Chương 18: Eighteen: Present
Lofgun had got two Bulldogs out, killed many of those running the lab, and had his mind turning in circles when he got the summons.
He was in a tunnel Keayo found and was fighting a female with a sword when his gut wrenched. This summons was one for help. It wasn't his men, but her. He faltered a step, nearly having his head sliced off if not for Yangdangerra behind him. He breathed, slowly getting a sense for where Coolyala was. It has been twelve days since she left and he got the doubt about her ability in the Fading Realm from Milbaral. It has been twelve days since he brushed off the need to go help her, but now…?
"Urth si Etrtfulby. Yonnae neds!" he ordered. It was an order to find Coolyala and help.
Behind him, Yangdangerra began to murmur. Lofgun didn't who it was to, but as the man finished, Lofgun had the female pinned on the ground, a knife to her throat. "Wong has gone," Yang reported.
Lofgun sighed, then glared at the female. "Lead me to your prisoners, or die here."
She smiled. "I know what happened, Captain. I can see it in your eyes."
He kept himself from slitting her throat. "One chance."
She shrugged. "She stole from us. Don't we deserve revenge?"
Wong had heard Yang's summon, understood what was to be done. He gathered two others: Jin and Dalgoring. Leaving everyone else to help rescue the Bulldogs, he led them to the forest and opened a portal. Gnidaf Mlaer…
"We get in, find her, and get out," Eong said. They agreed. Together, they set foot into the world. Irnus we're all around, gathered for some reason at a ruined building. Their leader, Yarre, was not happy, barking at someone they could not see. However, that was fine. It made their job easier. Wong led them on the outskirts of the crowd, to the doorway he knew led to the cells. Just as they reached it, Irnus blocked them. It was female and she was as mad as Lofgun when his ship was bombed. "Names," she demanded.
Wong stared at her. "Why?"
Quickly, the Irnus glanced towards the ruler. "She told me Lofgun. She say he send crew. Names."
Wong blinked, but said, "Wong, Jin, and Dalgoring."
She nodded. "Tuban. Follow." She spun around and walked through the door. Wong found a knife and did as she said, following into a dingy hall. "What is going on?" Jin asked softly.
"Ohuo listen no Yarre. Yarre no listen Yala. Yarre see Yala true."
"Where is she?" Dalgoring hissed.
"Bad room," was all she said. "Get Yala out. Find Doolabin. Outside trail, waiting. He reads. Follow Doolabin home. Help Yala. Tuban see later."
Wong's mind was not used to such language, but understood with some thought. "Who is Doolabin?"
"Mine."
Tuban led them to a huge door and produced keys. "Why help her? Why help us?" Wong asked.
She looked at him, yellow eyes filled with sorrow. "Yala Tuban friend. Tuban need help save Yala."
She opened the door. Inside, lying in a fetal position on the dirt, was Coolyala: pale, eyes bloodshot, vomit around her, and blood trickling from her lips. Dalgoring swore as Jin and Wong inspected Coolyala. "What's wrong with her!" Jin hissed.
"Sick. Bad room make Yala sick faster, make sick worse." Tuban sniffed. "Help Yala?"
Jin looked at Wong. "She needs out of this world, away from all of this. She needs medicine."
"We open a portal here, everyone out there will know."
"She won't last the night!"
"Doolabin know cure," Tuban offered.
Wong gritted his teeth. "Will it work while she is here? How long?"
"It heal here. Nowhere world. Here. Quick. She strong nightfall."
That made up their minds. Wong lifted Coolyala into his arms and followed Jin and Dalgoring away from the room. Tuban led them through a side door and said, "Two miles. Doolabin waits."
"Thank you," Wong said and began to run. Five minutes in, Coolyala vomited all over him. A minute after, she began to thrash with hallucinations, screaming for him to let her go. They had to stop and lay her down before she fell out of his arms. Had to wait for her to go silent again. It took nearly an hour before they continued on again.
Half hour later, they found an Irnus reading a book against a tree, looking for all the worlds he was enjoying himself. As soon as he saw Coolyala, his brown eyes turned red. "Follow Doolabin."
They did, hesitant until they came to a tiny cottage. Doolabin ushered them inside, and cleared the table off. Wong didn't need words to know where to place her. Doolabin began rushing around the kitchen, grabbing different herbs and dead things, mixing them, adding some sort of liquid, then murmuring words.
Soon, he stepped to Coolyala. "Yala must swallow all. No swallow all, no heal."
Wong nodded and helped Doolabin force the concoction down Coolyala's throat. She fought hard not to take it, but eventually, they managed. It was late afternoon when all four sat in silence, waiting, watching. They were exhausted.
"Tuban love Yala sister," Doolabin finally said. "Speak Yala all time."
"When did they meet?" Wong asked.
"Younglings. Same age."
Jin was staring at Coolyala with some doubt. "Why not say anything to us about her friends?"
"There's much she doesn't tell us," Dalgoring said. "She will always have secrets."
"She told us about the stones," Jin hissed.
"After we found out," Dalgoring clarified. "If we hadn't found out, we still would not know."
Doolabin tilted his head to the side. "Yala say little. Tuban say back youngling Yala say more. Now, no."
"Who is Coolyala?" Jin asked.
Dalgoring stood and went to the table, brushing a finger down Coolyala's cheek. "I know who she is, but it is for her to tell."
"Why? How do you know?"
Dalgoring was lost in time and space, remembering. "She didn't have to tell me. No one did. I know because of the pin, the symbol on her suit. Even her name tells me who she is."
Jin and Wong glanced at each other. "Why not tell us?"
"For the same reason we keep our identities from her."
Jin snorted. "I am nothing, Dalgoring! The same as the rest of the crew! Found by Lofgun and taken in!"
Dalgoring sighed. "I was not like you, Jin. Nor was Rinnowra or Gimmal. A lot of us came from a background others couldn't dream about, a world, far away and dying."
"Who were you?"
"I was from Mrots Esnapxe. I am a Xulkren of the far reaches of all universes. My world is dead and I am the last."
Wing cursed. Doolabin smiled. "Never think Doolabin meet Xulkren!"
Dalgoring smiled sadly. "I wish I could meet other like me."
Silence fell again. It was a long time before anyone spoke. But this time, it wasn't the males. "Tuban?"
All four jumped to their feet at the scratchy voice. "Butterfly!" Wong gasped, seeing her eyes beginning to heal and her skin turning a healthy shade.
"Tuban safe," Doolabin said. "Yala rest."
She groaned. "Lofgun?"
"He isn't here, Butterfly. He sent us," Wong explained.
She closed her eyes. "Home. Away from here."
"You need to rest," Jin scolded. Dalgoring smacked him.
"Stone gone," she breathed. "They have it."
Wong, Jin and Dalgoring stilled. They felt dread settle in their hearts, but Jin said, "Where do they hide them?"
But Coolyala was burnt out. She just closed her eyes and slept.
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