by Marc Mulero
"That was a good throw," Lesh admitted to Sabin. "They didn't even notice what happened.
They’re clueless about being tracked, kind of like how you were," he said as he looked over at her and smirked.
Lesh huffed and shot a death look back at him.
Cherris stared at Blague as he calmly walked over to her. "I know that look," Cherris said.
Blague stared into Cherris’ eyes for a moment, not responding to her words. After a short pause, he began, "We have a new threat and they took Eugene. I'll explain shortly, but first, do you know of any pilots among our group?"
Cherris looked down to think for a moment, strands of her silver and blonde hair washed over her face as she thought. "No one comes to mind, but there's a good shot that Drino has one among his cadets."
Blague turned his head to Sabin and gave a nod to him. Sabin walked off to radio Drino.
Blague turned back to Cherris, "Have you heard anyone speak about a continent called Auront?"
Cherris shook her head.
Lesh walked forward and said, "Apparently it's an island very close to the Antarctic continents that has no ice and omits red smoke from the ground. Nemura babbled on about it when he held me for dead."
Cherris shook her head, "I've never heard of anything like that."
"Apparently that continent caused a man to permanently exist in an altered state. His name is Jason Brink, and he calls his group the Aura. We don’t think he has any affiliation with the Hiezers, but we’re not exactly sure. And we don't know how many followers he has," Blague said.
The sound of boots walking slowly echoed behind them. Then the sound of a cough echoed in three different tones simultaneously. "I may be able to help you," Niro said through his voice changer. "The island you speak of didn’t have that name, but I've been exposed to it," he continued as he rolled up the cloth on one of his arms.
His veins were stained Cryos blue, which made it difficult for the others to focus on anything else. His covered face and smoky pupil-less eyes were focused on his arm.
Blague inspected it, "Your forearm is tinted the same wine red that Jason's whole body seemed to be."
Niro locked his eyes with Blague's, "I've endured many years in the state that this man, Jason, is currently in. Each person reacts differently to it."
"This man fancies himself a god," Sabin said as he put down the radio.
Niro nodded, "I suppose that could happen. Memories that I had completely forgotten came back to me like they occurred just a moment ago. Time becomes incredibly warped in that state."
"Does one's intelligence rise in that condition?" Blague asked.
"Yes, unstably so. That island spawned from the quake years ago," Niro said with an echo, "It has been a hidden anomaly ever since. I suspect that the effect of that smoke will never truly leave me." Niro began to walk away, "But thankfully it does wane."
Everyone watched the strange man walk away with his cloth wrappings and old combat boots.
He turned his head, "I will accompany you, Blague, when you're ready." He turned back and continued to the stairs that lead to the roof.
Drino came walking up behind the remaining crowd, dragging a man by the hair. Drino stopped when he approached everyone and tossed the man to the floor. "This is the only pilot I can find, unfortunately," he said as he presented the disheveled man with his hand. The man rubbed the back of his head and hiccupped, looking angry. "This here is Oscin. He's a lousy cadet and an undisciplined shitbag, but apparently he can fly a jet."
Blague took a moment and then eventually nodded at Drino, "I guess he will have to do."
Drino nodded back, "I’m going to continue on with my training session.”
“Yes, carry on, thank you," Blague said dismissing him.
Lesh picked the thin man up by the collar with one hand and looked him in the eyes. "Pathetic. He's drunk during Drino's training and doesn't appear to have the strength to even push a lever on a jet."
Oscin swung at Lesh's face. She ducked it and punched him straight back to the ground.
"Well this is going to be an odd trip, it seems," Blague said.
"Are you sure it's a good idea to leave the mansion with two threats at large?" Cherris asked.
"For once, we are going on the offensive. I will entrust our home to the appropriate group in my absence, which includes the three of you. You must understand, my second in command is being held captive and we no longer have Briggs' expertise on our side. I have to keep the leadership of this group intact. I would do the same if it were any of you," Blague said as he extended his hand for Sabin to hand over the transponder. "Meet in my room for a strategic meeting in thirty minutes. After that, I'm departing," Blague finished.
