Miyuki angrily glares at the guards, though none of them so much as glance at her. They're all sitting at a flimsy fold up table, considering the job already done, and they're not exactly wrong either. No one is able to move aside from the light struggling against the rope that binds their wrists and ankles.
Miyuki sighs, her gaze turning to Ziggy, he was definitely the hardest to take down, but after a while even he was outnumbered. Miyuki had hoped they'd be dumb enough to tie him up with rope too, but the cyborg was bound up by a strong looking pair of electromagnetic cuffs.
I mean… It makes sense they'd use that but… Still, a girl can hope.
The girl wracks her brain trying her hardest to think of some way they can escape and go after Shion, but the more she thinks the more the situation seems hopeless.
"Jr… I don't think that's working…" She glances over to see Jr beside Momo trying to chew off her ropes. Miyuki can't judge his plan as she was actually the first one to try that, but Jr insisted that he try too saying that as a URTV he was genetically modified to be stronger in all aspects.
Unfortunately though he still had to have somewhat human teeth, and at this point he was just making a mess of Momo's ropes.
It's too bad Kos-mos isn't here, she could chew through those no problem. Sure the other vector workers may have laughed when I suggested sharp teeth, but I could always count on Shion to see the genius in my ideas. Hell, I bet she could even chew through those stupid electromagneti- EEK!
Miyuki yelps as she feels something wet on her hands. The guards don't pay her much mind aside from one that yells over his shoulder for her to 'keep it down over there' so she's on her own with whatever it is she feels.
"Wha-"
Standing behind Miyuki is a small white chihuahua, she was so busy catching up with shion and Kos-mos she hadn't realized that Jr decided to take Alby with him. Ether that or Alby somehow snuck on when no one was paying attention…
Doing her best to keep her voice down, Miyuki decides to take advantage of the situation. "Hey Alby, comere, do you wanna play?" The dog's tail swishes from side to side as she holds her tied wrists in front of him, trying her best to stretch the rope apart as much as she can. "C'mon boy, you wanna play tug of war?"
Slowly the others start to notice her, Tony and Allen scooch next to her to try and prevent the guards from seeing Alby, and Jr stops chewing on Momo's ropes so he can egg Alby on. "Go get her Alby, c'mon boy."
Finally after enough encouragement Alby bites onto the ropes and starts tugging. Miyuki tugs back, hoping that he'll be able to do enough damage for her to get the ropes off.
Hold on just a little longer Shion, we'll come save you no matter what.
The flight towards the mountainscape is more or less a quiet one, with only occasional light hearted bickering between Kos-mos and T-elos. Little over halfway there Kos-mos loses signal on Shion due to interference, but she marks where she was last recorded and continues that direction.
Kos-mos slows slightly and descends as she reaches the city, the roadway providing just a big enough gap between the abandoned skyscrapers for her to fly through. The air drops in temperature and snowflakes flutter about as she approaches the mountains.
As she descends it very quickly becomes apparent to Kos-mos why she lost her signal on Shion as a large cave entrance becomes visible at the end of one of the backroads. The entrance seems to be man made, with steel sliding doors on either side that are stuck open by ice and snow, and a few broken terminals by the doors.
Kos-mos is quick to step in, a gust of cold air blowing past her as she enters and going deeper the light is quick to fade away. Luckily she has other ways of "seeing" what's around her, but it's not long before the only light is the dim red glow of Kos-mos' eyes.
"How deep you think it goes?"
"It would be convenient if it were not very deep, however somehow I doubt that."
T-elos hums in agreement, a short lull of silence falls between them before something interesting comes in sight.
A large vehicle is pulled over to the side of the cave, though it's covered in mud and snow it looks significantly newer than anything else in the cave. Kos-mos glares, picking up a faint warmth emanating from the engine.
"It seems we are not far behind."
Rushing down with newfound confidence she follows a large bunch of footprints. Not like she really needs them seeing as the cave is just a straight shot down.
The next thing of interest to come into sight comes in the form of a steel door, once again stuck open by overflowing snow and ice.
Stepping through Kos-mos is relieved as her scanners can once again pick up a much wider range. The open cavern beyond the door seems to be some sort of lab with various connecting rooms. A deep massive hole carves out the middle of the cavern, with multiple floors of pathways etched into the side and many massive icicles overtaking the lab.
"Alright smartass, where to next?"
Kos-mos leans over the railing, trying to get a good grasp of the entire cavern. "I am not entirely sure actually."
"Oh good."
Kos-mos could practically feel T-elos roll her eyes with that quip. Having nothing to add back and being more focused on finding Shion she simply darts off again, searching the lab.
The footprints lead her a few floors down before they fade as the snow clears up. Luckily Kos-mos doesn't have to explore a ton of the lab as many of the doors are either frozen shut or simply lead to very cramped rooms.
