Behind Bloody Chains

||Chapter 2 • The Experiment||

Kigahen opened the door to where the newcomer was being kept. Blood was smeared all over the gurney , dripping over the edge. It's going to stain the floor at this rate. He sighed.

"He's in critical condition, so we must work fast and effectively!" Kigahen called out to the Nasod's that were assigned to help him. He turned to Hikumari, who had followed him into the facilities operating room.

"I'm in charge of this project now," Kigahen grunted. "Don't get in my way because I know what I'm doing."

He turned back to the unconscious man. "Someone fill up a holding tank with fluid!" Kigahen shouted the order.

"Hikumari, help me get his shirt and shoes off, then you start cleaning the wound, understand?"

Hikumari nodded, then proceeded to do the task he was assigned. He glanced back at Kigahen who was cleaning a scalpel, a cold look crossing Hikumari's eyes before he continued the job.

Kigahen walked away, going towards his working area. Wires, he needed to get wires to connect with the nervous system. He frowned. It would be a much difficult task to connect the wires to the right nerves, as the arm was cut off at the shoulder.

Kigahen came back, wires in his arms. Hikumari had just finished cleaning the wound out. The old man turned to face Kigahen. "He keeps on mumbling a word, from what I presume, it's a name. 'Seris,' it sounds like."

"Pay no attention to it in any way. It must have been a comrade that was killed in the battle." Kigahen waved his hand, dismissing the thought. "What you and I need to do is attach these wires to his nervous system for his Nasod to function properly."

Hikumari gave a curt nod in understanding. For the next few hours, the two were measuring and cutting the wires as they attached them to the man. It was a painstakingly slow process, attaching each wire to a seemingly invisible nerve.

Every ten minutes or so, Hikumari took notes on what the two were doing. "It's for if we have to do something similar later." He explained briefly. Kigahen didn't say anything, nor did he really care. He was much too intent on making sure this man survived; only then would Kigahen be able to ask his questions about the outside world.

The two worked in silence for the most part, Hikumari asking questions as he was taking notes. The scribbling of a pencil on paper always had put Kigahen on edge. How could anyone read such an odd and complicated language, and make sense of it all at the same time?

He couldn't read, as he was growing up he was taught that obeying King Nasod was priority. Notes were only for people who did not have the brain capacity to memorize the process.

And the King has said that physical labor and hands on learning was more important to Kigahen than words scribbled about. He had believed it. He wasn't going to change it now. However, the feeling of envy still resides in his gut.

Kigahen took a step back, examining his work. There was plenty of wires attached now, and Hikumari was currently adding the final one.

"Once you're done there, attach a breathing mask and let's put him into the holding tank." Kiga said.

"Will we brand him?" Hikumari asked.

"I'll leave that to you." Kigahen replied, turning away and putting the remaining instruments on a tray. The sizzling of flesh was brief, but the smell of burnt human skin would remain for the rest of the day.

He picked up the black haired man by his feet, and Hikumari took the head. The climbed up a small set of stairs to a landing above the holding tanks. The two slowly lowered the body into the, cool viscous fluid.

"We will continue the process once the bleeding has stopped, and consciousness has been regained. You will sedate him, and the experimental core will be added, along with the armour and claws." Kigahen instructed.

"Why are you so concerned about this man? He will die for all we know!" Hikumari laughed wildly, before noticing the icy glare his comrade gave him. "You want to know about the outside, don't you?"

"And if I do?!" Kigahen snapped, baring his teeth. "Whatever you have told me in the past is bullshit and overly negative and overbearing; I want to hear about the outside that isn't all death and destruction!"

"But that's all the outside is-death and destruction! How can you not see that?!" Hikumari retorted, hands balling at his sides. "Just look at this man, Kigahen! This man is on the verge of death because of what happens outside, how can you say that the outside is in anyway positive!?"

"How about you shut the fuck up or I'll bash your head against the wall and splatter your brains everywhere?!" Kigahen screamed back, slamming his fist on the work table of surgery tools. Some cut into his hand, drawing blood. He did not flinch; he did not pull back from, his gaze was steel and kept on Hikumari.

Hikumari laughed, and started walking away. "You couldn't land so much as a scratch on me, Kigahen." His voice was strong and confident, but his steps were, tense and quick; Hikumari was frightened of Kigahen.

"We will continue the project tomorrow." Kigahen said darkly, his voice seething with leftover venom from their argument. "Be here or I'll send in a report that you died."