Guards grabbed him as soon as he stepped out of the elevator. Part of him felt it didn't matter as long as they didn't take him Beneath.
They escorted him down the circular hallway around Above Cathedral. Dread flooded him. All of these rooms—party room, ballroom, banquet hall, and Cathedral—held memories he wanted to blank from his mind. Up ahead was the Gold Room—
They stopped at the one room in this section he hadn't been inside yet.
The Entertainment Room
The door opened for the guards, and a larger version of the Below Entertainment Room spread out before him. The black instruments on the red velvet walls were arranged tastefully to look like pieces of art. But it struck into his soul what they really were… instruments of pain or force.
Each of his agents were kneeling on the black-tiled floor, in various stages of injury. In front of them paced two unfamiliar people.
The enemy agents turned as they approached.
"Oh good," said the woman, who had short black hair. "Maybe this one'll tell us."
"I told you," said Ali, "we don't know anything. We only just got the clue, and we didn't figure it out yet—"
The woman slammed a blow into his face, which was already swollen and bloodied.
The man turned to Jason. He was tall and lanky with unruly brown hair and intense green eyes. "Get him down here with the others."
The guards wrested him to his knees beside Sahara. Sahara looked rather unsteady and had a swollen jaw. His heart went out to her. She was supposed to be free of being hurt from now on!
He had to admit that protecting her completely was an illusion. Just because he'd "given" Elena something didn't mean he could control Sahara's environment. This was still Yavesh…
Beside Sahara, Gray looked mostly unscathed except for a bloodied temple. Beyond Ali, who actually looked like he'd taken the worst of it so far, Elliot had a bruised cheek and split lip. Serhii's shirt was torn, blood soaking it. He looked weary but his eyes were still defiant.
An oppressive déjà vu swept over Jason…. Beyond the imminent threat of pain, this was getting a bit tedious. There was only so much variety you could add to interrogations before they all started to blur together… perhaps he'd become numb to them, thus impervious…
It might work that way with Elena's touches…
"What are you smirking at?" said the woman. She stomped over to Jason.
"I can't tell you any more than they can."
The expected blow slammed into his cheek. Pain burst across his face, vibrating into his nose.
Her companion looked rather amused. "He wasn't even with them when they found it."
"Something's up. Otherwise how would these slaves have gotten this far?"
"Maybe they didn't figure this clue out yet."
"I'm not convinced. Besides—if they haven't, maybe they can figure it out for us."
"This approach clearly isn't working."
"What do you suggest?" She crossed her arms.
"Haven't you come to the ER before?"
"I never felt a need for slaves."
"It's a good way to blow off steam."
"Just not my thing."
"My point is that maybe since I know the inventory, I should take over."
"Maybe you should just figure it out for yourself," said Ali. "Do your own work."
"I'm doing whatever it takes to get the prize," said the woman.
"If you were worthy of finding it, you'd use your own mind. Or maybe you don't have one. Considering how imaginative this interrogation is—"
A predictable fist slammed into Ali's face.
Jason winced.
What are you doing, Ali?
"You're just wasting time…" said Ali, slurring a little.
"Maybe he's right," said the man.
"They're hiding something," said the woman. "Besides, they've gotten this far. They can help us get the rest of the way."
"That's hardly fair," said Serhii.
"This game isn't about fair. It's about who gets to the end first. Besides, slaves don't deserve to win. You're meant to help the rest of us."
"If we're ahead, that means we are better agents than you."
"We have you in our power. Doesn't look like you're better."
"There's more to strength than just sheer force. Even if I knew the secret, I wouldn't tell you."
"That's what we're about to find out," said the man, standing near the counter, its shiny black surface matching the floor. A silver mini fridge sat on top of it, and there were drawers beneath it and a cupboard on the wall above it.
The man reached into the mini fridge and drew out two beers. "Want one before we get started?"
"You've got to be kidding me," said the woman.
He shrugged. "Suit yourself." He set one can back inside the fridge then popped open his can and took a few sips. Then he rummaged in the drawers. "Let's see…." There were various clinks and clanks.
