Background music suggestion: Snow Patrol: Run
Chapter 23: Fusion
Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear
Louder, louder
And we'll run for our lives
I can hardly speak I understand
Why you can't raise your voice to say
-Snow Patrol: Run
...
The chopper was flying towards a larger base MSA had on the coast, with a proper infirmary. Jo was making Blowfish some tests after noticing she was becoming much paler. Seeing the results she could reach only one conclusion.
"She needs a blood transfusion. Now."
Jo took the device that was usually used for analyzing toxins.
"O negative," she said frowning as the machine gave the blood type.
"So only O negative will do...And we don't have that with us."
She looked at the others - Gudrun, Ian, Erik and the MSA pilot.
"Is anyone of you O negative?"
The odds were against her - this was not a common blood type. Gudrun, Ian and the pilot immediately said they didn't have it.
"I don't know my blood type," Erik said, looking anxious. He obviously knew what was at stake.
"I'm not even going to say how stupid it's not to know that," Jo said frustrated, taking a sample from his finger without even asking.
There was a relief in her eyes.
"No way. We got lucky."
The MSA pilot guided Jo to take a specific instrument from the larger medic kit. She followed the instructions and latched its other end onto Erik's arm - it would find its way into a vein. The other end she attached more gently to Gwen's wrist, over an artery. Erik lay down to the floor of chopper, closing his eyes.
"She's stable now," Jo said after some time had passed.
Erik had passed out having insisted giving more than was needed. Jo couldn't help noticing that at some point he had taken hold of Blowfish's hand.
...
Agent Adler walked towards the hackers' chopper that had now returned to the desert camp. He and they Cowboys had ridden back with the hovercrafts.
Mitsuko noticed his right arm had most definitely been patched up.
"What happened?"
"The usual. War…" he winced.
Lieutenant Cooper approached them.
"Adler, us Cowboys are leaving ASAP. There's a level five in Siberia."
She nodded towards Mitsuko.
"Nice meeting you Metalheads. You rode well. Anyway, see you later, Adler."
"See you later, Ice."
...
The chopper with the rest of the Agents had landed now at the coastal base, and Gwen's body was taken to the infirmary.
All the Agents had a briefing as soon as possible, using a video call.
"I know where we need to go," Mitsuko said after they had reviewed their situation.
...
If the research of the science community called Aoi ishi, the Blue Stone, had been cutting edge before, the data Sessum could provide would make it even more so.
"The parts you showed were very interesting…" Dr. Yasahiro Toyoda began.
He was the director, quite a small man in his late thirties. He had friendly eyes, soft features and already greyed hair.
"And you're offering the data...in exchange for helping your friend."
He looked thoughtful.
"We cannot promise that it will succeed; fusing the body with the soul...But we have scientists who would be extremely interested in this. I can promise we will do our best."
The Blue Stone was located on the edge of Kyoto, at the base of the mountains. Mitsuko's parents had originally worked there and the place could be trusted. Looking from the outside the facility looked like traditional Japanese style buildings surrounded by a mighty forest. But most of the buildings were actually new; they just blended so harmoniously with the old. The architect had truly been skilled. There was also small Buddhist temple not far. Ian, Jo, Erik and Mitsuko were provided with rooms as they wished to stay and help with the process. Gudrun and Orfeus also remained for some time, going through Sessum's data but after they had done all they could, they left to Brazil - together.
...
The events at the pyramid were still very much haunting Ian. He had watched the recordings of the mission several times. Everything had ended in such a strange way. Also, he kept thinking about the death of Helena and Cosmo, feeling somehow responsible, despite the fact the others told him the two had made their own decisions, understanding the consequences. On some level he understood that.
Then, there were all the revelations Sessum had told him. His mother's name truly had been among the data. Ian had looked her up on the internet and she was living in San Francisco, working as a researcher at Stanford. Apparently she didn't have a family. He wasn't sure what do to with this information though...What surprised even Ian himself, was that the revelation of his true father did make a difference; in a way he was proud of Apollyon who had been brave enough to do what he did.
Finally, there was Blowfish. They tried to piece together the events that had followed the destruction of Nibiru. Many parts would remain a mystery but SCEPTRE had truly found Blowfish's body from the coast, unconscious, yet still alive. Somehow they had known to look for her. From Sessum's data they saw that they somehow believed they had received a gift from Azerate itself, confirming they were on the right path. Blowfish did still have scars of the wounds she had gotten at the planet's core but one could also see she had been operated.
Altogether, all these things were occupying Ian's mind, and he had a hard time opening up about any of them. He could also see Jo didn't want to push him into it. It was true that she had also lived through many of the same things but somehow they seemed to hit him harder. Perhaps because he remembered more of the past.
...
One September evening they were sitting in their room, getting reacquainted with their guitars. Ian was still actually plucking some notes when he suddenly found himself speaking.
"You know...In a way I would like to forget everything, all those memories that still fuck my mind up..."
He immediately got Jo's attention.
"But, then there's always another thought. That there are things that should not be forgotten. And I don't mean just from our perspective but from a bigger one."
A sad smile appeared on his face. He was still playing, the tune was quite melancholic.
"But then I want to forget again."
He finally looked up at Jo and could just see all the empathy in her blue eyes.
She actually had an idea but she knew it could not be forced...She decided she wouldn't suggest it that evening but one day soon she would.
...
After about a month the scientists were ready for the fusion. MSA had also provided all the data they had of cases with similar technology - Agent Adler had played a big role in this.
At first Blowfish ended up in a state similar to coma. This was however expected.
"I'm afraid this could last for even as long as weeks," Dr. Toyoda had explained.
"But there is the possibility she can hear you now so I would recommend talking to her, reading out loud, listening to music...All this is beneficial."
...
The rain was tapping on the window. It was another rainy evening in Kyoto.
Erik was reading Nietzsche to Gwen.
"You must be ready to burn yourself in your own flame; how could you rise anew if you have not first become ashes?"
He closed the book and took hold of her hand.
"I'm not giving up on you, Gwen."
...