Legends of the Halcyon Era

Episode 77 - Noh Time to Lose

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After going on a journey of discovery and personal growth to another world that the Diggers from Terra could never have imagined, they finally returned home with new allies, new insights, and new secrets.

Unfortunately, there was little time to celebrate or gain their bearings. After foiling a plot by Trevor Creed to resurrect an ancient force of destruction, the Diggers were attacked by groups of robots who brought down the Sky Shark and badly injured its pilot, Adam Powers.

Things got worse as the same force that attacked them wiped the town of Monroe off the map. While Adam and Janine remained behind, the rest of the crew ventured back to what was once their home to confront the force behind the attack and avenge those lives lost. Instead, an enemy from Black Steel's past thoroughly dismantled the group and captured Celeste, blasting off with her to parts unknown.

After a long moment, Fenix finally took a deep breath, then pushed himself back up to his feet. Though unsteady, he still made himself walk over to Steel, or at least what was left of him.

The Digger's eyes were opened wide, staring up at the sky, unmoving. It was like he was in shock.

Fenix checked Steel's pulse. He was surprised to discover his pulse was not only present, but steady.

Katrina managed to pull herself off the ground where she'd been deposited after narrowly avoiding a blast from the ship which had ferried their assailant and Celeste away moments ago. She moved to join Fenix by Steel's side, dusting herself off along the way.

Meanwhile, Surefire, one of Nytetrayn's GunRobos who'd accompanied him, had gone to check on his creator – and pull him out of the hole he'd made after falling from the sky.

"Is he alive...?" Katrina asked the masked Digger.

"Amazingly. Surprisingly. And maybe some other -ly," he said as he stood and removed his cape. "Here, try to bandage him with this. I'm going to go check on the others."

As Katrina did what she could, Fenix went and helped Surefire pull Nytetrayn out of the hole. He checked for a pulse and any broken bones before looking at Surefire. "Wait, what am I doing?"

Moments later, a voice rang out behind them. "They're over here!"

Fenix and Katrina looked up to see the silver Dragon Knight, MoonRazor, making his way to where the town of Monroe had once stood less than 24 hours ago. He was in his camo unit disguise, and he wasn't alone.

As SunFlame, the gold Dragon Knight, looked around, he exclaimed "Jesus and Light, what the hell happened here?!"

As their leader, Commander Black Draco, went to check on Nytetrayn, MoonRazor went to Katrina, while Edge and Shuri checked up on Fenix and MegaMan Magnus.

Nytetrayn's hand moved for a moment as he lifted his head, his eyes flickering weakly. He let out a "C-Celeste..." before he blacked out and collapsed again.

"Someone get the ship," Katrina said. "We need to get them evaced, pronto."

Black Draco radioed Crossfire back at the Falcon Arrow. "Bring the ship to where the town..." He looked around grimly. "...was. I don't think we need to worry about secrets now." Then he turned to Surefire and told the GunRobo "Contact your ship and have them meet us here."

Nearby, Steel's eyes blinked.

"Steel," said Katrina, "can you hear me? Are you alright?"

"C'mon," SunFlame added, urging him on. "You can pull through this!"

The Digger's mouth moved, but it appeared he couldn't get the words out. Katrina leaned in close to listen. "Something... wrong... not healing... r-right..."

Katrina looked up at SunFlame. "His nanites... they must not be working right!"

"Save your breath," SunFlame told him. "We'll have you fixed up in no time." He then shouted over to his commander, "Hey, Chief! We got one crit over here!"

Black Draco continued inspecting Nytetrayn. "Well, his energy is drained, and his armor and Buster have obviously seen better days. But other than that, he seems to be okay."

Fenix let out a sigh. "Physically, at least."

"What about you?" MoonRazor asked him.

"I'll live."

Crossfire soon landed the ship near the battlefield and deployed the loading ramp, and Katrina rushed to get Steel on board immediately.

"Come on," Black Draco said. "Let's get everyone on board."

