Bleed, Patch, And Keep Moving - An Apex Legends Story

Chapter 62 - Explanations Aren't Always Simple

Ajay felt like the day took forever as she waited for Hyeon Kim to arrive. Natalie had finally got up out of bed sometime in the afternoon; Ajay didn't blame her because they got in pretty late. Octavio trained most of the day on his obstacle course and she just watched him. Ajay loved seeing him so happy and free. Ajay needed something to keep her mind busy. She worked on making dinner for all of them. It wasn't much, just chicken fajitas with rice one the side. She always seemed to lean towards Octavio's food choices when she was with him; it was just a comfort thing for her. She brought a plate to the dining room table for Natalie who was working something that looked like a watch or minicomputer. It kind of looked like something the Legends used in the arena to activate their powers.

"Whatcha working on Natalie?" Ajay said quietly so she didn't interrupt her. Natalie smiled at the food and set her tools down, "Just something that might allow us to use our powers outside of the arena." Ajay was surprised. She knew Natalie was very smart but she also knew that this was a dangerous move. If Blisk or anyone from Apex found out then she could be in a lot of trouble. Some of the Legend's powers could only be used in the arena, like Ajay's. She could use D.O.C. outside the arena but the drone had no healing capabilities unless it was used in the actual arena. She couldn't call in care packages outside the arena. These things were not realistic things. However, Octavio could use stim outside the arena, he was fast already but it didn't make him run faster it just gave him a high, or anyone else that took it a high. He couldn't throw out jump pads or mend himself. "That's a dangerous line ya be walkin electrical engineer." She watched Natalie eat, "Is that why ya wanted to come here?" Natalie looked down and when she did that Ajay knew that Natalie had ulterior motives, "Oui... Sorry." Ajay smiled, "Ya don gotta lie Nat. It's okay." Natalie smiled at Ajay. "Thanks Ajay."

Octavio was happy to find food when he came in from training. He sat down with Natalie and Ajay to eat, "What are you working on?" Natalie smiled, "A device so that Legends can use their powers outside of the arena." Octavio had already finished eating by the time Natalie finished her sentence, "That's pretty neat." Natalie went back to work, Ajay cleaned up the dishes, and Octavio went to shower. After Ajay was done cleaning she began pacing again. The anticipation had hit her hard, she started to worry if Hyeon Kim would even show up. "Che." Octavio was suddenly behind her. "Let's have a drink. Come one Natalie. You too." Natalie pushed herself up from the table and met them in the kitchen. Octavio poured them each a double shot of rum. Ajay smiled as they all downed their shots. "Ya know it's going ta take more than that." Octavio smiled and poured out more shots for all of them. They all drank again. Ajay helped Natalie to sit down as she was already swaying.

"Why is she here?" Hyeon Kim's voice cut through the air. They all turned to see his serious face as he stood in the entry way of the kitchen. "Don't you knock amigo?" Octavio shot him an angry look. "I don need ya permission to have her at my house." Ajay walked over to him. Hyeon Kim stood there as Ajay motioned to the table where Natalie was already sitting. "Ya have some explaining ta do. Sit down." Hyeon Kim walked over to the table but declined to sit down. "Ya da one who needs a drink." Ajay said condescendingly to him. Octavio scavenged underneath the island in the kitchen and pulled out a bottle of soju. He set it on the counter rather loudly to get Hyeon Kim's attention.

Hyeon Kim glanced over to the noise of the bottle, "Do you think that you will sway me with alcohol?" Octavio sighed, "You could use some man. Take a load off for a bit. You need it." Hyeon Kim looked over at Natalie, her eyes were pleading with him; endless beautiful blue hues focused on him. "Fine." He walked into the kitchen and took the bottle and opened it without hesitation. Octavio made himself a vodka and Red Bull and Ajay took the bottle of rum. They all sat down at the table.

Hyeon Kim drank from the bottle as Natalie gazed at him. Ajay watched the two interact and couldn't help but think that there was something more going on between them. Ajay looked over to Hyeon Kim, his face was always so serious and jaded. "He has obviously been through some shit." Natalie couldn't keep her eyes off of Hyeon Kim. Ajay knew the alcohol was kicking in as she felt less anxious about the situation. Natalie went back to work or at least she made it look like she was. "It's a device to let Legends use their powers outside of the arena." She said this to Hyeon Kim. He gave her a weird look before answering, "Okay." Ajay decided it was time interrupt before things got too heated between Hyeon Kim and Natalie.

