A/N: Rated M for cruelty.
Chapter 11: Shadows of the Empire
Part 1: Elegant Crimes
Sky's POV
*Fade in* When I open my eyes, I find myself in a dark, dark room. My feet hurt like hell, but that's not what I'm worried about. It's the hands. They're trapped in blocks of cement. Not very large ones, but not small ones either. His hands had been cemented. It was obviously a measure to stop him from using his powers, and he knew his wrists would hurt SO FREAKING MUCH when they were out of the encasing. IF they ever got out. just to bring them up to drag myself is painful work. I look around, and I see a familiar face. A face that I am so, so freaking happy to see! Wait there's two of them! But then I'm shocked. Their hands are cemented too!
It's Bridge AND Sam!
"Bridge!" I call out, and he, apparently sleeping, jerks awake, "Sky?" he looks at me bewildered. He nudges Sam with his nose, and awakens him too, he also looks at Sky, first a look of happiness, then disappointment. He turns to Bridge, "I thought you said that he'd get us out! What is he doing in here?"
right, I was supposed to get them out. They must be thinking that Z and I were the only ones who could get them out. and now I'm here. I don't know where Z is, and it pains me to think what might've happened to her. She's not here.
"gosh! Guys I'm so happy to see you! I was thinking the worst might've happened! I'm so glad you two are well"
"well?" Bridge asked sarcastically? I can't believe it. Something must be wrong!
"but guys! You are alive!" I can't express my joy well enough. Now's the time for another revelation, one that has been haunting me and Z for WAYYYYY too long.
"where's Syd?" I ask Bridge, knowing the answer wayyy too well, "is she..." I can't complete the sentence.
His answer shocks me, "life support. She is taken away every day, for a couple hours, and plugged into that machinery that keeps her alive, and running." "machinery?" I ask, though the actual question in my mind is 'SYD IS ALIVE?' though I don't ask that, as it sounds insensitive.
"Yeah, something because of the excess blood loss, just till they can transfer more into her from some of her family." Bridge explained. I sigh, relieved.
"but how can machines keep her alive is she doesn't have blood?"
"simple. Nyxia" Sam chimed in from the other end.
"what?"
"yeah. They have Nyxia"
whoa! Nyxia! The most expensive material in the universe, which has such medicinal properties, that it can heal a stab wound in three hours or something? And fractures are a day with it. Once I heard some grand politician had his arm melted off by some off planet assassin or something in a final-destination-esque way, and he could afford Nyxia, and so within a month, they managed to grow his whole freaking arm back!
This is what had it dubbed as the 'Elixir of Life.' If Syd's on Nyxian life support, I need not worry about her survival. She's gonna last.
I realize Sam hasn't spoken much. He's usually very chirpy, would've said about a hundred things already, but he's just said a couple things.
"Sam, is something wrong?" I addressed him, he shakes his head, denying it, but Bridge comments.
"he had a throat infection, which, hasn't been treated, and so it's getting worse."
"oh!" I say, and though at the time I don't understand the significance, somewhere inside of me, I have a feeling it's more than what they're letting on.
"where's Z?" Bridge asks me, and it stings.
"I—uh—I don't really know" I say.
They look at me, wide eyed, maybe confused. "what do you mean? She's not captured as well is she?" Bridge asks, and I am totally surprised. How is Bridge talking in normal, human speech sentences? What happened to Bridgey language?
"I don't know. She might be, she might not. I was taken out before her" I say truthfully. To be honest, I can't reveal my plan to even these two. Who knows there might be cameras around, or who knows, these two might be spies! Ok I need to shut up with my 'all-my-friends-are-spies' theory.
But I'm not laying down my plan. It's just too risky. I just hope Jack is able to do his part, and that nothing happens to Z.
Instead I change the topic, "so Bridge, how are you talking like a normal person?" I ask, and though he should be offended, he understands the question, and gives a short, almost sarcastic laugh.
