Queen's note: No Gawking allowed. Let him have some air in peace.

B.F.D.G.

Chapter Two:

Did you see that?!

For a long, tension filled few moments, both women stared intently at the hulking form. Both startled at the cracking sound, though for some reason Dr. Pierce was even paler than normal. She had that mostly subtle but still distinct tremor from her chronic pain.

Though VEGA noticed it was slightly different from normal. Margery looked at the hell-predator's body, as if confused as her eyes tracked the length of his arm and then from knee to ankle. As if Margery was confused where Dr. Pierce was frightened.

"Dr. Pierce, you don't have a mask or any other PPE, you should not be in this area." Margery was turning to the other woman, walking over after seeing there was no movement from the sleeping giant. "Doctor, you need to leave this area. Mis Pierce?"

There was a pause, Margery staring intently at the other woman. Scanning the face, the frightened and pained expression before daring to lightly touch a half raised hand.

"Miss Olivia!" Margery straightened and used the voice normally reserved for her sons when they were younger, or her not quite so smart staff members.

The disappointed mom's voice.

That finally worked, jarring the doctor out of her seemingly all consuming shock she had been. Thankfully Margery had been expecting the slap to her hand, and did not react other than to shift as if about to step into the slightly taller woman's personal space. Making Olivia backup a step, "Wha-"

"Dr. Pierce," Margery still kept that tone, as being talked to like a teen about to get themselves into trouble they could not get out of alone. "You do. Not. Have any PPE. Leave this room before you damage your exoskeleton Dr. Pierce. If you must gawk then do so behind the safety walls. I already put a modesty towel over the big man, so there's no more seeing that part of him."

The other woman's starting indignation was so rapidly and effectively derailed with that last part of Margery's statement, that Pierce flustered.

VEGA was impressed.

"I have not come to gawk at… at…he moved!" Olivia started to say before blurting that out, meaning the crack they had heard

Margery glanced over at the massive but still unmoving form where he lay. "Vega?"

"His heart rate and breathing have not changed at all." The colony's AI spoke up, though noted a few deeper breaths that he did not mention. Yet this living 'artifact' had been doing that constantly off and on since the opening of the sarcophagus, and the monitoring equipment was attached. "The sound heard was most likely the pumice stone cracking under his weight. He was moved quite a distance and went through a few shifts of gravity changes."

Margery stepped closer, scanning over the bulk of a man and then the stone he was embedded into. And where a visible, half inch crack was, "It looks like it broke under where most of his weight lands under his torso Vega."

"Could you finish fixing the lens before you continue with cleaning?" VEGA asked, still watching Dr. Pierce with a camera from outside the area. Something seemed… off about the shock that she was in. Not quite like the reactions of other humans seeing the 'Predator of Hell.' The worst reaction so far that Vega noticed came from a very patient software tech.

Cassidy had just locked up and though did not faint VEGA had watched the security gently bring her out into the hall. It took the better part of an hour, a lot of coaxing for Cassidy to finally be able to stay in the inner chamber with the giant of a man, to get the cutters working again.

VEGA saw that that same security guard was coming back from the trip to the restroom. The colony AI pinged the guard's data pad, letting him know of Dr. Peirce arrived and seemed shocked to stay in place, not unlike Cassidy. VEGA was still watching the reaction of the taller woman, as Margery was back to trying to get Olivia out. Peirce seemed insistent that the not quite man had moved, shifting and getting close to the edge of the cleaned area.

When the guard, Winston, came over he was almost in full red and black armor, holding his helmet and had his weapons safely stored on his back and thigh. VEGA was not sure with the camera angles he had access to, but it almost seemed like Olivia had stepped on a sliver of the metal on her way out that came off the 'Predator's' shackles.

"Please check your exoskeleton Dr. Pierce." VEGA said, though was not sure he would be heard, not from shock but for some reason Olivia had such an aversion to him it boarded on hatred that not even Dr. Hayden understood.

"Vega is right, check your feet, miss." Winston said, his voice rough and almost a growl without meaning.

"Doctor," The woman almost hissed, turned and jerked as she actually looked at the taller man. Maybe just that off put by the giant living 'artifact' that she lost her normal calm poker face. It did definitely show she did not bother looking at the guard, soldier, until just then.

