Eznik shook his head as he looked around at the surroundings. They were on his ship in the medical bay. Just then he felt Navi nosedive off of his shoulder. He swiftly moved and caught the small faerie just before she hit the ground. He appraised her; she had burnt through her strength to get them there. He was proud of her. His eyes then went to Link who didn't look so good. "Get yourself on a bed and here, take Navi." he said to the young teen as he held the tiny faerie out towards Link.
Link took her and then stood up slowly. He let out a groan as he got up to his feet. He walked over to the bed and set Navi down on the pillow. He then climbed on himself. He held his side that was bleeding. He looked at the blood on his hand, shaking his head. He looked over at Eznik who was hoisting Autum's arm over his shoulder. Eznik winced from his own pain.
Link went to get off of the bed. "You stay there. I can get her up on the bed. I don't want you making your wounds any worse." Eznik spoke sternly as he started to get Autum on to the bed. He then walked over to a cabinet. He closed one and opened up another. He pulled out a few vials setting them on a hover table. He grabbed a couple of tools, setting them on the table as well.
Eznik dragged the hover table behind him as he limped over. He moved it next to Link's bed. He grabbed a chair moving it up next to the teen. "I'm going to be putting you into a peaceful sleep." He cued up Link. "With the pain that you're going to go through you will better off if you're asleep during it."
Link nodded slowly, his injuries had taken their toll on him. "D-do you think Celtic will be able to pull it off? How does he plan on getting Brat and himself out of there? How many gunshots can he take before the pain overpowers him?" Link worriedly asked looking at the table as Eznik grabbed a vial off of it. "I don't know Link. I can't tell you. I'm as clueless as you. All we can do is hope." he conveyed as he loaded up his medical gun. "Lay back." Eznik ordered, feeling himself totally worn out; no rest and his own injuries were wearing him down. He knew that he needed to take care of everyone else before himself. "I don't feel right sleeping when the mission is not yet completed." presented Link.
"Only thing you can do, Link, is pray for the best." Eznik conceded. Link looked at Eznik; nodding. He then looked back to make sure he wasn't going to lay on Navi. "She gave it her all, didn't she?" Link offered as he let out a small whimper as Eznik shot him in the side. "Yes, she did… we all did… considering what all we have been up against." responded the Doctor. But Link didn't hear a word he said as everything started to go black. He could feel himself drifting off. He prayed that when he woke up Celtic would be there with Brat.
A couple of hours past, Link sat up rubbing his eyes. He pulled out the contacts looking them over. Setting them on the table he looked down where he had been shot. He was covered in bandages, missing a shirt once again. He let out a groan as he held his side.
His blue eyes studied his surroundings. His tunic was sitting on the table next to his bed as well as his boots. He saw as well his sword and sheath clean of the black paint. Eznik was sitting in a chair fast asleep, even though there were free medical beds, he just had the habit of sleeping in a chair. He had treated his own wounds, but stayed in the room to watch the others, still he needed rest just as well as the others.
Link slowly got off of the bed. He looked at Navi who was covered with his hat. He looked over at Autum who was covered in bandages. She looked like a mummy. His heart felt like a large burden was lifted from it knowing that she was alive. She had on a clear mask on her face over her mouth along with other wires hooked up to her, so they could monitor her. He quietly walked up to her; she had many cuts and bruises on her face. The metal piece on her face looked like it had been ripped off. His eyes drifted to one of the machines watching her heart beat at the steady pace.
"Seems you're doing better." Eznik spoke as he yawned, getting to his feet. "She should make a full recovery. We're lucky that we got to her when we did." He walked up to the teen smiling. He ruffled Link's hair.
Link moved away trying to fix his hair some. He built up enough courage to ask. "Have you heard from Celtic?" He looked at Eznik as he shook his head. Link looked away. "What do you think they will do with Celtic?"
Eznik let out a small sigh. He grabbed the nearby chair sitting in it. "There are a lot of things that could happen." he said contemplating. He looked at Link as he sat down in a chair. He still was tired and weak but he could tell that Link needed to know about this. Even as much as Eznik didn't want to think about what could be happening to Celtic. "I could go through the things that are plausible, but all of them have an outcome we wouldn't wish on anyone."
