Darklight: Precipice

Part 25: Back To Reality

Scientists ran out from inside the device as the various symbols and geometric patterns began to glow the same cyan light again. They didn’t even pick up their equipment - they just dropped what they were holding and ran. As they distanced themselves from the device their instruments registered that the power output of The Artefact dipped - The Device was not being powered by The Artefact this time.

Soldiers flooded through the archway and descended on ropes from the well that lead back to the surface as the device began to spin, circling it and training their weapons towards whatever was coming through from who knows where.

In a flash of cyan light, a black disc appeared over the spinning device, the light from the edge of the portal condensing and flowing into the elongated top of The Device and through this energy flowed a white orb, depositing something within the crucible of The Device. Once this had passed through the portal it immediately closed, cutting power to The Device which rapidly slowed down to a stop as the soldiers closed in on the split in the copper-coloured device that lead to its interior. 

“Let him out!” Came Raine’s commanding voice as Soran half-ran, half-stumbled through the split and out of the device. He was clutching his chest and his breathing was heavy and laboured. 

“Get back!” He shouted at the men. They all knew the man that was stumbling around in front of them, and his behaviour scared them. They dropped back and away from Soran as Natasha came running out towards Soran, followed by Raine and then Ana and finally Draz. Natasha ran towards Soran, but he held out his hand.

“Stay back” He said to her, crying out in pain and clutching his chest. A wave of red energy erupted from Soran, almost knocking Natasha down and causing various Forefather and Skry/Utopian computers to short circuit and spark. The cage of lights that held The Artefact flickered and threatened to let loose the Forefather device’s disrupting presence. 

Soran looked up at his wife.

“Natasha… do it”

“No” She said. Tears began to appear in her eyes.

“Natasha!” Soran shouted at her. “This isn’t the time for this. Do it now!” 

Draz and Ana remained still in the opening to The Device. Just in front of them, Raine shuffled uncomfortably on her feet as they watched Natasha refuse to move, her back turned to them.

“You told me you would never ask me to do this. Never” She pointed at her husband. “I won’t do it”.

“You have to” Soran whispered through his intense pain. The needle that was once stuck in his neck was still on the floor within The Device, Soran’s blood drying on the length of needle.

“It’s been too long, I can’t hold it back. I can’t control it like I used-argh!” Soran’s body convulsed as a beam of pure white light erupted from his chest and burned a crater into the wall beside the archway that lead back to Rammachandra’s hideout. Soldiers ran to narrowly avoid the beam. Soran managed to stop the energy flowing out of him and fell to his knees, clutching his chest.

“DO IT!” He bellowed at the floor.

“Never” Natasha whispered. “You can stop this yourself. What you’re asking of me might kill you”. Soran laughed sarcastically.

“And if you don’t do it, I’m already dead”. 

Natasha reached inside a pocket on her cardigan, pulling out a silver cylinder around three inches long and half an inch wide.

“No” She said, dropping the device on the ground and stamping on it. A blue liquid oozed from the now disfigured metal cylinder. 

Something pulled back her left shoulder as she was shoved into Draz’s arms, holding her in place. She struggled to break out of his grip as she saw Raine march towards Soran with military efficiency.

“No!” Natasha cried, unable to break out of Draz’s grip. Ana’s eyes were on Soran and Raine.

“It has to happen, come to terms with it” Draz grunted over his restraint of the mad woman that he was holding back.

Raine tilted down the top of Soran’s head, moving his dreadlocks out of the way and revealing his neck. Out of her bra she pulled the same sort of device that Natasha had just crushed. Pressing a small button on one side a spring-loaded needle erupted from the end of the metal cylinder.

“Do it” Soran grunted, he hadn’t even looked up at her. Without another word Raine plunged the needle into the top of Soran’s neck, directly below the skull. Pressing another button on the bottom of the cylinder Raine delivered its contents directly to the top of Soran’s spinal chord. Natasha screamed and sobbed and Soran slumped, unconscious and barely alive. 

“Get a stasis team down here now, we have little time” Raine ordered as she pulled the needle from Soran’s neck. She held his body and gently placed him down on his side, checking for a pulse. She was pale and looked like she was chewing a wasp as she held her fingers to his neck.

“It’s faint, but it’s there” She said to Natasha, Draz and Ana.

Draz released Natasha from his arms as she stumbled, sobbing towards Soran. She collapsed down on the floor next to him, stroking his face and uttering words that were unintelligible over her sobbing. Raine stood and spoke to Ana.

“How long till the team is here?” She asked. Ana touched her temple and closed her eyes.

“Three minutes, max” she replied.

“Good. Arrange for him to be taken to the secure unit within Utopia. It’s the closest to this location”. Ana nodded and closed her eyes again.

“Done” She replied, opening her eyes.

“What did you say?” Natash’s voice came, loud and angry. Raine spun on the spot, looking at her. Natasha was now on her feet, dark eye makeup running down her cheeks. She looked furious.

“We’re taking Soran to a secure station for monitoring and to re-connect his inhib…”

“I know.” Natasha spat. “What did you mean by closest location?” Raine remained silent.

“Natasha, it was a necessary…” but Draz was cut off.

“No!” Natasha shouted at him, pointing an accusing finger. “This wasn’t you, you didn’t have one of those syringes Draz. Raine did. And I want to know why”.

“Natasha…” Raine said tentatively. But then the ground began to shake and a resonating sound filled the room.

“I want the truth” Natasha growled. “First you near kill Soran and now you’re lying to me. Don’t push me, Raine”. Her eyes were focussed on the Commander and her face was turning more and more red with fury.

“We built a series of secure medical facilities dotted around the world to ensure that if Soran ever became unstable…” Raine held her hands up in a gesture to tell the soldiers who were now starting to surround Natasha to stand down.

“We would be able to restrain and treat him”.

“You mean like a feral dog?” Shouted Natasha.

“No” Raine replied, walking towards her with her hands still held up in surrender. “In the only way that we know how to. You know what he is capable of”. Raine was standing right in front of Natasha now, and before anyone knew what was happening, Natasha slapped Raine across the face.

Raine didn’t flinch, didn’t retaliate, didn’t say anything. She just turned her face back to Natasha’s from where the force of her strike had turned Raine’s head.

“If you ever try anything like that behind my back again” Natasha whispered. “I’ll show you what exactly I am capable of, and then my husband won’t be the only thing you would need to fear”.