Three Weeks Later… September, 1860
It was raining, as Duran had predicted it would. The skies were eerily dark while lightning flashed and thunder clapped in the great skies above. Thus was the liberating setting to a dying grassland world. However, despite how starved the world was for rain, it made an eerie feeling creep about the coats of Werner Maxwell and Dr. Duran Feld as they rode in a horse drawn carriage through the lonely, desolate rocky mountain paths that lead to the Little Rock Asylum for the Clinically Insane. It was a tall, large building of the archaic gothic design, resembling something of an ancient castle sitting atop a cliff's edge, overlooking the restless sea below. It was nightfall, and only a few of the lights could be seen through the windows of the place. What force could ever drive a man to this place of restless minds and lunacy was beyond all comprehension.
The ceaseless toil of the rain sloshed about the carriage exterior, creating a constant noise. The carriage rolled back and forth as the horses' lead it up the mountain path, sending the pool of light created by the swinging lantern to shine upon one end of the carriage and then the next. Werner had to read his notes in short spurts as he awaited the shine for the lantern to come upon him, whilst Duran smoked his cherry wood pipe in content.
"Seems like something out of a dime novel, eh Werner?" Duran finally broke the long silence.
"A stormy night as a carriage raced a long the lonely mountain path to an insane asylum? It would appear so." Werner replied as the light left him.
"Yes, I thought so as well." Duran continued to inhale the cherry flavored smoke. "What Abram-awful mind would rest in a house such as the one we are about to come upon?"
"The brilliant mind of one Dr. Malik Benedict." Werner responded, quickly snatching a sentence while the light shone upon his notes.
"I still advise against this, Werner. We already have a member who has a history of short spurts of insanity. Why must we have two?"
"Because, Dr. Benedict's forte is archaic technology. Yggdrassil would be right up his ally. No other mind of Filgaia knows what his does."
"That is what I'm worried about. There's a reason why people are locked up in places such as these! Have you ever been to a Sylvaland insane asylum before? These people are much more like the beasts out in the wild then human beings. First it was an anti-Filgaian state and now a loon house. Sometimes I think you're trying to kill us, Werner. Sometimes I really do…"
"…And sometimes I believe your nothing more than a paranoid old man, Duran. According to these records, He admitted himself in. If that's the case, than I don't think there's anything to worry about."
"How so?"
"Crazy people don't actually believe there crazy, Duran. Only those who can't make sense of their lives anymore sign themselves in."
Duran thought for a moment, taking in a breath of cherry. "Still, I'm sure it could be worse. At least it isn't an institute for the criminally insane."
"If it were, we wouldn't have time to fetch him. He'd be a mindless lab rat by the time we got there." Werner replied.
"There you go with your liberal thinking again…" Duran chuckled a bit. "Still, of all the people…"
Thunder continued to roll across the skies and the rain did continue to fall as the carriage rolled through the twin iron gates and the several armed guards that stood by. The carriage horses trotted to the front steps and stopped, allowing the horse driver to hop off and attend to the carriage door. He opened the door as lightning flashed outside, illuminating the great dark asylum before them. Duran, being closest the door, swallowed and fetched the umbrella from underneath his seat. He hadn't brought anything with him, as it was only a one-day excursion. It least, that's how it was planned. The mountain pass proved much more difficult to traverse in the rain, and nightfall had overcome them much sooner than originally anticipated. But details, aside, Duran thrust open the umbrella out the door and was helped down by the horseman. Duran was old, and needed help every now and then. Werner hopped out quickly, stuffing his notes in his coat pocket and allowing the broad rawhide beaten up hat to take the rain for him. The horseman shook their hands as he received payment and began and wished the men the best of luck. Duran watched him climb back up the carriage and snap the reigns, indicating that the horses were leaving. They wouldn't be back until sometime the next day.
"Well, here we are." Duran stated, pushing his pipe back into his breast pocket.
"Indeed. Let's go in…" Werner then began walking up the large stone staircase before the magnificent building, leaving Duran in the courtyard for a moment to ponder the consequences. Duran was about to make one last protest before a large searchlight powered on and began searching the courtyard, along with the barks of several ruthless dogs. That was all that was needed to motivate Dr. Feld to climb those stairs and catch up with his buddy.