Then gets serious again, "my powers are not working" he lifts his cement covered hands, "and so, there are very few thoughts in my mind right now. I can think them straight, and I can arrange them as I want. There's much less clutter, and so I am able to speak easily, and without rambling"
I never realized it was his powers that made him talk different. It must be so difficult for him. This must be such relief for him. He's not talking a lot either, neither is chirpy-Sam. It's like they are tired of life and everything in it. That is the vibe Bridge Carson in giving me. The feeling? It's scary.
I try to activate my powers, and try to disintegrate the block with my force field.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" I scream instead, as I feel my own force field smoldering my hands! Aaahh! It hurts! It hurts! I scream! Apparently the cement block has created a small space for my powers to work, and in that small space only, they'd work. And the only things in that small space, are my hands. They're incinerating. Bridge drags himself to me, using support from his blocks, and gets nearer to me, and snuggles his nose against my chest, a sign of attempted comfort, as he can't use his hands, and I just scream more, as I feel the flesh of my hands burning due to the heat, and power of my own force field!
Suddenly two people in that classic all covered uniform come rushing, and drag me with them. Bridge and Sam don't protest, I can't protest. They drag me away, screaming, until I pass out from the pain. This was a BIG mistake.
X-X-X
I'm in an infirmary of sorts. It is a nice, cool place, (cool as in temperature) and I find that the cement on my hands has been removed, and instead, replaced by a lustrous black substance, that feels like cool, gentle, slime, but does not appear liquid at all. It's like soft, smooth, water like wrapping paper.
It's Nyxia.
I looks around, and I find myself extremely relieved to see that Sydney in on the bed next to me, peacefully sleeping. They have plugged in some tubes into various junctures of her body, and a Nyxia meter is draining Nyxia into Syd's body. Nyxia has literally become Syd's blood. I think it's because of it, that Syd's skin radiates a sort of bluish glow. It's unnatural, but at the same time, mesmerizing. Blue blood eh? I don't think I'd comment on it though.
I then turn to my other side, and I gasp. On my left hand side hospital bed, lies, in a completely blood stained uniform, her blood also staining the infirmary sheets, Z!
I find my heartbeat rising and falling, as I realize that she's on Nyxian life support too! Oh my God! What did she do? Why Z? Why do you have to be so heroic? Why couldn't you let me stay to protect you? Why that stupid plan? And see? Now you're at the mercy of these as***les! Oh God! Z! You fought wayyy too hard.
But then I'm distracted from my horror, and pain, and guilt, by the fact that the three of us are the only ones in the infirmary… Where's Wally?
Z's mid section seems to be almost sawed in half, and I find myself choking on my own spit, (yes we're going with spit. I'm NOT crying), and cough out loud, that causes one of Syd's eyes to fly open. She turns her head, and looks at me, well at both of us, and she gasps.
"S—Sk—Sky?" she stutters, and I nod, finding myself too breathless to speak.
"how?" she looks at my hands, and then at Z. she seems to be speechless too.
But then I turn to look at Z, and I realize that I'm not bound, I'm not gagged, I'm not in any sort of restraints, except the Nyxia, in which I'm in no mood to use my powers. I gently get up, and I slowly trudge over to Z, and I place a Nyxia-covered hand on her forehead. It glows, and I find some of my Nyxia imparting to her. Her eyes stir a bit, but do not open. Feels like she's dreaming again.
"Z?" I ask, and though I get no reply, just being this close to her, and being able to touch her, is enough for me. I gently bend forward and kiss her cheek, because the forehead is covered by my hands. Déjà vu.
Syd watches this with interest, and asks, "you care for her?"
I reply, somehow, almost instantly finding my voice "more than anyone in the world."
Syd forces a smile, though I can see it hurts to smile. She's still trying so hard to be her optimistic, cheerful self, even though she knows, that she can not be. I think her powers are also being insulated by the Nyxia. We just stay that way, me with Z, Syd watching with a smile, for a moment or so, but we are interrupted by a figure entering the room. Just by their presence, I can feel that they're someone with… POWER.