Fear flipped Jason's stomach. He remembered Ali had said that during a previous spygame, an agent had lost an arm… and these people seemed like they viewed them as slaves, not fellow agents, thus expendable…
"Aha!" The man drew out a small vial filled with bluish powder. "This should do the trick."
"I don't know, Jack," said the woman. "How will that help?"
Jack chuckled. "Maybe you should take it. Might loosen you up a bit."
She narrowed her eyes. "Not funny."
"Lighten up, Tara. This is supposed to be fun."
"You know it's not just a game."
"Taking it too seriously hinders you. The form hints the function." He set the vial down and picked up two shiny white cards from the table. "That's often a clue to the clue, too…" He brought the cards over and displayed them in front of Jason's team. "You guys have any ideas? Don't tell me you didn't have any theories."
"Like we told you," said Sahara wearily, "we just found them."
"If you're smart, you'll tell us before we really get started."
"Threats of pain aren't the best at helping people think clearly," said Ali.
Tara strode in front of them. "Pain can clear minds quite well, I've found." She cracked her knuckles.
"Maybe we'll turn the tables on you," said Serhii. "See if your hypothesis holds."
She sneered. "I doubt you'd have the stomach for torture."
"I've gotten used to a lot here… I don't have much to lose."
She leaned down. "Face it, you're not good enough. Two of us already beat all six of you!" She laughed. "You're evidence all over again that slaves really do belong on their knees."
They must've gotten taken by surprise and shocked. Perhaps there are enough of us now we could overpower them and the guards…
He glanced at the counter, where their guns lay.
If I could distract them… several of us could attack while the others got the guns.
Hand-to-hand might be out of the question if their autoshock is on… It'd be best if I could do a covert signal so we could all work together at once…
Jack rubbed the cards together. "Going once… going twice…" He stepped back, holding the cards behind his back. "Who wants to go first?" He set the cards down on the counter and picked up the blue vial.
"Don't hurt them," said Ali.
"This isn't going to hurt… it might actually be pleasant."
Ali pushed himself to his feet. "Technically, I outrank you."
"You can't really claim superiority… or seniority." He laughed as if he'd made a hilarious joke. Then he paced to the side and stopped at Sahara. He grinned and crouched down. Grasped her chin. She wrested her face away from him, glaring. "Ooh, you are a feisty one. Word is you were taken from Rave. I think I'll take you for myself…"
"I belong to no one."
He chuckled. "Unless you actually become an agent… I can do what I want with you." He grabbed her chin again. She tried to pull away, but he grabbed her hair, wrested her head back.
She cried out.
Jason leaped to his feet.
Tara whipped out her gun, aimed it at him.
"Let her go," said Jason.
Jack smirked. "Or what?"
Jason slammed his fist into Jack's smug face
Only— instead of his fist connecting with flesh and bone, a cold explosion hit him
His head felt like it'd broken open. Sparks twisted his body, contorting it against his will.
A laugh smashed through his skull, echoing inside the shards.
Soft fingertips stroking his forehead let him know his head was still intact, even though it felt the opposite.
Sahara above him, anguish in her eyes.
"Take me instead," said Ali. "I'm responsible for my team."
"It would be interesting to see how you react…. And fitting to punish you for lowering yourself to leading slaves."
Ali bowed his head, as if in resignation.
"But then again… the most fitting punishment for a leader is making his subordinates suffer." He stopped in front of Serhii. "There's this damaged one—who doesn't know he's damaged."
Serhii's breath caught.
"Ooh, looks like I've got something he's afraid of…." He stepped in front of Elliot. A similar fear gripped his features. "This one… I see he's experienced it before." He stepped in front of Gray and grasped his chin. "You're an interesting one. Not quite a slave… not quite one of us. Do you know what this does?"
Gray looked up, his jaw set with defiance.
"Ah, I see you don't. That would be entertaining to see you find out…" He spilled a pinch of blue powder onto his palm.
Gray wrenched himself away; Jack wrested his arm back and slammed him face first onto the floor.
"Help me, will you?" said Jack.
"Thought you had this all handled," said Tara bitingly.
Jack made a frustrated noise. "You want the prize or not?"
