Chapter Eleven
Memories are Lost… But Never Forgotten…
"Long time no see young vessel." Achrion says to Colt. His metallic eyes give off a glitter of joy. "Will you come with me breathing, or would you rather not have that convenience when you meet her. Hehe…"
"Her… What do you mean by her!" Achrion stares at him again and laughs, that ever-insane mechanical laughter. "Oh what's this? Oh yes, that's right, you didn't get far enough in the data to see that did you. Ooops my bad. AHAHAH!" His metal wails of delight echo through out the mines reverberating back forth, seeming as if there are hundreds manifestations of himself.
"Well, well… I see the battle has started… Do put on a good show Colt…Cheers." Sojorian says, while lifting his glass of wine to the computer screen, ever-eager eyes to see just how far the young vessel has truly come. He stares now as Colt dodges the initial volley of fire from Achrion. "Heh, faster I see. A much improved muscle tension rate, memory and reflexes as well… So then, what do you think of our little experiment now doctor? Has he surpassed the final product or is he still just the prototype?" Sojorian slowly turns his attention to a woman standing behind him,
"Tch… He always has been and always will be the inferior in my eyes… He is human… Nothing can taint our research more so then that… I still do not understand why you allowed such a pathetic creation to live."
Sojorian merely smiles, his lips curving into a deathly cold grin, "Haha. So quaint and modest I see, as you might recall you are human Serena… Well mostly, haha." Sojorian takes another long, indulgent sip from his wine; he takes the glass and ever slowly rotates his wrist. The red ambrosia within spins and funnels into a vortex. His wrist slows and then stops the tornado dying ever slowly, "Thus will be Colt's life once we are through with him." A look of disgust crosses Sojorian's face, anger and hatred well in his eyes, loathing turns his smile into a menace of hate.
Taking the glass he hurls it across the room. It slams into a far wall shattering into thousand of simmering pieces. The small shards hover in the air catching the light of sun through the windows, twinkling like small tears as they fall. One by one they reach the floor and shatter again. The wine stains the floor, blood red in color. "Break his spirit as such when he comes." With that Sojorian dismiss Serena from his presence with a small wave of his hand. His eyes keened back to the battle at hand.
Serena disappears through the door into the dimly lit hall, dank with the smell of decay and water rot within the facilities closest to the surface. "Curse Sojorian and his concepts… We would have been better off with a Cast vessel instead… The soul still could have grown within untouched and untainted by the human soul." She walks through the halls, lights flickering as she travels showing the age of the upper halls and stairwells. She passes soldiers armed with various photon weapons, most carrying a Galduis, Raygun or some other weapon as such. Few are carrying rarer models such as a DB sword replica or Flowen's model as well.
As she passes the soldiers salute her, staring ever scared, as if they had seen a demon dressed in human garb. "As right they should be nervous around here" Serena thinks to herself. Sojorian's comment still clouding her thoughts "You are human too… Well mostly. Hahaha." Serena disregards the comment and focuses her mind where it is needed now more then ever as the final keys fall into place.
"To think after all these years… All these long years, it has finally awakened. Oh I can just taste the success of it now." She slowly licks her ruby lips savoring them as she does, a look of orgasmic bliss crosses her face and eyes as she visions the predictions, ideals, and final actualization of it all.
She soon regains her composure, Serena descends another flight of stairs, the walls however seem newer... Brighter with every flight she descends, it's as if the facility was built from the top down. At the end of the flight a door appears before her, it stands about 20 feet in height, and 11 feet in width. A small indentation pops out of the door right at her eye level, a small computer synthesized voice generates from speakers hollowed out of the doors top corners. "Please remove all eye wear and look directly into alcove."
"Why cant the voice ever be that of man?" Serena wonders slightly wetting her lips at the thought. She stares into the hollowed hole in the door, a small laser graces over her eyes for a brief second, two consoles appear at hand level as well after the retina scanned is confirmed for a match.
"Please place your right hand upon the right console and insert your ID card into the left." "Mmmhmm… You got it big boy." Serena states to the automated voice, knowing full well a soldier is watching the door via security cameras. She sultrily takes her key card from its hiding place. Take one guess where people… I will give you a cookie if you get it right She then places her right hand on the pad and her key card in the left console.
