Chapter 8
"We've lost access to the lower levels. It's mayhem down there." Three men burst into the room. Taka lifted his head from the floor. "It's the Drones. They've all activated and gone mad. This is the last control level access terminal we've got left. You two, guard the door. I'm going to try to access them from here." The proctor signaled to the two guards. Kawaharu whispered to Takaharu.
"It's Kinuito. I could see her descending down on some kind of platform. There's a fight going on down there." Taka watched the two guards exit. The one that stayed, the proctor from before, picked up a device and held it to his ear.
"Yes, I can track all the Drone's locations, but I can't shut them down. I know. Lock down the lower levels and do not send anyone else down there. I'm seeing if any video feeds are still active." Taka watched the screen go from static to a clear picture. He could see Kinuito and an army of Hisanaga's together fighting off an army of guards.
"I see them Kawa." Taka whispered. "You were right. I wish there was some way we could help them." He grasped the metal bars again and shook them to no avail. The proctor cursed under his breath as he worked furiously.
"I think I've found a way to slow them down one at a time, standby." The proctor hit buttons at blazing speed on the table in front of him. Taka could see the Hisanaga's one by one slowing and getting beaten down by The Fellowship guards.
"Kinu is going to be in more trouble if they catch her."
"I can see the fight is starting to turn against her, but what can we do?" Kawa strained to keep using her clairvoyance.
"We're stuck here. We're useless." Taka kicked the bars. He focused, held his breath, and pulled on the bars again with all his might, but they laughed in reply. He reached between the bars and felt the lock and the key hole on the outside. The proctor was still focused on the window in front of him while Taka saw the keys to the cells hanging from his belt loop. He gritted his teeth. If only he could reach them. He fixed his gaze on the keys, their only chance at escape. His will seemed to take on a life of its own. Suddenly he could feel the keys, but not with his fingers. He could touch them, even smell their copper odor and taste them on his tongue. He could turn them and examine them in his mind's eye. He reached again for them with his will and he heard them jingle. The proctor turned at the sound, sneered at him, and turned back to his work. Taka licked his lips and took a deep breath. He reached out again, but this time for the clasp of the belt. He gently unbuttoned it and the keys came free. He caught them before they hit the floor and kept them silent. Gently he pulled them closer to him on what seemed like an invisible string. He tasted blood in his mouth and his forehead felt as though it would split in two. He paused as they floated in front of the bars within his grasp and he reached for them. He exhaled loudly and pulled the keys close.
arsid6366166 The proctor was still intent on his work and Taka couldn't believe his own eyes. He turned the keys in his hands and silently unlocked his cell door with the proctor still completely oblivious. He wouldn't have much time to act. The guards could come in at any time. He had to help Kinuito in any way he could. He silently snuck toward the proctor and planned to wrestle him into the cell he had been in. Then hopefully barricade the door somehow.
He grabbed the proctor's arm and twisted it behind him like he'd seen Tsurumatsu do before. The proctor's surprise gave him a slight advantage, but he was still much bigger than him. He called for the guards, but Taka covered his mouth with his other hand. The proctor used that moment to overpower him and he twisted his arm free.
"Impressive, I knew you had potential in you, but how unfortunate that you've chosen to use it so poorly." He shifted his feet around Taka's and put him off balance causing him to stumble backward. "Guards, get in here!" The door slid open and the two were instantly on top of Taka. "Put him back in the cell. It seems we did get lucky with the twins." They threw him back in and beat him for good measure. "The commotion downstairs will be dealt with. There is nowhere they can run." Taka clutched his bruised ribs.
"I told you that you don't scare me." Taka spit blood to the floor. His survival instincts took over. His mind seemed to awaken for the first time and he could feel the first guard's nose crunch into his face as he flew backward into the wall.
"Taka, what are you doing?" Kawa called concerned from her cell.
"I'm getting you out of here." He took a step out of his cell and stared at the second guard's arms and legs flailing as he lifted him up into the air. He turned his attention then to the proctor at his console. He had his back to the table and looked paralyzed in fear.
