Disclaimer: Not mine

Chapter 10

He hurt….he felt sick…he didn't get sick…move, get up…he tried and felt something cold, holding him down. What had happened? He….he had…Noct! His eyes snapped open as memories returned in a rush. No…please let it be a nightmare. He blinked, focusing and bit back a sob as he found himself staring into empty blue eyes. He took a shaky breath and broke eye contact, seeing the peaceful expression on Noctis' face, at least that was better than what he remembered seeing before, and the wrapping was back in place so people couldn't stare. "No…ct…" his voice was raspy, throat sore.

"The unit's operational," a voice called from somewhere behind him and then there was a man standing in front of him, dressed in surgical gear.

A light was shone in his eyes and he groaned, trying to flinch away but his head was still immobilised. "No…." he struggled weakly against the restraints.

"Remain still," the man snapped at him.

"Why they didn't authorise termination and dissection to find where it went so wrong, I don't know," another voice spoke up.

"It would be more useful, then again it seems to have been a one off fault in production," the one in front of him answered the other. He then focused on Prompto. "You understand me?" he demanded and Prompto licked dry lips.

"Yes," he answered because he remembered what scientists did if he didn't answer.

"Good, cognitive function appears intact. Any sharp pain?"

"No…what'd you do to me?" he asked and then gasped at a jolt of pain.

"How long until we can install the command unit?" the man asked and Prompto panted, trying to ignore the pain like he had as a kid but he hadn't had to do it in so long…

"I want to wait and make sure there are no system failures first, we're only at forty percent conversion. Why?"

"I don't like the way it looks at me."

That got a laugh from the one he couldn't see. "Well they want the unit in functioning condition so we won't rush for your comfort."

Forty percent conversion….no…no…he wrenched against the metal restraints but there was no give.

"I think it understood you," the man said, holding up a box and hitting a switch and Prompto clenched his teeth to keep from screaming. "This is connected to the new hardware, be good and it won't hurt."

Prompto slumped, gasping for air, feeling tears of pain trailing down his cheeks. Okay…that was not good. He'd have to grab that first to keep them knocking him out with pain…if it was the only one. He found his gaze shifting back to Noctis, searching for any sort of reaction but there was nothing. It was Noct's body but there was nothing left of the vampire he had come to care deeply for, he knew Noctis would be fighting to free him if he had any awareness.

"Do you like seeing the so-called Prince like this?" the scientist asked, burying his fingers in black hair, pulling Noctis' head back and Noctis whined, the peace beginning to fade from his face in reaction to what was happening.

"Don't you touch him!" He snarled and then screamed in agony.

"Hey! We need it functioning for the parts to finish synchronising properly. Come on, I've got the alerts set, lets grab some food before the next surgery."

He blearily watched them leave, hearing the door lock behind them. "Noct? Come on, please. You have to fight it. You're still in there, you have to be," he pleaded softly, searching for any sign his Prince could hear him but there was nothing. He began working in trying to at least loosen the restraints or something. He didn't want to know what the forty percent meant for him, or what the next 'surgery' would entail…it sounded like they wouldn't be taking control of him until the end, did that mean he had time? No, he couldn't rely on what they said, scientists lied all the time if they knew their subject could understand.

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Gladio carried Ignis to the chair, gently setting him down, tucking a blanket around him for warmth and Ignis managed a tired smile, taking his hand and Gladio knelt in front of him. he reached up to gently stroke a too cool cheek and Ignis pressed into the touch. "You're going to be fine," he promised, he refused to believe anything else. They had lost Noctis, he could not loose Ignis too.

"I can feel him…Prompto," he whispered, it was good finally having a name for the other Retainer. "He's in pain, so much pain."

"Physical?" Gladio winced, he could imagine a million things the Empire could be doing to him. He had also read Libertus' report on everything he'd heard. The idea that Noct had been travelling with a MT, had given one access to his magic…but their experts were positive that couldn't happen. It was why they figured the Chancellor had just been trying to make Noctis doubt the boy. Everyone who had seen the images agreed the kid was a Niff so it was a useful ploy.

"Physical and…emotional. I…I don't know how long he can…hold on."

"But you can feel him which means they have to still be in Lucis, that's good. It means we have a chance of saving them," Gladio assured him and Ignis hummed, eyes fluttering. He'd never seen Ignis so fragile before and he knew he should be in the medical wing but as Ignis had pointed out, there was nothing they could do for him. He had wanted to come home and no one could deny him that comfort. Gladio had tried to feed him and while it had helped a little, it hadn't lasted long. He got up and opened the automatic blinds, Ignis sighing as the sun hit his chair, soaking up the warmth. Gladio sat down in the other chair, taking his hand and ignoring the slight sting from the sunlight even as Ignis dozed off.

