Shell Shock
Writers: Denny and Leila
Rating: PG-RG
Warnings: Ratchet/Azimuth. Violence.
Disclaimer: We value our lives too much to even dare think about claiming Ratchet and Alister as our own. We borrow them for an RP, so don't worry. [Put the Wargroks back into your cage!]
Summary: Everyone's nightmare is to wake up in a cold, dark place without a clue where one is. Sadly, that's what's happened to us. What's even better, we have monsters and weird encounters to endure as well. And then there's them…
Lucky, right? If I ever get out of here, I will need some therapy sessions.
Chapter 8
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Azimuth had to force himself to look away. He couldn't get distracted by the display before him. He had to pull it together to save Ratchet! He had to focus… He had to. Reaching out for his belt, he took out one of his bombs and held it tightly when he pulled his hand back.
"Hey. Scum guard." He felt the grip around his chin fasten. A hostile hiss reached his ears. "You know, I have to admit, this scene quite fascinates me."
Immediately the guard's face appeared before his, a delighted glare in its eyes. Giggling, it formed syllables. Really?
"No." Ramming the bomb into the open mouth, down the throat, Azimuth also turned his holovisor to complete protection. Time to try out the limits of that new armor.
In an explosion the guard's head was torn off and with it the grip around Alister's neck. The entity contracted to a pulsating orb; the elder, although his armor had protected him well, felt pain throbbing through his head.
No! This isn't the time to lie back! Grinding his teeth, the general forced his body to get back onto his feet. Within seconds he had torn his wrench out of the pile, activated another bomb and dashed towards Ratchet and the guards who had not yet realized their comrade's fate.
"LET GO OF HIM!" Screaming that, he unleashed a blinding jolt of energy and rammed it right into the back of the entity's head. A piercing scream filled the room when the guard was torn apart and contracted into the form of an orb, stunning the rest of the creatures. Throwing the ticking bomb against the monsters, he grabbed Ratchet and pulled him close, using the confusion to run past the guards and through the door.
Noise. Weightlessness. Numb.
Where was he? What was he? Who was he? He felt so cold, shivering as he was curled into himself with his arms limply hanging somewhere. He hadn't the energy to draw his knees up which he didn't feel anyway. All was so empty – his head, his chest, his belly.
Maybe that's why he was so light? Did he have feet or legs at all?
Was he maybe imagining his arms too?
The emerald irises were dulled they almost seemed transparent, the pupils no bigger than black needlepoints. Ratchet was staring over Alister's shoulder, his gaze somewhere lost like his mind was in the moment. The elder Lombax shuddered seeing that empty stare in his companion's usually so expressive eyes. It reminded him too much of a corpse.
"Ratchet?" Azimuth called out for the younger, well aware that he should be focusing on the road ahead; at the same time, though, he felt like this was more important than running. "Ratchet! Can you hear me?" As the other did not respond, not even with a glance, Alister's lips started to tremble. He had been too slow… Too damn slow! If he had hurried just a bit more…
Turning into another corridor, he dashed over the platforms. Since he had failed at rescuing Ratchet from this…examination, he had to get them into safety. Or at least Ratchet.
His fingers curled, clawing slightly into the other's arms as he pressed him against his chest and held him tightly. He had failed someone again. Again…
Furious screams tore him back into reality. Turning his head, he saw something purplish red in the far back, streaming into the corridor with immense speed - and eyes, even though they were so far away, were piercing him with an infuriated glare…
A stifled yelp came from the elder as he realized that he had again been too slow. Damn… Damn…! Quickly he turned away and stared at the path before him. There was but one possible exit from this cursed area, and even with hoverboots he would be too slow to reach it in time. Grinding his teeth, his gaze went down to Ratchet. His met the other's glare, worry and fear for the other against emptiness. Trembles went down his spine as his mind produced ill imaginations. No! He wasn't allowed to think like that. Not now. He wasn't! He had to get them out of here, no matter what.
