(A.N.) Well, I'd like to thank some of my newer readers for enjoying the story so far, I've recently been told that my writing had drastically improved, so I'll try my damndest to keep improving. Not as long as the last chapter, but much more action packed. Some character action, and we finally get some plot devolpment. Enjoy!
Awaken: Book of Bonds
Chapter 13: Bonds of Friendship
I wait in the treetops, and wait for the signal from my partner, Econdor… The hours pass, and dusk becomes twilight. Suddenly, I hear the call of a bird, the call I've been waiting for. I rush to action, speeding across branch to branch, until I'm right above the target, the poor unsuspecting target. I survey the surroundings. He's asleep, in a tent, alone. I quietly enter his campsite, and set my Com-Link to a metal detector mode. And find the signal to come from under the tent. I return the bird call given earlier. Econdor swoops down in a matter of seconds. I gesture to under the tent. "Good work Joel."
"Thank you sir!" I reply, matching his hushed tone. We began a quiet excavation of the area, and came to the buried loot, the equivalent of $300,000. We quickly escape, as his tent caves in to the carved out ground. We return to the bank, leaving the bag, and a note: Mission accomplished, all stolen goods present and accounted for. Joel & Econdor.
Upon returning to our rooms, we see that we've been decked out with a queen sized bed, a love seat, a new wardrobe, a decently sized television, a desk, computer, and chair, a mini fridge, and a phone. How the hell they managed to hook all of it up considering where my room is in a matter of a few hours, I'll never know.
"We have our own bachelor pads!" Devante cheered. We were longing in his room, discussing how sweet our new home was. After a good half hour of mutual agreement that we hit the jackpot, the phone rang. Robert answered it.
The shorter boy was nodding, and occasional said 'uhuh' 'yeah, ok' and finished with "We'll be right down Doc." He turned to us. "Doc says it's time for our experiment, and it will likely put us to bed rest for at least a week." The dread evident on his face. Robert had always disliked hospitals, labs, and anything involving needles.
"Well, we don't have a choice…" I say. Getting up from my relaxed position on the sofa, I walk to the door. Looking back to the guys, I see both just staring at the apparently amazingly interesting floor. "Unless you two want to go to living on the streets, I suggest you get off your asses and deal with a week off."
"I don't want to hear that from the one who kept us from our month off." Robert whined as he and Devante got their shoes back on, and joined me in the hall on the way to the lab.
Once back in the cave area on the second floor, we went through the cave area which led to the Lab. Once through another winding path, we appeared in a large tiled area, with two halls, one led to the infirmary, the other to our destination. We made the obvious choice, and walked in to see Michael, Doc, Jim, and Angel sit in waiting.
"Good to see you all made it…" Doc muttered as he prepared three conspicuously large needles. Robert could be heard gulping from half a kilometer away. "Please take your spots on each of the tables."
"Can we at least know what we're about to take?" Devante asked, sitting on the metal experiment table.
"A concentrated serum that I developed a while back…" He sighed. "You all remember the serum that ultimately started WWIII, right?" We nodded. "Well, this is a step up from that."
"Devante suddenly went all starry eyed "So we'll develop even more powers!"
"Not exactly…" Jim began. "What that old chemical compound did was actually accent the percentage of brain power each person could use. From 10% to 15% made an incredible change in the human race. Doc's compound raises the 15% to 20%, meaning you'll become stronger, faster, more accurate, and quicken your reactions. The more of your brain you use, the more you're able to push your limits." He explained.
"This will give you an edge over the Dictation." Angel explained.
"Hold on, if this is really supposed to be all that, then why was it so easy to beat our 'test fights' against Carol, Grogan, and Mike?" I ask.
Carol at that moment entered the lab. "We never took those fights seriously." She yawned a bit bored. "Stand up Tyson." I did as instructed. "Now, try to come at me." She made no change in her relaxed stance. I quickly rushed her, faking a right uppercut before changing into a sweep kick. She simply grabbed my leg, and tossed me into the air, without trying. "Notice how little we all participated when Dictation invaded the complex? You think that place isn't rigged with weaponry, and our Hovermech's don't have defense systems? We allowed you to handle the situation to see what you were capable of, but it would've been child's play for us to eliminate the threat." She stated coldly.
"You're kidding me!" I wince.
"Nope…" She yawned. I returned to the test table.
"So, why will this put us out of commission for a week?" Robert asks.
