Disclaimer: not mine
Things will be getting bad for Prompto and Noctis so be warned. non-con ahead
Chapter 9
Gladio lunged as Ignis suddenly screamed, collapsing, barely catching him before his head could smash into the training mat.
"Get a medic!" Someone yelled as Gladio shifted to support his almost convulsing body.
Gladio watched him writhe, silver eyes staring sightlessly up at the ceiling and his heart sank. He just knew, whatever was happening to Iggy…was linked to Noct. He looked up as a hand gripped his shoulder, seeing Cor who had obviously run to them. He knelt down, helping block Ignis from view. "Sir?" he ran his fingers through Ignis' hair, hoping to let him know he was there for him.
"Ulric's team has eyes on the Prince and his companion," he murmured.
"Then why?" he winced as Ignis' head slammed hard into his leg.
"They're under attack, the Glaive are trying to reach them but they're badly outnumbered. They're also fighting in full sun and Noctis is apparently warping a lot," Cor explained even as his phone rang and a medical team appeared. They got Ignis secured to a stretcher and took him, Gladio at his side.
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"NOCT!" he screamed, thrashing wildly, tears blurring his vision as he stared at the Prince, his Prince. He watched as everything that made him Noctis drained away, eyes going dull, blanks and his face going still, expressionless. "No….Noct please…" he choked out. He felt a harsh hand grip his hair, pulling his head back painfully, staring up at the Chancellor.
"Sorry 3234, but the Prince can't hear you. Don't worry, we're going to take you home now."
"My name is Prompto," he snarled, refusing to show fear and then there was a sharp pain in his neck, everything going fuzzy, slipping away.
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"No," Crowe whispered, able to see as the collar locked around the Prince's throat, the MT's releasing him, no longer needed to hold him in place. He didn't move at all, remaining in place even as Shooter was screaming for him. "Sl…Sleepy's been collared," she forced the words out.
She hated being so helpless but there was nothing she could do. She watched the Chancellor wrench the blonds head back painfully, speaking to him, the boy…MT?...snarling something back and then she winced as a syringe was plunged into his throat, his body going limp fast.
"Shooter's out, sedated I think." I hope she thought to herself, if they were going to kill him they could just shoot him or cut his head off or something, why waste a drug? His limp form was lifted, carried towards one of the ships even as the Prince stood up, the Chancellor leading him to the same ship and the Prince went docilely along. As the ship took off she tracked its trajectory for as long as possible.
"They're gone, get out of there!"
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Nyx heard Crowe as he slashed another MT apart, sending a blast of lightning into a tight grouping. He had to fight the urge to be sick as he heard Crowe's words. He kept fighting, collar or no, they couldn't let the Empire take him. Hearing Shooter was now out as well wasn't good, they could use him to watch their backs while pulling out.
He managed to clear the area around himself, looking towards where the Prince was, seeing him kneeling, unrestrained, then he saw Shooter, body limp as he was lifted, definitely unconscious. He swore viciously, drawing a blade back to warp as his gaze landed on Glauca, he just had to grab the Prince. But then the Chancellor was there, getting him up and walking to the waiting ship where Shooter had already been taken. He saw it take off as he was cut off by more MT's, even as the sound of new combatants reached him, voices coming in on the comms, help had arrived too late.
He heard Crowe telling them to get out and he hated it but he ordered everyone to withdraw, warping to Libertus' side, helping his friend to his feet and then Pelna was on his other side, the Glaive fighting through to them, guarding them as they withdrew, the MT's beginning to pull back as well. The whole time, he could feel Glauca watching them. Why didn't he wipe them out?
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Cor hung up and moved quickly to his office, ensuring full security messages before accessing the video, forcing himself to watch what Altius had recorded, hearing her as she spoke over comms to her team. He was impressed when the blond, nicknamed by the team as Shooter, made it to his knees after two hits from the electrical leads MT's carried.
