The Second

Chapter 19: Realization

The mission was of utmost importance, and no man knew that better than Daiki. Research had been deleted, files burned, and computers decimated, but what he held in his hands could nullify all that destruction. The Professor was relying on him, and with a resolute scowl, he continued undeterred. 

Daiki darted down corridors and dashed around corners staying ever vigilant. His feed padded along the slate-grey linoleum floor and echoed like a loud drum beat around the desolate eggshell halls. He flicked a gaze behind him, and to his dismay, Astrid was right on his tail. She was as determined as he was, fuelled by grief. He pummelled a door down and barged into a circular chamber far too familiar for Astrid's liking. The thick steel walls were lined with small glass cylinders, each filled with liquid. Tubes hung from the ceiling, waiting for their next victim. A large casing stood as the centrepiece to the laboratory that stretched up to the ceiling. The swirling gas that induced the simulation billowed around inside, waiting to be pumped through aluminium pipes and into the encased victims.

Daiki cursed himself. The lab was a dead end. He spun on his heels, but tripped over himself in his haste and clashed against the tiled floor. Astrid rushed in, exhausted. Her remaining breath escaped her as she laid eyes on the room. 

Memories came flooding back. 

She remembered flashing red lights, blaring sirens and the Professor helping her out of one of the glass chambers. How could she have forgotten? She didn't know, but the image of blue liquid trickling down the grate as tubes disengaged from her skin flashed through her mind, as did everything he did to her.

"This is where you kept me..." Astrid said momentarily distracted. "How did I forget?"

"It's not unusual for memory gaps or bouts of sever confusion and insanity from those released from the simulation," Daiki spluttered as he tried to control the situation as he slowly rose.

"Why me? What makes me so special?"

"You were weak, unassuming, and the perfect fake friend for Clara," Daiki sneered. "But, otherwise, you're nothing."

"And yet you're running from me. I hold all the cards. Surrender now and we'll spare you."

"Spare me?" Daiki snorted. "What are you going to do without a weapon?" Astrid paused to think; that was all Daiki needed. Now he knew for sure she was, indeed, unarmed. "You need to work on your poker face," he said as he whipped his hand into his breast pocket with lightning reflexes and pulled out his trusty blowgun.

"Why did you give chase? What did you honestly think you could do?" Astrid paused, her mind racing. She was running on pure adrenaline and finally reality was setting in. She couldn't do this. She wasn't clever like Mitch, strong like Clara, or as ruthless as Shadow. She was nothing.

"Do your worst," Astrid feigned bravery as she willed her body to stop shaking.

"As you wish," Daiki smiled as he drew a breath and exhaled roughly. Suddenly a black dot raced into the room in a flash and collided head first into Daiki. He stumbled backwards and was thrown off balance. His dart shot from the wooden instrument and collided harmlessly into the steel walls.

"Nice work, Twilight," Astrid shouted praise as Clara's dog chomped on Daiki's arm. Her serrated teeth dug deep into his flesh and his fingers lost their grip on his dart gun.

"Get off me, you mangy mutt," Daiki bellowed angrily as he finally wrenched Twilight free and tossed her to the side. Astrid took this moment, clenched her fist, and delivered a mighty punch deep into his gut as he struggled to his feet. Daiki grunted as he fell to his knees. Astrid hissed in pain as she clutched her painful, bloody knuckles; she'd never punched anybody before. Twilight rose to her feet and growled ferociously, launching at Daiki a second time.