Jason longed to use this diversion, but he couldn't make his body move.
Ali, thankfully, had a similar idea.
He dashed over to the counter and grabbed a stungun. Aimed it at Tara. "Don't move."
Tara reached for her gun; Ali slammed off a shot and she collapsed to the floor.
"Get up," said Ali.
Jack raised his hands and stood slowly. "We can talk about this—"
"Shut up." As soon as he was clear of Gray, Ali took the shot and Jack collapsed, unconscious. Then, Ali looked in the drawers and drew out some cords. Elliot and Serhii helped him tie up the enemy agents.
Jason stirred; pain sliced through his head.
"It's okay," said Sahara. "It's over."
Gray was still lying on the floor. Slowly, he pushed himself to a sitting position, his long legs laid awkwardly out in front of him. He gazed at the floor, trembling.
He's in shock, Jason realized. It must have been too much like previous assaults….
Ali dragged the inert bodies to the side of the room, then knelt beside Jason with a water bottle and painkillers. Sahara helped him sit up, and Jason swallowed the pills.
"Are you okay, Jason?" asked Ali.
"I'm fine," said Jason, the pain fading into a pulsing numbness. He was still shaky as Ali and Sahara helped him to his feet.
"I'm not sure if he is," said Ali, looking down at Gray, who was still staring off into space.
"We might have to give him a minute," said Sahara.
Her words seemed to shake Gray out of his reverie. He struggled to stand. But his legs seemed to give way. He bit out a curse, looking extremely frustrated.
"It's okay to rest," said Sahara.
"I—shouldn't still be here."
Jason had a feeling he was talking about more than this room. "You can't really expect to heal faster than a normal human," said Jason.
Gray glanced at him sharply. "I might need even more time than someone normal. Despite what Tamara says… I can't see that being more sensitive is a good thing."
"I don't know if you can measure how awful what happened to you was… or if you can really compare yourself at this point. I doubt that'll help, anyway."
"It's already been—months—"
"You have to admit, this isn't the best environment to heal in. Neither was the previous one."
Gray hesitated, then nodded.
It wasn't the best room to recover in, either, but they had to stay in it a little while longer. Elliot seemed shaken as well. He leaned against the counter, not moving, until Serhii came over to him and spoke to him.
Ali stepped over to the vial, which was sitting on the floor where it had rolled, and stomped on it, crushing it under the heel of his boot.
"What does that do, anyway?" said Jason.
"You don't want to know," said Ali.
After they patched each other up, Ali distributed drinks, and they sat in a rough semicircle. They started with the clue that Jack had given them, and it ended up giving them the answer: the cards looked like key cards. Keys—to each other. Sliding one inside the other made a pattern appear: wavy lines and a swimming stick figure.
The pool.
Jason's heart sank. But it could be worse.
Although… who knew what was in store for them next.
And how much Elena's hand was involved in it.
A shiver ran through him as they passed the Gold Room. There was a strange blank in his mind, as if it didn't exist… but at the same time did. A door in his mind he didn't want to open.
Then—the pool room. Horror flashed through his mind, along with images of people being assaulted… people being hurt who he couldn't help, because of the electric device buried in the back of his neck…
It was, thankfully, empty. Their footsteps echoed in the vast space. Faint phantoms of screams resounded against the walls
It was a desolate place which made his soul feel burnt out, a dry, desert hollow.
He hoped he didn't have to stay in it long.
They spread out around the room, searching for clues. There wasn't much to look at. Just bare walls and floor… water sloshing gently in the pool….
Jason stood at the edge and looked into the water.
Was it his imagination—or was there something in the bottom?
A black square….
He was reluctant to get it; for one thing, he didn't want to take off his shirt, but he supposed it'd be more convenient if he did. He wasn't about to take off his pants—Elena might be watching. And because of her, he was far from comfortable in his skin.
But he didn't want to let the others down. He was injured, but so were they. He didn't want to make them do something he was able to do. Some of them were in bad shape; Gray was a good swimmer, perhaps the best, but he was still pale, barely able to move.
Reluctantly, he peeled off his shirt and laid it carefully beside the pool. At least he'd be able to put it on again; he wasn't about to care for it as badly as interrogators, who always loved either ripping or cutting it.