It's one of them. I am certain. It's either J. Payton, S. Nixon, C. X. Snow OR L. Schmidt. One of the E Group Subjects, of course! They're the masterminds behind the plan. They're the ones with the power. Maybe resources. I mean after all, with power, resources DO generally follow! There's only so much in New Tech City that power cannot buy. SPD being one of those rare things.
"Hello, Schuyler" she said. Yes the voice was female.
"how do you know my name?"
"oh, right, we haven't met." She extended her hand, but then saw the Nyxia, and then retracted it. Pretty sure that was just a gesture to insult me, "I am Jennifer Payton."
"How to you know me?" I repeat.
"I keep a watch on the people I'm supposed to conquer you know?"
"what have you got to do with all of this?" I ask, knowing quite well.
"well, my dear Schuyler, as if you don't already know" she said slyly. I don't like her. I've made my opinion. Syd speaks up from behind, "come on, come on, tell him your sorry story too, like you've been telling me for the past few days!"
"very well" she nodded, apparently happy that someone was interested in her story? Idiot.
"you know Schuyler, personally, I relate the most with your friend lying over there" she pointed at Z, "I was just twelve when Dr. Anastasia Gaul conducted her experiments on me, and well, screwed up, horribly! I would go into what you call category B. I became, a little…. Mental."
I can see that.
"But, very smartly, I never let it show. I always deceived people of what I truly had become. Pre Gaul Jen and post Gaul Jen were two VERY. SEPARATE. PEOPLE. Though no one saw it at the time" I nod, for what reason, I don't know, "so when Gaul realized that her test had succeeded giving people minor powers, the D-Category ones, I decided to sign up with her again. I wanted power. Power can bring glory, and more power. Power is practically all you need to survive. And who knows it better than you Rangers, who have just gotten your posts because of your powers" I feel my blood boiling. Having powers did not make us Rangers. It was our hard work, perseverance, years and years of training, and goodness of heart above all, that did. I don't comment.
X-X-X
Payton continued her sorry tale, going on and on about how kids used to tease her in school, and how she just kept it all in. Then when she signed up with Gaul again, she realized that her powers, that had developed because of the gene mutation, were themselves, a different breed, a new category. No glitches of any sorts, no problems, no buts, no nothing wrong at all! It was so surprising, even for Gaul herself, that she was put in a new category. The E-category.
This was followed by the discovery that people who had already been experimented on once, could develop these powers. But the people who had been were usually in no condition to sign up again. And the ones in the D-Category were experimented on, and about six or seven of them landed into the A-Category, as a result of power overload. So it was established, that C and B categories were the only ones suitable for getting into the program for a second time, and come out with proper super powers. Payton being one, three others were chosen, and they did come out, as they did.
But before Gaul could repeat the experiment with more people, Dr. Kat Manx discovered the whole thing, and reported it to Cruger, who took immediate action, disbanding the whole program, and sending Dr. Gaul to prison. No one knew of it, as it was kept top secret, a result of her reputation, and net worth.
The four who had gotten the powers now wondered on what to do. Revealing their powers could lead to SPD asking them to be under control, or submission, or something like that, which they didn't want to do. So the ultimate plan they came up with was…
TAKE OVER THE F*CKING PLANET.
Sky laughed. "What's so funny?" Payton asked.
"people and their notions of grandeur, and how they simply underestimate how difficult it is to take over a planet."
"we took over SPD didn't we?"
"and what about the militaries? And the other non earth branches of SPD?"
"simple. Military? Governments? Bought. Easily. They permanently reside in our pockets." Then she paused, for effect, "and as for your precious Galactic Command, and SPD of other planets? If they want to see the rest of you alive, and yes, that includes ALL our hostages, you Empowered, your very injured commander, your Dr. Manx and other experts, and the younger cadets, like your little Empowered buddy, Samuel? And the other junior cadets. All of you will be killed, if they do not accede our demands."