"Sure," Fenix said as he draped one of Nytetrayn's arms around his shoulder and hefted him up and to the ship. Meanwhile, MoonRazor and Shuri struggled with their combined strength to get the unconscious form of MegaMan Magnus aboard the craft.

Once everyone was on board, each decloaking in the process, Black Draco gave the order. "Crossfire, back to HQ. Full speed."

"Roger," said Crossfire. "Engine cells engaged, rockets to fu–"

"One side!" MoonRazor shouted, as he shoved Crossfire aside with a yelp. "I'm driving!" Fenix couldn't help but smirk behind his mask.

Black Draco radioed the Dragon Star II, and upon finding out the whereabouts of Janine and Adam, instructed them to pick the two up and to bring them back to the Avions' mobile headquarters.

Steel clutched SunFlame's wrist, and Katrina kept an eye on him for any worsening of his vital signs. "Hang on, Steel," she said. "You're going to be okay."

The Digger began to mutter in an almost trancelike state, slowly at first, but with increasing speed as his life signs darted all over the place. "Nanites will reinforce the weak organic structure of the subject, and provide a more efficient weapon to be used in the wars..."

"What the hell's he going on about?" SunFlame asked out loud, to no one in particular. He wanted to smack Steel to get him to snap out of it, but restrained himself.

"Physical capacity must be inserted as human DNA is not up to modern standards," he continued. "Manipulate the genetic code accordingly, use the original specimen's samples..."

"I'm not sure," Katrina said, "but it sounds like he's talking about his nanites? Maybe these are some sort of repressed memories that survived the procedure?"

"Production line of neos is yet imperfect. Test subjects needed first, replicate from original subject. Specimen is frozen, preserved well. Extraction of DNA almost effortless. Memory repression successful. Subject will be unable to recall. Weapons lab. Perfect weapon."

"I don't like the sound of that," said SunFlame.

"Potential subjects identified... targeted. ...ytetrayn... Fenix... Ada... owers..."

"What the...?" Katrina said.

"...anine... ...an Magnus... data needed. Coordinates 3.0674° S... 37.3556° E... LENEIS."

"LENEIS?" SunFlame asked, while Katrina made a note of the coordinates.

MoonRazor clocked it as only he could, and the Falcon Arrow arrived back at HQ a lot faster than it arrived at the island.

***

Meanwhile, the GunRobos arrived on Wingate Island with the Dragon Star II, where they found Adam and Janine waiting for them in front of the now-abandoned hospital.

As soon as the GunRobos disembarked, Janine grabbed Surefire and dangled him above the ground as she shook him and asked, "ARE THEY OKAY?"

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHIIIIIIIDOOOOOOOOOOON'TKNOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWW....!"

Janine dropped Surefire to the ground dismissively, where he landed with a grunt. She turned to the others while he dusted himself off.

"How did it go?" Adam asked.

"Badly, from the sound of things," Twirl told them.

"Then where are they now?" Janine asked demandingly.

"The Knights showed up on the scene, and took the whole lot of them back to their crib," Blaster told them. "They told us to come get you guys."

"I have a bad feeling about this," Adam said.

"C'mon, let's get moving," Twirl said.

"Yeah, less jackin' our jaws and more beatin' our feet," Blaster added.

Against the protests of the nurses and doctors, Adam stood slowly and picked up the large, refractor-embedded sword that contained the mind and spirit of the being once known as MegaMan Blade, and stoically walked with Janine and the GunRobos into the ship.

Once inside, with the outer doors sealed and the others off to do their own things and leaving him alone, he let out a deep breath and reached around to put his hand to his back. "Ugh, that was a little tougher than I thought it would be," he said to himself.

Soon, the Dragon Star II was off and on its way to the Avion base, the Fortress Dragon Nova.

***

Elsewhere, the Falcon Arrow arrived at the Avion base. Ironically, just like the first time the group from Terra arrived there, they were met by medics rushing out to tend to the wounded. Black Draco tended to Nytetrayn personally.

