When You and I Collide

29) The Rescue

~Fang's POV~

My head throbs when I wake up, my limbs sore and my mouth dry. I can hardly move my arms, cold metal digging into my wrists. It smells like feet in here, and it's really dark. I can here a shuffle and clench my jaw. Where the heck am I? Of course I remember Raines' second betrayal, Hojo shooting me... Speak of the devil, my abdomen hurts really badly where he shot me. I hope he had the courtesy to at least clean them, but now that I think about it, I don't want his grimy fingers on me. I'm starting to wish I wasn't just wearing a 'scarf'.

"Oh good, you're finally awake," I hear someone sneer. "I was beginning to think I'd killed you. Not that I couldn't revive you, of course."

"I'm probably better of dead," I mutter.

"Now now, let's not become another Valentine, hm? Shall we get down to business?"

"I'm not becoming Ragnarock," I scowl defiantly.

"I knew you wouldn't come forth without resistance," he smirks. "So I arranged a little... Party."

"Ain't that fun," I retort sarcastically. "I didn't get an invitation."

"You didn't need one. You are, after all, the guest of honor. But enough stalling. I know that the Fal'cei methods of torture were quite... Effective last time." I nearly cringe at the memories of what I call extreme shock therapy. But I shove the memories down and refuse to let it all get to me this time. I will not give in a fourth time. Makes me sound so weak... "Do we have to try that again, Fang? Or will you be a willing specimen?"

"I'm frikin human," I snarl. "Not a specimen."

"Ah, but in the laboratory, things change." I narrow my eyes on him and keep my mouth shut.

"I take that as a no," he cackles. "Good. It gives me a chance to test the resistances and weaknesses of those from another planet."

Through the shackles, small, zapping jolts twitch down my arms as he pushes a button on his cluttered desk. Two tall test tubes in the corner, shattered, reflect my face, my resistance to his attempts to hurt me. They look like they were made more for people than chemicals. Smirking and muttering notes under his breath, Hojo turns the voltage up. I clench my jaw in an attempt to keep my face straight but the pain... Once more, he turns it up, disappointed in no reaction. This time my face twists in pain and I have to strain to keep from laughing.

"Only one more, Fang. This is more of the testing phase just for my records. Hopefully you don't end up turning before then."

So that's it? Endure this or become Ragnarock? True to his word, the voltage goes up one more level. More like ten... A scream of pain escapes as I struggle against the electricity flooding through me. Hojo's eyes widen in excitement as he grabs a clipboard and scribbles down notes with a pen.

"Marvelous strength! This is going to be the next breakthrough! I could certainly enhance you as much as Valentine, triple the normal human's strength and such!"

"Stop it..." I wheeze in the only Oerba yun Fang knows how to beg. He cackles before shutting the power off. My body sags, all strength used up when I tried to resist the currents.

"I wonder how long you would last under extreme damage," he thinks aloud to himself.

"I'm not... An animal you can just... Test on," I spit, still catching my breath.