The vestibule didn't provide too much comfort from the eerie mood. The floor was of a black and white checkerboard pattern, and had apparently been devoid of a good sweep in some time, as caked mud and dust sat about her unchecked. The walls arched up, as if in a cathedral, disappearing into a blackness that was shown only when lightning flashed outside the barred, colorless windows high atop the walls. A front desk sat a way away, down a small flight of stairs and through a pair of armed guards, who sat on chairs half-asleep. The maniacal cries and sheer laughs of the insane not only were made prevalent through the architecture, but were heard from the dark recesses of the room. Several iron doors lined the walls, all leading into different hallways to different wings. Werner was a bit unnerved, but would not allow it to show. What he sought could be found here, and he wouldn't sway from his course due to a bit of paranoia.
"Werner! Duran!" Came an all too familiar voice. The two scientists looked to their right and down the small flight of stairs to see little miss Koge running up to them. "I see you've made it!"
"Koge? By Abram, what on Filgaia are you doing here?" Werner asked, a bit shocked.
"Dr. Enduro sent me after you. He said he didn't want any kind of harm to come across you through- and I quote- the diabolical tongues of the staff." Koge bowed as she reached them.
"It would appear Elliot has had a run in with this place before…" Werner smiled.
"Perhaps it would be best if we didn't speak of Elliot anymore here. It already unnerves me so just to think of gaining one mentally unstable member…" Duran's eyes darted back and forth as he slipped on his spectacles. He would be on his guard.
"Duran, your lack of faith in the human race always makes me smile." Werner patted his friend on the shoulder. "Koge, do you know where the headmaster is? He was supposed to meet us, but we ran a bit late due to the storm."
Koge put a finger to her lip in thought and replied happily. "Ah, the headmaster should be at his office! We could summon him by talking to the people at the front desk!" Koge turned behind her, but found the front desk lacking any kind of staff at the moment. "Or not…"
"I don't know about you." Duran cleared his throat. "But I, for one, am not very keen on the idea of wandering these halls aimlessly in this hour of the night."
"Yes, it wouldn't be very smart, would it?" Werner thought.
Koge trotted off a bit to the half asleep guard, sitting in the chair, Springfield in his hands. She gently nudged him until he came to. "Excuse me sir, but do you know where the headmaster is?"
"Ah shit. I fell asleep again…" The guard cursed as he stood up, stretching. "Hey Tom! Wake up!" The guard shouted to the other guard sitting across from him.
"I'm up, I'm up." Tom groaned as he awoke.
"The Headmaster?" The first guard thought for a moment, answering Koge's question. "I'll summon him for you." The guard walked over to the front desk, where a panel of several buttons sat. They were all telephone wires that connected to different parts of the building. He pressed a certain one, knowing that on the other side of the line, a buzzer was going off. He looked to Koge and rubbed his eyes. "He should be here any moment."
'Any moment', as the guard has said, turned into several long moments, one half-hour worth of those moments. Duran, Werner, and Koge sat on the dirty vestibule steps, awaiting the man in question. Koge had fallen asleep herself, being a terrible hour in the night, and Duran was about to doze off to until they heard a door open. Werner looked up to see a man walking the second floor balcony, coming to a staircase that lead down into the large room. He was a middle-aged man, somewhere around fifty, with the remnants of blonde hair and green eyes. He had a square chin and a tight frown, most likely a result from his line of work. He was dressed in a black suit with a white bow tie and walking stick. An armed guard walked with him. Werner shook Duran, alerting the old scientist, as well as waking up Koge. The three stood up as the man came to greet them.
The man's frown turned into a small smile as he extended a hand to Werner for a handshake. "I'm so sorry for this. I guess I fell asleep. I thought you'd be here sooner."
"Well, we were supposed to, before the storm hit." Werner replied. "I'm Dr. Werner Maxwell, from the Committee to recruit members for the Council of Seven."
"I was never aware we had such a name…" Duran thought to himself.
"Ah, yes. I'm Dr. Mattias Benedict, Ph.D, and headmaster of this institution. At least you arrived safely. I know these mountain passes can be tricky for the unacquainted." The man introduced himself.
"That is the purpose for these paths, to keep the patients in the area, am I correct?" Duran asked as he received Mattais' hand.
