The Flame of the Crimson Rose

Caleb

"Caleb! What the hell happened to you?! What's going on?! Who's the metal guy, and who'se he?!" Her voice was panicked as she pointed towards Chaos.

"Must be the third goddamned ti- ARG! Addison, my dear, I kicked Ea's ass, then Chaos went rogue, GAH! I havn't really been paying attention since then..."

Caleb managed to roll over, and glanced at the fray. He rolled back.

"Yeah... Thats Chaos and he's fighting GAH! Who... Arg... I presume is... Chalybs. But... Chaos can't be GAH beaten that... way. I dunno... just... weaken him somehow... Gruuu... and get him over to Arg! Me..." Caleb hissed.

An idea had crossed his frenzied mind. Chaos was a part of him, bonded to him. If Chaos were to be weakened, then maybe he could rejoin with Caleb. From there Caleb didn't know what he would do. Maybe he could control Chaos, or if worse came to worse, the others could kill him. Chaos had expressed worry before when Caleb's life was threatened, so maybe he died when his host died.

Chaos

Chaos obligingly let the chained ball wrap around his powerful physique, before he cocked his head and dissolved into goop. The black sludge slid down the metal of the chain, sickeningly making it's way towards Chalybs. The puddle suddenly burst, and the goo spattered all over Chalybs. There it spread across his torso, legs and face.

"I never tried that before, your a good guinea pig," Chaos mused.

Chaos's liquidized form slithered about Chalybs body.

"Well then, who wants to attack me now? Mind you, you may hit the big guy here in the process."

However Chaos spoke with a confidence he did not feel. The godly being he had attached himself to burnt with power. He could feel Chalybs heat searing at him.

'Oh well,' he thought, 'No pain no gain.'

 

Victor

In the chaos, I didn't notice robo-girl had shown up. "Victor! Tell me what to do!" She stood seemingly dumbfounded by the scene, standing in the doorway of the staircase. Awfully lost all of these kids are.

"Alright, alright..." I swept the room with my eyes.

Though many of them seemed ruined by water, gunfire or simply cut in half, this office was full of computers and fax machines. It looked like a typical cubicle office, that is, after a superhuman battle cut swaths through half of it. I looked around and took stock: we had three competent fighters, one not so much and a girl that needed time to get her fighting abilities ready. Speed was key right now, no doubt they knew we were in the building. And every second we waited was another for them to prepare. The course seemed clear.

"Alright!" I started walking to the stairwell, barking orders as I went, "Candice and Cole, with me up the stairs. Addi, see what you can do with these computers and come join us. Sam, stay with her. Use that boomstick to stop anyone that gets past whatever monstrosity she thinks up. Okay? Move it, move it! We've got a king to kill!" I stepped forward and held open the door for my advance guard to go up the stairs, preparing to fill the tall chamber with illusions.

 

"Candice and Cole, with me up the stairs. Addi, see what you can do with these computers and come join us. Sam, stay with her. Use that boomstick to stop anyone that gets past whatever monstrosity she thinks up. Okay? Move it, move it! We've got a king to kill!"

"Wait, Addi? When did she get here? I thought she was fighting down on the ground." He shrugged. "But I guess it doesn't matter. I'll go barricade the doorways."

Sam picked up the shotgun and started for the doors, but glanced with apprehension at the prone form of the old man. He appeared dead, but was he really? Touching him to find out was out of the question; the old man was covered in blood and Sam had never been good at finding pulses anyway. And it just didn't seem right to shoot him in his potential unconsciousness.

A movement! Sam leaped back, gun at the ready. No, false alarm. It was only the knife. The blade wriggled itself from the corpse's grasp, stood up, and glanced over at the old man, pouting.

"Aww, man!" it groused. "What did you guys have to do that for? What did we ever do to you?"

"You tried to kill us."

"It was nothing personal, just entertainment."

"If you're in such bad need of morbid entertainment, do me a favor and make sure that guy is really dead."

"You want to kill an unconscious man who can't even fight back, and you won't even do it yourself? You coward! There's no fun in it unless they're awake to feel it!"

"Look, I'll give you two options. Option one: you can make sure the guy is dead right now."

"And option two?"

"You are drawn in pencil. You have tiny, slow little legs. With no superhuman to wield you, you can easily be caught and erased."

The knife considered this a moment. "So, do you prefer I stab him in the heart or the neck?"