As Katrina and SunFlame watched over their care of Steel, she said "I wonder if he'll remember us when he wakes up. I mean, you heard the part about suppressing his memories..."

"Well, we do have our methods there, remember?"

"I guess," she replied.

"Then again, that didn't exactly go so well for him last time," MoonRazor chimed in.

Katrina just growled inwardly.

Nearby in the hangar, MegaMan Magnus grunted as his eyes slid open.

"Hey, big guy," said Fenix. "You feeling any better?"

"I believe so," Magnus told him. "Just feel... really... tired..."

"C'mon," said Edge, as he and Crossfire helped the Annihilator Unit to his feet. "Let's go get you recharged, then you'll feel good as new."

The injured were soon delivered to the medical bay, and almost as soon as Steel was placed on one of the beds, he suddenly jerked up into a sitting position, giving the crew there quite a start as he pushed them away.

The Digger took a moment to feel around himself, and gave a nod. His nanites were working again.

SunFlame and Katrina entered after seeing their friend awaken. "Steel? You alright?" the gold Mechadrake asked.

"SunFlame...?"

"Steel?" asked Katrina. "Do you remember us?"

"Katrina... Noh! What happened to him? Did you guys get him?!"

"Who?" SunFlame asked. "Sorry, we don't even know why you guys were wrecked."

Steel turned away from SunFlame with his head lowered, as though that answered everything for him. Nevertheless, he asked "What the hell is going on?"

"I think it's time we found out," came the words of Black Draco, who was now standing in the doorway with his second-in-command, Edge, at his side.

"Commander," Steel said.

Katrina had turned away, her head lowered as she spoke. "He... got away. And he took Celeste..." She kicked some equipment over before storming out.

Steel paled. "Noh... got Celeste...?" he said, almost in disbelief. "Then Nytetrayn..."

"Nytetrayn and Magnus are on their way to recovery," said Black Draco. "It will take time for them to recharge."

"Recharge? What the hell happened?" Steel asked.

"We were hoping one of you could tell us," said Black Draco.

"All I remember... is..." Steel grimaced, as the strain of trying to recall the incident pushed his limits.

"I think both Nyte and Magnus used up all their energy," said Fenix, who had since appeared in the doorway. Soon, MoonRazor, Shuri, and CrossFire joined in the increasingly-crowded room.

"So that thing is called ‘Noh'?" Fenix asked.

"Yeah. I don't know how exactly I know that, but..." Steel held his head again. "Ugh, my head hurts..."

"Once we found out about the broadcast regarding Monroe, we went to check on you all," Black Draco said. "Unfortunately, it looks like we arrived too late."

"Whatever that thing was," Fenix said, "it creamed us. Brushed us aside like we were nothing! Then it formed some kinda energy shield around itself and Celeste, and... and..."

The masked Digger lowered his head as he trembled. Black Draco looked particularly unhappy at the news.

"And what?" Steel asked. "What did it do?"

"It fucking ate her."

Steel looked on, eyes widened. "...w-what...?"

After a moment of stunned silence, Black Draco spoke up. "Explain... if you can."

"What's to explain?! It removed that creepy-ass mask, its mouth grew six feet wide, and it swallowed her in one big bite."

"I see," Black Draco said. "Then there's still hope..."

"Yeah, sure..."

"From the sound of it, this Noh might have wanted her in one piece. More than likely alive, if it were to go to such trouble to keep her intact. I just hope it isn't symbiotic..."

A cry of "STEEL!" pierced the air from behind the Dragon Knights, who parted to reveal Janine, who had just arrived with Adam.

"Jan–OOF!" Steel replied, as Janine leaped at Steel and threw her arms around him.

"You're alright!" she said tearfully, while lifting his arm and looking him over for any egregious injuries after the fact. Steel didn't reply. Instead, he just wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly.

Black Draco said "We have other patients to check on, but we'll be back." At that, he and the other Dragon Knights departed the room, along with Fenix and Adam, leaving the two alone.

