Disclaimer: All characters owned by Square; no attempt is being made at making a profit from them. I wouldn't know how to if I tried.
Author's Note: I'm sorry to make you wait so long for this! It was a very difficult chapter to write, with all the dialogue and plot explanations and the like. Hopefully, this was worth the wait. And I intend to have this story finished before I begin classes in August, since I have no idea how frequently I'll be able to write then. Don't worry; it will be finished! I'm too close to the end to give up now.
OUT OF THE ASHES
Chapter Twenty-Three
The Green Spirits
It was difficult to believe this thrashing, moaning ruin of a woman could possibly be Dr. Aki Ross. Every inch of clothing peeled away from her body revealed more damage, more wounds that weren't responding to Ryan's healing touch. Jane's gorge rose as she took in the burns, ranging from first to third degree, the frost-bitten extremities, the cruel slashes… The empty eyes… The way Aki flinched when Ryan even came near her and her screams when he touched her… Jane had been left with the job of carefully bandaging Aki's every wound, for her feminine touch seemed to be the only one that didn't invoke terrible memories. Jane tried to contain her feelings behind a wall of ice, but she felt like weeping.
No one deserved this. Her own torture at the hands of Boyer's scientists had been nothing to this. They hadn't beaten her… raped her… broken her… all in the guise of the man she loved. Tenderly, Jane wrapped bandages around Aki's hands, pausing when the woman flinched away but she put up no other protest. Aki's entire body was bound in gauze; she didn't need clothing because there was nothing revealed, though Jane had gently dressed her in an oversize shirt.
Jane was silent during the entire process. What could she say? That everything would be all right? That was a vicious lie, and Aki didn't deserve it. Besides, the woman was too withdrawn to even notice her presence, except when Jane's hands brushed somewhere that triggered the memories. Why had he done this? How could the captain… No, Jane reminded herself. That… being wasn't the captain. This, more than anything, convinced her he was truly a monster. Why hadn't she shot him when she had the chance?
"Lay down," Jane said softly, when she finished with her
ministrations. Aki blinked her sunken
eyes, framed by bandages. Deep cuts ran
under each eye, and another had been etched into her temple. When Jane had begun, it had looked as if Aki
were weeping blood. Aki whimpered
slightly, but obeyed, and Jane sighed with relief. She didn't know what she'd have done if Aki
required more comfort. She could barely
keep her own emotions in check; how could she soothe Aki's?
Shoulders stiff with rage, Jane left the room once she was certain the drugs she'd given Aki were taking effect and the woman was finally drifting into unconsciousness. She cursed her weakness. Perhaps she and Aki hadn't always gotten along, but the woman didn't deserve this suffering. Next time, she wouldn't hesitate. Next time, she would kill Ash before he could do this to another person.
* * *
Ryan found Neil in the cockpit, setting the scanners. "How long until we reach Chicago?" he asked. Neil paused, turning to face the sergeant with a guilty look on his face… and that strange, other look in his eyes that Ryan now realized meant Hein was active in Neil's mind.
"We're not going to Chicago yet," he said slowly, hesitating a moment as if waiting for chastisement. He seemed to be taking the initiative more and more lately, obviously at Hein's urging. But Ryan held his tongue. When nothing was forthcoming, Neil continued, "The Black Boa's dangerously low on fuel. That's why the military doesn't mass produce this ship – it's a fuel hog that needs to be refueled after every trip. We're stopping at Philadelphia first. And… it was suggested that Ryder would have man waiting for us or searching for us along the routes to Chicago or Houston. This way, we can hopefully avoid them for now, and we could just send all the relevant information to the Council from the ship anyway."
Ryan felt relieved. He wasn't as ready to face the Council and its questions as he wanted everyone to believe, and this delay gave him time to prepare himself. "Good. Then we have time to question Major Boyer ourselves before turning him over."
"Sarge, how's Dr. Ross?" Neil asked after a moment.
That was another reason Ryan wasn't eager to return to the city. Aki desperately needed a doctor, but she was terrified when too many people got too close to her; she'd curl into a ball and scream incoherently. Ryan had tried healing her, but somehow, her body was fighting it, refusing to respond. Or perhaps he just wasn't strong enough. "It's bad, Neil," he said quietly. "Ash wasn't kind to her. I don't think we can count on her help for a long time," he sighed.
