Chapter 23 - The Organization.

The following morning...

I shook awake from a nightmare, Mana staring at me curiously. "It's really that bad, huh?" She asks. "Stay out of my dreams." I grunt, quickly equipping my armor. "It's creepy that you were watching me sleep just so you can see my dreams." I told her bluntly. She shrugs.

"And? Who wouldn't come running when we were being deafened by your screaming?" She frowns. "Was I really that loud this time?" I asked, curiosity lacing my voice. "Is there some screaming power you have, or something? Because there's honestly no way that came purely from your vocal chords." She asked, ignoring my question.

"There is a screaming power, but I haven't developed it yet." I told her, making my way to the kitchen to get some Pepsi. "You're gonna make yourself sick with all the caffeine you consume." She notes. "No I won't. Gamer's Body protects me from any physical ailment, aside from death." I explain numbly, trying to push away the disturbing images of my dreams.

I was painfully aware of Kara sliding into the room to make herself a coffee, her eyes red, bags under them. Before she could start brewing it, I used Stasis on her. "K, how much sleep did you get?" I asked firmly. She sighs. "Two hours." She admitted.

"I slept for a healthy eight hours last night, as you asked, and you couldn't do the same for me?" I asked her, a gentler tone to my voice this time. What use is a stone wall if it won't inspire others to move in another direction? In other words, being firm is gonna get me nowhere with her right now.

At her lack of a response, I continued. "Before you have coffee, could you make one more attempt at sleep? What kept you up, anyways?" I asked. She frowns. "First, if you insist, fine. Secondly, nightmares." I knew nightmares weren't the whole story, but I let her go.

"Please go and sleep more, K." I requested. She huffed, but marched back to her shared room with Hazel. I turn back to Mana. "Sorry about that. Anyways, where were we? Oh right, Gamer's Body. Literally only death could stop me, if death has the balls." I say, sipping my Pepsi,

Mana snorts. "You're seriously just asking for death right now. You know that, right?" I laugh darkly. "I know I am." I remark.

A few hours later, I found myself sparring with Hazel. She, to my misfortune, discovered my little Gamer's Body party trick, and now wasn't scared at all to dismember me, though I did urge her not to, as it was still painful as all hell, and it would get her in the practice of not dismembering Kara or Mana, should they spar with her.

Still, it wasn't too rare to see a finger, leg, or even an arm go flying off, to disintegrate shortly after, a brand new one appearing minutes later, which left me with a need to get creative with combat, in case my arms were both chopped off at any point, which is honestly a really morbid thought.

I quickly got used to tripping her with the Force and my legs alike, and Force Push leveled up several times. It was honestly a miracle nobody saw her mutilating me. Eventually, I had grown tired of regenerating my limbs, and as such, I started using Stasis on her whenever she got her lightsaber too close.

"If you keep getting this close, we're going back to using sticks." I warned her, as I was again too late to use Stasis, my left arm, and my left lightsaber, sliding off my body. I grimaced as it came back, and I flipped her the bird, groaning as I flexed my newly reattached arm.

I flipped my lightsaber in my hand, and swung it, the end of the saber maybe three inches away from her neck, as she was still in a Stasis. I'll admit, I was getting angry, and I knew I had to meditate. But maybe teaching her a little more caution wouldn't hurt, right?

"Imagine, if you will, a blade made of pure energy, slicing through your shoulder, disconnecting your arm from your body, and it instantly cauterizes the wound from the intense heat. Imagine the pain of that being forcefully regrown. I can't humanely show you such a thing, so maybe you'll never understand, but I didn't advise that little trick with Gamer's Body for a reason." I ranted, the edge of the blade still close to her neck.

"Even a Consular isn't so sloppy as to slice off the limbs of an ally. Unless you're suggesting we need to go back to the start, with dull vibroblades and sticks, I would advise you don't aim to maim, and instead aim to practice." I lecture. I deactivated my lightsabers, unequipping them as I stormed back inside, releasing her from the Stasis.

As I arrived in my room, I sat on my bed, attempting to meditate, each attempt failing, my mind quickly clouding with anger as my limbs kept throbbing. I used Master Heal, and it still only dulls the throbbing slightly. "You're troubled. What's up?" A yawning Kara asks.

I huff, turning to face where she stood at the door. "Can you swear to me here and now, Karolyn, that you won't use what I'm about to tell you when we spar?" She nods, flinching at my harsh tone, and use of her full name. "I won't use whatever it is, since you're asking me not to." She promised me.

"You know how I have the Gamer's Body perk, correct?" She nods as I say it. "It claims it'll keep me in peak condition at all times. That includes if I lose a limb. Your mother figure, despite her empathy, disregarded how much pain it may cause me repeatedly. Hazel and I have been sparring for a couple of hours, and she has regularly been removing my limbs in combat, and it's frustrating me. The throbbing from the pain also prevents me from meditating to calm myself, leaving me without an outlet." I explained to her.

