Disclaimer: I don't own any of the TSW characters portrayed within; all are property of Square.
Author's Note: Sorry this was so long in coming. I was taking my time, because I wanted to be careful with the villains and their motivations – and you'll notice I still haven't covered them yet. I'm still kinda thinking them over. Plus things take a surreal turn here… All will be explained, when I have time. And I'm suffering a time-consuming addiction to "Kingdom Hearts" at the moment. Squall and Cloud have never looked better… Yum…
OUT OF THE ASHES
Chapter Nineteen
Project Ash
Major Boyer eyed his commanding officer dubiously. "You want Ash to hunt them down? Isn't that a little extreme?"
General Ryder's gaze hardened. "I have no use for Dr. Ross and the Deep Eyes squad she has with her. They know too much already, and should be eliminated."
"What about him?" Boyer nodded his head towards the captured corporal. "Shall we kill him, too?"
The corporal paled. "Aren't you going to question me, first?" he asked in an unnaturally high-pitched voice. "For all you know, I could be working alone."
"Corporal Fleming, you may be an experienced soldier, but you're just a tech. No one would send a tech alone to enemy-occupied territory. No; the rest of your squad is here, probably along with Dr. Ross."
"And Dr. Sid." Boyer couldn't resist the jab at his superior, and hid his smirk at the dangerous look Ryder gave him.
"No matter," Ryder said, his voice betraying none of his anger. "Ash will destroy your friends. As for you…" Ryder paused, a thoughtful look on his face. "I may have some use for you. As I recall, when you served under me, you were one of the best of my techs, correct?" He didn't wait for a response. "I wouldn't want to waste that."
Corporal Fleming looked as if he were about to spew some heroic speech about never working for a low-life bastard like General Ryder, but then his eyes took on a slightly glazed look, and he murmured, "Maybe we can work something out."
Boyer's eyes narrowed, and he examined the corporal's face closely. It was doubtful the man would capitulate so easily, and he didn't think the general would trust any change of heart. His eyes met the corporal's… and Boyer jerked back in shock at what he saw in the glittering blue depths. What the hell…? As he tried to examine the corporal's gaze more closely, to find what had given him such a chill, Boyer realized whatever it was was gone, and only a scared young soldier stared back at him.
"Did you hear me, Major?" Ryder's voice cut into Boyer's thoughts, and he cursed himself for letting the corporal get to him. "I want you to escort the corporal to a secure area, and then set Ash free after the others." He sounded amused by Boyer's lapse in attention, and the major scowled.
"Where would you like us to start searching?" Boyer asked stiffly.
"Us?" Ryder repeated. "Major, I want Ash to do this on his own. I want to see what he's capable of when you aren't holding him back."
He's quite capable of killing our own men, Boyer almost retorted. "If that's what you want. Sir." Boyer didn't bother to hide his displeasure from the general.
"That will be all for now," the general said mildly. "Continue with your duties, Major. Dismissed."
Boyer saluted with a jerky movement that revealed his anger. Then he gestured towards the soldier guarding the corporal, and Fleming was prodded to his feet and guided out to the hallway.
Idiot! General Ryder has no idea how dangerous Project Ash truly is. If Ryder weren't so useful…
Fleming walked quietly beside Boyer, and the major watched him out of the corner of his eye, searching for whatever he'd glimpsed earlier.
"So, um, how long has General Ryder been in charge?" Fleming asked. "We only spoke to him a few days ago, and he was a good guy then."
Is he fishing for information, or is he just one of those people who babbles when frightened? Boyer wondered.
"Has he been behind this all along?" Fleming continued. "It's surprising. He always seemed like such a nice, reasonable commanding officer."
A babbler. Great. Boyer heaved a dismayed sigh. He turned to order the corporal to shut up, then noticed the other man had that distant look in his eyes again, as if he weren't paying attention to what was going on around him.
Fleming continued on in the same vein, and Boyer tried to ignore him. The man sounded like an idiot, but Boyer suspected it was an act. Still, it didn't stop him from wishing he could order their armed escort to kill the corporal now.