Suddenly, he looked up.

"I know where he's gone."

Janine pulled back to look at him. "Well, yeah. He said he's checking on the others..."

Steel grabbed her by the shoulders, his face a mix of emotions. "No! I mean Noh! I know where Noh is!"

Janine raised a confused eyebrow.

"I'll explain on the way!" he said, as he took her hand and led her out into the hallway. "Where's Nyte? He has to know! There may still be time!"

***

I.

I am.

I am –

"CELESTE!" Nytetrayn shouted, as his eyes opened and he jerked straight up on the table.

He looked ahead for a moment, blinking. He didn't know where he was, but he knew it looked familiar. "What the...?"

"Easy," came a familiar voice. "You'll be okay."

Nytetrayn turned, and saw his creator, Black Draco, sitting at his bedside.

"What... What happened? Last thing I remember was... chasing after Celeste. Then..."

"Then it got away," Fenix said from his position leaning against the doorframe to the room, arms crossed.

"We've heard what happened. We arrived shortly after," Black Draco said. "Fortunately, from what we know, Celeste is probably – hopefully – okay."

"Celeste..." Nytetrayn said in a low voice, before smashing his fist into a wall and denting it. "DAMMIT! WHY does this keep HAPPENING?!" Nytetrayn smashed the wall a few more times before stopping.

"Nytetrayn..." Black Draco said.

"Dammit," Nyte said in a lower voice. "Why?! Why am I so... so weak?"

Black Draco looked for a way to reply, but Nytetrayn continued first.

"This is the second time this has happened... and the second time I failed to prevent it!" he said, his voice cracking as he spoke. "I'm... I'm supposed to keep this kind of thing from happening to her... and I keep failing her..."

Nyte lowered his head in front of him again.

"...I don't deserve to be with her."

Fenix looked like he was about to come in and smack Nytetrayn in the back of the head, but Black Draco's voice stopped him in his tracks. "Fenix, if I could have a moment here, please..."

The masked Digger hesitated, but soon complied. "Fine," he muttered as he stomped out.

"Nytetrayn..." Black Draco said again, getting his attention. "You've told me what happened before, remember? About Creed, and how he kidnapped her into a ruin."

The Digger just slightly nodded, as he lowered his head in shame.

"You also told me about how you were able to rescue her. Creed has beaten you several times, but you managed to come back stronger, and do what you had to do. Now, you're stronger than ever, and capable of becoming even more so."

"I know you have doubts right now," he continued. "We've all had them. But trust me, I've seen you two together, and I'm sure it was meant to be. You do deserve each other. I don't need Mindspeak to tell how you two feel about each other. She loves you, and is counting on you. Now, perhaps more than ever."

"Your friends are willing to fight for her. Shouldn't you be as well? Whatever their odds, they can only be better with you among them. Do you understand, Nytetrayn?"

"I... I guess so..." Nytetrayn replied.

He thought back to the feeling of helplessness he experienced when Noh swallowed Celeste whole. He thought of how wherever she is, she was depending on him. Soon, the feeling of helplessness was burned away by a renewed feeling of anger, this time tempered with determination that was reflected in his eyes as he lifted his head and looked at his creator.

"I'll do it. I'll get her back, no matter what it takes."

Black Draco smiled. "Very good."

Nytetrayn looked to the corner, where the remains of his armor sat, stacked in a pile. "This isn't going to do. I'm going to need new armor. Do you have a place...?"

Black Draco nodded. "Of course."

"Then I'd better get to work."

A short time later, after getting fully recharged, Black Draco showed Nytetrayn to one of the labs aboard the Avion ship. It was a largely empty room with a windowed wall facing the hall, with white panels striped by black lines and bright blue LEDs. "This will do nicely," the young Digger said.

Black Draco stood outside and watched as Nytetrayn went to work. Remembering what the medic, Clank, had told him back on Avion, he closed his eyes and tried activating his Attribute Amplification System. But instead of bolstering his strength or his speed or any of those attributes, he focused on increasing his intelligence and processing power.