His blood ran cold as he heard Crowe's scream about a collar, saw as the picture zoomed in, saw the Prince trying to keep his distance from Glauca even as he looked over at where is new Retainer was being restrained but still struggling to get free. He wished it could pick up the audio from where the Prince and…yes, that was Chancellor Izunia, were speaking. Something about the boy maybe from the way Izunia had grabbed his hair, pulling his head back, threatening to kill him if Noctis didn't surrender? The blond thrashed wildly, mouth open, screaming? And then he saw it, the collar lock around his Prince's throat, Noctis going still. The camera was shaking some as the still fighting boy was sedated, he hoped that was all it was, before being carried to a ship, Noctis obediently following with the Chancellor.
Altius had tracked the ship for as long as she could, but it could have changed course later. They had no way of taking it down without risking the two boys on board. They had to get Noctis back, even in a collar, the Empire could not be allowed to keep him. Until then, the only chance was Shooter getting free and rescuing him, the odds of that were incredibly low though.
He closed the video down and leant back in his chair, feeling tears which he forced back. He had been so close to home… to be taken then. How was he meant to tell Regis is son was as good as dead, even as his body lived on? He had known Noctis all of the boy's life, had loved him as a nephew and now that boy was gone. Even if they could rescue him, would they leave him to live forever with no ability to think or feel, nothing more than a puppet? He knew what the Council would demand, for Regis to father a new heir and for Noctis' body to be killed.
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Regis forced himself to watch the video, despite Cor's silent pleading to not ask for it, to accept his report. He knew why but he had to, to see his sons last moments, to see him alive and fighting one last time. He fought the urge to be ill as he saw the collar lock around his throat, saw the blond boy screaming, thrashing madly to try to get to him. it was good to know, that in his last moments, Noctis had someone who cared for him there. It was obvious the blond had been used against him but he did not blame the boy. No human could fight against so many MT's, it was amazing enough he'd remained conscious and fighting when hit by two different electrical surges.
His son was dead….Aulea's child…his body may live on but their son was gone. In all of history, no collar had ever been successfully removed. They had no effect on humans but used on a vampire, werewolf, any being, they wiped their mind of all memory and personality, leaving an empty body that would follow any command given by those the collar was set to accept commands from.
Ignis was sedated in medical and they weren't sure how he would be when he woke, how his bond to Noctis would affect him. The blond had kept fighting after though, but he was only bound as a Retainer, through Noctis' magic. The bond between Noct and Ignis was different, he was a Retainer as well but his own nature had bonded them together as well.
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Vague noises began reaching him first, slowly clearing up to voices, the sensation of cold metal came next, surrounding wrists and ankles…all over his back…a table? The voices cleared further and he could make out words…prep, sedation, scalpel, surgical… blue eyes snapped open as he struggled against the restraints, heart pounding.
"Ah, finally awake!" a cheerful voice greeted him and then the table he was strapped to moved, lifting to be almost vertical, letting him see a sterile room, people in white lab coats, the Chancellor, and….Noct. The Prince was naked except for some white material around his hips like a skirt or something, the Imperial emblem emblazoned in red on the cloth. He knelt beside the Chancellor, staring vacantly in Prompto's direction. The Chancellor followed his eyeline. "I thought having a friend present might comfort you," the man mocked, running his fingers through black hair but Noctis showed no awareness of his touch.
"Please," he whispered. He would suffer anything gladly if only there was some sign something of his friend, his Prince, his…lover, remained.
"I suppose it is a little disconcerting to see him so...empty," the Chancellor chuckled at his own joke and Prompto glared at him. He got a smirk in response and then the collar glowed red, Noctis' eyes echoing it. The blankness melted away from his face, adoration replacing it as the Chancellor tipped his head back with the hand in his hair. Noctis leant in and nuzzled at his leg, rubbing his face against his leg. His face may show emotion but his eyes…they were still flat and lifeless. "Isn't that much better?" The Chancellor asked him.