"You know," the corporal said suddenly, "you look pretty good for a dead man."
Boyer froze. "What did you say?" he demanded.
"Only that you don't look dead," the corporal said, sounding uncertain.
With a lighting-fast move that stunned the accompanying soldier, Boyer lifted the corporal by the collar and pinned him to the wall. "What do you know about that?" Boyer snarled.
Fleming's eyes were huge, and his lips moved soundlessly. "What do you know?" Boyer asked again, his grip on the corporal's neck tightening with every word.
"Rumors!" the corporal squeaked. "That's all! It's stupid, really. Just something scrawled on the door of the women's bathroom! I mean, you're obviously not dead, right?" When Boyer didn't immediately answer, the man's voice became even more shrill. "Right?"
"Obviously." Boyer dropped the man, who rubbed his bruised neck. "Sergeant, take this man somewhere secure. I've had enough of him." The silent guard nodded, roughly grabbing Fleming's elbow and pulling him down the hall.
I shouldn't have reacted like that… But what does that idiot know? There shouldn't have been any rumors of his death. So where had Corporal Fleming received his information?
And why, for a moment, had he seemed so familiar?
He dismissed the corporal from his mind, heading towards Ash's room. The door was unguarded – no one wanted to be left alone too near the man – and Boyer entered.
Ash was gazing out the window, his glittering green eyes rapturous. "I saw it again," he said, without turning to face the major. "Beautiful…"
Boyer winced. Not this again… "There are no creatures loose in the city," he said firmly. "None except the Phantoms," he amended, as Ash turned to face him.
During his last outing, Ash had claimed to see a beast made of fire. Boyer had wanted to dismiss it outright, but he knew Ash didn't have much of an imagination.
And a couple of other soldiers had claimed to see monsters that weren't any identified species of Phantoms as well. We don't need this… Not now… But at least these visions posed not threat at the moment. They've got to be the work of the rebels. Can they cast illusions?
"Ash," Boyer said calmly, putting his worries aside, "the general would like you to go hunting."
Ash visibly pricked up. "Hunt what?"
"Humans. Intruders to our city."
"Rebels again?" Ash sounded eager; he hated how often they'd slipped through his fingers.
"If you encounter them, yes. And it's to be an all-out assault; no one to hold you back."
Ash's lanky form was quivering with eagerness. "I can kill anyone?" he asked.
"Don't touch our men. Remember, they'll all be wearing green shoulder pads or arm bands." Boyer touched his own as a reminder. And woe to any soldier who's forgotten theirs, he thought.
"Yes," Ash agreed, barely paying attention. A predatory gleam had come to his eyes. "I'm ready now."
"Then go. I won't stop you." Boyer stepped aside as Ash rushed past him. He listened as Ash's footsteps echoed down the hall, already beginning to fade.
A scream suddenly came to Boyer's ears, only to be abruptly cut off. I guess someone was stupid enough not to wear their armband after all.
* * *
Shit! They have him! When the security suddenly increased around the building Jane was scouting out, she knew with a grim certainty that Neil had been caught. She hadn't seen anything else that could have put the soldiers on alert, and she knew it was a matter of time before the patrols began to sweep the city, looking for her and the others.
The others… how were they? Where were they? Had they already been here and departed? Or had they been the ones captured? It was already noon, and Jane guessed they must be on the way to the Black Boa by now if they hadn't. Did she dare call them and alert them? She didn't want to give them away…
She wasn't leaving without Neil. But she had no idea where he'd been taken. Or even if he were alive… But she went back to the spot where they were supposed to meet and waited anyway. He may not be alive…
No. I can't even think about that. Neil can talk his way out of anything, and he has a master manipulator to back him up. He isn't dead. If he were, she'd never be able to apologize properly to him.
She couldn't stay here, she decided after several minutes of waiting. Perhaps she could head to an abandoned skyscraper, one with an excellent view of the occupied space, and perhaps be able to alert the others. If her radio frequency gave her location away, she'd have a good enough view from a higher vantage point to see any capture squads and escape in time. She hoped.
