26 Fragments of the Unknown (1/2)
Chapter 26: Fragments of the Unknown
There was a brief gust of wind, that came from the shattered facility's roof. Nye and Solitaire disengaged their weapons, as they decided to investigate further into the room. While they drew closer to the tank inside, Nye placed her hand gently to the glass. ”I think that might be a fiend inside there. I wonder how long he's been trapped here for?”
Solitaire glanced to Nye, with an uncertain look in her eyes. ”Why would-”
Suddenly alarms began to sound inside the facility, forcing Nye and Solitaire to hold their ears tightly. It was so loud, and the flashing alarms stung in the darkness. ”Solitaire! What's happening!?” Nye spoke loudly, so that she could be heard over the blaring alarms.
”I-I don't know!!” Solitaire replied, in panic.
”UnAuThOrIzeD AcCeSs dEtEcTeD, DiReCtIvE cOdE 10-12 iN pRoGrOEsS! TeRmInAtIoN oF all pRoJeCt DaTa AcTiVaTeD! W-WaRnInG eMeRgEnCy PoWeR sTaBiLiZeRs f-F-fAiLiNg!” A garbled voice synthesized from the speakers above. ”InItIaLiZiNg ReAnImAtIoN oF SuBjEcT SeVeN! ReCoMmEnDeD aCtiOn fOr aLL PeRsOnAal To eVaCuAtE iMmEDiAtElY! ErRoR!! SyStEm ErRoR!!”
The tubes in the tank began to detach from the body, but the system started sparking up. A wave of breakers began to burst with smoke flooding the room like steam. The system then abruptly crashed, with the sound of everything powering down; this sent the now silent room into complete darkness. Nye and Solitaire slowly lowered their hands, staring into the dark abyss.
”Keep your guard up, we don't know what we're dealing with here.” Nye urged her friend, in a hushed tone.
”R-Right.” Solitaire swallowed, nervously.
Bubbles began to appear in the vat, rising from the nose of the creature inside. His single eye began to hazily open, gleaming at the girls through the dusty glass of the tank. Without warning, he began to violently jerk inside the tank. His body shifted hastefully in the liquids, holding his head with both hands, almost like he was screaming. The water inside began to tremble, right before he started pounding onto the glass.
”Nye!” Solitaire shrieked a bit, clinging to her friend's arm tightly in panic.
They both took a step back, watching the beast continue to bash his massive claw into the side of the tank. The glass suddenly shattered, with the liquid inside escaping near the bottom, as the monsterous man was hunched at the base of it, almost like he was gasping for air. The red growth was resting against his spiked feet, as his long elf like ears flicked, before lifting his head. The liquid substance on his skin dripped down his body, as the red growth on his collarbone lifted slowly. Creeping out from the darkness, came the large eyeless snake shaped head, that was partially cloaked in shadows.
”That-That fiend is bloody lethal...” Solitaire stammered, not releasing Nye's arm.
”Just remain calm, Solitaire.” Nye tried to comfort her friend.
He held no emotion, but his body language seemed more curious as he crouched slightly, gripping to the base of the vat with his massive claw. The monstrous mouth loomed closer, opening it's jaw as he spoke. ”Fiend?...” He repeated, in confusion. He had an oddly distorted tone to his voice, that sounded rather alien.
”That's creepy...” Solitaire shivered, hiding behind Nye.
Nye glanced back, before looking to the fiendish man ahead of them. ”If you can understand us, what do you remember?”
The man's eye panned over to Nye. ”Experiments. The rest is faded from my memories.” He replied, as a jolt of memory surged into his mind. He was strapped down to a table, as scientists were looking over him. Many of them were holding scalpels and other tools; ones of which he could see his reflection in. He appeared human, but his left arm was bloated with some kind of infection.
”You don't need to be afraid.” Nye tried to reassure the man.
