April Rosevolt
When she awoke again, April was back in her patient room, reclined against the quilted covers of a hospital mattress. Her eyes fluttered as she listlessly took in her surroundings, rich in a palette of natural stains. The sterile environment was a far cry to her latest memories, polluted with blood as they where, and ever so slightly disconcerting given the duplicate architecture. Not that she had a chance to explore the facility, but from the brief glimmer of exploration earlier she could imagine getting easily lost in here. The therian’s absence came with an explosion of anxiety as she fought down the impulse to scream his name out.
Forcing her neck to twist over, she noticed a chair propped against the wall and realized she was in the same room she’d slept together with Touya. Someone had taken the time to ensure she was comfortably settled, laying her in a neutral resting position. White sheets that receded at the end of the bed served the rudimentary purpose of thermal insulation, concealing her lower half. Further out was Touya’s taught figure who seemed far more assuring than any painting.
His presence seemed to shake the fatigue from her mind and she pulled up near instantly. “I’m sorry, I’ve kept you waiting again haven’t I?” she asked, guilt riding her words.
Touya noted her movement the moment she woke up. Her eyes wandered around room before finally resting on him. She sat up and the Therian almost moved to stop her, but he figured she should at least try to move around a little bit. It would be good for her system, especially with Reginald having her asleep for so long.
He sighed as she asked him what happened after she collapsed, "You don't need to be sorry. I wouldn't let any danger come to you. I know that you would much rather be in the fight than stand on the sidelines," he started, "Damea is... in critical condition last I heard. Ahmeil nearly killed him, but he should be fine soon, assuming Reginald does his job properly."
Touya tapped the edge of the chair he was sitting in restlessly. It wasn't that he didn't think that Reginald couldn't heal the man, he just didn't trust the man at all. There was a nagging feeling that Reginald would do other things than just heal the man if he had the time to. With a heavy sigh, Touya stood up and walked over to April's bed side. Sitting himself on the edge he reached over and took her hands in his.
"I wanted to tell you that Damea and I talked about going and getting another Therian from the wilds. One that knows our technology like Sheree did. We wanted to bring them here so that they can work on yours. To make it... easier. If done right, you'll have feeling back in your limbs and they'll be like mine, a solid part of you." He said slowly, "and no scars... nothing else. I figure I will have to use my healing to help the transition while the other worked on you.
"With Reginald's help we could numb your body so you won't feel any pain. But, I also wished to ask you what you wanted. I did not wish to go through with this plan if you did not want it. I'm only offering it because I know that we can help you to feel better. But that's all I can offer," he whispered the last part, his eyes locked on her metal arms. His fingers tightened around hers, though he was sure she couldn't feel it. His eyes burned and he tightened his jaw, strength was what she needed, nothing else.
"So, you noticed that also," she murmured, sucking the bottom of her lip. Her eyes roamed over to where their hands connected, noting the absence of feeling with despondence. They shot up after a moment, following the length of his arm before settling upon the turbulent blue orbs of their owner. She'd never seen such a conflicted expression in her entire life, but Touya wore it like a mask bolted permanently to his features. "Touya, what happened to me isn't your fault. Still it seems like you're forcing all the responsibility on yourself. I can manage fine if you want to go check on Damea, I'm more worried about you. What do you want to do?"
Directing her other arm around his shoulder, she pulled him to her chest whilst twining her fingers in the hairs on the back of his neck. "I'm sorry your brother was killed," she said, speaking over his head, "Everything that's happened, everything that's happening...it must be hard to deal with."
Releasing the therian, April leaned back against her pillows and smiled softly. "As enticing as it is to be able to wave away my condition, I don't think that'd be a good idea. The last time you tried to heal me it felt like my body was unraveling," she chuckled morbidly, tucking a wayward strand behind her ear, "But if you're taking a break from all of this, I'd be glad to join you. I think you need time away from Altheim, just...don't let Damea come along. I'm not sure I'm ready to handle his relentless chatter quite yet."
