The Diamond Tattoo: Death wish

On the Offensive

We were driving. I was talking to Nikki about how she was created, and why. I told her about Jess, and I told her about Sally, and I told her about the Reaper.
"So, I'm your new Jess, because this reaper killed her?"
"No far from it. You're Nikki. You're here... I don't mean to offend, but by accident. You're an experiment gone right. I don't want you to think I don't want you, I really love you. I hope that you know that."
"We can read each others minds, Chris."
"Yeah, I know. Some things are better to just hear."
"Well said."
"I'm trying to say that you don't owe anything to me because I made you, or because of what I lost. You are who you are, and I love and support you regardless."
She smiled and kissed me on the cheek. The rest of the car ride she asked about who we all were, and we talked throughout the rest of the drive. We made it back to the pit where we kept Air before and we all looked down it.
"Well, I gotta say, you all picked a very good place to keep me locked up." Everyone looked at Andrew as he admired the scenery. He realised everyone was staring at him. "What?"
We all started down the steps, Nikki hugging my arm tight. Mary pat her shoulder and she loosened her grip slightly. Mary smiled at her and then at me. She turned forward and readied two blades on her arms.
"Guy's if it were here, it would've killed us by now." Fred whispered.
"No, it's here. I can feel it's death essence... It's everywhere, and very strong."
"If it is here, I feel like it would've made a move by now."
"Not if it didn't know we were coming."
"Or if this is a trap."
"Eliza, please be a little more optimistic."
"Well I'm sorry that tracking down death itself doesn't bring a smile to my face."
"I know this isn't the brightest time, but please, stay focused."
"Of course. Focus really helped you when you were glowing red and beating that thing."
I turned back and pulled my arm away from Nikki. "Eliza, I know what you're thinking, and no."
"Oh come on! If you use that red essence then we can beat that thing."
"If I use that red essence, I'll beat that thing, and then I'll beat all of you."
"We'd eventually manage to subdue you."
"No you won't. That's not a risk I'm willing to take."
She eventually shrunk down behind Fred, who was looking at me weird, but I ignored him. I took Nikki's hand again and we continued walking.
"I don't hear anything..."
Suddenly there was a loud explosion, and we all looked back at Andrew.
"Well, now obviously I hear something."
"You just had to say it, didn't you."
"Wait, Chris the first time we were here we heard two explosions and then it came at us. What if-"
The second explosion cut Rachel off, and put everyone on edge. Fred's hands lit up, and Mary made tendrils of water on her arms. Gwen and Rachel readied their guns, and I held Nikki behind me, both of my hands glowing green. I held up a fist and everyone else stopped. I poked my head out from behind a wall. It was there. Just, standing in the middle of the room. It wasn't facing me, so I motioned for everyone to be quiet, and I started walking towards it. It didn't move a muscle, so I moved in front of it. It suddenly turned it's head and I jumped, but it didn't move. It stared into my face, and I stared back. I inched closer and lifted it's hood. Its pale skin, and dark purple lips twitched slightly at the cold, as if it could even feel. I tilted my head, and it did the same.
"This is unnerving, to say the least." Fred said.
It swiftly turned it's head to him and he froze. I touched it's hand and it suddenly turned back to me and smiled.
"Hello dearest. It's been a while, hasn't it?"
"Yes. Too long, I'd say" I heard myself say. I didn't mean to say it but it seemed to calm it down. It took my hand and suddenly life essence poured out of it. I wasn't in control of it anymore, but her eyes began reforming slowly, little by little. In moments it's brown eyes caught the rays of the sun and gleamed, and it took a deep gasp of fresh air and fell into my arms.
"Darling... It has been eons since I gazed upon your face..." It managed to say with what little breath it had.
"I don't understand... Who are you?"
"It's okay my love... You don't remember... But you'll never forget..." her hand shakily moved to my forehead and suddenly I was hit by memories that didn't feel like my own, but at the same time were so familiar.

I stepped back into the airlock, waiting for the process to complete. Laurie greeted me on the other side, with a smile on her face, and a bowl of water.
Once the airlock opened, she hugged me and whispered, "I did it."
My eyes widened. "Are you sure?"
She raised her hand and concentrated, and slowly, water droplets began to form in the air. I put my finger in one and licked it off my fingertip. "This... This is water."
"Yes! And we've got everything else!"
"So, Dan made fire."
"Yup!"
"Gwen made shelter?"
"Awhile ago, yes!"
"Jeremiah made power?"
"Made enough to set us up for life!"
"We need enough for three thousand."
"Are you sure that's a good plan? You know, you making that many people? It could hurt you."
"If we don't, then the human race, EVERY RACE, dies. I will stop that from happening."
"What if-"
"Laurie," I grabbed her hand. "I will stop that from happening."
Laurie held my hand and bit her lip. She thought that making too many people might hurt me, but I was ready. I had to be.
"Come on January."
I let go of Laurie and turned to see Hank standing there. He smiled with his sharpened teeth and clicked his claws. God damn, he freaked me out. I'm a man of science, and I have scientifically proven that that man is the most terrifying thing alive today. Of course, nothing but us is alive today. But you already knew that, didn't you Chris.