”Afraid?” The fiend repeated. ”You should be the one whose afraid. Do you not understand what those scientists did!? Look at me!” He hunched down, holding his head to the floor. ”I'M A DISGUSTING MONSTER!!” He cried out, screaming into the ground, with complete misery. ”All those endless hours of being picked apart like some lab rat... No sane person could go through all that pain and SUFFERING!!...” His voice was badly cracking, from his wailing of anguish. Tears were actually streaming down the one eye he had on his face.
Both Nye and Solitaire seemed stunned by this. ”This poor man knows nothing, but a life of torment...” Nye spoke softly, understanding his pain. She decided to approach the fiend, leaving Solitaire to stand by the entrance of the room.
”Nye?” Solitaire timidly called.
”It's alright.” Nye glanced back to reassure her friend, before moving in closer. She crouched down to the man, looking to him. ”Those people are gone now... You don't have endure this anymore. You're not alone, so why not come with us?” Nye held out her hand to him, with a kind expression in her eyes.
The mouth lifted, as he peered up to Nye's face. ”Your friend shows fear, yet you ask this of me? Aren't you concerned that I might SNAP?” He spoke softly, but his emotion was very hard to read.
”There's another whom my friends fear, but that doesn't mean anything. I trust him. People are not always as they seem, so why should I treat you any differently?” Nye explained.
Another trail of tears rolled down his face, as he stared to Nye, with what seemed to be a surprised expression. He gently extended his right hand, cupping it with Nye's, before pressing his forehead against the top of it. His long hair hung in his face, as he tried to gather his nerves. ”Thank you... You're a very kindhearted person.” He finally choked up, through his shaken tone.
”How about we get you something to wear?” Nye motioned over to Solitaire, who timidly brought over her bag. She took out a pair of pants, with some fancy looking boots, along with a few other articles of clothing.
”You sure about this, Nye?” Solitaire whispered, nervously.
”He's just as afraid of you, as you are of him. Can't you see that?” Nye explained.
”I-I guess you're right.” Solitaire stammered, extending the clothes to him.
He glanced up to Solitaire, shyly, before slowly taking the stack of clothes from her. ”Thank you for your kindness. I'm sorry if I scare you...” He said to Solitaire, softly.
”I-It's okay mate. I just scare easy, that's all.” Solitaire explained, nervously taking a step backward.
”We'll wait for you to change out here. Everything will be fine.” Nye encouraged him, before heading into the previous room to wait.
After changing, the man stepped out after them. He had his ears covered by the scarf, as he tried to shroud his face the best he could.
”We should probably get introductions out of the way. I'm Nyghtmare, but my friends mostly call me Nye.” Nye looked to him, before motioning to the girl beside her. ”This is my friend, Solitaire, and who might you be?”
”...Subject seven... I mean... Adam... My name's Adam.” He replied, cautiously.
”I'm sure you'll fit right in, Adam.” Nye stated. ”Everything will be fine.”
”I hope so.” Adam tugged the hood over his face slightly.
”So, what now?” Solitaire shrugged.
”I think our next objective should be finding a boat of some kind.” Nye mentioned, turning for the nearest exit.
”Smashing idea. No way you'd be able to carrying both of us.” Solitaire agreed.
The three of them decided to leave the facility, making their way down the hill that they came from. However, in the distance there was a trail of smoke rising to the early morning sky.
”Is that a fire?” Solitaire held her hand over her brow to get a better lock, she seemed surprised.
”Might be. Which means, there could be someone else here.” Nye replied. ”You good to investigate with us, Adam?”
He was staring to the sky of the city, before glancing to Nye. ”Ready as I'll ever be.” He admitted, second guessing himself.
Without another thought, the group proceeded in the direction of the smoke. They quickly reached the area of the destroyed city, that wasn't too far from the bay. One of the taller buildings was burning out of control, and smoldering ashes were falling like snow around them, as they gazed up to the flames. Unexpectedly, the windows bursted out, as fire roared through them, escaping to the wind wildly. From the burning open window, a black figure shot out, torpedoing through the air, with great speed and velocity.