Niro's demeanor is making it very hard for me to read him. At this point, I'm basing my faith solely on a good deed. He could be a part of Jason's crew, making him yet another mole within our ranks. My instinct says to trust him. Though, I wonder how much I can rely on such a feeling. Blague walked slowly up the stairs, his presence was felt as he passed through the civilians. I'm without a doubt walking into some sort of trap by trailing Jason, but it's vital that I pursue this threat and return our commander to his home. Not an easy task when a loved one bursts out of his past and begins trampling over his present.
Blague's arm flexed at every grab of the railing, his green eyes were in a thought-filled daze. He looked at the mark on his arm, reminding himself that the Hiezers were the bigger threat.
Jen beckoned Eugene over from the other side of the wall.
"Come on," Jen mouthed followed by a hand gesture.
Eugene quietly ducked down and snuck over to her, holding a camera the size of his forearm. "I can't believe I'm the camera boy for your suicide mission," he whispered to Jen.
She gave her usual big smile, her eyes lit up with excitement. "It will all be worth it when I'm famous for exposing these rats," she said quietly.
Jen kissed Eugene on the cheek and turned her head to peek past the corner of the building. Hiezer guards were at attention while a squad leader rambled on about purging Sins who don't obey.
"A no tolerance policy is to be undertaken and a few examples will have to be made in order to begin the enforcement," the presenting Hiezer guard shouted.
"Are you getting all of this?" Jen asked.
"Just the audio," Eugene looked down at the video camera.
The buildings surrounding them were huge. The Hiezers were gathered in an open street that was roped off from every direction.
"Who's there?" a voice called from behind them.
Jen froze. Eugene put his camera away and drew a pistol.
"Jen!" Eugene hissed, "We have to move now!"
Jen remained frozen. Eugene shook her shoulder with his hand to snap her out of it.
"I heard something this way. Move," a voice said as it creeped closer.
"Jen!" Eugene said again.
Finally she jerked her head around one hundred and eighty degrees. Her face was a black shadow with no features. Eugene immediately backed away.
"No," he said to himself.
Jen's shadowed face became clear again, but appeared frozen with her mouth wide open and her teeth showing. Her eyes were large and unfocused; blood ran up and down her face. The sound of a scream shrieked, causing terror to flow through Eugene's body.
"Take them!" a voice said, only inches away.
Eugene turned around to the butt of a gun slamming him in the face.
He opened his eyes, gathering himself from the hazy memory. He felt the pulse of his temple beating, feeling like his head would explode. The jet hit some turbulence, causing Eugene's arms to pull in either direction.
I'm chained.
Eugene looked up to see his arms hoisted up, dangling. He looked back down to discover that he was shirtless.
Woken from another nightmare just to enter a living one.
A large metal door whipped open; Eugene caught a glimpse of thirty to forty peo
ple behind it.
Those few followers were Jason's back-up plan if things went wrong? I wonder how full of shit this guy is.
The lighting in Eugene's prison room was dim, although the whole room was visible. He woke up sweating from the nightmare; his dirty blonde hair was different shades of brown. He had a gash on the side of his head and some dry blood painted on his face. His small nose had sweat dripping off of the tip and his brown eyes looked pained as he tried to focus on Jason, Nemura, and Jen who just entered the room.
"Jen!" Eugene screamed in a strained voice. "We spent most of our adult lives together. How could you forget?"
Jen didn't flinch, her eyes remained dead. Nemura's devious smile widened as Eugene showed his desperation. He stood quiet as he watched Jason glide over to Eugene. Jason bent down and waved one of his hands around Eugene's face in an awkward manner. Eugene, already feeling dizzy, put his head down to keep from throwing up. Jason stabbed Eugene swiftly in the abdomen. Eugene gasped. The cut wasn't deep, but blood began pouring out of his stomach. Jason stared intensely with deep red eyes, cupping his hand to catch the blood.