Sam walked away, turning his attention to barricading the doorway. "Whatever you prefer, so long as he's dead quickly."

 

"Alright, alright...Alright! Candice and Cole, with me up the stairs. Addi, see what you can do with these computers and come join us. Sam, stay with her. Use that boomstick to stop anyone that gets past whatever monstrosity she thinks up. Okay? Move it, move it! We've got a king to kill!" Victor walked over to the stairs and held the door open for those who were to follow him as Addi turned to look over at the computers.

"Wait, Addi? When did she get here? I thought she was fighting down on the ground. But I guess it doesn't matter. I'll go barricade the doorways."

Sam looked confused, but gamely picked up the gun Victor had given him before turning towards the door. On the way over though he stopped to have an aparrent conversation with the presumably dead old man's cackling knife about making sure the old man was dead. After a short conversation that seemed to end with Sam telling the knife he would erase it if it didn't kill the old man for sure he returned to barricading the door.

With a wary glance over at the knife, Addi walked over to the computers examining them. Many of them had been damaged by the water and embers that had been flying all of the place, but some of them still turned on, and all of them had working parts. Stepping back a little bit, she closed her eyes and pulled her mind away trusting Sam that he would keep her safe. Instantly she felt the weak life force of her previous, burned robot perk up. She had grown fond of that thing, it had served her well. Gently she extinguished it's life force letting it slump peacefully onto the ground.

Once it had died away she began flipping through the things she could feel in her mind, searching for the right pieces to fit together as she began to build and create a monstorous creature with every bit of working electronic she could find within the room. This new one would be stronger, faster, and more indestructible then the last. This was the one contribution Addi could give to the group, and she sure as hell was going to make it count.

 

"The best you can do is turn into a puddle? That's just sad."

The Chalybs shook himself and let out a blast of searing heat and flame, burning Chaos and blowing him off of Chalybs's body.

Now was the time, Chaos was a burnt puddle of goo, this was they're chance to attack.

 

Elsie sensed Chao's power weakened at that point but he would soon regain his energy, she was certain of it, since he always recovered from a blow... So it was now or never.

Elsie permitted the agonising ball of chaotic energy to envolope her. Then, she did everything she can to face the puddle that called itself Chaos and brought her palm facedown onto the bridge beneathe her. If she were to release it straight through the atmosphere, it'd be less likely for it to hit its target. She decided to use the grounds solidness, so that this 'bomb' could attach itself to something as it propelled straight for Chaos.

"Stay back!" she warned Chalybs, and Sarah. Not knowing if they heard or not, Elsie closed her eyes, and released.

Pain coursed through her the instant she let go. Then, everything happened so fast; before anyone could react, where Chaos's liquid form lay swiftly inverted before it discharged outward with an explosion of noise. And suddenly, Chaos was encased in a sphere of pulsing energy, ripping his form into tiny little pieces. The bomb's explosion would be shredding him to parts.

Then, it expelled even further outwards into nothing - as if it had never existed, but smoke drifted up as an aftermath. Once that was gone though, Elsie could see cracks upon cracks laid about where Chaos once stood. But not as much that it threatened to destroy the birdge, fortunately. Yet, nothing could've survived it, she thought, as her knees gave way and the ground came up to meet her.

However, Elsie knew this wasn't the end of the war though. Laying there exhausted, her stomach gave a lurch at the inkling that they were meant to face something even bigger next.

 

'So,' Chaos thought, "This is what being exploded is like. Interesting."

It would take ages to regain his energy after this attack, it was likely we wouldn't survive. But he would try. And he would take Chalybs down with him. In his atomised form, Chaos entered Chalybs, and spread like a virus through his systems. The heat was nearly unbearable, but the last vestules of Chaos's energy were dedicated to staving of the boiling temperatures. Soon Chaos was in every part of Chalybs and had infected every cell. Then, he crushed them. After the fatal damage was done, Chaos exited Chalybs, and began to reform. He didn;t want to, but he could no longer maintain his tiny form. As his figure began to take the shape of a human, he stumbled blindly around.

"I'm... Not done yet," Chaos promised, as his form gained solidity. He was about to launch a devastating attack on the group, when he felt something grab his leg.

"Yes you are, you creepy sonovabitch," Caleb stated grimly.

With that said, Chaos once again began to melt, his black tendrils slithered down Calebs arm, combining with him once more. Caleb groaned with pain, but when the merge was complete, he stood tentatively.

