/Niko
As I was mulling over how to rid the space from Leo, Killian came in.
"What the hell?" - His concerned voice was heavy.
"Send Leo away somewhere. So we have some time to plan things. Call in Ary. We're in trouble." - That's all I can let out.
Killian gives a nod, as he goes out. I'm still on the floor, trying to catch my breath, to sort of think up what's next.
Somehow - getting the full gang of who I AM aware of - should do some trick. Should help somehow.
A few minutes later - Killian returns.
"He's out. Come on." - He comes over, hands softly picking me up, carrying me to the bar, helping me onto the padded chair.
"I called Ary. He's on his way." - Killian spoke. Decisiveness, strength is in his voice. A person one can rely on. Someone who is there no matter what. A balm to my soul, to say currently.
"Babe, I saw the psychopath in action." - I begin. - "You know how the damned White Hare was ape shit mad at torture?"
"Oh that absolute nutcase? Yup." - Killian says.
"Haha, yeah, so imagine a scenario where White Hare is a soft cute bunny, absolutely harmless. In comparison to my own damn brother Leo, who went all miles out and about trying out war crimes on a single human. As much as it's a disaster - it's also impressive." - I finish the thought.
Killian stands there, brows furrowed, hands crossed.
"How fucked up are we talking?" - He asks.
"Pouring melted iron down the throat of a skinned alive being, with a metal rod stuck up the cooch, with knives and needles poking out of the body, then spraying it all with some hefty chemicals filled with acid." - I let out, tiredly giving a nod. - "Ye-e-eah…"
"You're joking, right?" - Killian looked confused.
I shook my head.
"Oh how I wish I would. But no, baby girl. Absolutely no." - I looked him in the eyes. - "Leo discovered the regeneration and decided to see how far he could take it. He took it really far. REALLY FAR. I wonder what the fuck he did in his own world."
Killian looked horrified and disgusted. Putting own picture in his mind together with what was there. Not that pretty I assume. Though - I watched the whole lot unfold with the victims point of view. My point of view. Of other me. How absolutely… Ehh… Thank gods the pain was off at some point, as the mental load was too much to register. It's like she died. Over and over. And when nobody came to rescue - the mind just flipped off. Then the moment of her being drugged to sleep, left alone. Killian just took her here, from that exact state and situation.
The door to the bar flung open, with a tall, platinum blond gentleman walking in. Absolutely stunning, model looks of a man - Ary. Yeah, here he had a bit of a different look. Hair was shorter, but the look of the absolute gem of handsomeness which would charm anyone into smexy play - yeah. There.
"What madness happened for you to summon me?!" - He grunted as he got inside. - "After the bloody war in the magical filled lands, once I finally get to enjoy the fineries of being sexy bitch, you give me - this?! What is this about?! And why the hell did I see Hikaru go inside the club?!" - He's throwing a tantrum.
"A-ah, about that," - I shift in the chair. - "Have a seat darlin', there's a bit to get on with."
It took around 10 minutes to get him up to speed.
"So you mean, Hikaru is Leo. And that twat is a threat to us. Potential threat. Asking to get you out of the system. But he's asking YOU, not me." - Ary pokes his drink, which Killian kindly brought over.
"Uhum, though, as WE know - the system is sort of a mix of multiple people's imagination. You and Killian here - being two of which." - I point out. - "So knowing that it's been a few hundred years since we were out. That all the med staff are done for, the damn place might be in absolute shambles, brother dear is a potential offender, AND frankly - we have no clue how we're still alive. Given the circumstances, we're unaware of what's there."
Killian looks at Ary.
"Maybe we should log out together? That way - Leo might be yanked out from the system with all of us, with no possibility of saving a copy." - Killian proposed.
"IF he knows how to save a copy." - Ary retorted.
"That's also true. We're unaware of what he's been up to and what madness he conjured for himself in own realm. That could be a threat." - I sigh.
"Is there a way to go and check what's out there now, for verification reasons?" - Killian asks.
"Even if one of us goes - the ripple will be big enough to be noticed, so that's a red flag. Not to mention - how are we sure that the thing will work out? Maybe the pod could be fucked, maybe the system be flawed by now. There's no saying what's still left there to work." - I say.
"Fuck…" - Ary lets out, as he stands up, starting to pace around. - "Fine, it's been damn years. I can't even remember what my body was like, not that I was that greatly into it. Our level had a dozen pods, not even sure how many are operational, or who is in the system. So if we all leave simultaneously, that might also be a chain reaction of pulling everyone out. Given that it works out, of course. That will leave us all stranded in a place which is operational on god knows what, in the time of fuck knows what's up, having no clue what's out there. But what if that instead triggers the system to fight back and make us remain? We're as good as forever buried alive. Though we're enjoying the ride, thus far."
I stretch out in the chair.
"I mean, we've been the top successful lab rats before. It's been over 200 and something years outside. We're like the ancient beings with issues and baggage that's hard to discard." - I breathe out.
"Baggage…" - Killian muttered. - "What if we do go out together, then get the main data centre checked to see what's left? Did it not have that dope AI thing?"
"You mean 'that AIO' thing?" - Ary rolls eyes.
"Yeah, that." - Killian nods. - "Maybe we could use it to help us out."
Hmm. That's an idea in itself. Me and Ary exchange looks, as we both think it over. It's a risky endeavour, with no certain outcome besides getting out to see what's out, with no certainty that we'll be able to get back in. Might die for all sorts of reasons. Air poisoning, climate change, chemical fog, wars, whatever is out there. Most commonly - dehydration and lack of food. And that is something we have not seen much in the lab. Fed from tubes which get their stuff from unknown sources, then maintained in the frozen state, with somehow hyperactive brain function. The research lab sure was a fun time. Mellissa sort of shared with me some things, but it was like, through a lens. Not complete. Maybe Ary and Killian had access to other bits, as we are indeed on different floors, with certainly different facilities. So that's that.
Though - even if we get out and awaken - are the passages open for me to go and get to Ary and Killian? Are we going to have a way to open the damn facility to the outside world to see what's up? Or are we by now buried alive? There's a lot that we're unaware of. That we don't know of. And there's sure as fuck over 200 years of history to catch up on. Shit…
Ary let out a deep sigh.
"Given all we've got," - He began, - "The safest way would be to simultaneously go, then figure it out on the other side. Though, basic needs like food and water are of great starter pack essence. Though, before that - the damn hangover from the system on the body." - Ary looks at me and Killian, making sure we're all in. We nod. - "Then, shall we go, before that psycho catches on?"