"You'll see." Carol smirked. She had really raised her walls since we left the complex. Was it respect for Michael? At the complex, she hardly ever treat us as less than star pupils, now we were like kids in eye's again…
We all got our injections after a small numbing shot. For the first few minutes, everything was fine. But the relief was short lived.
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"Shit." Both my friends look to me, I'm clutching my chest in extreme pain as my breath comes in short exasperated bursts. My eyes widen in a realization.
"Robert, are you-" Devante began.
"My body is fighting the injection!" I manage to get out. I see the worried look in Tyson's, he trusted me whole heartedly, even though he had yet to experience anything. It seemed as though every cell in my body was pulsating sporadically. Then, it all became worse.
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I watched my friend reel in pain, And I don't know what thought I focused more on, how much he was suffering, or how lucky I was it wasn't me. These were both short lived thoughts. My body ignited in a split second. Every fiber of my being burned. I gasp in shock, looking my body over, not a flame was found. The room was suffocating me, the world grew darker, I drift closer to unconsciousness, and I manage one sentence. "Tyson, you're about to be balls deep in torture."
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I look to both my friends, not doubting either's words, or their pain. They both had appeared to get hit suddenly, without warning. The quiet wait was the most suspenseful and tortuous moment I've experienced since the day I killed the bastard who dared to approach my shack. I was sitting in wait, staring at the white tiles of the lab, drifting my gaze to the machinery lining the walls, the monitors in the corner, reading our vitals. Both of my friends had skyrocketed, while mine remained steady. I tried to control my breathing, despite my rising heart rate. I saw only the beginning of it. The sudden spike in that glowing green line. I collapsed to the floor, using every ounce of my strength not to cry out in excruciating pain. It felt as if I had knives stabbing through each of my organs repeatedly.
Doc finally spoke. "Your bodies are currently tearing down and rebuilding your cells repeatedly and at an incredibly rapid pace. You all shouldn't bother holding in your screams, it only makes the pain worse…" He informed. "You're most likely going to pass out within the next hour, and the process will last roughly three days, and it'll take at least another half week to recuperate and break in your new strength." He said expressionlessly. Then he smiled sadly. "Enjoy hell."
"Everyone's taken this, and gone through the process, and no one's made it without screaming." Michael informed.
"So don't bother with the tough act, nobody's going to think less of you." Carol added.
I stood, and all of them gaped at me. I stared at them all coldly. "This better be worth it for hurting my friends." I nearly spat.
"Tyson… Your really shouldn't be stan-" The glowing girl next to Michael began. I ignore her, and shakily make my way a few agonizingly long meters to my friends, who are holding in all of their hurt with everything they've got. I get Robert on his feet first, and slung my arm over his shoulder, and then together, we do the same for Devante, and with Robert between the two of us, we slowly limped our way towards the infirmary. "You should all stop right there!" Angel yelled concerned.
"We dug our graves and managed to get each other into this mess, we'll bare through the suffering and consequences together." Devante mutters. And we continued to sway almost drunkenly towards our destination. Michael stood in our path.
"If you all don't stop being so damn stubborn, and allow us to transport you safely to the infirmary, you may only be increasing the length of the effects." He growled. By now, other members were filing in, shocked at the scene we were making.
"Stubborn teenage kids, that's what we are." Robert chuckled half heartedly as we brush past him. It was evident by his voice he was fading fast.
"Keep with us man, we're half way there." I encourage him. Richard suddenly charged in and tried to support us, but I stopped him with my arm, almost losing balance. My eyes were growing blurry, and sounds were beginning to fade and slur. I gave him a death glare, or what I could manage of one. "Keep out of this one." I state in near murderous intent as I spit up blood.
"You're a bunch of suicidal bastards!" Cory piped in.
"No one asked you jackass!" Devante seethed. We were almost to the door, and we were almost too groggy to continue on. With one last push of strength, we opened it, and managed to get Robert, who was now too far gone to continue, to the closest bed. The next was still a ways away. "Which one of us is worse?"
"I'm seeing double." I admit.
"I'm at triple, and I can barely see color anymore." He groaned in pain. We make our way there, and Devante collapses onto the bed. And I alone have to finish the way to the third bed. It was the longest three meters of my life. Slowly, agonizingly slowly, I trekked to the welcoming bed. My world was turning sideways; I couldn't differentiate direction, and noticed I was moving the wrong way.
