Chapter 14: The Experiments Begin.

"So they suspect me." said Braddock with a smirk. "It hardly matters. They are totally ignorant of my plans. Minister Lyricello is only one part of my plan. The rest will fall into my hands soon enough."

"Lady Death is our next target. She's traveling with the old Mad Wolf unit captain. She's really the most convenient target right now." said Gravar. "I'm looking forward to her, I'm sure she'll make it interesting." he added with a grin.

"The Minister made it interesting for you already. You took a remarkable beating from him." said Urden.

Gravar bristled. "There's something unnatural about that kid." he said defensively. "He's not right..."

"You wouldn't exactly be considered normal if you had been bathed in the power of the End Magnus and the Organ of the flame." said Braddock. "I really want to get that study underway, but that's going to be difficult for the present time."

"Do you really think we can revive Malpercio with them? Is that even wise?" asked Gravar. He was beginning to have major doubts about his employer's plans now that he knew what they were.

"That's not for you to decide. You're just the hired help around here, as long as you serve, you'll get paid." said Braddock. "You know what happened before, Melodia had practically complete control of the god. Once I awaken him he will serve me as he served her."

Gravar grumbled and made ready to set out.

Lyude was sleeping when the door to the cell was opened and two soldiers entered. Lyude opened his eyes with a soft grunt as the sound of the heavy door swinging wide brought him from his dreams. Before he could even completely sit up he was seized roughly by on either side by the two soldiers and dragged to his feet.

"Get your filthy hands off my boy!" roared Jareth waking as well and beginning to jump to his own feet.

"Father, no! It's all right. Please..." he said quickly. He didn't want to give the soldiers any excuse to harm Jareth.

Jareth froze at Lyude's pleading expression. "If you hurt him..." Jareth growled. Lyude smiled slightly and his eyes met Jareth's for a brief moment before he was escorted roughly from the room.

Lyude was led deep into the stronghold, his hands shackled behind his back. "Where are you taking me?" Lyude asked, though he was sure he would not receive any sort of answer. He was not to be surprised.

"Shut up." was the only reply. Lyude looked around him sighing deeply and taking in his surroundings. He saw Lena's son that had been freed once they had returned with him standing at an odd corner and working with unusual gusto on a stain on the floor. He seemed to be avoiding looking at him.

They reached a large door and he was shoved inside. Lyude gasped as he saw the many surgical instruments and the single bed in the middle complete with restraint clamps. What were they going to do to him? His wrists were released briefly only to be secured again tightly at his sides. A clamp encircled his waist. Several more were locked in place on his upper arms, as well as his ankles and at his knees. They even placed a strap across his forehead.

Lyude swallowed down his fear. Struggle had been futile and now he was completely immobilized. He felt a mild shock go through the clamp across his torso and the muscles twitched faintly in response. He closed his eyes as he felt slight shocks shoot through each of the clamps in turn, causing each muscle to twitch slightly. What was the point in all of this? He opened his eyes again and saw what seemed to be a scientist writing something down as each shock ran through him.

"Interesting..." muttered the scientist. The woman stepped closer and peered into his eyes as a shock through the strap across his forehead made him gasp at the dizzy sensation. He was angry and confused at what the purpose of these tests were, which he now could safely assume that's what they were. He glared up into the woman's eyes and saw the reflection of his own in the woman's glasses. His eyes widened in shock as he saw his own seemingly burning eyes. How could that be? Was he seeing things?

"That's enough." said the woman scientist. "That's all this particular test is going to show us. Let's move on."

"What are you doing to me?" asked Lyude as the table moved from its upright position to a horizontal position so all that he could see was the blinding light just above his head. He felt a small clamp being attached to one of his exposed fingertips and heard the clicks and whirrs of a machine as it came to life.

"Nothing you need to be concerned about yet." said the woman. "I'll do you the courtesy of making the tests as painless as possible." she said readying a needle and sliding his glove down his wrist slightly. She rubbed a small amount of alcohol over the spot before injecting the blue fluid into his arm. Lyude clenched his teeth against the white hot pain of the fluid as it entered his vein. He felt suddenly disoriented. He moaned in his throat and closed his eyes in an attempt to stop the room from spinning before his eyes.