As she goes through the lab it becomes clear the only path is to the bottom.
"Okay, now I'm sure of where she is."
Shion shivers, she did not come dressed to be dragged down into some dark freezing cave, and being down on the cold concrete floor certainly didn't help either.
The realians who had helped the woman carry her down had all scattered off somewhere deeper in the cave, and now it was only Shion and the other woman left in the room which appeared to be somewhat of an old storage facility.
"S- So, did you just d- drag me down here to watch me f- f- freeze to death?"
"I do not intend to watch you die today, and anyway I'm certain you'll warm up once the excitement starts." Once again that softness sneaks into the girl's voice, "but if it takes too long I'll be sure to get you something."
"F- Fuck off."
Shion don't care how kind the girl tries to make herself sound. She is cold, tired, upset, and having none of this today.
The y'all woman simply frowns, "that was quite hurtful… Although I suppose I understand why you're upset."
Shion glares at her for a moment longer before turning her attention back to the open door. She hates how much she's wishing for Kos-mos to come get her when she's essentially the bait for this woman's trap, but regardless that doesn't stop her from wishing to be back in her love's arms.
Her warm, soft, warm arms.
God she's cold.
Her wishes are soon answered, as Shion faintly hears the clacking of heels on the stone floor from down the hall. A torrent of thoughts swims through Shion's head, but only one single word escapes her mouth.
"KOS-MOS!"
For some reason the woman seems to lose her cool as Kos-mos comes into view. Certainly she intended for her to come here so Shion didn't expect her to be so terrified. Being so unprepared Kos-mos is easily able to strike the woman before she can grab her weapon. A swift roundhouse kick to the midsection sends her backwards a few feet onto the floor and out of breath.
As quickly as she arrived Kos-mos is on the floor next to her, with one arm wrapped protectively around Shion and the other unhooking one of her blades from her belt to free her.
"Are you alright Shion? I apologize for not getting here sooner."
"N- No, it's okay, K- Kos-mos. I'm just so glad you're here now."
"Your body heat appears to be very low, perhaps I could try to heat myself up enough to warm you."
"That won't be necessary."
As soon as Kos-mos finishes cutting Shion free a voice speaks up and interrupts her, though it's not the one belonging to the other woman who is still catching her breath on the floor. This one belongs to someone quite familiar, wheeling out of the dark hallway.
"S- Sellers? H- How did you… W- Why here?"
While Kos-mos is quick to stand and get into combat position Shion finds herself a bit lost for words. She supposes it makes sense, he was the only of their old enemies to survive, but still, for him to come back to try and take more…
"It seems you're a bit confused, but I'm afraid I have no time to explain. We're a bit excited to see how our new toy works you see."
"S- Sir, I'm sorry, I didn't-"
"Oh don't worry yourself Hemah, things still went well despite your slip up regarding the android."
Kos-mos shifts her weight from side to side, a bit too hesitant to simply attack in such an uncertain situation but also not wanting to drop her guard. It seems, though, that Sellers makes the decision for her as he pulls out an odd looking gun.
"Now, put that irrational fear of yours aside and watch how easily this takes care of everything."
Everything happens so fast as Shion tries to yell out and warn Kos-mos while she darts forward to attack, Sellers pulls the trigger, and just when it seems like it does nothing Kos-mos screams.
Shion had never heard Kos-mos scream in pain before, even to present day her expressions were never big or noticeable at all. But whatever Sellers had done to her sounds as though it hurt her to her very core. And as soon as her voice dies down Kos-mos limply falls to the floor.
For the second time today Shion feels as though she needs to scream but loses her voice all together.
She was so close, she was right there and things seemed as though they would be okay, but then…
"Ah, you see how well it works? I told you there was nothing to fear."
Her sorrow quickly turns to anger as Shion glares toward Sellers, all she can think is how much she wants to make him hurt. Without thinking she pushes herself up and charges at Sellers, completely unarmed.
"You foolish girl," Sellers chuckles, raising the weapon, "this is meant to nullify the essence of a god, you really think your weak presence can take a hit from-"
Shion comes to a halt as Sellers yelps in pain, the weapon goes flying out of his hand as he recoils, his hand burned by a shot from a blaster. Shion looks surprised as Kos-mos who'd already gotten up steps protectively in front of Shion, her back turned so she's facing Sellers and Hemah.
"Kos-mos?"
She hadn't expected Kos-mos to get back up so fast after being seemingly so hurt, and it seems neither did Sellers. As she moves to try and get a look at Kos-mos' face she doesn't quite look right either. Teal blue eyes burn with more hate and fury than she'd ever seen from her as she stares down the two in front of her, and then she speaks.
"I'm not Kos-mos."