The Darkened Sanctum
VI: "So Very Fragile…"
Cheryl awoke with a severe pain in her chest, wincing slightly. A hand pressed against her in order to keep her still, signaling her to slowly open her eyes. Squinting due to the pain, she saw a bright light above and the face of a man with glasses on. He had plastic gloves on, and a lab coat, smiling a bit at the girl. Closing her eyes again, still very weak, she sighed.
Then she felt a sharp jab.
Realizing what was going on, her eyes became wide and she gasped- the intense pain was coming from the fact she was being operated on without anesthesia, the left side of her chest being dug through. Her scream was silenced with a well-timed placing of the clean, gloved hand over her mouth.
"Cheryl, you're lucky I found you!" He paused in his work, removing a knife, then reached back and found a tennis-ball. Removing his other hand from her mouth, he quickly shoved the ball in its place, muffled screams arising around it. He used his hand to keep her held still as he pulled out some tweezers, "You would've drowned in your own blood if I hadn't, you know… This lung looks rather lost- ah, here it is."
He pulled the bloody bullet out and placed it on a cloth on the cart beside him. Cheryl continued to scream, muffled by that tennis ball that refused to pop out of her mouth.
"I think… we will have to put a bigger filter on this side to equal it all out… or I could simply remove both lungs and put large filters in their places… Better than being lopsided, I suppose. Oh well, we needed a replacement anyhow after that cargo was lost!"
Trying to move her weak limbs, Cheryl made an effort to reach to the cart to get her hands on anything sharp- he moved her hand back effortlessly. He continued to speak calmly, as if talking to a young child, "Now, now, Cheryl… those are for the doctor. While I go find some suitable filters, you will wait here like a good girl."
She screamed louder,
eyes widening. He patted her head, pulling out the surgical string
and needle, "No, I'm not going to leave you open while I'm
gone, let me just sew this up a bit and then I'll help you take a
nap. You're not going to get very far with a collapsed lung,
though, so you'll have to stay here…"
As he sewed her skin
up, Cheryl could do nothing but start sobbing around that tennis
ball, tears falling from her widened, pained eyes. When he was done,
he simply patted her head again, then pulled a small bottle and a
syringe off the cart, drawing a small amount of fluid… "It'll
be okay, trust me, Cheryl!"
"A cafeteria is a good idea… and a small market place, but I seriously doubt you need that dance club."
"Aww, but all the faeries are into techno!" Adylla giggled, having been arguing with Ryu for the past hour, "And antz love to boogie! 'Sides, imagine the zenny we'll rake in! Teehee!"
"But imagine the cost in the first place," Lin sighed, leaning against a wall. She was watching Nina play with Raziol, both running about in a cute game of tag, "Maybe we can compromise… put it in later after the essentials have been put in. As a rule for a living space, you need kitchens with food, bedrooms and bathrooms, a store to keep funds going, and somewhere to just relax. Somewhere cheaper than a dance club."
"Okay, okay," Adylla penciled it in on a little clipboard, "We'll put in a cafeteria, a marketplace, a bunk room, a public bathroom… and… a… lounge! With drinks! Teehee!"
"…Non-alcoholic." Ryu crossed his arms. "We don't need drunken ants and faeries."
"Right, right! Teehee… And we'll keep our eyes out for new ants… oh! And yoo can come whenever yoo want if yoo see one of us around, and if yoo need us… take the faerie whistle!" Adylla pulled a small golden whistle from her hair and handed it to Ryu, "It'll summon the faerie brigade!"
"…Uh… thanks." He pocketed it, then looked to Lin, "Ready to go?"
"I was ready two minutes after we came."
"Uh… Right. Nina! Nina, come on!"
Nina hurried over, ant in tow, staring up at him.
"We've got to go now. Say goodbye to Raziol, but make sure he knows we're coming back!"
Nina turned to the ant and waved good-bye, and he waved good-bye as well. She patted his head and he hurried off to get to work, eager to get started. Looking back up at Ryu, she took hold of his sleeve and waited for further instructions.
"Alright, but…" Ryu rubbed the back of his head, "Can you not knock us out this time?"
"Can do! Let's try the newest faeline and see how it works!"
With an odd 'spurt', the party was pulled from the cavern and wound up back in the metal hallways, though all were now soaking wet. Getting upright, they all wrung themselves out, somewhat confused.
"Water?"
"Must be left over from the channel," Lin smirked as she wrung out her tail, "Let me check the door and we'll see where we can go from there."
She pulled out a card and walked past the two, Ryu helping Nina get dry, heading down the hall. Turning, she reached the door, and a small box that stood from the floor. Popping the card in, she waited, watching the panel. It read the card… then suddenly spit it back out. "Not accepted…? They changed the cards, those little brats!"
"No luck?" Ryu shouted down at her, wringing out his hair.
"No luck. We'll have to go back out and around… damn…" She simply left the card on the ground and walked back, "Sorry about that, guys…"
Nina shook her head, suggesting that it was fine by her. She waited until Ryu had finished getting himself suitably dry, and then took his arm, following along as they left the room. Walking back into the Boroughs, though… she felt something was off and lightly tugged on his sleeve.