Prompto reached for the Armiger, trying to summon something, do something. He just wanted to wipe that smirk off his face but the magic did not answer.
"Don't worry 3234, you will be joining your siblings in service soon enough."
"Never," he denied.
"Thankfully, the core was inserted before you escaped, that cannot be successfully implanted so many years after manufacture. So long as that is present, the flesh remains accepting of further implantation. When it is done, you will serve willingly, you will be what you were created to be," he explained, caressing Noctis' hair, the Prince pressing eagerly into his touch, purring.
"I won't," he whispered, trying not to show how scared he was.
"I think it needs a demonstration pet, don't you?" he asked and Noctis obediently nodded. The door opened and Prompto felt sick as two people the same age as him walked in, dressed in lightweight shirts and pants….both wearing his face. They were paler than him, skin flawless other than the freckles, no personality. "Enjoy the show," the Chancellor bowed and left.
Prompto had no choice but to watch as the MT's stripped before pulling the fabric from Noct's body. No…not this. "Stop, leave him alone!" he snapped but they didn't respond as they bracketed Noctis between them, hands reaching out to touch and caress cool skin.
They…they were going to… he didn't feel the IV being inserted in his arm as tears streamed down his face. Noctis was seemingly eager, whining and whimpering, rubbing his body against them, and Prompto was glad he was unaware of what was happening, of what he was doing. Noctis wouldn't have to live with the horror of what was about to be done to him. He was pushed to his hands and knees, one kneeling in front of him and the other behind.
"Stop them, please!" he yelled but he heard the people laughing and realised they were egging the MT's on, offering suggestions.
All he could do was watch as Noctis took the clone into his mouth enthusiastically even as the one behind him thrust into him with no warning, giving his body no chance to adjust as he began moving. Noctis gave every appearance of loving what was happening to him, his own body hard as he moaned and sucked. He eagerly moved with the MT's, letting them use his body.
He sobbed, closing his eyes, unable to turn his head away, realising there was a band across his forehead to keep him still. He felt a sudden rush of cold in his arm and opened his eyes, seeing a man in a lab coat and then he blinked slowly.
"Chancellor wants it to see the whole show," a distant voice said.
He felt….fuzzy, disconnected…body going limp in the restraints. He tried to move and he couldn't, couldn't blink…a paralytic? He had no way to look away as the MT's used Noct's body and once they were done another and another. All he could do was mentally retreat, blanking out.
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He stared at the paralysed MT, seeing the distant look in its eyes, knowing that given no ability to look away it had chosen to retreat from reality. He looked over at where Noctis was being used by a group of MT's, waving them off, the young vampire crawling obediently over to him.
Both would be given to Besithia for a time, the man was very excited with all the tests and samples he wanted to run. The MT would then be integrated with its 'siblings' and dear Noctis would be gifted to the Emperor. Besithia would be trying to figure out how it had managed to leave when it should have had no will to do so, even with the threat of decommissioning before it. The scientist also wanted to see what could be learned from the Prince, the first Royal ever captured. It would be interesting to see what he could learn.
It had been Somnus' line that had birthed the first vampires, Ardyn hadn't been so blessed. His dear baby brother had been so shocked the first time the hunger had struck him and he had ended up biting Gilgamesh. It would have been better if he had been one, vampires could not be infected by the Scourge, the only species he knew of for whom that was true. How different would his path have been then?
He absently petted back hair, Noctis pressing into his touch. Despite appearances, he did not hate his many, many times great nephew. It was not the boys fault that Ardyn had become what he did after all, but he was in his way and so had needed to be dealt with. He had seen Noctis' magic as a child, had ensured the assassination attempt then and while it had failed it had crippled his magic somewhat. He tried not to be unfailing cruel, he would have killed the boy rather than condemn him to the fate he had been dealt, his mind destroyed and body no more than a puppet for any who could control his collar. The show for the MT had been necessary and not his idea, rape had never been something he enjoyed though he understood its usefulness. The Emperor though wanted him to demoralise Lucis, to prove he could take what he wished and Glauca was his man through and through.
