After the End - Chapter 20
Kevin carefully puts down the beaker and glances sidelong at VonReichter, wondering what the scientist is doing now. He's been nervous for so long he doesn't have the energy for it anymore. He's been here nearly a week now, and fear is rapidly turning to despair: Even if the entire city of Merridiana is out looking for him - which they certainly aren't - they'll never find him here, out in the middle of the jungle.
A few days ago he tried to find a way to get a message out of the compound - and paid the price when he got caught. And his captor - who is, he supposes, now his employer - is stark raving mad. It hadn't taken long to figure that out. He's also a genius; suddenly everything Lucas told Kevin about Cybersix and her past seems totally plausible.
"We are done with this for today. Go and check Lucas' body. " VonReichter breaks the silence abruptly, as he often does.
"Yes sir. " Kevin sullenly walks into the adjacent room and looks down at Lucas lying on the bed, deep in an induced coma. He tries and fails to repress a sigh. He has no idea how to wake Lucas up. He also has no idea what VonReichter has planned for his friend, but he'd be willing to place a large bet it's something terrible.
He methodically checks Lucas' vital signs - which are all normal - and walks back into the main lab.
"We will perform the final test on Cybersix now. " VonReichter is saying to the techno he uses as a gofer in the lab. "Go and get me the Asian man."
"Shall I bring in some types or fixed ideas as well, Master?" The techno asks.
"No need." He shakes his head dismissingly. "I am sure the test will be successful."
The techno doesn't look so sure, but of course she makes no objection.
Kevin glances over to where Cybersix is standing. This is what finally made him give up the idea of escape; if VonReichter has Cybersix back under its thumb, there's no hope for him.
VonReichter walks over and peers at Cybersix closely, his expression intent. He keeps her in the lab all the time, never letting her out of his sight. Kevin has tried to examine the device protruding from the back of her neck, the implant, but he has to be so careful of being seen. He's had visions of just ripping the thing out, which would set Cybersix free and make her turn on VonReichter. However, it's much more likely that removing the implant would kill her.
"Here he is, Master." The techno walks back into the lab, followed by a husky type half-dragging a man Kevin doesn't recognize behind him.
"I sure hope you're getting rid of this guy." The type says. "He's more trouble than he's worth." At that moment the man attempts to break the type's grip on him, and Kevin is impressed when he almost succeeds.*
"See what I mean?" The type growls when he has Yashimotto firmly in hand again.
"Let him go. "
The type looks questioningly at his master, then shrugs and releases his captive. The man's hands are tied behind his back, Kevin sees.
VonReichter walks a few steps closer to Yashimotto and stops. He opens his mouth to speak. Yashimotto's foot flashes out and connects with VonReichter's jaw, slamming his teeth together with a loud click. He staggers backward.
On the edge for so long now, Kevin has to fight valiantly to suppress a semi-hysterical laugh.
VonReichter responds by giving Yashimotto an evil eye that could have chilled Hell itself. "You've just lost the only chance you had at survival." He says darkly.
Yashimotto stares right back him, silent.
VonReichter grunts "Foolish." He motions at Cybersix . "You know that she is under my control now, don't you? Cybersix, kill this man."
Cybersix abruptly becomes animated, like a statue coming to life. Without blinking she strides purposefully toward Yashimotto. Showing real fear for the first time, Yashimotto hastily backs up. "Cybersix! It's me, Yashimotto. I'm your friend, remember?" He speaks rapidly . "You saved me and now I came to save you. I know you don't want to do this." He continues to back across the lab. Cybersix continues to advance on him. " You told me you'd rather die than live in bondage to VonReichter again. But you're serving him now! He wants you to do this!"
For a split-second, Yashimotto thinks he sees her hesitate. Or is it just his imagination? He has to hope. "I know that proud spirit of yours is still in there, Cybersix. You just have to make it rise to the top. Your will can conquer his." His voice is getting frantic now. "The Cybersix I know doesn't want to kill. I have faith in that. I have faith in you, Cybersix!"
Yashimotto bumps against the far wall. Cybersix stops in front of him. Through his fear he notices the confused expression on her face. She raises her hands.
A bone-chilling scream resounds through the lab. Kevin takes an involuntary step backward. Both the arrogance and the color suddenly drain from VonReichter's face.
Finally the scream dies down. An tense silence settles in. Cybersix is still, standing with her hands gripping her hair. Then with a flash of movement she reaches behind her and rips the implant from the back of her neck.
Kevin gasps. He expects her to collapse or go into seizure any second, but she does neither. Instead she takes the implant in her hand and stares at it blankly. Slowly sentience returns to her features. She looks up at Yashimotto; he lets out a sigh of relief when he sees she recognizes him. Then she turns around to face VonReichter.
"Code red! In the lab!" He yells. Although he didn't appear to have hit any buttons, Cybersix knows that his call will summon his minions to him. She spins around, grabs Yashimotto by the wrist, and takes off through the nearest exit
"Where are we going?" He asks as they stride down the hall.