"He's still there," Caleb said in a worried voice, "He's trying to get out... But I'm not going to let him."

Caleb scooped up a disgarded gun from the ground, and placed it under his chin, "It's the only way to stop Chaos for good."

Caleb grimaced, "Chaos says he's gunna be good from now on, coz if he's not, I blow my brains out. But then I'll have to live the rest of my life witha gun strapped to my skull."

He laughed halfheartedly, "Well guys, bang, or no bang? Your decision."

 

The massive explosion shook the earth and Sarah opened her eyes with a snap.

‘What had happened?’ the girl found herself lying on the ground amidst a pile of frayed and damaged metal cable. She groaned as she leapt to her feet and the world began to swim.

It was coming back to her. Ea, the fight, Chaos. Chaos had nearly destroyed them, and submitting to Chalybs plan Sarah had attempted her most massive golem ever. Had it worked she would have embodied and anthropomorphized the massive bridge on which they fought, but something had gone terribly wrong.

Her powers were weakened from the previous battles, and the attempted transformation had caused her to collapse.

"I'm... Not done yet," Sarah’s heart leapt to her throat. Chaos lived! What had happened to the others!

Whirling around she saw the dust and ash coalescing into the human form of Chaos. Suddenly the battered form of Caleb grabbed the evil being by the leg.

"Yes you are, you creepy sonovabitch," Chaos dissolved back into the confines Caleb mind once again, “He's still there. He's trying to get out... But I'm not going to let him."

A momentary sigh of relief escaped Sarah’s lips. But it was short lived, Caleb grabbed the nearest firearm and placed it firmly under his chin.

"It's the only way to stop Chaos for good,” pausing Caleb added "Chaos says he's gunna be good from now on, coz if he's not, I blow my brains out. But then I'll have to live the rest of my life witha gun strapped to my skull."

"Well guys, bang, or no bang? Your decision."

“Oh, Caleb no!” Sarah shouted. The boy was so noble and brave, she couldn’t see such a waste of a life. At least, not yet.

“There’s got to be a better way! Maybe we can get you to a healer and get rid of him without losing you. Don’t do it Caleb, not till we’ve at least tried.” As Sarah finished her plea she gave a subtle sideways glance to Chalybs’s flaming metal form.

She was pleading to more than just Caleb. She knew that Chalybs was a warrior and wouldn’t want to take risks. But with her eyes she pleaded for just a chance to heal Caleb of his demon before taking the matter into his own hands.

 

“Oh, Caleb no!”

'You have dedicated friends,' Chaos said grudgingly.

Caleb smiled, "Such worry, your a good woman Sarah, although I am not a good man. Nor a brave one, and certainly not a noble one," Caleb mused reading her thoughts. "My dad once told me what true bravery was, a truly brave person isn't one who has no fear, a truly brave person is one who is scared ****less, but does their duty. I simply reacted. I am not brave. You are brave Sarah. Cole is brave. Sammo is brave. Addi is brave. Elsie is insane. My actions were born from hatred, driven by a lust for revenge, and dare I say it, my own crumbling sanity. Cheers Rocky. I could just have easily been on the other side, and as long as I had someone to kill, I don't think it would have mattered. I'm going to kill myself, because I don't want Chaos to escape, but also to stop myself from becoming a monster."

A tear ran down his cheek.

"I LIKED the killing. I WANTED to keep killing. I just thought it was one big game. Im just going to hurt those I love the most... But I have your vote Sarah. No bang. This is the 4- 5th time I've been incredibly close to death. Rocky, then getting impaled by Ea, then getting sliced in half by Ea, then getting ejected from Chaos hundreds of feet in the air, now Im holding a gun to my head. Happy days. Well Elsie, what do you say?"

 

Look, you're going to die. There's nothing you can do about it. You are going to die right here.

There's no way in hell I'm dying here. We're not done with Chaos.

Just accept it, everyone of your cells has been crushed, its a miracle you're still alive as it is.

It was a miracle that Will survived too.

What?

I'm going to live. That bastard cost me my body, but I'm not dying here.


Chalybs, through sheer effort of will, stumbled towards Caleb, who held a gun to his head, and the others. With each step, a little more of his remaining weapons were absorbed into his body. It didn't hurt; too many of Chalybs's nerve cells had already been crushed.

"You're not killing yourself." Chalybs snarled as he grabbed Caleb's gun, draining the metal from it.
"Your Chaos destroyed my body. You owe me for a life time. And the first three things you have to do is stay alive, conquer that bastard of yours, and bring me some more metal..."