He stood at the edge for a moment, strategizing his best angle… then dove off the deep end.
Another world down here.
They couldn't get to him…
He swam deeper, water surging past his ears. Further and further down….
His fingers touched something. A black object—a case of some sort. He contemplated it a moment, then grabbed it. The water buoyed him gently to the surface, then grabbed for him, trying to drag him back down into its comforting embrace…
He sat on the edge of the pool, shivering, and pried open the case. Not even any lock.
His heart leaped.
The gun!
The same one he'd longed for in the depths of Yavesh.
He touched it lovingly, vaguely aware he was obsessing a bit….
Shrapnel of his old life burned through him. When he'd been strong and free—secure in his expertise as an agent—able to protect others, evade, triumph…
Almost a mockery here, but it still instilled in him a tangible feeling of power.
He snapped the bullets out, spun them back in place.
He wasn't alone in his admiration. The others crowded around him eagerly.
He let the other agents hold it, touch its sleek obsidian skin.
"It is beautiful," said Serhii, caressing its barrel.
"All the more because it's quite rare," said Ali. "Exotic beauty…. Angel of death."
Gray cradled it in his hands; some of its power seemed to seep into him, reviving him. He took aim at the opposite wall, his eyes alight. Jason feared he'd actually pull the trigger.
Seeming to realize his lack of control, Gray handed the gun to Elliot.
Elliot held it for a moment, as if not sure what to do with it. He touched it hesitantly then gave it to Jason. "You deserve it," he said.
"It's not necessarily mine…."
"You found it," said Ali. "Besides—I see the connection between you. If you're allowed to keep it… you should. Unless anyone else objects." They all shook their heads.
Jason felt a little guilty for being so possessive, but he accepted their assent. Besides… he might need it to protect them.
Ali picked up Jason's shirt and handed it to him. Jason handed the gun to Ali for a moment then took it back when his shirt was securely over his skin.
"You like this one?" said Ali.
It took a moment to realize he was talking about the shirt. He nodded.
"I don't have too many in this style, but if you like it…"
"That'd be great. Thank you."
They wandered around for about an hour looking for clues. The good thing was that some of the ghosts of the past disappeared, overwritten by new images and frustrating yet innocuous sensations.
He spilled the bullets out again, rubbing them absently.
Gradually, the silver rubbed off… pure gold gleamed beneath.
Gold glimmered at the edge of his mind, glitter raining from the ceiling, pricking into him like electric sparks….
"Jason—are you alright?" said Sahara.
"What is it?" said Elliot, stepping over.
"What could that mean…" said Serhii.
Gray peered over his shoulder, looking puzzled.
"Oh," said Ali, suddenly, his features devastated.
"What-?" said Jason.
It struck him.
This gun had been meant for him. Elena had seen how he'd been drawn to it.
He was the target.
She knew what to hurt him with.
Just when he'd begun to see gold as something unconnected to that day…
She was plunging him back into the origin of his horror of it.
Out in the hall, he drifted away from the Gold Room instinctively, although it didn't matter in the end—this hall was circular.
"We don't have to do this," said Sahara, catching up with him.
"I don't want you to be punished for my sake." His voice was hoarse; his lungs seemed full of dust, all force drained from them. "I'm her target now. I'll be lucky if she doesn't make you collateral damage. If that happens—I'll make sure she focuses on me."
"Don't do that," said Ali. "I… should draw some of her attention…."
"You already did that. And you paid for it. She wants to keep me… relatively unscathed..." He walked around the hall to avoid getting there too soon.
The gun felt heavy in his hand; a lot of its power had seeped out and it was just a prop in this game. Still—there was an energy to it not entirely of this place…. He'd hold onto it as long as he could and maybe it'd help him, despite being a tool of Elena's design. He could reclaim it… it hadn't been made by her hands, after all, but by some mysterious creator…
The Gold Room door appeared.
Suddenly Zar was beside him, smirking, holding his arm. It hadn't happened like that… but he couldn't get away from his ghostly form.
Get this over with.
He stepped inside.