Gunshots could be heard outside of the door along with screams of pain. Soon silence fell as Link looked to Eznik for some sort of feedback. Link's heart pounding; he dreaded what could be. His ears perked in astonishment as he heard the three knocks on the door. He watched as Eznik opened the door.
Eznik looked Celtic over. He was a bloody mess with fresh bullet wounds in his torso. "You gonna be able to hold up?" he questioned Celtic knowing that the devil was in more physical distress than he would admit to. Eznik studied Celtic analyzing his injuries. He noticed that he had a couple markings on his body that looked like seals.
Celtic gave a small nod. "Hurry up, before the guards make it down here." Celtic imparted as he looked at Link who walked out of the room. "Protect Eznik; he's wounded. Aim for their sides and their joints that's where their armor is weak." he hurriedly instructed the teen. He knew Link would need all the help he could get. "Hurry up." Celtic snipped as his eyes locked on the group of guards that were running down the hall towards them.
Link nodded, running after Eznik. He glanced back to observe Celtic take on an apparent fighting stance. He was going to hold off the guards for the three of them. Link shook his head in bewilderment all seemed beyond his perceptions. He continued running after Eznik. He prayed that Celtic would be fine.
Navi looked back at Celtic as he darted towards the guards. She looked away, closing her eyes. She didn't want to see him wounded more. It looked like he was in enough pain. She felt bad for all the mean stuff that she had once said to him and about him; especially now when she could see what a valiant person he truly was. Devil or not.
Eznik ran past a T in the hallway. He winced as he ran past the next connecting hallway. Gunshots fired passed him. He looked back at Link and before he could say anything Link let out a cry of pain as he was shot a couple of times. Eznik watched the teen stumble towards him.
"LINK!" Navi screamed out as she jumped off of his shoulder. Her eyes shot to the guards running down the hall towards them. "You have to get up!" she cried out to him. She had tears running down her cheeks. All she knew was those guns could kill Link. He had to keep moving or he was a goner.
Eznik ran up grabbing Link's arm pulling him to his feet. "Just run, don't think!" Eznik snapped at the teen. Eznik pulled him into a room, Navi right behind them. Eznik then pushed the panel buttons and the door shut. He swiftly pulled open the panel and started to rewire the locking device. There was a click as the door went into lockdown.
Eznik bent down worried; looking at the teen's wounds. He let out a small sigh of relief as he noticed the shirts he had on. He thought to himself that Brat had thought of everything. The bullet resistant clothes hindered the bullet's impact so Link's injuries weren't going to be so bad. This was a blessing. Eznik tore off a piece of his coat and held it over one of Link's wounds.
"E-Eznik…" Navi nervously bayed as she looked on at Re-ju who was pointing a gun at the group.
"I knew I recognized the two of you. You're the non-merger that that traitor dragged along." he stated pointing his gun at Link. "And you're the faerie that they found on the ship…" Re-ju smirked at them. "I guess now you get to stay here and rot with your friend." he sniped at his captives. Just then Eznik went to reach into his pocket. "I wouldn't try anything if I were you, Doctor. I'm far more trained for these situations. I promise you, you will end up dead."
Eznik didn't look at the man but stopped moving. "I have a medical gun in my pocket. This young man needs medical attention." Eznik gnarled as he then glared up at their captor. "Unless you rather just have him die here and you can explain to your superiors why they did not get a chance to interrogate this non-merger."
Re-ju looked at Eznik and then at the teen. "His injuries are not that grave. So I doubt he'll die, if you move him." He backed up to one of the panels next to one of the other doors in the room. He dialed on the panel and the door slid open. "Drag him in there and you can treat him."
Eznik looked at Link. "This is going to hurt, ok." he quietly informed the teen. Eznik slowly hoisted Link's arm over his shoulder. Link let out a groan as he stood up with Eznik's help. Navi looked at Re-ju and then at the other two. How were they going to get out of this mess? she wondered.
"Sit on the boy's shoulder, Faerie. You're hard to keep track of being so small. I don't want you flying away. But keep in mind if you should… I will shoot your friends." Re-ju threatened Navi. Navi flew up sitting on Link's shoulder. She glared at Re-ju as the group struggled into the I-SO chamber.
Eznik moved Link to a wall, bending down slowly so to rest him on the ground. He then went to get in his pocket. "Hold it!" Re-ju snapped as he focused his gun on Eznik. "Try not to forget, good doctor, that you're a prisoner and you need to keep me apprised of every move you make. Toss me the boy's book bag."
Eznik let out a small indignant huff. He helped Link sit up so he could get the bag off. He then tossed the bag at Re-ju. "There is a medical case in there I need." Eznik clued up the commander as he waited for him to let down his guard enough so he could get out his gun.
