Blue Roses and Lithium Thorns
Chapter Six: Past the Point of No Return
Da'an had left in the morning, and he was still in the cell at midnight. He had no watch with him, but he could feel the pulse of the Mothership. Her heartbeat was like the ticking of a clock. With his back against the cell, all Da'an could do was sit and wait for midnight. He wondered if Liam would learn of his imprisonment, but then he remembered that Zo'or knew of Liam's resistance affiliations. Liam would be captured the moment he walked into the embassy. No one was coming to save him now. Not that Da'an was afraid in the slightest. He had come to the conclusion that going with Nye would have signified his death anyway. Either way, he was going to die.
If you are near to the dark, I will tell you about the sun. You are here, no escape from my visions of the world. You will cry all alone, but it does not mean a thing to me.
Apparently the Mothership and Da'an had the same taste in music. He wondered how she had gotten a hold of the songs. The Mothership was a living creature, and she had always liked Da'an. After all, Da'an had helped create her. The bridge would not have been nearly as strong and as fortified as it was if Da'an had not been the one to design and order it built that way. Nobody was playing the music. She had chosen to play it herself for him. She wanted his last days of life to be peaceful ones.
The sun is in your eyes. The sun is in your ears. I hope you see the sun, someday in the darkness.
"The sun is in your eyes. The sun is in your ears. But you can't see the sun, ever in the darkness. It does not much matter to me."
Da'an looked up. There was Sandoval singing along to the song.
"Since when have you liked anything that I like?" Da'an asked with a strange look.
"Music be the food of love," he replied.
"Oh, please," Da'an shrugged. "The Sandoval I know likes no music. He even has a problem with that pleasant Asian music that plays whenever he walks into that seedy little sex club he likes. Who are you?"
"I never pictured you listening to music from the .hack/sign soundtrack. I always thought you were more of a Mozart person," he said.
"I have never seen the show before in my life," Da'an said. "I like Yuki Kajiura, the artist. Now tell me who you really are."
"Bear" was playing in the background now.
"You like the music that speaks to you through songs or through lyrics?" he asked.
"I'd prefer both," Da'an replied.
"What other forms of music do you like?"
"Anything that sounds pleasant with a meaningful message."
"Then, you will like me."
"You are a musician?" Da'an asked unenthusiastically.
"No, but I do have a meaningful message." The man that was Sandoval melted into the man Da'an had seen last night.
I should have known. "You are a Shape-Shifter."
"Speaking," he replied.
"Then, Nye is…"
"A Taelon. The same Nye that you knew when you were younger," the Shape-Shifter replied. "The rest of the alleged cult, however, is composed of Shape-Shifters."
"Then, that demonstration in front of the Synod was a fabrication."
"It was all Nye. She is a powerful Taelon."
"She was always a powerful Taelon. She used to be—"
"I know what she used to be."
"Why would Nye bring Shape-Shifters?"
"Because Nye knew that no Taelon would pass the barriers of security to bring the package to her in the moment of a problem."
"Is that what I am to her? A package?"
"She expects you to undergo the ritual. She does not expect you to live."
Da'an rolled his eyes. "Why did you come? You have nothing to gain from this."
"Incorrect," he said. "I have a large sum awaiting the successful delivery of the North American Companion."
Da'an chuckled slyly. "You are a mercenary."
"Most Shape-Shifters are. It is all we know now that we have no planet. I am not clear to give you my name, but I like you. Therefore, you may call me Trey."
"Charmed, I'm sure," Da'an nodded.
Trey let drop the virtual glass shield. Then, he unlocked the cuffs.
"I hear that Shape-Shifters kill those whose forms they steal," Da'an said.
"I would have too. That Sandoval is incorrigible. However, my contract is null and void upon my killing of anyone," Trey said. "Nye insisted."
"That sounds like Nye," Da'an said.
"Follow me," Trey said. "You have passed the point of no return. There is nothing for you back there."
"Inner Universe" was now playing.
"Wait," Da'an said quickly. The Shape-Shifter turned. "You said you have a meaningful message for me."
"The battle of wills starts at midnight," Trey answered, giving Da'an a pistol. "So cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war."
Da'an looked back one last time at the path that led to Zo'or.
Trey placed his hand over Da'an's shoulder. "You owe Zo'or nothing but pity."
Da'an thought nothing more, and he began to run.
"All is ready, Priestess Nye," one of the hooded mercenaries said.
"Good," Nye said. "Midnight approaches. All that is left now is our prize."
They turned to a flash near the launch pad.
"I told you that Trey would not fail you, Priestess."
"Your payment will come to you the moment we have made the jump to interdimensional space. I am a woman of my word," Nye said told him.
Trey walked with Da'an by his side and nodded to Nye. "I have brought you what you seek."
"Thank you," Nye said. She waved him off and turned to Da'an. "You have chosen wisely."
"I had no other choice," Da'an replied dropping the pistol.
"This is a dangerous path you have taken. It could kill you," Nye warned.
"From what I hear, you are expecting that," Da'an said, "and I have nothing left to lose."
"But we do," Nye said.
A large hand covered Da'an's eyes. Before he had time to react, he was unconscious.
"It has begun."
To be continued…
Most of the songs I mentioned are by Yuki Kajiura and See-Saw. They can be found on the .hack/sign OST 1 and 2. "Lithium Flower" and "Inner Universe" can be found on the Ghost in the Shell: SAC OST.
Thank you. Part two is coming soon.