Chalybs fell to his knees at that. He had managed to shift his metal around enough to change his most vital organs into metal counterparts, but he was still dying. He had saved himself some time, but only a little. If he couldn't change the rest of his body soon, he was going to die right there.

"Don't blow your brains out first, but then get me some metal. I could really use it right about now."

 

BANG

The shot rang out faster than Cole could react. The wall of intense burning embers, dropped immediately to the floor.

BANG

Before Cole could react a second shot rang out and the crazed old man lay on the floor. Victor sure didn’t screw around.

Cole almost wished he could be so ruthless. Victor’s decisiveness made him realize how much he had been holding back, how he had avoided killing the suited man... Could he really take this battle to the end?

"Candice and Cole, with me up the stairs. Addi, see what you can do with these computers and come join us. Sam, stay with her. Use that boomstick to stop anyone that gets past whatever monstrosity she thinks up. Okay? Move it, move it! We've got a king to kill!"

The barking orders snapped Cole from his introspection. It was too late for second thoughts anyway, he was in this and there was no way out.

“I thought Candice was in charge?” Cole gave the girl a wink.

“Thanks for saving our asses Victor,” he continued as he quickly complied with the orders given.

He gave Addison a friendly clap on the shoulder as he passed and quietly said “Good to see you Addi.” before continuing up the stairwell

 

"Don't blow your brains out first, but then get me some metal. I could really use it right about now."

Caleb threw away the shrivelled lump that was the pistol, and beamed, "I've never saved anyones life before... Heres my chance to make up for my crap, I guess."

He unsheathed his machete, "Sorry Lucy your going to a better cause."

Caleb kissed the blade before tossing it lightly to Chalybs. He then scrambled around on all fours, picking up lost weapons, and throwing them Chalybs way.

 

Soon, Chalybs had absorbed enough metal to fully sustain himself. He still couldn't feel his arms, and his vision had been reduced to shades of steely greys, but he could move around now, albeit fairly clumsily.

Right around when Chalybs was getting up and going again, Will stumbled over carrying the unconscious Susanna. After handing her off to another Resistance member, he told the group about the situation at the building. How the others had already gone up and that they ought to be getting near The King at any moment.

"We can't get there on time walking. By the time we got there, they'd already have fought the King." Chalybs said.

"Well thank the Lord I'm here."

A patch of light shimmered into existence nearby, revealing the smiling, ethereal form of Bob.

"Now hold on a minute, this might tickle just a touch."

A flash surrounded the group, and the bridge faded away, only to be replaced by a long stairwell occupied by the groups friends.

 

'Bob is quite a handy guy,' Chaos mused.

'Why aren't you trying to escape anymore?' I replied, puzzled.

'Your friends weakened me, I must admit. Im afraid if I leave now, I'll be torn to shreds. I'll bide my time.'

'Not if I have anything to say about it Chaos. Heart what do you think?'

'Hey woah! Leave me out of this guys, I honestly don't give two ****s about your whole fight,' Heart exclaimed, 'Oh and Caleb, theres Addi.'

Caleb blinked rapidly, then saw that he was standing in a cluster of his friends. All of them. And amongst them, her hair wild, and her brown eyes wide, stood Addison. It was only then he realised how much he needed her, and how much he didn't deserve her. Ignoring everyone else, he strode over to her, and pulled her into a tight embrace. That done, he kissed her passionately not caring that everyone was watching.

"Sorry about that," He said when he was done, "But being sliced in half, dropped from 1000 feet in the air, and having a gun pointed at your head helps you enjoy the little things in life. Not that your a little thing in my life... Your a very big th- Oh shut up and come here."

Caleb blocked out the others, and simply enjoyed the warmth of Addisons body.

"I'm going to have to do something a bit sissy now, and collapse with exhaustion," Caleb warned the others. And so he did, he slumped against the wall, breathing heavily.

 

Throughout the comotion of Caleb almost dying -again- and Chalybs as well, Elsie lay there, trying to find a force of energy she could absorb. She was too weak and too empty to move. That last attack took alot from her, and she was at the peak of exhaustion. Splaying her fingers out, she find the life force of the river below the bridge. She closed her eyes and drank up the light until she was well enough to move again.

By this time Chalybs was on his feet again and Will was handing over an unconscious girl to another Resistance member. He explained the situation to him, and Elsie's stomach lurched again at the thought of a bigger fight ahead. But she was ready. Sort of.