Reaching back to his belt, he pulled out two bombs. He might have a limited amount at his disposal, but they had to suffice for this. Activating the counter, he spun around and tossed the bombs at the walls. Metal broke apart as the walls caved in, blocking the corridor. Enraged screams reached his ears when the guards hit the obstacles with such force that the whole surroundings started to tremble. Good. At least he had bought some time for them to run. Igniting his hoverboots, he rushed through the exit, turned into different rooms and corridors to make their pursuers lose track of them.
Feet crashed against stone, claws were lashed at metal. Furious, the guards took out their frustration on the obstacle before them.
They had had this structure in their grasp, ecstatic on the amount of energy, of power – of pure life - that they had never felt before like this like in that being. But then the elder had somehow escaped the paralysis, attacked them and taken the younger away. How dared him? How dared that low-life to steal from them what was THEIRS?
Rearing their heads back with a sound between a screech and a roar that burst the glass panes behind them, the guards dissolved to their collective mass and flowed towards the debris. Like water they squeezed through every crevice, every hole in the rubble heap within seconds. When seeping out on the other side, it looked like the debris was bleeding with purple-red.
They didn't bother to shift to their individual forms or wait for all to come through – one big form, a giant mountain, instantly raced after its prey. Hundreds of eyes suddenly lightened up all at once inside, roaring for their prize as a giant crack opened in the mass to reveal teeth as long as to pierce the elder through his entire body.
Not here. Rushing into a dead-end room, just as he had so many times now, he dashed back onto the path. Then he entered another chamber. Not here either…! His hoverboots were already screaming at the constant strain put on them, but he did not care. He kept rushing into possible shelters, only to find each place unsuitable. Not safe enough, not safe enough…!
By now Alister had already lost count of the several rooms, corridors and hallways they had crossed. He did not care though - no matter how far he would come, they would not be safe. But what did safe mean in this hellhole anyway?
"Ratchet…!" His gaze went down once more. Ratchet was still unable to react at all, still hung in his arms so lifelessly. Was it the situation, his fear or reality that made the younger feel so cold? Alister didn't know. He did not want to know. Right now, the only thing he did want was to save Ratchet, to get him out of here immediately. But until then he had to try to get through to the Lombax first. "Ratchet! Can you hear me?" As before, no response came. Azimuth's fingers trembled, his grip seemed to be breaking apart soon. This… He had to get through… He had to get through!
"Ratchet!" Shaking the body, his glare grew frantic, his voice so loud that the breath he should have saved for moving forward was used for calling for the younger. "Ratchet! Please answer me! Ratch-"
Suddenly Azimuth broke off in the middle of the sentence. His body tensed up, forced him to cough - and when he did, blood was running down his face.
Somebody was calling his name, at least he believed so. There were other words but they reached him as compacted mumbles, too low and blurred together. Only his name rang clear out into the emptiness and trying to locate the origin was impossible. In some directions the voice got louder, in the next moment it had dulled again like he was constantly changing directions without knowing. Which was probably the case.
He was getting closer to the words again, beginning to tire although he had no body. He would be soon floating again with no aim or purpose even if the words kept coming. It was so hard to stop his thoughts from dimming with nothing to think about except the voice. If he could just remember who it-
The smell of blood shot up his brain. Unlike the voice which he had recognized as such gradually from some indefinite sensation, which was still startling, to the point of hearing his name instead of believing he imagined it – he instantly knew this was real. But that didn't make sense. What reason could there be for the person calling him to be ble-
At the same moment that ungodly scream breached into and froze him in the returning cold. It rolled over him, trying to tear him apart in its hunger with hundreds of voices claiming him. He struggled to get away, pure fear climbing up with blurry, humanoid shapes attached. Shapes which had the same eyes as the monster.
Then hundreds of smiles opened, revealing black tongues before one of them jumped into his face, the mouth splitting in a manic grin to close around him.
The black needlepoints of the pupils dilated that it seemed two black holes had suddenly opened up in Ratchet's eyes and devoured the green iris. His body tensed, the motion alerting Alister who was still coughing on his blood. As he called for Ratchet again, relieved this time, the younger Lombax leant his head back. Face contorted, eyes widening, shaking with his body, he opened his mouth.
