Descension

CHAPTER 20

In the zenith of night, Ben prowls around the barren plane of the NID, teeth bared and eye sharp. He needs no weapon, for he has ascended beyond anything remotely human. He feels it in his core: he is not whole- or at least, whole the way he used to be. Broken down and built back up with different parts, reanimated into a bastardized amalgamation of "life". His jaw locks open, spine crooked to the left, feet shuffling. There's a "click... click... click..." from inside.

"MORTIS." A scratchy, synthesized voice screams hauntingly monotonous, "MORTIS." It calls again.

Ben whips around. "Click, click, click" the noise speeds up. Ben stares at familiar eyes bathed in mist, condensing on the lenses: it's The Hermit, the robot from the junkyard. Its eyes need not move. They're fixed onto Ben, and Ben is unable to even wriggle, cemented in the spot. "CLICK! CLICK! CLICK! CLICK! CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!" It speeds up even faster. The Hermit raises its finger, just as it did that night. Ben is finally able to look down. His chest is split open and mangled, and between broken ribs and burst arteries lies a chunk of vibrating steel: his heart is gone, replaced with a makeshift cybernetic. The clicking is his new heartbeat.

"MORTIS."

Ben shoots up with a shriek. Panting for breath, he grips the sheets with one hand and places the other on his chest. He stays there for a long while. As his mind regains clarity he's struck with confusion: When did I fall asleep? I don't remember being brought here. He holds himself in place. I shouldn't get up, it's dark out. But I have to. He hesitantly swings his feet over the edge of the bed. Folded on the table beside him are his jacket, and beneath on the ground are his shoes. I doubt anyone else would've done that but me. Ben slips on his jacket and walks out of the room.

He finds himself in the communal area of the workshop alone. He rubs his eyes and shuffles towards the tea-maker, on auto-pilot as he prepares the cup. His mind wanders through the dream, replaying it over, and over, and over again until his vision blurs to darkness. MORTIS. Ben snaps back to consciousness. Did I just fall asleep again?

"Hey."

Ben jumps, "Fuck!"

"Don't think I've heard you say that before." Joaquin says from an adjacent doorway, dressed only in his black hakama pants.

Ben takes a deep breath and places his hand over his racing heart before letting out a long sigh. Joaquin sits down at the table and reaches over to pull out a seat for Ben. Ben takes his cup and sits. Joaquin crosses his arms and stares inquisitively into Ben's eyes. Ben hasn't noticed until now, but in dim light, Joaquin's pupils reflect a deep purple glow.

Joaquin tilts his head, "You gonna tell me why you're up?"

Ben purses his lips and stares down into his tea, "Uh... I just... kind of woke up... randomly." He turns his gaze up to Joaquin, "Why are you up?"

Joaquin nods to the general direction of outside and leans back in his chair, "Just keeping an eye out for Ordership troops."

Ben's face flushes. Well, now he knows that my "waking up randomly" was accompanied by a scream. "So... you were awake." Ben says.

"I've been awake." Joaquin says and taps the side of his head, "Turned off melatonin production."

Ben smiles, "That's a big word for you."

Joaquin snorts, "Yeah, and that scream was pubescent for you."

Ben groans as he buries his face in his hands. Joaquin chuckles maniacally, as if screaming was the most embarrassing thing ever.

"Wait." Ben perks up, "Why didn't you check on me?"

"There wasn't any other noise. I figured you had a nightmare. Considering everything that's happened, I'm not surprised." Joaquin says. He sighs and leans back even further in his chair, near tipping, though his cybernetic senses keep him in a place of perfect balance.