As she spoke, she pulled him down into her shoulder, running her fingers through his hair at the nape of his neck. The long braid tugged as she moved her hand. He didn't mind and allowed her to pull him down. He was conflicted. That much was so true. He didn't know what to do anymore, he didn't know how to help her and that was the most frustrating. Touya's teeth ground together as he leaned against her, eyes squeezed shut.
When he was released from her hold, she fell away from him and rested against the pillows. Touya hadn't answered her the entire time she spoke, unable to think of anything to say in response, though as she answered his proposition he felt a tightness in his chest. As much as he wanted to help her that way, if April didn't want it, he wouldn't force it. Though he did wish to offer her the same help but without his healing.
"Don't worry about my brother. It was a long time ago I'm sure. Ahmeil just didn't know how to deal with it at the time and her only option was probably Val. I wasn't there to help her, so that's my fault, but it is nothing that you need to worry about. Right now, you are my only concern."
"April, at least let one of my people look at this," he said raising her arm up as an indication, "I won't heal you while they do it, but I'm sure they can do more for you than what Reginald is doing. All he does is sedate you! That does nothing!" Touya couldn't help but to raise his voice a bit as he spoke.
"He knows nothing of this technology, and if he ever had the chance he would kill you just so he could have the chance to examine your body! I won't allow that!" Leaning forward he brushed his hand across the side of her face, "I won't allow any more harm to come to you. This..." his voice shook, threatening to break as he gazed at her, "This is bad enough."
He had to calm down. Touya looked away and took a deep breath that shuddered in his chest. Her suggestion about leaving Althiem was very tempting, but he also feared for her safety. The words of the woman saying that the moment they left the building would be their last still wove around his mind. Would that still apply? Would Reginald really close his doors on them? Touya's eyes closed tightly as his brows came down in irritation. Why did he care so much if Reginald turned them away?
Touya could heal, and he was strong. With Damea they both could protect April until they reached a Therian settlement. So what was keeping him there still... What was it.
"Perhaps... a vacation would be a good thing," he muttered.
Strangely, she burst out laughing at the mention of Reginald, or maybe it was Touya's comment on sedatives that did it. Carefully, but clumsily, she held a finger up to his lips to repress any further outbursts.
"You've done more than enough for me already. You saved me Touya. Stop anguishing over this and think of yourself. You're going to pop a blood vein at this rate," she cautioned, eyes twinkling with amusement despite his apparent despair.
"Knowing you, Reginald probably hasn't even gotten a chance to have a proper look at me anyway," she said coyly. Moving her arm again, her hand pressed over their point of contact, afraid to relinquish the warmth that swelled on her cheeks as his hands brushed over them. This she could feel. "On that note, you're going to have to explain everything that occurred while I was gone at some point. I'm not sure why you're working together, but I can see that I'm missing half the story. I shouldn't have accused you so blindly in the first place."
"In any case, maybe having an expert look at these limbs might not be such a bad idea," she admitted, frowning at her indistinguishable reflection as she inspected an arm. "There's one more thing though. Something I've been meaning to tell you since i returned but haven't had a chance to."
April grew somber abruptly as she allowed her arms to drop into her lap. "I know the location of the hybrid facility."
Out of everything she said, it was the mention of her knowledge about the facility that struck him harder than anything else. His eyes lifted to hers quickly, jaw slackening at the shock of her statement. Was it true? Did she really remember where their facility was? Touya could hardly believe the words from her lips.
"April... you know what that means right?" He muttered. Slowly his shock wore off and his eyes narrowed, glinting dangerously. He wanted to know right then where the facility was, he wanted to leave that very moment and go destroy it with every ounce of power he could wield. His revenge was being fueled even more so just by the sight of her arms. He felt the swelling anger at what they'd done to her coming back again.
"Tell me, April. Tell me so I can wipe them off this land."
"I was afraid you'd say that," she muttered, catching the dangerous glint in his eyes, "And the answer is no. I want to help the rest of the prisoners there as well, but not until we're ready. Not until we have a plan. They have an army of hybrids, Touya."