Link looked to the ground. He didn't want anyone to suffer. "Is there any way we could go get him and Brat?" he asked halfheartedly; doubting that there was. Still he wanted to know if there was hope to get them out. He wanted a way to help them; he didn't want to feel useless. He'd always been a hero and he hated sitting on the sidelines; totally worthless.
"I don't think so. I really doubt it. You know, we barely made it out alive." Eznik commented as he took off his glasses, cleaning them. "For them to hold Celtic he is going to be in an anti-magic and specialized holding cell; heavily guarded. The chances of us getting through all that is…well…. And as for Brat, she's…" He trailed off not really wanting to think about what they were going to go do to his daughter. "Besides what if what Re-ju said was true…that she's already been shipped off." He ended as he stared at his glasses noticing that they had a couple of small cracks in them.
Link stared at the ground thinking. He didn't want to give up on them, even with the odds completely against them. There had to be someone who could help them. "What about Brat's crew?" Link questioned Eznik as he remembered the drawing on the wall. "Wouldn't they want to help her?"
Eznik looked at Link. He could tell Link didn't want to give up the fight and he admired him for it, but at this point he didn't have any clue as to how to get either of them out. Link was right about one thing; Brat's crew would be willing to risk their lives to rescue her, but none of them would even begin to know how to attempt to save Brat. He looked over at Autum; she was the only one who would have any idea how to attempt a suicide mission like this and make it seem workable.
"Her crew would be pissed that she deserted them 2 years ago; never saying a word to any of them." inserted a young man standing at the door. Link and Eznik peered over at him. He had purple hair, long ears and appeared to be in his late teens. He wore a green shirt with grey lines on it. He had on a pair of black pants with chains dangling from it. He was glaring at Eznik. "Along with her father who doesn't bother to tell anyone that she resurfaced."
Eznik turned back looking at the youth. "Don't use Brat as an excuse…you are always mad at me. And just so you know I haven't even seen Brat. I didn't know she was back until she sent this young man and his little friend to rescue me." He explicated as he grinned at the teen. Link could see it in Eznik's eyes that he was pleased seeing the newcomer.
An overwhelming silence filled the room as Eznik slowly got up to his feet walking over to Link. He bent down to check Link's wound to make sure that he hadn't opened up his wound walking around. "This is Zigor, he's a drunk… also the one whose clothes you've been borrowing." Eznik spoke as he glanced up at Link.
Link looked over at Zigor as the newcomer walked up grabbing a chair. He turned it around sitting on it backwards. The two teen's eyes meet. "So who is this Eznik? He looks to be the non-merger who turned in Brat. They have been broadcasting pictures of him, some little faerie creature, and Autum, along with your sorry ass all over the tv."
Eznik stood up walking over to Autum. "He is the one who turned Brat in, but it was her plan. This is Link." He looked back at the two. "So play nice." He turned his attention back to the monitors with Autum's vitals on them.
Zigor rested his head on the backrest of the chair as he studied Link. Link's ears drooped as he saw Zigor looking him over. He wasn't sure what to say to him. His eyes went to the ground. He still wasn't good around people; he was just now warming up to Eznik and Autum. He also didn't have Navi to spark up a conversation. "How did you end up here?" Zigor questioned Link.
Link looked up at Zigor. "My friend messed up a teleport." he confessed as he nodded over at Navi. Eznik chuckled loudly. "Well, see there Zigor… you have a lot in common already with these two… for no-one knows more about messing up Teleporting than you." he jest as he walked up grabbing a chair.
Zigor flung up his middle finger at Eznik while cursing at him in another language. Eznik laughed as he sat down in the chair that he had dragged next to his sister's bed. He looked at Zigor who had his attention on Autum. "So what happened… that got Autum and your ass caught and thrown in prison forcing Brat to risk everything to save you?"
Eznik leaned back. "In simple terms; Autum used to work for the government and they sent some people after her believing that she had taken things she shouldn't have when she left her job. When they came for her I was with her with these non-mergers and that gave them enough to hold me for questioning." He kept it short and sweet for he'd rather not go too much into Autum's private affairs; he knew better than to discuss that with Brat's crew.