"Correct. And you must be Dr. Duran Feld?" Mattias asked.
"Correct Doctor." Duran smiled.
"I knew your wife, a lady Tiffany Bryant. How is she doing these days?" Mattias tapped his walking stick against the floor.
"We've been divorced for some fifteen years, as I wouldn't have a clue." Duran looked at the muddy floor.
"…I'm terribly sorry. Please accept my apologies."
"Oh there's nothing to worry about." Duran gave a false smile. "What's done is done. We should get to business."
"Yes, that we should." Mattias agreed. "But first, who is this charming young lady?" Mattias asked as he glanced at Koge. The girl stood silent, as when this happened with Dr. Enduro, it was always he who introduced her.
"…She is Koge, our assistant." Werner introduced the girl. "Now, is it too late to meet your son, Malik?"
Koge was relieved that the attention had left her. She wasn't fond of this man for some strange reason. Mattias turned to Werner, tapping his cane. "Not at all! He's been eagerly awaiting your arrival! But first, let me give you a tour of the institution! We here at Little Rock Asylum for the Mentally Impaired are quite proud of it. At one time in history, this building was a castle for the great Lord Benjamin Blazer!"
"He was insane himself too, was he not?" Werner raised an eyebrow.
"Well, some say he went insane, and others believe it otherwise. It really is up to the historian to decide." Mattias nodded. "But I can safely say that he is not here anymore. This castle became a possession of the government after the Sylvaland Acquisition about a hundred years ago, but during the Slayheim Liberation attempt, the government sold it to us back in 1841."
"This is all incredibly fascinating, but I would at least like to wait for morning to take a tour of the castle, if you don't mind." Duran interrupted.
Mattias raised a thin eyebrow. "You can rest assured, Dr. Feld, that our patients won't attack you in the dark. We have our staff of nurses on call twenty-four hours a day, as well as plenty of armed guards and dogs. No one has escaped from this institution in well over thirteen months!"
Mattias' gesture didn't seem to work, as Duran was still very much unnerved. Werner stepped forward. "If you please, Mattias, we'd simply like to speak with Malik. That was the reason we've come so far."
Mattias seemed taken aback by this. His eyes narrowed a bit and he tapped his white walking stick once more. "All right. If that is how it is, then so be it. I will show you the way."
"Thank you." Werner promptly thanked the man. He could tell that he had somehow offended him, but he wasn't here for charity or to bring federal funds. He was here to speak to Malik, and that was that.
** *
Mattias was an easily angered man, and revenge was often a dish he served. And so it was that he personally led them, along with his armed escorts, through the most dangerous hall he could possible think of. The hall was dark and narrow, and the inhabitants thoroughly and dangerously insane. It appeared more along the lines of a prison than of any sort of medical institution, where men and women, incredibly ill and deformed, braced themselves against the iron bar doors, reaching between the bars and attempting to grasp and claw those who walked the halls. The guards repeatedly beat the hands back with the butts of their rifle class ARMs, increasing the shrieks and moans that echoes throughout the hallway.
Duran was on the verge of going crazy himself with fright. He clutched onto Werner, who walked before him. "Are you SURE this is the only way?!"
"Quite positive, Dr. Feld." Mattias replied, not showing any signs of emotion as his guards continued to keep him free of insane hands.
"Is Malik in this kind of shape?" Werner asked, thoroughly disgusted by the human beings he saw trying to touch him.
Thunder boomed across the heavens outside, adding to the shrieks and moans. "Malik is nowhere near this kind of shape, Dr. Maxwell."
Koge shrieked herself as a hand clawed at her uniform, trying to tear it away. Werner and Duran grabbed onto her, keeping her away as the guards beat the pair of hands into submission. Werner looked into Koge's frightened eyes. "Are you O.K, Koge?"
"Yea. Let's just get out of here." Koge panted.
Mattias smiled.
** *
It was through several more of these halls and events that Mattias lead them to a staircase, taking them down from the levitated heights of the castle to the bottom, more moderate floors. They reached what appeared to be a penned in meeting room, a short table with several chairs around it, surrounded by wire fencing. A nurse unlocked the door as Koge and Duran stepped in. Werner stood out for a moment, wishing to speak with Mattias Benedict.
