Keyoko felt uneasy as she waited for Jezza to return. After a few minutes, she began chewing on her lip. It wasn't over. IT WASN'T OVER! She had failed yet again. She'd failed to surrender, and failed to destroy him and now- Now he...Jesep...Urel was awake! It was the only way he could have survived.
She closed her eyes, thinking of the last time she saw him. He'd looked up at her not in fear, but awe. Even as she cast him down into oblivion, the mother fucker, had still been captivated. She had a feeling the next time they met he was going to be pissed. He was going to know exactly who she was and what was going on. It would be his turn to seek vengeance.
She threw her head back and let out a long groan. She felt like an idiot now, for offering herself to him. It never occurred to her that he might not be awake, when they met. She'd just assumed he'd have all the power, like always. If only she had known sooner, she could have taken him out, the first day they'd met at the elevator. Perhaps Harold and she really could have gotten away. No, even if she'd somehow managed to convinced Harold to run, Gigi and Eyo, were still awake. She doubted they'd let her get far. Plus there was also the shadow, Atoe, he could find her anywhere.
She perked up realizing she knew its name now. Yes the shadow was Atoe, but he was also Urel. They were one and the same, two sides of a coin. Only in Urel's case, he had a multitude of sides. He was more like a dice. Yes. You never knew which side you'd get. She looked around the room for Atoe once again. She still couldn't see it, usually when it was just them, it would come out. Maybe it didn't want to be on caught on camera, but Keyoko had a sinking feeling that wasn't it.
She swallowed and called out to it. "Atoe, are you there? Please show me if you are there."
Her eyes darted around the room looking for a sign. Sometimes it might wiggle a finger, or make a shadow grow bigger or smaller, to show its presence, without alerting others. Once more, she didn't see anything. It was really gone! It had probably returned to Urel. She wondered how long it would take him to remember, to know how to use his abilities and start conquering again.
She tapped her fingers on the table, trying not to think about it. She looked around the room, wishing there was a clock, some way to tell how long it had been. Given this was an interrogation room, the lack of a clock, was probably intentional. Keyoko intertwined her fingers, having a really bad feeling about this. The longer she waited, the more she worried something might have happened. What if Jezza hadn't gotten to him in time? What if he overpowered her? What if she encountered the others? Keyoko should have gone with her!
She took a deep breath, and tried to reassure herself, Jezza was capable. She knew what she was doing. She'd get to Urel, shut his ass down then come back, and see what, if anything, she could do for Keyoko. She curled her fingers up knowing she was probably in a lot of trouble. She wasn't sure what Jezza would be able to do for her, what the consequences would be.
Her mind raced, recalling other times she'd been in trouble... other punishments she'd endured. She tried to think of what the laws were here, and what they might do to her. She dove into her current memories, realizing how sheltered and loved she'd been. Harold had always taken care of everything. He'd taken care of her and kept the world at bay.
She clutch her chest thinking of him and their life together. She held onto to her stone tightly, wanting to bury her feelings. Her pain… her grief was still too much. She felt like she was going to be swallowed up by it. Perhaps it was because it was so fresh. How long had it been, a day, maybe le Her eyes began to water as she realized, she knew this pain...this loss. She had experienced it before, in so many other lives. She also realized, one day this life would become but a distant memory, just as all her other lives had. She began to recall others she had lost, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, grandparents, friends and... children.
"Oh," She gasped. Her eyes widened as her mind flicked with recollection.
She could recall holding a sleeping baby in her arms, and how it had felt to be a mother. Her heart filled with such warmth as she recalled watching her children grow. There had been so many over her vast lifetimes. So many she had lost...some too soon. She frowned knowing she would never see them again. She sniffled, then covered her mouth, bursting into tears.
For several minutes she lost herself in grief. Then suddenly, she heard several distant thoughts from the soldiers as they recognized and saluted Jezza once again. She was on her way back! Keyoko sniffled and quickly wiped her eyes. She didn't want Jezza to see she'd been crying. She noticed the camera again and realized she'd forgotten about it. The camera had probably captured everything. She felt so embarrassed, she'd broken down in front of it. At least this time she hadn't hurt anyone, when her emotions overwhelmed her, perhaps there was hope for her yet.