Zigor glanced at Link and then focused on Eznik. "Why didn't they send him back to his dimension?" he interrogated Eznik, further trying to understand the circumstances of Brat's capture. "They did… but Link and Navi both came back here not wishing to leave us in our dire status. They're much more resourceful than the government gave them credit for. From there… I'm guessing they met up with Brat." Eznik elucidated as he looked to Link for verification.
Link nodded as he looked to Eznik and then to Zigor. He still didn't know what to think of the teen. He looked to be the same age as himself. He didn't seem to be a fighter, because he lacked muscle tone and any air of such. He reminded Link of that young girl who was an Elite. A lot of their features seemed identical and it seemed by Eznik's jibing that Zigor had the same ability to teleport as that girl did…just maybe not as skillfully.
"What exactly is Autum's condition?" Zigor spoke up looking at Eznik. "S-she…is stable…" Eznik said hesitantly as he looked over at her. He feared for his sister. It seemed that she might have given up all hope of living. Her vitals were slowly going downhill; he had lied to Link so he would not worry. He figured that she felt that the few friends she had made don't remember her; believing they were gone from her life. As for her child… it is no more than just a story of heartache. Then there was Celtic; who was gunned down in front of her, so she believed that he was dead. He presumed all this had stolen from her will to live.
Link sat quiet listening to the two speak. He had no clue what to say. His eyes moved to the door as he heard someone walk up. A young lady who looked to be about 18 stood at the door. She had a dark complexion with blonde hair. On the right side her hair was long to her waist while the left-side was cut short above the shoulders. She wore a green outfit with the 'stylish' holes in it. Her ears were rat-like and she had a large rat like tail that hung behind her.
The girl walked into the room. She smiled at Eznik and then smirked at Zigor. All of her attention then went to Link. She grinned at the teen. "Oh, my!" she clamored as she walked up to Link studying the shirtless teen. "What do we have here?" She leaned over looking him in the face as her long rat tail swayed behind her. "Aren't yah a cute one, honey?" Her brown eyes stared into his blue ones. "And yah look as sweet as can be." she tittered.
Link's face went bright red staring back at the young lady in his face. He felt something on his upper thigh moving to his lap. He spazzed out, falling backwards out of the chair, he found himself awkwardly staring up at the ceiling. He winced as he held the back of his head from hitting the ground.
The girl laughed as her tail moved off of his leg. "Awe, he's shy. ain't that cute! Ya'h have such beautiful blue eyes." she sang as she towered over Link smiling down at him. "So, Honey yah want to go out on date?" she questioned Link as he was rubbing his head in pain.
"Deka, no-one wants to go out on a date with you." Zigor spurred as he looked directly at her. "You're just jealous, Sweetie, yah know yah are….because I got myself this new boyfriend." Deka babbled as she stuck out her tongue at Zigor. She looked back at Link who had a terror struck look on his face. "Why would I be jealous of you scaring the living daylights out of that non-merger?" Zigor snapped at her.
"Deka, you really shouldn't be terrorizing him. He's going to have nightmares now. He's still trying to get used to how things work around here. And as you already figured out he is a shy one." Eznik said to her chuckling who seemed to be getting his own amusement out of this.
Deka held out her hand to Link ignoring Zigor's comment and only hearing part of what Eznik said. "A non-merger? Oh my… I can show him the ropes around here; no-one better than me lad-dy." She grinned at Link as she pulled him up to his feet. "Well, Honey if yah want to know how things are done here… just asks me." she rattled as she winked at Link.
Link stared at her as if he was a deer caught in headlights. He shook off the stare and shuffled off behind Eznik for protection from that woman. Eznik chuckled as he looked back at Link. Who was avoiding all eye contact with Deka.
"Well, since you're done introducing yourself Deka, this is Link." Eznik informed Deka who pulled up Link's fallen chair next to Eznik. She looked up at Link, smiling. "Link, love the name…so very nice to meet yah honey. I believe this here is fate." She held up her hand to Link.
Link looked at her hand not sure if he should take it or not. He let the better of him take over and he shook her hand. He then quickly let go of her hand; stepping away; his ears drooping. He didn't know what to make of her as he never met anyone like her before. And at this point, he really didn't trust her at all. It seemed she had no bounds. He looked away as she grinned at him. He wasn't used to this kind of attention, flirting and stuff but it seemed to be the way the people in this dimension conversed.