She freezes, and a flurry of emotions crosses her face. Confusion, anger, disappointment, sadness, and finally a cold mask settles on her face as she slides next to me, wrapping her arms around me in a careful hug. "Did you just wake up?" I asked her. She made a noise of confirmation. "I hear some degree of other people's thoughts as I sleep, ever since you taught me to hear the thoughts of others. I can't control it, and it just happens, although I only get bits and pieces." She admitted.

I froze at the implications of that. "You couldn't sleep because you saw pieces of my dreams." I say softly. She nods. "I'm sorry you see what you do." She apologized. I shrug. "There's nothing you or I can do about it, so there's nothing to apologize for." As I say it, she hesitates, but she says nothing, her face flushing slightly.

Though there was one more thing. "You also felt some of my anguish at all the pain, didn't you?" I whispered. She didn't meet my eyes. I snarled, but stayed in place, hugging her again. "She better not do it again, or I'll show her an equivalent of what it felt like, humane or not." Kara flinched as I said it, and my anger instantly melted. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. I'm just—" "Furious? Feeling an intense amount of anger?" Kara cuts me off.

I just nod, and we sit there, just embracing each other again. "You really are terrifying sometimes, Cyrus. Thankfully, we have your anger's off switch right here." I hear Mana's voice say. "When did you get here?" I ask, turning my head slightly to face her. Kara's face was flushed again, as she broke the hug, and I frowned.

"Really, he won't do anything unless you do it for him. I hope you realize this." She told Kara cryptically, before turning her attention back to me. "I've been here for about forty minutes. I was practicing my stealth when you came storming in, and I've been hiding ever since, and I knew you two wouldn't stop clinging to each other if I didn't intervene." She informs me.

Kara proceeds to turn redder, and I turned a light shade of pink at that. "We would've stopped eventually!" I protested. "Oh? Like last time, when Kara fell asleep with her head in your lap, and the two of you stayed like that for hours?" She asked lightheartedly.

I opened my mouth to protest, just to shut it again. She wasn't wrong. To be fair, Kara was comfortable, and I didn't mind it. Mana snorted, but said nothing. After a minute of me glaring at her for making Kara feel embarrassed, and for interrupting our moment, she stood up, her hands motioning her surrender.

"Fine, fine, I'll go, but I'll come back with pots and pans for Sleeping Beauty here." She quipped, walking out of the room, closing the door behind her. "You can't say she was wrong, Sleeping Beauty." I said playfully. "Sorry if I made you uncomfortable when I did that." She said, guilt in her voice.

"What makes you think I was uncomfortable?" I asked. She shrugs. "I dunno." She said numbly. Ah, that cleared things up. "K, I seriously didn't mind it. I enjoyed spending time with you, even if you were unconscious for a large portion of it." I said, not realizing how weird that sounded initially.

"Wait, sorry, that sounded so wrong. I meant–" "I get what you meant, Cy, don't worry." She laughed. That's when I heard a knock at the front door. We both tensed, and I gestured for her to stay.

I slinked over to the window, and saw someone I didn't recognize from my time in this area, but nothing to indicate he's affiliated with the government. No visible weapons, either. I gripped the lightsaber in my right hand tightly, and opened the door. "Hello there. Cyrus, right?" The shady man asks.

I shook my head. "I'm afraid you've got the wrong address, sir." I lied. He just laughed humorlessly. "Good try, kid, but I know who you are. The news about a month ago was covered with your face. I mean you no harm, I just have a couple of questions." He clarifies. "Prove it, then. Disarm yourself. I'll return your weapons to you after your business is done here, or when I have no doubt of your full intentions." I demanded.

Of course, I couldn't see any weapons on him, but someone stalking the hell out of me, exhibiting this behavior, in this state of dress, in broad daylight, on a sunny day like this? His face was mostly obscured, and he wore a bulky black coat, with a hat. I wouldn't be surprised if he had weaponry on him.

He didn't disappoint. He tossed two twin pistols behind me, and handed me a knife. I gently probed his mind, in an attempt to see if he was hiding another one. He wasn't. "Come on in, then." I say, picking up his guns, subtly dropping them and the knife into my inventory. He stalked in, removing his mask and his hat, his coat being hung up.

I looked him over, and saw a totally different man than I expected. Sunkissed hair, blue eyes, and tan skin, with a fairly lanky build. He sat down on a chair, and I sat on the couch. "What is it you wanted? And better yet, who are you?" I asked him. Fortunately, everyone had seemed to get the hint to stay out of sight when they had heard me invite him in, as it was deathly quiet, aside from the hum of the AC unit.

"I'm just a stranger, intrigued by what he sees, and what he sees," he says, leaning forward, "is a whole lot of power. You've been hunted all over, and all along you've just been hiding at home? I can't say I'm not disappointed you're not using it to strike down the ones hunting you." He mused. "Oh trust me, I have been using it. I'm just waiting for the right moment to strike them down." I said, opening my left hand to show off a smaller scale of my Force Storm ability.

"I'm certain a small lightshow is the least you can do." He claims. "I'm certain I'll show you, regardless of the direction this meeting goes, though whether it be as a foe, or as a friend, is up to you." I said, hoping to guide him to getting to the point. I was on edge, and surely the others were as well. I could hear their thoughts as they hid in neighboring rooms, weapons in hand, aside from Mana, who stood, invisible, between the two of us.