Alister grew icy at the scream tearing out the younger's throat, answered by a victorious roar.
The general had hoped for a life sign from Ratchet but not… Not such a blood-freezing scream. Not something that made him even more worried. His fingers digging into the other's arm as he tensed up, he pressed the Lombax against himself. "Calm down, Ratchet…" Forcing himself to keep his shaking voice even, he whispered into the younger's ear. "Calm down…"
The chorus of screams behind them grew louder once more. Fear appeared in Azimuth's eyes, his voice shook more and more - and still, he didn't cease hushing words of comfort into the other's ear. "We will be safe soon, Ratchet." The roar was almost overwhelmingly loud now. "Trust me." His grip around the Lombax tightened. "Just hold out a little longer…"
With every corridor he now dashed through, it seemed like their pursuers were getting closer and closer. Soon they would have no advantage, and that would mean their end. Azimuth had to think of something. Something. And that quickly. But how if all he could do was rush through this endless maze of corridors and rooms?
The roars grew louder and louder, the pressure mounted in the corridor. The walls trembled as the guards approached, tearing the surface to shreds with only their touch. Azimuth dared to look back, and although he did not perceive them, he felt like their eyes had already locked with his.
Running is futile.
The general's eyes widened as the words echoed in his mind. Giggling seeped in, fingers stifled his thoughts.
We will catch you.
With each second passing, Alister felt like someone, something was pulling him back with gently placed yet icy claws. It called out with an enticing, yet piercing voice, shattering his resolve with little fragments of doubt. His mind went wild, imagination blurring with reality - and before he knew, he believed to be in an endless, red corridor. His stare was still turned back, but believed he was still moving.
"… It's not real." He panted, his lips thinned to a line as he forced himself to say it - but that did not help at all. He could not turn away.
Two slits opened in the darkness, widening and throwing orange light at the Lombaxes. Then, another line appeared, bent to a hideously entertained grin.
Look. We have already caught up.
"No you haven't." He hissed. "I… need to snap out of it. I need to…!" The words were weaker than he had expected. "If I give up now…" His resolve really was shattering. That, of course, did not go unnoticed - condescending cackling filled the endless hallway.
You know the truth. Your lives are ours.
And with that, the mouth opened, exposing several eyes directed at him. Arms were stretched out, fingers wanted to grab him-
Ratchet will die.
As if awakening from a nightmare, Azimuth could finally tear himself free from the tantalizing hallucination. Eyes widened, he could but pant to receive the oxygen he needed. Sweat trailed over his fur, last trembles went down his spine. To his surprise, that mental scenario had only taken a few seconds - but that did not change the fact that the guards were getting close.
Back to square one.
The general turned his head to the ceiling. Damn it… If there was only a way to escape -
Something was shot past his arm. Although the elder didn't see the projectile clearly, he could well imagine who the shooter was. But this time, he would not turn back. Concentrating energy in his wrench, he spun around himself and shot at their pursuers, eyes tightly shut. He wouldn't trip into the same trap again.
As there was a sound of impact, the general turned back into the direction he was heading to. Again, another corridor awaited him - by now Azimuth had lost any sense of orientation he had had. They could have been running in circles and he wouldn't have noticed!
Ratchet's fists clenched as the sound of the projectiles flew past them. His mouth was still open but otherwise he was as still as he had been before, eyes staring into the distance. The mass stretched upwards in their chase, eyes appearing in the highest point and narrowing in glee when they spotted their prey in the elder's arms, their image reflecting in the glazed eyes.
More energy balls lightened up in the red-purple entity. They moved from the inner area to the outer membrane, quivering before they pushed through the 'skin', the mass coating them. Then in a flash, the projectiles shot forward – not intending to kill, no. This was still a hunt; it would be boring if they didn't play a bit with them. But even more they wanted the younger unhurt and shooting the elder could have the projectile also kill the younger.
They still could make the elder tremble in fear, show him how futile escape was, crush him when they would take the young away from him without him being able to stop them. – And then they would kill him, slowly melting synapse by synapse, nerve for nerve inside his brain.
