The After Effects of Assignment 2
Sapphire was furious , devastated, and heart broken simultaneouly. She had promised Tully everything was fine. It was tragic though necessary. Yes, logically there was no choice, one living man for the many dead. They would keep coming, infinite pain and infinite torture. She understood logically, but that didn't stop the screaming and crying in her head. Why did they have to suffer? The question bounced through her mind and by default his as well. She and Steel both closed the link. She envied Steels ability to disconnect, especially at times like this. Sapphire cried herself out, and decided she would reconnect later. Let him have peace without her emotions battering him.
Steel paced as his mind threatened to overheat. He could literally run thousands of scenarios in his head in seconds. It was his blessing and his curse. His mind was relentless. It couldn't turn off when he definitely needed silence. That wasn't possible. . His make up didn't allow for anything other than what was rigid unrelenting. That didn't mean Steel didn't break or melt. Steel had emotions. They were tightly wrapped by necessity. If they ever got away from him, he would explode consuming himself, and possibly others. He couldn't let his intensity hurt others. So, he was constantly vigilant. There had been a few occasions he froze himself. It was as close as he could come to sleep and letting his mind rest. It usually helped. It slowed his thoughts, and relieved the tension in his mind. It never gave him complete blankness. This assignment was too much. The cost was
too high. Tully didn't deserve his fate, even though "logically " he knew there was no other option. He had run every single scenario possible looking for any loopholes. Any possible outcome other than the only one. He couldn't tell her, and as much as he longed to he couldn't. That way it was his responsibility only his.."The good of the many "as that stupid human saying went. He hated human sayings especially when they were correct. He saw in Tully's eyes he knew. He went willingly, the sacrificial lamb to the slaughter. This assignment was to much. He couldn't maintain the essential control he needed not this time.
The thing about steel was it could burn if hot enough, or snap if brittle enough. Steel broke. He knew he had done what was necessary. There was no outlet for the fire. No chance for peace in his mind. He broke destroying things as the rage grew. He felt the pain and rage rising. He had to control it. He always controlled it. It would explode with devastating consequences.
Steel broke . He lost control. Logic had no place in his .mind as he burned with fury. Like all intense fires they burned furiously for the briefest moment, and then they quickly extinguished themselves as the fuel was consumed.
The fire tore open the bond between Sapphire, Jet and himself. Steel was aware of nothing. Sapphire called desperately through the bond. There was flame. All consuming fire, but no awareness or control. Steel always had control.
Instantly the fire extinguished then the freeze came immediately cooling the rage and flames. Sapphire went running, calling desperately to the other elements. Something was wrong very wrong with Steel.
The freeze was a physiological response to the rage and heat, that threatened to burn his brain. It happened immediately without his control or out of his control.
*Steel Steel! !" Sapphire screamed through the bond. Nothing just bone chilling cold. The watchers heard her panicked cries, and felt as Steel blew himself apart and the ice contained him.
Jet was confused for the briefest second she felt Steel in her head. Then Jet screamed with pain at the intensity of the fire and ice in her head.
"Jet? ." Silver called greatly alarmed.
"Silver now! It's Steel. Something is very bad. Now they'll need you. Now !" She grabbed him and took off running at call.
Lead came running as the watchers called him and several elements. The watchers called any and all elements desperately required. This was what the watchers feared for Steel.. Jet warned them. Absolute control always broke eventually. It was inevitable. They needed to prevent Steel accidentally from killing himself. Then most importantly give Steel oblivion from everything until he healed.
Steel accidentally saved himself. The fire and rage burned him. Then the immediate freeze saved him. It contained his existence. He would have flown apart. .They needed to keep him in this stasis, until they could stabilize him.
Lead was immediately grabbed by iron.
"No, he needs to be frozen at least until we stabilize him. Helium!" Lead called
It was exceedingly rare that noble gasses were called, They were generally a very calm bunch, who rarely reacted with the rest. They needed cryogenic freeze close to absolute zero almost instantaneously.
Helium glided quickly to Aluminum immediately covered Helium.. Aluminum formed multiple layers and immediately created a vacuum between the layers to liquefy Helium.
""You're cold " Aluminum complained.
Helium laughed " Normally this would be Steel's job, and he'd flash freeze around me. Unfortunately not today. Lead the container should be warm. Quickly. " Helium finished.
Silver already had the vacuum chamber ready. Aluminum entered the vacuum chamber with Steel and Helium.
"Aluminum, get out immediately." Helium ordered.