Then Bob came into view, and Elsie couldn't help but smile. They were soon transported into the building, upon the stairs, where they reconnected with the group. Elsie was suddenly hit with white light, emitting from each - and found herself beaming once more. God, she missed the bright, positive energy! And as Elsie bathed in their aura's for a moment, Caleb went off to reunite with his love.

"I'm going to have to do something a bit sissy now, and collapse with exhaustion," Caleb warned the others. Elsie came back to the here and now as Caleb slumped with fatigue. Then, she got a little idea to help remedy his situation, and strode over to him in her usual bouncy manner.

"Here, this might help..." the energy she now has stored began to seep into Caleb's own life force. Elsie had to admit though, that she had never done this before, and yet she was quite confident it would help...

 

"Here, this might help..."

Rejuvenated by Elsie's flowing energy, Caleb jumped to his feet, "Woah!"

He felt livelier than he had in ages, "Cheers kiddo! Hehehe, just thought what a great trick that would make in the bedroom... Sorry mind wandering again... Erm OH! Lets... Go... Kill that King!"

Caleb spun around, arms swinging, bouncing with energy, "Hey Bob! Lovely to see you as always! Matey! Hows that scythe arm been treating you? Sammo! My boy! You are looking more and more like a badass! Vic! erm... Guns... Hooray? And.... Candice? Yes thats right. How are you all? Whats our game plan? Will there be chocolate? And love? And friendship?"

Caleb turned, "Elsie what the hell did you put in this energy?"

 

Addi examined the robot within her mind's eye. It's life force was enormously strong and she could feel it pulsing through her in time with her heart beat. Satisfied, she pulled her mind back to the present so that she could talk with the group and see what the plan was, because once she had pulled her mind into her power she was cut off from the world around her. Opening her eyes, she collected her bearings. The room looked even more messy than before in her corner. All of the computers had been neatly taken apart with the parts she had not used, strewn upon the floor around a 7ft tall humanoid robot. Though it had been made of computers, it was rounded and gleaming and reminded her vaugely of the superhero ironman. She affectionately patted it on the arm.

From the doorway she suddenly heard the sound of people talking. Frowning she looked over at Sam.

"Who's out there?" Without waiting for an answer she strode across the room and out into the stairway. The group was somehow all there. Everyone from the bridge had somehow appeared on the staircase landing. Addi assumed Bob had had something to do with it. Eyes wide, she scanned the group taking stock of everybody. At about the same he noticed her, her eyes alighted on Caleb and a rush of relief so strong coursed through her that she had to force herself to not allow tears to spring to her eyes. It had been barely two days and yet Caleb had somehow become an integral part of her life, and she realized how she needed him now and simply could not be without him.

Claeb blinked at her, then a myriad of emotions flashed across his face before he strode over to her and pulled her tightly against him, she winced ever so slightly as some pain flared up on her chest again, but she ignored it; instead, wrapping her own arms around him and squeezing him tightly to her as well. Then he leaned down and kissed her, taking her by suprise, not that she minded.

"Sorry about that, but being sliced in half, dropped from 1000 feet in the air, and having a gun pointed at your head helps you enjoy the little things in life. Not that your a little thing in my life... Your a very big th- Oh shut up and come here."

"You were dropped...gun to your head....what?! wha-happened? Wait- dont tell me! You're ok though? Right? Wait, gun? Who? Don't! You're ok...you're ok..." Her words came out in a jumbled rush laced with panic. Frocing herslef to shut up and takle a few deep breaths, she pressed herself against him and buried her face in his chest, letting his very much living presence calm her down.

"I'm going to have to do something a bit sissy now, and collapse with exhaustion,"

Addi grabbed at his arm as he started to slump over, doing her best to keep him upright, but it didn't seem to help that much.

"Here, this might help..."

Elsie came over to them then and placed her hand gently on Caleb. Within a second he looked completely energized and jumped back to his feet.

"Woah! Cheers kiddo! Hehehe, just thought what a great trick that would make in the bedroom... Sorry mind wandering again... Erm OH! Lets... Go... Kill that King!"

He jumped about swinging his arms with his energy, forcing Addi to duck a couple of times to avoid getting hit by them.

"Hey Bob! Lovely to see you as always! Matey! Hows that scythe arm been treating you? Sammo! My boy! You are looking more and more like a badass! Vic! erm... Guns... Hooray? And.... Candice? Yes thats right. How are you all? Whats our game plan? Will there be chocolate? And love? And friendship?"

