By: Nightelfcrawler & Amai
Author's note: We're insane
Chapter Nine: Eden
Remi was breathing hard, looking very uncomfortable and pale as they burst through the crackling energy that made up the shield around the Apostle city, but stood up and was instantly at the wheel nonetheless, steering them away as the ship zoomed out of range before the other ships knew what had happened.
Joshua slowly opened his eyes, looking up, a bit overwhelmed. What... had... just... happened..... Azmaria gave a tiny sigh as her wings disappeared, flopping her head lightly on Chrno's chest as she panted heavily. "Did we just...?" She glanced out into the blackness of space and back at the rapidly disappearing planet.
Remi stood up, glancing over the crew, counting quickly. "Everyone accounted for?" Stella poked her head out from below deck to answer as the ones who were conscious gave a annoyed moan as a answer.
The captain was still clutched tightly onto Joshua, her face pressed to his neck and her breath warm against his throat, as she trembled a bit violently, the holy energy still leaving tingles along her arms. Joshua slowly let his wings die away, still holding her tightly to him. They were... off the planet.... he'd never been off the planet without his escort before.... he was a bit spooked, and a bit excited at the same time, and glanced around with wide eyes.
Remi sighed and slowly made his way back down, and over to his captain. "Rosette...?" He knelt down and put a soft hand on her shoulder.
She flinched a bit, but looked up, and she kept hugging onto Joshua, still half unable to believe that he wasn't her beloved brother. "Uh yeah....I'm....ok..." She said softly, hiding her face in the prince's neck once more, still shaken from the guards' attempt to rape her. Ugh... she felt sick and healthy at the same time, tired and light-headed, while extremely heavy and distant…damn that holy energy.
Remi gave her a once over then nodded and stood up glancing at the confused boy holding her close. "I'm afraid you're stuck with us for now.... though they'll no doubt want us twice as much for that..." He chuckled a bit, then glanced over at the pale girl who looked just as startled.
She looked up at him, her eyes faint as she rested her forehead on Chrno's chest, her pale hair floating about the two of them. "Ah... Mother is going to be angry..." She didn't mind as much, her hands tight on the demon's shoulders, worried at his state. Chrno was laying in her arms, shivering a little bit, as his own blood from the blackened burns on his back, and the three leaking holy bullet wounds continued to drain his life.
Remi walked over to the apostle girl and peered down carefully at her, sighing a bit, then knelt down and felt Chrno's pulse lightly with two fingers, as the boy's eyes flickered up at him. The first mate's eyes widened sharply, and he took him quickly from her. "You two, help Rosette for now." He ordered, before turning and vanishing down the stairs at a dead run.
Finally as the tremors disappeared, Rosette released Joshua, sliding back with an apologetic look, and upon hearing Remington get up and Azmaria's sharp call of Chrno's name, her expression turned worried. "What...?"
Joshua looked up and a flash of guilt crossed his face as he remembered the whole battle briefly before the chaos of plunging through the barrier. "That demon... it was him wasn't it?"
She nodded a bit, still half-pinned under his legs and unable to go after Chrno, not that she could, seeing that no one was steering the ship, and she hugged him tightly, reassuringly. "Its ok, though, you didn't know."
His eyes teared up as he gazed at her, guilt plaguing him. "I'm sorry... I didn't know... I wouldn't have... if " He bit his lip and looked down, truly crushed.
She shook her head again, pulling his neck down so that she could press her cheek to his, murmuring soft assurances into his ear, stroking his soft hair. "I know you were trying to save me, thank you. I'm sure he'll be ok."
He wrapped his arms tightly around her, and burst into tears, clinging tightly. "Sister.... " he whimpered, out of simple instinct, without knowing he was doing it.
Rosette stiffened, her breath cutting off as she hit the deck with a solid thunk, and her eyes widened, hugging him as she suddenly joined him in the tears, sobbing over the brother she missed, and wanted to believe so much that she had found him once more.
Down below, Remi kicked open the engine room door and stomped down with the boy in his arms. "Elder. Bullet extraction, immediately."
The Elder blinked, staring at the demon's shivering form before making a low sound in his throat and rushed into his lab, seeking out the tools needed. "Dear God, what got at him?"
