Chapter 3: The Proxies
We were lead into a cave that goes deep underground to Torchwood 4's base. Slenderman lets us inside and he shouts, "ALRIGHT EVERYONE! COME SAY HELLO TO OUR GUESTS!"
Next thing we know 26 people came running into the main hall. All of them dressed very weirdly and some of them wear masks. Most of them looked young except for one old man. Their skin is almost the same deathly pale color as Slenderman's. "Are they all Ghouls?" I asked.
"They're all One-Eyed Ghouls," said Slenderman, "The one with the glasses is The Observer," He pointed at each one as he introduces them to us, "The one who looks slightly like me is Firebrand, the one with the skull mask is DeadHead, the girl who wears the black tape over her eyes is Cursor, the man who wear's the comedy mask and European soldier's uniform is Swain, the old man is Persolus, The young teenager over there is Mr. Scars, That's Vince, Kate, DarkHarvest00, HABIT, The Sight, Charlie Matheson Jr, Victor, Ellie, Xakk, Hoody, Masky, Patrick Anderson, KindVonDerRitter, Alex Kralie, The Anti-Body, The Overseer, Mr. Collector, Sage, and this boy here," Slenderman walks over to the teenager who wears orange goggles and a half mask that goes over his mouth. He brought him over to us as he said, "This is our newest member of the Torchwood 4 family, we call him Ticci Toby."
This feels... All wrong.
"What's the matter, Blood Jester?" said Slenderman.
"... They're not just Ghouls, are they?" I said as I looked at Slenderman in the eye.
"You can tell by their scent can't you?"
"That's not just it. Their bodies and time are out of place. I would say these are the effects of the Time Barrier, but... I don't think any of them are just part Human and Ghoul. You merge them with other species haven't you?"
"... I had to if I hadn't most of my crew you see today wouldn't be alive."
"I see."
"Why did you call him, Blood Jester?" said The Observer, "I thought he was the Doctor?"
"He's no longer that man, Observer," said Slenderman, "You will call him Blood Jester from now on. So tell us about these Chernabogs, Blood Jester."
"Since you know they took over Torchwood 3, we need to find a way to get rid of them without attracting any attention from the humans. Not to mention to stay under CCG's radar."
"Staying under the radar isn't much of a problem for us," said Hoody.
"Besides, CCG never had to deal with us before." said Ellie.
"If they had, they would never even get the chance to tell the tale about Torchwood 4," said DeadHead.
The others snicker about it, almost like they were telling me they have killed a few members of the CCG, and they were treating it like a good memory. I said, "The Chernabogs are not easy to beat. When one came to Tokyo everyone including me was having trouble trying to take him down."
"How many of these Chernabogs are at the base of Torchwood 3?" asked Mr. Collector.
"I don't know," I said.
"That shouldn't be a problem for me to find out," said The Observer, "I can find out anything since it's my job."
I suddenly gained the chills up my spine. The Observer's time is unlike the others here. It's making me feel uneasy. Suddenly when I've felt a connection to my own time to his. My Rinkaku burst out of my lower back and I attack him. The Observer's black and red Bikaku appeared just in time to block my Rinkaku. I had to pull back my strength because I didn't want to hurt him too bad, but to give him a warning.
When I was about to say something, Slenderman spoke for me, "Observer what have I said about stealing someone else's time force?"
"Sorry, I just wanted to have a little taste from the legendary TimeLord," Said The Observer as he pushes up his glasses with one finger. "He's more ancient than you, Slenderman."
That's when it hit me when I've finally taken in his scent, "You're part Rune? No wonder how a half Ghoul could put up a Time Barrier! You have the power to manipulate time and space!"
"How true, from what I've been told, Runes were a substitute for Gallifreyans."
"Hardly," I said, "TimeLords don't steal time. Runes may have two hearts but you can't even regenerate. The closest to regeneration you'll ever get is a fast healing factor."
"You almost make it sound like Runes are a flawed species."
"They were because of their insatiable hunger for time. When they got out of hand we had no choice but to put them down."
"Tch, how cold of you. Then again that's always how the Gallifreyans were. If they don't see a species fit for the universe they snuff them out. Just like the Daleks."
"Observer!" said Slenderman sharply, "He's here to ask for our help. Not to be insulted by you. Go back to your station."
"Fine, besides Shuu and I need to catch up. Come along, Shuu."
Tsukiyama walked away with him. Kaneki said, "That must be the friend he talked about."
"Tch, of course, they would be friends," said Touka sarcastically.
When I let my Rinkaku disappeared Cursor said, "You ate the Chernabog haven't you?"
"Sorry?" I said.
"You ate him. You ate Albus."
"How do you know that?"