"Scanning… Match confirmed for Serena Legenda, Welcome back…" The voice states. The console under her palm disappears into the door, while the small indentation closes. The left console then discharges her key card out of itself, she grabs the key card and replaces it back to its oh so warm nest, She then looks towards the camera, gives a mock innocent smile as if she didn't know it was there, winks towards it with her cyan eyes and then flicks short blonde hair towards it and blows the camera a kiss.
"Heh that should keep the guards entertained for quite some time… Disgusting pigs" She rages to herself as the door slowly slides open with an electronic and metallic grind against gears. As the door hisses open, a grim sight plays before her eyes. Rows upon rows of fluid filled tubes appear before her. Scientists run hurriedly from tube to console, back and forth collecting data checking vitals and other miscellaneous information from them.
She strides through, absently checking each tube she passes. All contain something within them. She stares towards one in particular and wets her lips. "Oh how I would love to let you loose upon them all, my darling pet." The tank is thirty feet by twenty feet by twenty. Inside the fluid sits a creature. A sick merging of a Delbiter and Indi Belra, Twenty feet in height and seventeen feet in length the monstrosity stands. Its body that of a Delbiter, muscular then its distinct cousin though, its head is in the shape of an Indi Belra, it has the one piercing cyan eye of the Delbiter still locked in the center though. Its eye half closed at the moment. To either of its sides are the huge arms common of its Indi Belra relatives. The arms make the Indi Belra's seem as if a child's toy when compared.
Serena slowly places her hand upon the glass container, the eerie cyan eye snaps open. The beast makes a low croon as if to signify affection for her. Another scientist walks by, and glances at the beast. It's eye turns a red hue, its demeanor changes. Its back arches, slamming its front feet against the tube it hollers. The meager man falls and screams as the beast slams upon the tube again and again.
"Heh, why so worried? It's incased in the chamber, it cannot get out and if it did. It would only rip you limb from limb." She smiles sweetly as she says this, turning away from the timid man she again places her hand upon the tube, the beast nuzzles the spot where it was and then returns to its earlier status, its eye returns to a normal cyan color and closes.
Serena strides by the man, black high heels clicking against the cold floor as she goes. Serena soon comes upon another sealed door that yet again requires her key card and palm print. She gives both and the door opens soundlessly. She steps through, a small desk and computer console are seen in front of her, the room is lit to a minimum, just enough to see the computer screen without killing her eyes. She walks behind the desk, sits down, starts the power to computer and waits.
"… I can feel it no matter what Sojorian says… That child will be the death of this place. This grand scheme unless we bring him back to us… Broken…" With that the computer screen kicks on and a log in window appears, typing in her password, she says aloud, "I do hope he has a chance to see his mother before she dies… It will be a rather charming family reunion I am sure…" With that she begins work on the schematics and diagnostics of a project. The name appears above a diagram of man. The name reads, "Athanos."
"Oh you will come to know in dear time Colt… Everything will become clear, do not worry. Its just how you wish to be enlightened that remains to be seen!" Achrion fires off a round from his handgun. With Cranberry still in his arms, Colt push Mint aside and rolls to his left evading the initial shot. "Heh, still as fast as ever, even with the extra burden. Oh well you can't dodge forever though can you!" Achrion reaches behind to his abdomen and from a storage compartment pulls out a small red capsule, it pops open, a bright light flashes from within and a form materializes from it.
A Handgun model pops forth from the capsule, he grabs it in his right hand and takes aim. "Now then, let us continue!" He fires another volley of shots. I place Cranberry down on the floor to my right, quickly I crack open a Moon Atomizer over her still form and let the contents drift to her. The first shot misses, I then run to the left the second shot misses again. I think slowly to myself, "His aim is worse then Sage's." Suddenly I feel the remaining shot connect with my leg, I feel a twinge of pain and nothing else. I continue to run, hoping to draw his fire away from the other two and lead him away. My whole body freezes up then and I face fault on to the cold metallic floor below.
"Heh, did you really think you could get away so easily Colt?" He approaches me, the gun; I see now as a Vistirsa, "What do you want from me… Why do you hunt me…?" He looks down smiles, and laughs, his voice ringing back and forth through out the mines. "Oh what little you have not gotten child. I have already told you why I hunt you. Its because your needed by us. You are the key to our realization, whether you are aware of it or not."