"You." Taka took a step toward the proctor and the levitating guard flew head first into his cell with a muted thud followed by silence. Kawa was silent as well, unsure if she should be scared or relieved for her brother's new found power.
arsid6366166 The proctor reached into his belt as if he'd just remembered he had something. He struggled to free his hand from his pocket and Taka took another step closer breathing heavily. He felt his strength waning and he wasn't sure how much he had left in him. The proctor whimpered as Taka made him lift the handheld device from his pocket and hold it to his own chest. The device sparked and he immediately fell limp to the ground.
"I wish I had time to hook you up to that machine and see how you like it." Taka grit his teeth and spit blood again. "I don't think we have a lot of time Kawa." He unlocked her cell with the keys.
"Taka, please do not hurt anyone anymore. I don't know what they're going to do to us if they catch us now." She helped steady him on his feet.
"I won't let them catch you. They've taken everything from us Kawa. I'll never forgive them."
"Not everything, dear brother. Come on I'll help you." They struggled toward the door, but it slid open and welcomed 3 more guards. Taka pushed Kawa to the side and let out a guttural scream. The three guards flew through the door faster than they had come through it. He got to door and smashed the button pad on the wall.
"I don't think we're getting out of here Kawa, but that should buy us a little time." He jammed the door shut. Kawaharu searched her mind and tried to look around for Kinuito and Hisanaga.
"They're being chased out of the compound Taka. I think they might make it at least." Kawa tried to sound a little relieved. She could hear Taka smiling.
"Good, if she gets help maybe these guys will get what they deserve." More guards started banging on the door. "Hey, Kawaharu." He turned to her. She never liked when he used her full name. "Whatever happens if they come through-"
"Stop, there's nothing you need to say." She took a deep breath and nodded. "There are 6 outside. More coming down the hall. Maybe a dozen." Taka nodded to himself and went to Kawa. "I'm not sure where Shioseki is. I can't find any of the others either."
"It's okay." Taka said. "You've done enough." He grabbed her by the arms and embraced her. He saw the console and the proctor unconscious behind them. "Didn't you say they were chasing Kinuito? The proctor said he could track Hisanaga. That means when they get in here they'll be able to find Kinuito wherever she goes."
"I think you're right." Kawa couldn't think straight, her mind in a panic. "What are you thinking of doing?"
"Stand back." Taka trudged to the console and window. He felt the metal edges of the desk. It was solid and had no openings or seems he could grab onto. He took a deep breath and pulled the console from the inside. He forced his will onto it and into it. He could feel it ripping from the inside out. Sparks flew from one side as he felt it give way. The entire metallic desk crushed in on itself. He could see the sparks flying from the console in front of him. His vision started to go dark and he could smell smoke. Then his legs gave way and he hit the floor. Kawa ran to him and tried to shake him awake.
"Takaharu!" The door to the room started to give way. The guards were prying it open little by little.
Her breath came short. This was it. They would come in and see what they'd done and it would be over. She clutched Takaharu close. Her clairvoyant vision became cloudy and everything went dark. She shut her eyes as hard as she could. Then she stifled a scream when she suddenly saw herself alone in a pitch black expanse. They were no longer in the cell room with the guards; Takaharu lay in her arms. She looked around and black fog enveloped everything. Then she could see figures around her. Twelve guards circled frantically around her, but they didn't touch her. She could distantly hear them talking.
"Where'd they go? What's all this black fog? Does anyone see them?" Kawa froze, too scared to move. Was she dead? Was she invisible? She felt sick to her stomach. She didn't know what to do, she was stuck here. If only Taka was awake. She begged to him not to leave her alone.
"Sensei Shioseki." She breathed quietly. "What do I do Sensei?" And then she felt the black fog start sticking to her skin and enveloping her and Takaharu.
o o o
Akafude led Shioseki and Tsurumatsu down the stairwell. Once they reached the bottom they came to a large double locked door.
"I don't know exactly where this leads; just that it goes further down." Akafude took a keyring from her belt pouch and unlocked both locks.
"So this is our only bet? Why not go back to the Library?" Tsurumatsu put his ear to the door.
"I know every inch of this place, especially the Library." She glanced looked to them both. "We have no way of opening the door in the Library. This door is the only mystery to me. If there is a way, it'll be here." She paused biting her lip. "I just want to make sure one last time that you know what you're getting all of us into Shio. I can take care of myself, but I worry that you don't realize how deep you're getting." She turned to Shioseki, but she wouldn't meet her eyes. Shio looked to Tsurumatsu and they nodded to each other. "Okay, if you think so." And Aka opened the door.