Azimuth evaded the shots, even if only barely. One grazed past his ear, making him flinch to the side. Barely able to prevent losing balance, the elder now tensed up even more so that he wouldn't endanger them any more than they already were. The projectiles flew past him, but even though they closed in more and more, Azimuth noticed that they weren't shots meant for lethal attacks, but rather to make him panic.
The elder ducked down to accelerate. Well, good that he had some experience with this - he would not make it easy for them.
This the guards noticed. Aggravation now led their attacks, frustration their speed. Again, that damned Lombax was not reacting the way they wanted to! His movements should have become irrational, unthoughtful already, but what did they see? Quite the contrary. He was even adjusting to the constant attacks!
A discontented hiss filled the corridor. What fun was hunting if the prey was not panicking at all? What joy would rushing after such a boring target bring? None at all. If anything, it was a drag, a bother.
Time to end this charade, then.
The mass began glowing once more as the creatures formed another projectile. Not several like before - just one. And this time, they took their time to shape the energy. If they could not enjoy the excitement of hunting, they would at least take the satisfaction of a perfect shot.
Slowly the projectile moved forward. Pushed into a sniper rifle, the mass selected one of its own to form two arms and to hold the weapon. As soon as said guard had taken shape, it began preparing. Aim taken, speed steadied. Spot chosen, the target had not noticed his fate yet. The accurate position of the younger was determined; all there was left to do was to shoot. By now, the two Lombaxes were quite a large distance away, but that only increased the excitement of the moment.
A devious smile appeared on the guard's lips. This was the perfect opportunity. One quick move, one shot in the elder's leg, and it would be done. Calmly curling its finger around it, the entity pulled the trigger -
It was the perfect shot.
Cries of euphoria left the creatures. The projectile cut through the air and hit as planned. Grim cackling, malicious as the grins appearing on the surface, went through the mass; hands broke out of the substance and struggled forward. Yes, the shot might have only scraped the life form's leg, and this alone was not a perfectly executed attack - but what had made the shot a full success was the result. Azimuth lost balance and crashed against the wall. While he did not stop moving, one could plainly see that the elder suffered as he could not get away from the wall, his hoverboots forcing him forward while pressing him against the metallic surface.
Quite satisfying, even if not enough. How about another shot?
Another projectile was formed in euphoria, much faster than before that. The guards watched Azimuth with excitement. He had still not completely regained his balance and still scraped over the wall, holding the younger tightly. Why was he looking ahead now? And wasn't he now actually pressing himself against the wall? Not that the guards cared. Since the elder was exposing his head so perfectly, the creatures had found the perfect spot to hit. That Lombax could surely survive without an ear, couldn't he?
It was then their target vanished from their sight.
The mass didn't shiver. Neither did it tremble. It was one big earthquake compressed into mountains of sentience, unable to move. Indignation. Rage. Humiliation. That Lombax had dared not only to do dodge their projectile but had vanished from their sight without them noticing. No doubt in that they would quickly find them again - it was just the sheer insolence to defy them like the elder did it time and time again.
The door clicked silently shut. Panting filled the room as Alister dragged himself along the wall as fast and far as possible away from the corridor; the tips of Ratchet's boots scraped over the ground as the elder didn't have the strength to hold him up while supporting them both. He needed to get as fast and far away as possible. The guards would soon see through his trick and find another way, maybe even get ahead of them – that would be their end. He didn't care for himself while the thought of Ratchet in the entities' grasp again constricted his chest. A sharp sting derailed his thoughts from getting desperate again. The wound in his leg was throbbing, the smell of burnt flesh making his nose wrinkle and him curse that the guards had gotten serious at last.
Unfortunately the coughing decided to return. It wasn't long before coughing led then to hacking and hacking to him convulsing until he abruptly stopped, his hand flew from the precious support of the wall to leave his shaking legs fight for balance.
Warm blood trickled, then flowed past the spaces between his fingers - it stank and tasted of stress, rust, metal. He retched on the sensations with a growl, slamming his fist back to the wall and moving to the other door despite his body's protests. He left a print of his hand, black in the almost-darkness of the room.