Addi watched him with bewildered amusement. He sounded like a five year old who had just been given a pound of sugar.

"Elsie what the hell did you put in this energy?"

"He'll be fine right?" She asked Elsie, though she was unable to keep a little laugh from escaping her. Reaching out she grabbed Caleb's hand so that she could keep him from almost hitting her, but also because she still wanted that physical reassurance that he was ok. Clutching his hand tightly, she closed her eyes for a second, allowing her exhausted mind to relax for just a moment.

 

"He'll be fine right?"

"I'll be slinky," Caleb whispered into Addison's ear, before nibbling her earlobe. He squeezed her hand tightly, before wrapping his arms around her waist. He swayed gently from side to side, rocking Addi in time with him. His chin found a resting spot amongst Addison's frazzled brown hair.

"I'm sorry I make you worry Addi. Im a stupid guy. I need someone like you to keep me on the rails. Someone who makes me want to live," Caleb cooed.

He was trying to calm her for the final battle, trying to make up for all the times he took her for granted and did something reckless.

"I love you Addison. I love you."

 

We were just about to make the first charge up the stairs when a flash of blue light enveloped the stairwell. I stopped and looked back to see the rest of the team assembled on the landing below us.

"Well how about that," I murmured. Glancing around, Caleb seemed spent, Will a bit torn up and Chablys looked more metal statue than man, "You guys look a little worse for wear."

Ignoring the minor soapoprah playing out nearby, I walked down the steps to Chablys and Will, "How'd things go down there? Y'all good to fight?"

 

Elsie was slightly surprised by the reaction once she was done mixing her spare energy to his. But it had seemed to work...

"Cheers kiddo! Hehehe, just thought what a great trick that would make in the bedroom... Sorry mind wandering again... Erm OH! Lets... Go... Kill that King!"

... sort of? ...

He started bouncin everywhere, arms swinging. Elsie wasn't sure if this was normal for him or not, but either way she couldn't help smiling.

"Hey Bob! Lovely to see you as always! Matey! Hows that scythe arm been treating you? Sammo! My boy! You are looking more and more like a badass! Vic! erm... Guns... Hooray? And.... Candice? Yes thats right. How are you all? Whats our game plan? Will there be chocolate? And love? And friendship?"

Caleb turned, "Elsie what the hell did you put in this energy?"

Elsie shrugged, but in her mind she recounted how she had come to use her power in such a way; first she collected up the energy she knew was intertwining with her own, weaving it through her fingers like she usually does to build up an attack, then sent it gently outward. It certainly took quite an effort, so perhaps some of the original energy (her energy) flowed into him as well, causing such a result.

"He'll be fine right?" Addison asked.

Elsie flashed a toothy grin. "Oh, I believe so. Hopefully," almost adding in 'might turn a little insane', but then again - after all thats happened - perhaps that little bit of insanity was there in the beginning.

She soon turned away from their little scene and bounced away. Seeing Cole, Elsie couldn't help but stroll on over in her energetic manner and ask, "so, how were things on this end?"

 

"I feel like Iron Man," Chalybs said as he absorbed another bit of metal the stairwell supports, "But I'll live and I can fight fine. If not better."

By this point, Chalybs's entire body was almost fully composed of metal. He still functioned like a normal person, he breathed, he would eat, he could smell and feel. The only true difference was that he was much shinier and had some different elements composing him. That said, being made of metal had both advantages and disadvantages. Medical bills would be cheap, he was stronger and more durable, but he'd never be able to swim again, he'd scare off a lot of people, and he might not be able to have children. Of course, he couldn't say for sure.

Will on the other hand, wasn't doing as well.

"Unlike Chalybs here, who can just make himself a new body, I actually took a beating. Though as soon as I get some held from Candice, I ought to be fine. So, if you'll excuse me." Will went to have a chat with Candice. She still had some of the golden liquid from before, so she could fix him up. Plus, seeing his source of strength again would liven him up.

 

Cole:

The group proceeded up the stairwell cautiously. Addison and Sam soon caught up, apparently finished with whatever creation Addi had conjured.

Before Cole could welcome Addison and ask what she had devised, a blinding flash interrupted him. Suddenly standing amongst the group was the team from the bridge and Will.