"F-fuck." I mutter. "Still a meter to go." All the muscle in my legs was reduced to sand. And with half a meter left, I collapsed. I heard people surrounding me, and practically lashed at them all. I no longer was able to comprehend who they were. All that mattered were they were in my way. I crawled toward the metal frame, and pressed my fevering forehead against the cool steel. I slowly pulled myself upright, and set myself into the bed. Shadows towered above me, most likely people, but I no longer heard them. Blackness enveloped me, and I welcomed its silence and its comfort away from the hellish feeling in my body.
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I had my first dream that didn't involve blood since Dalthesan's fall. It was just the four of us again, sitting in the field, watching the fire flies dance above our heads, and the stars, as they shone and lit up the infinite blackness which was the midnight sky. We joked just as we used to, and talked about our plans, it was just like old times. And as the time passed, the fireflies left, the stars faded, the sky brightened, and we watched the sunrise. As it took its place in the sky, I became blinded, and that's when everything returned.
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All the pain from before returned like I had been smashed in the chest with a mallet, and I held in the scream that threatened to leave my throat. Looking over, Devante and Robert are awake and suffering just as much as I am. Jim entered the infirmary and did a quick check up of how our vital readings were progressing.
"You three are the biggest dumbasses I've ever seen." The boy muttered. It was obvious Devante wanted to retort, but couldn't bring himself to it. "I admire you guys for it." His honesty shown through his harsh tone.
I simply smirk my cocky smile I use whenever I'm complimented. Devante and Roberts shock slowly turned into appreciative smiles as well.
He left, and the three of us were alone in silence. Devante broke the quiet, and shakily said. "You guys want to make a bet?"
"I'm in." I take a deep breath, not knowing how winded talking would make me.
"What's the bet?" Robert winced at the hoarseness in his own voice.
"The last one of us to scream becomes the official leader of the group." He grinned while at the same time flinching at his inner turmoil. Devante and I had been in an argument over which the better leader is, which Robert occasionally argued was him, but never got very far in it.
"Then just hurry and scream already." I taunt my friends in a raggedy voice.
"You first."
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After two days of this hell, the three of us were beside ourselves in our individual hurting. Looking to each other, we were all on the edge. By now it was night, and we still had at least another half day of this horror, and well knew, that was much too long to hold this in. Someone was going break soon. But each of us was determined to not be it.
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Angel and I stood outside their room; we hadn't left since they began. "Why do they have to be so-?"
"Much like you?"
"What are you talking about?" I inquire.
"Don't be dense Michael; you know as much as I do that Tyson is almost a younger version of you." A sigh left her lips, likely remembering our younger years.
"Was I really that stubborn?" I ask, remembering the glare he gave us when he stood.
"You still are." My childhood friend responds. Suddenly a piercing scream erupted from the infirmary, I identified it as Robert.
"At least one of them is coming to their senses." I murmur.
"I think he just couldn't hold it in anymore."
Soon, most of Awaken gathered in the hall hearing the scream, and before long, bets were being made who would be next. Hours passed, and Angel and I made a bet of our own.
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Looking to Tyson, he's using all of his strength to hold in his shouts, just like me, Robert continued to wail in occasional bursts, but not nearly as bad as before. He admittedly looked as though he felt better. It's that which made the idea of letting go that much more appealing. I look to Tyson again, that one shared glance said everything.
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Just as everyone began to suspect that perhaps they would never scream, it came, both of them at the same time. It was heart wrenching and almost beautiful at the same time, looking to Michael, then to the rest of our group, the both of us say with pride… "Pay up!"
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It took a whole 2 more days before our bodies stopped its rebuilding process, and a full extra week to recuperate. The first thing we noticed was we were noticeably at least 2 in. taller. Then we learned how much our reactions had quickened. When Tyson fell out of his bed when trying to stand before he was ready, I had caught him before he hit the ground.
"Whoa." Was all that left my lips. I noticed my body was much stronger from how light his 150 lb. frame was.
"I know right?" Devante grinned behind me.
After we were fully healed, Michael called us into his office in the observation area. "You're all going to need to develop your own weapons, we'll provide the materials for you, but you'll need to make them as unique and strong as possible, it will be harder for the dictation to trace the origins of weapons that they didn't know existed." He informed us. "We'll also be putting a small tracking device in them so we know where you are… There's also one in your suits, and helms which have been placed in your wardrobes. No precaution is too much."
