Chapter 32
"What malady has afflicted your mind!"
That was what Viktor wanted to shout at Ren as they returned to the factory, but he didn't. He remained silent because Ren was silent. The boy hadn't said a word since leaving Splinter's Gorge. No chatter, no banter, no annoying comments, just the occasional grunt of pain as he dragged himself along behind Viktor.
People peeked through windows and bunched up to take a closer look at Ren. The noise from his fight had attracted quite the crowd, though he had been oblivious to it all. Viktor hated this unwanted attention. He let his third arm glow angrily and spread its fingers. Though the augmentation was not primed to attack, the posturing kept the crowd at bay. They tripped over each other to make room for Viktor and Ren as they passed, but refused to dissipate entirely. And above it all, their whispers could still be heard.
"Did you see all that?"
"Why were they fighting?"
"That was scary."
"I thought he was going to kill that kid."
"Who is that boy?"
"I didn't think he had a son."
"But did you see his augmentation?"
"I wish I had something like that."
"Could crush a skull easily."
"Monstrous strength."
Ren tried and failed to keep the voices out of his head. In his mind, they mixed with Ekko's words and replayed themselves until, at last, they had returned home. Rasping echoes filled the empty hallways of the factory as Ren dragged his augmentation behind him. His ankle had seized up not too long after the fight was interrupted, forcing him to shuffle slowly like he had when he received his first prosthetic.
Viktor held the door open as Ren stumbled into the surgery room.
"Sit," Viktor ordered, "and take off the augmentation."
Ren pulled himself onto the operating table, with no small measure of difficulty, and began to remove the damaged limb. Ekko had done a number on it. It was covered in dents and scratches. The gash on his shin was so covered in fluids that its original sheen was lost under the slick browns oils and rust of blood. Ren bit his lips and he removed the augmentation. Fresh pain rippled around his stump where the muscles and nerves connected to wires. The pit-pat of blood dripping seemed to echo in the silent room.
Viktor searched his cabinets for saline solution, degreasing wash, distilled water, and anything else that could be of use. He set the items on a trolley and pushed them over to Ren. Upon seeing the state of his augmentation, he bit back a spike of anger. How could the boy be so reckless with his work? Still, Ren was silent, so he remained silent, letting out only a long, disapproving sigh. Ren's body tensed at this sound.
Viktor moved the augmentation aside and set himself to dressing Ren's wounds. He started with the spilled oils and lubricants, removing the greasy substances before cleansing the area with the distilled water. Steadily he continued, tending to each cut and abrasion, of which there were many. He checked over Ren's bruises to make sure none hid broken bones beneath. A chem-tech mixture was applied to them. A shiver ran down Ren's spines as the solution cooled the area as if it were ice. And through this all, an unspoken tension began to steadily rise.
"Are you injured anywhere else?" Viktor asked.
"My soul," Ren said with a sigh.
"Answer seriously," Viktor scolded, "that boy is a nuisance and I won't have him –"
"Ekko," Ren cut in, "his name is Ekko."
"Regardless of what he calls himself, I won't allow him to endanger my work."
"He's not a nuisance either," Ren continued, ignoring Viktor, "he's my friend."
At this Viktor scoffed.
"That was not friendly behavior I witnessed."
"We couldn't agree on something, that's all."
"A disagreement that will cost me hours in repairing your augmentation. You were fortunate that he did not damage the core. Even artificial crystals are difficult to replace."
"Yeah well, Doc, I don't feel very lucky."
"You don't," Viktor said, his voice rising, "then here is another example of why you are lucky. Your doctor is not holding you as accountable for the damages as he should be. If you were this boy's friend, as you claim to be, then you likely would have known his disdain towards my work. Is this true?"
Ren gave a weak nod.
"I thought he would understand," he whispered.
"And yet you went anyways."
Now it was Ren's turn to raise his voice.
"How was I to know he would react so violently? I thought I could reason with him!"
Viktor gestured towards his damaged work.
"He attempted to maim you."
"Destroy the augmentation, not maim. I don't think he would try to maim me. He's my friend."
"You were incorrect in your assumption that you would be able to reason with him, you could be assuming his intentions incorrectly as well. People like him don't understand our work. They are needlessly stubborn and willfully ignorant. I would recommend using the word "was" over "is" from now on."
Viktor cradled the augmentation and brought it over to a table, turning his back on Ren. He didn't notice Ren trembling. Ren's heartrate was racing again. He pulled himself up to a sitting position and tried to make his battered body hold itself with some posture.
"You know, you're right, Doc," he said, his anger like steam about to blow the lid off a pot, "people don't understand me. Not Ekko and not you."
"You are a rash boy who is displaying behavior typical of his age. You act first and think of the consequences later. I had trusted you to behave responsibly and you went and nearly destroyed yourself."
The lid flew off.
"I told you," Ren howled, his already hoarse voice cracking further, "it wasn't my fault, damn it! I'd say put yourself in my place, but I know you can't. Empathy Doc, you don't have it. So shut up! You have no idea what I'm feeling right now!"
Viktor let the augmentation fall onto the table. He turned. His displeasure radiated outward like a tangible force.
"I have no idea," he said in his steady, cool voice, "is that so?"
But a hot anger was visible through these controlled words, like looking through the glass window of a stove and seeing the blazing fire within.
"How could I understand what it feels like to be attacked by someone who you thought was an ally? Never could I comprehend how it feels to learn that someone you thought was an intelligent, reasonable person, someone you considered your peer, could be too narrow-minded and stubborn to even consider looking at things objectively. And why would they? They think they are the hero. Their view is the only one that matters, no matter how many are injured or killed because of it. No matter how much it hinders advancement."
Viktor moved towards Ren with each sentence. The aura of menace that emanated from behind his mask was so awful that Ren was beginning to wonder how fast he could hobble on one leg.
"And I would never know how it feels to be vilified by people who do not understand what you are trying to do. Nor would I have experienced the feeling of isolation that follows all of this. The anger, the blame, the desire to lash out at yourself and others. I could never have felt those intrusive emotions before. But you, N-12, feel these things."
He was looming over the boy now. His third arm twitched restlessly while the rest of him stood gravely still.
"You know what it's like to be the inhuman boogeyman that children whisper to each other about. I have no idea. Is that not right?"
Ren stared up in stunned silence.
"You are the one who has no idea," Viktor continued after he didn't get a response.
He turned towards the door.
"The automatons will bring you your old prosthetic," he said as he opened the door, "and you will see yourself to your room. Go and be alone with your thoughts."
Greetings Summoners,
I feel like I've got some momentum with this story now and hopefully I can start getting chapters to you sooner. That being said, I first need to tend to Karthus in my other story. He has been waiting very patiently for his turn. I think Viktor and Ren both need some time to think things over as well. As always I appreciate your feedback.
Best of luck on the Rift,
-Gwoo
P.S. Please remember to wash your hands and make safe choices. 3