The taller man frowned, the heavy burn scarring pulling on the right side of his face. Even with the healed scarring Winston still had a saver face, though there was not a smooth skin on his face. Dark eyes were almost glaring down at the woman, his voice was definitely damaged from whatever caused the burns. Rasping and growling more than anything, "Doctor. Miss. Check your feet to be sure you will not be hurt. And from now on, Doctor, be sure to clear your arrival to gawk at anything from hell. Miss Margery has only started her task at cleaning, it is not safe after the last thirty hours of work here."

VEGA watched as Olivia stood for another few odd moments, not looking away from Winston's scarring. As if stuck in shock again, but the scarred man did not look away. As intimidating as he was, the colony AI knew that Winston was not an unkind man.

"Your feet are clicking, Miss Oliva." Winston said as he stared right back, pointing down.

Dr. Peirce jerks a bit, looking down and then back up. Then she reached down to a lifted foot, refusing to take the offered forearm and gloved hand. Stubbornly trying to stay balanced as she checked over her ankles and then the souls of her feet. "There's nothing on my feet, happy?"

"Very," Winston rasped, and tilted his head down the hall towards the left the woman likely came from. His voice was still calm and even, despite the rasp of old damage. "Now, Doctor Olivia Pierce. Please exit the area and wait until it is safe, and you have the proper PPE equipment to be around this area."

"I have clearance to be anywhere in the UAC facilities," Olivia started to straighten up, only to take a step back as Winston's almost black eyes narrowed at her.

"You may have clearance, but you do not have permission to be here." Winston shifted slowly, nothing fast or should be notable but seemed almost like he was now ready to snap and arm out. "Time to leave."

"Stand down guard, I-"

"Have no sway on anything to do with my job of protecting you and all others on the colony." Winston cut off, taking a step with his right foot first, watching as the woman reflexively stepped back to the left. Away from the door to the laser cutting area. "You may be one of the main researchers in the Lazarus Labs, Dr. Peirce, and favored by Samuel for whatever reason. You are, however, not in charge of the Elite Guard and responsible for the safety of those of the colony."

For the first time the woman, clad only in her exoskeleton, looked like she wondered for the first time who this man was.

"I am, however, in charge of the Elite Guard." Winston said as he watched the confusion turn to worry. This was hardly the first meeting between them , but he would normally have his helmet on when in the meetings with Dr. Hayden and department heads. "Time to leave and let Miss Margery finish her work in peace."

Winston stood tall and watched until Olivia was almost back to the lift before he spoke. Knowing his voice would carry in the empty area naturally. "Vega."

"Yes Commander Winston?" VEGA answered promptly, his voice staying calm and steady.

"Lock down this level again, but let Dr. Pierce leave. I don't want anyone else coming to gawk and the giant, naked man."

"I was not gawking!"

"Certainty, I will seal the remaining doors until you give the word Commander Winston." VEGA had the faintest of amusement in his voice, at least beside those that were staying in the level.

"She is still rather unpleasant." Margery said peeking out the door only once the lift was closed. "And an exhibitionist it seems like at times."

"I noticed that too," Winston turned and smiled at the woman who was closer to his age, stooping to pick up a sliver of hell mad metal, turning it over in his armored gloves before offering it to Margery. "Hopefully she was not a bother, I apologize I was indisposed."

"Everyone needs the restroom," The woman sighed, glancing back in the room, staying a moment by the door to get the last of her wits in place. Taking the metal shaving as it was offered. "But it is good to see you again Charles, I was worried, not seeing you in person at the last few staff meetings."

"I'm sorry about that. Between working through the reports from getting… him, in there, and the losses. Getting Haydon to focus on the surviving families of the lost and, well," Winston motioned to the scarring on his face, grateful Margery was not staring but keeping her eyes on his, or checking the new grooves on his armor. "Treatments. I've been busier than before, but I'll try to come to your next bigger meeting to keep your more rambunctious 'kids' in line."

"Thank you Charles," Margery smiled and glanced back to her cart, "I brought you something by the way, when Vega said you'll be here."