"A message," Jason said while staring. He stabbed Eugene again, this time in the side. "You will be, a message," Jason said slowly. He shifted his blade vertically and stabbed a third time.
Eugene winced, trying to keep eye contact with Jason. He was starting to lose his vision again, but looked to Jen, who wasn't even paying attention to what was happening.
"Your eyes follow greatness, Eugene," Jason said. "She has been chosen as the next to be enlightened."
Eugene looked down at his three shallow bleeding wounds. The wounds resembled the symbol on their cloaks.
Branded twice in this life.
He looked up at his Cryos mark.
Both with no meaning.
"You're wrong. This mark has a purpose."
Eugene looked at Jason, shocked.
Did I say that out loud?
Jason stood up and pointed to Jen, who walked over and proceeded to cover the wound. The loss of blood mixed with the bash to the head drove Eugene to a new level of exhaustion.
"Look at me, Jen," Eugene pleaded, going in and out of consciousness.
Jen focused for a moment on Eugene's face.
She responded to her real name.
No sign of emotion was reciprocated. She rigidly bandaged up his abdomen and backed up, all while he was staring at her in disbelief.
"Your presence will not only increase the collective connection of Asura, but you will soon find your true purpose with her," Jason preached.
Eugene slowly faded out, losing consciousness.
Jeck and two other Hiezers followed behind Mulderan, walking hastily toward their facility in Faltier's Crest.
"Jeck, do we have an update on Blague's rebellion?" Mulderan asked without turning his head.
"No, all has been quiet on that front, as expected. They were able to retain the Ayelan and our fortress. It seems they would have no reason to pursue us," Jeck replied.
Mulderan continued walking silently for a moment. He turned to Jeck, holding eye contact, "You haven't spent enough time with Blague yet to know we should have heard something by now?" Mulderan questioned pretentiously. "Something is off," he said out loud to himself.
"Would you like me to order another strike?" Jeck asked.
"No, I want them quarantined so they cannot expand further. We have to assume that his scientists learned to split the Ayelan at this point. With that assumption, we won’t be able to bomb them, which would mean the loss of more men in close combat warfare. You’re in charge of carrying out this order. Do not let them expand," Mulderan replied, locking eyes for a moment before facing forward again.
"Those Sins have the audacity to declare war on their providers," Jeck said with malice, "It will be my pleasure to stomp them out."
Mulderan raised an eyebrow, "The audacity comes from perspective and unfortunately, theirs is largely individualistic. To better their lives will not help our chances of survival as a race."
Faltier’s Crest was the exiled continent that broke off from the Old United Kingdom. From the volcanic atmosphere, their boots became covered with black ash and dust as they proceeded to the remote facility, which was stationed far away from any Sin residents. In the distance, small houses could be seen lined up very closely to each other. Faltier's Crest was more developed than Senation; even within the classes, certain locations further separated the distribution of resources. Faltier's Crest had two volcanos in the horizon, accompanied by mountainous regions. It was ominously dark most of the time.
Mulderan turned to one of the Hiezers to the right of him. "Has my wife been adequately prepped for the procedure?" he asked.
"Yes, sir. Eldra is awaiting the shot as we speak," the Hiezer replied.
Mulderan nodded.
"Why don’t we just cut off their food supply," Jeck thought out loud.
"I considered that myself," Mulderan stated, "but doing that will ultimately raise awareness and rally more Sins to Blague’s cause."
Soldiers stepped aside as they entered the facility. Mulderan framed his eye with his fingers and the guards reciprocated. The facility appeared to be very high tech, with Hiezer symbols displayed throughout the rooms. A guard escorted them to a large open platform elevator, which lowered them underground. As they proceeded to their destination, guards quickly dispersed from Mulderan's path in a military fashion. Scientists were working on experiments in each room, mostly dealing with vials of different chemicals. The four Hiezers finally made it to the large room in the center of the facility. The room was molten orange to match the surrounding environment of Faltier's Crest. The ceilings were that of a cathedral, nearly sixty feet high; the golden Hiezer symbol of inverted waves crashing into a golden orb was at the center point of the ceiling. Mulderan's cloak swayed as he confidently and coolly approached his show. A woman was writhing with energy, trying to escape the machine that she was a prisoner to. She had mocha skin and a raging temperament.