Remi laid him down, face down, making sure his head was propped up so he could breathe, and tore the rest of what remained from his shirt off, showing how badly hit his back was, the wings gone, the braid a tattered crispy remains and the three throbbing red swollen holes in his torso had veins stretching out like spider webs all over his skin. "I'm guessing... a testament or three." He said grimly. If that were the case... there was nothing they could to save him... only prolong his death and make him comfortable.
The Elder's eyes widened, and he cursed a bit, snagging his messy bed, and dragged it into a deeper part of the room. "I'm going into surgery, I'll need a steady pair of hands so get Stella, You...should break the news to Rosette... She trusts you the most..." He stated as he pulled on a pair of gloves, snapping them and spreading a solve over the demon's back.
Remi nodded solemnly, glancing over at the small cross still dangling around the demon's neck. Irony at best... He sighed and gave Chrno's hand a small squeeze, which was returned lightly, to his surprise, as he turned and walked back up the stairs.
The captain finally stopped her tears, hugging Joshua to her tightly, before rubbing his back soothingly, and set him up back into a sitting position, placing her hand on his cheek. "Better now?"
He hiccupped a bit but nodded, and glanced up at her, wiping his eyes a bit. "Yeah... it's just... a lot to take in at once."
She nodded, wiping away his tears lightly. "... you really are a lot like my brother... always crying." She smiled a bit, cleaning her own eyes as she helped him stand.
He smiled a bit and stood up, rubbing his eyes. "Really? What was he like?"
She smiled softly, looking distant. "He was sweet, cheerful, had a horrible talent for Astral boarding, he cried a lot, but when he needed to be he could be the strongest person I knew, and he never gave up even with his health complications..." Tears were threatening again.
He blinked at her and hugged her lightly. "Oh... did he die?"
Soft footsteps came up behind her, as Remi paused watching the two, then glanced over to check on Azumaria. Two royal apostles. Yes, they were definitely in trouble now.
She went to open her mouth, but turned a bit as she looked over at Remington, fighting away the tears. "Ah... Yuan... is Chrno alright?"
The First Mate glanced back over at her and then sighed lightly and lowered his gaze. "Rosette. We need to talk."
She stopped rubbing one eye, her small smile fading as she gulped a bit, pulling from Joshua's arms, a bit afraid. "... What is it?"
He took her aside and put a hand on her shoulder lowering his voice. "I don't have to remind you what Testament bullets do... Chrno was hit by three of them."
She stiffened, her breath catching a bit in her lungs before she nodded, holding back a ragged breath. "No... is there any way to..."
He shook his head slowly, eyes closing. "The Elder has him in surgery with Stella... he can buy him time, but that's all." His blue eyes opened and fixed her with a sad look reflected back. He knew she was fond of him, and to tell the truth, so was he, he was a good kid.... "We have to decide what to do now... let him suffer for a few more days of life, or end his pain."
She shuttered a bit, closing her eyes as she centered herself, opening them again so that they were guarded, forcing up a damage shield. "I'm going to see him... and then I'll make a decision..." She said softly, pressing a hand to the clock, "Set a course for open space, and try and find out what you can about... Eden... I'll be back."
"Eden?" He asked, blinking in surprise. What the heck was..? "Very well..." His eyes followed her as she vanished down the stairs into the hold.
Rosette slowly made her way down below, her breath short and ragged as she tried to control herself, the thought that because of her Chrno was going to die tearing her heart in two, before she slowly opened the door to the surgery, watching as Stella and the Elder looked up at her.
There wasn't time of course to knock a demon out, considering special drugs were required, so Chrno's eyes were still half-open, but his fists were clenched and his mouth a thin line of silence as he bore it without flinching. But as she entered, he sensed her presence, and his eyes flickered to the side.
"How is he?" The captain asked in a very low voice, stepping over to place her hand into his, eyes tearing up despite herself at the sight of his back. His hand clung to her lightly, relaxing a little and a faint smile flickering across his face. There were also three gems inlayed on his forehead now, and his ears were fully elongated.
"It depends...." The Elder answered, his eyes flickering to the three remains of the bullets that had been in Chrno's form, now laying on a tray to the side. "The Testaments may be out, but their power is spreading through his system. At least the holy burns were righted by the solvent in time..." He seemed sad, "There's a very thin margin, Rosette, and it will be very painful for him..."
She let out a slightly shuttering breath, kneeling down next to the demon, not once letting go of his hand as she pressed a hand to his cheek. "How do you feel?"