Neil slumped into his seat. "Oh," he said weakly.
"Neil, we're going to interrogate Major Boyer in about ten minutes. Would you like to be present?"
Something flickered in the depths of Neil's eyes as he sat upright. "Yes," he hissed. "We can record it and forward it to the Council," he suggested. "That way, they'll have his testimony, just in case. Assuming, of course, he talks."
Ryan stared silently at the corporal for a long moment, until Neil squirmed uncomfortably under his gaze. "What?" he asked finally, his voice slightly shrill.
"You," Ryan said finally. "It's hard to get used to. You try to be your normal self, but I can sense him, underneath it all. And then you say or do things that you would never do, at least not without permission. It's difficult to get used to."
Neil shrank under Ryan's gaze. "Sometimes it's hard to tell which ideas are mine, and which are his…" Neil's eyes were shadowed when he met Ryan's. "He stayed out of the way – mostly - after…" Neil's mouth snapped shut, and Ryan was about to question him when he continued on his own. "But he's back again, strong as ever. Sarge, how am I supposed to get used to this?" Neil's voice was plaintive. "He hates being a disembodied passenger… He resents me for it!" Neil closed his eyes and rested his chin in his cupped hand. "There's going to be a battle for dominance someday," he said hopelessly, "and I'm afraid he'll win."
Ryan could think of nothing to say to that.
* * *
Hein was becoming much more difficult to ignore. Every time he made his presence known, Neil felt an influx of memories not his own, tangling with his own recollections until Neil couldn't sort them out. This loss of self was frightening, and he couldn't even blame it on the general; Neil sensed the man wasn't doing it intentionally.
He'd tried to build a mental barrier to keep Hein away. He'd read of such a thing in a book once, where someone could keep another out of their head by picturing a wall. Neil hadn't thought much of it then, and, since it didn't seem to work, he still thought it was bull. Except when he'd forcefully driven Hein away, it seemed blocking Hein was impossible. Even that effort hadn't lasted, and Neil didn't think he had the strength of will to do it again.
He tried not to dwell on it as Ryan silently left him, and he set the scanners to alert them if any vehicles came too close. Theoretically, they were too high for Phantoms. That done, Neil lingered in the cockpit, unwilling to face Ryan, who pitied him, or Jane, who was again closing herself to him now that the emergency was over. Then there was Major Elliot, who despised Neil's other half, and who was being kept in the dark about the whole thing… or Major Boyer, whose chill manner even in captivity made Neil's skin crawl.
(Imagine working with him,) Hein murmured. (He tried to act as though he were the perfect, obedient subordinate. But there was something about him that disturbed me, even before I suspected he was Ryder's man.) Neil received brief glimpses of Boyer when he had worked with Hein via the general's memories, and Neil tried to block them out without success.
The only time he ever did succeed was when he was too busy to think it through. He couldn't find any other way to occupy himself up here. He may as well go assist the interrogation.
The others had already gathered in the makeshift cell; all except Aki, that is. A quick glance at Jane, her clothes blood-stained, showed she had just come from working with the doctor. She didn't return Neil's gaze; she was focused solely on the prisoner. Looking at her, it was difficult to believe she'd been so close to death.
Boyer was seated, his arms and legs tied to the chair's. Despite having spent almost an hour frozen, Boyer's hands looked unaffected, Neil observed. Ryan's doing?
There was an uncomfortable silence for a moment. Clearly, no one here had ever interrogated a prisoner before. Even Major Elliot remained silent, standing back where his ruined features weren't as visible. Neil thought he felt a wave of contempt from Hein at the sight of his major, and… guilt?
"You're going to be taken before the Council when we arrive in Chicago," Ryan said finally. "You could face court martial, or even execution for being part of General Ryder's betrayal. However, if you tell us everything, then the Council may be more lenient with you."
"Oh? And how do you know the Council isn't in on it?" Boyer asked in an amused tone. A faint smile touched his lips. "If that's so, then you'll be the ones in trouble."
Ryan looked shocked speechless. Boyer doesn't make things easy, does he? Neil mused to himself. Then, to his unwelcome guest, He's bluffing, right?
No response came.
"Are they?" Major Elliot asked, his calm tone matching Boyer's.
Boyer shrugged. "I'm not privy to all of General Ryder's secrets. He could be working under the Council's orders, or he could be planning a hostile takeover of the Council now, for all I know. But I can tell you some things."