Helium spoke. "Silver I need a pressure release for out gassing. I need to keep Steel cold. Let's go now" .He could feel his temperature rising. Steel needed to be kept cold. They had to very slowly warm him to keep him safe. Steel would normally control the freezing process,so it happened in an orderly way. Lead would normally absorb large quantities of thermal energy with Steel's awareness or Steel would allow himself to thaw. He froze almost absolutely and instantaneously without Steel's control. Since the freezing was uncontrolled and random, they needed to thaw him slowly. Otherwise the thawing might run away energetically..
"Silver I need more vacuum now. My temperature is rising. " Helium called.
Silver played with a dial on the machine "Tell me when you're comfortable. "
Helium laughed "Thank you Silver. Right there is fine for now. We may need to make changes as we warm him."
Silver would have enjoyed working with Helium. It was a rare opportunity. But he was terrified for Steel.
Helium was a cryogenic expert as were Nitrogen , Neon and many others. Helium called Nitrogen and Neon.
"We need to warm him very slowly. This is usually unpleasant for him, when he's aware and has control. This could randomly release energy, since he has no awareness or control. I'm afraid as he wakes he's going to fight us. If he breaks through unaware of himself, he could hurt himself badly. Sapphire can you see if you can sense anything."
Sapphire was noticeably distraught. She nodded opened the bond and called to him.
*Steel. ..Steel can you hear me? * She shook her head. "Nothing it feels completely empty in there. "
"It will be fine dear. I promise we'll get him back. He's in there. We just have to go slowly. It's hard for him awake. With no control he'll be out of his mind unable to react rationally. Given his strength he might tear the chamber and himself apart as he wakes." Helium explained.
Sapphire nodded her understanding. Jet sat on the side for now watching Sapphire and Silver. She had no idea why Steel had called. That was a question for later. She stayed waiting until they needed her help.
The plan was to very slowly raise the temperature until Sapphire started sensing Steel wake up. Then they were going to see how he reacted. They would wake him slowly until he could understand them. Then could let Lead warm him to ambient temperature.
"Silver and Aluminum we'll be needing more of those traveling containers. Silver we'll need a thermometer in Celsius and Kelvin for now."
Silver brought Aluminum over filled with Neon, and very slowly Neon started replacing Helium. Very very slowly the temperature started rising. When Neon half filled the chamber Helium asked Sapphire to check again.
*Steel! Steel! We need you to wake up.* Sapphire called desperately.
Jet came over and gave Sapphire a hug. "He's in there. We'll get him even if we have to bang the blockhead awake. I know you're closer, but if you want I'll help you monitor him for a while. Just say when. "
Sapphire laughed and wiped away her tears and hugged Jet. They had both had personal relationships with Steel. They both cared deeply for him. Both had become fast friends once they got over their initial jealousy . Much to Steel's chagrin they both understood him very well, and were not above sharing notes.
"There will be no more of this whining ladies. Just think what his first reaction would be. " Lead boomed and engulfed them in a huge hug.
They both laughed.
Helium had been replaced by Neon and Nitrogen was moving into the chamber. Both Jet and Sapphire were listening. Two senses were better than one. They both felt his body go slack, no longer frozen stiff.
"Stop Silver. Something just changed. " Jet demanded
Silver shut the valve and waited.
"Sapphire try very gently " Helium warned.
*Steel, come on time to wake up. * Nothing just a lax body. Sapphire wanted to scream.
Jet caught her thoughts through their shared bond. She also caught just the faintest sound. Almost like metal starting to grind.. *Steel.* Jet called gently.
*I heard the faintest grinding sound.* Jet directed Sapphire in his mind.
*Steel. * She called gently.
They both heard the faintest moan. He wasn't aware yet, but he was in there.
"He's there." Sapphire said elated.
Jet smiled and filled in the rest. "He's not aware of anything yet. I'm not sensing any pain or consciousness yet. "
"Very good. I need both of you to monitor him closely as we bring the temperature up. Silver I want an instant response on the value to stop me if needed. If he starts getting agitated tell me immediately." Nitrogen commanded.
They very slowly raised the temperature as Nitrogen filled more of the chamber.
Both Sapphire and Jet felt as his body was starting to register. His mind was not yet conscious, but his body was starting to react. Energy and slight pain was starting to fly around. It had Jet worried.
"Stop. " Jet ordered.
Sapphire fired disappointed anger at her. Jet closed the bond between the two of them and Steel.
*I know you want to continue. He's starting to wake, but his mind isn't there yet. It's going to be OK, but we need to find a way to separate the pain from his mind,. If he expends that much energy randomly unaware of himself, he's going to tear everything apart without realizing it as all that unfocused energy explodes everywhere. We'll get him I promise. Do you think I'm going to let the idiot get away with this.?*
Sapphire sighed and laughed. Jet placed her hand on Sapphire's shoulder. "Let's put our minds together. We need to wake him up, so we can both remind him daily how much he owes us for all this trouble. "
*Thank you. I'm not thinking clearly.*
Jet explained what they experienced in Steel's mind. "His body is waking, but he is still otherwise unconscious. Helium exactly what you were afraid would happen is exactly what is happening. "
"Is he in any immediate danger of waking? " Helium asked.