Skulking through the labyrinth of debris, Jane was able to make it several blocks without being sighted. She prayed her luck would hold as she ducked within the wreckage of a crashed escape pod as a patrol passed her, and didn't breathe again until they were out of sight.
Too close… far too close… She climbed out of the wreckage, cursing as her boots rang against the metallic hull. I hope they didn't hear that.
She dropped to the ground, then froze as she caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of her eye. Oh, shit… She automatically dropped, seeking cover. Then she gasped.
The movement that caught her gaze was the shadows; around her, they rippled and flickered unnaturally. What the hell?
Jane looked up, and was forced to shield her eyes from the glare. When she did make out the shape, she cried out in surprise.
A giant ball of flame was swiftly passing over her.
* * *
Too many. There were too many of people. And all of them wore green, the untouchable green. Ash's lips twisted in a moue of disappointment. He'd finally been given free rein, and all he could find where the untouchable men, the men he wasn't supposed to kill.
Ash swept down the streets, watching the patrols scatter in horror. Green. All green. But their fear was a consolation to him. They hadn't known he could soar through the air. They hadn't known he could generate a ball of fire that could incinerate all who came too near.
Some of them found out too late. It wasn't his fault.
Still, he needed to get away from the occupied area, where he could use his scanning abilities to good effect. So he drifted through the city, reveling in the feeling of his unfettered power. At last, no Major Boyer, who seemed to be able to clamp down on his powers, to dull them…
Movement amidst a tangle of wreckage caught his eye, and he paused in midair, sending out tendrils of power to scan the area. One person… alone, no patrols. Not one of the green-banded men. Ash's lips peeled back in a sinister grin. Mine…
He began to lower himself, and banked the flames around him. He didn't want to kill this one too quickly, after all.
(Here!) a voice suddenly echoed through his mind. Ash froze, the flames flaring back to life in defense. (It's me you want,) the voice continued, the tone mocking. Ashe lifted, eyes seeking the intruder who dared breech his defenses and get inside his head!
He perched atop a building, ignoring the figure far below who ran for her life, blinding seeking to escape the horrifying sight. "Who are you?" he screeched to the taunting voice.
(Come and get me,) the voice said. Several blocks away, the top of a skyscraper seemed to burst into flames, and a shape rose from the inferno.
"You!" Ash cried, both awed and infuriated by the beautiful being before him. He sprang forward as the other being took flight across the city. He drove his body to its limits, but the other remained just out of reach. Ash snarled and prepared to hurl a globe of water at it.
He was too late; the being's flames abruptly guttered out, and it vanished.
"No!" Ash screamed. He'd lost her! He'd lost the creature that had been haunting him! Angrily, he flung the water sphere at a crack in the pavement below, where a pair of yellow flowers grew. The fragile plants were crushed under the water's weight, and Ash felt a surge of satisfaction.
Then he realized he'd been lured from his prey, and he howled in rage. That being had protected his foe!
Well, he'd show here! He'd search the entire city and find the intruders he'd been promised!
Systematically, he began to search the city, scanning for spirits. For almost an hour, he had no luck.
Then he felt it. Far, far below was a gathering of spirits. Not Phantom spirits; he would have recognized their alien feel. They were humans, tainted with powers.
Too easy… If only Boyer had let him fully use his gifts before! He could have found the rebels far more quickly.
Admittedly, he'd only discovered this scanning ability the previous day, but Boyer had held him back, kept him from exploring the limits of his powers!
But that didn't matter. What mattered was the prey below, more than Ash could have hoped for. Mine…
With a cry, Ash shattered the pavement beneath him, breaking through to the city's depths.
* * *
It really wasn't much fun being locked in an empty office by yourself, Neil decided as he fidgeted in the hard wood chair that was the room's only furnishing.
(Try to imagine how I feel,) Hein said coolly.