He seemed to be half-listening, as an ear flicked lightly, and his gaze lifted up to her and he smiled faintly. "I'm ok... I'm sure... it'll work out."
She turned her head and forced back her tears, breathing in raggedly before she kissed his hand, tears splashing on his hand. "Do what ever you have to do to save him, Elder."
The elder nodded sadly. "Very well. I'll do what I can."
He held onto her hand tighter, afraid she might leave, as he looked up at her with veiled eyes. "Did... we save them? Stella, Yuan and the others? Is Joshua ok...? And Azu...?"
She nodded, forcing back the tears. "Yes. We saved them all." She brushed his bangs back, rubbing her thumb on his cheek, afraid that he would leave her in another way. "Is there anything I can get you?"
He just smiled and shook his head lightly, his eyes slipping closed as his hand tightened against hers. "No.... I'm fine....as long as everyone's safe."
She let out a low curse, squeezing his hand again in faint agony over the fact that she couldn't do anything once again, hearing the old man made a small low sound as he pressed a needle into Chrno's other wrist, filling it with the dark liquid.
His body jerked a little as the Elder injected whatever it was he put in, and his eyes started to droop, though he looked like he wanted to fight it to stay awake.
"Chrno my boy, stay awake." The Elder insisted, rubbing the mark that he had just made, "This'll slow down the poison, but if you go to sleep..."
That made Rosette nearly frantic, as she rubbed his hand soothingly, trying to keep him awake. "Come on, Chrno, talk to me. What do you want to do most in the world, I'll do it for you."
He made a small noise in his throat, and forced his eyes open, trying to do as the Elder said, his heart pounding hard as he felt a coldness trying to claim him. He brought his gaze onto hers, focusing on her bright eyes, were they filled with tears...? For him...? why....? "Do most....?" He asked softly, almost dreamily. "See the worlds.... fall in love.... watch shooting stars...... go swimming...."
She gave a soft whimper, her heart feeling like it was going to tear in two. "Ok. I'll take you wherever you want, we can go swimming at the most beautiful Astral springs I know of, the entire planet is covered in them, makes you feel like you're in heaven. The asteroid showers are normal there too, that's two birds with one stone..." She choked up on the falling in love part, "I can't... fall in love for you... but..." She whimpered a bit, "Anything else, just ask..."
He just smiled and squeezed her hand a little more, with a small sigh. "You've already.... done so much for me... I couldn't be happier... really..."
The Elder cursed a bit, flicking his needle a bit. "Damn..." He looked desperate. "In this form, he doesn't have any of his natural demonic enzymes to fight off the Testament. If we could loosen the seal maybe... but without it..." He checked Chrno's pulse which was slowing.
Chrno just smiled lightly, not seeming to really be aware of the danger, just comforted that Rosette was near and within sight. The runes at the back of his neck were unmarred thankfully, and were throbbing a bit almost as if corroborating the Elder's theory.
Rosette whimpered a bit, brushing her tears from her eyes before giving his hand a tight squeeze before leaning over and pressing a soft kiss to his lips, hers trembling against his slightly cold ones. "Hang on ok? Promise me? This might hurt a bit."
He just murmured something quietly, more of a mumble than anything, not really in a position to refuse anything. Off to the side, the door opened, and Remi stood there quietly watching, with Joshua poking his head in, looking worried.
She released his hand, stepping slightly out of his vision, and carefully turned the knob on her wrist band, praying to all that was holy that he'd be ok.
There was a small spark from the watch, as the gears groaned trying to snap all the way open. On the table, his body shuddered and shimmered, an illusion of his older self shining through, fading, shining through a bit more, fading, as if fighting to wrest control. It had been such a short time since the thing had been opened previously, but considering this was life or death, it had to be done. Finally, with a small crackle at the clock and at the rune at his neck, his form wavered before stopping in it's full form, his eyes closed, but breathing obviously easier.
She quickly moved to his side, pressing a hand to his cheek. "Chrno? Can you hear me?"
His eyes flickered once, then opened, focusing on her slowly, before an almost awed look crossed his face. "Wow...."
She blinked a bit, wrinkling her eyebrows up. "Wow? Chrno?" His eyes were still wide and almost childish in nature, with an almost stunned reflection in his gaze as he stared back at her. She began to get a bit worried, checking his pulse that was a bit stronger. "Chrno, answer me. Come on? Can you hear me?"