Sapphire went inside for a minute. She shook her head no
The elements all got together discussing various ideas. As Helium had suspected, the only practical plans were to somehow transfer energy from the pain elsewhere,. Helium was considering his state as he woke. He was going to be extremely weak and groggy. This was an extreme long freeze without his awareness. It was going to take time and energy for Steel to get full control.
First to draw away the energy slowly from his core, while insulating his mind. Jet knew him very well, and agreed to act as a conduit The complication was they needed a physical contact directly with Steel. They also needed to draw the energy away in an extremely controlled and directed manner. Any particular energy that converted to heat as it dissipated was automatically disallowed. He needed to stay cold. That already ruled out many options. The slow controlled dissipation was the utmost importance. They all offered ideas. It was Silica that surprised everyone. Her idea was feasible. It was by far the best they had. As the energy rippled from him silica proposed, they convert it directly to light. They could disperse it outside the chamber using her glass fibers. Steel's body would warm very slowly allowing his mind to wake at the same temperature as his core.
All the elements agreed it was by far the best plan. It was also very delicate. They all had to coordinate all aspects very tightly. Silica required extensive heating .Diamond came up and volunteered to be the focal point to concentrate the energy and emit it as photons down Silica's glass tubes.
Silver handed diamond a wire attached with some mesh. "Attach it to him. It will bump up the photon emissions. Be careful with the rate with the energy he let's loose."
Diamond nodded. "It's not me I'm worried about. Silica has great idea. She's fragile. "
,
A jingling batch of twisted glass tubes ambled up to diamond. Silver laughed. Her walk reminded him of the silly human of cowboy movies, where they walked with jangling spurs..
"Sorry. " Silver said trying to maintain his composure. It had been a very long day, and Silver needed humor wherever he could find it.
Silica smiled. " I know I'm a walking concert. It's ridiculous. Let's get in there. "
Silica turned "Diamond we need to keep the photon entry angle at about 43 degrees. " They both looked at Silver.
"Give me a minute " Silver appeared with something that looked like metallic mesh. He placed the pieces at the end of the fibers. that would be connected to Diamond. "41.33 degrees my lady. Just to be sure." Silver gave an elaborate bow. "Now in you go. "
Diamond walked to Steel and took his hand. She felt herself heating from just his touch. It was freezing cold in here except right next to him..Silica attached herself to diamond and the process started. Nitrogen exited as Argon came next. Slowly but surely the chamber was warming as was Steel..
His body finally went lax. The energy dispersion continued, and Steel was calm. Neither Sapphire or Jet detected any discomfort just slow warming as his body automatically came back. He was oblivious essentially sleeping through the rewarming.
"How's it going with the block head over there? " Silver asked as he kept a watch on the apparatus. They had worked their way through all the noble gasses. The chamber was about -100 C. Xenon waited as Silver closed the valve.
Sapphire and Jet went inside. *Steel ...Steel. * Sapphire called.
Jet just watched and probed to see if she could sense him waking.
Diamond was still inside the chamber. "He was warm before, but has reached the temperature in here. I think we need to start just adding air. Just slowly. I'll let you know if he gets too hot.
Slowly they inched the chamber up, until his entire body was entirely lax. His extremities and core were nearly at ambient temperature. Jet and Sapphire were starting to worry. His body had largely returned, but he wasn't showing signs of waking.
Sapphire yelled into his head.
*Come on wake up you obstinate block head! *
Jet laughed, but then heard as metal ground on metal. He was finally coming awake. Everything that had been frozen static suddenly started moving.
"It's getting really hot in here suddenly." Diamond spoke.
Jet and Sapphire felt the first flash of pain as his brain woke from hibernation. The circuits in his brain started reconnecting as consciousness started returning.
*Steel!* Sapphire called. She definitely sensed him waking . Something was wrong. Confusion and energy fired as pain were suddenly appearing everywhere in his head.
Jet felt the same sensations. For a minute, she was confused. Then as the confusion and fear started accelerating she knew exactly what was happening. They expected him to warm at the same rate. His brain was incredibly dense compared with the rest of him. Most of his mass and connections were in his head. He had a reputation as a genius. It was not exaggerated. He was randomly discharging energy as his brain tried to rebuild those connections. "Stupid Stupid." She yelled at herself as she went running.