Hopefully it would take the guards a while before they came after their trail, and hopefully until he found some crates of nanotech. He didn't know if and what damage he'd sustained from the guard's 'kiss' - he shuddered - hell, if nanotech even could heal such damage. But it was worth a shot even if only to get his leg going again. Worse was that he had no idea what he could do to help Ratchet.
He snarled, showing his canines. The guards had been longer on the younger than him, had been more invasive; acting like some damned addicts, like Ratchet's life, body or whatever they had been searching for in the young Lombax was only a substance which induced utter elation. Their ecstasy had and still disgusted him even more than their arrogance.
Shaking his head he gazed to Ratchet, trying to reach him again with his voice. However, the words could not leave his throat - bending under another convulsion he had to cover his mouth once more. Red slowly trailed down the black material of his gloves; and one by one drips of blood fell from his hand onto Ratchet's face.
Slamming his hand against the wall once more, the print was smeared over the surface. Well, now it would surely not be hard for their pursuers to find them – but right now, he couldn't have cared less. His glance went over Ratchet's face, noticing the small red drops in his fur. He would clean the other after that, but for now… Dragging himself forward, he moved towards the darkness before him. For now, all that mattered was that they got away from here as fast as possible.
Another room slid open, blinding the elder with sudden lights. Monitors blinked, buttons glowed - and after some time, Azimuth had gotten used to the bright environment once more. Still, he felt his body give away. Blood ran down his leg as well as his throat. His consciousness was slowly leaving him, the throbbing pain turned into the stabbing kind.
Just a bit more, Azimuth. Get yourself in there. Maybe the guards won't find you then. He knew this was paradox, stupid even to think, but he clung to that thought. "… Don't worry," He muttered lowly, careful not to provoke more blood to come out. "Just a bit more, then we'll be safe, Ratchet." Telling him that, he forced his legs to move.
With each shaky step he took towards the room, the red print was smeared more and more until it ended at the door frame. There, the elder more or less stumbled into the middle of the computers around him. A groan left him as his legs gave away beneath him. He could turn himself just enough to prevent Ratchet falling onto the floor. Panting left him as the last bit of his strength had been taken away. His consciousness was about to leave him, his body was screaming for a break. Even if it was just one minute or even a second – he needed to rest. But he couldn't… He couldn't yet. He had to keep them safe first. Find a way to assure their survival.
Turning his head, his gaze wandered over the monitors – and what he saw made his eyes widen.
Meanwhile, the shapeshifters had rushed back and forth in the corridor. Growls and hisses followed the masses of guards that now clawed themselves over every inch of surface there was; and with every passing second, their search grew more violent, rasher, more bitter. Teeth were bared, the corners of their normally ever-so upwards pointed mouths had dropped as far as they could. Dreadful, cursed Lombax! Abomination of life! How dare him to… To take their precious…!
Claws turned into blades, teeth into fangs. If they ever found him… If they ever got their hands on him…! He would suffer. Molecule by molecule, bit by bit… They would dissect him, reconstruct him, break him apart, put him together and rip him to shreds all over again. And then they would keep him just that much alive to…
Angered, one of the guards shredded the part of the wall apart where Azimuth had vanished, only to be surprised to find another path. Soon the surprise turned into the frustration encountered when one realizes their own folly. How could they have overlooked that so obvious path?
After carefully settling Ratchet against the console, Alister forced himself on his kness while he supported his stand against the edge. His vision blurred for a second as his eyes tried to focus on the screen with the words that had snagged his attention. Luckily he hadn't imagined what he had spotted and for the first time since he'd woken up, a genuine, though crooked smirk played on his lips.
Energy Force Field
Azimuth's eyes noticed a small subtext beneath. Do you want to keep the guards from this part of the facility now?
What a question. At least Nefarious proved to have some sort of wisdom when he had a program installed that could hold of those creatures. Soon frantic typing filled the room while letters and symbols filled the monitors, only to be cut short by a pop-up message with a loud beep. You are not authorized to activate this program. Please try again.
