"That was uncalled for, Aaron. You know it." Zero said, sitting across from the teen while they waited for their boss.
"I didn't do anything they weren't expecting. Plus, we put them in a cell together." Aaron shrugged, "So that furry, viewer thing guy can heal. You're just mad that I shot your friend."
"I am mad that you did that in the first place. Ashik didn't want any of them harmed in any way and you go and shoot them." Zero shot back, resisting the urge to get up and punch the brat.
"He'll get over it." Aaron shrugged.
"I'll get over… what?" Ashik asked, walking into the room.
Both Zero and Aaron leapt to their feet and bowed. Aaron was soon flopped back into the chair he was sitting on, staring at his boss. Zero waited, just raising his head and staying where he stood. Ashik looked from Aaron to Zero and smiled.
"At least I know where true loyalty and respect lie." Ashik stated, watching Aaron's face distort a second before turning away, "What will I get over?"
"Aaron shot one of our prisoners." Zero stated.
"Oh did he? Well, did Aaron leave them for dead?" Ashik asked.
"No, we left all the prisoners together in one cell. There is a Viewer as well."
Ashik walked over the Aaron, who still wasn't looking at him. He grabbed the teenager's neck and pulled him to his feet, letting him dangle a moment before dropping him. Aaron's own hands rubbed his neck as he sat on the floor, breathing heavily and glaring at the tiles.
"You go against my orders a third time… it will be your last." Ashik warned.
"Understood, sir." Aaron nodded, finally standing.
"Now, report Zero." Ashik said as he walked to a nearby chair, "What can you tell me about the prisoners?"
"Besides the young one called Teagan, I can tell you almost anything." Zero replied, "The other two ladies down there are the Princesses of the O.Z., DG and Azkadellia. The guy with the weird hairdo and zipper is the old advisor Ambrose, now called Glitch. The furry one is a Viewer called Raw and the two blonds are Wyatt and Jeb Cain."
"Wyatt and Zero are old buddies…" Aaron chimed in.
"Yes, it's true that Cain and I have a history, sir." Zero sighed, "Plus, you have a history with Teagan, Aaron.
"That is enough. I know plenty on both you Aaron and your sister Teagan. As far as Zero and Cain, as long as you don't cause any problems like Aaron has." Ashik stated, "Bring me Teagan, Zero. She has something I want."
"What about the others, sir?" Zero asked.
"Why not bring them along. Wouldn't want them to miss the little party now, do we?" Ashik laughed, "Aaron, stay here. You and I must discuss your recent inability to follow orders."
"Yes sir…" Aaron replied, sounding like a child.
Zero bowed before taking his leave. He hid the smile that was starting to form until he left the room. As he made his way back down to the holding cells, the hidden smile turned into an arrogant smirk. Things were working in exactly his order, but he didn't go to the holding cells right away. Slipping down an old damaged hallway, Zero found a room that was almost ready to cave in.
"Are you here, Witch?" Zero called quietly.
"Yes, I am here." The spirit appeared in front of Zero, "Have the little insects figured anything out?"
"No, Ashik has not and unlikely to do so anytime soon. I must bring all the prisoners upstairs to him. What would you have me do?" Zero asked, bowing.
OZ/\OS
Down in the cells, the mood had blasted pass depressing. Teagan sat in a corner, away from everyone else. Her eyes were fixed on the cold steel floor though she listened to everything going on. From the guards walking around and talking about some event that was going to happen, to the group in the cell who were all helping with healing Aaron's target.
She felt someone stand in front of her before kneeling. Barely looking up, Teagan could see a dirt covered skirt… Azkadellia. Teagan let her head drop again, but felt Az's hand rubbing her hair.
"So… how's Cain?" The teen finally asked.
"Raw's healing him with DG's help. The bullet went through his shoulder, but missed anything major. He's just going to be sore for awhile." Azkadellia replied.
"That's good to hear. I just can't believe Aaron is like this…" Teagan sighed, rubbing her forehead, "What is Ashik giving him?"
"What do you mean, 'giving him'?" Azkadellia questioned.
"Who… is Ashik anyway?" Cain called.