My mind races to contemplate what he means, Feeling slowly begins to flow back into my legs, "Now will you come with me breathing, or do I have to drag your pathetic flesh and blood body there… I am sure your mother would rather you arrive breathing although; I doubt she will live much longer. Heh." My mind races, I… I have a parent? I can't grasp the meaning of this phrase; memories conflict within in me, the test tubes clash with the image of my supposed family, the image of my mother shatters, replaced by another female form. My sister and father disappear from my mind all that remains is the lone female figure extending her arms out to me as if to hold me…
The green HUcast aims the gun at my temple, "I shall ask once more Hunter… Do you wish to go with me breathing, or be relinquished from that ability?" I turn and stare into his cold metallic yellow eyes. "… You will have to drag me there before I believe a word you spout from that opening you call a mouth!"
"… Very well then… Good bye Colt, I had hoped it would not end this way… Your mother will be crushed… As if she isn't already gone from this plane though, hehe…" "Enough with YOUR, LIES!" Rage enters my voice, cold hatred sweeps my body in its eternal and deadly vice. The HUcast slowly takes the gun and aims, he pulls back on the trigger, I brace for the bullet to crush my life…
"Arrrgh! AHHHH! IT BURNS!" I whirl my head; I see the HUcast is down twenty feet to my right. His back covered in flames licking at his metal plating, as if burning embers that have suddenly caught life new and whole. "Leave… Him… Alone!"
I see Cranberry is up and ready to fight once again. Although drained, she has the will to fight on, propped up against her Windmill she stands ready to fight even if to the death. Feeling has returned to my leg, I slowly stand and then rush over to her, I kneel down since I am a good two feet taller then her, "Cran are you alright?" I ask panic taking a hold of me threatening to crush my concentration. Fear sweeps me "What if she's hurt, what if she gave her last breath for that shot…"
"Colt, I am fine don't worry, thank you for worrying though." She smiles at me, a sweet smile that plays across her face so easily. Her attention returns to the HUcast, his cries of pain slowly die down, sullenly turning into small fits of laughter.
"Hehe… AHAHAHA! Come now, did you honestly think a mere fire ball would stop me!" He slowly stands from the ground his back still turned. I can see the scaring affect it has had on his metal plating, its nearly gone. Wires are showing through holes in his back, pieces of metal are slowly dripping off his body as if they were blood… "You're worse for ware, you can not continue, just give up." I look at him solemnly as I say this, truly wishing for the fight to cease…
"Oh how naïve you truly are Hunter… How truly naïve! This fight is far from over!" With a scream of pure rage and anger, his body slowly begins the process of regenerating itself. "But! But how! It's not possible! It shouldn't be possible!" My eyes have to be deceiving me, showing me an illusion, a fear of my mind! It just can't be real! "Ahaha, AHAHAHA! Foolish Hunter! It is possible! To think this is only a small sample of what you are capable of! This mere regenerating of metal as if it were flesh, it is a mere puppet show to what you hold within yourself!"
His body appears whole now, fresh and new as if he was just created. As if his AI had just been planted in a new body. He flexes his body, the gears, joints and motions running smoother, faster then before, as if he is stronger now, improved… "Let us continue where we left off shall we?" Mocking in his voice, saying I don't have a chance of winning. A noise breaks the sudden silence a whistle, the HUcast calmly lifts his right hand in the air open in palm as if to stop something, then in an instant, I see him act with the impossible.
His hand now grips the photonic blade of the Windmill in his right, he then raises the left, and with the same grace, agility and mastery, he catches another blade thrown at him. I look towards my left and see Mint is now standing as well clutching a Diska of the Brave man in her right hand, her battle fatigued form better then Cran's yet if only by mere chance.
The HUcast simply smiles. Squeezes both hands and crushes the blades. Their photons emit a final show of light as they fall to the ground, broken, the shards twinkling sadly in the low light, as if saying "You are lost now… Pray for the light…" "Hehe, you will never learn will you. Newman women, stay out of this fight, it does not concern you, only me and the HUmar are to wage in this duel. If you enter again… You forfeit his life… The choice is yours, now choose!"
The HUcast charges me now, with speed beyond my abilities to comprehend or register. My neck is suddenly in a vice of steel and death, my feet dangle in the air as the HUcast lifts me with no effort at all. "I'll ask again Newman woman, what is your choice!"
Mint and Cran look towards one another, both nod slowly and solemnly as they throw their weapons to the ground. "Heh, very smart move ladies… Very smart indeed, it does seem your kind is capable of some higher thinking. Allow me, Achrion to thank you, this will make the battle all more enjoyable for me, I hope you enjoy the show, it's sure to be a spectacular one. Haha!" Achrion hurls me back, I slam against a wall and slide to the floor, pain, another surge of it covers me. I stand ready to fight.