Correction: It really wasn't much fun being locked in an empty office alone with the voices in your head.
(At least I'm not telling you to burn things.)
Neil blinked. He hadn't realized the general had a sense of humor.
Since we're obviously going to be alone for a while, do you mind explaining a few things? Like General Ryder… You knew he was up to no good, didn't you? That's why you wouldn't let me say anything. He hadn't liked that. It seemed Hein could exert quite a bit of influence over his body.
(I… I've always been paranoid about Ryder. We have a bit of a history. He's never actually done anything to justify my suspicions, though, until now.)
Neil snorted. I would think you're worse than he is. Or was.
Hein was silent for a moment. (I am.)
Neil blinked, and was about to reply, when Hein continued. (But everything I've done was for the good of the world. To my mind, anyway. Ryder seemed more interested in doing things for himself. The mission that made me general was an attempt on his part to set himself up as a great here. Ironically, the mistake he made was what gave me that distinction. We'd never gotten along, but he's hated me after that.)
Hein's honesty shocked Neil. It seemed the general no longer cared anymore and didn't see any reason to hide anything. It felt almost like a confession… What about Boyer?
(Forget Boyer.)
No way. You nearly got us killed talking to him, and I want to know why! I mean, you were obviously on to something, with the way he reacted. And here I thought you were just being melodramatic.
(I was beginning to doubt myself,) Hein said reluctantly. (But… Here, I'll show you what happened.)
* * *
He wasn't drunk yet. The world had gone out of focus, the edges of the tables softening and blurring together. But he hadn't yet reached that blissful state where nothing mattered, where the faces of his wife and daughter didn't come back to haunt him.
Beside him, Major William Boyer held a shot glass in one hand, but he was only swirling it absently, watching the amber liquid slosh over the rim. He'd been doing that all evening; Hein wondered if Boyer had even taken a sip.
"There are other ways, you know," Boyer said quietly.
Hein started; he had forgotten he'd been conversing with the major, and his alcohol-fogged mind struggled to recall what they'd been speaking of.
"The Council members are idiots, cutting off the Zeus's funding," Boyer continued, watching his superior closely. Since Hein had basically said much the same thing to Boyer earlier, he only grunted in agreement.
"They need to be persuaded," Boyer went on. There was a slightly wheedling tone to his voice, and warning bells went off in Hein's head. Boyer was a master manipulator, and Hein didn't trust the man. Everyone told him that he and Boyer were so much alike, but they'd never been forced to work with the man. He had a hidden agenda, Hein was discovering, and if he was trying to get Hein drunk enough to agree with anything he said, the general would have to be alert.
"And I suppose you're going to tell me how?" Hein snorted.
Boyer lowered his voice. "The Council needs to be frightened into action. Wouldn't you like to see them on their knees, begging for construction of the Zeus to be finished?"
It was an amusing image, Hein conceded. "And how do you propose we do that, Major?"
"A barrier failure."
Boyer's words were spoken so calmly, Hein thought he was joking. No one could seriously consider such a thing! "You're not serious?"
The major turned toward him, the pale, dead eyes the public never saw meeting Hein's own. "You know I am."
"I should court martial you for suggesting such a thing," Hein hissed.
Boyer looked unconcerned. "I'm not suggesting a city-wide failure. Just a controlled breech of our defenses."
"And who will be blamed when the Council investigates this little intrusion, hmm? Me. Did your boss put you up to this?" Hein mentally cursed himself. He hadn't meant that last to slip out.
"My boss?" Boyer repeated slowly, setting his full glass on the counter. "I don't know what you mean."
I started this, I may as well finish it. "You're General Ryder's mole," Hein said thickly. "I know he arranged for you to spy on me." Hein narrowed his eyes and moved closer to the major, glaring at the other man.
"You're paranoid, sir," Boyer said calmly. His gaze met Hein's, and the general almost flinched. Such cold, dead eyes…
"Perhaps I am, but I know you were working under Ryder before being assigned to me."
