by Dusks, Rydre
The scientist I'd taken the key card from looked up from tending to his friend's facial wounds. The sight of tweezers and a bloody spot on the counter peppered with tiny shards of glass made me shudder a little on the inside.
"Hey, Strejc," the scientist greeted. The injured one straightened slightly in his seat after hearing this. His eyes had been heavily covered in bandages already soaking with blood. He looked terrible.
"The Anli?" he asked as I tentatively stepped in and handed the other man's key card back. Sylvain didn't walk inside with me.
"Yeah... I'm Crow Hightower," I introduced, shaking his offered hand.
"Saidias Orlan," said the bandaged scientist. "I am an assistant of Dr. Dentrin's. Or I was, anyway. There's been a terrible happening here."
"I can see that," I muttered, unable to tear my eyes off his lacerated face. He had a mop of green hair with a shaved side. The look was a bit wilder compared to the reserved scientists I’d seen so far.
"Not me," he corrected. "Saydea, in general, is in the wrong in letting you in here."
For a moment I was offended. I had permission to be here--and with Stelliot kidnapped I had every right to search the place for my child. But Orlan elaborated before I could get angry with him.
"Dr. Dentrin led you here for his own benefit. He's using you, Mr. Hightower. He knows all about you, and he's determined to make you into one of his own toys."
"Why would you be telling me this if you're his assistant?" I wondered as the other scientist continued working on patching his friend up.
"Because I'm going to quit," said Orlan with a sour smile. "Dr. Dentrin's new little fascination is the cause of my permanent injury. I walked in on him talking with Dr. Dentrin earlier about some confidential information concerning you. Dr. Dentrin was talking about an Anli Strejc that was finally visiting Saydea, and something about you being the best experiment. The little bastard HSP caught me listening, so he decided to get in and mess around in my lab. Last thing I remember is lifting up my safety glasses to rub my nose and then getting hit with a nightmare of pain."
I glanced behind me, but Sylvain still had not entered the room. I wondered if he could hear. "You think Sylvain triggered your incident?" I asked.
"I know he did. He was in there when I walked in, saying something about being curious and just looking things over. He's a little terror, Mr. Hightower, and I have no doubt that you're in trouble if you continue to hang around here."
I leaned against another counter, keeping my eyes off the blood. "I don't have a choice. Someone going as Velzae has kidnapped my son and brought him here. I'm on the hunt for him with a friend."
"Velzae?" Orlan wondered, just before hissing as his friend plucked another chunk of glass from the side of his neck. "Dentrin's got you wrapped around his finger for sure. If I were you, I would get out of here as fast as I could and notify the police force. Strejca are great and all, but this isn't a machine problem."
I couldn't help but scoff at that. Sure... GreyCross's police force. They were a watered-down bunch of Era's puppets, really. A good majority of them were solely focused on upholding the laws, and if any of them caught wind that the Strejca came close to violating Law 42, there would be a bigger issue on everyone's hands than Saydea's deranged experiments. My son's kidnapping had me biting back from hysterics every moment, but I had to think logically about this. I would have loved to have gone to the police force and told them about it, but only if it wouldn't get Saydea involved. Sylvain was scary, Dentrin was scarier, but President Lozhen Era of Iason was the scariest... and the most ruthless, at least from what I'd witnessed up to this point.
"I can't do that," I admitted. "This is a very personal matter I want to fix for myself. Do you know anything about Velzae? Anything at all?"
Orlan’s lips turned down at the corners. "He's really an enigma. Dr. Dentrin wanted to create a perfect being--someone with godlike attributes and a very strong intuition. He's always been planning on selling his perfect creations to the Iasona military for funds to allow him to branch Saydea to other locations. Even President Black of Saydea has barely any say when it comes to what Dentrin wants. Dentrin runs the company far more than Black does.
"Velzae came out of his dormant state immediately stating that he had duties to attend to. And he left shortly after we ran base tests on him. By teleporting. We could never track him down."
