Survivors of Alterna: Final Run

Chapter 19: Sacrifice

By the time Akikta came back to reality, he realized the group was no longer in the makeshift truck.

Surrounding him were silver walls lined with black wires. Grayish platforms jutted out from the walls, leading to various levels of the building he found himself in.

The atmosphere was warm and humid. That, topped with the strange copper smell in the air, made it slightly difficult for Akikta to breathe.

He noticed his eye level was higher than usual, as he got a top-down view of the back of Nakji's, Marina's, and Callie's heads. It didn't take long for Akikta to feel the slick appendages of something large gripping his skin. The sensation was akin to a sponge pressing up against him.

Instinctively, Akikta squirmed, gaining the attention of the one holding him. "You're awake!" Biggie said in surprise.

With one of his earpieces missing, Akikta heard what Biggie sounded like naturally for the first time. The low and guttural noise spooked him, considering the voice he had grown accustomed to matched that of a hefty, warm, older man.

Biggie's announcement did not go unnoticed, as the three cephalopods turned to Akikta.

"Aki!" Nakji bolted to him, practically jumping on Biggie before he could lower Akikta to her height. "Are you ok? Did he hurt you anywhere? What—" Akikta gently but firmly pressed two fingers against her lips, abruptly silencing her.

"I'm fine, Nak." He assured his frantic sister, who calmed down a little in response.

"You didn't seem fine..." Callie commented with a worried look.

Akikta sighed before being let down by Biggie. "Sorry. I'm just not used to seeing Chaska like that..." He admitted in a somber tone.

"Well, the sooner we get you healed, the sooner we can turn your big bro back!" Callie chirped happily.

Wait, she chirped?

...The hell...?

Akikta shook his head. "We have to save your cousin first. My brother can wait. I don't think Marie can, though."

"Fair point." Callie turned, and Marina resumed leading the way. Nakji and Akikta followed side by side while Biggie trailed the group from behind.

"Speaking of healing, where are we?" Akikta asked. He felt he already knew the answer, but he wanted to make sure.

"The Rejuvenation Center," Marina confirmed. "After you blanked out on us, we decided to continue moving. We left the truck behind, but I kinda regret that decision."

"What? Why? That would've made too much noise."

"I thought so too, but we haven't seen or heard any other salmonid besides Biggie since we entered."

Callie looked over her shoulder at Akikta. "Yeah, this place is like a ghost tower!"

Akikta's brows furrowed. That was odd. Rick said this place would be crawling with Sal's loyalists. Maybe he got the intel wrong? Whatever the case, he'd consider this a blessing. "Well, in any case, how much further until we get to the healing pods?"

"Good question," Marina said before turning around. "Biggie, how far until we reach that central health station?"

Biggie looked ahead, then back at Marina. "It's not much further. We just have to go down this hall." He said, being unnecessarily loud.

"Did you catch that, Eight?" Marina said, holding onto her headphones. Akikta heard the faintest voice from the other side and assumed Eight had been translating Biggie's directions this whole time.