A novelization of the emotional scene were Gremio sacrifices himself to save the others. (When I played the game, I named my character Ranko McDohl. I chose Ranko because I am a girl, but the character in the game is a boy, and Ranko can be a boy's or a girl's name. Anyways, this is really emotional, and rated PG for language. (I better make sure my dad doesn't see this. He doesn't know I curse in my stories, because I always make sure not to curse when he's around. A lie? Maybe. Like you don't.)
A Friend's Sacrifice
by Ebony Machete Dragon
(who will someday make an appearance, but not today)
"Damn!" cried Victor. "He locked us in!"
Ranko looked into the eyes of his comrades, including Gremio, who had been with him since birth. There had to be a way out. The yellow-black cloud of man-eating spores was slowly escaping from the bottle, bouncing aimlessly in search of nourishment. The deadly micro-creatures bounced aimlessly against the glass until by chance they came to the opening. Soon it would be too late. Ranko fought to control the panic sweeping over him. Time itself became a blur.
Suddenly, Gremio was pushing him towards the door they'd just come through. "Run, young master!" he cried.
Ranko hesitated. He didn't like the look in Gremio's slate-blue eyes. "But, Gremio--"
"Run!" cried Gremio again, and shoved Ranko through the door with a mighty burst of strength. Ranko did not resist, for it would be useless. Gremio had always been the stronger.
Ranko's friends grabbed him by the arms and pulled him into the hallway. The door closed behind him. Ranko stopped to catch his breath when he heard Victor behind him.
"Gremio! Get out of there!"
Ranko's heart leapt into his throat. Gremio was still inside?! He rushed to the door, shoving Victor out of his way. "Gremio!"
From the other side of the door came Gremio's voice. It didn't sound right. "Young master... this door can only be opened and closed from this side..."
"Open this door!" yelled Ranko. "That's an order, Gremio!"
"No, young master..."
"OPEN IT NOW!" Ranko cried, becoming more and more frantic. Gremio had been with him throughout life; childhood, adolescence, the beginnings of manhood... everything. "OPEN IT!"
"The spores are at my feet now..." Gremio's voice was little over a whisper. "If I open the door..."
The image of Gremio lying on the floor, his body slowly disappearing, disintegrating in the yellow cloud, dying a painful death at the hands of a microscopic foe whom they couldn't even fight against was too much for Ranko. He flew into a rage, screaming at Gremio to open the door, but Gremio remained silent. Tears spilled from Ranko's flushed cheeks, but to no avail.
"OPEN THIS DOOR, GREMIO! OPEN IT! NOW! GREMIO!! DAMMIT, OPEN THE DOOR!!!" But even then, somehow, Ranko knew it was too late. Far too late.
Lieutenant Silverberg presently appeared. Ranko barely heard him talking to Cleo and the others. He had been kneeling on the floor with his head leaning against the closed door that separated him from his oldest friend. He wiped away the stray tears on his face before Silverberg saw them. Then he got up. Silently, he walked through the door, barely aware of his friends following him.
When he came through the doorway, he glanced off to the left. Gremio's clothes, his tunic, leggings, and cape that Ranko had seen him wear all his life, lay empty and bloodstained on the floor. Next to Gremio's beloved hatchet. Ranko knelt beside his friend's only possessions and bowed his head, making one final promise to his dear guardian. Gremio's sacrifice would not, would never, be in vain.