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"Look at these readings!"

"Wonder what's causing that, have you ever seen a reaction like it?"

"Never, make sure we record it all…"

The voices kept him from fully passing out and he clung fiercely to consciousness. He didn't care what they were saying. Noct…he had to save Noct…

They were so involved in their discussion that they didn't hear the grinding screech of metal giving way.

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Ardyn stopped and then stepped back to look down the other corridor, spotting the blood trail. Curious, he walked towards it, eyes widening slightly as he realised which room it had come from. The door opened and he saw two dead bodies on the ground and nothing else. Well…that was unexpected. He followed the trail and soon caught up, just watching for a few seconds. The MT was bleeding, limbs trembling, and yet it kept moving, pulling Noctis along, the vampire limp, legs dragging, neither helping nor fighting. He walked towards them and then he heard the soft words coming from the MT.

"Save….Noct….save….Noct…"

He could never have imagined what he was seeing. He should return the MT to a cell or lab but…the Emperor would not be pleased to lose his prize but what did he care? The boy was neutralised and not a threat, allowing his return to the King may actually cause more demoralisation than keeping him. At least his body would not be further violated. And the more he saw of this MT the more he wondered just what Besithia had kept from them all. He had shown the man how to truly use Magitek and daemons to get the military versions of them but had little input in the infiltration models.

One plodding step after another, the MT struggled on and Ardyn pulled out the control unit for the Prince's collar before pressing it into one bloody hand, curling fingers around it. he then wrapped them in magic, reappearing in the hanger and smirking when he saw what he was looking for, a rather impressive red ship. He did so like the colour red.

"Oh Commodore!"

He didn't care at all if anyone realised what he had done, the Emperor needed a reminder that he was no man's servant. Perhaps…he did not hate Somnus' line as much as he believed he did.

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Aranea stared at the two figures strapped into seats near the loading doors. It was…creepy, to see such empty eyes staring at nothing. She looked at the MT beside it, at least it was inactive for the moment, head slumped forward, bandages wrapped around its wounds. She didn't know what the Chancellor was playing at but she'd do as he asked because it was the right thing to do, she hoped.

The idea of leaving the Prince to be used and abused until his body gave out didn't sit well and she was glad she hadn't been with the retrieval team. Than an MT had apparently been with him and then had broken him out despite being damaged…perhaps it was time they went independent again. At least the MT was beginning to repair, they had bandaged it sloppily to make it seem like the unit had done so itself. No one was to know they had helped the two. They were going to take them closer to Insomnia and find some Lucian soldiers, then drop them off out of sight, making sure they had a straight line to the soldiers. They were then meant to leave but she'd hang around in case they missed them. No point leaving them to die in the wilderness.

Despite being inactive, its hand was wrapped tight around something but the she didn't pry. Whatever it was, it was obviously important. After a while she got a cup and made a small slice in her arm, letting blood drip into it before covering the wound. She tipped the Prince's head back and dripped the blood in slowly, massaging his throat to make him swallow. MT's could eat, but in this one's condition it was probably safer not to try.

Would the Lucians destroy it? Or would they accept it had saved the Prince and spare its existence. She could keep it, except then there would be questions about how the collared Prince ended up wandering around Leide. No, it had to go with the Prince.

"Wish I could do something," she muttered before heading up to see how the search was going.

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"There!" Biggs called and Aranea checked the scanners.

"Visual confirmation?" she asked.

"On it Lady A…" a few seconds passed. "Confirmed, Kingsglaive."

"Bring us in downwind and out of sight," she ordered before heading back to where their passengers sat waiting. As soon as the ship settled she released the restraints and lowered the ramp. She heaved the MT to its feet, pinching its arm to try and get it to react. "Come on blondie, time to wake up," she called as if it was human. "This won't work if you don't activate." Pity the Chancellor had neglected to tell them how to do that. After a few minutes, hazy blue eyes flickered open, the MT taking most of its own weight but it was obviously very out of it.

"Sa…ve…Noct…" it mumbled.

"Yeah, that's what we're doing." She got the Prince up and slung his arms over the MT's shoulders, tugging them along and down the ramp. Surprisingly, it didn't take much to get them moving in a slow shuffle towards where the Glaive were and she shadowed them.