"Alright," he said as he opened his eyes and cracked his knuckles. "Let's do this."

He pulled up a holographic interface, and began quickly using several devices at once to craft his new armor. He knew not to use top-of-the-line materials from out of this world, in case somehow he was discovered, but he still used more durable metals than his previous armor had contained. At the very least, it shouldn't be damaged by smaller attacks, or as easily sliced apart as before.

He also added a new backpack as well, one with a smaller footprint that would be easier to move around in, but still capable of storing a surprising amount.

Fenix entered the room as Nytetrayn worked. "There you are," he said, as he watched his companion's hands move like a blur, rotating 3D models, incorporating various features, and more while panels in the floor, walls, and ceiling shifted, and mechanical arms worked as instructed. "New duds?"

Not looking away from his work, Nytetrayn replied. "More than that. Now that I know – now that I understand just what I am, I can better integrate this new armor with my core systems."

As Nyte began to create a new version of his Nyte Buster, he paused for a moment, then added a duplicate on the other arm. He wouldn't be able to use both at once without reducing the power of each, but it would grant him more versatility.

He also considered the way his systems had been able to allow him to charge up for more powerful shots, but also taxed his energy reserves more heavily, save for when he used that refractor that time. He decided to incorporate something to not only regulate his energy absorption and usage, but also a charge "cap" on the energy amplification unit so that he wouldn't overdo it and drain his own internal power yet again.

As the armor began to take shape, Nytetrayn looked at color options. "ARIA," he said to the base's Advanced Reactionary Intelligence Assistant, "can we get some jet black going on here? Something sleek, metallic. And we'll go for gunmetal on the grey portions."

He pondered the appearance for a moment, then said "And I'd like to get some gold-colored LED-type detail going, and that includes these," he said, as he tapped on the now front-facing Dragon Knight symbols on each shoulder. "Except this part here," he said, pointing to a light on the front of the neck that was shaped like a refractor shard. "Make that blue."

"What happened to the stealthy 'Shadow Digger'?" asked Fenix.

"It sounded good at the time, but we both know that sticking to the shadows was never really my style," Nyte told him, before stopping to look him right in the eye. "Besides, I want them to know I'm coming for them."

As Nytetrayn turned back to his work, Fenix slowly backed out of the room. He'd only seen Nyte like this once before: When his own father, the Air Pirate Trevor Creed, kidnapped Celeste.

Soon, the new armor was ready. Nytetrayn stood legs apart and arms out as the mechanical arms put each piece into place. He would only need them to perform this task once, as he'd be able to summon it just as he did his previous armor.

Once activated, Nytetrayn experienced a new feeling he'd never felt before. Unlike his previous armor, which had merely been a protective shell around his body, he could actually sense this armor. Now he felt stronger, faster, more alive than ever before. Things he used to have to operate manually from within, he could now perform with just a thought. It was an extension of himself, almost like a reinforced second skin.

"Alright. Vacation's over."

***

Down in the hangar, Nytetrayn and Black Draco approached Black Steel and Janine, who were waiting by the Dragon Star II. Janine had switched from wearing Fenix's spare armor scraps to a simple black tank top with matching cargo pants and boots. The large gun remained by her side.

"There you are," said Steel. "I went looking for you, but Fenix said you were probably better off not being disturbed. Now I see why."

"Yeah," said Nytetrayn. "Glad to see you're okay. Looks like I'm not the only one who got a new fit..."

Indeed, Steel stood before him in new armor of his own. It looked similar to the armor he'd worn before, only now it was more uniform and less patchwork. It was no longer predominantly black; rather, white was the main color, augmented by various trims in not only black, but also bits of gold and red as well.

"Yes, well," the silver-haired Digger said. "I needed something new, and thought it would only be right if I paid tribute to those who helped train me to reach this point."

"Less Black, more Steel," said Nyte.