Zigor smirked as he saw how Link was reacting to Deka. "It's ok Link, you're safe now… she'll get you when you're asleep. You know the type." he teased trying to scare the non-merger further. He smiled at Link who stared at him horrified. "Oh I promise it won't hurt yah, honey." Deka spoke up, "Unless you like it that way. I'm up for anything and everything. Yah just tell me. I'm here to please."
Eznik smiled at the group, amused even though they were teasing Link. When times got bad like this, those two could always keep the mood less serious; bring down the tension a few notches by raising the humiliation. It was their way of dealing with things but it also helped everyone around them to forget the horrors of the hours that would be coming ahead and the regrets of those that had passed..
Link shook his head. He glanced around the room; there wasn't any escape for him, unless he took off out of the room. He was still bright red from being embarrassed. He looked at Eznik hoping that he might help, though he had a feeling that Eznik might make it all worse.
Eznik looked at Deka. "Why don't you and Zigor go prep some of the rooms? I'm sure the rest of the crew will be here as well." He knew this would give Link a bit of freedom from the teasing. Also give him time so he could explain to Link how the crew was.
Deka stood up looking at Link. "Oh, me and Honey can go 'prep' the bedrooms." she said as she grinned at Link. "I'm sure he won't mind helping." Eznik shook his head, chuckling. "Deka, I'm sure Link has had enough of your charming personality for now. I think he is a little overwhelmed. Let's give him a break, shall we?"
"Yeah, I'm sure he wants to go hang himself now." Zigor laughed as he got up. "I doubt anyone would want to go do it with an ugly rat lady." He stuck out his tongue at her. Deka glared at Zigor swiftly darting at him.
Link winced as Deka swung a fast kick at Zigor. Before Deka's leg could hit Zigor vanished. Deka stumbled a little as she kicked nothing but air. She winced. "I'll be back, for yah Honey, I need to go kill that bastard first." She waved cheerily at Link as she ran out of the room.
Link watched her leave. He let out a long sigh of relief. He looked at Eznik who got up to his feet. "Don't worry Link. That is just how they normally are. Next time when Deka speaks up you tell her you like Navi." Eznik said as he glanced over at Link.
Link went red. "W-wha?" His ears drooped; he didn't know what to say. All he knew was he didn't know if he could say that, it was embarrassing. He wasn't good at even the thought of being with a girl in a relationship. The whole girl guy thing was beyond his mindset. This was another reason he didn't really like Deka. She seemed to shove him completely out of his comfort zone.
Eznik chuckled as he walked over to a cabinet. "Unless you like that attention Deka is giving you. Which I doubt since by the looks of it you might just have a heart attack if she touches you again." He pulled out a vial. "You don't have to worry too much though; the rest of Brat's crew aren't like Zigor and Deka with the teasing." He walked over grabbing the medical gun loading the vial.
Link let out a sigh of relief as he plopped down on a chair. This place was just as confusing as the people in it. He watched Eznik as he walked up to Autum. "What are you doing?" Link asked trying to keep his mind off what Eznik had told him to do. He watched Eznik remove the oxygen mask off of Autum.
"I'm going to wake her up." Eznik cited as he looked at Link. "I have a feeling if I just let her lie like this that she isn't going to get better. I think she needs some reassurance and some friendly faces to give her, her strength back." His eyes drifted to Autum. "Come on over here. I'm sure that seeing you will be something she needs." Eznik spoke nodding for Link to come on over.
Link got up to his feet walking up to the bed. "Isn't she going to be in a lot of pain?" Link questioned as he looked at Eznik. "She will be in some, but she is on a lot of pain medicine that should help with that." Eznik shot Autum in the side as he noted in his thoughts another reason he had asked Deka and Zigor to leave was because he'd rather not have them bothering Autum with their questions and taunting.
Autum eyes shot open and she immediately went to sit up. She let out a shrill from the pain as she fell back down closing her eyes. "Autum, …Autum… you need to calm down." Eznik said gently as he put his hand on her shoulder so she wouldn't' try to get back up. "You're safe, we're on my ship."
Autum opened her eyes staring at her brother. "Th-they said they killed you…" She spoke softly as her eyes welled with tears from the physical and emotional pain. "They said the same of you." Eznik whispered; smiling, he then nodded to the teen.