"...That doesn't help much," I uttered.
"He didn't hang around long enough for any of us to study him properly. Sylvain is the only HSP we could finally analyze. Dentrin spent several years trying to recreate Velzae's success."
"So you're saying Velzae, who has my son, could be absolutely anywhere now? You have absolutely no idea how to wrangle this creation... or even contact him?"
"...Sorry."
Sylvain had a point. I'd been wrong to assume I could have an advantage when it came to finding this mystery creation. I should have just shot the kidnapper in the back right there on the street and gotten it all over with. I worried a bit about Va'th and the other Strejca. Hearing how vindictive Sylvain could be made me nervous. Part of me still believed that Velzae could be anywhere in the facility--it was just a matter of searching. But what good would that do if only Va'th and I were doing the work?
"Just... be careful, Mr. Hightower, please. I don't want you to end up in the same state as me," said Orlan. "If your son isn't in Saydea, then I would get out of here as quickly as possible if I were you, and not come back. They're plotting something big and want you involved."
I took one step away from them, feeling for the phone in my pocket. "Yeah... Thank you, Mr. Orlan. Good luck on your recovery."
He made a disbelieving huff at my comment but nodded his head to me before I walked out the door.
I followed the blood trail back to the elevator and stopped just outside of it, seeing Sylvain standing by the doors. He looked at me innocently.
"Did you really injure Orlan?" I questioned as he walked inside the elevator.
"Yes," was his direct answer when I stepped in after him. "But Orlan was making plans to rebel against the doctor long before you or I came along, Crow. If I hadn't been in the lab to alter the chemicals in his solution and instigate his injury, he would have been killed for digging up restricted files that I found in his desk. I put them back for him after his 'accident.' I was saving him."
He changed subjects. "We should look in Zone Seven, Crow, where the failed projects are kept. I feel a presence there that just might be Velzae's."
Did I have an option to say no at this point? Saydea had my full attention. I pursed my lips and selected the level--one that I was rather familiar with now. It was a spur of the moment decision to trust Sylvain, and completely went against my logic, but something had also prompted me to drop back down into the Zone of my fate.
.
5
Trouble
Sylvain and I walked carefully through the lab, passing by Dentrin's monstrosities. I paid little attention to them, too fixed on heading to the High Saydea Project room. I stopped at the end door and was about to enter.
"Not there, Crow."
I glanced back at Sylvain. He looked tiny and ghostly against the background of monstrous, glowing capsules and settling mist. Just beyond him several feet was a man. He was tall--as tall as me at least--and he wore a dark leather jacket and matching black beanie. The lock of hair that fell over one of his pale blue eyes was snowy white, matching his eyebrows and pallid skin. He wasn't holding Stelliot, but I recognized him as his kidnapper.
"Velzae--!" I started, but Sylvain turned to confront the man before I could.
"I knew you were down here."
Velzae looked at the both of us, then focused on me. "Kro, I want to inform you of something."
I pushed past Sylvain and grabbed a tight hold of Velzae's jacket. "Where the hell is Stelliot?" I shouted. My fists on his coat shook faintly. "What did you do with him, you freak?"
Velzae raise
d his arms in an innocent manner. "You wouldn't understand right now, Kro--"
"Screw you!" I exclaimed, pushing him with my trembling hands. It seemed strange that Velzae pronounced my name the Anli way, like he knew me. My palms had begun to sweat. I took one off his jacket to reach for my gun and jabbed the barrel under Velzae's jaw. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't blow your head off!"
Velzae closed his eyes calmly, keeping his arms up. "If that would make you feel better, Kro, then I won't resist. But I'm asking you to think about it. I know where your son is, and he is safe."
"Crow--" Sylvain started.
"I don't believe you," I said to Velzae, keeping my finger on the trigger. "Why the hell did you take him away? What are you trying to do to him? To me?"
Velzae shook his head just a little. "This isn't about you, Kro. I wish it were easier to explain."