"No idea." Cybersix answers.
"Wait. Data 7's here, somewhere."
She stops, letting go of his wrist. "He is? What is VonReichter doing with him?"
"I don't know. Same as you I guess?"
"Well, we've got another problem."
"What problem?"
"Lucas is here somewhere too. VonReichter captured him and I went to save him."
Yashimotto suppresses a curse. "What do we do now?"
Distant voices sound from around the corner.
"We need to find a way to disappear. In here." She drags Yashimotto into a side room. They search around for an exit*, and both their eyes cometo rest on the air vent in the ceiling. It's just barely big enough. Cybersix looks at Yashimotto.
"We don't have much choice. " Yashimotto knows that if VonReichter catches him again, he is most definitely dead.
Cybersix jumps up and rips the vent from the ceiling. She kneels down and cups her hands. He puts his foot in them and she boosts him up into the vent, then easily jumps up after him.
They begin to crawl along. Soon Yashimotto realizes that their pursuers will know where they've gone anyway because of the broken vent. For a minute he despairs of getting out of here alive. Then he forces that thought from his mind; nothing can be done about it.
A voice floats to them through the darkness; VonReichter's. Yashimotto comes upon another vent in the floor of the tunnel. He peers down to see what looks like Lucas' arm lying on a sheet. *
He turns behind him to Cybersix and tries to mouth the words "I think it's Lucas." *He's afraid to make any noise.
Cybersix seems to get his meaning. She nods her head emphatically.
Cramped by the narrow tunnel, Yashimotto nevertheless manages to get his feet in front of him. He slams them down on the air vent as hard as he can. After a few kicks it finally gives way. Surprisingly, they hear Lucas yell from below. Yashimotto jumps down. Cybersix is so close on his heels she nearly lands on him.
"Lucas!"
He's sitting up in the bed, a dazed expression on his face. "Cybersix! You're Okay!"
"Lucas, what happened?"
Lucas rubs at his head. "I don't know. VonReichter put me in here, put me to sleep. And then I heard this terrible scream and I woke up."
"Idiots! Find her now for I'll have all your heads!" VonReichter's voice booms from the other side of the room's door.
"He's in there." Yashimotto says.
"What do we do now?" Lucas tries to get up, but falls back on to the bed again, dizzy.
*Suddenly ice seems to flow through Cybersix's veins has an unnatural calm settles over her. "Now I end it." She opens the door and walks heedlessly into the main lab. Both Yashimotto and Lucas are too shocked to stop her in time.
"VonReichter." She says the name like it belongs to some unholy demon.
He turns around to face her. "Cybersix." His voice is remarkably steady.
"You've pushed me too far. " Cybersix advances on him. "You've caused too much evil. Your life and here, even if mine does too. " With a cry she leaps up into a jump kick .
"Master!" She didn't even notice that Sylvester was in the room. Now suddenly, with his unnatural speed, he zips in front of her, defending the body of his master. The full force of Cybersix's kicks strikes him square in the ribs. He gasps. His eyes roll up in his head and he crumples to the floor.
"Sylvester!" VonReichter yells, looking aghast at his fallen lap dog. "Data 7! Come!"
The big panther slinks out from underneath one of the lab desks, flowing like night. Cybersix had no idea he was there. He leaps to VonReichter's side and then turns to her, a menacing growl rising from low in his throat. She notices the control device on the back of his neck. He's under VonReichter's power. She begins to back up.
"Get her!"
Data 7 lunges, teeth bared . Cybersix only just manages to scramble out of his reach. She hastily runs back through the door she came from, slamming it shut behind her. She leans up against it, panting from fright rather than exertion. The door's not built for heavy security; there's no need for that this deep in the lab. It won't hold anyone off for long.
Yashimotto and Lucas look at her, both of them stunned. "Data 7 attacked me." The sight of the panther's - her brother's - huge teeth snapping for her flesh has shocked her.
"We need to hide." Yashimotto whispers, then points back up at the air vent.
"No. Leave her." Cybersix can just barely hear VonReichter's voice from the other room. "She won't get far with my army surrounding the perimeter. Right now I need to save Sylvester."
"Come on, Cybersix. " Lucas says pleadingly. "We need to get out of here."
"We can't. He's got us surrounded." Feeling she's safe for now, she steps away from the door, trying to think of a plan. ***
"Sylvester's down and there's no types or fixed ideas in there. If I can just get the jump on Data 7 I can rip that thing out of his head. VonReichter won't stand a chance against both of us."
"That's too dangerous!" Lucas insists, trying to keep his voice down.
In no mood to be contradicted, Cybersix turns on him. "I won't leave without my brother!" She hisses.
He backs off.
"Just wait. I'll charge in there when they least expect it. " Cybersix goes back to the door and places her ear against it, listening intently.