"I need ta know what ya know about what happened ta me." Hyeon Kim took a long drink of the soju because he knew it was going to be a long night. "I need to know what happened to you first. Everything." Ajay gripped at her right shoulder from some phantom pain, or maybe the pain was real. "I got into my apartment and someone was waiting for me. They pinned me ta the door by my shoulder." She gripped her right shoulder tightly. "It's like they had sharp nails or claws because they tore through my shoulder like it was nothin. They pulled the mask out that ya left me. Once they found it they disappeared. It was like a flash of red from what I could rememba." Hyeon Kim nodded and looked over to Octavio. "What about you? What do you remember?" He took another drink from the bottle.

Octavio finished his drink and got up to make another one as he spoke. "When I got in there, whoever was there was already gone. I medicated Che so me and Nat could patch her up. We got her cleaned up and put her in bed to rest. Shortly after that we tried to get ahold of you." Octavio sat back down with another drink. "Che started to crash." He looked down into his drink. "She stopped breathing and her heart stopped. It was very brief but her body started back up on its own spontaneously." Octavio took a drink and looked back over at Hyeon Kim who had polished off the bottle of soju. "After that she was in a coma for days until she woke up and came out fully dressed and handed you whatever she handed you."

Hyeon Kim looked over at Natalie, "Anything else happen?" Natalie shook her head, "Non." Octavio got up and made another drink for himself and one for Hyeon Kim. He didn't have any more soju so Hyeon Kim would have to enjoy whatever Octavio made for him. Hyeon Kim drank it without a complaint. "The necklace you gave me is from sister, well my foster sister. The mask I left you had a transmitter chip in it for her. If it made it anywhere close to her it would emit a special signal from me to her and it worked. My theory was correct. She is still alive. The Syndicate must have her. The monster that came for you is a mercenary for The Syndicate. He is a walking nightmare and hundreds of years old." Hyeon Kim downed his entire drink. Octavio was up and preparing another one. Ajay was a little shaky as she took a long drink from her bottle of rum. "What's his name?" Octavio gave Hyeon Kim his drink this time because it had more alcohol in it. "I don't know. I just know he is a nightmare."

Ajay knew he was right. She remembered that his voice echoed through her nightmares and shook her to her very core. Hyeon Kim stared at Ajay, "He came after you because The Syndicate marked you for death. Once they mark you for death he comes to kill you." Ajay swallowed hard, "So what happens if you don die?" Hyeon Kim shrugged, "I'm not sure. He always gets the kill from what I understand. But technically you did die, even if it was only for a matter of seconds or minutes." Ajay changed the subject. "Hyeon Kim... Where did I go when I was in a coma? I thought maybe it was a dream but I came back with some stuff. Physical stuff."

Natalie reached for Ajay's bottle of rum and took it, drinking what was left. Hyeon Kim blinked at the blonde haired girl and looked back at Ajay, "You went to a digitally programmed void or rift. Kind of like a world in between worlds. My sister pulled you there when you were on the brink of death. She got the signal from the chip that I implanted into your mask and must have found you. She preserved your mind so your body could heal. You might have died if she didn't pull you when she did." Octavio felt his chest grow a bit tight as he recalled that night but he tried to push the thoughts away as he listened to their conversation.

Ajay sighed, "I just don rememba." Hyeon Kim finished his drink. "That's because she was worried about your safety from The Syndicate. I can help you remember if you really want me to." Ajay looked surprised, "Ya would do that?" Hyeon Kim nodded, "You helped me reach my sister. Now I know that she is alive maybe I can make contact with her through you. I will need some more alcohol though." Octavio hopped up and went to the kitchen. "Just bring the bottle." Hyeon Kim said before Octavio got to the kitchen. Natalie looked a bit surprised by his statement. Octavio came back with a bottle of vodka.

Hyeon Kim took the bottle and began to drink, talking in between, "Ajay. If I make you remember it will not be pleasant." Octavio examined Ajay's face as she watched Hyeon Kim. "Well nothin in my life has ever been easy so lets just add this ta the list." She nodded before she answered, "Okay. I'm ready." Hyeon Kim continued to drink the vodka, "No. You're not. You will need to be sedated for it and possibly strapped down." Ajay kept her game face on, "I can handle it." Octavio nodded, "I will give her the meds and hold her down if it comes to that. Nat can be on standby." Natalie nodded, "Oui, more than happy to help." Hyeon Kim finished the bottle, "Let's find somewhere with some space to lay out." Octavio motioned to the stairs, "Our room has plenty of floor space. Nat you want to show him where it is?" Natalie smiled stood up a little tipsy. She took Hyeon Kim by the hand and led him towards the stairs. He didn't seem to mind that she was touching him.