"And will you?" Major Elliot asked.
Boyer was silent for several minutes, as though thinking it over. "Certainly," he said, his tone gracious. "If I don't, your overeager little ice bitch there will find less pleasant ways of getting it out of me." Jane's lips curled into a snarl at this, but she said nothing. "What would you like to know?"
"Start with the green spirits," Ryan said. "What do you know about them?"
"They've only been seen in unborn children before New York. They're gifted with magic, after a clinical death and resurrection," Boyer said calmly, as if unaware how momentous his announcement was. "We've known this for years and have had scientists working on putting the spirits to use."
"What kind of use?" Major Elliot asked.
"Fighting the enemy, of course. And equipping the abilities to others. It was thought that by putting the powers in special ovo-packs, a select group of soldiers could put these powers to use in defeating Phantoms."
Good intentions. This all started with good intentions! Why was Neil not surprised?
"Then… the Council was aware of this? A project this big would have needed their approval." Elliot sounded stunned. "I've never heard –"
"No, you wouldn't have," Boyer said mildly. "But no, actually, due to the… unorthodox methods used, the research was begun without the Council's knowledge. Funding was found elsewhere."
Something about that drew Hein's attention, and Neil found himself asking, "Where?" before anyone could question Boyer.
He wished he hadn't spoken. Boyer's gaze came to rest on him, cold and calculating. "General Ryder diverted funds from less important projects to something he felt would truly save the world."
"The Zeus Cannon," Neil said softly, without meaning to. Hein was again speaking through him.
Boyer's eyebrows arched. "Very perceptive," he murmured. "Yes, General Ryder felt the cannon was a waste, but he couldn't stall its construction. So he borrowed from the funding while trying to make use of the green spirits. Unfortunately, Ryder didn't have the best scientists available, and the research suffered. It had been Ryder's hope that once he earned the New York post, he'd be able to change it to an overt operation and get the pick of scientists and funding."
Remembering what General Ryder had said, it was Neil who countered this. The others had fallen silent, strangely willing to let him handle this. "Did he really think they'd approve this? Once they found out how the general got these people with powers, they'd have shut down the project immediately."
Boyer said nothing for a moment. "True. The sacrifice of a few pregnant women wouldn't have gone over well with the bleeding hearts of the Council. But they would have accepted the ovos that increased the power of the USMF."
Sacrificed a few women? That was new. "Wait… you mean Ryder just killed innocent women? When he spoke to me he implied –"
"At first, yes, he found a few 'volunteers.' But after he lost his chance to make it an overt op, he took more drastic measures." And here Boyer grinned, a sickly look that made them all uneasy. "And I know what he implied… You're correct. He didn't wait for barriers to fall; he dropped them himself."
There were sharp gasps from the others, but the attention of Neil was only for the major. It took him a moment to realize that was because Hein was a heavier presence in his mind than a moment before. Something about this had brought him to the edge, and Neil was dangerously close to losing his body to the general.
"What cities?" Neil heard himself ask.
"Does that matter?" Boyer was watching him more closely now, as if he sensed there was something off in Neil's attitude.
Neil found himself taking a step forward. "What cities?" The words forced themselves past his clenched teeth. Stay out of this! Neil pleaded.
"Atlanta. Detroit. And… San Francisco."
The tenuous control Neil had over his body vanished in a rush, and he found himself lunging forward, his hands around the major's throat. "No," came a deadly whisper, said in his voice but not by him. "My wife… You bastards killed Rhiannan!" With Hein's anguished accusations came a flow of memories, overwhelming Neil until he felt as if he were drowning in them. Dominating them was a beautiful red-haired woman, Hein's wife. The clearest memory, one that carried the most sadness, had the woman murmuring in his ear – Hein's ear – that she was pregnant again, and she almost hadn't told him because she didn't want to worry him while he was away, but she'd been so happy she'd just had to tell him!
It had been the last time he'd seen her, Neil sensed. "You made our child one of your monsters!" Hein screamed.
Neil felt himself roughly grabbed from behind, and Ryan pulled him away from Boyer, who didn't look worse for wear. "Snap out of it, Neil!" the sergeant pleaded. Neil tried to force his way through the maelstrom of pain, succeeding only because Hein's rage made him lose his control.
