my office." Samuels voice came over the PA

Fuck.

"Ugh now?" She asked sighing. Of all the times he decided to talk to her it had to be now? Rori stood and looked to Internguy before smiling apologetically. "Sorry man, you can listen on if you want especially the one about me."

"No problem I'll fill you in."

"Thanks." She nodded and walked out back to the mess hall to return her bowl. After that was done she begrudgingly made her way to Sam's office. Once at the door she went to knock only to have the door snap open, revealing Hayden's form at his desk. He seemed troubled at the moment and sat to attention upon her entrance.

"Take a seat." He said. She sat in the chair in front of him frowning. Rori said nothing only crossing her arms and looking away as she did not want to gaze at him.

"What do you want bucket head?"

Samuel took the insult, like the adult he was supposed to be, and dismissed it.

"You're armor is fixed. You still have a limp, but I think its time to get you back into the swing of things." Sam said placing his hands on the desk. "To get you field bound."

"Field bound? Samuel what are you talking about? I can't."

"You can."

"I won't. I'm leaving-"

"And where will you go?!" He practically shouted slamming his fists on his desk. Rori stood suddenly.

"Anywhere you aren't!" She shouted back. Samuel stood as well.

"How will you survive?! You wouldn't last a day in hell without him."

"Wh- I- Fuck you Sam." She hissed. Samuel shook with anger.

"You are acting like a child! Listen!"

"You couldn't put aside your ego to listen to me. What makes you think I'll take the time to listen to you?" They were having a staring contest now. Samuel towered over her as he had always towered over everyone, yet Rori stood her ground, having taking on bigger and scarier demons than he.

Everything was quiet and Samuel sighed.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you. Its just... The invasion is getting worse and there is little hope for humanity. We need everyone we can get."

"You brought this upon them. You can fix it. I'm tired of being your little pet." She said stepping away from the desk. "Nice talk, Sam. I'll see you around."

Hayden watched as she went, not moving as she did. Only sighing in defeat and putting his head in his hands. He'd give her more space, if she needed it.

Rori walked through the halls and back to Interns room. "Hey, where is the armory?"

"Oh Rori I have something interesting to tell you!"

"Not right now, just tell me where the armory is."

"Down the hall and a left and two rights. Uh! Let me escort you there we can talk about it on the way?"

"Sure so long as we dont have prying ears." Rori said as Intern got up and they walked out together.

"So doctor Timbre had done interviews with this goddess," he said turning with her and speaking quietly.

"What did she say?"

"She was looking for the Khan Maykr."

"Oh. What made her think she could take on the Khan?"

"Something about her people. The humans being used for hell energy."

"Holy shit." She breathed.

"From the sounds of it she wasn't too happy. She just hung around the Base for a while and then the interviews just stopped. Like she disappeared."

"Then what?"

"You arrived."

"Ah crud. I missed the tall woman." Rori laughed.

"Just barely." He said. "By a month."

"Yeah that sucks. But what did you figure out in the one you found of me?"

"That some tests were ran."

"I don't remember that." Rori said looking to Internguy who in turn snapped his head to her.

"You don't? Well it said tests were ran on you when you first got to Mars. Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I mean they probably had me in a boring interview or something." She said going into the armory and going to her suit of armor. "You wanted to meet Slayer? He should get our coordinates when I online my Armor." Internguy's eyes lit up and he smiled. She walked to her armor as he started getting excited.

"Oh my god. I get to meet the legend himself! I can't believe this is happening!" He laughed getting all jittery. Rori laughed online her armor and she sighed.

Closing her eyes she prayed and hoped Vega was still on her HUD. The little Icon popped up on her hud and she got excited.

"Vega!"

Sorry for the long wait I am not good with keeping track of time XD

Enjoy your chapters ❤️