A fist slammed on the counter, Alister yelling at the screen, "I don't have time for this!" He punched the keys again, trying to work around the security systems of the computer that they would acknowledge him as Nefarious. If he just had a decoder with himself, it would lessen the time he needed - and time wasn't something he could waste in the moment.
At the same time, a triumphant cry filled the corridors. Their initial frustration had subsided, just as much as elation had taken them. Excited about their discovery, the guards had reassembled at the entrance of the hidden path. Unlike before they remained as individual entities, their slender fingers clashing against each other in euphoria. Time to go on with the hunt.
Azimuth startled when the scream reached his ears. Damn it. Damn it! They had most probably found the corridor now - not that it should have surprised him. It had already astounded him that it had taken them so long. But regardless of that he had to hurry now.
Cries of euphoria left the creatures as they rushed into the corridor, following the trail of blood leading over the metallic surface. The guards who scratched over the red liquid squirmed in elation as they felt a tingling sensation trailing down their spine. Their tongues flicked over their fingers, disassembling the blood in anticipation. Soon… Soon this color would be splayed all over the place.
What wonderful image.
As they approached, Azimuth slammed his fingers into the keys. No. No. No... Not the right password, not the right password! A drip of sweat trailed down his temple. He was running out of ideas, and the fact that he was losing his focus did not help either. A growl of frustration left his throat, accompanied by bloody coughs.
Nefarious would surely love the new paint on the counter.
Azimuth's fingers curled. Damn it. Damn it! He had to find-
Ecstatic screams echoed with more and more intensity. The first guards could already see the light from the computer room, elating them incredibly. Azimuth trembled. He had tried out everything he thought Nefarious to choose as password and hadn't been successful - and now, with these monsters right there, the chance to find the right combination was close to nil.
The screams grew unbearably loud, but Azimuth did not care. It was over. They would die. He had only time for one combination left - and he doubted that he would be successful. He could as well type something absolutely senseless and it would have the same effect! But at the same time, everything reasonable had not been successful. So should he try his luck?
Closing his eyes, the elder moved his fingers over the keys. Time to insert something silly. Letter by letter he typed in the silliest code he could think of.
LaNR 4-3V4R
One of the guards rushed ahead of the others. Driven by the tingling taste in its mouth, the distance between it and its fellow entities had grown considerably wide. Priorities forgotten, the guard was newly enchanted by the sensation just a few drips of blood had evoked. Where… Where? Where was that wounded creature? Where was the source of this bindingly splendid taste? Yes, the elder might not have the perfect structure, not the perfect taste, but nonetheless it was exquisite enough to make the guard crave for more. It needed to be faster than the others, needed to keep the old one away from the others. Since the other creatures would focus on the younger one anyway, he could savor the elder all to itself… Oh! There was an opened room, could it…?
Yes.
The guard clawed into the door frame and opened its mouth.
A blood-chilling scream of euphoria, soon answered with excited cries, yanked the general upright; he did not have to turn around to know that they had arrived. He gulped. So that meant death. Well damn, that last attempt had been for-
Access granted. Welcome, doctor.
"… No way." A small chuckle left the elder despite the perilous situation. Not that he had much to laugh either way - he was yanked back, spun around and crashed against the monitor. Yellow eyes, glowing redly with blood lust stared into his, claws dug into his shoulder protection. A grin with teeth bared to their entirety, filled out half of Azimuth's view - then the mouth opened as wide as it could, unleashing deafening laughter. Teeth clashed against each other as the guard leant in, stopping its action only in between to lick over the blood trailing down Alister's chin.
The general, first stunned, let a growl escape his mouth. Grabbing his wrench, he rammed it into the guard's disgusting grimace, charging his weapon with energy.
"Get off me!"
Strength he had thought lost returned to him, enabling him to toss the perpetrator back into the corridor against the other monsters. Sliding off the control panel, he hit the command key. Blue sparks appeared, first everywhere, then at the ceiling, slowly connecting to each other as a ring.
Slowly.