Re-ju grabbed the bag with his free hand. He backed out the room dropping the bag. He used his now free hand to dial on the panel. The door shut; locking. He glanced at the bag on the ground, picking it up. Smirking; he turned to go report his success.
Eznik grabbed Link's hand moving it onto the wound. "Keep pressure on it." Eznik advised as he started to tear off another piece of his coat. "Eznik, if I can get us outside of the door can you shoot that bastard?" Navi inquired. She knew that Link needed those medical supplies in that bag.
Eznik looked at Navi nodding as his long standing guess of her being able to teleport was verified. He pulled the gun out of his pocket. He watched Navi fly up on his shoulder. She closed her eyes. She had to teleport, she couldn't let Link die not now. Navi's eyes shot open as a rush of energy ran through her.
Everything seemed to be a blur. She cringed as she heard gunshots. She didn't want to see who fired or who was fired upon. She was panting some as she could feel a good deal of her energy was gone. She felt Eznik walking; she opened her eyes to see what had happened.
Re-ju was on the ground clenching his leg. "You scum bastard!" he raged at Eznik. "You make a move for your gun. I will shoot your hand. I may not be a killer but I know how to make someone suffer enough that they'd wish they were dead.." Eznik said coldly to the man.
Re-ju glared at Eznik. The burning pain was rushing through his body. "Up to your feet… It won't kill you." Eznik insisted. "Unless you want me to shoot you to the point I feel safe dragging you into one of these rooms."
Re-ju struggled as he got to his feet, his pride wouldn't let him be dragged around by this scum. He winced from the pain of his gunshot. His eyes were fixed on Eznik as he walked over to another door.
Eznik kept his gun aimed at Re-ju using his free hand to dial on the panel, keeping his main focus on Re-ju. The door slid open and Eznik backed away from it. "Get in there." he demanded. He knew to keep his distance so that Re-ju couldn't try anything.
Re-ju limped slowly into the room. He kept his eyes on Eznik hoping for a chance to change this upshot. "You know you're not going to get out of here with your daughter." he snickered. "She's probably being transferred out of here as we speak. All of this… for not. And in the end you'll all end up dead."
"Toss me the bag and your ID…" Eznik requested seemingly unbothered with the man's words. He knew it was a tactic to make him drop his guard. He watched the bag and ID land at his feet. He closed the door; locking it.
Eznik put up the gun, picking up the bag and ID. He walked into the room where Link was. He set the bag down grabbing out the medical kit. "I'm going to just give you painkillers for now. We don't have time to treat your wounds."
Link nodded. "That's fine." Link responded as he let out a grunt as Eznik shot him in the side with the medical gun. He looked at Eznik as he held out his hand to Link. Link grabbed his hand; he grimaced as Eznik helped him up to his feet. Link closed his eyes. This pain was something he'd never felt before; a terrible burning sensation like liquid fire burning through his system but the painkiller seemed to be starting to work some. He looked over at Navi. The look of worry was written all over her face.
Eznik hosted Link's arm over his shoulder. "Come on. We need to find which one of these rooms is holding Autum." he stated as he walked out of the room helping Link. "Navi, fly down the hall looking over the panels at the doors; green lights mean there's someone in there. Yell out what rooms have green lights." Eznik said as he looked at Navi.
Navi nodded as she got to her feet. She jumped off Eznik's shoulder darting down the hall looking at the panels. All of the panels so far were red, none green. Navi stopped as she found one. "I found one!" she shouted back at Eznik. She looked back at the two who were slowly walking towards her.
Eznik looked at the panel. He started to type on it. "Not her. Keep looking." He said as he watched Navi as she took off flying down the hall again. Eznik looked at Link who was a bit pale. "I need you to stay with me, Link. I know the pain is bad, something you're not familiar with, but I need you to stay conscious." Eznik urged Link.
Link nodded. He looked to Navi who was almost at the end of the hall. His ears perked as he heard three knocks on the door that Eznik had locked. He looked back. "You think that's Celtic?" he quizzed Eznik.
Eznik looked down the hall back at the door. "It's his signal." Eznik said hesitantly as he moved Link's arm off of his shoulder. "Found One!" Navi screamed. She was at the very last room down the hall. Eznik looked at Navi then to Link. "Take this; you can use it to open the door. You slide it downward." Eznik directed making a small action with the card to show Link how to use it. "Be careful. If it's not her, close the door back up quickly. You push this button." He pointed to the panel that was next to them. "Don't take any chances as to whether they are good or not." He warned as he gave Link Re-ju's ID. He then limped his way down the hall to the locked door. He prayed that it was Celtic that had knocked at the door.
