I felt my hand keep its grip on Lili's with every step we took down into the main lab. My mind was wandering as each piece of the stairs was covered by slow mutual steps.
This is like some kind of underground cave. It's somewhat similar to something like the Bat Cave in the comics.
I couldn't help but smile a little as I could see Sasha Nein as such. A symbol of justice despite the means by which it takes to get there. I always looked up to him for that aura anyways. It's what made him relatable to me. He and I both seemed to have something to prove. Like there was something in our minds that we were fighting for.
Though I doubt his goal is based on the idea of wanting to bring in a new era for your family name.
I shook my head out of my thoughts as I took in the rest of the lab.
That large machine should be the brain thing he was talking about. The rest of this seems like they're prototypes and things. Little tool sets and circuit boards with soldered wires half done and out of place. It all seemed organized, but as if he had his own specific steps to his projects. Like everything had to be in an organized order just for him.
"Ah!" I watched as Sasha stopped with what he was working on before turning toward Lili and me. "You both have made it! Here I thought you both wandered off for the rest of the day."
"Eh, Raz was a bit too eager to come to see what you had set up for him." I could tell Lili had a large smirk on her face by the tone of her voice as I still looked at the taller man in awe.
"Nothing wrong with being eager for knowledge." He adjusted his glasses for a moment before leading against the table that he was working at. "I figured taking a swing in the Brain Tumbler. A welcoming place of mind is always a great place to start, after all. It will also give me some knowledge about how you move about the subconscious and what you can do." Sasha turned his head as if to notion that he was speaking to me specifically since his eyes were blocked by his sunglasses. "Sound good?" I swallowed hard as I tried my best to give the agent a reassuring smile.
"Sounds good, yeah."
Sounds horrible, this is a terrible idea.
"Perfect then." Sasha turned to mess with something once more as he gestured his left hand toward the large machine beside him. "Whenever you're ready, step up to the machine and we'll get started." He glanced over his shoulder toward Lili's direction as he continued. "And remember to not get too close to the machine, Miss Zanotto. Don't want any interruptions with his mental field."
"I remember." Lili gave a single nod as Sasha gave a hum of approval in reply. He turned his attention back to his work as I felt a squeeze on my hand. I looked over to Lili to see if we had never lost our grip on one another. Our hands were still linked from when she helped me get to my feet.
We just spoke to one of the head agents of the Motherlobe while holding hands. As if it meant nothing.
The thought caused me to blush deeply.
I hope once he realizes who I am, this won't get her in trouble. I can tell she won't give a shit, but I'd rather not cause issues for her.
"It's a little rough at first," She spoke softly as she dropped my hand from hers. "But it's alright. Just don't try to fight it when it pulls you into the collective area. It might lead to some damage there that's really hard to mend." I nodded silently as I reached up with both hands to grab my goggles and slide them down.
"Thanks for the warning." A smirk grew on her lips as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"I just have a feeling you'll need it." I couldn't help but smile in reply as I slipped my hands into my jacket pockets.
"What? Don't think I can handle it?" I turned to step up toward the machine before looking back at her. "Or are you going soft of me still?" I smirked as she huffed a little in reply.
"You wish." I couldn't help but smile as she looked over toward Sasha. "Do I get to watch with you on the screen there?"
"If Razputin wishes." Sasha looked over toward me as she adjusted the screen before him. "Are you comfortable with that?"
"Sure." I swallowed hard as I knew my mental field was going to be displayed nonetheless. "It doesn't bother me."
"Ready then, young man?" Sasha looked back toward the screen before lowering it just a tad so Lili could join him.
"Let's go."
A bright light came from behind my head and I felt the back of my skull feel as if it was being pulled back as my projection was pulled out from behind me. I squeezed my eyes shut and gritted my teeth as I tried my best to just let my mental form be released into the machine.
Breathe, Razputin. Just breathe.
I heard my father's voice in my head as a bright light shined into my closed eyelids.
It'll be over soon enough.
"You're clear to open your eyes now, Razputin." I slowly opened my eyes as the bright white light of the collective subconscious shined before me.