Sapphire keep calling him. Make him focus on you not the pain. Scream at him , assure him,whatever you need to do. Hold him together and make him focus on you.*
Jet was running she needed physical contact with him, so they could direct the energy as he finally woke. Stupid mistake on her part. It would have worked with anyone else. But Steel never did anything the easy way. She could feel the pain pouring from him.
"It's getting hot in here." Diamond yelled.
*Call to him. Dammit Sapphire. Get his attention.!*
"Lead, Iron, Copper Aluminum now with me. Anyone who can disapate heat or electricity I need you now. " Jet yelled running full speed.
Silver understood immediately and opened the chamber.
"Diamond can you stay. Silica we need direct heat and electric energy transfer. Please if you could collect as many elements as possible. And thank you for everything."
"What do you need? Copper Lead, Aluminum and Iron to start. "
*Sapphire! * Jet called.
Jet grabbed Steel's hand. "Ah!" She forced herself to hold on. She started redirecting the energy slowly. Iron came up behind her. "I need your help. I need you to help me get through to him. He flash froze himself. I mean all of himself. His core is warmed. His head is where all the density and complex circuits reside. They are all coming back right now. The connections are wrong, and rewiring a brain that big and complex is a mass of uncontrolled energy, confusion and fear. "
"How may I help ?" Iron rumbled.
"Just reassure him. You're known to him. If we can get those early familiar circuits rewired everything else will fall into its proper place. It will give him a familiar anchor."
Iron touched her to take some of the heat from her.
*Sapphire, did you hear the plan? *
*Yes, do it quickly. I'm trying to hold him together. There's too much energy. *
"Lead help Sapphire now! " Jet yelled.
Lead heard her call. "Here you go young lady. Just tell me when you need me.." as he grabbed Sapphire.
Jet just nodded. The chaos in Steel's mind was growing again. Sapphire nearly collapsed because she was in such intimate contact right now. *Sapphire if it gets too intense slow time down about 25 percent. Let his Dad try first. *
Iron let go of Jet, and gently picked up his boy's hand. He immediately felt the pain and chaos. Steel couldn't find an anchor point. He had to admit Jet was very good. "Son, can you hear me? "
No reply just pain and confusion. He gentled his voice. He tended to be stiff and brusque. That is not what his son needed now. " Son, come to me. Hold my hand. You're going to be fine. " When Steel had been badly bent and mangled as a child this worked.
"Listen to my voice. You're safe Steel. It's going to be OK. Give the pain to me son. You're safe. We'll protect you. "
Iron hissed as Steel stopped fighting, and let his father bear the burden.
Steel gripped his father for dear life. He didn't really know what was happening yet. But he felt safe. He stilled as connections started rewiring themselves into a familiar ordered pattern.
Iron was getting hot but didn't dare let go . Sapphire was too busy holding all the connections and the essential things that made Steel in one place, while Jet and Iron helped order the connections.
Jet took Iron's other hand and immediately dissipated the heat coming from him.
"Ah...!" Jet shouted. Diamond, Copper and Aluminum where there immediately to help drain the excess energy.
Finally recognition came. There were multiple people in his mind, and holding him together. He was safe. His mind and body eased. He felt the familiar comfortable connection from his Dad in his mind protecting him as were Sapphire and Jet. He could rest, and let his guard down now. They would protect him.
"Steel, can you hear me, son? "
Steel turned and opened his eyes. "Dad?" He asked weakly very confused.
Iron did something very unusual for him. His rigid make up made it very difficult. He smiled and nodded.
"Right here. Now I want you to rest. You let us handle everything. You just rest. "
Steel closed his eyes. Jet could sense his mind at peace. He was actually sound asleep as the final connections corrected themselves.
The chaos and confusion that made it so dangerous were gone.
"Do you still need me to remove the heat. " Jet still had Iron's hand.
There was minimal steady heat coming from his son. "I think we're fine now. "
Jet nodded, released his hand and fell flat on her back end. Silver came over to check her. He laughed as he noticed her hair was smoking.
"Come on." He said and picked her up. "Good job. Block head owes you.' Jet laughed then she remembered Sapphire.
*Sapphire Sapphire are you OK? * There was a moment of silence. Jet was just about to...
*Here. Yeah, I'll be fine. Lead is here. You? * Sapphire sounded exhausted.
*I'm fine. Silver's got me, though he tells me my hair is smoking.* There was Jet's wry humor through the connection. Sapphire sensed her exhaustion.
Sapphire smiled. *Can you sense him? He's sleeping I think!? *
*Yeah. He's sound asleep. His father said he'll stay. You were brilliant by the way. I'm going to bed now.*
Sapphire's laugh came through the connection. * We were both brilliant. We'll both be sure to tell him when he wakes . Good night.*