An illustrated Skyrim story beyond the fall of the Dark Brotherhood~
After a surreal event, Cicero is inexplicably thrown back into a clear state of mind and his memories from his life prior to his madness return. We begin to learn who he really is...
The harsh scent of burning chemicals pulled Sebastian back to consciousness. His head throbbed like his skull was caving in and his metallic breastplate was scorching hot, burning his skin. The crackling of flames sent a jolt of alertness through him as he suddenly became aware of his situation. The room was on fire. He twisted around trying to pull himself into a sitting position, his prosthetic arms lying on the floor beside him.
The large machine he had spent decades working on was in flames. It was hardly recognizable and looked like someone had smashed it in a rage. Pillars of metal were warped and the many tubes and cables were torn from the walls. The pink chemical leaking from the cables was apparently highly flammable. It only took Sebastian a matter of seconds to realize the urgency of the situation. He began scrambling and kicking at his right arm to pull it closer.
"Phillip!?" he shrieked, his voice cracking, "Are you out there!? Did they spare you?" He managed to pull the arm close enough to lean over it and press his shoulder against the joint. It made a clicking sound as he arched his collarbone to lock it in place. After a moment, the pink fluid in the forearm regained its subtle glow allowing him to move his fingers again. He then quickly grabbed his other arm off of the floor and staggered to his feet to flee from the smoke-filled room.
"Phillip! This is unbelievable! UNBELIEVABLE, PHILLIP!" Sebastian coughed, trying to get his other arm attached.
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The chained Falmer pulled against its restraints in excitement. It hissed and slashed toward its captor.
"Not only did he beat me with my own appendages like some sort of madman," he grunted when his arm finally popped back into place, "but do you see!? Just look!" Sebastian gestured dramatically to the smoldering room behind him and paused as if waiting for a reply, "...Oh. Well, I guess you can't see. He destroyed my work, Phillip! Everything is gone! Up in literal smoke!"
Emotionally fatigued, Sebastian held his head in pain and lowered to his knees just inches from the slashing claws of the Falmer. The panicked creature hissed and continued to reel around in confusion.
"And now what...?" Seb mumbled; the taste of blood was making him feel ill, "What do I do now? This was my only reason... All of my research, my journals- my motivation... gone."
Sebastian lifted his eyes to the creature before him, "And he took her. That Imperial. He took the girl. But did you see- gah, I know, I know... I saw the look on her face as he threatened me. She was... well, she appeared to be concerned. Fearful for me. But why?"
His eyes drifted away in thought, "As strange as it sounds, it was almost as if she could feel my fear. I've had some suspicions and this could explain so many of my observations."
Phillip continued to pull on the chains as the smoke gradually poured into the room through the entryway.
"Phillip, are you even listening?" Sebastian glanced back to the frightened beast, "Considering the documentation I've discovered about the experiments that were performed in this facility... if my theories are correct based on the biotech in her eye and the enchantments of her previous restraints, she was part of Head Architect Kyrin's program... Phillip, I think she might be an empath."