I finally Draw my Yamato from its twin sheathes; their low blue photons react instantaneously, irradiating into a bold bright blue. I breathe slowly steadying myself for the fight at hand. Achrion, the green HUcast slowly draws his katana from his sides sheathe. The Yasha once again, the blade reflects in the low neon light, a bright flash of silver and old metals. He runs his fingers across its edge smoothly and lovingly, "Do you know how fine this blade is Hunter? I truly doubt you do, The Yasha a true blade of perfection, crafted in the AUW 2018 by Kikoku.
"It is said the blade becomes even more so powerful when brought together with its twin sword Sange… Here let me demonstrate for you the power your up against!" Achrion turns and slashes at the wall. At first I see nothing, then a rumble is heard, I look, suddenly the wall shifts, another groan. A section of the wall twenty by thirty suddenly falls free of it self. It crashes to the ground, the floor shakes as if another explosion has occurred on Ragol. I stare in disbelief, I cannot fight that, it will tear my blades in two.
"Heh, now that you know what you face Colt, at least you can know you never had a chance, now then… Die…" With that he charges again, his Yasha held forth like a spear hoping to impale me, I dodge to the left and whip the left blade of Yamato down, trying to server his left arm, he parries the blow with hardly an effort run forth his electronic circuits, I slash again with my right blade, he removes his left hand from the handle of the Yasha and grasps my blade before it reaches him. Locked in its death grip, I yank, pull and struggle to free my blade.
It all fails; he turns, his eyes piercing through me now, insane laughter and glee shows in the yellow hallows, his hand, slowly squeezes my blade. With a defiant crack it shatters, the blade nothing more now then pieces and dust in his palm, they fall to the ground, lifeless and cold. No longer do their photons shine with an awe inspiring blue. He flicks his right wrist suddenly, the Yasha crashes through my left blade now severing it in two, the top half falls to the ground, dead.
It shatters upon impact, my determination following its gesture, the remaining stump of a once proud blade I have in my left hand now, gives off one more defiant show of power and then it to slowly fades, its photons wither from life. I drop both handles and look at the remains of my weapon. It can't be, it just can't be… No weapon should be that strong… None. Achrion laughs again, "You see now Hunter? Give up, you will be spared death from this blade, for now at least."
Defiance rages in me, never once have I backed down from a fight with out giving my all, never will I… I jump back two feet and draw from its holster by my side a Raygun, I fire off three golden shots from it, and their photons whine and steam forward, all on target. Achrion laughs again and then with speed I have never seen or will ever know, He deflects all three, ending in stance, where his blade is held horizontal mid head length, his eyes closed, his mouth in a mocking smile. "Oh yes, I knew you would try that, you are truly wishing for a fight aren't you Hunter? You can feel it rage within you can you not? That thing, that thing churning inside you like molten metal, oh how it just screams for combat, bloodshed and chaos does it not? Let him out Hunter, I am sure you will not win either way."
Achrion charges forward with a slash to my head, I dodge, ducking the initial strike, I counter with a low right spin kick, he leaps forward with a front handspring evading my kick. I rise bearing my gun on him, I fire another three shots, two miss, and the final one he catches in his hand and lets the photon die within suffocating it of life.
Achrion laughs again, suddenly dodging to the right, a Foie files towards me, I shield my face with my arms out stretched, I fly back slamming into the metal wall. I look down to my hands and see the Raygun gone, burn to charred ashes and dying embers before my feet.
"Heh, I see the Newman woman do not listen well. I will let this incident go but next time he will not live." Achrion turns to Cranberry, deadly malice shows in his eyes, his voice filled with venom. She stares at me, the fore arms of my armor and shield singed. Cranberry drops to her knees in weak condolence… She wants to help I can see the fear this battle has brought to her eyes, I turn and see Mint going over to comfort the young Force, the same concern and mirrored fear in her eyes as well… I must fight this battle alone… No one can help me.
I stand once more, drawing forth my Chain Sawd. I grip the handle, the outer rim photons become alive, their slow whine showing the deadly intent stored within the eccentric blade. "Heh, so you think you can beat me with that mere mockery of a blade! Well then, show me its true power!" Achrion charges forth Yasha held in his right and left hands prepared for a downward slash. I charge to meet him, my Chain Sawd held low, to my left, we meet our blades clash, His Yasha in the mid of its downward strike, my Chain Sawd parrying his blow.