He fell to the floor, shivering as the feelings came back to him, and he realized for the moment that his body was his again. "Neil, are you all right?" he thought he heard Jane say, as if from a great distance. But it was Boyer's laughter that he heard clearest.
"General Hein… I should have known you'd still be around," the prisoner murmured. "This really does make things more interesting, doesn't it?"
"General Hein?" Major Elliot's voice was a mixture of anger and disbelief. He turned his gaze on Neil, who could only huddle on the floor, shaking. He wrapped his arms around himself and closed his eyes.
The others moved closer, but Neil wanted to be alone, completely alone. But that wouldn't happen ever again. "Go away," he said, his voice a weak quaver. He managed to find the strength to draw his feet under him. "Leave me alone." He suddenly pushed himself upward, staggering as he shoved his way past Jane. "Leave me alone!" He ran as quickly as his drained body allowed, but it wasn't fast enough to escape the other inside of him.
* * *
General Ryder was fuming. Project Ash was gone. His second in command was missing in action. The rebels seemed to have vanished. And his foes had escaped. In a matter of hours, the Council would know of what he'd done here before he had the chance to speak to them, to present his side of it. They'd see him as a villain for this, a traitor. And if they had Major Boyer with them, it would be much, much worse.
He had to stop them. He'd put in a call to his men outside New York, ordering them to detain the Black Boa if they came upon it. He'd ordered them to begin a rumor circulating that Dr. Ross was a traitor, but he had no idea how effective it was. True, they'd stolen a Copperhead and left Houston when it needed them, but Aki Ross was a big hero, and blackening her reputation in the Council, even with his contacts there, would be difficult.
What he needed was to bring them down now. If only he could command the Phantoms to attack their ship…
A noise outside the door of his office interrupted him, and he listened with shock at what sounded like a gurgling choke, then the fall of a body to the floor. Before Ryder could draw his weapon, the door was forced open and Ash stood before him, green eyes blazing and teeth pulled back in a vicious snarl. Ryder felt the blood drain from his face.
"I want them," Ash snarled, his fingers clenching with rage until the knuckles were white. "They took her! I want her back. I want to hurt them!"
Perhaps all wasn't lost after all. "I want to find them, too," General Ryder said cautiously. "Perhaps we can help each other."
Ryder could almost feel the rage radiating from Ash, but the man seemed willing to listen. "Help me find them," Ash demanded.
"Of course," Ryder smiled. If he could get organized quickly enough, then there was still a chance they could catch Dr. Ross and her Deep Eyes squad before everything fell apart.
* * *
Aki woke with a choked scream, and pushed herself into a sitting position, scrambling backwards to escape the sheet's unwanted caress. The pain from her sudden movements hit her, and she fought to control her nausea. She lost the battle and leaned over the edge of the narrow bunk, vomiting up the contents of her stomach.
Then she sank back onto the bed, trembling. Her breath came out in whimpers, and her heart beat sounded loud in her ears. Her eyes were wide with fear as she searched her cabin for her tormenter
(He's gone… you're safe,) a soothing voice whispered into her mind. Aki didn't believe it. The voice had also told her everything would be all right, and she knew that to be a lie.
(You're aboard your ship, with your friends. You're going somewhere where people can help you,) the voice told her. (You're safe.)
Safe? No, no we're not all safe. Dr. Sid… She could still see his twisted body, and the look of horror frozen on his face. Was he safe? No! He was dead! Killed by her torturer!
By the man she'd once loved more than life itself… Tears poured down her bandaged cheeks, drenching the gauze taped beneath her eyes. She lifted one hand, bound so thickly it was more of a club than a hand, and clumsily brushed at them.
(I'm sorry.) The voice was genuinely regretful. (There's nothing I can do for him. I can only help where there is still life. Some things are beyond me. You are almost beyond my help; I couldn't even assist your friends against Project Ash because I was concentrating my energies on healing you.)
Aki lowered her hand, frowning. The voice in head, the madness that spoke to her, was beginning to sound like more than a figment of her imagination. Who are you? she asked tentatively.
(The Phoenix. I'm you're friend,) the voice said softly, as though uncertain this was true. She seemed to be waiting for Aki to condemn her… or accept her.
What if I don't want you? Aki thought sharply.
