Black Feather: Episode XI
"Sphere"
Global Cortex Infirmary GCIF-N/04, Emergency Care Unit Branch
5:59 p.m., 03/07
"...Qastor...! Where are you going...!?"
"...I'm going... to find my grave...!!"
The raining garden...
The grave...
Qastor wiped the epitaph...
"A Raven...
Torn between two powers...
Died here...
May he rest in peace..."
Qastor's heart skipped... He clenched his fist, and felt the pressure of his ring... his ring...
"My ring..."
He began to dig into the grave, pushing and scraping dirt away. His labor came to fruition, and revealed a black lacquer canister... Qastor forced the cap open...
A platinum ring rested in top of the ashes...
With haste, Qastor placed the canister, still open, upon the dirt, unraveled his glove, and there, upon his ring finger, was Rey Vyn's keepsake...
He picked up the ring from the canister and held it close to his own to compare...
They were exact twin rings... The luster... the engraved raven... the etched name, "Rey Vyn"... the same... exactly the same...
"H... how...? HOW!?" Qastor fell to his knees, shutting is eyes tightly...
...This... is the truth... It's been that way... for the past year...
_____________________________
"...Right now, a Sphere personnel is waiting for you..."
"...Yep, Sphere offered me a mission..."
"...an unknown force in Falkirk City's Industrial Sector FIS-076 massacred Sphere's squad of MTs and an AC..."
"Sphere... Sphere... SPHERE!!!" Fluorescent lights invaded Qastor's senses. Cold sweat crudely decorated his face. Iris was gone.
Eyes ahaze, Qastor wiped them accordingly, scanning the hallway when they cleared up. Nothing changed. Still quiet as the clock struck 6:00 p.m. in silence. He noticed that the emergency light that hung over the door leading to the emergency care unit was off. The sliding door made way as Qastor dashed to the ECU.
_____________________________
A breathing mask covered Malirant's nose and mouth. Bandages coiled around his throat. It was strange to Qastor, to see Malirant in this condition so suddenly. His armor-like chest rose up and settled down, barely capturing the oxygen from the mask. Shoe thumps intensified as the doctor entered.
"Oh, sorry to interrupt." The doctor stopped in his tracks, looking at Qastor, then at Malirant. "Are you a friend of his?"
"Yes... Yes, I am." He glanced at the doctor from the corner of his eye, and looked back. "Doct-"
"He's lucky to be alive. His AC's cockpit collapsed. The glass from the screens shattered forward and tore his throat. But, that's not the real injury."
"It's not?" If Qastor could look anymore hopeless, than he would've done so. An ominous shadow crept from the darkness and into his heart. Qastor's shoulders sank.
"The impact damaged his vocal cords. It's a miracle he was able to speak to you on the way here."
"........." The doctor walked over to the end of the bed. He picked up and looked over some notes on a table. "What impact...?"
The doctor looked up from his notes, his eyes above his glasses. "His AC was struck by a heavy metallic object. Possibly one of those right arm blades you Ravens use."
A moment passed. Maybe more, but Qastor couldn't care any less. Iris made his way into his mind.
"Um... Doctor?"
"It's Taylor."
"Doctor Taylor, have you seen a female Raven anywhere?"
"Ah, yes. I almost forgot." Dr. Taylor reached into his pocket and drew out an immaculate folded piece of paper. "She left you a note." He cordially handed Qastor the note.
"I'm sorry I left so soon. Sphere called me up for a mission request. I couldn't refuse. I'll probably be gone by the time you wake up. Hope to see you soon. -Iris"
"P. S.: Tell Malirant I said 'hi' if he wakes up while I'm gone."
"Sphere..." That name echoed in his head. His eyes widened. "Iris!"
The doctor turned. He noticed only himself and Malirant in the room. His eyes glanced about and found the note on the floor.
"Sphere"
Global Cortex Infirmary GCIF-N/04, Emergency Care Unit Branch
5:59 p.m., 03/07
"...Qastor...! Where are you going...!?"
"...I'm going... to find my grave...!!"
The raining garden...
The grave...
Qastor wiped the epitaph...
"A Raven...
Torn between two powers...
Died here...
May he rest in peace..."
Qastor's heart skipped... He clenched his fist, and felt the pressure of his ring... his ring...
"My ring..."
He began to dig into the grave, pushing and scraping dirt away. His labor came to fruition, and revealed a black lacquer canister... Qastor forced the cap open...
A platinum ring rested in top of the ashes...
With haste, Qastor placed the canister, still open, upon the dirt, unraveled his glove, and there, upon his ring finger, was Rey Vyn's keepsake...
He picked up the ring from the canister and held it close to his own to compare...
They were exact twin rings... The luster... the engraved raven... the etched name, "Rey Vyn"... the same... exactly the same...
"H... how...? HOW!?" Qastor fell to his knees, shutting is eyes tightly...
...This... is the truth... It's been that way... for the past year...
_____________________________
"...Right now, a Sphere personnel is waiting for you..."
"...Yep, Sphere offered me a mission..."
"...an unknown force in Falkirk City's Industrial Sector FIS-076 massacred Sphere's squad of MTs and an AC..."
"Sphere... Sphere... SPHERE!!!" Fluorescent lights invaded Qastor's senses. Cold sweat crudely decorated his face. Iris was gone.
Eyes ahaze, Qastor wiped them accordingly, scanning the hallway when they cleared up. Nothing changed. Still quiet as the clock struck 6:00 p.m. in silence. He noticed that the emergency light that hung over the door leading to the emergency care unit was off. The sliding door made way as Qastor dashed to the ECU.
_____________________________
A breathing mask covered Malirant's nose and mouth. Bandages coiled around his throat. It was strange to Qastor, to see Malirant in this condition so suddenly. His armor-like chest rose up and settled down, barely capturing the oxygen from the mask. Shoe thumps intensified as the doctor entered.
"Oh, sorry to interrupt." The doctor stopped in his tracks, looking at Qastor, then at Malirant. "Are you a friend of his?"
"Yes... Yes, I am." He glanced at the doctor from the corner of his eye, and looked back. "Doct-"
"He's lucky to be alive. His AC's cockpit collapsed. The glass from the screens shattered forward and tore his throat. But, that's not the real injury."
"It's not?" If Qastor could look anymore hopeless, than he would've done so. An ominous shadow crept from the darkness and into his heart. Qastor's shoulders sank.
"The impact damaged his vocal cords. It's a miracle he was able to speak to you on the way here."
"........." The doctor walked over to the end of the bed. He picked up and looked over some notes on a table. "What impact...?"
The doctor looked up from his notes, his eyes above his glasses. "His AC was struck by a heavy metallic object. Possibly one of those right arm blades you Ravens use."
A moment passed. Maybe more, but Qastor couldn't care any less. Iris made his way into his mind.
"Um... Doctor?"
"It's Taylor."
"Doctor Taylor, have you seen a female Raven anywhere?"
"Ah, yes. I almost forgot." Dr. Taylor reached into his pocket and drew out an immaculate folded piece of paper. "She left you a note." He cordially handed Qastor the note.
"I'm sorry I left so soon. Sphere called me up for a mission request. I couldn't refuse. I'll probably be gone by the time you wake up. Hope to see you soon. -Iris"
"P. S.: Tell Malirant I said 'hi' if he wakes up while I'm gone."
"Sphere..." That name echoed in his head. His eyes widened. "Iris!"
The doctor turned. He noticed only himself and Malirant in the room. His eyes glanced about and found the note on the floor.