He blinked at her, and a puzzled look crossed his face. "Of course I can...." He still looked a little dazed though, since she hadn't opened the seal all the way, it came from the confusion thereof.
She bit her lip, pressing a hand to his chest, running a thumb over the holes that were trying to heal up, before she made a little sigh. "Um, Chrno... What was Eden? Do you know?"
"Eden....?" he blinked looking a little confused, then closed his eyes and seemed to concentrate a little.... then finally opened his eyes again, and nodded. "Um... yeah. I think so."
"Where is it?" She asked just as softly, not wanting to push him to far while he was healing. "How do we get there?"
His gaze strayed to the glowing clock and his hand reached out to it, and grasped it. She carefully extracted it from her neck and handed it to him, watching carefully. He pushed his thumb on the very center switch that had been spun partially open, and pressed down. The face lit-up red, then began to blink. His hand held it back out to her. "This'll chase it down?" She asked softly, brushing his bangs from his face, biting her bottom lip, and slipping her other hand into his once she took the clock back.
"No." he said almost sleepily, sighing a little. "They'll find us...."
She nodded, not all that happy about that, but kissed his knuckles. "How are you feeling?"
"Mmm... weird...." He replied with that same detached tone. "It's as if I'm two people at once..... it's really, really weird...."
She nodded, not really understanding as much as just agreeing with him. "Shh then, just rest."
He nodded lightly, and closed his eyes, falling asleep almost instantly, the faint healing patterns creeping up the side of his back already, working on doing what the salve had started.
Remi walked over slowly, putting a hand on her shoulder as he glanced at the Elder. "Will he be ok?"
She sighed a bit, slumping down at his side and resting her forehead on the bed next to him, shuttering slightly and with a whimper, completely exhausted. "Elder?"
The Elder checked a few things, before sighing a bit. "Give him the night, if he survives, he should be ok."
"Is there... anything I can do?" Joshua walked up hesitantly, glancing down at the demon with concern and guilt.
Rosette looked to the side up at him, before giving him a faint smile. "You've done enough, you gave us the chance to save everyone... Holy energy will just damage him more..."
He bit his lip, but nodded a little at that, understanding. Didn't mean he had to like it.
- - - - - - - - -
Azmaria sat lightly at the demon's side, out cold, her hair sprawled across his chest as her own rose and fell slowly, as she had taken Rosette's post in the middle of the night, nearly having to have Joshua pry her from the room to get some sleep. His condition had both improved. and worsened. Improved in that the burns were no longer raw and horrible looking, but merely a shade of deep red, as his body continued to heal. The bullet wounds however, while not puffy and clearly inflamed any longer, the spider web tendrils had spread and were all interlaced through his chest and down his neck and arms. His breathing was starting to be heavier, but still regular, and a fine sheen of sweat covered his brow.
Rosette sat out on the very tip top of the ship, a tiny outstretch of wood above the crow's nest, that couldn't be reached lest you have wings, and thusly her own mechanical ones lay limply at her sides, too afraid to sleep, too tired to deal with anyone. It was silent outside... they were in a heavy fog-like astral bank that was hard to see through unless you had navigation equipment. The quiet hung around like a blanket, smothering everything.
Then suddenly... above Rosette, like a silent ghost ship, the bottom of a ship descended, running silent, hull polished and fine, and very large. Rosette looked up, gasping slightly as she leaned backwards, spreading her wings wide and just falling backwards to land lightly on her feet on the deck, the contraptions glowing in the thick energy wrap, and she stepped up to the wheel, turning the ship slightly to get a good look at the newcomer. The ship smoothly glided down into a matched course directly next to them... but not before the glowing letters on the side that seemed to be lit from within were clearly visible... E.D.E.N.
She whistled low in her throat, staying nice and silent as if afraid to break the thick calm, and reached down, beeping her first mate. Within seconds, Remi was on board, gun in hand, staring at the ship. "Wasn't on radar... what kind of ship is that.....?"
She just watched the ship pull up, just barely centimeters from their own side as they cruised along, until coming to a stop deep within the fog. "Eden."
A high-pitched voice could be heard from the other side protesting noisily before something shut it up followed by cursing from another deeper male voice. The solid thunk of boots along with the faint clink of thin chains could be heard as through the fog, a tall tanned figure came walking lightly up to them, his lavender eyes glinting and an almost... self-assured smile on his face, bowing deeply and sweeping his hat off of his head. "You paged?"