The first hallway was unremarkable. They came to an intersection and snuck passed patrolling guards. Akafude gave them a nod of relief. They knew they were on the right track.
"So what should we be looking for?" Tsurumatsu peaked around the next corner.
"These guards must be guarding something right?" Shio whispered. "Let's follow the patrols." They agreed and continued deeper into the stronghold. Akafude signaled for them to stop and pointed around the corner. There were two guards stationed outside a door.
"Seems like an important room to have guards outside it." Tsurumatsu smirked. "How do you want to handle them? One I can take without my spear, but-" Akafude interrupted him.
"I'll take the far one, you take the closer one." Tsuru looked at her with surprise, but then nodded. "Shio, how do you feel about being bait?" Aka and Tsuru both looked to her. Her eyes went glossy for a moment, but she looked back at them with determination and agreed.
"For the kids." She declared. Shio walked in into the middle of the intersecting hallways. "Hello? Do you know where the Historical Fiction section is? I got lost and can't find my way back." She feigned scratching her head and shrugged her shoulders.
"Stop where you are. You can't be here." The guards started toward Shio and she turned and ran the opposite way. They ran right past Tsuru and Aka who were ready for them. Tsuru pulled the helmet off the first one and got his arm around his neck. He fell to the ground silently. Aka stuck her foot out and tripped her quarry. She drew a thin rope and fixed it around his neck. She wrapped the rope around her arms and pinned his arms down with her body weight. He was quiet shortly after.
Shio looked away and feeling sick to her stomach. They dragged the guards to the door.
"You're sure about this Shio?" Akafude looked to her knowingly. "There's no going back. What we're doing here-"
"Yes, you don't have to question my resolve Akafude. I'm ready to do whatever it takes to save my children." She did make eye contact with Akafude this time. Tsuru listened for anyone inside the room and gave them the all clear.
"Shio-" Akafude started.
"Let's go. We'll talk after all this is done." She left her behind and they hid the guards inside the room. It was empty except for a console on one wall with a seat, window, and a display of buttons on the table in front of it.
"There's nothing here, should we keep going?" Tsurumatsu scanned the empty room.
"Maybe this works. I've seen one before." Akafude sat in the chair in front of the console. She pressed a button and the window lit up in front of her. "Maybe there's something here that might tell us where they are." Tsuru and Shio watched her navigate through the scrolling information.
"There!" Shio put her finger on the window. "Stop, I saw something." Aka scrolled up.
"Kiyoshima?" Tsuru scratched his chin. "Let's take a look." Aka selected it and a picture of the island and information on it appeared on screen.
"Kiyoshima. A mysterious island who's name predates the Yamato Empire and a native inhabitants spanning back just as long. Geologic scans unavailable. Wired and Wireless Network connections unavailable. Local legends suggest a powerful entity may reside on the island. Island Network connection is quarantined behind a firewall. No additional information available." Akafude read out loud.
"Look at the date here, that's just a few weeks ago." Shio pointed and Aka selected it and she gasped.
"Candidates Kawaharu and Takaharu. Kamunagi of Chains. Current Kamunagi count is zero. Should another Great One appear, Yamato is completely defenseless against it. Kamunagi candidate selection has determined these to be the best viable candidates."
"I told you, this is The Fellowship. I'm nothing but a pawn." Aka leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms. Shio took control of the console, mimicking her movements.
"The Kamunagi of Chains Latency Program uses ancient tools to speed up the manifestation of mutations in hidden and locked genetic code to release latent abilities in individuals. Observed phenomenon include, Clairvoyance, Telepathy, Telekinesis, and Shadow Walking." She creased her brow. She had heard of these things in her studies, but had never seen them performed. She feared what these kinds of tests would be putting Takaharu and Kawaharu through.
And just as if she'd summoned them herself. A dark fog gathered in the corner of the room. Swirling slowly at first and then coalescing into the shapes of Kawa cradling an unconscious Taka in her arms. All three of them audibly gasped and backed away.
"A demon?" Tsuru stood in front of Shio.
"Kawa?" Shio called to the figure.
"Sensei Shioseki?" She replied and they ran into each other's arms.