"You've got spunk, kid. Granted, you don't know who you're talking to, so I'll give you a pass." He said haughtily. "I'm not necessarily sure you know who you're speaking with, either, so I'd urge you to get to the point before I get impatient. I've got a lot more than just a small spark to show you if you don't." I threaten.

He laughs. "Have it your way. I've spent this past month trying to find you. Not to hurt you, as I said at your door." He assured me, as I tightened my grip on my lightsaber. "I've been delegated the job of trying to convince you to team up with, if not join, our little organization. Our organization knows exactly what's been going on with these superpowered people, and I'm sure you'd like to know more, and we'd like to have your firepower." He started. I motioned for him to continue.

"Both parties present, as I'm speaking for my organization, aren't fond of how they run things in this country, correct?" He continues. I nod. "Good. We know America's producing these superpowered people. We know where, when, how, everything, save for one little detail, which we need you for. We can stop this government from abusing the people in this country. I'm unable to tell you more until you choose to cooperate with us." He finishes.

"And if I don't agree?" I ask, testing the waters for any signs of hostility. Honestly, I wanted to agree. Maybe they knew how I got my powers. He just shrugs. "It'll be your loss. You won't find us again, you won't get your information, and you'll eventually get caught here, just as I caught you." He said neutrally. I sigh. "I'll cooperate with your organization, so long as my allies get to come with me. They have their share of abilities as well. The three of you can come out now." I called out.

To the man's surprise, Mana shimmered into existence between us, as her stealth field generator turned off, Kara came from my room, lightsaber still in hand, and Hazel came from the kitchen, shooting me a guilty look. "I'm not sure if they'll be cleared to go anywhere aside from the cell block in our hideout. I'll try to get them cleared with the boss, but I can't guarantee anything. We only expected you, certainly not any allies." He said, standing up as he grabbed his phone from his pocket, walking into a neighboring room.

I could just listen to his conversation with the boss, but I figured it was pointless if I'm going to be told the results anyways. Minutes later, he walked back into the room, examining our group. "I recognize you from somewhere." He realized, pointing at Kara. He takes a moment, then shrugs it off, continuing. "They're cleared, but if they harm a single one of our associates outside of sparring, they'll be imprisoned, and held for a trial." He said. "You can return here at any time. Our base of operations is close."

We followed him out to his car, and I gave him back his weapons. He donned his strange outfit again, and started driving. It was maybe ten minutes before he pulled over, and asked to blindfold us. "We can't go any closer unless you're blindfolded." He insisted. I glanced at Kara and Hazel. We could just see right through a blindfold anyways, with Force Sight. So we agreed, Mana agreeing a little more reluctantly.

I turned on Force Sight for the rest of the ride, and we eventually turned into a parking garage. He quickly said some code in another language, and the ground shook as, just like in Suffield, the ground opened into a ramp, letting us drive right in. The place shook as it closed behind us, the ramp moving up to close us in. "What is it with weird organizations with underground bases? No offense, Mana." Her thoughts were elsewhere, but a thought directed at me came from Kara.

::It's seriously creepy. One of these days, we're just gonna get kidnapped, and one of these places are gonna be our graves.:: She thought. ::When did any of you become psychic?:: Mana thought, raising a brow at us mentally, which was a weird image. "Oh, right, I forgot. I didn't tell you. I, very hesitantly, to be clear, taught all of us a Force power from the game that lets us read, to some degree, another person's mind. It's not perfect, though. Yours is probably leagues better." I explained.

Honestly? I entirely lied about hers being better. One of the characters from the game proved that you can pick out thoughts with a lot of practice. She didn't need to know that, though. Finally, we were told to take off our blindfolds. I look around, unimpressed. Of course, I didn't want him knowing that blindfolding us was pointless, so I speak.

"Impressive, but I've seen a base similar to this that was much larger." I admitted, not sharing where, for the sake of preserving the privacy of Suffield's little bunker. "You never quite got around to sharing your name." I reminded him, looking around. There was a small crowd looking around at us. I tried probing some of their thoughts, to just feel an overwhelming hunger from them. They knew who I was, and some of them wanted to turn me in, though most of them felt... respect for me? It was hard to read any singular one of them in this crowd.

I was shaken from my thoughts by the man who drove us here. "Just call me Phoebus." He said. "Fitting." I thought. A hand shot out to grab my wrist, and I grabbed their hand, flipping them with ease. "Don't touch me." I told the person who had grabbed me. I felt bad for harming some random person, but I got the feeling I should exhibit strength, or else what respect I have here would be lost.

Phoebus nodded at me, and we continued surging through the crowd. Finally, we arrived at an elevator, and we got in it, and I used Force Push to keep everyone that wasn't part of our group away. "Good that you showed strength here. Showing your strength, and asserting yourself is the road to the top around here." The elevator dinged as we hit the bottom floor.

"Welcome, welcome. Come on in." A cheery voice said.