Sylvain touched my arm. "Crow, please. Let me speak with him." Before I could protest, I felt a calmness drifting over my mind, and my arms slackened. I rested my gun by my side and took one step back. Something in his voice had persuaded me to feel as calm as the other two were acting. On the inside I still felt the fires of rage and terror, but my mind began to succumb to the fog of Sylvain’s influence.
"What is this all about, Velzae?" Sylvain questioned, stepping in front of me.
Velzae's eyes slowly left me to focus on the redheaded creation. He dropped his arms. "This is about a dilemma that even you don't understand right now, KahRatese. Please. I came here to apologize to Kro. I don't have time to linger here."
"Is Sol involved?"
"Sol has placed me in charge during this crisis," was the answer.
"What crisis?"
Velzae's eyes glanced at me again. "Please, I must go. I will talk with you both when I can and will explain everything. For now, Kro... I am very sorry for what I had to do. It was not the best method, but it was the only option I had to keep your son safe. KahRatese... Take care of him."
Then he was gone. In that brief amount of time it was as if he had never been there. The two of us were quiet. My eyes searched the room hoping he hadn't traveled far, but I knew already that he was gone for good. I didn't realize I was still holding my gun tightly until another moment passed.
"Crow," Sylvain started, turning back to face me. "I'm afraid I am now just as confused as you are. I don't know what he is planning, but I don't like it."
I sighed, then felt my eyes begin to mist up. I'd been so stressed about suddenly losing Stelliot that the anxiety and fear had finally pushed me over the edge.
"I believe that Stelliot really is okay, Crow," Sylvain attempted, but it wasn't much consolation. "I would recommend going home and getting some rest. The last few days have for certain been torturous to your health."
I bit my lip to hold back an oncoming sob. How could I go home when my child had been kidnapped?
"The Strejca are all currently looking for Stelliot," Sylvain continued. "It may be good to let your other family know that you are safe at least."
Although my stubborn streak wanted me to continue searching Saydea until I found my son, I knew Sylvain was speaking from a rational standpoint. There was no point in trying to track Velzae when I had nowhere to look. I left Sylvain in the Zone and took the elevator back up.
I opened the door to Toanwar's home and walked in with a gusty sigh. Toanwar was not in sight, but Zlade sat on the couch with an arm around Click. He glanced up at me, then quirked one eyebrow.
"Damn, Crow. You look like death," he commented as I shut the door and took a few steps in.
"Good evening, Master," Click greeted before turning back to the television.
"Nice to see you both, too," I muttered. "I'm going to go sleep for a while."
"Uh, hang on," Zlade spoke up. "What about Stelliot?”
“The Strejca are out looking from what I gather.” I didn’t feel like talking about what had happened at Saydea.
“Ah… Here’s to hoping for the best. Toanwar took off to the Tower, but you have a visitor waiting for you in the kitchen. Click was nice enough to make her some tea."
"...Her?" I wondered, walking across the room toward the kitchen entrance. I didn't have too many female acquaintances aside from Phazer, and even calling her an acquaintance was stretching it. I bit my lip for a moment before stepping in, then felt my heart freeze. My eyes landed on the one woman I thought I would never see again--the one who’d abandoned her child a year ago and left me to raise him.
"Oraia..." I breathed.
She looked up from her phone at me. Even though I could never forgive her for what she'd done, her appearance still plucked at my heart. Those grey eyes, as they always had, left my heart beating faster than normal. She looked healthier than the last time I'd seen her--no longer sporting sunken eyes and a hollowed face.
"I was wondering when you'd show up," she stated, putting her phone down on the table and straightening. "How is life, Crow?"
I stayed near the entrance, biting my lip for a moment before speaking. "What do you want?"
"I realized I made a mistake," she said, looking away from me. "I want to see Stelliot."
Perfect timing, Oraia, I thought bitterly. How was I supposed to tell her what happened? A crazy teleporting albino nabbed him from our cookout?