"What, Nina?"
She stared up at him rather nervously as they followed Lin.
"There he is, mister beautiful…" A voice jokingly sang it out loud, causing everyone to grind to a halt, all staring at the center of town. Two rangers, with gas masks on, stood with their weapons drawn. The one at the head of the group had his foot on a green tank, "So, now, still glad you killed those guys?"
Ryu suddenly knew what Nina was worrying about; the tank was spewing out a thin cloud of nerve gas. Staring to choke on the foul air, he glanced around and found that they hadn't even cleared the boroughs; innocent people were coughing, or lying on the ground, lungs filling with the noxious chemical. "You bastards, what did…?"
"They told us you've got the power of ten men, so we brought enough gas to down the whole Sector!" The woman in the rear laughed through her mask, "After you're down, we'll be kindly taking that girl there!"
"You can't have her!" Ryu, now starting to feel the effects of the gas, pulled out his blade. "Lin, bring Nina to higher grounds!"
"But I can't leave-"
"Do it!"
Lin suddenly caught up the coughing Nina, and took off at a high speed for the stairs to the higher levels of town. Nina was fighting under her arm, but the woman was more than able to keep her under control, "This is the best we can do for you, Nina! Behave!"
"Look, the hero wants a fight…" The man in the lead suddenly charged forward, swinging the blade down, "Let's give him the fight of his life!"
Blades connecting, Ryu held off the ranger's blow, and then swung his blade out from under- thrusting it forward, he managed to barely pierce his armor; he rolled out of the way from another slice, now coughing. Looking up, as his field of vision wavered, he dodged out of the way from the woman's weapon. When he stumbled back, he almost fell over, his head becoming light.
Destroy them!
Ryu winced, intense heat welling up inside of him as the two came charging.
Tear them apart!
Dropping to his knees, the black-and-red pattern engulfed his body, the heat growing.
Send them to eternal silence!
With a sudden scream, right as they came up to him, he burst into flames.
They brought their swords down on his figure at the same time, but the blades refused to cut through heavy scales. Startled, the woman was suddenly caught up by huge claws, blood-red eyes staring at her.
"MILO, HELP!" She screamed as her partner began to back up in fear. Eyes growing ever wider, she let out a final piercing scream as her body was snapped in half. Ryu took good aim at the backing up ranger, then chucked the dead body at him as hard as he could, knocking the man over. Quickly gliding over, he effortlessly drove his claws down through the woman in order to kill the man, both dead in a pile. With a loud, victorious roar, Ryu exploded into flame, then collapsed to his knees, figure back to normal.
Wheezing for air, the painful heat lingered in his throat, from both body and the gas in the air; looking up, he stumbled upright, vision fading, heading for the tank. Upon reaching it, he found the nozzle had been ripped off by the rangers… with a final cough, he slowly fell onto his face, lying on the ground.
Having seen the entire scene, Nina suddenly let out a loud yelp and fought to get away from Lin with all of her power.
"Nina, hold sti- Nina!" Lin stumbled back as Nina separated from her, moving forward a step. But she didn't follow, instead, Lin helplessly watched Nina hurry down the concrete stairs.
The air around Nina was noxious, causing her to cough- heading through the thickening clouds, she reached Ryu and dropped to her knees before him. Resting her hands on his back, she whimpered as he was entirely unresponsive; glancing around, she saw the townspeople in the exact same state. Closing her eyes, she let out a long exhale, clearing all oxygen from her lungs.
Focusing, she began drawing in air- not through her nose or mouth, but through those blood-red, winglike extensions. They began to glow as the air was pulled in with a huge amount of force, the gas swirling up and being absorbed. The tank was quickly emptied in the suction, all of it going straight into those wings. The air, now free of any impurities, became still…
…With her breathing shutting off, Nina fell onto Ryu, lying like the rest of the people across the cold ground. Underneath her, Ryu was breathing, body slowly recovering from the gas…
Staring down in disbelief, Lin remained still for some time, not a part of her moving. Quietly heading down the stairs, she found the air to be so clean it felt soothing in her lungs; heading to the two, she kneeled down and took Nina's pulse.
"Still alive…"
Moving Nina aside gently, Lin hauled Ryu over a shoulder. Focusing, she then picked up Nina and put her over the other shoulder. Staggering upright, and focusing all her strength, the terrorist slowly headed to the doors leading back to the metal hall, kicking the door in and slowly setting them down in the hall. Moving back outside, she walked to the dead rangers, and slowly picked up a small I.D. card.
"…" Shaking her head with a sigh, Lin turned and headed back into the hall, taking a seat on the cold floors beside the two companions.
"…" Only slightly feeling the effects of the injection, Cheryl waited until the scientist had gone. Slowly rolling off the chair, she hit the floor hard, the side of her face connecting with the cold surface, enough to send the tennis ball flying out of her mouth. Gasping for air, she dragged herself onto her knees and crawled to the door, prying it open. Dragging herself upright on the door's handle, Cheryl began slowly stumbling to the doorway that seemed to shift.