Remington eyed the tall man, feeling a bit estranged at the thought that they had no idea who they were dealing with... probably demons, considering Chrno was one, but still…
The captain looked at the stranger flatly, half annoyed. "And you are?"
A lighter pair of boots thunked lighter on the deck, followed by a squeak, and a shorter figure came running through the fog, hat falling off her head, and rubbing her bum a bit, as she stopped next to the tall man, shoving glasses up her nose.
The man however, merely cocked an eyebrow, reaching out and taking Rosette's small hand in his, kissing it lightly. "I..." He smirked, "If you must know, am Aion, Captain of Eden. And that pipsqueak over there is Sheda. I do believe you have something of ours? A demon? Chrno?"
Sheda peered up at Rosette, with a flash of something indefinable in her eyes. "Where is it! I'll slap him silly for stealing it!"
Rosette took a step back, her eyes flashing. "One second. Remington. Please make our... guests... comfy. " She turned swiftly, giving them on odd look before patting her first mate's shoulder, and vanishing down below to wake their patient.
"Oh?" Aion seemed surprised, "SHE'S the captain?"
"Hey!" Sheda grinned, spreading her hands to say she was unarmed. "I respect a female captain more."
Remi nodded once, and stepped forward, pointing to a nice chest to the side. "Please place your weapons there...." His eyes were intent on the two, and glinted more as Aion acted surprised. "You have a problem with that?"
Aion just smiled, spreading his hands. "Oh no, I rather prefer it that way, easier to make treaties..." He joked, pulling out a few things and placing them in the chest. Easier to control...
Remi flipped a quick switch on his wrist, scanning to make sure they truly were unarmed before nodding and stepping back, a warning look in his eyes at the man.
Rosette hopped into the room, smiling a bit at the small apostle laying sprawled over the demon's chest, before shaking Chrno a bit. "Yo... wake up. Do you know an Aion?"
His breathing was obviously strained by now, but as she shook him, his eyes half-opened, shot through with red lines. "Aion...? Uh... yeah.... captain... of Eden..."
She nodded, trembling a bit at his new condition. "Alright. They are here, I'm bringing them down..." He just nodded faintly, eyes slipping closed again as he continued to struggle with breathing.
She didn't hesitate a moment more, and went running up the stairs, bursting up onto deck. "Come on, hurry. He's badly injured..."
Sheda's head snapped up instantly. "What? Why the hell didn't you say so before?"
Aion frowned too, standing up. "How bad is it?"
"We didn't think he'd survive the night." Remington said somberly. "He's a bit stronger than we thought, but..."
Rosette just looked exasperated. "Come on, no time to waste. They were Testaments...." She motioned for them to follow.
"Testaments? Bloody menace those things are." Sheda growled, stomping after her quickly, something long and sleek sliding out from around her waist where it'd been hiding, a black furred tail with a white tip.
Aion followed, slipping by the First mate without even a second glance, his shoulder bumping his. "Great bloody care you take of your prisoners."
Remi's eyes narrowed as he pulled up taking the rear behind them, teeth gritting. He didn't like his attitude. "He's a crewmember. Not a prisoner."
Aion looked over his shoulder at him, lavender eyes flat. "Impossible, he is a crew member of the Eden. I do intend on having him back."
Remi frowned a bit at that. Really now.... Well he didn't press the issue, and followed him, fingering his gun worriedly. If they took him by force... they wouldn't go quietly.
Rosette didn't hear any of their chatter, instead was ahead of them all, opening the door swiftly and letting the cat-girl follow her. "We have the seal propped, but it doesn't seem to be helping anymore."
"SEAL?" Sheda screeched, barging in. "WHAT seal?!" She ran in, and stopped, seeing him laying there, and ran forward instantly, shoving anyone aside, and began to examine him.
Aion's eyes narrowed with cold fury as well. "What were you doing to him...."
Rosette looked up stiffly. "We weren't doing anything to him, he was sealed when we found him..."
Aion just ignored her, taking Chrno's pulse before sighing. "Sheda, grab his stuff, we're taking him out."
"Aye." Sheda instantly turned, expectantly looking at Rosette. "Where is his stuff?"