Autum looked over at where Eznik nodded. She saw Link and she rapidly closed her eyes. She moved her left arm over her eyes. She didn't want him to see her like this. She had given up and would rather be dead. She feared he could see this. Though now all that was leaving her quickly and in her heart she didn't have words to express how happy she was to see him. Tears were running down her cheeks; she was unable to stop the downpour. "They said… that… they had… erased your memory blondie." she chuckled a little, trying not to break down further.
"They did, but Navi and I realized something was wrong and searched for the answer and finally remembered what happened. So we came back here for you and Eznik." Link smiled hoping to try to cheer her up a little.
Eznik looked at his sister. She looked horrible. "Autum, I know this is all hard… but…I think you need to know that Celtic is alive." Eznik cringed as she grabbed the collar to his shirt pulling him down to her face. She glared at him. "You think this is a game to joke like this!? What kind of cruel humor have you been practicing brother? I watched him get slaughtered! I saw it with my own eyes!" She snapped viciously at him. She jeered at him forcing pain on herself by holding her brother hostage by the collar.
"Autum, he isn't lying. I swear. I was just as shocked. It was with Celtic's help that we found you." Link spoke up. He could tell she was straining herself by grabbing Eznik. Autum looked at Link. She let go of Eznik's collar closing her eyes. "That's not possible…it's just not possible." she mumbled.
Eznik messed with his collar; straightening it. "Autum, Celtic is a true immortal. He can't die. Despite all the gunshots…he is fine. And right now…He needs your help because those bastards at the DP have him along with my daughter, Brat. Autum, I need your help to get my daughter back. Please."
Autum looked at her brother. She couldn't decipher what feelings she had. Celtic, her husband, was an immortal, like a god. The gods she hated so much… but he was alive... that was a good thing, right? Autum went to sit up but she let out a small cry. She closed her eyes. "The gods they mock me!" She yelled out of hate and disgust of it all. She couldn't do anything. She couldn't help anybody. She was in too much pain. She was too weak and feeble.
Eznik grabbed a vial and shot it into her side. "That's as much as I can do for the pain. I can put you into a sleep so you don't have to deal with this." He propositioned her.
Link watched her, he felt sorry for her. He couldn't imagine what all she had been through… let alone all her memories that had just recently come to her. She had more on her plate than any other that he had ever known. He looked away; he didn't like to see her like this. And here they were wanting her help. It seemed so wrong. He wished he had a healing faerie with him. She would be fixed up and would be able to help. But would she be able with all her emotional wounds? Link looked at Autum as she grabbed his arm.
Autum looked at the teen. He still had markings on his face. She didn't say anything…she just looked at him. She closed her eyes as the pain was running through her body. "Thanks blondie…" she said quietly. He was one of the few friends she had; a reason to go on despite the entire physical and emotional trauma.
Link smiled softly at her. Autum looked into his blues eyes; they had a healing effect to them…this friend's eyes to her were magical. Eznik then spoke up "You should rest ok. We'll wake you up when we decide to go after Celtic and Brat." Autum answered "Alright, Link, you had better make sure he wakes me up when you guys start planning, got it…" Autum let out a small moan as he shot the gun into her side once again giving her a dose of medication that would help her sleep. She grabbed onto Link's wrist.
Link looked at her hand, but soon it let go of him. He moved her arm onto the bed. He looked at Eznik who was smiling. Link looked at him confused. "SO… you get blamed if I don't wake her up. You get to be the recipient of her astronomical wrath." He chuckled trying to lighten the mood some.
Link shook his head. He would never understand Eznik along with all the other people in these 'dimensions'. He smiled at Eznik. "So is she going to be ok?" He asked. Eznik nodded as he walked over to Navi. "She should be fine. I'm just worried that she's going to want to come with us, because she is not going to be in any condition…she will be more of a hindrance than anything else but who's going to have the guts to tell her that?" Link shrugged his shoulders understanding the dilemma completely.
Eznik moved his hand against Navi's back between her wings. She seemed to have a much stronger pulse now. Eznik smiled as Navi looked up at him. "You doing better, Miss Navi?"