Wheezing, she reached the door, which opened by itself, then collapsed to her knees in the frame. Coughing, blood spattered across the floor, mixed with thick saliva. She wiped her mouth off on the back of her hand, which was slightly stained red as she pushed herself back up. Disoriented, she looked down both ends of the hall, then started down the left side.
If anyone was more determined to live, nobody had seen it: feeling her lung filling with liquid, she forced herself to keep moving down to the door, which opened for her. Feeling like collapsing, she found the room was full of tanks, most of which had been broken… stumbling to one tank, she slowly pulled herself up and over the broken plastic shell, falling in, landing in an odd position. Normally, she wouldn't have done it, but her body commanded sleep… letting her lids fall shut, she quickly blanked out into well-deserved peace.
"She's doing quite well… far too well… there's something about that one…" The council room had been emptied, the man with the glowing patterns still hanging about the center of the room. He was staring off into space, looking past the walls, clearly able to see Cheryl in his mind's eye. Then his visions shifted, so he could clearly see Ryu, Nina, and Lin in the hallway. "So is he… this is unsettling…"
"Then maybe…" A voice suddenly entered the hall- Cupid slowly walked in, clipboard tucked under his arm, Rasta sitting on his shoulder, "It is time for us to step in?"
"No, it is still the mortal peoples' problem… so far our dragon just seems to be lucky. But that man's body will not last, not by a long shot."
"What about… the girl?"
"What about her? She's dying as we speak."
"…she seems to be very strong, both in body and soul," Cupid stared at the back of the man's head, "Elyon, you're worried about her. Why are you watching her as closely as the others?"
"She merely strikes my curiosity. Unless she comes across another, nothing should happen, but I am concerned how much of a target she would be for another dragon… Her number, though reaching the limit, is too low… her body will fall apart if she is accepted."
"…You're pitying the child, aren't you?"
Elyon stood silent, mind's eye refocusing on the slumbering girl. How brightly her soul burned in the underground world! "No… merely curiosity. Did you get my message delivered?"
"Yes…"
"Then you're free until I call. Keep your sights open- tell us if you see something further."
"Yes, sir." Cupid turned, heading down the hall, letting out a deep sigh. "Don't spend too long focused on that girl, sir… she… her flame is flickering, and one final breeze will blow it out."
The council room became deathly silent, Elyon just gazing…
Eyes slowly opening, Ryu found himself gazing up at a worried face. Her blonde hair draped off her soft expression, eyes filled with concern. Growing a slight smile, Ryu slowly reached up and touched the side of her face; she took a hold of his arm and let out a relieved sigh. Also letting out a sigh, he closed his eyes, then slowly sat upright, smiling brighter at Nina. "Hey… we made it…"
"You're lucky…" Lin was staring at the card she had swiped.
"What… Lin?" He looked around- the metal hallway again. "…man… I barely…"
"You did it again. Two in less than two minutes."
"…" Ryu slowly looked down at the floor, pulling his arm gently from Nina. As he tried to remember, he felt a sharp pulse through his body. Wincing a bit, he looked back at Lin, "What… happened?"
"…You went out, and Nina went to you. I had to carry you here. I've been waiting for at least an hour for you to wake up."
"…Thank you…" Ryu let out a sigh, "…I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For everything."
"Hmph. You can't change what's already been done."
"I suppose… Nina, are you okay?"
She nodded, although as she moved, thick dust came drifting off her wings.
"Are you well enough to walk, Ryu? I got a card from those rangers… they are new issues of that card I had before. We should be able to get through the door this time."
"I think so…" He slowly moved upright, slightly dizzy. Regaining his stability, he helped Nina up, "Yeah. Lead the way."
"Shout if you still need a break, buddy- you look like shit." Lin rose, and then walked down the hall to the doorway with the card reader before it. Slipping it in, she waited as it read it… then the door slid open and the card was slid back out. Taking it and tucking it away, she looked back with a faint smile of success, "We're in!"
"What… do you mean… he got away AGAIN?"
"I… I mean…" Bosch was pale, standing before Zeno who looked ready to burst a vein. "Well, t-they used the nerve gas… but…"
"Do you know how lethal that stuff can be? I expect seventy-percent of the local population to be entered into intensive care! Are you SURE they saw somebody take him away?"
"Y-yes ma'am, to the storage areas…"
"…This is why, when ordering those below you, Bosch," She smirked a bit, "Why you send yourself in to make a job gets done right. Since you are… incompetent in completing my orders… it leaves me with no other choice."
Bosch stared, white as a sheet.
"Round up the first-rank rangers and meet me with them in the office room." Zeno got upright and walked to a closet, pulling out a key and unlocking it, "You will assemble with the rest of them and follow my orders exactly… or I will send inquiry to the regents about how to take you down a few numbers."
"Y-yes ma'am!" Shaking, he saluted and slowly left, his whole world falling apart around him. This time… he couldn't fail- with due speed, he took off to gather any high-ranking ranger that was still alive.
Pulling out two sheathed blades, Zeno let out a sigh as she pushed the locker shut. "Ryu… I didn't want to do this… but you leave us no choice. Where ever you are… it'll be an honor to face you."