"Mmm," was all Boyer said as he rose from his seat. He tossed a wad of bills on the counter, enough, Hein noticed, to pay for both their drinks. Casually, Boyer made his way through the throng of civilians that patronized the bar, his military uniform catching curious looks as he passed.
Angrily, Hein followed, and people cringed from his path. Damn the man, I'm not through yet!
Outside the bar, Hein caught up to Boyer, grabbing the other's uniform jacket. Boyer halted.
"What's General Ryder trying to do?" Hein snapped. "Does he want to discredit me?"
"I was just trying to help," Boyer said, prying his jacket from Hein's grasp. He straightened his coat slowly, ignoring his superior.
"By destroying my career? You're out of line, Major!" Hein moved forward threateningly. Boyer backed away a step. "I have enough evidence to prove to the Council that you're Ryder's subordinate, and you'll be transferred back to him." Hein took another step, and again Boyer backed away.
"You're drunk, sir," Boyer said. "Let me call a cab to take you home and we'll discuss this later – "
"No!" Hein roared. "I won't give you the time to destroy any evidence and concoct your own! You're trying to ruin my career so Ryder can take my place!"
Boyer glanced sideways, then turned back to Hein. "You poor, deluded fool," he said, his face suddenly distorted in a sickening grin. "You have no idea. It's nothing that simple."
Hein couldn't clearly recall what happened after that. He only dimly remembered the squeal of tires, the sound of shattering glass, and the blood…
And Major Boyer's twisted body, still grinning demonically towards him.
* * *
Neil shuddered. Do you tell that one around campfires! That's… pretty creepy. Are you sure that's what happened? Major Boyer doesn't look like he spent a lot of time in a hospital being put back together.
(Of course not,) Hein said sharply. (He was dead!)
Is that what they told you?
Hein hesitated. (No. They never said anything on the matter, only that a new major was being transferred to New York because they couldn't trust me with Boyer.)
And you didn't question that? Neil was incredulous.
(Of course I did! But they told me I was drunk that night… I couldn't remember… I thought they were covering for me. Then, when I searched for Boyer's medical records and couldn't find any, I thought I was going mad.)
Something must have happened, for him to have reacted so strongly.
(I wish I knew what! I'd like to know what we're dealing with.)
Further attempt at conversation was forestalled by the arrival of a soldier. "General Ryder will see you now," the man said, and Neil got to his feet. He allowed himself to be marched at gunpoint to the general's office.
He was seated before the general, who examined him critically. "I've found a use for you, Corporal," he said, almost absently.
"That's… a relief," Neil said uncertainly. "I can hack into any files you want, or repair machinery, or pilot – "
Ryder waved a hand dismissively. "I have men for all of that. No, Corporal, I've decided you're much more useful to me dead."
* * *
"So, tell me a little bit about the magic you're familiar with," Dr. Sid said as they headed back to the Black Boa. Major Elliot, along with a dozen other soldiers, had decided to escort the Deep Eyes to the city's edge. They were grateful, since the rebels had much more experience with the confusing, labyrinthine catwalks, as well as knowing how to hide from the patrols.
"Well," the major responded in his dry voice, "we've discovered our magics seem to counter the offensive ones. We have a few people who can erect shields with different abilities. 'Protect' is what we call the barrier that shields from physical attacks."
"The ovo-pack we used…" Aki murmured from behind Dr. Sid.
"And the other is 'Shell,'" Lieutenant Anderson spoke up. He had been chosen as the one to accompany the Deep Eyes to speak to the Council. "That's what I do; it defends from harmful magics, we found. Though all the shields only work for a limited time," he added regretfully.
"We also have many people with the healing abilities, which we've dubbed Cure. It's come in handy… though it seems to hurt those of us who are Undead," the major said quietly. "Then there are abilities we haven't figured out yet, that don't seem to work. Our theory is that they counter some of the offensive magics, but we've had no way to experiment."
"What about you?" Dr. Sid asked. "I got the impression you're unusual."