The door to the room opened, and she turned to see Jezza. She quickly asked, "DID YOU GET HIM!"
"Yes," said Jezza. She didn't come into the room, she just stood in the doorway.
Keyoko's heart swelled with relief. She'd done it! She'd really done it! Jezza had succeeded where Keyoko had failed. She felt like she was on an emotional roller coaster. She'd been upset, then relieved, alarmed, worried, fearful, grief stricken and now she was relieved once more. No overjoyed! She was overjoyed that at last, it was over! She let out a heavy sigh of relief.
Jezza pulled from the doorway, a moment later a solider came into the room. Keyoko found herself getting overwhelmed by his thoughts as he unlocked her handcuffs. 'I don't understand why we're unlocking her, isn't she dangerous? When is Balo getting back from his break? He should be doing this shit! I don't get paid enough!' Once she was unlocked the soldier quickly left the room. Keyoko rubbed her wrists, and half-heartedly thought, Balo did get his break, after all.
Jezza stepped back into the doorway and beckoned Keyoko "Come, it's time to get you sorted out."
Without another word, Jezza turned and went into the hall. Keyoko got up from the table, and quickly followed after her. When she got out of the room, she saw Jezza was already down the hall. She must have been in a hurry. Keyoko practically had to run to keep up with her.
When they went around a corner, a dozen soldiers were standing against the wall. They quickly saluted Jezza. However when they saw Keyoko was walking around, without a soldier at her side, they instinctively pulled their weapons. A multitude of thoughts rushed through their heads, but they were all similar in one regard, they thought she was trying to escape.
Milner was only too eager, to take her out, aiming his gun right between Keyoko's eyes. 'This is my chance! This is for my sister, bitch.' He nearly pulled the trigger but Jezza got in the way.
"WEAPONS DOWN!" ordered Jezza. She sternly looked at Milner, "ALL OF YOU!"
They quickly followed orders, returned their weapons to their holsters, but they were clearly confused. 'What is going on here?' 'What's happening!' 'Aren't we suppose to be on high alert?' 'Just what is Survayant Rogers up to!' 'I thought this woman was a threat?''Why is she moving around on her own?' 'What happened in that interview room?' 'I thought we were suppose to be guard-' Keyoko felt overwhelmed once again. She staggered, and struggled to keep up with Jezza as they continued on.
Once again, Keyoko tried to recall how she blocked others thoughts out. She needed to be able to retain her thoughts, over all the others, but seemed to be super sensitive right now. Her head surged with pain, but she forced herself to focus on her feet. She focused on getting to the elevator Jezza entered. Each step felt like she was taking five, but she managed to get to the elevator, nearly collapsing inside.
Jezza pushed the button to go down and they road in silence as Keyoko recovered. Jezza seemed a bit cold...distant. She probably had a lot on her mind. Keyoko tried not to bother her, though she had a lot of questions. Where were they going? What was going to happen now? What charges might she be facing?
The lights, in the elevator, flickered for a second as Keyoko sighed. She began to sense the others more, Gigi, Eyo and Urel, they were all here. She could feel them pouring into one another. It became hard to differentiate between them, so much so that she couldn't feel Jezza, even though she was standing right next to her. It was gonna take her some time to get used to this again. She ran her hand over her face and Luka crossed her mind. Wait! Hadn't she sensed him earlier or had that been a dream...a hopeful wish. No! She had felt him earlier, but had pushed it aside with everything else going on.
The elevator reached the floor, Jezza had selected, and the doors opened. Jezza stepped out and Keyoko followed her. When she saw a lot more soldiers standing guard, she didn't know how she was going to manage this. She considered telling Jezza, she was having trouble blocking out others thoughts. Maybe Jezza could order them to stand back like before. She knew that wasn't a long term solution, but it was something until she could figure herself out.
Jezza cleared her throat as Keyoko was lagging behind. Keyoko hurried to keep up with her. The power suddenly went out and they paused for a second. Keyoko had noticed the lights flicker in the elevator, and wondered if something was going on with the power. The lights came back on, and Jezza gestured for her to follow, once more. They approached the first set of soldiers, and Keyoko tried to prepared herself to be overwhelmed. Yet as they saluted Jezza, she felt nothing. They passed with ease, thoughts were clear...her own. Had she managed to shut it off, without thinking? No that wasn't it.