"Mattias, what exactly is wrong with Malik?" Werner asked. Werner had read his records and knew, but for some reason he wanted to know what his own father would say.
Mattias looked around a bit before answering. He sighed and looked at Werner. "Malik suffers from severe adult depression syndrome. He's attempted suicide more than once and has cases of self-mutilation. He's obsessed with death and the process of dying. …He admitted himself to our institution some three or four years ago. He was a very remarkable scientist, a leader in his field. But he began to break down until he found he could no longer work…"
"I'm no psychiatrist." Werner began, pulling out his notes from his pocket. "But his records also sate a case of adult Oedipus complex. His mother died in the war twenty years ago, am I right?"
"…Yes…" Mattias looked to the floor.
"Well then, is it correct to assume all of these conditions stemmed from the loss of his mother? Was his mother very close to him at a young age?"
"Why don' you ask him for yourself." Mattias looked to Werner once more. "Here he comes." He pointed his walking stick down the hall, and Werner glanced in the direction.
A guard was escorting what appeared to be a young man, most likely in his mid to late twenties. His hair, like his father, was blonde, and his eyes an emerald green. His skin was fair and he was wrapped in white, baggy clothes, most likely a patient uniform. His expression was a smile that most women would simply adore. A bit of a mystery indeed for one clinically diagnosed with severe depression.
"Well, I suppose it's time you start your meeting." Mattias tapped his walking stick against the wire mesh of the pen. Werner nodded and stepped inside, taking a seat as Malik was brought in. One guard walked in as well as the other two locked it and stood guard. Mattias began to walk away, leaving Duran a bit confused.
"And you must be Dr. Werner Maxwell!" Malik smiled as he leaned in his chair. "The all-too famous recruiter for the Council of Seven! Now, what brings you here to my humble abode?"
It was hard to tell if Malik was joking with them or being quite serious. He had a drugged up look in his eyes. This caused Werner to raise his own eyebrows. "That I am. And you're Dr. Malik Benedict, archeology and physics."
"That I am, that I am. Or was. As you can see now, I'm as crazy as a critter!" Malik propped his feet up across the end of the table.
"Normally, people hold high esteem for the Council, and being considered for a position is a huge honor." Duran stated, clasping his hands together.
Malik reached into his pant pockets and retrieved an envelope. It was the letter that the Leyline Committee had sent several weeks' back, one letter of introduction and news of consideration. "It is a huge honor, Dr. Feld, but I can safely tell you that I am no longer am able to work. I am 'clinically depressed' and am not suitable for the real world."
"What makes you think this?" Werner asked, leaning closer to Malik.
Malik shifted his weight in the chair, taking his legs down and leaning in on Werner. "Because it's what my records say."
Werner looked to Duran, who shrugged in reply.
"Your records say you can't work outside this asylum?" Koge asked. "That's ridiculous."
"On the contrary." Malik smiled. "We live in a world ruled by records. Red tape, treaties, papers, laws, bills, passes, riders, committees, sub-committees, senates, and houses! Our entire existence depends on our papers, and if our papers are to become smudged with such trivial things as 'clinically depressed' then we are no longer fit to live in such a fabricated world, then we are sifted out from society and into asylums and penitentiaries."
"But you can still work out side?! It's not over until you say it's over." Koge stated.
"You headed the Welles Island Research Center, did you not?" Duran asked.
"Welles Island. I sure did. The place where we studied all of the findings of the other Council's. That place sure was great…" Malik replied.
"Why did you quit, then?" Koge asked. "Why did you admit yourself here if it was so great?"
"Because of your own pet project, right?" Werner asked.
Malik raised an eyebrow. "And how do you know about that?"
"I was sure to interview several of the other department heads at Welles Island." Werner said as he put down several papers on the table. "Your pet project eventually drove you to a nervous break down."
"Pet project?" Duran asked. "Werner, if we are to be a team, you should at least tell me the information you find."
"What are you talking about Werner." Koge asked.
"Malik, maybe it would help you if you told us. You practically built Welles Island by your own hands…" Werner looked to the blonde man.
"Yes… yes I did." Malik put a hand to his chin in thought. "Welles Island was a data analysis center, where researchers would process the thousands and thousands of notes that the other thirty three Councils had created. We would analyze, identify, and sort the notes depending on their usefulness and category. This is where almost everything known about Yggdrassil comes from."