Azimuth growled, barely able to stand. His consciousness was again failing him - and yet, he had to stand firm to defend this small refuge. The perfect job for a severely wounded, blood-coughing Lombax. "Lady Luck must hate me," he hissed as he drew in a sharp breath, "At least enough to pull me through this crap." He noticed how the attacker got up first from all the guards, glaring at him with a furious, yet deliriously excited grin. Charging his wrench once more, Azimuth prepared for the attack. The creature pushed itself way from the others, rushing to the entrance-
Energy force field activated.
What had first been a faint blue shimmer in the atmosphere unleashed a blindingly bright flash. The ring of sparks rammed a blue barrier into the ground and expanded along the outer wall, sealing off the room, if not the whole sector they were in. Surprised, the guards backed off and distanced themselves from the barrier. Only the attacker didn't - it was too late for the creature. The force field had cut through the entity right between head and torso. A loud crack could be heard as the collar around the guard's neck was shattered. The body crashed onto the ground, twitching and arching up, shifting its form back and forth. Same with the head; now that it was disembodied, its shape changed with every moment passing. Screams of pain left it, and yet paradoxical elation was displayed in its eyes. Whatever the guard was feeling, it was exciting it as well.
Azimuth stared at the scene before him, not diverting his gaze when he moved towards Ratchet and pulled him into a probable safe area. While he was on his knees now, his stare rested on the head, then on the body outside.
He regretted doing so.
The twitching body outside was losing control over itself - no, how to put it… It lost the capability of keeping its shape. If the elder hadn't known it better, he would have believed that its structure was breaking apart... But that was not the horrifying display. It was the fact that the other guards had started taking the body in.
Quickly turning away from that sight, he looked once more at the head which seemed to be suffering a fate similar to its body - the only difference was that not the fellow entities, but the barrier accelerated its deterioration. This seemed to be hurting the guard - the remaining parts of its face spoke of actual suffering, cries similar to a helpless child left it. However, since it was too close to the energy field, blue flashes penetrated the head and cut it apart, bit by bit until the particles were sucked in to the field and turned into blue sparks.
When the head had vanished, its body had as well. It seemed like the guards had finished whatever they had been doing - and going after their expressions, it had not been something they had been craving to do. None of the guards Azimuth could see was grinning anymore. The corners of their mouths had fallen, the constant giggling had ceased completely. Then, they sharply turned to the protected entrance, glaring at the elder.
A gulp. Azimuth resisted the urge to step back and straightened his torso. Returning the glare, he pressed his teeth against each other and held Ratchet tightly. At the low snarl he only grinned.
For several moments both sides remained as they were, only the occasional buzzing from the force field interrupting the silence. Then, one of the guards stepped forward and stopped before the barrier, its head lifted and its gaze filled with contempt and arrogance. Again several moments passed with only a glare worth thousand words exchanged.
A sneer left the entity. Raising one hand, it touched the force field. The finger slowly dissolved, leaving a glowing purple line that followed the guard's hand as it used itself as a pen to write on the barrier.
Your lives are ours.
And with that, the guard turned away, closing its hand to a fist and biting its lip. Then it hovered over the ground and rushed away, the other creatures following it closely.
Azimuth remained in his position until he was certain that their pursuers were finally gone. When they were, all tension fell off the Lombax as he fell against the consoles behind him. By Orvus… He was so tired. His body felt numb, his senses were dulled. And still, he was pleased.
For now, they had survived.
Wrapping his arms around Ratchet, he pulled the unharmed leg closer; the other was only throbbing painfully, but didn't bleed any longer. Well, at least he wouldn't die from a bleeding.
Safe for an internal one.
A smirk, as unfitting it was, hushed over his face. Whatever. For now, he couldn't have cared less. All he wanted right now was some rest, no matter what. Lowering his head, he rested his cheek against the other's, nuzzling slightly against Ratchet. As it seemed, the younger had relaxed a bit now that those monsters were gone. A faint smile appeared on Azimuth's face. "Don't worry. We are safe." And with that, his eyes closed.
They had survived.