The first thing Corrin felt was pain. His head stung. His back ached terribly. His stomach felt horribly bruised. He felt warm blood flowing over his arms. His eyes slid open, then closed once more. He grunted as he opened them again. A series of beeps rang out from a small device beside him. "Oh!" Someone said. "I'm glad too see you awake!"
Corrin looked around. A man stood there, smiling. A Thunderbolt emblem shot across his shoulder. Corrin rolled to the side quickly. He stopped for a moment, confused. His slug rifle lay there, beside him, not obscured. He grabbed hold of it and turned the barrel on the Imperial.
"Hey, go easy Merican!" The man said urgently. I though maybe giving you your weapon would ease your spirits; obviously not!" He laughed.
"Who are you, Imperial? Where am I, and how do I get out?" Corrin asked, thrusting the rifle closer to the man.
"You are in my lab. I saved you. I'm not Imperial, and the exit is over there." The man replied calmly. Corrin caught only three words.
"You aren't Imperial?" Corrin gave no ground. "Why do you wear the iconography of the Emperor?"
The man sighed. "Damn, I though I removed all of these. Corrin," Corrin looked at him, shocked.
"How do you know my name?" He said. His gun lowered slightly.
"You are Corrin Grant. Riktus stole your friend and you want him back. I heard the whole speech. Besides," He laughed. "You're famous!" He smiled as Corrin stared on, oblivious. "You're wanted, dead or alive. The Imperium has sentenced you to execution without trial for sabotage, instigating revolution, the murder of many Imperial soldiers, and assassination."
Corrin smiled. The Emperor knew who he was. He knew he was coming. So did Riktus. "Anyway, Corrin, I am a defector." The man replied. "Call me Krieg. I own this lab and everything in it. It was set up by the Emperor years before we took Merica. It is here were we researched the Treacherous Soul virus."
Corrin shook his head. "Virus…?"
"I don't have any time, Corrin. I fear I've put you in grave danger. I heard of your plight. I….I had to help." Corrin looked at him seriously. Krieg continued. "They know where I am. I was a single scientist. The others are dead. I am the last one. I must pass what little of the secret I know."
"How did you save me? The things reacted to your very word!" Corrin said in awe.
"Riktus decided we needed a fail safe if the Soulless turned against us. An override, he called it. Voices of authority were recognized by the Treacherous, and they responded. You were lucky…yes." Krieg shook his head. "My voice has been removed from the database; that was my last command."
Corrin nodded in understanding. There was a bang. "Damn it! They're coming!" Krieg shrieked.
"Are there any defenses? Do we have any way out." Corrin asked coolly.
"They won't be able to break through for several minutes. The escape exit will open and give us just enough time…but we can't go yet."
Corrin turned and gave him an insane look. "Are you crazy? I can't fight off all of them, we need to go!"
"No. Corrin," He lifted a small, delicate needle from a table beside him, "this is the Alternative. I know little of it, only the top scientists knew everything. It is the only other way to kill the virus. Take it." He held the needle out to Corrin.
Corrin stretched his hand out and grasped it lightly. He gasped. This was what he needed. This was the key to saving his friends. There was a blast from above. Krieg gestured to a small, empty space on the wall. Corrin walked forward. Krieg pressed the wall harshly. A rectangular space opened before them.
Corrin turned back. A can fell from the stairs behind them. Suddenly, Imperial soldiers stormed down. "He's got someone with him!" One yelled.
"Kill them both!" Another roared. Corrin pressed down on the trigger and let out a stream of blurred death. He felt Krieg grab him on the shoulder and pull him in. The doorway collapsed before them. Darkness engulfed him.
There was a click. Tiny illuminators lit the damp hallway. Rocks and dirt clumped to form walls. "What now?" Corrin asked simply. Krieg looked around and shrugged.
"We go." He began to walk down the hall. Corrin followed quickly.
"I can take you to a military base in Mason. They can get you shipped to the City of Glory." Corrin said thoughtfully.
"Corrin, Mason fell." Krieg said sadly. Corrin stopped and shook his head. "They have begun the siege of Promethius City. The Philosophers…"
"I know what the damned Philosophers say!" Corrin bellowed. Krieg shirked away. "I'm sorry, I'm watching my country fall apart before my eyes while I sit down here in a hide-hole."
Krieg nodded. "Corrin, if you could, I know you would be up there…from what I've heard of you!"
Corrin nodded. He had to respect this man, Imperial or not. He had saved his life. He was helping. He had given Corrin just what he needed. Though he knew that once the Alternative was gone, his mission would not be finished. He had to kill Riktus.
At that moment, an image of Grange appeared in his mind, along with Johnson. He closed his eyes. What was he going to do? Why had all of this been thrust upon him? He would ponder as they walked the cavernous escape halls towards freedom. He would ponder all night.