"So is this how you get your kicks, highlord?" The woman said in a desperate, bitter manner.
Her British accent echoed through the room. Mulderan stared at her, unblinking and straight-faced. He shifted his gaze to his wife, Eldra, who leaned forward in a chair designed to administer the shot. She looked as if the process was taking too long, not at all phased by the twenty inch needle beside her. A scientist was swabbing her back.
"Eldra, are you prepared to take one step closer to immortality and to aid in preserving our species?" Mulderan asked very seriously.
"I'm prepared," she threw back in an icy tone.
"You're a sick bunch," the captive woman yelled out to them, still trying to break free from the contraption that kept her limbs stretched and spread out.
Mulderan nodded to the scientist next to the captive. The woman shook her head, experiencing the worst kind of fear.
"Don't murder me," she pleaded. Her Cryos mark shimmered on her thin arm. "I haven't done anything to deserve this."
Mulderan continued staring into her eyes, not shying away from his decisions. "It is your destiny to serve the greatest good, Melian," he said, unflinching.
The scientist next to Melian pulled the lever. A moment later she let out a blood curdling scream.
"Why? Stop!" she tried to form words through the agony.
Six needles punctured Melian's back, extracting her DNA and her life force. Mulderan showed no reaction to the woman’s anguish. Eldra also leaned forward, emotionless. Her sniper rifle rested next to her, a black and gold masterpiece that was of high caliber and high quality grade. Eldra had long black hair and crystal blue eyes. Her skin was fair and her face was thin. Her exposed arms were thin, but toned. She was known as the Ice Queen amongst the lower classes. Her personality was befitting of Mulderan's. The cries of pain went on for another moment, making most of the Hiezers in the room uncomfortable. Finally the needles were retracted from Melian's back.
&nbs
p; "It's over," she said calmly with a smile, gazing toward the ceiling.
She felt her heart cease and her vision went dark. Mulderan watched her head slump. He then shifted his eyes to the scientist and nodded. The scientist took the extraction and filtered what he needed in a connecting machine. He then took the vial of extraction to another platform next to the vial of Ayelan and began the synthesization process. Jeck was still uncomfortable from the moment past. He was headstrong and true to his beliefs, but still had somewhat of a conscience when it came to human suffering. Mulderan was so far removed from it all. He walked slowly over to his wife, his thin crown shining in the artificial, orange light. He held out his hand in a formal manner. Eldra reached out to grasp it, looking up at him without a smile.
"Join me in this extended quest. Don't lose sight of our purpose." Mulderan said, looking down at her.
His pauldrons exaggerated his regal image. A Hiezer scientist in a black robe walked up behind Eldra slowly. He held the twenty inch needle with a clear vial of shimmering, holographic Ayelan, mixed with the rare extracted DNA resting above it.
"The shot is ready to be administered," the scientist said.
Mulderan backed away, "Proceed."
Eldra didn't take her crystal blue eyes off Mulderan. The scientist jabbed the shot deep into her spinal cord. She let out a small grunt from the impact. A second later, her head jerked up and her eyes widened. Her blue eyes had orange iridescent light circling her irises. Her body then went limp.
"The process is complete," the scientist informed, "Long live the Hiezers."
Mulderan nodded and left the room.
Chapter 15
Blague walked confidently into his room, while his commanders, Cherris, Niro, and Oscin were all making their way to the fourth floor. He wore a tank top, exposing his bright, disheveled Cryos mark. He took a deep breath, formulating the best possible solutions for all of the mayhem that the group was experiencing.