Lincoln remembers a radiant dark light closing and a faint outline waving back at him as he rushes through a narrow dark space. The force nearly pulls him apart then he lands in the between a huge wave of enemies and Stephan.
He looks up at him. The exhaustion is apparent in his stance and body language with his back unable to hold up his weight, his hands nearly kissing the sand beneath their feet while his scythe just drags along. But it is the fear in Stephan's eyes that leaves a strong impression with Lincoln.
Lincoln reacts to it smugly in his head, but he only gives him a pat on the shoulder, and tells him, "Rest. I'll take over," a sudden surge of power courses through his arm. Lincoln feels it growing in him.
The confusion carves itself into Stephan's face, but his eyes are still fearful. Lincoln feels his urge to protest, but one look from him and he flops back to the ground. He gives him a shrug, and tells him, "Go on then. Better for me. Good luck to you. See you in the next life."
He steps forward ready to meet the wave of enemies that are now about to slaughter him, their blades ready to strike as he steps into their range, then the fear comes.
(Oh shit!)
The first wave comes over. He unsheathes his sword and swings wide wiping away almost the entire first wave. Stephan, who is a spectator at the sides, has surprise on his face.
"What?!" he contests, "How?" but Lincoln is already out of earshot as he continues his onslaught on the enemy. Wave after wave, Lincoln clears every single one of them in a strong flurry no one is brave enough to charge at him anymore.
They run, with their tail behind their backs. None of them looks back.
Those who see him look on to notice black aura covering the piece of iron that Lincoln has in his hand forming a scythe-like figure as he goes through swathes of enemies.
But this does not register with him.
A smug smile is about to flash across Lincoln's face until he sees a giant figure, standing unmoving from his spot. His big beard popping out of the mask that covers his face. The chest plate with the Renegade's engraving on it covers his bulging chest, and in spite one of his arms has become cybernetic, Lincoln recognizes that face anywhere.
(Dirkan!)
Like Shinyo, Lincoln feels like breaking down on the spot. He has the strongest urge to run over to him and ask him so many questions. He feels it is only right for him to shed tears for Dirkan, but he knows they're in the middle of a fight, and to do so now would be putting everyone else in danger.
Lincoln notices that Dirkan turns his head to face him, but when he does, the agony in his face intensifies. His cybernetic arm twitches uncontrollably. Then Lincoln sees a faint image of Bridget, whispering in Dirkan's ear, like a ghost with a wisp of scarlet hair against the breeze before disappearing completely.
As the image of Bridget disappears, so does the pain that tortures Dirkan. He freezes, almost robot-like. His eyes stare blankly towards the space behind Lincoln. His face stone-like. Then, without warning, he quickly charges at Lincoln, intimidating him enough that he cannot even make a futile attempt to stop his advance.
The fear swells. His legs now shaking as Dirkan continues to bring his full weight towards Lincoln causing even his tongue to shrink back behind his throat.
"WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?!" putting his entire chest into every word that comes out of his mouth. But he does not seem to hear it as he continues to bull-like charge towards him. He can only close his eyes and pray.
He feels a rush of cold breeze from in front of him and sees Birch towering over him putting a stop to rampaging Dirkan. Their weights cause a crack to form on the ground beneath them. Birch parries his entire body away causing Dirkan to lose his balance before he strikes him with a kick to his side.
"What're you doin' brother?" Birch counsels his brother. However, his words fall to deaf ears.
Dirkan continues his relentless charge at Lincoln. Every single one, Birch foils, and with every attempt, the less effort he has to put into stopping him until he halts him with only his palm.
Lincoln looks on. Instead of fear, pity. To be unable to have full control of your body must be painful.
It must be the courage swelling in him, or the reassuring presence of Birch that forces Lincoln's body to launch itself into Dirkan. He wraps as far as his arms can go. Dirkan stops, but only to send him flying away from his brother to launch another charge.
Birch comes in between them again, but Lincoln stubbornly refuses to stop regardless if Dirkan throws him away from Birch or smashes him to the ground.
"What are YOU doin' boy?" asks Birch, the confusion in his voice apparent.
"Are you showing pity? If you are, you are going to get us killed," warns Birch, "Him included."
��Yes," Lincoln answers, which initially receives outrage from Birch, "And no. He is weakening."
"What're you talkin' about?"
Birch becomes a spectator to the childish plan that Lincoln is attempting, unclear as it is to him. But the longer he watches, the more he notices Dirkan's sloppy movements. His swings are wider, and his movements are more sluggish.
"Impressive," he whispers before he shoots Stephan, who has his butt still kissing the hot sand.
"Really?" Stephan argues.
Birch nods and Stephan is left without a choice.
He brushes the sand from his pants and hoody before he flashes himself forward beside Dirkan, sending a clothesline across his neck to pin him to the ground. Birch follows, restraining both his legs. Viktoria and the last member of the Council holds down an arm each.
Dirkan struggles against their hold but is unable to get himself free from their aggressive restraint until he gives up.
Stephan stands, his scythe now in place of his arm.
"What now?" he softly asks Birch.
"First we hold him in a cell until he talks to us," Birch suggests. His eyes convincing themselves that the ferocity behind them is true, but they are not. The pity comes out in times when he cannot hold it in.
"What I find odd," the fifth member of the Council interjects, "I-is h-how they could have found this place when our allies find it hard even to find the entrance in the dense jungle."
"And to have broken out of the Center Court!" Viktoria adds, "That is why the best thing to make this giant oaf talk is ---"
"Not torture!" Birch demands.
"It is the quickest way!" fights back Viktoria, "It is effective, and as you see, a simple conversation will not do with this one. The way he is right now. Never!"
"I. SAID. NO. And that is an order."
The atmosphere is becoming tense. Stephan and Scoot stay silent hoping that the tension dissipates because in spite of her support roles in battles, Viktoria is a close second when it comes to martial might to Birch. On her best day, they are at apart of each other.
The silence is filling the small space in between them, and it is becoming suffocating before Viktoria concedes.
"Boss' orders guys."
"Where are Shinyo and Shyama?" Scoot wonders.
Everyone goes into a subtle panic, looking around for any signs of the two.
Shinyo emerges from the tunnel leading into the Center Court, limping.
Lincoln rushes over to him and greets him with a slight nudge. Shinyo can only smile.
"Glad you're alright," Birch empathizes, "Have you seen Shyama?"
Shock fills Shinyo's face before he shakes his head, "I thought she was with you."