"Now wait just one minute.... You can't take him." Rosette growled a bit, placing a hand on the demon's chest, emotions taking over her rational. "I won't let you."
Sheda's eyes narrowed dangerously, and a furious look crossed her normally cheerful face. "Now YOU look... he's OUR companion, and if he dies because you're playing the 'you're too dangerous' card......"
"Then I'm coming with you!" Rosette argued back, "To make sure he comes back!"
She threw her hands up. "What do I care! Fine! Just LET ME TAKE HIM before he drops dead right here! You're lucky he hasn't yet! If he's this bad, it's serious!"
Rosette nodded sharply, giving a brief command as one of the sailors went running for Chrno's stuff, and leaned over the demon as Aion stepped up, looming at his side, worried at his condition.
Chrno's eyes half-slid open, awakened by the confusion all around him, and his hand reached out and found Rosette's without much hesitation, giving it a light squeeze. "I'll be fine....."
"You." Sheda pointed at Remi. "Help Aion carry him."
Azmaria looked between them, quiet for most of the argument, before she realized what was going on. "Ah! You're taking him? Let me come too!"
Remi's eyes narrowed a bit at being ordered, but he glanced over at Aion, then turned as Az spoke up. "Your highness... I really don't think...."
"Me too..." Joshua said firmly stepping up next to her. "After all, it's partially my fault."
Aion gave both of them a particular look as he scooped up Chrno's shoulders. "You two? What ever you see fit, your Highnesses, I just warn you, we ARE demons." That was punctuated with a bit of a smirk.
"Sure, why not." Sheda muttered irritably. "Invite the whole boat! Who cares."
Joshua glanced over at Chrno then back up at Aion and nodded once firmly. "I know."
Rosette gave the Elder a firm look as he came wobbling in. "Take care of the ship, we ALL will be back."
"Very well then." Remington grabbed a firm hand of Chrno's knees and scooped him up with a cooperative effort.
Aion lead the way out of the room, followed closely at the side by the captain and behind her, Azmaria, up the stairs and out on the deck easily, as if Chrno weight naught but a feather. "Oi! Jenai! Set up a bunk in the medic's, we've got incoming."
A voice drifted out from the fog. "Aye, aye."
Sheda just leapt into the fog, vanishing, with a thunk of feet heard as she landed on deck and began scrambling downstairs. Remi murmured some orders to a sailor, basically asking him to keep a lookout and keep in touch if anything happened, before turning to Aion and raising an eyebrow. Just how were they getting him OVER there?
Aion easily shifted into his demonic form, his wings snapping out taunt before he maneuvered Chrno bridal style in his arms, looking a bit awkward, "Good luck, kids." And with a swift flap, he was easily out of the ship into the fog.
Remi frowned but glanced over at Joshua, Az and Rosette. "You're sure?"
"AH AH!" Rosette gasped a bit, hopping over quickly before she could loose sight of them, landing with a bit of a wobble on the opposing deck, nearly toppling into the void that was in-between them, not even HEARING Remington at all.
Joshua's wings snapped open with a flaring glow, as he offered his arms to Rosette... but she was gone. He sighed, and followed her. Az smiled a bit nervously. "I guess that's a yes?" She spread her own wings, giving Joshua a bit of a giggle, he at least TRIED to be suave.
Chrno's eyes half-opened again, and his gaze shifted up towards Aion, almost as if trying to decide where he'd seem him before....
There was a soft swish of air from the other side, before with an easy thunk, Remi hit down, boots kicking up a little dust, as he brushed his hair back, earrings jangling a bit as he shook his head, peering around. From what he could see... not only was Eden huge, but it was a fine craft.
Azmaria landed lightly, her dress swirling ethereally, opening her ruby eyes as she examined the demon ship, her heart pounding nervously as her wings dissipated. "Wow..."
"Wow..." Joshua agreed, staring up. "It's not like the liners that I've been on."
A tall figure strode out of the mist, peering down at the wobbling Rosette, and put a hand on her shoulder, keeping her from toppling over, as he squinted down, patch over one eye, earrings in his ears, hair wild and unkempt, wearing something that was tight and less than modest. "Yo. Watch the edge, runt."
She looked up at him, frowning slightly at the runt comment, but balanced herself, holding herself up straight and pushed some of her bangs out of her face, obviously taken aback by his... odd... appearance... "Watch how you walk, buddy, your pants might just split."