"Christ," I cursed a little as I squinted for a moment. "Why's it so bright in here?"
"That's what I always wondered too." I heard Lili's voice this time as Sasha quickly replied.
"All the minds within this whole are connected to this one point. The Collective Unconscious." I looked about to see that there was just a ring of pavement that worked as a wall-less hallway. The ring walkway had little doorways attached even though there was no wall to support them from behind. "Each door leads to a person's mind. The only one that should be available to you is your own. Unless you have been minds of some others before you came here."
"I used to train in my father's subconscious a lot," I spoke softly as I walked toward a bright green door with an ocean wave carved into it. "But I think I know which one is mine."
"Perfect. Whenever you're ready, go ahead and enter." I nodded my head as I walked up to the door. I closed my eyes for a moment before reaching out and touching the wood of it. Its energy was familiar. Soft and gentle like a wave's idle tide. It was obvious it had some strength to it. I opened my eyes as I looked over the door's details once more.
This is mine.
I danced my gloved fingers over the details of it before slipping it over the handle and twisting it gently.
And I have no clue to be excited,
I opened the door slowly as a bright green light welcomed me. The glow of it engulfed me with grace as I took my first step in. My eyes closed gently as the light grew brighter with every motion I took.
Or dreadfully terrified.
The green light slowly subsided as I heard a soft click of the door closing behind me. I felt the shift of the ground under me change as my feet felt as if they were sliding just a tad. I snapped my eyes open quickly to steady myself as I then realized I was standing in shallow sand.
"Do you recognize the area, Razputin?" I looked up from the ground and was welcomed to the familiar sight of my family's caravan. The old dark wood is a striking contrast to the bright beach and sun behind it. I felt myself smile as I looked over the rest of the scenery to see the gentle tide of the ocean lap the shoreline ever so gently before pulling back in a soothing rhythm.
"I was born here."
"You were born on a beach?" I laughed a little at Lili's voice as I looked back over toward the caravan.
"My family lives in the caravan there. We work as performers at a circus to keep a low profile and make ends meet. We're acrobats, more specifically though. We're never in the same spot for too long. It's honestly for the best." I started walking toward the caravan as I slipped my hands into my jacket pockets. "I was born in the caravan, but this is the place we stopped for the time being. My mom makes an effort to come back here for my birthday each year. Something about how it was important in Grulovia to have ties with your birthplace and all." I stopped a few inches away from it before looking out toward the sea.
"It was one hell of a night from what she spoke of though. She said that the ocean waves rose and fell but never got too close to the caravan as a storm took over its idle flow. She remembered how rain pelted against the ground, but never seemed to assault our little home all too much. Thunder rang out, but the lighting was never all too close for us to see it." I felt my smile glow as I turned my attention back to our home on wheels. I reached out and placed my hand on the main door as a sense of safety radiated from it.
"Nona told me constantly that it was a sign of what I was going to be. That I had a natural connection with water." I chuckled a little as my palm was placed firmly against the old wood. "She spoke of how old Grulovia folk stories spoke of how what occurred during a person's birth meant more than anything. She would go on and on about how I was born to be a psychic and that night only proved it. That I was meant to take the world by storm." I smiled wide as I thought about it a little longer. "Never knew if she meant the little pun there though."
"So you're a hydrokinesis psychic?" Sasha's voice sounded intrigued as I moved my hand to grasp the doorknob. I opened the door slowly to be welcomed to Nona's old entry curtains. They had a gentle white glow behind them that felt more welcoming than anything else I have ever encountered in my life. It was familiar with how it was as bright and loving as the circus lights we hung for our performances.
The family tent. Our performance ring.
I felt a wide smile take over my lips as the next thought entered my mind.
The Aquato family's truest and most welcoming home.
"I'm much more than just that, Agent Nein." I felt pride fill my chest as I pushed the curtains aside. The muffled sound of cheers filled my ears as I knew exactly where this would lead.
"I'm an Aquato." A wide smile took over my face as I let myself be engulfed by the welcoming light.
"Razputin Aquato."