"Hmm...you have some very unique magnus within you, Minister Lyude." said the scientist looking at his vital signs as they blipped across the screen. "I suppose one such as you would."

"What do you mean?" asked Lyude. "Everyone has their own unique magnus."

"Yes, but yours has been bonded with the End Magnus and the Organ of the Flame. You don't think you went unaltered by those experiences do you?"

Lyude sighed. The drug continued to tug at his senses trying to disorient him. Had he been so altered? Were his friends as well? He groaned and his eyes rolled into the back of his head. "What have you done to me?" He whispered hoarsely.

"I need to be able to move you without resistance." said the scientist. "It's nothing that will have a lasting effect." With that she released the clamps restraining him and the strap across his brow. One of her assistants sat him up as she placed a stethoscope on his back and listened to his breathing and heartbeat.

"All right. Take him away." said the woman with a dismissive wave. That will do. I have all the data I can get for now."

The assistant nodded and lifted Lyude off of the table, carrying him from the room. Vaguely, Lyude supposed he should consider himself fortunate that it had only been an examination the woman was after at that time. "Someone...help me." he thought hazily. He hadn't realized that the words had escaped his lips as his sight faded into darkness. The young man Lyude had noticed upon entering scrubbed the floor even harder and closed his eyes sadly.

"If only I could..."

Lyude awoke to find his father bent over him. Concern etched on his careworn face.

"Ughn...Father."

"Lyude...how are you feeling?"

Lyude sat up unsteadily, his father placed a hand on his shoulder to support him. "How long have I been out this time?" asked Lyude placing his hand to his brow.

"Two days."

"Ugh...so much for not having a lasting effect."

A few minutes later the door opened and a flash of blue was tossed into the cell with them.

Lyude looked up and his mind instantly cleared. "Folon!" he cried in shock and stumbled to his feet. The young Imperial Captain was badly beaten and bruised. He was bleeding in several places.

Gravar stood in the door smirking smugly. Lyude surmised that like himself, Gravar had taken advantage of an immobilized prisoner. Urden was glaring at Gravar from behind him. Once the black haired mercenary stepped out of the room, Urden lingered a moment. "Here." he said softly and handed Lyude some healing magnus. "Not a word about this mind you." he added staring into Lyude's face until he received an acknowledging nod from the young minister.

Lyude turned Folon onto his back and inspected his wounds. He had a deep wound in his side and this is what Lyude focused on first. He poured some green tea down Folon's throat. Slowly, weakly, Folon's eyes fluttered and opened. It took a few moments for him to focus on the concerned face leaned over him but his eyes widened in shock when it registered who was stooped over him.

"Lyude!" he croaked and tried to sit up abruptly.

"Lie still." said Lyude leaning Folon gently back. "You've been badly injured."

"Yeesh, been looking for you for two months now and I finally find you only to get locked up too. Some help I am, eh?" said Folon.

"Has it been so little a time?" asked Lyude ruefully. "It feels like ages. What happened, Folon?"

"Got ambushed by a bunch of soldiers when I went to check out a rock fixture Kalas, Xelha, and Gibari mentioned."

"They're here!" said Lyude sharply.

"Yeah, looking for you." coughed Folon.

"Oh no...Braddock was right."

"Braddock? He really is the creep behind this?"

"Yes, they've recently started running some sort of series of tests on me. There was something mentioned about needing the rest who had been touched by the power of the end magnus...no..."

"What?" asked Folon.

"Folon, don't you see? You and Ayme were also touched by the power of the End Magnus, that's probably the only reason you're here instead of dead. They're hoping to strengthen their chances of reviving Malpercio."

"They're trying to Revive Malpercio! Nuts...why couldn't have just been something like 'I wanna take over Alfard.' That we could have easily dealt with."

Lyude's laugh was hollow. "Why indeed. Try to get some rest Folon. We can discuss things in better depth in the morning."

Crazygirl: Thanks again for the review and hope you enjoyed the lates installment.

TFRiD Queen: Thanks for the review. Yes, poor Jareth. He's had a hard time of it...and a secret.