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Cor glanced at Ulric and his team as they began setting up camp, wishing they could keep going but the sun was setting and daemons would be an issue. Plus two of the four were fully human and therefore lacked night vision. He went back to scanning the horizon and frowned as he made something out in the fading light. "Ulric with me," he ordered and the Glaive looked up, seeing what he had. The man may only be half vampire but he was the best fighter out of the four.

They took off at speed across the uneven ground, it was definitely people approaching and they couldn't just leave anyone to the mercy of the night. Then the wind shifted, bringing the scent of blood, antiseptic, chemicals…vampire! Cor almost tripped as he recognised the scent, putting on more speed, Ulric now struggling to keep up. He had his sword in hand, searching for any sign of others but he could only detect the two figures before him, now able to see lank blond hair, Prompto?

He stopped and watched them stagger along, Noctis limp and the blond obviously wounded. He hesitated but then released his sword, keeping his hands out, he'd seen the footage of the kid shooting. "Prompto?" He waited and then he realised he could hear soft, mumbled words, straining his ears.

"Sa…ve…Noc…t…Save….Noc….sa…"

He took the risk of moving closer, knowing Ulric had his back, catching the blond by the arm as he kept walking. "Can you hear me?" he asked, reaching out with his other hand to gently life the blonds head, swearing when he saw the glassiness of his eyes, the blood covering make shift bandages, felt the coolness of his skin. He was in a very bad way.

He then looked at his Prince and wished he hadn't as he saw the band of metal around his throat, empty blue eyes staring into the distance. "Ulric take Shooter, I've got Sleepy. We need to get them to camp now," he ordered and they were soon running back.

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Aranea relaxed as she recognised one of the men, the Marshal would get them back to Insomnia. Her job was done. "Good luck," she whispered before vanishing into the gathering darkness.

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Crowe leapt to her feet as Nyx and the Marshal appeared, each with an unmoving body in their arms. She heard Libs swear and then he and Pelna were digging out their medical supplies. She'd been impressed by Shooter during the fight…but to escape imperial custody with the Prince in tow? What was he the Immortal version two?

They got the two lying out on sleeping bags and began checking them over, the Prince appeared unharmed thankfully…even if his manner of dress made them all feel sick. Clothing was quickly donated to cover him. The blond though…

"How did he manage to walk and drag Sleepy around?" Libertus asked in horror as the blood soaked bandages came off, revealing a ripped medical gown. What had they been doing to him?

Pelna did throw up when they got a look.

"He…he really is an MT?" She couldn't believe it; he'd seemed so real. The Marshal didn't answer, calling a human safe elixir and then breaking it over the surgically mutilated body. They could all see the signs of where accelerated tissue regeneration had kicked in but the curative shocked them by working, wounds healing and smoothing out until the skin was mostly unmarked, leaving only a scattering of scars, either too old for it to fix, or too bad for a total healing. "Curatives don't work on them."

"We need to get them to the Citadel, see what the professionals say," the Marshal answered.

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Cor didn't know what to think…but the elixir had worked. Pity Drau…Glauca had died rather than be captured, he may have had the needed answers. "Sleepy needs blood, see if you can get him to swallow, I need to call the King."

Altius nodded and went to grab a bag.

Cor moved away a bit and pulled out his phone, dialling Regis' number. "We've got Sleepy and Shooter," he said as soon as he picked up.

"How?" Regis sounded shocked.

"Found them in Leide. Shooter was half dead and still managing to drag Sleepy with him. An elixir took care of most of it, he has some scars though."

"And N...Sleepy?" Regis almost said his sons name over the line. While it was meant to be secure, Glauca's presence had proven that the Empire had spies even in the Citadel.

"Collared and unresponsive, though…" he glanced back. "We're getting some blood into him."

"I see…" he could hear the grief in his King and friends voice and wished he could have had better news. "Send your coordinates and you'll be picked up."

"Understood. We'll need security and a medical team for Shooter, we have confirmation on what Ostium overheard."

"Then how?"

"Don't know, to all appearances he's truly unconscious. Even machines have limits."

"Of course, I'll see you soon." With that Regis hung up and Cor went back to the others.

He knelt down, studying the blond, and then realised he was holding something in one bloody hand. He lifted the limb and carefully forced his fingers to release whatever it was, eyes widening in shock. He had never seen one in person but he knew what it was.

"Cor?" Ulric called and he started slightly.

He should stop calling him Ulric all the time since the poor man had been promoted in the wake of the mess Glauca had left. He'd given the new Captain permission to use his name after all. "It's the collar control unit."

TBC…