Disclaimer: Once again, I fail to own any of the fun characters. Does anyone want to put their money together with me and make Square an offer?
Author's Note: I have decided, I am going to try for weekly updates on this story. Don't hold it against me if I fail. But I've finally decided what I'm going to do with this story, and what's going to be covered by the sequel I was considering, so hopefully, things should come out better.
OUT OF THE ASHES
Chapter Eleven
Approaching Madness
"There are a lot of people here," Neil said softly. Beside him, Jane was stiff with unease. Ryan looked impassive, but Neil could sense the big man was nervous as well. Not only were they attending the funeral of their friend and leader, Captain Gray Edwards, but they were going to be filmed as well by the media, who were "respectfully" broadcasting the hero's funeral to the rest of the world, despite the best efforts of Aki and General Ryder.
"It's like some kind of damned party," Jane muttered. Her finger twitched, as if they longed to be holding a weapon to clear away the curious bystanders. They'd all wanted a much more intimate funeral, but the Council had thought it would be unfair to deny the world the right to say goodbye to a great hero.
Though, with the return of the Phantoms, some say his sacrifice was in vain… Ryan had said he'd found Aki bawling over one newscast that had said as much. The report had almost accused Aki and Gray outright of causing this new dilemma. Added to the fact that Dr. Sid hadn't been located since the raid on the base three days ago, and it was no wonder Aki – and everyone else, as well – looked so miserable.
"Maybe you could freeze those cameras," Neil suggested. "Take out the reporters as well. No one would miss them."
Jane grunted in agreement. But she was very careful to keep her powers under her tenuous – but growing – control. The rise of New York, and the shocking side effects, were still unknown among the general populace.
The two quickly stilled and stood at attention as the casket was carried out. Once, it would have been draped with the American flag. But USMF soldiers now died in the service of the world, not just the country they were born in. Now, a large sheet with small representations of every flag from every remaining country covered the coffin that was gently lowered by six soldiers in their formal Deep Eyes uniforms. Ryan had asked to be included among the pallbearers, but his request had been denied.
From her spot at Ryan's side, Aki was still, her whole body rigid. Only the tears that glistened on her cheeks showed any indication the proceedings had any effect on her.
After the coffin was settled, General Ryder moved to its head and began a speech about Gray and his service to the world. Neil ignored it, becoming suddenly aware of a dull pounding in his temples. He suppressed a groan as the headache that had sprung up with surprising swiftness threatened to overwhelm him.
Neil focused his gaze on the tombstone, determined to ignore the headache… and the memories that came with it. They aren't my memories… I'm Neil Fleming… Get out of my head!
The Duo, the other that shared his body, was stirring within him. He gritted his teeth, willing it to go away, to leave him alone!
The pain intensified, and Neil staggered, landing against Jane. Quickly, she helped him regain his feet, a mixture of anger and concern on her face. Neil ignored her, pressing his palms to his temples. "Get out," he whispered hoarsely. "Get out of my head."
The headache suddenly receded, taking most of the memories except the fragments that had haunted him… and something else he couldn't identify as well. Neil shivered and looked around himself, realizing with relief that only Jane had seen his… episode.
What was that? The other personality… It must have been! But why haven't I felt it before now? Why is it waking up now?
Neil frowned as General Ryder came back to them, Gray's last rights having been said. Slowly, the coffin was lowered into the ground. Aki's tear-stained face turned away, and General Ryder patted her shoulder comfortingly. She shied away from the touch, choosing to flee the scene before the reporters could converge on her.
"Go on," Ryder told them, "before the reporters figure out you were part of Captain Edwards's squad and start asking awkward questions."
The others needed no more urging; they followed after Aki. As they left the fringes of the crowd behind them, Jane turned to Neil. "What happened back there?"
Neil shrugged. "Guess I was overwhelmed by emotion," he said.
Jane eyed him strangely, then shook her head and continued onward. Clearly, she didn't believe him.
And why should she? His mind housed another being, one that threatened to dominate him. How long, he wondered, before the battle drove him mad?
* * *
Major Boyer strode through the hidden base, watching soldiers and scientists scurry around in preparation. They'd been warned that "guests" were going to arrive soon, and the lower levels were being sealed off. The scientists were moving all important projects below before being mostly cleared out themselves. The only one being left where he was, under heavy military guard, was Dr. Sid.
Boyer was pleased the old scientist was going to have some use after all. So far, he'd had very little to contribute, and Boyer wondered why his superior had been so insistent they kidnap the scientist. Boyer could do just as well without him. He wasn't thrilled with the idea of grafting powers onto common soldiers, anyway. None of them were worthy of the gift. Not like the silent form that followed him like a shadow.
"How are you doing, Ash?" Boyer asked, turning to the man behind him. Project Ash was being taken to New York, where it was thought he could be put to use. The military there seemed to be having difficulties…
Ash turned to Boyer, his eerie luminescent green eyes glittering. "I'm fine," he rasped, voice dry with disuse. He had only begun speaking the previous day, and still had some difficulty.
Boyer surveyed his pet project. He certainly didn't look "fine" at first glance. The casual military wear someone had found for him did little to hide his thin, bony frame. There were shadows around his eyes, and stubble hadn't yet had time to grow on his shaved head, so the sutures from his operations were clearly visible.
The major rubbed his long fingers together absently. "Good. You're going on a little trip."
