The Six Sectors

Chapter Twenty-Three - Nori

The young water nymph slowly opened her eyes. She felt soft fur and sat up, looking at where she was. There were dead scientists everywhere. Nori was on the back of a cervitaur.

"You're awake?" The male cervitaur that Nori recalled to be Aeris asked. Nori simply nodded. Her throat was sore. She got off his back.

A bloody wendigo trotted over to her on all fours, "You alright? You passed out in the middle of the battle. And there's some blood on you."

Nori took a moment to examine herself. She frowned, there was blood on her hands and dress. "Stupid limitations," She croaked out.

"Speak for yourself." The water nymph turned to see Helo tinkering with something that looked like Wheatley's robotic eye, the screen smashed in

Nori was... well, she was still smiling, weirdly enough. But, it was completely, 100% the fakest smile she had ever smiled. She looked around the area to see who all was wounded. Wheatley was laying with his eye missing, knocked out. One of Helo's doorwings were bent. Everyone else had cuts and bruises.

"How do you feel?" Kaithenne asked, bleeding on her leg. She had been getting them a ride out of Ijetix.

"I feel perfectly fine, but you seem to need medical attention... like, all of you," She spoke slowly, her voice hoarse.

"Wheatley has the worst injuries, he goes first. He went toe-to-toe with his mother." Helo said as he tried to fix the robotic part. Wheatley seemed to be trying to open his eyes, but he quickly closed them with a groan. "He might even need a blood transplant. I already had Saturn set a course for the capital."

The aforementioned satyr waved at her. Nori didn't say anything else, merely observed the ongoings. Nassa was just sitting down, in wendigo form. Saturn was double checking the route, making sure it was the fastest. Aeris was watching over the group. "Nori, can I have you over here?" Helo said as he ran over to Wheatley. He was holding the repaired eye.

The water nymph quickly nodded and walked over. "What do you need?" Helo moved aside for her.

"Blood and Fuel have water components. I noticed how - when the tubes were disconnected - they would shoot up into his body to seal the tube, like it is now." He motioned to the removed tube. "See how it's like he's paralyzed?" Helo motioned to the cyborg, who was scrunched up - most likely from pain. "I just need you help them flow a bit while I reassemble him." Helo was in only his binder - and so it seemed like his arms were more muscly, more than likely from working in Synthcy.

Nori nodded. "I'll try," She said, "It'll be difficult, because it's not all water, but I can do my best," Nori tried not to let her eyes linger on the cyberican for too long, and she turned to Wheatley. The flow of the blood-water started back up again, but Nori went into a coughing fit. Helo had managed to get the eye on, and put the tube back on him. Wheatley's body relaxed. Helo smiled, and put a hand on Nori's shoulder.

"Thanks. Once we get to the capital, we'll get you fixed up too." His eyes twinkled with kindness, and his hands had callouses.

"Thanks," Nori rubbed her neck. Her smile, for just a moment, was genuine. And then, the moment was over. Her mouth smiled, but her eyes didn't. Helo frowned.

"Nori, you okay-" He was interrupted by a sudden blasting. "GET DOWN!!" Helo tackled her. Nori immediately looked towards the source of the noise...