บท 64: Conversation Breakdown
--Eira POV--
Together Senator Jacobs, Annie, Bill, and I sit around an awkwardly silent table situated on the roof of the hospital.
"I hope you don't mind if I leave my mask on."
"No, go right ahead."
The awkwardness soon returns as everyone attempts to gather their thoughts. I fiddle with the white mask, stolen from the nightclub, and casually stare off at the moon while tapping my left hand against the table.
'The service went better than expected. Although it's a pity that it didn't work on the Congressman or the Senator. That just makes things complicated, but with Annie being so devoted, I have a pretty good idea of how to use her to solve the problem.'
Feeling the weight of the scythe in my right hand becoming more evident by the second, I move it to lean it back against my chair. The sound of metal and boots planting themselves firmly upon the ground echoes at my movements.
I sigh and look at the other uninvited people currently present. Standing behind Senator Jacobs are a dozen well-armed soldiers. Additionally, I can see small movements from a building across the way, indicating a presence within the building.
'It's ironic, having the meeting outside on the roof was my idea. I just enjoy the feel of the night air and the presence of the moon, that's all. Lucky for me, most of the soldiers are tied up fighting the Crawlers.'
Breaking the silence Congressman Miles, or Bill, speaks, "A-are you going to let me take my daughter?"
"She tried to stab you, y'know?" I reply.
"That's because you brainwashed her," Bill yells.
I continue tapping the table while thinking, "I wouldn't call it brainwashing. It was more like she was looking for something stable to cling onto and found it within the Goddess's embrace."
'At least that's my theory. I'm still working on figuring out why Eden's ability only works on some people.'
"Just answer my question, are you going to let me take my daughter?"
I nod, "I suppose, but your daughter belongs to the Goddess now. I expect you to take her everywhere you go from now on. If you try to run away with her you'll upset the Goddess very much, not to mention your pervy son will be particularly upset. Oh, and that all depends on if the man, Jacob Groth, shows up tomorrow as you told me, of course."
Bill shows a complicated expression realizing my intention is to basically use Annie as a type of child mole.
Annie looks at me like she's about to cry, "But...but Miss Eira I don't want to leave!"
I point at the ring on Annie's finger, "Don't worry. The Goddess and I are never far away."
Annie nods innocently.
"It won't be forever." I continue.
Annie nods and I hear Bill whisper under his breath, "Oh, it'll be forever…. and don't worry, Luke, daddy will be back for you soon."
With that over, I glance over to see the Senator's resentful eyes. The Senator shoots daggers at me unaware that my attention is back on him.
I wave my hand, "Why don't we let these two be on their way, Mister Senator?"
The Senator nods, and both Bill and Annie leave quickly through the roof's stairwell.
Propping my forearm on the table and placing my chin into my palm, I turn my attention back toward the Senator, "Now tell me, Mister Senator, why do you hate me?"
His expression cracks slightly, "Miss Eira, of course, I don't hate you."
I chuckle, "Oh? Lying is unbecoming of an older man like you, Mister Senator. There's plenty of reasons to hate me; I'm just curious what yours is."
"I-I assure you that I don't hate you, Miss Eira, but you must be aware you've done some, shall we say, less than honorable things? I'm just a bit curious why you've done all this."
"Whatever you say, Mister Senator, but if there's one thing I've learned to recognize, it's hate." I again sigh, "Anyways, my reasons are my own. As a military man, you surely understand that sometimes you simply have to do what you've gotta do."
"Surely you don't believe what you're doing is right, do you?"
"Right? I probably wouldn't say that. The world is rarely so black and white. Now let's just cut to the chase, why are you here? I thought the Congressman asked you to come, but that doesn't seem to be the case."
I blink my eyes innocently only to come to remember something, '...Why do I always forget people can't see my face when I'm wearing a mask?'
"I stumbled upon your and Bill's text messages, and I wished to speak to you." Senator Jacobs replies.
"Okay, then stop staring at me like you're about to lecture a child and speak."
"I want you to help cure the Crawlers."
I raise an eyebrow at the Senator's words, "There's no cure after becoming a Crawler, and even if there were those people would be mentally scarred for life."
"I'm not willing to accept that."
"Well, I don't care if you're willing to accept it or not. Once someone becomes a Crawler, they are beyond saving." I laugh and continue, "Did someone you know get turned into a Crawler? Is that why you want to cure them instead of just wiping them out?"
The Senator slams his fist on the table and involuntarily grinds his teeth.