Achrion laughs, "Haha! Come now Colt! Is this truly the best you have? Show me what you can do with that defiant blade! Oh Chain Sawd Knight! Show me what you got!" Few know me by that name… A select few do even then it is a mere rumor among them… A chimera of the mind to them. Metal grinding upon metal is the only sound heard…
"… Chain Sawd Knight… No… It can't be… Colt…" Cranberry speaks in whispered undertones as if trying to disprove a theory she has only begun to formulate within her mind. "Chain Sawd Knight? Cranberry what is that-thing? Achrion talking about?" Cranberry looks towards Mint, disbelief mirrored in her brown soft-spoken eyes. "… They say the Chain Sawd Knight is a HUmar, skilled beyond rational dexterity and elegance with the warfare of that isolated blade. Few have heard of the name… Smaller still is the number that knows of the rumors around him." Mint turns towards Colt now deadlocked in a contest of strength and cunning with Achrion, both mere inches from the others eyes. Achrion, not showing an ounce of strain as he holds Yasha against the massive brand. Colt to shows little effort as his blade is forced against Yasha. The two combatants stare one another down, hoping the other will cave, suddenly lose face and will. Neither does…
"Rumors abound this Chain Sawd Knight… The few that have heard the rumors about him are the principal himself and his staff… Natasha of the Lab, and a few high ranked Hunters… Both the Principal and Natasha have sent forth Hunters to discover who he is. It is said that the battlefields where he has fought are mere gestures to the carnage he could bring forth… His blade… The Chain Sawd is a weapon of rarities. A massive blade in of it self, easily a difficult weapon to use on its own… Yet the uniqueness of the blade comes not from its materials used or its size, yet in its design, for on the outer edge of the blade, spins smaller photon blades… Teeth if you will."
Cranberry stops again, catching her breath, unknown to Colt she is not truly well… Her body and mind have not had a true chance to even begin the healing process she needs… Her mind is still dim and hazy from battle, her breathing labored still she fights on…
"Why have so few heard or seen him if he is so great then?" Mint asks agitation shows in her voice, disbelief in the sudden rumor that one could be so powerful and yet so unknown or even heard of… Cranberry looks to Colt for a moment, him and Achrion still locked in the deadly vice they have made for themselves. Neither moving deadlocked in this battle. "Colt, give up you know you can not win! Just come with me and all will end, you will no longer be tormented by these questions you have! Just give up!" Achrion says in a mocking smile. Colt remains silent, defiant in his posture and tone, his eyes, defiance radiates within them. Colt looks towards Cran and Mint if only for a second, smiles slightly and nods his head. His face returns to look at Achrion's, the fighters once again enter the fray.
"…None have lived to truly report on him…" Cranberry closes her eyes for a moment. Stress and pain gripping her whole body in a strangle hold. "Then how do you know they even saw him…?"
"It is by his blade… Very few people even hold a Chain Sawd… Even fewer still use the weapon. The way it is used in battle… The cuts, the slashes, it as if it was an art form to the holder… As if he was truly in sync with his weapon… The only way those cuts would have been made on the other Hunters or animals was by that blade… He is still a mystery to us…"
Achrion suddenly jumps back from the melee, his blade coming out of the Chain Sawd's death grip its teeth once held on the Yasha. The outer rim of the blade spins free once again. The blade whines as it comes to life, the phoenix reborn. "Hehe, I see you have learned well in the art of that blade… Too think your swordsmanship with it is self-taught as well. A true rarity among the countless. Although it is no surprise… You were always ready for combat; even from the time you were walking he made sure you could handle a weapon with ease."
Achrion charges again his blade held to the right and low, I stand, ready watching, my blade held mid height to me, he comes within striking distance I swing the brand in a high arc hoping to cleave his head, he dodges and lands a round house kick to my chest. I fly backwards; my body collides with crates left over from Pioneer 1. I slide against a wall, my body coming a stop. Torment washes my body over. I pull myself up, using my proud blade as a stand to rise, Achrion looks at me and laughs.