":And then you'd know almost everything about Yggdrassil yourself…" Duran theorized.
"Yes. That's true. However, one day, I came upon a remarkable piece of information. It was a system that worked off memories, the Yggdrassil power system. However, I theorized it could have other potentials besides power. Such as bringing back memories for those who have lost theirs due to Alzheimer's, accidents, or…" Malik trailed off.
"Death." Werner stated.
"Death?" Koge questioned.
"Yes, death." Malik sighed. "You see, my mother was a saint. My father was always away on business, so therefore, my mother and I were always together, alone. She was pure, innocent, untainted. So saintly was she that she volunteered to be a nurse in the Slayheim War. She was killed from a stray cannonball. I… I was a young boy, all alone in the world, with nothing left. Years later, after I had gone through school and the universities, I found myself establishing Welles Island with a grant from the government. I enlisted the top scientists to aid me with my research analysis. That is when I found the memory program. From there, I used Dr. Enduro's cloning system to bring back my mother. I'd save her from the icy fingers of the afterlife, pull her from death's cold grip!"
"By Abram…" Duran whispered.
"Yes, it wall going well. Until I attempted to use the memory system to restore her memories. But it wouldn't work. No, nothing worked. I tried and tried again, using my own brain waves as a power source, but nothing would work! That is when I so called 'went mad' and destroyed my laboratory and admitted myself here. I no longer wish to think of my mother, just the life she gave me." Malik finished.
"Malik, I believe we have a use for you, and it's only you that can help Yggdrassil work. We can clear your records and get you on the team, where you can fulfill your potential that your mother gave you." Werner said.
"So I can save the world? So I can save the feuding forces that dwell upon this planet, only to destroy more lives as they come? Why would I wish to do that?" Malik replied.
"… Because that's what your mother did. She believed in people, so she went to try and save them." Koge said.
Malik was quiet for a bit. "My mother was a saint… and now you say I should follow her path, and help people?"
"Only the Council of Seven can save Filgaia and everyone on it…" Koge stated.
"I don't believe your mother would approve of your current life, wasting away in your own misery. You should do something with your life and help people." Werner smiled.
"…All right. If you can get me out of this place, then I'm your man." Malik grinned.
"Your knowledge will be most useful." Werner grinned back.
"Werner, a moment please." Duran beckoned. Werner leaned over to Duran, who began whispering. "I'm sure his knowledge of Yggdrassil's systems is quite amazing, but are you sure that a man with so many mental disturbances can lead a department of men and women to save Filgaia?"
"I'm quite sure." Werner whispered back.
"What will the Leyline Committee say? Berlitz worked at Welles Island himself. We have to get approval from him as well, and he may not have fond memories of Malik." Duran continued.
"This isn't something personal. He'll get over it." Werner continued as well. "I have faith in him."
Duran sighed. "I'm glad someone does. But still, how do you propose battling the senate?"
"We'll cross that bridge when we get there…" Werner smiled and patted his friend on the shoulder. "We'll be fine."
"I certainly hope so." Duran adjusted his glasses.
"Well? What's the consensus?" Malik smiled.
Duran cleared his throat. "A man of your…'talents' would be greatly appreciated. As far as I'm concerned…" Duran glanced to Werner. "I'm for it."
"Thanks a lot Dr. Feld." Malik grinned. "I'll be as useful as I can."
"Is that it?" Koge asked.
Werner shifted through the paperwork on the table, looking for a certain one. Pleased, he pulled it out and presented it before Malik. "All you need to do is sign this."
"Shouldn't we clear him from this asylum first?" Duran asked.
"We're the government, right? What we says goes." Werner winked to his friend.
"If only it were that easy…" Duran mumbled.
Malik finished signing his name. Dr. Malik Benedict. "I feel… like I'm opening a new chapter in my life."
"I think it's the same for all of us." Werner nodded. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we should retire for the night."
"Thank Abram. Who knows what hour it is?" Duran moaned.
The guards unlocked the door as Werner stood up. Koge bowed before Malik before leaving as Duran exited. Malik placed his feet atop the table and reclined in his chair. He had a good feeling.
"We'll be back." Werner said before leaving.
"That you will, doctor." Malik nodded.
** *