The Six Sectors

Chapter Fifteen - Benjamin

Ben never thought a quest like this was going to take this long to get to.

He should’ve thought about it, seeing as the Sector of Nature was neighbors with the Forbidden Sector, but it only took them the rest of the day. The pelting rain of Ijetix pounded on him and Wheatley, and Wheatley himself seemed at home.

It was terrifying, the uncanny resemblance he would’ve had to Dr. Hanity, the Head Scientist of Ijetix and his mother if not for the cybernetics. The two both had the same emotionless orange eyes, and the same pale skin. Wheatley broke Ben’s thoughts with a sigh.

“We have some guard trouble. Even if Aeris is in there, we’re gonna have a problem going inside.” He said, loading a crossbow bolt into his weapon. Ben frowned.

“Isn’t there, like a secret entrance?” He asked. To his surprise, Wheatley shook his head.

“Not one we can just access. And if we were to sneak in as scientists, they’d ask for ID.” Ben cocked his head.

“What if you-”

“Came clean as the only son of the Head Scientist of Ijetix? That won’t exactly work. I’m supposed to be banished, remember?” Ben sighed. Wheatley was in fact correct. He can’t just waltz in now. Then Ben had an idea.

“What if we were guards?” Wheatley now looked at him like he was insane.

“Are you fracking nuts?! There is no way they’d fall for that!”

Sure enough, 15 minutes later, they were in an elevator getting rid of the guard uniforms they stole. “Wow, these guards are emotionless idiots.” Wheatley noted as they ran through the doors. He shot a scientist down and stopped as he saw the creature he was leading. Ben followed behind.

The creature was a small dragon, with black scales, a white underbelly, and big blue eyes. Ben thought it was the cutest thing he had ever seen.

Wheatley looked down the hall as the small animal greeted Ben. “This lil’ guy was being led to the gassing room. They were gonna kill him.” Ben heard Wheatley’s voice laced with pity and sadness.

“Who’d wanna kill a cute thing like him?” Ben asked, horrified. Wheatley had a frown on his face.

“You obviously have not met my mother.” He smiled at the dragon. “Hello, old friend.”

Ben looked at Wheatley, confused, “You know him?”

Wheatley nodded, “It’s a long story.” He rubbed the dragon’s head, who gave friendly warbles. Ben smiled. He heard running and tapped Wheatley’s shoulder. He heard it too and the boys got out their weapons, Energon going behind the two boys. Ben looked at Wheatley, who nearly looked fully Ijetixian.

“I can smell him Saturn, En-” A large, sharp toothed, clawed  beast with horns spoke to a young satyr before seeing Ben and Wheatley. It then paused.

“Well hello there!” The satyr said, “Would you mind, I don’t know, putting your weapons down?” The dragon poked his head out and darted over to the creature. It warbled in greeting. Wheatley and Ben lowered their weapons. Ben saw Wheatley’s confused expression.

“You know them, old friend? Are they your owners?” Wheatley asked.

“No, simply an acquaintance, or maybe even friend, of the kind cyberican who is his owner,” The satyr said, “My name is Saturn, and my wendigo friend is Nassa.” The beast nodded. Wheatley smiled.

“Well at least one thing is going right. The little one found a caretaker.” He walked over and rubbed the dragon’s head.

Ben smiled as well. “Sorry for aiming our weapons at you. I’m Benjamin Forge, and this is Wheatley Hanity-Spydos.” Wheatley waved.

“Nice to meet you,” Nassa’s form changed into that of a humanoid female.

“Well, may I ask why you’re here? You don’t look like doctors,” Saturn comments.

“Oh no, Wheatley and I are nothing like his mother.” Ben answered, horrified. Wheatley glared at him. It was clear to Ben that Wheatley didn’t want others to know of his heritage.

Then Wheatley turned to Saturn and Nassa. “We’re here for my adoptive father, Aeris Spydos of Lerivia. Have you seen him?” He asked.

“No, but I’ve seen a few others. Kaithenne of Oncewynn, Heliosray of Synthcy, Nori of Pacifi, then you have myself and Nassa- oh and Alkippe,” Saturn says. Nassa glares at Saturn, for some unknown reason.

Wheatley nodded. “Where are they headed?”

He wasn’t kidding earlier that he never gave up. This guy makes his mother look as if she thinks small. Ben frowned. “Wheatley, I think we should leave the dragon with Nassa and Saturn. We can possibly help them.” He said, putting a hand on Wheatley’s shoulder. Wheatley moved it away.

“We came here to find the father of my little brother, Ben.” He eventually sighed, and Ben could see in his flesh eyes that he was tired and stretched thin.

He gave Wheatley a soft smile. “Yes, but we can help them and find Aeris. Now, try to remember how you escaped last time.” Wheatley looked at him in surprise, then cleared his throat.

“I need a map.” Ben smiled as he saw that determined gleam in his eyes again. “A map, a subject’s list, and the dragon’s fire. We have to find the others to break out."

“Saturn and I can go find Heliosray and Nori.” Ben told him.

Wheatley gave a firm nod. “Then I’ll stay here with the wendigo. Energon will also stay with us. I know him, he trusts me, and he seems to know Nassa as well.”

“Well, if they found Kaithenne, Helo and Nori should be back at the place where we were before,” Nassa says, “And please don’t call me the wendigo. If you’re going to say anything like that, say wendigo hybrid.” Wheatley nodded. Ben smiled. He figured this was going to work out.

“Then let’s move out!”