"Got it." Tyson said. The both of us nodded in understanding, and he led us to an area in the training jurisdiction that had a mill, there, we had all the instructions of any type of weapon, and plenty of gear needed for an advanced blacksmith. Over the course of the next month, we watched members come and go to their missions while we developed our weapons, and went through the different training rooms of the lower area. There were weight rooms, weapon rooms stuffed with dummies waiting to be clobbered, slashed, and shot, element rooms where you could change the temperature of the room, and continue to test you elements without being overly destructive, and many more. And after one long month of working, Tyson was the one who finished first.
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Both of my friends stared in amazement at my finished product. "It's… unbelievable." Devante gaped.
"Can you even lift that?" Robert asked. I smirked and lifted the thick sword, which was exactly as tall as I was, and easily flipped it in the air and caught it as if I was playing with a knife.
"Yep, sure can." I smirk. Devante walked over to me.
"What's with the unneeded metal at the tip?" He asked, referring to the fact that at the top of the blade, extra metal protruded from the back.
"Its extra weight, when I slash it will make a cleaner cut, more goes into a sword then how sharp it is." I lectured the African boy.
"And the markings?" Robert pointed at the Japanese inscriptions in the blade.
"Well," I begin at pointing to the ones with large X's through them. On the left side of the blade. "These are the names of my parents, Derek, and Amber." Then I turn the blade over to reveal the others. "And these are your names, Devante, Robert, Allyvia, and Dexter. They resemble what I've lost, and what I still have to protect." I say, with a sad voice, as I caressed the beautiful steel.
They both looked at me for a moment, and those looks told me what they didn't have the balls to say. 'Are you sure those two are still alive?' I suddenly boil in rage, and place the sword in the custom made sheath for it on my back, and stormed out, leaving them to their projects.
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My gun was finished next, a beautiful burst rifle with a scope almost as accurate as a sniper's, a magazine of 30 rounds, and powerful and accurate enough to hit a bull's-eye from over 100 meters away. Tyson and Devante both gave me the same comment. "Typical." And Tyson left again as Devante returned to his work.
"One of these, I'll shoot you both." I mutter under my breath. Ever since Tyson finished his sword, he's been a total bastard, and Devante has been almost the same.
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I was a good week and a half behind Robert, but I finally finished it, my own ultimate weapon. When they looked at the hilt, the both gave me a critical look. "You spent a month and a half, developing a hilt?"
I simply grin, and began to release fire through my arm, the small runes in the hilt glowed red and orange, as fire emerged from the slit and developed a sword. Tyson gazed at me in amazement "How the hell did you of all people develop that?"
"I just did what it said in the instructions." I say nonchalantly and tossed him the stack of papers. "And it also works for ice and lightning." I say as I demonstrate both respectively. "It's one complicated bitch, though."
"Damn." The shorter boy commented. Then Michael walked in. He had been alerted we were all finished, he looked over each weapon, and handed them back with a smile.
"Good work, they are all done excellently." He complimented. We all walked out. "It took a while for you to finish, but you came up with quality weapons." The dark man was definitely pleased with our work.
"Michael, we have a call from the leader of the LA Renegades!" Doan called out.
We all headed for Michaels office, where on the huge monitor, a bearded man was waiting. "Barren Aden, leader of the LA Renegades, how can I help you?" Michael asked politely. The other mans eyes narrowed.
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"I've become away you are sheltering a bay named Robert Sodawasser." He announced. "Both his parents were members of the Renegades during the War, they trained him from a young age, and we see it fit for him to join us."
"Excuse me, but he's already joined Awaken, and is scheduled for his first mission tomorrow." Michael told him boldly.
"The remains of Robert's family are here. This is where he belongs." Barren retorted.
"Why don't you let him decide where he belongs?" Michael asked.
"Uh." I was locking up; I had to choose between my family and my friends. "Can you give time to think?" I asked nervously.
"Fine, you've got one month to decide, and then you'll tell me your decision." The man stated coldly, and the monitor went blank.
All eyes were on me, the attention was suffocating me. I slid to my knees and gripped at my short red hair. 'What am I going to do?'
Awaken
(A.N) So, what do you guys think? Love it, hate it? Review and let me know! Next update will probably be August 10th for this story, and I'll be posting another little LuNa oneshot before then. So until then my readers, adiue.