"Well it looks like I will have to kill you then… Good-bye Hunter. Do give my regards to your mother, don't worry your friends may soon follow as well, hehe…" Achrion slowly draws another handgun from his holster, he grips it and concentrates for a moment, dark purple energy surrounds the gun… I do not know what it could be. "COLT! RUN!" I hear a wail but its too late "Farewell Hunter! May our ideals be your greatest testament to the world and all on Pioneer 2! Now DIE!" Achrion fires off the shot, I close my eyes and wait, a sudden wail pierces the death of the mines, I look and see before my eyes, Rati has taken the shot…
Rati gives out one last sworn full cry and slowly falls. I grab it before it hits the ground… "No… Rati… Why? Why do this for me…?" Rati just turns its body, nuzzles against my chest and slowly vanishes, its ember of life fades in my arms… Its metal casting disappears along with it in a small purple haze.
I look into my own two arms… No. This cant be real, no it just can't be… I fall to my knees and cry. Metal footsteps penetrate the cold air of the mines, I look up Achrion is looking down at me. "Stupid Mag… You're still going to die… Just not here, not yet." Achrion turns and throws a small cube object behind him, a sudden explosion occurs, the wall and ceiling crumbles to the floor below I stare and see as the rocks and metal suffocate and strangle Mint and Cranberry. "No! Cranberry! Mint! I rise and try to rush to them, try to save them, yet a blow catches me on the back of the head, I fall hearing only two things as I go, Achrion saying, 'Now sleep Hunter…" and a female's voice saying "Colt don't give up… Don't give up my son…"
I awake, my body numb with pain and cold. I stand, grasp to my holster and find all my weapons gone. Everything. Mint! Cran! I look around to see where they are see if they are alright hoping beyond hope that the cave in was a mere illusion. A deceit of my mind. I am all-alone, trapped within this cell. I look to the back corner of the cell and notice my initial perception was wrong…
There in the corner almost unnoticed is a RAcaseal. "…Hello?" I ask unsure if this new find is a friend or foe. I am given no response at all… I step closer, trying to make her out better. I see now she has a metal pony tail, her body casting is Orange and black, with a set of gorgeous blue eyes. I kneel down to look at her, her head turns, ever slowly. She looks at me, an expression of joy, and sorrow suddenly fills her face. She lifts her hand to me. I notice the hindered movements in it and the slow responses of her gears…
She is dying… I grasp her hand and hold it to my heart. "Do not worry, a friend is here now…" I smile to her as I say these words. Her eyes sparkle again, tears begin to form at her eyes, ones of happiness and unfulfilled promises. They flow down her metal form, small rivers on her. I gently lift my left hand and wipe away her tears, she looks at me and tries to say something, it is too soft to be heard, yet I still feel the weight of it impact me, as if I am losing a mother.
Her eyes slowly smile to me and then, the radiance they once held only seconds ago dies. Her hand becomes limp in my own. I lower my head, in mourning for her, even though I have just barely met this young RAcaseal; it feels as if I have known her since birth. I look up and notice clutched in her left hand is two things. A small purple ring and a data disk are held close to her heart. I look at the expression on her face once more; it is one of happiness now, as if a long sought after dream has been accomplished. I look upon the ring and disk; I take both slowly from her hand, now lost of life. It releases the items with ease as if she wanted me to have them both…
I look over the purple ring again. It is in an appealing lavender and violet hue with white around the outer edges of it. On the inner outside of it sits runes and letters much like those used in a photon blast. I could never make these glyphs out on my own. I slip the ring on my wrist, feeling as if it is what she would want me to do. I notice that I must remove my secrete gear to do so. I remove the shield for the ring, suddenly feeling as if this is right… As if it is a key fitting into a lock.
I turn the disk over in my right hand. Wondering what could be on it. With my curiosity peaked I slip the small disk into my arm gauntlet. The disk slides in without a sound. I turn to my screen on the arm gauntlet. I look and see the disk's icon I hesitate to activate it, as if it holds something… Something that once seen will change me, change me in a way that I may welcome or fear… I touch the activation key on my arm gauntlet…
The small halo screen pops up. It takes a few minutes to load the data. I notice the young RAcaseal standing there. Her eyes looking sadden and scared for some one.
"… Hi Colt… If your viewing this now… That must mean I have finally passed on. I am so sorry I never got to see you before now… Do understand it wasn't you, it… It was because I couldn't… I am so sorry my son- what the… Did, did she just call me son… No. It can't be…. I am sorry I wasn't there… I am sorry I could not be there for you in your times of need." She begins to cry now tears flowing from her beautiful blue eyes, I shake my head. No this can't be real… This can't be… It just can't… My mind begins to crack images old and new begin to wane and shatter.