The black wings suddenly halted, hovering ahead of the three, several feet above the ground. The black dragon, Gaigas flapped his powerful wings, with his eyes locked onto them like targets. ”Here I thought I had this junkyard to myself. Tzz.” He scoffed, leering down at them.
”A Terra?” Nye muttered. ”He must be another Templar operative.”
”What?” Solitaire glanced to her briefly, before looking to the dragon in the sky.
Gaigas licked the corner of his mouth, as he narrowed his eyes, coldly. ”A woman who works with a fiend. Well now, you must be the Queen, that I've heard so much about. Was getting bored anyway.” He scoffed.
Without warning, Gaigas took a deep breath; spitting out a wave of green fire that forced them all to jump backwards. The ground ahead was coated with the oddly colored flames, but Gaigas didn't let up. He raised his claw, forming a sphere of dark matter for a mere second, before casting it their way. The shots scattered around them, coming at lightning fast speeds. Quickly, Adam got in front of the girls, and deflected the attacks using his over-sized arm. The blasts ricocheted off, exploding on impact with the ground around them.
Gaigas gritted her teeth, with angered gaze. ”YOU'RE GETTING ON MY NERVES!!!” He roared, lashing out another wave dark energy blasts. The shots connected this time, just barely scrapping by their flesh.
Solitaire stumbled backwards, loosing her footing, as she was trying to form the blades from her body. Nye got by her side, forming her wings. ”Keep close, this one could be a problem.” she stated.
As the girls turned, they saw Gaigas preparing yet another strike. However, Just as he was doing so, Adam leaped to the nearby building, as he was parkouring higher; before rushing skyward in the dragon's direction. Gaigas' eyes shot at him in panic, but he wasn't fast enough to dodge; being brought back to the ground with a heavy throw.
He landed ahead of it, glancing back as flames roared it the sky from the newly formed crater. It spiraled back down, coming Adam's way like a burning tornado. Gaigas slashed his claws, as he weaved into close range, before getting to a distance to avoid counter attacks. He circled back, this time near the girls, striking with his spiked tail. Solitaire quickly ducked as she let out a shriek, using her blade arm to defend herself from the attack. Adam and Solitaire were left having to defend themselves from the merciless clashes of attacks.
Nye had other plans however. She soared in from above, striking back with her wailing wraith-edge. The spirits of her blade screamed, as it connected, sending Gaigas crashing into the crumbled pavement below. Nye took a breath, as she descended to her friends.
Gaigas rose from the rubble, glaring angrily to Nye. ”I'M GONNA MAKE YOU SCREAM!!!!” He roared, before rushing her way in the sky.
Adam decided to counter, using his massive claw slash back, and forcing him to back flip away from Adam. Gaigas moved swiftly, firing more dark matter orbs at the fiendish man. It blasted right through Adam's left shoulder, causing Gaigas to grin. However his emotion quickly changed, as the injury healed instantly. It was surprising to the girls as well, seeing Adam completely unfazed by it.
”OUT OF MY WAY!!” Gaigas shouted, pelting out more blasts, leaving massive crevices in the already damaged streets. He flew at them, with a heavy pressure of air pushing them down.
He rushed at Adam with a violent rage, but when he came into range, the massive claw caught him by the neck. Gaigas let out a loud gag, as some drool came from his mouth, through panicked breaths. His eyes began to grow weary, before closing.
”Adam, don't.” Solitaire got to his side, nearly begging him.
Adam didn't answer, but anxiously dropped Gaigas to the ground, before taking a step back. Nye came up behind him, glancing to Solitaire, who was now checking the dragon.
”I think he's still breathing.” Solitaire said, as she was crouched beside the dragon.
”What are you thinking?” Nye seemed concerned.
”I just... I don't want to see anybody die... I'm sorry...” Solitaire got to her feet, as she crossed her arms with a soft pout.