"What demands?"
"Severe earth's connections from the Intergalactic Planetary Union" she stated without any thought.
"what?"
"And SPD galactic command should NOT interfere with our activities, once we have let the hostages go."
"WHAT… THE… F*CK" he said, slowly, comprehending everything, and getting f*cking frustrated with everything that was happening. His temper was rising, and he wished he could shoot her right in the face. But he was powerless.
She laughed, and then another one of them entered, with a distinctly masculine voice, he spoke, "well I think you've blabbered enough, Jenny." Then he turned to Sky, "But it's fine you know? You're never leaving this place again." Sky was prepared for this, Sydney wasn't.
"WHAT?" she asked, abruptly from her bed, "I thought you didn't kill the empowered? Isn't that why I am strapped to this chair and not in the dead pile?"
The man laughed, "of course, Miss Drew, we need you alive, and in good health…" he trailed off, seeing her expression, she was half dead already, and was surviving on some artificial substance flowing through her veins, and he called this good health, "well," he corrected himself, "better health, than what you had when you were brought here" he looked at Syd with slant eyebrows, as if she owed her life to them. They were the ones who took it from her. Her eyes spit poison for him, but she stayed quiet, knowing they could just pull a plug, and she'd be gone for good.
"what we need you for, is a special purpose… once that is done, you five, are nothing but a threat. You'll be eliminated," he said, nonchalantly. And then turned to walk out of the room.
"who are you?" Sky asked, through gritted teeth.
"Crassus Xanthus Snow" he said, laughing, leaving Syd and Sky in shock. He was the very same guy, Sky realized, who had brought Nyxia TO earth and to everyone's attention, and used it when he had lost an arm in an— who was Sky kidding? He must've been a Test Group C person, who must've lost the arm in Gaul's experiment, and then grew it back with the Nyxia. Rich son of a bitch, his money caused him to get back what he had lost, and so he didn't value it, and rather jumped into the experiment again for more power! And he had gotten it! Life's so f*cking unfair!
He left the room, Payton stayed to gloat for a few more minutes.
"yes, that IS, THE Crassus Snow! He was also a part of the experiment, and now the primary funder of our whole operation. He is truly a man of power. Of all sorts now. she smirked. We've already thought of every possible contingency" she lifted her eyebrows, and smirked, and then followed Snow out the door, laughing evilly.
Now it was Sky's turn to laugh. He looked at Z, and then he placed a hand on her, and then burst into laughter. Syd looked at him, as if he had gone crazy, but well, he hadn't. Anyway, he didn't take the risk of telling Syd why he was laughing. Why was he? payton really WAS a blabbermouth. Crassus did have a point.
'We've already thought of every possible contingency' she said, huh? Well, they had forgotten one. Z Delgado was a f*cking genius. They had just laid their plan out beautifully well. They had taken the bait. And a fact that no one, except Sky, knew was that there was a damned listening device inside both his and Z's bodies. And that this device, would probably be tapped into by Jack, by now, and he'd be listening and recording, and tracking their locations. And later, he'd attack. The Delta Command Megazord, and the individual Zords as well, at his disposal.
They were trusting Jack with everything, and everyone SPD. This was how much faith they had had in him. It was what made him the most crucial part of the plan. They had both played their part well, it was his turn now.
And true to himself, and his friends, Jack Landers did indeed sit in Dr. Manx's bloody, frozen lab, with headphones, that were tapped into one of Boom and Bridge's created listening devices, whose microphones resided inside Sky and Z's bodies.
What all could those simple Microchip devices do. Jack smiled, his friends were incredible. Now it was actually his turn to do something incredible.
A/N: Yes Syd is alive. See the thing is, what all you read earlier, was what Sky and Z thought, and from their perspective, she wasn't. But tell me this: do YOU want Sydney Drew to die?