"Colt… You must live on, you must. For there is no one else. I know this is hard for you to understand, or even accept. You must go on though. Please, you must live. Good bye I love you…" With that the image fades, as it does the small purple ring slides from my wrist and falls to the floor. Its small sound as it hits the concrete floor is the only thing in the darkness. I back away from the inactive RAcaseal. Clutching my head. My mind snapping, severing in two. Images old and new fade and crack. The mirror in my mind breaks. More test tubes, the Image of the young RAcaseal smiling at me with those eyes, as a mother does to her son. "No… No! This can't be real! Sh-She can't be… She can't be my mother! All this time! I've wanted to know the truth but… but this can't be it! So where is it now! Where in the hell have I been lead! Ahhhhh!" I fall to my knees head in hand, crying like a small child with no one to offer me comfort.
Clap…Clap…Clap I turn to the noise now and see a figure in the darkness. Male by his stance. "Well, well… You have finally come to the truth young Hunter. Tell me how does it feel to have watched your mother die in your arms?" I look towards the figure then back to the RAcaseal, lying there with a smile upon her face… "Sh-she wasn't my mother…" I say this, doubt clouding, strangling, every word, every sound I utter from my mouth.
"Oh…. My, my I do hope you didn't say those words to her when she was still alive. She would have been so heart broken. He steps forward now, His blood red and black robes sway into the light first, followed by his jet black hair held in place by a small bandana, followed by his pale complexion and his blood red eyes…
"Hehe, by the look on her face I would say no. So you don't believe the disk I see. Well it truly is no surprise since we did re-press those certain memories. Come now though, you must remember me from some where?" I look at him… "You! You were the FOmar at my Hunter's test!" "Ah excellent! You do recognize me! Oh what a true joy that was to watch as you took top honors in that test. A true spectacle to watch my ultimate creation slice through monster after monster, Hunter after Hunter in his young blood lust."
I turn from him, cringing at the painful memories. "…I…I didn't relish in those killings…" He looks at me and smiles, his eyes laughing at me as I make my claim that I barely have conviction in now, that I know all my memories and past feeling could be just a fake mirror, a piece of glass ready to shatter and show its true broken colors.
"Oh you don't believe me? Well then Colt… Let me show you the truth of it all!" The Force opens the cell steps in and slams his hand against my head, pinning it against the wall. I grab to his wrist trying to break his hold. His clod grip never wanes my hands working as if numbed and cold. I can do nothing against his death grip. "Now I release you from the turmoil of your flawed existence. I turn you over to the true mirror that your mind desires. Now awaken Colt! Awaken to your true past!"
A light surrounds his palm, I begin to slowly fade into the darkness that is my mind, I grip. Struggle to maintain a grip on reality. The endeavor fails, I begin to wane and then memories I never knew existed flow to me, as if they were once lost in the dark corners of my mind, but never forgotten.
"Mom? Hey Mom!" The young RAcaseal turns to the small child. He is a young male, his hair a dark brown almost black. His eyes are a piercing combination of blue and cyan, a rather pretty color when looked upon. "Hmm, oh Colt. What is it? You seem rather happy?" She smiles at the young boy, so full of live and excitement, even if he doesn't know his true purpose yet. A small tear comes to her striking blue eyes. "Mom, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" She turns to the young boy; he was always so perceptive and caring she thinks to herself. "It's nothing son, now what did you have to show me?"
"Mommy… please don't cry… If you're sad you can tell me okay! I promise to make it better!" The young boy smiles to his mother. The young RAcaseal looks into his blue and cyan eyes, tears form at her own; she brings him close and hugs him. "Colt… Please don't ever lose who you are." "How could I mom?" She just laughs, "Never mind son, never mind…" The young boy looks into his mothers blue eyes, smiles and just holds onto her enjoying the embrace of his loving mother.
The FOmar removes his hand from my head. I collapse to the floor. My hands supporting my weak arms sweat and tears roll off my face, collecting into a small puddle on the floor. "Hmmm… I will leave you to your thoughts now…I do hope this has brought some clarity to your fading life. Hahaha… Farewell Colt, I will see you soon."