(If I leave now, you will likely die. You've managed to block all outside attempts of healing you, so only something from within can help.) The gentle mind voice faltered. (You wish to die, don't you?)
Death. She'd cheated it so many times in her life. Did she really want it? Yes! Then she thought for a moment, recalling Ash's demonic features. But I wish to give him the same, first.
(Vengeance,) the voice said sadly.
Freedom, Aki corrected. Gray shouldn't have to live that way. He… he'd want to die, rather than become… that.
The Phoenix was a silent presence in the back of her mind as she considered this. (I understand… when a man becomes a monster, perhaps death is kinder.) There was almost a strangled note to her voice, then her presence withdrew from Aki's mind, leaving her alone again.
Aki dismissed thoughts about the Phoenix as she considered her new objective. There had to be a way to bring down Ash, preferably before her brought his magic into play.
As she lost herself in the dilemma, she became less aware of the pain that racked her body. With her awareness focused elsewhere, the Phoenix was able to continue her job.
Aki would always bear the scars that disfigured her body and shadowed her mind, but the Phoenix was determined that Aki would soon have full use of her body.
Because she could sense Ash's presence, miles behind them, but gaining. He was following them.
* * *
The man who answered Ryan's call was understandably irritable; it was almost the middle of the night, after all, and he'd probably been involved in Council business all day.
"The Council has called it a day," the man said sharply, "and most of them will be in bed by now."
Ryan was at a loss, having never really been concerned with Council business before. Major Elliot was keeping his ravaged form out of sight, though he was there to offer advice. "Push him. This is important."
The major had said very little since he'd learned his commanding officer still lived inside of Neil. Ryan really didn't need another potentially explosive situation right now…
"I have very important information for the Council," Ryan said again, slowly to be certain the other understood.
"It can keep until morning, Sergeant," the man said. Apparently, he didn't think anyone of such a low rank could possibly have anything worthwhile to say. Ryan wondered where they'd dug up this idiot. Messages could be delivered by any rank!
"There is a traitor in the USMF," Ryan blurted out. "He could be on his way right now to attack." Would Ryder attack the Council? Ryan wasn't sure what the man had planned, but he had a lot of firepower under his control, and a gathering of important military officers would be an excellent place to test them. Would he go that far, though? His motives had sounded good, even if his methods… No. Anyone who'd drop a barrier as a means to an end wasn't to be trusted.
What does that say about Neil? Ryan brushed away the concern as he met the other man's holographic image.
The man stared blankly for a moment. "Is this true?" he asked finally.
"I have a recording to prove it." Edited, of course, to omit Neil/Hein's breakdown. "Please, let me speak to Councilwoman Hee." It had been Major Elliot's suggestion to talk to Hee; Drake was close to the military, and may not have been trustworthy.
The screen went blank as they were placed on hold, and Ryan waited tensely. Major Elliot looked too calm, Ryan thought as he met the older man's gaze. How did he manage it?
There was a burst of static, then Councilwoman Hee appeared, her eyes bleary and her hair rumpled. "This had better be important," she said, her weary voice tinged with impatience.
"Councilwoman," Ryan said, straightening and standing in a respectful near-attention pose. "We have evidence that General Ryder is a traitor and that he plans to use the people of New York for his own gain. I have testimony from Major Boyer – "
"Excuse me, sergeant," the woman said, looking confused, "but what are you talking about? What people from New York?"
Ryan's heart seemed to stop. What the hell? "Those who were returned," he began cautiously.
"Do you mean the refugees from the fall?" Now Hee looked irritated. "Sergeant, what is the meaning of this? General Ryder is a respected military leader, unlike others I could name. While he did assist the refugees in finding cities to take them in, I assure you he had nothing to gain from this."
"You don't know, do you?" Ryan was dumbstruck. "You don't know anything about New York!"
"What about New York?" the woman asked. Hee's face was torn between exasperation and confusion.
"When Dr. Ross came to New York because of a distress call she received, she found much of the population had been restored to life, myself and my squad included," Ryan said softly. "General Ryder knew of this, and so did Councilman Drake."
Councilwoman Hee looked skeptical. "You have proof of this?"
"Yes," Ryan said simply.
"I think you should tell me the whole story, Sergeant," she said finally. "I've been hearing some bad things about Dr. Ross that have me suspicious. I think the Council may have a traitor in their midst as well."
To Be Continued…