Navi sat up slowly looking around. It seems that she did it; she managed to teleport them to Eznik's ship. She smiled seeing Link. "Link!" She got up to her feet. She took off running and jumped off the bed. She let out a small cry as her wings didn't lift her.
Eznik caught her. He looked at Link who ran up to her. "Navi!? Are you ok?" He quizzed her as Eznik set her back on the bed. "I don't…I don't understand." Navi expressed as she got to her feet flapping her wings. "Why?" She looked up at Eznik.
Eznik shook his head. "When a couple of my friends come they know a little more about dimensional faeries than I do. I'm sure one of them will know why you can't seem to fly after a teleport." He relayed as he patted her lightly on the head.
Link smiled at her. "It's just good to see that you're fine, Navi. You did good, you know. You saved 're our little heroine" He praised as he sat on the bed next to her. He looked at Navi whose gaze was on Autum. "She's fine. Eznik put her into a peaceful sleep so she can rest and heal." It seemed things were looking up for the group.
"Honey!" Deka shouted as she poked her head into the room. She blew Link a kiss. "Did yah miss me?" she crowed as she walked into the room smiling at Link. "Kicked Zigor's ass and fixed up a dandy room just for you and me." She winked at Link who was staring blankly at her.
Navi stared at this rat woman. Why was she calling Link 'honey!?' She glared at her. "Who do you think you are?! You have no right to call Link, honey!" She snapped as she waved her pointed finger at Deka. "So why don't you go run off somewhere."
Deka bent down. "Looky, looky here, we have a fly. I'm sorry sweety about the pestilence. Didn't know Eznik had a problem. But yah looky here little fly…he is mine. He was single when I met him and he's not single now, because he has me." She went to grab Link's thigh but he grabbed her hand. He was bright red looking at Deka as he held her hand hostage.
"D-Deka.. I.. er" He stuttered as he turned even redder. He tried to say what Eznik told him to. His ears dropped as the words wouldn't come out of his mouth. "Go on Honey tell me, yah love me. I know what's coming." Deka smiled at him.
"He does not Love you!" Navi screamed at Deka. "He loves me!" She covered her mouth; not believing what just came out of her mouth and she looked away as she turned a deep violet red. Deka looked at Navi and then to Link who looked once again to be a deer caught in headlights.
Deka chuckled seeing the two. She could tell how embarrassing this was for them. She moved up next to Link's ear whispering. "Honey, don't yah ever be embarrassed about loving someone." She tapped him on the nose with her finger. She smiled at Link who quickly looked down.
Eznik watched the group pulling out a camera. He couldn't resist and took a picture of the two non-mergers. He chuckled as Link covered his face with his hands. "Gr.. why! Ugh!" Navi dove under Link's hat hiding. She couldn't believe that she said that. It just blurted out. And she couldn't believe the nerve of this girl whoever she was claiming Link for her own. What all had she slept through?
Zigor walked into the room seeing Eznik with a camera and then the two non-mergers with Deka. He decided to hold back the joke. He could tell that they were already in enough embarrassment. He didn't want to spoil the tender moment. His eyes trailed back to Eznik. "You look like shit Eznik. Go rest, me and Deka will watch over your friends." He looked at Link and the hidden faerie.
Eznik looked at Zigor. It was true; he hadn't slept much since he met Link. Along with it his body was worn and torn from being tortured, he was pushing his body to its limits by trying to keep going for his friends. He put the camera in his pocket looking at the group. "Wake me up when the others get here." He instructed as he looked towards Zigor. Link looked quite worried as he watched Eznik going for the door.
Zigor nodded. "Go on, stop worrying. We won't torture them, at least not too much." Zigor spoke out trying to get Eznik to get his needed rest. "We will need you in tip-top shape, if you're going to be coming on this rescue mission."
Eznik nodded. "Link, Navi if these two harass you while I'm asleep… You have my permission to wake me. And I promise you.. I'll make sure they'll regret it." he declared as he walked out of the room. He let out a small yawn walking into his room. He set his glasses on the nightstand. He moved his hands over his face. He felt horrible, his daughter sacrificed her freedom for his own, when the whole time he was trying to keep hers. But then his thoughts moved to more pleasing things… Autum was at least alive and Celtic, too. Maybe things will end up working out. With everybody's help just maybe they will be able to rescue Brat.