A wide grin came across his face, showing sharp little golden fangs. "Not a bad idea, thanks."
Aion completely ignored the rest of them, quickly moving with long even steps down inside the huge ship, with just a bit of a whistle. "Hi ho. We'll get you fixed up, savvy that Chrno?"
"Um..." He murmured not really in much of a condition to protest either way. He was just focusing on breathing at the moment, which was getting more difficult by the minute.
Sheda already had the table ready, waiting for Aion to show up as she punched buttons and dragged weird gizmos over with a frenzied muttering. "Bloody barbarian humans."
Rosette pushed past Jenai quickly with a bit of a roll of her eyes, intent on where she saw Aion disappear, half eager to have Chrno healed, half afraid that he would be taken from her. When had she gotten so attached to him...? Remi ushered the others down, trailed behind by Jenai, as they entered the insides of the massive, and ornate ship.
"Here we go my friend," Aion said lightly as he stepped into that room and set the demon lightly on the table, pushing his hair out of his face and running a thumb over the headband. "They are Barbarians, right..."
Sheda reached forward and tore the headband off in one quick rip, began to hook him up to breathing apparatus, and slammed an IV into his wrist, filled with a glowing blue liquid. "At least they didn't leave the bullets IN him... that's a plus...."
Rosette quickly found the room, after a few missteps, before spotting the long black wings of Aion and slipped in quickly, moving to Chrno's side. "What are you doing to him?" She asked, not angry, just worried.
Sheda's eyes didn't move up, as she carefully strapped him into a strange harness and lifted him off the table, so she could get to his back and whistled low. "Bloody hell...... So that's why the alarms were going off max...." She shook her head, and rolled something that looked like a laser and a rolling bowling ball underneath him on a track, and it lit up, and began to roll back and forth, light hitting that exposed side of him and then going back again continuously. "Right.... ok now." she grimly turned and began flipping on switches, which showed his readings... life support, astral level, consciousness, body structure, and various other blips.
As that happened, Remi moved over to speak with Aion in a low voice. "Just who exactly is he to you.... aside from a crewmember.... we know little about him."
Aion gave him a slight look, before leaning over to check Chrno's breathing monitor for himself, lavender eyes locked on the blonde. "There is little that you need to know, mix-breed." He pushed his hair out of his face and fixed his glasses.
Remi's back went rigid at that, and his eyes flashed sharply at the demon, hand straying to his weapon before he clenched it in a fist, forcing himself to stop from drawing it.
Sheda was frowning at the monitors, staring up at it with almost a frustrated look. "No wonder he's having problems... whatever seal was placed on him is restricting his power flow...." She shoved her glasses up her nose, turning to face Rosette. "Where is the seal, and what maintains it?" Rosette blinked, and swiftly pulled the watch off, not thinking about the drastic meaning of giving her such a trinket, the gold glinting in the hard lights of the room. She took it and blinked. "It's on here? How on earth did....?" She muttered taking it, and turning it over and over, peering not opening it, and rubbing her ears lightly out of curiosity. "Somehow they tacked it onto the key.... who could have done this…Well…." she shrugged. "Let's just open it and see what happens."
Rosette blinked, putting up a hand. "Ah but, it's been opened far too often in the two days, it'll kill him, or make it worse, at least, that's what he said."
Sheda blinked and looked at her puzzled. "Make it worse? Kill him? I seriously doubt that...." But she didn't open it, merely peering over at the semi-conscious demon. "Hey, Chrno..." She poked him lightly.
Rosette watched with a bit of fear, biting her bottom lip as she sank to her knees and took Chrno's hand, whispering his name softly, just audible for a demon, squeezing his hand as a wake-up call. Why would he have told her that if it wasn't true? But she got no response.
Sheda frowned, prodding and poking him, turning him over and finding the seal, inspecting it curiously, then looking back at Rosette. "Maybe you'd better tell me how this happened.... but first we have to purge his system."
Azmaria slipped in, crossing the space of the room in a few seconds, and rested her hand on Chrno's shoulder, worried out of her mind. If only she could help...Sheda gave her, then Rosette an odd look and shook her head. "Mou... he sure attracts the oddest crowds... humans... apostles...."
Rosette just gave her the eye, before calming herself and trying to stay calm. "Is there anything I can do?"