She paid closer attention to the next set of soldiers. They saluted Jezza and she nodded to them as they passed by, yet again with ease. Keyoko realized she couldn't hear their thoughts at all, not even whispers. She wondered if Jezza had warned them, to keep their thoughts blank, but she knew it was nearly impossible not to think. She should still hear something, even if it was just them, thinking about not thinking.
She bit her lip realizing she couldn't read them either. Even if she couldn't read their thoughts, she should be able to read them, like Balo, and yet there was nothing, soldier after soldier. It was as if they weren't even...there. Keyoko froze realizing what was going on. These soldiers weren't real! She looked at the back of Jezza's head, realizing this wasn't Jezza. It was Gigi! Hadn't she told Jezza to watch out for her, that she could look like anyone. She gasped realizing if this was Gigi...it meant Jezza had failed. Where was she now? Was she okay?
"Come on," called Gigi as she kept walking.
She seemed eager to get where they were going. Keyoko stumbled back, realizing Gigi was no doubt taking her to HIM! Keyoko's chest ached and her skin crawled thinking he was so close. She had to get away! She had to get out of here before it was too late!
"I'm sorry" she stammered, "But I really need to use the restroom!"
Gigi stopped walking, but didn't turn around. Keyoko realized she'd messed up yet again. Gigi was a master of languages. She could no doubt read the hesitation in Keyoko's words or see how her body language had changed. She felt a sudden shift in the hallway, though Gigi still stood with her back to Keyoko. She could feel movement in the air around her, like a type of sonar. She realized Gigi was trying to get behind her, to what end, Keyoko didn't know, but she wasn't having it!
She quickly turned and blasted her with air. Gigi went flying back, slamming into the hallway wall. Her illusions all fell away as she got the air knocked out of her lungs. She became visible dropping, the gun she was holding. For a moment, Keyoko stood shocked, looking at her hands. She'd just reacted before she'd really thought about it...acted on instinct. It felt good to use her powers to stop that bitch!
Keyoko looked away from her hands, and was able to see Gigi as she was, and not as she wanted to appear. Her hair was a mess as well as her clothes. She looked tired. She was still beautiful, but without all her illusions, she wasn't drop dead gorgeous as she had been, when Keyoko first saw her. She recalled watching Gigi and her brother chatting. It pained her now.
Gigi caught her breath, then quickly turned into Jezza's form and hissed "YOU FUCKING BITCH!"
Keyoko held her arms out, ready to attack her again, but she held back. As much as she'd like to rip the air from her lungs, and smash her through a thousand walls, she needed to know what had happened to the real Jezza. "WHERE IS SHE! WHERE IS JEZZA! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH HER!"
Gigi laughed "Nothing compared to what HE is going to do to YOU! KEYOKO!"
The gun suddenly disappeared from the floor. Keyoko knew Gigi was going to no doubt make a go at it. Keyoko pushed out her hands and shoved the gun further down the hall. Even though she couldn't see it, she could heard it as it dragged against the floor. Gigi tried to move but Keyoko pushed her back down, with another burst of air, "DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT! I WILL END YOU! DON'T FORGET WHAT I CAN DO IN THIS LIFE, GIGI! I'M NOT WEAK! I'M NOT POWERLESS ANYMORE!"
Gigi let out an annoying cackle, she shook her head, but stayed put. "Oh Keyoko, it doesn't matter what you can or can not do. You'll always be nothing more then a fucking whore! The master is awake now, and there is nothing you, or anyone can do, to stop him! He we will rise up once more! HE WILL TAKE THIS PATHETIC WORLD AS HIS OWN AND THIS ENTIRE SYSTEM WILL FALL AT HIS FEET. MOST OF ALL! HE WILL HAVE HIS REVENGE UPON YOU! And I!" She let out a sharp laugh, before continuing, "I shall stand beside him and watch with glee."
Keyoko swallowed, her throat felt dry as images of the past flooded into her mind. She could recall being tightly bound, Urel looming over her, with a look of disdain. The whip in his hand. She recalled the pain, upon pain...the utter agony...the endless shame, and Gigi standing at his side, eager to assist him, in any way that she could.