"Yeah... maybe I'll just go by that from now on. Seems to be all anyone calls me anymore, anyway."

He continued. "You look like a man with resolve."

"Damn right."

"Good. We need a ride."

"I can do that, but how are we going to find where they've gone? They could be anywhere."

"We're going south."

"What?"

"3.0674°, 37.3556°. That's where we'll find them. I don't know how I know, but it's in my head."

"Perhaps we can be of assistance," said Black Draco. "We can get you there faster from here."

Fenix and MegaMan Magnus soon appeared, looking none the worse for wear after some repairs, recharging, and a bit of laundering of Fenix's cape. "Got room for two more?" the masked Digger asked.

"Make it four," added Katrina, as she approached the group with Adam.

"The more, the merrier, I say," Steel told them. "Not a full wagon just yet."

"And it's not going to be," Janine added. "Not until we get Celeste back."

Nyte noted the helmet Adam was carrying. "New accessory?"

"Doctor's orders," he grumbled. "They said they could accelerate my recovery, but I'd still need to wear this." He added "just in case" in an almost mocking tone.

"Shush," said Katrina. "You still have a fracture. It was either this, or staying here."

MegaMan Magnus snickered a little as Adam tried not to pout, but with only limited success.

Steel put his arm around Janine. "You sure you want to come along for this one?"

After a brief second to take in the question, Janine put on a sweet smile as she put her finger under his jaw and lured him in like she was going to kiss him. The almost giddy Steel turned pale when her eyes began to glow red as she replied "Positive."

"Ah, er... eep," was all Steel could utter in reply, as Fenix and Magnus cackled off to the side.

After Nytetrayn instructed the GunRobos to follow them in the Dragon Star II, Crossfire stepped in to give them tips to help them do so with greater speed. MoonRazor chimed in to correct him on something, and the two began to bicker.

"Alright," Black Draco said over all the chatter. "Everyone aboard!"

Everyone boarded the Falcon Arrow, with Crossfire taking the pilot's chair, and MoonRazor begrudgingly settling for copilot. Within moments, the craft lifted up and blasted off, out of the main hangar bay of Fortress Dragon Nova, with the Dragon Star II close behind.

As the crew soared over the waves of Terra, Nytetrayn just looked out the window at the seemingly endless water as he wondered what they might be doing – or have done – to Celeste, and hoped against the worst.

***

The coordinates led the ship south of the equator. It was a peaceful journey, though it managed to feel both too short and too long, all at once. The flight ended over a series of mountain ranges which greeted them with jagged cliffs and nothing beyond.

"Down there," Steel gestured out the window. "A cave."

Towards the bottom of a particularly brutal cliff face was a visible cavern, opened like a wide maw waiting to swallow up anything foolish enough to venture within. Crossfire moved the craft into a hovering position near it, and was met with little wind resistance as it was brought parallel to the ridge extending outward from the cave. The Dragon Star II took up a similar stopping point nearby.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5UHt9BOnWs

Nytetrayn looked to his crew. "We ready, guys?"

They each nodded silently as they disembarked. Steel set foot onto the stony surface, clutching his Soul Sabre in one hand and Janine's hand in the other. "Jan...?" he said, and he looked her in the eye.

"Yeah?"

"I'm scared as hell."

She looked back at him and nodded. "Me too."

"Alright, Knights," Black Draco said, as he and his group prepared to disembark as well. "Let's do this."

"Wait, you guys are coming, too?" Nytetrayn said, with some apprehension in his voice. "I dunno, I thought we'd be handling this on our own," he added, as he looked at the others. "I mean, we can't rely on you guys forever, right?"

"Nyte is correct," Steel said. "This is our fight."

The Knights looked to their commander, whose eyes were closed as he appeared deep in thought, as they awaited his orders.

"Hmm. Very well. We understand. We will remain nearby, in case we are needed."

"Okay, but keep a low profile," Steel said. "We don't want Noh to ambush you."

"Affirmative," Black Draco said.

