Cycle: Tides of Time

Chapter 2

I received a call from Miles to come over to his mechanics room, so I head to the basement level of Turtle HQ, and to the ding I see Miles sitting at a table alone, working on the MK. 16 model. I suppose he called me over for a weapons checkup. "Oh, you're here. Come on over." I do as he asks. "What's going on, Shell?"

"Honestly, I'm not gonna beat around the bush. I called you down here because I wanted to thank you." "Thank me?" "For saving my life, Cyrus. I could have died if you didn't push me out of the way." I think about how this was, and how he didn't seem like this earlier. "Honestly... If you died I never would have forgave myself. I'm a bit closed, so I just kinda ignored the fact that you were in the med-bay... I was holding it in when you came over to talk." I smile, feeling a bit good about myself, even though I just did it without thinking about it.

"Shell, it's okay. I'm okay, and the boss said I could keep my job." He looks up, excited. "That's great news, Net! I was worried about that too." He looks back down to his model, tinkering with it like a toy. "That's all I really had to say, Cyrus. I'm glad to hear that all in all you're okay." "Yeah... Yeah, I guess so. But I think Hane still hates me over it." He looks back up. "Really? He probably doesn't understand all the details. Just that you did a rash action." The realization comes to me as he says it. "Wow. You're right. Jonas must feel the same way..." Miles nods to that. "Most likely, but all I can say is try to explain it to them. Jonas is in the training center as usual, and I think Hane went to the roof? For some reason?"

"Oh, okay." I think about who I should visit first about it. I guess it would be Hane, since he's probably not being productive. "Alright. I'll see you later, Miles. I'm going to try to talk to Hane." I turn around and wave back as I reach the elevator. "Good luck. Hane is moody as usual." "Yeah." I press the button to go to the roof. After a pretty long hum of an elevator ride, I reach the top.

Hane is standing next to the edge of the roof, looking out to the sunset. I slowly walk closer, but he completely ignores me. "Hane, I need to talk to you." A short pause. "I'm listening." I nod weakly. "My reckless action may have cost us the mission, but..." He quickly turns around to me. "But what? What kind of sorry excuse are you going to come up with this time?" I take a slight step back, a bit intimidated. He walks up to me. "Spit it out!" "C-can't you see I'm trying?!" He lightly pushes me. "Want to talk back to me again?" My heart races, and I throw a hook in Red anger! But it's only met with a palm. "You have guts to fight back against me." He throws his left fist into my stomach, making me collapse to the ground. "Ow..." "Sorry. I'm sure that hurt due to your previous injury, but you needed to learn a lesson. I don't take other people's bullshit." I struggle to catch my breath as my ribs shudder.

"You tried to fight back though. And I respect that. Speak your peace." He walks back over to the ledge. I slowly get up. "I... I did it for Miles. If I didn't push him out of the way, he would have been in my place... He was shocked by the Tesla coil trap below us..." He looks back slowly. "So what your saying is that it was a selfless act?"

"Yes..." "Wow. How selfless. Tch. Can't be that humble if you just told me." I try my best to stand without holding my stomach. "Who fucking cares, you know now. That's all." I turn away, walking angrily to the elevator. Right before I hit the button, I hear Hanes voice again.

"Hey." "What?" He sighs. "Seriously, sorry about my punch. It was just a reaction to you trying to hit me." I just shake my head, hitting the button and watching him as the metal doors shut. Then the ding in 2F. I walk out, and Doc immediately notices me in his office. "Cyrus, are you alright?" He paces out, checking me. "Y-yeah... Just pains coming back..." He looks down at me, concerned, but then escorts me to the medical bed. "Lay down, it'll help." I try to steady my breaths. "Thanks, Doc..."

"Hello?" I suddenly hear another voice at the door. It was Robin. "What is it, Stats?" "Hello, Donovan. I'm here to check on Net. If you don't mind." He shakes his head. "Not at all. I think he needs the company." Doc walks out of the room, Robin coming in and sitting in the desk chair, scooting it around to be beside my bed. "How's the wound, Net?" "Could be better... Honestly, it just got a lot worse." "I'm sorry, Net..." She lightly moves my hand from my stomach to my side, then lightly pressing on my stomach in various places. I tense up from the small bursts of pain, but it slowly turns into a rub. She was rubbing my stomach...

"Can I see the wound?" I hesitate, wondering if this was considered weird among fellow workers. "Uh, sure..." She unzips my blue Turtle Ops jacket, spreading it out and then lifting my black long sleeve shirt. She gasps slightly, the wound still black with red rings around it, accompanied by a new bruise... Damn it, Hane. "What the hell?" "Yeah, it's not great..." She nods, frowning and lifting her glasses slightly. She begins lightly rubbing my stomach again, being more careful. "Wh-why are you doing this, Robin?" "Because I want to help you feel better, Net... Everyone's worried about you." Really? Are they? I guess what Commander Grant said was right... "Thank you, Robin... It's nice, but don't you have work to do?"

"No, no. You know me. Hard worker, fast worker. I'm the best of my kind, and I honestly usually finish my work for the day before lunch unless something unexpected comes up." I nod, my eyelids growing heavy to the calm and gentle feeling of her warm hands. She smiles to it. I guess this is what she wanted. For me to rest, relax, and stop worrying about work...

Maybe it's not so bad, but the lingering feeling of knowing someone like Madernak Cycle exists is enough to keep me unrest. Such evil can't stay in this world, and I will be the one to stop it... But for now, maybe I should accept the peace... maybe live some of my life... "It's okay to rest, Net... It really is." It's like she's reading my mind. It's almost hypnotic. It honestly feels so nice... Why can't I just enjoy it? "Net... Please don't let the evil of the world ruin you... You and the rest of Turtle Ops... I cherish you all, and I don't want anything to change..." I want that too, Robin. For things to just be fine. But they aren't. They can't be...

Not with Cycle alive. His breath is the winds of change... A curse to this world, his life. But I will try to protect your world, Robin... I'll try to save us all... But today... just today... I will sleep...