Winston tilted his head, looking surprised as he politely followed the shorter woman. She carefully pulled a paper bag that had been sitting in the middle of the large cart.

Margery looked around the cart for a moment, frowning. "I had two bags for you, I thought I brought both.. But here."

The armored man carefully took the bag, flipping the top open to sniff, and then smiled. His face, even with the extensive scarring, relaxed, or softened as he caught the scent of fresh, homemade conchas. "Thank you miss, it's been nice to have solid food again."

He missed soft bread too.

"Not too solid," Margery said, looking around for the other bag. She could have sworn she had grabbed both. Did one of the kids grab it when she was not looking?

The massive form beside them took a deeper breath again and let out a sigh. Drawing attention to him, and a few Mom of intense staring. Winston checked the display across the room from him, heart rate still the same. Yet something seemed like the massive form was breathing easier than from when Winston saw the sarcophagus open for the first time. Not just with the bonds and cage off his chest.

If he had to guess, Winston would have said this giant just shifted from unconscious to a proper sleep.

Margery looked over at the one repaired camera and then the nearest left hand of the strange, not really human. He looked human, but was…massive. Someone's head could fit in the palm.

Bleeding palm.

Margery turned, looking up at the man beside her, "Charlies? Do you know where the medical supplies are?"

Winston looked between her and the big guy, then shifted to take a second look as Margery dared to reach out and grasp the base of the large thumb and pulled to show the blood weeping out of the demonic glyph carved into his palm. The man smiled at the woman beside him, "Yes, come, I'll show you where they are Margery."

Even though he was pretty sure the giant would keep bleeding through the bandages again. Somehow. Winston was not sure how this… giant had any blood left. Leading the way out, and trusting VEGA to let him know if anyone tried to come in, or if there was odd movement in the cutting room.

Only once it was quiet for a few minutes was there any sign of life. Not movement but a twitching of muscle in his cheek. Almost giving a smile as the paper bag finally dissolved in his mouth,. rewarding him with the soft, sweet thing he had been smelling since the human…? Margery. Since she came into this odd room, and not the sweetness of healthy blood.

Sweet food.

Soft food.

Not protein, but he could likely find that later. Likely better than what he had been forced to have before having that temple dropped on him.

He wanted clean water again.

A glowing green eye cracked open to peer at the car beside him. No clean water to steal, but that was okay.

There were only a few more chains holding him, and the third sigil was half broken. He would be able to sit up wholly and fully soon, maybe find some liquid energy too if no protein.

He waited for the humans to come back, wanting to feel the mortal souls near him again. He liked these two, and their voices…and the interaction earlier. Some part of him flared in amusement and a kind of pride that he made people want to gawk at him. Even without his armor. He had almost laughed at that distant echo, but did not give into the temptation.

He would also remember that second female scent. Woman?

Something was… wrong enough to catch his attention, but there was still enough fog in his mind from the remaining sigils to keep him from remembering.

He waited for the other humans to come back. Margery with the sweet, warm scent of her soul, and gentle soft hands touching his. That other male, with a rasping voice, and the steady scent of fairness and protectiveness that reminded him of…

Of Valen.

That man would make a good immortal Sentinel.

He almost rumbled a greeting to the humans coming back, just barely holding it back. He sighed again though, at the feeling of a gentle touch to his left hand again, where the sigil was still active. He smelled water again and other things…alcohol?

It stung his palm but not nearly anything that could make him flinch. He cracked an eye open in shock once realizing that the human was actually wrapping his hands over the sigil. He glanced around through his lids, finding the other human… wounded? Was standing by the door and talking to that voice. VEGA… or was it Vega?

He eyed the smaller human, seeing…soft. Something so…small.

He had not really seen a human again for so long, that it hurt somewhere in his chest and twisted his gut to realize how much had…changed. He had changed.

He had gotten used to the Argenta, his Sentinels. They used to be taller than him, then they were the same height… Before the last trip into hell, his Sentinels averaged around his hip to stomach.

This was something he needed to protect.

He closed his eyes and focused on the feeling of small, kind hands as well as healing. He needed to break the other sigils now, and turned his attention inward at the hell magic.