I lift my head up, looking towards the young RAcaseal now… My mother… Even if she wasn't by biologics mine… She was still the only thing I had… "Why…? I have found what I wanted… N-Now How do I continue on? What, what is it I am fighting for!" I scream to the walls surrounding me, my own voice crying out the same question back.
I lower my head and cry again. The tears rolling down my face in slow constant streams. Through chocked sobs I ask no one but myself, "Wha-What does this all mean? What can I do…. Can, Can I even go on anymore? What do I have left to fight for? Am I nothing more then a small empty shell? … Am I even real to anyone? … Am, Am I even, human…" I slowly rise, and walk over to the RAcaseal now. I kneel down to her and hold her in my arms. Her cold metal form lifeless and still within my arms. Her eyes, shining in my memories now with such brilliance that they rivaled the sun, are now cold with death and forgotten smiles.
I hold her close, put my forehead and against hers and cry. "I am sorry Mom… I am sorry I could never find you until now…" I feel something touch the back of my battle shoe; I look down a see the purple ring that fell from my wrist. I pick it up again, more fond memories flood back to me as I hold the small ring within my palm.
"Here Colt, I want you to have this." "Oh wow! It's so cool! What is it mom?" "It's called the Purple Ring. It slides on your wrist and acts as a shield of sorts if you will. It also holds a special power in it." "It does? What is it?" She only laughs to herself solemnly, "Well, when two or more rings are brought together in close range with one another, they activate, giving the bearers even more defensive power then before." "Oh wow! Thanks Mom!" The young HUmar hugs his mother and wears his new present. "Why did you go and give that filthy experiment that?" The young RAcaseal turns and faces Serena Legenda, the lead research on the project. "Because it's Colt's birthday that's why." "Tch, foolish sentiments for something that was solely made to be slaughtered."
"Mom? Why is Serena here?" "Oh its nothing Colt, go run along and play now." "…..Okay…" The young HUmar stares at Serena, his eyes portraying malice and hatred towards her. A Warning to her that if she harms the RAcaseal he has come to know as his mother, she will not live to see the sun. "…So he calls you mother huh? And you allow this… How pathetic of you…" With that Serena turns, her heels clicking along the floor as she goes the only sound in the room. "I don't like her at all mother…" Colt says his blue and cyan eyes usually filled with joy and laughter, now show hate and loathing to the disappearing figure.
"Don't worry, she won't harm you or me. So do you want to play now?" A smile appears on his mother's face, her pony tail bouncing as she tilts her head her eyes closed and an innocent smile appears on her.
I examine the ring held within in my palm. I take the ring and slowly slip it on my right wrist. It fits perfectly… I look down and notice she too wears a purple ring, now cold with her life gone. I slip it from her wrist and place it in my pocket. "…. Oh mom... Why… Why am I here? Why do I even exist?"
Sojorian watches from his office once again. "Heh, good he is broken. Achrion." "Yes Sojorian?" "Do fetch him now, he will be most easy to handle now, I doubt he has the will to fight back after finding out the truth he sought so hard to learn…" "At once Sojorian, although I must ask… What if he does offer some resistance?" "Heh if he does Achrion… Kill him." A small smile gleams on Achrion's face as the words are uttered from Sojorian's mouth. "With pleasure sir…" With that Achrion disappears from Sojorian's presence without a sound. The only sign of his passing is the space he once stood in is now devoid of his metal body.
"Heh, well Colt… Time to see the fruits of my labors… Let us hope you live through the process. Hehe, Ahahaha…." Sojorian rises from his chair and heads out his office door. "Soon… It will all be done with soon… I will be a god… No one can stop me now… Hahaha, AHAHAHA!"
With Colt broken and shattered, Achrion comes for his prey. Can Colt muster the will to fight back and escape, or has the one truth he so desperately sought claimed him in its death hold.
Also what happened to every one else. Especially Sage, Mewone and Samus? Are Cranberry and Mint even alive anymore? We all know that Mewone and Samus can't be off to a good start, they have the blind FOmar for help. You will have to wait to find out
Cranberry: Question! Will there be an elevator shaft for Colt to fall down in the next chapter. D
Colt:…. …. No god damnit! Now leave that subject alone!
Cranberry:… Your no fun ;;… I will be very cranky in the morning if I'm dead.
Colt:… Um… I got to go bye! fkees
Cranberry:… He isn't going to make it sadly, casts Rafoie
Next chapter: Purple Ring Knight Emerges.