Authors Notes: This is it. Last chapter. We'll resume regularly scheduled next monday with part 2 'Between sea and sky'

Of Smoke and Steam

Fractured Code

Chapter 11

Forks in the Road

Cryptor just kept walking, for hours, miles, even through the rain. Suitcase in hand with the thought that not only would Zareth be angry if something were to happen to it. But Inky would be incredibly sad if something were to happen to her mother. She already feels that her mother was dead. Finally walking through the do he stops seeing smoke billowing from the beach. His eyes grew wide and he pulled the suitcase to him and ran. Placing the suitcase in the garden Cryptor ran up the steps and into the cottage.

"Inky! Stumpy!" He paused for a second. Listening for anything. Heard it, a small whistle coming from near the kitchen. "Stumpy!" He helped his brother from the floor. Pulling him onto his lap. Seeing all the oil on his chest and floor. Their were a few beeps and warbles before his chest popped and sputtered again. Min leaned his head against his generals chest.

"Wheres Inky?" Cryptor looked around seeing a few people dead from Mindroids own rampage and then the ink covered people. The missing leg from another dead guy in the corner. "Inky...tried to protect you?" He looked down at his partner who nodded his head.

"Lets get you fixed up alright Stumpy." Cryptor lay him down and opened a few windows to let the rest of the smoke escape. Retrieving the suitcase and turned on a light on his head to shine light down into the hole Inky created. Cryptor reached down and ran his fingers over Mindroids stomach. Their was ink stains all over it. Cryptor looked at Mindroids eyes. They were onlining and offlining over and over again. At least he was intaking air alright.

"Inky did this to you?" Mindroid nodded his head. "Did she do it by choice?" His pump box beating faster, he was afraid of the answer. Mindroids head shook a few times. Cryptor let out the breath he had been holding. Mindroid took hold of Cryptors hand and shook his head. Letting out a few beeps insistently.

"I know she loves us. I just...worry." He swallowed and pulled over the wires Inky had collected earlier. His finger tip popped off and landed in his other hand. A Soldering iron popped out and he got to work fixing his partner.

(0)

Inky woke up in a stupor. Her head was swimming and she wasn't sure what was going on. She felt water on her hand. She could hear water running, she could even smell it too. But she couldn't see it to well. She swallowed back the sick feeling. Everything came back to her like an avalanche. She made a choked noise as she buried her face in her hands.

"I killed Mindroid...I killed him." Sobbing wracked her body until she wasn't able to anymore. She just lay there sore from the experience. Angry from the cause too. She wanted to get to them. She needed to. She stood back up seeing she was under ground surrounded by limestone. The ceiling was made of the same stuff except their was a large rusted grate in the middle of it. She could see a small chain over it.

"Hey!" She yelled, then yelled it again louder with much ferocity. "HEY! I'm going to gut all of you!" She screamed.

'Calm yourself child. You're already despairing. The best thing for you to do it sit quietly or it'll just advance the death.' Gaya said.

"I'm fine." Inky growled and looked around at the walls when water began to run into the room. The water hit her shoes then stopped.

'Oh not good...looks as if they have us in a tidal area.' Inky looked back up through the grate. She seen clear skies.

"I hate agreeing with you…"

'Get used to it Inky baby...it'll happen a lot more as you grow. You will eventually become me once your body gives out.'

(0)

Pain

Its all he felt. Searing hot pain on his back. He gritted his teeth as something popped and went back into place. A lot of hot water was placed back onto that spot. He felt so weak though, so he couldn't even even lift his head much less see what was going on. Finally pulling as much energy as he could.

"Wh...What are you doing?" He panted. His eyes rolled. He remembered the last time he felt this weak. It was when Danny was trying to get that arrow out of his back.

"Stay still!" The voice was rough, but regal sounding. He gasped seeing the shadow on the ground near him. He wanted to run, he wanted to get as far away from her as he could. But he wasn't even able to command his movements to do what he wanted. "You'll mess up my work."

Zareth coughed feeling another pull on his back. He gritted his teeth and yelled in pain. He felt something pop back in again almost feeling a lot better, but their was this other piece on his back that felt far worse. "Theirs bits of rocks everywhere. Hang on this is going to be worse." She pulled. Zareth felt the pull and almost felt sick to his stomach expelling the contents of his stomach. Panting and feeling the woman roll him back over taking a cloth wiping his face and throwing water onto the spot he left behind to wash the oil, blood, and spew up.

"I had to get the rocks out of your back panels and then fit them back into place. You'll need replacements eventually Zareth." She said walking over to the water and ran the bucket over the surface before coming back and splashing water onto his chest. He could feel the sizzle and the cool down. It felt so good to just let the heat out. He finally was able to look at the girl standing over him. Blue hair in a loose ponytail, her green eyes just like Dannys. But lazy. She put another bucket near them. Dunking a small cup into it and sitting down.

"Who are you?"

"You need to stay quiet. Let your fans start to work again. Their were rocks in the way." She dropped another cup full onto his chest and smiled hearing the sizzle. Zareth let out a breath seeing the steam. "River...Rivers my name." She said as she watched Zareths eyes begin to close. He was weak and almost couldn't keep his eyes open.

"I am part of white rabbit."