The major seemed uncomfortable. "My talent seems to be offensive… but it only works when there's danger. And even then it doesn't work all the time. It nailed a Phantom, but was useless against Ash. The others call it 'Holy.'" He sounded embarrassed by this. "I guess it looks like a Heavenly light, or something."
"Interesting," Dr. Sid murmured. He was about to continue, when he noticed the others slowing beside him. "What is it?" he murmured. Then he saw for himself.
A cloud of dust had risen on the catwalk ahead, and chunks of cement and metal littered the rusted grating. Dr. Sid put his hand to his mouth as the dust drifted towards them, and he heard coughing from the other soldiers. "A collapse?" he heard Ryan inquire.
"I don't –" Elliot began, then was drowned out by a shriek of tearing metal as the walkway above bent downward, splitting in two. "Get back!"
A section of the catwalk landed in front of them, and they turned to run. But the way was blocked as Ash descended in a ball of flame.
* * *
"There is a way you can save yourself, Corporal," Ryder said in that same mild tone.
"Get down on my knees and beg?" Neil hazarded.
General Ryder's face darkened. "Respect never was one of your strong points, was it?" he said acidly. Then he calmed. "You are a survivor of New York, correct?"
Neil nodded. "Yes, sir," he said, a little meekly. It probably wasn't wise to show disrespect to the man who held your life in his hands.
"Do you have any powers? Anything useful?" Ryder's face was almost hungry. "And don't lie; I want proof."
Neil's shoulders slumped in despair. There's no bluffing my way out of this one, then.
(No,) Hein agreed. (But you could delay him while I think of something.)
He's going to kill me! How do I delay that? Ask for my last meal?
(Get him talking… Ryder loves to boast about his accomplishments. Try to get some information out of him. It could be useful.)
Oh, yes… Get him to tell me his master plan, and then he'll definitely kill me. You're very useful, you know that?
The entire conversation had taken place in a space of a few seconds. General Ryder was still waiting for an answer.
"I… don't know, to be honest, sir. I haven't consciously done anything."
"Thought not," Ryder said, absently steepling his fingers. "You must be one of the dead ones, or you would have manifested some power by now. But I just thought I'd ask."
"Then… What are you going to do with me?" Neil asked tonelessly.
"You're going to be executed," Ryder said. "The power users under my protection aren't grateful for what I've done. They keep trying to escape. I figure executing a possible rescuer will be a good way to demoralize them and help them to accept their fate."
At least he's honest… "Always happy to serve, sir," Neil said bitterly.
General Ryder looked almost sympathetic. "It's far kinder than anything Project Ash would do to you," he said.
(There's an opening – take it!) Hein commanded, but Neil needed no urging.
"Project Ash?" he asked, his puzzlement only half-feigned. "What's that?"
"That's right… you don't know, do you?" A cruel smile transformed Ryder's features, and Neil shuddered. He's enjoying this! There's a genuinely evil streak there… "Ash is my little pet project… a very powerful weapon whose talents become stronger every day. He came to us quite by accident. He's a heartless, merciless monster who kills for the pleasure of it." Where is Ryder going with this? He's leading up to something unpleasant. "We call him Ash because he was born from them. But you know him by another name."
* * *
Ash advanced toward them, a pillar of living flame. Beneath him, the metal scaffolding blackened and cracked in the intense heat.
Around Aki, the rebels assembled into attack formation, but Aki could tell they knew it was hopeless. They wouldn't be able to escape, and how could they fight this living pyre?
There was a flash of light, and a pale green orb surrounded them, briefly visible before vanishing. Anderson's Shell?
As the figure drew nearer, Aki and Dr. Sid were shoved behind Ryan in a futile attempt at protection. She could still clearly see the approaching Ash over the Sergeant's shoulder, a dim silhouette shrouded in a blinding corona of flame.
Then the figure lifted a hand, and the flickering fires vanished, revealing the thin, pale man within. There were gasps of shock and recognition from the soldiers around her, all of them drowned out by the scream that ripped its way from Aki's throat.
"Graaaay!"
To Be Continued…