TNG: Iblis, the First Hero

Chapter 8: A Helping Hand

A Helping Hand

Cid rolled out of bed the next morning and jumped to his feet, feeling completely refreshed. He dashed to his mirror to look at his face. "Yep, I still look like Quasimodo," he told himself as he looked at his reflection in the mirror. However, the pain in his side and in his shoulder had subsided, for the most part.

Ω

He discovered that Jim Tora was the chubby security guard that always manned the front desk. Jim passed desk duties over to one of the security guards and led Cid down the hallway. He paused at the door to laboratory 0010 and opened the door.

"This isn't the right one. He said laboratory 0021," Cid said as Jim led him into lab 0010.

Jim didn't even hesitate. "Just follow me," he commanded.

He led Cid through the behemoth lab to a back hallway. By the time they got there, the chubby security guard was wheezing.

"It's in... here...," he mumbled between breaths.

He motioned for Cid to use the card that King gave him on the door. Cid slid the card across the reader, and the large metal door that was in front of them began to slowly rise.

The door revealed yet another large lab, though not nearly as large as the lab that they had just left.

Cid counted eight attendants working the various projects within the laboratory, including the one that was approaching him.

He felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see King standing over him, dressed in his lab coat.

Cid blinked a couple of times. "When did you get here?" he asked.

"Yeah, he does that sometimes!" Jim shouted back down the hall as he waddled away.

The attendant reached out a hand and King shook it. "Dr. Grales, this is Cideion Rodgers," King stated, pointing his thumb at Cid.

Dr. Grales seemed to get lost in thought. "Cideion? What an interesting name..."

Cid and King stood silently as the doctor pondered. Dr. Grales was short and frail. His brown skin and exceptionally round head gave him the appearance of an owl.

"Wait for it," King muttered, as he could tell that Cid was confused by the doctor's pondering.

Dr. Grales then extended his hand to Cid. "Delighted to meet you! I'm Dr. Jordan Grales, the manager of lab 0021," he declared as they shook hands.

"Will he be getting a tour, Mr. Monroe?" Dr. Grales asked excitedly.

King nodded. "That's kind of the reason behind him being here," he stated, entering the lab.

Ω

Jason Hiragazawa let out a shout as he aimed a kick at his adversary, who blocked it effortlessly.

"You're becoming quite strong, master Jason," the man declared, bowing gracefully.

"No need for the formalities, Watari," Jason said with a smile.

Watari took a seat on the mat that they were sparring on. Jason followed suit.

The man known as Watari Akuraba was the closest thing to a friend that Jason Hiragazawa had. Despite the obvious age difference, Akuraba was the only person who was willing to treat Jason like "a normal human being", instead of a bubble-wrapped cancer survivor on medications.