I lean back in my chair, unintimidated, "Oh, going to lose your composure that easily, Mister Senator? Your attitude certainly doesn't seem like the attitude of someone who doesn't hate me."
"Are you intentionally trying to provoke me?"
"I'm the one who should be irritated. Thinking you can just show up with ulterior motives and convince me to help you."
"Miss Eira, surely you have some kind of conscience? Don't you feel anything about what's happening?"
"Of course, I feel remorseful, but it simply falls under what is commonly referred to as 'a necessary evil'. Now tell me, what are you going to do now?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean if I have no intention to help you, what now? Are you going to try to kill me?"
"Well, Miss Eira, if you refuse to…"
"Refuse to cooperate? Do you think I'm stupid? Even if I hadn't done anything, at best I would be in some research facility or special prison by now."
"I don't know what you mean."
"Oh, yeah? Tell me, are there not other people with special… 'talents' or 'skills' like myself? I'm sure there are, but where are they? I've never seen any sign of them on the news or even the internet."
"There's never been anyone with a 'talent' like yours before, Miss Eira."
"I'm sure there has been, Mister Senator, but the difference between them and me is that their bodies or minds simply cannot handle their 'talent'. Rest assured, though, that will soon change, and when it does, they'll be looking for vengeance."
"..."
"I bet there are some really powerful ones there too. You know, some 'talents' are more akin to a curse, but that doesn't make them any less dangerous."
"Miss Eira, is there a point to this discussion?"
"Yes, there is. I might consider helping you if you can tell me where these people are. Preferably the closest location."
"Didn't you say there's 'no cure' that they're 'beyond saving'?"
"Yeah, that is what I said, but I just decided I'm interested in experimenting on some of them anyway, so maybe I can come up with something."
Under the mask, I'm smiling, 'Manipulating his state of mind like this will hopefully cause him to make a more impulsive decision. People like him are usually too stubborn to change their minds after they've come to a firm decision.'
The Senator fixes his posture and stares at me with half-closed eyes, "You honestly think there might be a way to fix them?"
"I don't mind trying. If you have the information, I'm looking for, of course."
"Will you come with me then?" he asks.
"Of course not! I'll experiment on my own time, and at my own place."
The Senator sits for a moment staring daggers at my eyeless mask. He slowly moved his hand toward his ear.
"Those terms aren't acceptable when I could just take you."
I frown, taking note of a tiny device protruding from his ear, "You…"
Suddenly I notice a metallic object reflected in the light of the moon.
**Tink. Bang.**
"..."
"..."
A translucent red barrier covers the exterior of my skin, and I blink a few times in confusion. I glance downward to find a metallic dart stuck in the tabletop. The needle is long and sharp, while the sides have clear slots that show a bright blue liquid. At the rear, a deep pink tail blows in the wind.
I feel a large amount of anger begin to bubble up, "Mister Senator, did you just try to shoot me with a tranquilizer? Like I'm some kind of gorilla? You even included a pink tail, did you think I might prance around like a wounded beast after you shot me or something?"
The Senator stares at the translucent red barrier in confusion before regaining his composure, "Miss Eira, this is just a misunderstanding."
I look back at the dark to see fluid beginning to ooze. As it comes into contact with the wood of the table it sizzles, "What the hell is that stuff!"
"Miss Eira, please just calm down. It's a special medicine for people like you."
I push my chair back and grip my scythe with ever-increasing force. The outside of the scythe cracks and blood begins to ooze from the shaft. The soldiers raise their weapons, ready to fire as soon as the command is given.
'So much for my mind tricks… Status.'
Name: Eira Callista
Gender: Female
Race: Vampire {Pseudo True God}
Level: 5 (0/100)
Health: 347/350
Mana: 189/200 {89/100 Max Shielding}
Strength: 20
Endurance: 22
Agility: 24
Intellect: 20
Constitution: 35
Talents: Paranormal
Skills: Intermediate Blood Magic; Novice Scythe; Novice Shadow Magic
Titles: Heir of Blood
Essence: 272
'Eleven mana to shield a dart that was probably shot from a high powered rifle is, okay, I guess. It wasn't exactly packing a punch behind it or anything, though. Mana shields absorb around half of the damage from nonmagical attacks and then spread the remaining force around the body. In the end, the body will still take some of the damage, but the force and crippling effects are significantly reduced. As for magic-based attacks, things start to get more complicated.'
I shake my head bringing myself fully into the current situation. An uncertain standoff persists as the soldiers eye me fiercely.
"What's your plan now, Mister Senator?"
"Simple, you'll come with us and help us make a cure for the Crawlers."