"Cursor is part Fate," said Slenderman, "All she sees is death and the people who have killed."
"... I see," I said, "It must have been hard on you, Cursor."
"I've grown used to it," She said, "Why did you eat him?"
"...I've been taught that you take what you kill. Besides, if I just left him there. I have no doubt CCG would have found him and discover what he was just to build another weapon."
"Oh I see," said Slenderman, "You're talking about the CCG's Quinques. Yes those weapons are quite a sight aren't they? It amazes me how much a Ghoul would freeze up at the sight of it because they might recognize it from someone they know."
"What did a Chernabog taste like?" asked DeadHead.
"DeadHead that's rude to ask," said Slenderman, "Well I think it's best that you and I talk alone in my office."
"I think so."
"Alright, follow me. Your friends can stay here and mingle with the others."
I turn to Kaneki and Touka, "I'll be back alright?"
"Okay," said Kaneki.
"But um," said Touka quietly to me, "Make it quick okay?"
"Sure."
I'm guessing Touka is getting creeped out by everyone here. I don't blame her, everyone's scent is off. I can barely even pick up their human scent. Once I followed Slenderman to his office after going past these many halls. He sits behind his desk as I sit in front. He said, "I'm terribly sorry about my crew. They are all a curious bunch and sometimes they don't know their place. I try to keep them in line as best as possible."
"It's fine," I said.
"If you don't mind me asking. How did you get like this exactly?"
"A Ghoul attacked and destroyed one of my hearts. When I couldn't regenerate the TARDIS fused our bodies together."
"No wonder why I could pick up a female scent from you. But your eyes are different from us. You've got a little of something else in you."
"I rather not discuss my biology with you."
"Right sorry. Back to business. Tell me everything about these Chernabogs and how can we eradicate them? Or do you plan on not killing them?"
"No, we're going to put an end to their existence. The Chernabogs are similar to Ghouls except they have more abilities. They can shift their bodies into 3 different stages, and they can multiply, but when they do their strength decreases. They're fast, their healing factor is high, and their strength is incredible."
"When you said they're like Ghouls?"
"They can eat other species, and they have tentacles. But they mostly look like Rinkakus except it's all black."
"Hmm, like my Rinkaku."
"So what part are you, Slenderman?" I asked.
"Well, part Ghoul, part Human, and part Silence."
"... The Silence? I've never heard of that species before."
"That's because they don't want to be known. You probably have encountered them sometime in your life, Blood Jester. But every time you turn your back on them you forget you ever saw them. At first, I couldn't control the Silence's abilities. Every time someone looks away from me they forget. After the years of practice I've got it under control."
"... But that's not all the Silence's abilities is it?"
"There's more. I can bend someone's will to my liking, and I can gather electrical energy and displace a person into ash. It's really great to have this ability because in case if someone wonders up around these parts I can make them forget and sent them back home."
"... What about food? Have you all feast upon humans?"
"Once in a blue moon for me. The others try not to eat them constantly, but Toby is a special case. The last human he ever ate was his father which was a year ago. He's very lucky that he can eat human food."
"He can eat human food?"
"Yes because he has this talent to lock away that Ghoul side of him. When he does use his Kagune it's to practice or when he's in danger."
"Besides being a Ghoul and Human what else is he part of?"
"That's actually it. I offered him to be fused with another part of a different species, but he refused."
"Wait why did you offer it to him?"
"When I've found him he was badly burned and hurt. He wears a half mask because this side of his cheek," He pointed at the left side, "The flesh is badly burnt off. If he takes off his mask you would see part of his teeth showing."
"Why did he eat his father?"
"His father was violently abusive. He tried to kill Toby so the young boy killed him out of defense."
"How did he became a Ghoul, though?"
"He was in a tragic car accident when his sister passed away. He was on the brink of death as well and the doctors had to perform emergency surgery. You've heard about the recent Ghoul transplants right?"
"Yes from Kaneki."
"Well, Toby hasn't eaten a human when he became part Ghoul until his father. I'm not sure when he's going to eat again."
"If he does will you stop him or let him?"
"The hunger is something that can't be stopped but prolong. Eventually, we all have to give in wouldn't you agree?"
"... Right."
"Well, will you and your friends be staying the night in our base or in your TARDIS?"
"The TARDIS."
"Okay, if you like you can bring the TARDIS inside the main hall, so you won't have to keep on walking back and forth."
"Thank you, I will do that."
"Again I'm sorry about my proxies behaviour. I assure you this won't be constant."
"I hope so. I don't think The Observer likes me much."
"No, it's not that. He's curious about you that's all. But I would stay clear from him for now."
"Alright, I keep that in mind."
Well, this is going to be an interesting stay here. This Ticci Toby, though, I might want to talk to him soon.