"He isn't here," I answered softly. I was glad she hadn’t heard mine and Zlade’s exchange about him in the living room.
At this, she frowned. "He isn't with you either? Well if Voelwrath doesn't have him and you don't have him, where is he at?"
"How did you know Toanwar doesn't have Stelliot?"
"I talked with his android when I found out Stelliot wasn't in the house. Where is my child, Crow?"
Just lie, I tried to tell myself. Lie to her. She doesn't know anything about your personal life right now. How is she to know that he isn't over at someone else's place? Just tell her that you have a new girlfriend, and she's watching Stelliot for the moment. But I knew that wouldn't work. Oraia was the type of girl who would go to any length to get what she wanted. She would most likely ask for the address, and although by law she was not allowed to see Stelliot, that wouldn't stop her from trying to squeeze the information out of me. Besides, Oraia saw through lies like thin pieces of glass.
"Crow, answer me," Oraia demanded.
"You aren't allowed to see him," I decided to say, keeping defensive.
As if on cue, Oraia reached into her jacket and retrieved a folded piece of paper, which she unfolded and slapped onto the table.
"I have visitation rights now."
"What?" I exclaimed, glancing at the signed form. "You can't! They didn't even contact me!"
"They didn't need to. I managed to convince them that I left you in charge of Stelliot due to health issues, but now that I'm fully recovered, I can see him again." She straightened out the signed document in a passively prideful manner.
"That's complete bullshit," I hissed. "You left because you were buried up to your eyeballs in drugs and couldn't even see straight. And you hadn't even stopped while you were pregnant. Stelliot and I both paid for that last bit, and heavily. You messed up our own son and wrecked my trust."
"And my declaration to them is basically correct," she argued. "It doesn't matter now, Crow. I have the right to see my child, and I am demanding you to tell me where in the hell he is."
I gritted my teeth angrily for a moment, but decided not to fight any longer. "He was kidnapped earlier this evening," I admitted. "I've spent all afternoon looking for him."
Oraia stood up from the table, picking up her phone. "Crow, that isn't funny."
"I'm not lying to you, Oraia. I just got back from searching for him. All the Strejca are helping and doing the same. I was told to go home and rest, so that's why I'm here."
"Why didn't you go to the police, Crow? That's my little boy!"
"Our little boy," I emphasized. "You don't know anything about Stelliot's life. How could you act concerned about him? Yo
u ditched us a year ago for your addiction. Don't you dare pretend to care!"
She brushed her hair back from her flushing cheeks. "Don't start this with me, Crow. You should have gone to the police."
"The Strejca know more than the police do at this point," I stated, trying to skirt around it. "Besides, I know the kidnapper by name and face now. He's linked with Saydea, and the police are one-sided. Any anti-Saydea activity is immediately swept under the rug. The kidnapper is just... out of reach at the moment."
"You and your Strejca are so caught up in hating the police. Contrary to what you believe, Crow, they can help," Oraia added before dialing a number on her phone.
"Oraia, you can't!" I exclaimed, biting back the urge to tear the phone away from her. "We already have all the help we can get."
"This isn't a job for the Strejca. Aren't you going against your laws?"
"It's a volunteered act. It has nothing to do with the laws. There's no bounty involved."
She left the phone half-dialed, watching me carefully. "Aren't there some Strejc laws that state you can't get involved in human matters? It is also a crime to fail to report an issue to the police if you are a witness. So in truth, Crow, you are breaking laws by not telling the police about our missing son."
I knew she would do this. From the minute she asked to see Stelliot, I knew she would try bringing up the laws. She obsessed over searching for any tiny detail that could turn an argument in her favor.
"It doesn't violate Law Forty-two at all. No one is harmed by a search. And you're a hypocrite," I pointed. "If you go to the police, they'll find out about your drug addiction."
"They won't be checking my records." She headed out of the kitchen. "You'd better get your ass back out there and find Stelliot, Crow. This isn't going to go unnoticed."