The MT feared him and he was honestly surprised it remembered him from so long ago. Perhaps…they were not quite what Besithia claimed they were before the alterations were completed? Were they truly human children? If that was so…yes, even he could feel a little guilt for what was done to them if that were true. He had never targeted children, even when out of his mind and driven by the Scourge. He forced his mind to the present and nodded at the surgeons to begin their work, watching as blue eyes slid closed as the sedative was given, at least the boy or whatever he was, would not feel it.
He turned and left the room, leaving Noctis behind, not wishing to observe the surgery. It would be better once they returned to Niflheim. It had been decided to begin the conversion immediately, to ensure the MT's compliance, rather than risk an escape in transit. Fort Vaullerey was too close to Lestallum for his liking. The Empire may occupy most of Lucis and the hunters would offer no assistance in freeing them, but if the Glaive learnt of their presence they would come…if Glauca could not divert them.
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Regis nodded as Cor admitted the four Glaive, seeing one of them on crutches. The woman…Altius was still shocky looking and he could tell some of that was magic overuse but she'd been the one to see everything as she recorded it. "Be seated," he told them due to their condition, though Ulric and… Khara didn't look much better. "I've seen the video," he told them, seeing Altius flinch and Ulric grimace. "What isn't in it? Cor tells me you could not reach Drautos and called him instead of following the normal chain of command?"
Ulric nodded and leant forward slightly, explaining what had happened and the feeling they'd been set up. He didn't want to even consider it but…he glanced at Clarus who nodded gravelly, it would be investigated and he prayed Ulric was wrong.
"Were any of you close enough to hear anything that was said?" he asked and this time Ostium shifted uncomfortable.
"I did your Majesty. It was rather confusing but Chancellor Izunia seemed to be under the impression that Shooter is an MT. The Prince…said he knew, that he couldn't be made to doubt it…him," Ostium shrugged. "The Prince called him Prompto. Said he ran away as a kid? Refused to believe the boy would betray him. That was when they piled on him, obviously the talking was to distract him. MT or human, the kid went utterly mad trying to get loose, to get to the Prince, he just kept screaming for him until they injected him with something that put him out."
An MT? he glanced at Cor and Clarus, seeing their concern. Had Noctis really been travelling with an Imperial machine but…he had added this Prompto to the Armiger, if he was a machine, not loyal to Noctis, then the Oath should not have worked, no matter what variation had been used. Could a machine even be added to the magic? "Speak of this to no one," he ordered and they nodded.
"Your Majesty? I volunteer for whatever rescue force is sent," Ulric offered and the others followed his lead, making Regis smile slightly. He knew there were issues with some of the Glaive but these four were not among them.
"Thank you, go rest now." He watched them leave, slumping back.
"Would the Oath take for a machine?" Clarus asked.
"It could have been psychological games and nothing more. You saw the footage; he looks like a younger Besithia. He could be a relative, bastard child, any number of possibilities. Telling Noct he had trusted an MT could have been to induce doubt and distract him, which worked," Cor pointed out.
Clarus brought it up and slowed it as the blond said something. "He's telling Noctis to run, to save himself. Ostium was right, his fear and anger appear genuine."
"We send rescue for both, we can sort out if he is or isn't later," Regis decided. His son believed in the other boy, for that he would give him a chance.
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"Gla…dio?"
He sat up and looked towards the bed to see glassy green eyes blinking at him. He took Ignis' hand in his, running his other hand through lank hair. "Welcome back," he whispered.
"Hap'd?"
"Don't worry about it, just rest," he soothed, let him recover before telling him Noct was gone. He leant in and kissed him softly. "Sleep Iggy, we'll talk in the morning," he promised, watching his eyes close.
TBC…
