Chapter 15 - Shades Of Grey

"I think that went rather well, don't you?" asked Gaspar, as he turned to the red Nu.

"Okay, so we've faked your death, making everyone think you're out of the picture, including those who need us, you've captured Alyssa from right underneath their noses whilst probably blowing your cover... you must feel so proud of yourself," Spekkio replied, a scornful look on his face.

"Well, I have to admit, that may be true and yes, it would hinder me, but it won't stop me except plain dumb bad luck. We've spent so long planning this, I just hope Destiny pulls through on her part."

"Yes, she... is dodgy. Unreliable. This whole plan will either fail or succeed because of her and we know so little about her. Isn't there another way of doing this?"

"Several, but they're even riskier."

"How much more?"

"Lets say, a snowball stands more chance of surviving in Hades than we do of surviving as a species via the other plans."

"So... not much then?"

"Yes, not much."

They stood in silence in the dark-grey steel room.

Finally breaking the silence, Spekkio spoke, "What now then?"

"Now we--" Gaspar stopped as he heard the sigh come from the corner.

"Waking up my dear? You were out for a bit longer than we thought."

"Wh... where am I?" Looking around as she slowly gathered her senses, Alyssa recognised her surroundings from intelligence photos. "Belthasar's laboratory..."

"Indeed, but don't start hoping for a rescue anytime soon, we've removed the tracer that was inside you."

Clever bastards... not that I need a tracer... "Do you really think you can stop us Gaspar? We've been planning this for decades, we can't be defeated now."

"I wouldn't discount us that easily my dear, we may surprise you yet."

"Hah!" was all the response Alyssa dignified him with.

Stepping forward angrily, Spekkio couldn't keep hold of his temper. "Just because you're some fucking Queen, it don't mean you're any better than us bitch. I mean, what the hell do you actually expect to gain from all of this? It's sheer bloody lunacy!"

"Eternal life of course... what do you think I expect?"

"Eternal life! You most certainly don't want that my dear. Trust me, I'm the closest thing that to having an infinite lifetime and I can tell you it sure as hell ain't no fun. There's nothing to do. Everyone you love, everyone you care about, everything you hold dear will die until you're the only one left standing there. Of course, since you don't even know what love is, that won't matter to you. But pray, please do tell me, what makes you think that you are going to get eternal life when we all know you will be dead?"

"We chosen few won't die... we will live on forever taking care of the new species, guiding them, directing them in their new lives."

"You may rule the land, but what good is that with no humans to rule over, only this new species?"

"Humans? Who gives a shit about humans?"

"We do, "replied Spekkio, stone-faced.

"Why should they bother to keep the bargain that they make with you? Why would they, to put it in your rather less eloquent words, give a shit about you?" said Gaspar, wincing at his own expletive.

"Because they always have done before."

"They've never gotten their full goal before though, have they? Control of the whole planet... what do you think they will do then? They can instruct the new species perfectly well themselves... you're irrelevant to them when you've done your job, and they'll destroy you like they'll destroy everyone else on this planet. They learnt their lesson from the whole Lavos incident... they won't let any humans survive if there's even the slightest chance they'll rise up against them. You will die, there's no doubt about it... the question is, will it be for your crimes or because of your crimes?"

"What do you know of them? How can you speak of them that way? You are insignificant to them, a mere bug that is biting at them. When the time comes, they will crush you..." she hissed at him, before spitting at him.

"Leave it Gaspar, we knew this would be pointless. She proved on the Black Omen she was totally overcome by Lavos' power. Now is no different. Just leave the wasted bitch where she is, or even better, leave me alone with her for a while. Then something useful might come out of this."

"Don't tempt me Spek', don't tempt me. But it's not her fault she's doing what she's doing, it's them... they are to blame, not her. She's only human like me, it's in our nature; we're weak physically, mentally and emotionally. We always were and always will be. Just leave her be... leave her be." With that, Gaspar and Spekkio made for the door.

"Wait! Aren't you going to tie me up or something?" Alyssa cried.

"What for? It's not like you can escape any time soon..." Spekkio said before leaving.

"I kinda lied earlier. This is Belthasar's laboratory, just not the one you thought it was... Let me just say that we're not in 2300AD anymore and leave it at that."

"Where the hell am I th--" Alyssa paused for a moment before rephrasing the question. "When the hell am I then?"

"A land before time..."

And with that, Gaspar left, leaving Alyssa all alone in the room. What the hell did he mean by before time? There's no such thing as before time... is there?

Alyssa was so lost in thoughts, she didn't see or hear the door slide open again, and was totally surprised when she was slammed to the wall.

"Poor Gaspar thinks you won't be able to do anything, even whilst you're here, but I'm not that gullible," Spekkio growled vociferously. "And whilst I'm at it, I figure I should get some good information out of you."

"There's nothing you can do to me that will make me talk. I will not betray my Gods!"

"Say... have you ever watched this twentieth century film called Terminator Two? No? Then you're gonna love this..." Spekkio raised his right hand and pointed a finger at Queen Zeal's shoulder.

"What do you think you're gonna do with that? Point the information out of me? Hah!"

Tilting his head to the side, Spekkio gave a malicious grin. Suddenly, his finger shot forward, stretching out into a cold steel spike, ramming through her shoulder. Alyssa couldn't hold back the scream as it shrilly escaped her lips.

"Ooh, that's gotta hurt...Feel like talking yet? No? Good... I want some fun..." Spekkio's extended finger quickly reverted back to its usual state. "What to do... what to do... I know..." Alyssa actually shuddered at the grin on his face as he lowered his hand between her legs.

"Wh... what are you doing to me?" she asked, a slight tremble in her voice. She felt her underwear be ripped away easily. She knew what was coming and she tilted her head upwards towards the ceiling, closing her eyes tightly shut. But that wouldn't stop him...

Her eyes flared open as his fist drove into her, a hoarse grunt escaping from her lips. She felt it liquefy, making its way slowly through her body, coating her vital organs. The pain was so intense, she couldn't make a sound. It felt like her very soul was being raped, stripped away of all its barriers.

"I have my 'hand' around every vital organ in your body, and a few non-essential but all the more painful bits as well. You talk, or I start squeezing... hard." Just to prove he was serious, he gave a sample. Pain flowed through every cell in her body, causing her to arch her back.

"I... I thought you were one of th... the good guys," she finally managed to whisper.

"You should know there's no such thing as a good or bad guy... the world isn't black and white, it's full of shades of grey. Nothing is pure, everything is tainted with its opposite. Even you have some good in you, though not much after Lavos defiled your soul."

She gasped as another wave of pain passed her body. "Relax girl, I've got all night to do this. Gaspar won't be back 'til morning and that leaves me quite a few hours to have my fun with you..."

The tears started to roll as she felt herself slowly slipping away...