In the midst of her explanations, April had unconsciously started to fidget with her hands in her lap. She was serious when she'd suggested a vacation. Some small part of her desperately hoped that the therian would spare himself any further pain. Some small part of her still ached for an escape. A knock came at the door suddenly, startling her from her thoughts. April's gaze was drawn to the voice behind the door as Reginald spoke out to identify himself.
"Hello? May I come in Miss Rosevolt?" he asked politely.
"Come in," she called out. Before the doctor could enter, she directed an anxious look towards Touya, mouthing the words 'please stay'.
The door clicked as the handle turned downwards. Reginald's tall figure appeared in the doorway, alone and dressed in his hospital scrubs. He looked harmless, congenial, friendly even, but April had made that mistake before. Her eyes regarded him warily as he stepped into the room, smiling amicably to show he was safe.
"Sorry, did I interrupt a conversation?" he mused, noticing the proximity of the pair. April's head shook in response but said nothing otherwise. "Apologies it took me so long to get here. I didn't want to leave the operation until everything was complete. Damea will be fine. We just finished patching up the last of his wounds."
"Why are you here?" she asked, almost hissing the words as her fists took clumps of white sheets into them.
Reginald chuckled at her bluntness. He did miss her candid personality. "I'm here to talk about the therian woman, and you, Miss Rosevolt," he answered, "Although if you're not comfortable discussing your condition, I'm happy to postpone the questions."
Touya half growled at her response. She would say that. However, he understood the implications. If there were innocent lives there, he would wish to help them too. It would do him no good to go in and destroy everything. That would only set him back on his desires to unite the humans and Therian's.
He was about to answer her in kind when a knock on the door came. It was Reginald, and he was allowed entrance from April. Touya's gaze narrowed at the man as he entered, apologizing for the length of time it took for him to come to talk. Not that Touya really cared, he hadn't wanted to converse with the man all that much anyway.
However, he did smile approvingly at April when she hissed at him, asking why he was there. She still had her fire. How very... appealing. Turning to regard the doctor, Touya's frown reappeared again.
"I would rather we not have a discussion about her," Touya replied bitterly. He didn't want to put April through the terrible reminders if it were at all possible.
"What do you wish to know about Ahmeil?"
"I assure you, the questions are for her own good," Reginald insisted, "Through a number of preliminary tests we've discovered that the black liquid you vomited largely consists of human blood. Miss Rosevolt, you succumbed to a violent episode in the hallway earlier. Surely you of all people would recognize the need for proper counselling."
He paused, sighing at the needless hostilities, "If nothing, now would be an excellent chance to catch you up on recent developments. Now about this faceless woman, what does she want with you?"
The Scientist
"All preliminary checks complete. Systems stabilized. What are your commands sire?"
"Proceed as planned, initiate offensive protocols. Humanity regains its supremacy today."
"Initiating offensive protocols. Your directive?"
In the gloom of the oil slick floor space, hundreds of hybrids jerked to life. The lifeless dolls that they were gazed back at the metal stage, obediently awaiting their orders. Each aberration was a master piece in itself, the culmination of a pain staggering modification process and years of advanced research. The scientist and his colleagues had been working tirelessly for the past few months, though with the public's support things had greatly accelerated.
"It's quite an achievement. Congratulations," Victor Hawthorne admired, sweeping his approving gaze over the multitude of bio-weapons. As horrific as they seemed, in them he saw a means to an end. Prosperity, authority, expansion. "The main problem is, how do we discover the rebel's location?"
The scientist nodded, "Evidence indicates that therians prefer to be nomadic, my suggestion would be to pursue the rebels as a primary objective. Though doing so may risk inciting additional uprisings, eliminating the figure head will-"
"No, the rebel's are already aware of our project i'm sure. They'll hide and keep hiding, but we can draw them out. We hit the rest of the therian settlements. As many as we can and as hard and fast as possible. Therians don't possess networks of communication, whereas we do. We have the advantage of surprise," Victor stated.