"Where?" Ash cocked his head. It was the first sign of curiosity Boyer had seen from him.
"New York City. We have a job for you to do. You get to go… hunting." Boyer didn't mention his superiors felt it would be unsafe for Ash at the base; while the soldiers and scientists would obey orders, Ash could take it into his head to kill anyone around, foe or friend alike. Boyer knew control over the man was minimal, at best.
"Hunting," Ash repeated. Something that could have been a smile touched his lips. "Yes…" His tongue flicked out and licked his dry, cracked lips. He lifted one bony hand. "I will hunt," he said. There was a flash of light, and Boyer whirled to see what looked like a rat engulfed in a ball of lightning, which crackled around the hapless creature. "And I will kill," Ash continued, as if nothing had happened.
Boyer stepped over the rodent's still-smoking corpse. "Indeed," he murmured.
* * *
Ryan was quiet as he and the rest of the Deep Eyes entered Aki's apartment. He never thought he'd live to see Gray's funeral. The captain had seemed so brave and noble, completely unworthy of death. Ryan had always believed he'd die before the captain would.
Seeing his friend's body put into the ground had deeply shaken him. He suddenly understood Aki's desolate attitude; why hadn't Gray been returned as well? Didn't he deserve it?
"Are you all right, Serge?" Jane asked quietly as Neil brushed past them.
"I'll live," Ryan said. If only his own newly-discovered abilities could restore the dead… "Where's Dr. Ross?"
"She needed to be alone," Jane said softly.
Ryan wondered if being alone would help him as well, then decided against it. Besides, Jane and Neil probably needed him as much as he needed them. "What happened with Neil out there?" Ryan asked suddenly. "He didn't look so good."
"He said he had a headache. Maybe he was just overwhelmed by it all." Jane's face was sad. She rarely showed this much emotion, but the funeral must have affected her badly. "I feel the same way," she confessed. "I can't believe he's really gone."
Ryan drew Jane close, and was surprised she didn't resist. They'd always been friends, but Jane had never showed this much vulnerability. "I just don't know what to do," Jane continued.
"Am I interrupting?" Neil asked, a little sharply. He had just come out of the bathroom, a dark plastic bottle in his hands. He glanced between Ryan and Jane suspiciously.
"How's your headache?" Ryan asked quickly, ignoring the tech's look.
"Oh! Feels like it's gonna explode. These help, right?" He held up the bottle of aspirin.
"Yes," Jane said, a little flatly.
"Good." Neil dumped the entire contents in one hand and looked as if he were going to swallow them all at once.
"Neil! One is enough!" Ryan said.
Neil glowered. "Not for this headache." But he dumped most of the pills back in the bottle and swallowed one dry, nearly gagging in the process. "I'm… gonna lay down," Neil said, with another strange look at the two of them. Then he turned towards his cot.
Ryan led Jane to the small kitchen. "Is it me, or has he been acting odd lately?"
Jane made a face, then stopped herself before a snide comment could slip out. "Yes, he has. Something about him is a little… off, somehow."
"I thought maybe it was a little trauma from what happened to us." Ryan frowned. "Not that he has strange powers to deal with."
Jane's eyes were staring towards where she knew Neil was sleeping. "I wonder…"
"What?" But Jane wouldn't say any more.
* * *
She'd thought they wouldn't find her on the outskirts of the city. Aki had thought she'd be alone with her thoughts in the decrepit area that lined the Houston barrier.
She was wrong. She'd only just left her parked jeep five minutes before when another pulled up, containing the reporters she'd struggled to elude. She tried to ignore them, walking along the shut-down barrier as fast as she could away from them, but they followed, asking awkward questions about the return of the Phantoms and the spirit wave's responsibility for their current living state. Aki hadn't realized until then that the media seemed to believe she and Dr. Sid had brought the Phantoms to life.
Why did they do this? Why couldn't they leave her alone? She ran, blinded by tears, dodging through alleys as she circled around to reach her jeep. Why didn't they understand that Gray was a hero, while this new threat was something else entirely?
But… what if they were right? What if she and Dr. Sid had made the Phantoms the way they were now? Then Gray's sacrifice would have been for nothing.
She reached her jeep, quickly starting it up and speeding past the limit. She had to get away from the reporters!
The jeep continued to accelerate as Aki blindly drove forward. Would the press blame the powers on her, too? Did Jane blame her? Or Ryan? Both seemed to be adjusting, but those who knew regarded the Deep Eyes as dangerous freaks.
She didn't know how she made it to her building without crashing. She staggered up the stairs to the main doors, where she was met by a concerned General Ryder.
"Dr. Ross! I've been looking all over for you!" The general hadn't changed out of the formal outfit he'd worn to the funeral. But he looked rumpled now, as if he'd been busy since it had ended.
"I got the report when I returned to my office, and I've been checking it out," he continued. Aki stared at him blankly, blinking tears from her eyes.
"Are you all right?" Ryder broke off, suddenly concerned.
"Yeah," Aki said, looking away. "What were you trying to tell me?"
"I think we found where Major Boyer's been hiding," General Ryder said triumphantly. "Possibly, Dr. Sid's there, too!"
"That's wonderful," Aki began, her face lighting up. "When-"
She was interrupted by a loud burst of static from General Ryder's portable radio. "What is it?" Ryder demanded irritably.
"Sir!" came the alarmed voice. "The city's under attack from the Phantoms!"
To Be Continued…