"Give us five hours... six, tops," said Nytetrayn. "If we aren't out of here..."

He paused.

"...then it's up to you guys to destroy this place."

Black Draco nodded grimly. "Hn, very well..."

As Nytetrayn began to turn and start making his way into the cave, Black Draco called out to stop him. "Wait..."

Nytetrayn turned as the large, black Mechadrake approached him.

"Hopefully you won't need it, but just in case things become too much – and only if... I want you to take this."

Black Draco reached up behind his head and pulled something large from his back, and proceeded to hand Nytetrayn his beam saber.

Katrina smiled as she saw this, while Nytetrayn was at a loss for words. "But... I..." He took the large, jeweled handle in his hands. In Black Draco's hands, it looked like the handle for a sword, but against Nytetrayn's smaller frame, it looked like nothing more than some sort of strangely-shaped large mallet. It was deceptively heavy, as if hinting at the power it possessed. Nytetrayn looked back to his creator.

"...just in case," Black Draco assured him.

Nytetrayn nodded in understanding, unsure whether to be happy about this or not, and stowed it in his new backpack. How such a large weapon could fit so easily in there was anyone's guess, save for those who knew.

"Thanks," he said, before returning his attention to the cave. As he led the way in, the Knights' craft pulled away from the cliff face and engaged stealth mode, while the Dragon Star II pulled further back.

***

In a void of pitch black, a light appeared to penetrate the darkness, revealing a circular platform.

Noh entered the light, and proceeded to regurgitate before joining the darkness once more.

Celeste spilled out onto the platform, covered in a thick, gooey red liquid. Before she could do anything, however, the platform hummed to life, and she found herself sealed in a force field restrained tube.

"Ick," she said, as she tried to shake off some of the goo before looking around. "Wh-where am I...?"

"Welcome, Celeste," said a voice which felt almost monotone, calm yet creepy. "I trust you found my means of delivery... accommodating? You must be full of questions. But there is little time for that."

Celeste searched fruitlessly for the source of the voice, which echoed from the impenetrable darkness around her.

"The culmination of my planning is at hand. And yet, despite this, I found you intriguing enough to invest in."

"What are you talking about?" Celeste asked.

"I've been watching you for a long time. There is something odd about you, about what lies within you. You aren't like the others, no. Your energy signature fluctuates at a different rate."

Celeste wasn't sure how to respond, nor did she need to before the voice continued.

"You threw away the chance to regain your memories on Avion. Annoying, that. It would have eliminated the need for extensive testing."

Her eyes widened. "Avion? How do you know about that?"

The voice paid her question no mind, however, as it continued on. "However, what is done is done. I fear you will not find the next few hours to your liking, but it is a necessity."

Suddenly, the tube began to fill with a thick, reddish-orange liquid. Celeste started to scream, but as the fluid reached her mouth, she reflexively held her breath.

"Do not worry. You will not drown. The liquid will oxidize your lungs, and feed your blood directly. Not only will you be better-regulated here, but you will find that it will also ‘mellow you out,' as I believe they used to say. Make you a bit more... complacent. And as such, easier to examine."

"With that said, I suggest you inhale and get it over with."

Eventually, Celeste couldn't hold her breath any longer, and after releasing her breath, almost inadvertently did just that.

"There, was that so hard? Don't you feel much better?"

To the contrary, Celeste had never felt so helpless before. She could just about cry.

"Hmm, your emotional patterns are as wild as ever. Your signature rises and falls with them. Interesting. Well then, let the tests commence. By now, I imagine you feel quite incapable of any resistance."

The tube lit up with streaks of light, and Celeste's body was filled with agony all at once. However, she found herself too tired to do anything more than cry out, and the darkness about her suddenly became a hiding place from all the misery she knew she would experience for a long time to come.

***

Elsewhere in the mountain...

The cave ran deep and dark, drier than most caves they'd been in – a peculiar combination.

But as the Diggers marched on, they had no idea what might await them.

---