She knew Gigi was reading all of Keyoko's reactions and getting off on the pain she was causing. Gigi madly cackled. "Yes oh yes! You're so powerful Keyoko. You're nothing but a scared little girl, lashing out! Best run off to your brother now. Oh right, you can't. HE'S DEAD!"
Keyoko's fear quickly turned to rage. It boiled over and she crushed Gigi into the wall. She could hear her ribs snapping. She cried out as Keyoko pushed more air pressure down on her. She could feel Gigi squirm, in pain, and wanted to end her.
Yet Gigi manged to wheeze "Guess... you'll never... find... her."
Keyoko pulled back recalling Jezza. RIGHT! FUCK! She'd let her emotions get the best of her. What had Gigi done to Jezza? She needed to focus and find her! "LAST CHANCE! YOU CRAZY FUCKING BITCH! WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER! WHERE IS SHE!"
"What did I do," Gigi wheezed as Keyoko lessened the pressure, "I- I-"She smiled, still clinging to Jezza's form. It suddenly looked worse for wear, like Jezza had gotten beaten up. Gigi screamed at top of her lungs. "STOP IT KEYOKO! PLEASE! HAVEN'T YOU HURT ENOUGH PEOPLE!"
"WHAT," said Keyoko pulling back. She was surprised Gigi could still shout, given how much pain she must be in..
Gigi started to shake and cry, raising her hands to defend herself. Keyoko realized too late, she was preforming for someone. Keyoko heard a pop and felt a rush of air zoom past her. A second later, another pop went off, and the rush of air got dangerously close to her. She could now see a soldier firing on her. She'd been so caught up with Gigi, she hadn't sensed him.
A bullet tore into her arm, and all the thoughts in her head, were replaced with sharp pain. She cried out, clutching her arm as she felt Gigi moving. It was all happening so fast, another bullet whizzed by. The solider probably thought Keyoko was hurting Jezza. She didn't want to hurt anyone else, but there wasn't time to explain that Jezza wasn't Jezza. If Gigi overpower-
Another bullet grazed her side. She stopped thinking, and snapped into action. She took up Gigi as another bullet grazed her neck. She threw Gigi into the line of fire. The soldier kept firing, hitting her with several bullets. He immediately stopped firing, and cried out, "NO! KRISSY! NO!"
Keyoko could hear the agony in his voice as Gigi fell to the floor. Somehow she was still holding Jezza's form together. The solider glared at Keyoko, turned his gun on her once more. She threw her hand up, sending him and his gun flying back. As he hit the ground hard, he had the air knocked out of his lungs. He dropped his gun sliding several feet as he passed out.
Keyoko stood in the hallway, her heart pounding in her chest, her arm surging with pain. She clutched it as Gigi screamed from her own bullet wounds. Keyoko wasn't sure where she had gotten hit, but it served her right. She must have seen this guy coming and distracted Keyoko, hoping he'd shoot her to death.
She was lucky he wasn't a very good shot- The lights in the hallway flicked and turned red. Alarms roared out through the entire base. The soldier, who'd shot at her, was wearing a radio, it blared out with gunfire and shouting "BACK UP! WE NEED BACK UP! HOLDING FLOOR VITO! ZATA FLOOR! MEGA FLOOR! HAVE BEEN WIPED OUT! REPEAT! THE LOWER LEVELS HAVE FALLEN! PRISONERS HAVE ESCAPE! LOCKDOWN THE BASE! LOCKDOWN TH-"
He cut off, Keyoko heard more screaming and gun fire before the radio cut out. She stumbled back, realizing Urel's reign of terror had begun. She looked at the hall walls, the shadows were all moving in the direction, Gigi had been taking her. They were no doubt going to meet their king! Keyoko trembled feeling Urel stronger then ever. She could just make him out from all the others. She knew if she could feel him, he could feel her. He'd be coming for her...for his revenge!
She needed to think! She needed to think! No! She needed to move and now! She quickly ran past Gigi and the soldier. She needed to find Jezza! Maybe something if anything, could still be done though, she doubted it, at this point she was just delaying the inevitable.
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