"Cain, stay down. You shouldn't move right now…" DG scolded.
"I'm fine DG. Teagan needs to explain about Ashik and what she was able to find out…" Cain hinted at Jeb, who still had the piece of paper.
"Ashik is… was my uncle's friend…" Teagan said as the others gathered around her, "I thought he died years ago. There was no trace of any of them, hardly anything survived…"
"Maybe they ended up blasting themselves over here?" DG shrugged, "One of few possibilities."
"DG… that means Ashik's been in the O.Z. for over eight years, uh annuals." Teagan replied.
"We understand, Teagan. If you say years, we know that mean annuals." Glitch interjected, "Can you tell us more? About your uncle, Ashik, and the research or experiments they were doing?"
"Like I said, Karanavir, Ashik, and my uncle Perrim were all researching on ways to sterilize an area so that no one would suffer. I've told you this before, so I really can't tell you anymore." Teagan shrugged.
"Well, what about this?" Jeb asked, giving Teagan the piece of paper.
Teagan took the piece of paper and read it over a few times. Looking from her notes to the glyphs. She sighed and shook her head, "With little light and time I can't make more out at this time." Teagan said, folding the paper and putting into her pocket.
"Let's focus on Ashik." Jeb supplied, "What would make him want to take up this research in the O.Z. and what would he gain from that?"
"Maybe there's a reason Ashik never came forward before." Az reasoned.
"Maybe he was waiting for the right time." Cain stated, "He might have been in the army and waited for his chance to do whatever he is doing now."
"Well, you can ask him yourself." A voice shot from behind them. It was Zero, smiling at each of them, "Ashik would love the pleasure of your company now. All of you." He nodded and the bars lifted.
Longcoats raced in and surrounded the group. Zero stepped in, grabbing Teagan by the arm and placing a gun to her back. Nodding, he led the way from the cell and the echo of footsteps filled the area. He basically dragged her through the hall and passage ways until they reached the higher floors.
Teagan tried her best to hide the anxiety that was building inside. She had been here with the Mystic Man and looked around as if he would appear. She was more worried about the spectral ghost guards. Teagan would stare around any corner and keep her eyes fixed on dark spots. Zero kept glancing down at her, but smiled when he figured it out.
"You will not find them here. The Witch has them patrolling other areas as of now." Zero said, smiling broader as Teagan turned to him.
"Who isn't here?" Cain jumped in.
"Banshees, Cain, the Witch's own personal ghostly guards. Quite interesting things to have around, I might say." Zero replied.
"If you want to be dead or have your soul sucked out of you." Teagan added.
"That is an experience only those graced by the Sorceress would know." Zero replied, glancing at Azkadellia.
Teagan punching Zero in the side, but he only grunted and kept walking. The group finally came upon a pair of huge doors. Other Longcoats opened the doors as they neared so the group never slowed. The room was huge and adorned in silvers and bronze reliefs and sculptures.
Zero shoved her into the center as the Longcoats pushed the others away. The group stood in the middle of the room as the Longcoats left and Zero made his way to a couch and slumped into it.
"Please, make yourselves at home." A voice echoed around them.
Looking around, the group spotted Aaron walking through the room and sitting on another couch. A man followed behind, covered in a cloak that hid his face and stood in front of Cain. Teagan looked between Cain and the man, watching Cain's straining not to move.
"Well, who are your friends Teagan?" The man asked, removing the hood, "You seemed to be doing well, child."
"Ashik, you look alive." Teagan replied, "These are the people whose world you are trying to destroy."
"Come, come now. I'm merely conducting research. By the way, I still have a lot to do, but I need your help." Ashik said as he walked up to her.
"Like I would ever help you in destroying a world." Teagan spat.
"Oh, you will or she will die first then others will follow. You don't want that now do you?" Ashik questioned.
Teagan gasped, eyes growing wide with confusion, "Wh-what are you talking about? You're planning on killing everyone anyways!"
"Not really. That is where the research comes in. Now, to make sure that you will cooperate." Ashik smiled and a shadow floated from a dark corner. The witch's shrieking laughter filled the air as she descended at the group.