Chapter 16: The Request.

Lyude's eyes fluttered. Vague sounds filled his head, crying for attention all at once. Lyude did not respond. He didn't even feel as if he had a voice. He felt strong arms taking him up again and carry him through somewhere cool with a rather strong draft.

From what seemed to be the other side of the wall he could hear shouts and angry roars. He groaned softly, his head throbbed and he felt that he could barely move.

"Minister?"

Lyude moaned again, trying in vain to get his eyes to focus.

"Minister?" Lyude felt himself being set down on something hard...probably the floor.

"Give him a moment." came a familiar female voice. "It's amazing he's still alive."

"He wouldn't have been if I hadn't gotten him out of there." came an unfamiliar male voice.

"Think he can hear us?"

"I don't know. We shouldn't even have him. I'm taking him back to Braddock."

"But they're going to end up killing him if this continues!"

"Ughn..."

"Minister?"

Lyude's eyes fluttered again.

"Lyude?"

At the sound of his name, Lyude's eyes finally opened, though it seemed quite an effort. "Ugh..." he groaned as he was lifted once again.

"Sorry about this, boy." said Urden taking him up in his arms. "I have no choice."

"Hmn?" Lyude felt so weak that all he could manage was the occasional moan or grunt in response.

"Father..."

"Let's go, Quentin." said Urden. "Before they realize who it was that disconnected the wiring. You'll have to explain."

"Yes father..."

Lyude's eyes wandered slowly and dully to the boy's face, Quentin, he suspected. He was the same boy that Lyude had seen each time he was taken to the lab.

Lyude's head dropped weakly back, his red hair dangled limply as he panted softly.

"Let's just hope that Braddock will listen to reason, another stunt like that will surely kill him." said

Quentin.

Shortly afterward, Lyude was blinded by the light as a passageway opened and he heard a distinctive roar that was surely Braddock himself.

"What is the meaning of this, Urden? You dare interfere?"

"It was the boy." said Urden, "It seems he saved you your tool."

"What are you on about?" said Braddock as Urden set Lyude down gently. Lyude closed his eyes in defeat. Any hope that he was to be rescued had faded as soon as he had heard Urden talking about returning him, but now back in Braddock's clutches, the feeling was much worse.

"I wouldn't risk my brother's safety, Braddock." said Quentin. "I told you before, when you first enlisted my skills in studying the End Magnus phenomena that testing the limits too much would endanger the subject. That woman you have running procedures on him went against my research and tried to awaken the power resting within him prematurely. Done incorrectly and without the other subjects this would have proved fatal if I had not intervened." said Quentin. "There was no time to alert you, else I would have."

Braddock looked down at Lyude, who looked for all the world on the brink of death. "Your point is taken. You will now be in charge of running the necessary tests on him then."

"I've already told you I want no part in this. The minister is the best thing to happen to Alfard in decades. I will not aid in his destruction!"

"Then you'll aid in your brother's?"

Quentin bowed his head. "Please...don't make me do this, sir."

"You will or your brother will suffer for your foolishness."

"...Very well, but nothing more can be attempted for at least a week. The Minister was nearly killed by the last experiment. If you want him alive, you'll allow me to do this my way. If it's possible, I want your assurance that if I can prevent his death while extracting his power, that you will turn him over to my care and release him." said Quentin.

"Very well, but if I suspect you're stalling, there will be repercussions. I couldn't care less, really what you do with him after his usefulness is spent."

"I understand, sir." said Quentin.

"Take whatever facilities you require and get him healthy again." said Braddock. "You have the final call."

Quentin nodded and Urden picked up Lyude once again. Father and son turned on their heel and walked out of the room. Lyude moaned once more and passed out.

When Lyude woke again, he found himself to be lying on a white table. Sensors were attached to his forehead and chest and an IV drip ran into his wrist. Lyude turned his head groggily. Quentin was there, as well as Urden.

"As long as his companions remain safe, there is nothing Braddock can do to return Malpercio. As far as I'm concerned, your brother is the priority right now. We're working on it,Quentin. Bear with us, once we can find a way to free your brother, we can work at getting him to freedom."

"I know, Father, but this is dangerous work. The Minister may have that extraordinary magnus, but it far from makes him invincible."

Quentin looked up at the monitor and noticed the change in Lyude's brain waves. He turned and met Lyude's eyes sadly. "Welcome back, Minister." he said softly. "How are you feeling? Can you speak?"

Lyude turned his head back toward the ceiling. "...Thank you...for stopping them."

"You remember all of that!" said Quentin in surprise. "You still thank me after..."

"We all have our priorities." said Lyude with a sigh. "You have to be concerned with your brother. I could not expect anything different from you." Lyude turned his head back toward Quentin. "You do what you do because you must, I understand that."

"I wish there was something more I could do for you, Minister. We all appreciate what you've done for this country."

Lyude smiled sadly, closing his eyes weakly. "Thank you...I do have one request...please."

"Anything we can." said Urden. "Though I make no promises."

Matthias and Gibari were walking along Azha village making inquiries. There was still no word.

"It's like the kid disappeared off the face of the earth." said Gibari shaking his head sadly. "It's been a while, Matthias, how was studying in Anuenue?"

"Fascinating." said Matthias, "Though I think this is hardly the time to discuss it."

"Not like we're making any progress anyway." said Gibari. "It's been months now."

"How many places are there to hide in a desert?" said Matthias shaking his head.

"Plenty if they're underneath the sand." said Gibari sadly.

"I'm going to go ask a few more villagers."

"Suit yourself, kid." said Gibari.

Matthias walked through the streets of Azha. He had seen a few photo magnus of the former mining village, but it looked much different now. The hollow vestiges that the Azhans had formerly lived in had been taken down and proper housing put in place, save one. Almarde's home. Matthias stood in front of it for a few moments, staring at it.

He turned a corner and felt a pair of strong arms encircle his waist and cover his mouth. Matthias tried to call out but a hiss in his ear gave him pause. "You're one that is looking for the minister, are you not?" said the voice and the hands released him. A strong, middle aged man faced him.

"Who are you?" asked Matthias.

"No one you need be concerned with." said the man. "I have something for you to deliver." the man handed him two sealed envelopes.

"What the...Hey! I know this handwriting! Where did!" when Matthias looked up, however, he realized that the man was already gone. Matthias raced out to meet Gibari. "Gibari! Gibari, come and look at this!" he cried.

Gibari glanced at the cover of one envelope. "That's Lyude's handwriting!" said Gibari taken aback. "Where did you get these!"

"Somebody grabbed me and gave them to me. He told me to deliver them."

"Looks like there's one to Alyssa and one to all of us..." said Gibari. "Let's get back to the fortress, we'll need to check into this further... I hope Alyssa's ready for anything that's in that letter."

"I hope we're ready for what's in the other." said Matthias.

Folon Rules: Thanks for the review! Yes, things can never be easy for Lyude, can they?

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