Chapter XXXIII - Reaction ~Multehx

Ian stuck the wrench in his pocket. He wiped the sweat from his brow. He had been toiling to fix the internal cooling unit, and finally had. His weary muscles ached. Getting to his feet, he admired his handiwork. Then, abruptly, a sharp pain made itself known in a line down his right eye. He winced in pain, grabbing his face. The screwdriver that was in his other hand clattered to the engine floor.

CR rushed over and put his left arm around his shoulder. He waited for Omega to do the same, and nodded towards one of the sleeping chambers that was less noticeable in the car. Luckily, everyone was paying attention to Kyanosa and his current antics. Kaye was giving him his just desserts as the helped the young man into the room.

The two lay him out on a bed, and he seemed to be unconscious, breathing shallowly. Omega glanced to the Rip Watcher.

"It what I think?"

CR nodded, and Omega crept back out to the controls, as not to be missed. CR patted him on the shoulder, and turned the lights off before walking out and closing the door.

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He laughed maniacally, strolling over to an ornate throne in the red carpeted room.

"You think I can be sealed so EASILY? Heh, you make me laugh."

Havering walked to the throne and sat down.

"Now, why don't you be a good pawn, and serve your master this time? Hmm? Speed up his resurrection. Necronimus is going to beat you to it at this rate. He DOES have the dibs on the first weapon at this rate, and if he removes that, the aussie is as good to you as a doorstep."

He smirked, removing his helmet and sitting it on a small table to his left, making a brandy snifter, filled with some exotic alcoholic drink, appear in his right hand.

He snickered for a moment before taking a sip and sighing contentedly. He looked back up, a contemplative look on his face.

"You are my greatest creation yet...but pity it was from such an accident. I would want to repeat the process if I could."

He took another sip, then smiled as something crossed his mind.

"But, I doubt things could run smoothly if there were more than you. At least those meddlesome 'heroes' on my train with you at the moment have signed their death warrant. Keeping you in their midst...heh...if only they knew how ruthless you are. You're doing a fine job putting it down now, but you can't forever."

Havering chuckled to himself and took a big swig of the drink. He groaned contentedly to himself as the spirits left a warm burning down his throat. He sloshed the contents of his snifter around.

"You've made it this far, but I wonder how much more till the breaking point. You realize, that's the irony of this: you're my greatest creation yet, but not without flaw. You felt it already; that forcible instinct that is your nature. It almost drove you quite insane. But you made it through that one...that we can both be sure of. But THIS time...you might not be so lucky."

Another sip, and the demon smiled again, flexing one of the golden armor comprised hands that rested on his shoulders.

"This time I have a few...'surprises' waiting for everyone. A few remnants from my times among the living."

He smiled evilly.

"And then there's YOU: my aggressive pawn. The lifeless doll that resulted of great folly, they should fear you most. Why, you wonder? For one day, they shall all be sitting there, making their little plans, and then…"

Havering snapped the index finger and thumb of his gloved right hand.

"It becomes all too obvious, all too late."

Pseudo then waved a dismissive hand.

"I am quite through with you, and the hour is late. Get back to your little 'jobs' before someone misses you."

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Ian shot up in bed. Sweat covered his furrowed brow, and the nighttime light of some unknown planet streamed in the window. He sat up, stood, and quietly opened the door.

The passenger car was vacant. And so was the engine cab, save Omega, who was scraping a bit of dirt off a few of the gauges. He looked up as Ian walked into the room, then smiled.

"Ah, bout time you woke. Feeling any better?"

Ian slowly nodded.

Omega smiled again. "Good to hear it." He then went back to his task at the speedometer before remembering something and glancing up. "Oh, CR wanted me to tell you, one of the group remembered something, and we stopped here a bit ago to talk to someone who may know of the first weapon. They should be back later."

Ian nodded, then picked up a tool box and headed towards the holes the scourges had made.

"I'm gonna work on fixing these..," he said very monotonously before getting to work with a hammer.

He glanced out the window at the night time scenery.

"Fa'Diel..." he murmured, recognizing it as the planet of the Manaworld. In a way, he was glad he didn't go. Exposure to such heavy Mana magik emissions in the air would only act as a catalyst and speed up that which he was struggling to keep suppressed.

He wondered what the others were up to, and grinned slightly, knowing that they must be having a good time with Kyanosa out venturing with them again.