Aion straightened himself, not speaking to the man to his side as he shifted back to his more human disguise, cracking his fingers a bit. "You could always have a... captain to captain... talk with me?" His eyes glittered a bit ferally.
"Quit it." Sheda growled at Aion, glancing back to Rosette. "You can help me move him in here." She pointed to a small hollow-looking bed in a tube, with straps and a very narrow area where you really couldn't sit up.
Aion just smirked, obviously the love appeal of all the female demons on the ship, much to a certain demon's anger. "Think about it my dear, after all, we have a joint sailor on our hands..."
"Aaaaioonnnn..." Something in Sheda's hand cracked and shattered. Rosette just gave him a look, but obviously didn't dismiss it, taking it in a purely professional way, before nodding to the cat demon and scooping up Chrno's shoulders, his head resting against the nervous thump of her heart. "Get his feet?"
Sheda nodded and grabbed his legs and lifted him up, as his head lolled against her shoulder lazily, the tattoo on his right arm clearly visible now, as well as the one she had given him... and an additional one on his upper right shoulder blade, which seemed to be consecutive with the one Sheda had on her shoulder as well.
Carefully, afraid she'd klutz out and drop him, Rosette moved the man into the bed, setting him down slowly and moving his hair out of his face almost lovingly, getting a raised eyebrow from Aion who obviously seemed a bit perturbed. "Will he be alright?"
"Probably. I've never dealt with seals before, but if it weren't for that he'd be in better shape to begin with.... but with three bullets.... that's an awful lot...." Sheda bit her lip, shoving him the rest of the way in, and slamming the lid shut, sealing him inside the small bed tube.
The young apostle moved to Remington's side, nervously watching the proceedings as she curled her arms about his large one for support, her eyes locked on her crush, terrified even though she told herself to be calm. Even if he did recover, would he be allowed to stay with them? Remi blinked a bit down at the young girl, obviously surprised by her actions, but patted her hand lightly in re-assurance.
The blonde sank into one of the chairs, looking very distraught as she rested her face in her hands, taking a long shuttering breath. "Damn it... this is all my fault."
"No it's not." Remi said firmly. "He knew what he was getting into, and went in bravely. You couldn't ask for more from him."
If I hadn't made such a stupid mistake when trying to save Stella...everything would have been fine... But she nodded, not wanting to set her first mate off on a tangent. It was odd, they had been so close, since when couldn't she tell him some things? Joshua...and now Chrno... She thought almost near tears. Was she bad luck?
"Well, either way." Sheda punched a button on the tube, and it lit up with a brilliant black energy, that slammed into his body, and had it been not soundproof, they'd be hearing the results of it quite clearly, as his body jerked once, and his back arched, clearly doing something drastic.
Azmaria gasped a bit, moving forward quickly. "What are you doing to him?!"
"Well, if you want him to LIVE, it has to be done. All holy energy has to leave his body, and that's not gonna be easy on him. But he's a strong boy." She patted the bed lightly. "He's been through worse."
"How long will it take?" Rosette asked in a slightly hoarse voice, her face still hidden in her hands, angry at her over emotionalism.
"A while." She answered, turning to face her. "In the meantime....."
"Shall we move to quarters?" Aion asked, filling in the blank, giving the girls the 'eye'.
Sheda's eye twitched and she actually whirled on him, eyes glowing. "AION! I'M FED-UP TO HERE WITH YOUR DAMN FLIRTIN'! YOUR BEST FRIEND IS CLOSE TO DEATH AND THAT'S ALL YOU CAN BLOODY THINK OF?!"
Aion blinked a bit, his hair blown back and his glasses slipped down his nose, before he just gave her the most suave smile. "Not at all, I am just so confident that in your capable hands, he is in no trouble at all. You are just too talented, the only one I'd allow me or Chrno to be treated by. You are just that good." He purred, completely convincing.
One could see Sheda trying to resist the irresistible charm.... and failing. "Fine fine." She huffed. "Out out out then! All of ya!"
Rosette sighed, what was with this guy? He was like a hormone-packed alpha male demon. But she stood, and gave Joshua and Az a smile, knowing that they were probably less than comfortable on this ship, and gave Chrno one last hopeful look before heading towards the door after the Captain of Eden.
Remi took the two apostles, and helped them back out, as Sheda huffed and puffed, though it looked as if Josh and Az wanted to stay.... He wasn't sure they should.