"I like the idea of forcing you to help me find what I want more."
I focus, and a gray mist begins to pour from my body. Seemingly recognizing what's happening, Senator Jacobs jumps from his chair.
"T-try again! Fire the other darts!"
The twelve soldiers reach for a small gun at the side of their waists and fire.
**Ting. Ting. Ting.**
Darts continuously hit the mana shield and bounce to the ground. One dart bounces to my feet spraying some of the blue liquid onto my calf.
[Minor Mana Suppressant - Applied to Status. Estimated Effect Time: 15 Minutes.]
[Negligible Mental Depressant - Insufficient Quantities for Status Display]
I grab the dart embedded in the tabletop and then kick the table upwards tossing it high into the air. The table flies from the roof as I stab the bent needle of the dart deep into his shoulder and yank his body downward to use as a shield. His skin sizzles when what's left of the liquid enters the muscles of his shoulder.
"I'm curious how many people died before you came up with whatever that stuff is?"
The Senator howls loudly in pain from the effects of the blue liquid. Over the scream, I can hear the clattering of the soldiers tossing their dart guns to the ground. I move the Senator's body in time to watch as they raise their rifles.
"Drop the Senator!" one of the soldiers shouts in a booming voice.
"Nope! This time he's the one that started things."
The Senator speech is slurred heavily, "Yo-you nowt goajfg to gee awaaay wth thes."
"Just shut up and go to sleep," I grumble.
"This is Fireteam-1. Fireteam-2, please be advised that the situation has escalated, proceed to move in on additional targets, darts ineffective on Little Red lethal force advised."
"Additional targets?"
Suddenly, I can hear the sound of gunfire and screams from the hospital floors below.
'I guess, there were more than just these guys. Well, this is why I gave them their assault rifles back.'
I focus my mind on the gray mist to condense it faster. What begins to take shape is a man in a raggedy and stained sailors uniform. The uniform glows with a faint green hue, and large tears persist throughout. From between the tears you can see rotten skin and bone with the same green hue and transparency as the uniform. However, arguably his most disturbing feature would be the location of a very important body part which he carries in his left hand. In his right hand, he carries a saber while in his left, he carries a head, his own head unmistakably.
The apparition's hand twitches as tightens his grip on the head's hair with his boney fingers. He extends his arm, holding the head up, "I, Captain Hitchcock, ask ye scurvy dogs to leave me ship at once!"
"Fire!" The soldiers don't hold back any longer and begin firing upon the 'Captain'.
The bullets pass through his body sending green goo to the ground directly behind the Captain. The head's face grins, "So it's a fight you want, hahaha! Just the way I like it!"
"Careful not to hit the Senator!" A soldier shouts.
"Don't let that thing get close!" Another yells.
"Waaahah! Do you really think you can stop me, you bootlickers!? The infamous and gorgeous Captain Hitchcock fears no man!" the head yells.
Within striking range of one of the soldiers, Captain Hitchcock swings with his rusty saber embedding it into the man's neck.
[7 Essence Acquired]
Seeing an opportunity, I hold the Senator's body and charge one of the soldiers. He tries to move out of the way, but I'm far faster than him. The two bodies slam into one another, causing the soldier to trip and fall backward off the roof.
[6 Essence Acquired]
"Good job! You can be my first mate! Together we'll rule the Pacific Ocean! Wahaha."
'...I have no idea why he came out this way; I just wanted a ghost pirate.'
Captain Hitchcock swings his saber once more, killing another soldier. Meanwhile, I hold the Senator up with one hand and slash with my scythe using the other. The scythe embeds itself in the shoulder of one of the men. Tasting blood, the scythe glows faintly as the man's face loses color, and he collapses.
[7 Essence Acquired]
[7 Essence Acquired]
"Hurry up! Move faster!" I shout at Captain Hitchcock.
"What's that insubordination! Telling the Captain what to do!"
Captain Hitchcock stops just before killing another soldier and glares at me.
"...Sorry, Captain. Won't happen again."
He raises and brings his swords down on the soldier.
[6 Essence Acquired]
"Better not ya sea dog," he mumbles.
Suddenly, an unmistakable noise enters my ear. I turn to find two helicopters approaching quickly. I sigh and immediately bust open the door to the stairwell, leaving Captain Hitchcock behind.
"Where are you going?! Abandoning ship, you coward!"
I shake my head and stop the effect of my Paranormal ability. Dragging the Senator down the stairwell he moans as his legs bump against the concrete. I ignore his pain-filled moans and pick up my pace, continuing toward the sound of gunfire below.
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