Link held his side as he walked towards Navi. He winced at the pain that was running through him. He walked up next to the door Navi was at. He looked at the panel trying to figure out where the card went. He noticed a place that looked like a spot for the ID. He slid the ID into it like Eznik had shown, the panel beeped and the door slid open.
Navi looked into the room. "Oh by the goddess, Din." Navi shrieked as she shook her head and flew into the room. Her heart racing, Autum didn't seem to be moving. "Autum?!"
Autum was lying on her stomach. It was obvious she had a broken leg and arm, as for her hair it was butchered, patchy, and disheveled. She was stained in her own blood. She was covered in bruises, cuts, slashes and scratches. Her clothing was tattered and torn. It was obvious she had been through hell. She didn't move to Navi's call, she was unconscious.
Link stumbled into the room looking to Autum. He wobbled over to her, falling to his knees next to the cot she was on. He moved his hand to her neck to check for a pulse. He let out a small sigh of relief, it may be weak and slow but she was alive. "She's alive." he relayed looking up at Navi smiling.
Down the hall Eznik messed with the control panel. There was a beep and the door slid open. He pulled out his gun pointing at whoever was on the other side. Eznik exhaled a sigh of relief. He watched as Celtic walked into the room. Eznik turned and shut and locked the door behind him.
Celtic walked up and leaned against the wall, panting. He was covered in his own blood along with other peoples. He had black markings all over his arms, familiar; like Autum's. He had sealed in the pain that he was feeling from his wounds, so he could keep going. He looked at Eznik. "You find her?" he grilled Eznik.
Eznik nodded as he looked down the hall. "Link and Navi were just checking out a room down that way. Hope it's her." Eznik answered as he flinched to the pounding on the door that he had just locked. "Great! We are running out of time again." he bitched as he started to limp down the hall. He looked back at Celtic who didn't move.
Navi flew out of the room greeting Eznik. "It's her! But she's in bad shape…" Navi spoke to him as he looked into the room.
Eznik looked at his sister and then to Navi. "Can you teleport?" he questioned her. Navi looked at him. "I-I-I'm not sure…" she responded without conviction as she looked down. She might have blown their one and only chance to get out of there by teleporting earlier. She closed her eyes as she exhaled her discomfiture.
"Navi, I want you to try to teleport you, Link, Autum and Celtic out of here." Eznik requested as he looked at her earnestly. Navi shook her head. "No! You have to come with us! I refuse otherwise. We did not go through all of this to leave you behind.. You're coming with us back to your ship!" she specified in a nagging tone. She didn't want to lose him; not again. This whole rescue was about him. It would make it all pointless.
Eznik shook his head. "At this point, this maybe the only way I can say goodbye to my daughter." Eznik noted as he suddenly jumped as he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked back to see who it was.
Celtic shoved Eznik into the room. He watched Eznik stumble trying to catch his balance but was unable and hit the ground next to Link. Celtic looked at Navi. "Take them all to his ship. Stay there and be safe; got it. They need you more, Eznik." he cited as he looked to Eznik. "And Autum needs you the most right now."
"Celtic, No… you can't do this." Eznik pleaded with Celtic. He winced from his wounded leg as he tried to get up to his feet. "I promise you I'll bring your daughter back. Tell Autum I'm gone." he said to Eznik. "Now hurry." he appealed to Navi.
Navi stared at him and her eyes spoke of what she wanted to say. "If Eznik stays they will kill him. They can't kill me so I am the man for this job. Besides, his sister needs him. Her wounds are serious. I don't know how to patch up her wounds let alone what all else she needs done." Celtic explained to Navi. In the end she darted into the room. She glanced back at the door as it shut. She closed her eyes praying she had made the right decision.
"Celtic!" Eznik let out a faint cry knowing it would fall on deaf ears. He looked over at Autum and Link. "Link, put your hand on Autum." He let out a sigh as he put one of his hands on Link and the other on Autum's leg. He knew at this point despite what he wanted that he was in no condition to go after his daughter and Celtic was right, Autum would not make it without his assistance.
Eznik looked at Navi. "Ready to give it a try?" Navi nodded sitting on Eznik's shoulder. She closed her eyes concentrating. She could feel the rush of energy flow through her. She opened her eyes and the group vanished.
Celtic stood at the end of the hall. He watched as the soldiers busted down the door and he darted at them. He took on the bullets head on. He knew that he had to get Eznik's daughter out of this hell hole. He owed Eznik and he was going to do whatever he could to pay him back. And besides, it would make Autum happy. He growled… he didn't want to go there; he didn't have time for heartache. He headed on with his anger at the group of soldiers ready to take them on.