It was an awkward reunion. Friendships forged in adversity reunited in the midst of battle. Caleb looked worse for the wear, but with the help of Elsie was soon his usual eccentric self, if perhaps a little more bouncy than usual. The mighty Chalybs had been converted mostly to metal, and Will quickly found Candice for another drought of that healing vial.

The slender Elsie made her way over to Cole.

"so, how were things on this end?"

Cole was very pleased to see her. Her clothes were stained with soot, blood and dirt, as were the others from the distraction team. Cole was pleased to see that they were all alive, if not unscathed.

But seeing them reminded him of his own purpose behind the mission.

“We’re doing OK so far,” he said briskly, “But, have you seen any sign of Susanna?”

Cole first implored the girl’s deep dark eyes before turning to the rest of the group in search of an answer.

Sarah:

Finding herself in the midst of her comrades Sarah beamed. The other teams had succeeded!

Taking in her surroundings however, dimmed her spirit. She pulled her arms into the sleeves of her hoody as she visually inspected the cold empty stairwell.

‘There’s not much I can use in here,’ she thought chewing her lip.

 

"Oh, I believe so. Hopefully,"
Elsie flashed her a smile then skipped over to Cole. Meanwhile Caleb leaned down and answered her question too.

"I'll be slinky,"

He gave her hand a quick sqeeze before wrapping his arm around her waist. She leaned back into his as he rested his chin on her head. He began to sway with his arms around her and she closed her eyes enjoying the feeling.

"I'm sorry I make you worry Addi. Im a stupid guy. I need someone like you to keep me on the rails. Someone who makes me want to live,"

His voice was soft and calming and she found herself relaxin slightly. Strangely just the fact that he was acknowledging that he knew how much he scared her and worried her made her feel momentarily better. It felt even better to hear that he needed her.

"I love you Addison. I love you."

Her eyes slid open and she turned her head around so that she could see his face.

"I love you too. Even if you will probably end up causing me to die from worry." She kept her voice light as she spoke. Reaching up she kissed his cheek then turned back around and leaned into his chest again.

“We’re doing OK so far, but, have you seen any sign of Susanna?”

Cole's voice drifted over to her and he inquired after Susanna with Elsie.

"I found her Cole. She-" Addi was about to say how but then decided against it, he didn't need to hear what she had been doing, "She was really messed up and got hurt really badly. Last I saw her she was unconcious but alive. Will figured she would survive though and said he'd take her to the other resistance members. We should have her back, and she should be ok-or at least she will be."

 

"I love you too. Even if you will probably end up causing me to die from worry."

I chuckled, "There are worse ways to die, I think."

"She was really messed up and got hurt really badly. Last I saw her she was unconcious but alive. Will figured she would survive though and said he'd take her to the other resistance members. We should have her back, and she should be ok-or at least she will be."

"Would be handy to have a healer about when we go up to take on the big boss. Oh, and I can't wait to see Rocky again..." I laughed with glee, "Although in a break from tradition, I just want to talk to him when I see him, rather then cut him to pieces, or blow him up. I think I should if I have time. Hopefully there will be a mind blowing plot twist although I hope I don't turn out to be your brother Addi. That would be creepy. Hmm for the first time in my life I'm kind of hoping the 'And it was all a dream' card to be played."

I let her go, and ventured up the stairs a little bit.

"It seems all clear so far... I'm ready when you guys are."

 

“We’re doing OK so far,” he said briskly, “But, have you seen any sign of Susanna?”

Elsie met his gaze head on with slight confusion at is query before he turned to the rest of the group. Before she could reply though, Addison chipped in.

"I found her Cole. She-" Addi was about to say how but then decided against it, he didn't need to hear what she had been doing, "She was really messed up and got hurt really badly. Last I saw her she was unconcious but alive. Will figured she would survive though and said he'd take her to the other resistance members. We should have her back, and she should be ok-or at least she will be.

Elsie's mouth formed an 'o' shape and she turned to Cole, finally catching on, "so that unconscious girl Will handed over to a Resistance member was Susanna? Mind if I ask who she is?" Elsie wasn't exactly there for most of the discussion back at base.

"It seems all clear so far... I'm ready when you guys are." Caleb's voice suddenly drifted down the stairwell and Elsie jerked her head in his direction, before turning back to receive an answer from her question. Although, she was already bouncing on the balls of her feet at Calebs words, consuming energy around her unconsciously. It was only a light amount from everyone, not enough to notice, but enough for Elsie's face to remain with a smile of excitement.