The Elias Medial Foundation. Established in an uncounted year the facility acts both as a hospital and the final trial for any practicing doctor within the country. Situated on the northern ends, the direct parallel to the rural terraces. A classic building wrapped in white and red, though shorter than most buildings it could hold maybe a thousand. Their parking lot was full of ambulances going in and out; injuries were sustained from tonight's accident. The foundation sat on the main street so traffic wasn't much issue when hover vehicles were accounted for.
Carnel and Dynamo cut those lines, appearing through the one-way cellar door in the basement floor. Perfect enough, the restricted zone was near. Half of the first floor had been closed off due to port disease. A large corridor of white tiles and stinging lights. Beds laid parallel to each other in the hall made from sturdy materials. An Iv bag hovered near every patient, each a device for oxygen as well. Every bed had a glass shell around it preventing contact with the outside world.
Bright red warning signs everywhere you could look, beside them were hospital staff. Before you could enter the room they had you walk through a sanitation chamber, the robots obliged despite their inorganic nature. A spray coated their frames with disposable gloves over distributed. Carnel's fingers poked through in futility. One step in and the smell of death was assured. Beeps of tools and bops of machines quick to every victim. "This is….."
Dynamo caught his first view of a victim, "Is he human?" his eyes fell on a man no older than twenty. Eyes rolled to the back of his head with an open mouth. All observable features were the color of the steel which surrounded them, "A metal man…?" his disgust caught the attention of a staff member. A human worker. Yet it was hard to tell by the suit. Foundation policy had the few humans in multi-layered puffy suits making them extremely puffy and hard to see under that white suit. A built-in head slot with a glass face pane made it difficult to speak through. At least the room was cold.
"Hello," he greeted with a firm handshake behind their muffled tone, "Patrick Wurst, I've been put on researching and maintaining, pleasure to meet you,"
"Likewise," Dynamo sighed. Looking around the corners he made out the man's features. Unnatural orange curls with a button nose, not to mention spotted skin along his cheeks and narrow chin, "I take it you're here to show me a virus sample?" his guess hit the mark. To stand among all these petrified bodies sent a cold down your soul nothing could match. Carnel and Dynamo, two of the most decorated in blood trembled at silent death. Patrick pointed to the research facility. A gulp followed by the flat-lined hum.
How gruesome was that site...but to the ones who didn't have to be burdened the night was still beautiful. A full moon brought luck to fishermen, often under her majesty, many continued their hunt of good fortune. Lucki was one of many. She lead Lena to one of the few locations untouched by the rest. On the outskirts of the wall past the southern terraces was a lake. Next to that lake was a port beside a small wooden cabin. Its windows echoed a faint glow resembling the cabin's owner. A bridge in the form of a fallen redwood crossed the edge of the vast body. Perfect for Lucki and Lena to sit.
Lucki's hum was a soothing one. The sea itself calmed to her charm with their toes inches above the cold waters. In the maiden's hand was a simple fishing rod, nothing fancy. They remained silent, listening to the hum. Two in the morning their only company was the chirps of grasshoppers and fireflies scattered around the pond with dim flickers. The lake's depths unknown, a bottomless hole that held a reflected moon surrounded by thick autumn beauty. Green trees began their transition to autumn orange as seen by the fluttering leaves that fell on them and the lake via cold winds.
If an environment where magic ran free existed, Lena was sure it was here. Every tree was part of something greater, however, each stood in their own glory, same for the lake. Lucki couldn't help but notice, "Forgive me, but it's been years since I had a guest other than Carnel abode," Lucki admitted with a smile, "Mother purchased the land years ago before I made my debut, what do you think of it?" her head tilted.
"It's lovely…" her gasp was all Lena needed to say, "I could just stay here forever…" her toe pattered on the surface of the lake.
"Well I have a cabin right there if you need," Lucki joked. There was some magic left in the world, "You know, this place has some history to it," her voice peaked. "Father use to say that it was this exact spot where Saruma the great swamp beast faced Rote in a bout of thirty days."
"Saruma the god of all green fathered many daimon who faced Rote, he was outnumbered with his Red Rig low. Serpents and boars with enchanted ivory pierced at his feet as Saruma swung his axe composed of a hundred bones- each slash sending gales that flattened the southern region. But Rote played the long game, the roots of trees and stones battered against his frame but the heat that escaped his body was a poison to the god. True it was sly, but so was Vulcan supposedly. When the time was right the ax was swung by Saruma for a final time. But Rote grabbed it before it left a lasting mark. He stole the ax, a weapon with the weight of a mountain and blood of an ocean rose over his head. Night became day and the skies split out of respect for their new champion. Heaven itself bowed to the red giant. Lightning flashed with the axe's descent. Rain fell and the god was no more. Winter ushered an age of wilt as the god's bones were granted a grave. This very lake."
Lena winced at the tale of mouth, "That….hold on," her arms wavered from fluster, "Are you sure you can tell me this?" Tales of the Astarama conquest against the old gods, outlawed to all to speak off. Yet some kept the tradition...it would make sense that Rote allowed a select few, "If that's true then…" the depths of the ocean became more ominous. Her toes leaped from the surface and clung to the tree. Upon a second inspection, Lena noted the pattern of trees. The ones closest to them were far thicker and taller than others; even the ones hidden in shadows. Saruma the great ape….
"Oh, not if," Lucki giggled, "Have you ever wondered why the thickest forests grow east of Giganto and only grasslands on the west? Saruman's essence is instilled in the soil," an ancient deity who gave the current lords a run for their money slept beneath them as bare bones. Who wouldn't be terrified at the concept?
"Did you bring me out here just to scare me or something?" she shuddered, "Or what? Does his essence mean you have a better catch of fish?" her question met with simple nods.
"I'm the youngest of the family, therefore it is my duty to uphold the tale of Rote for the next generation, so as Blaublare's handlers and the other Astarama….." something about her tone changed. It mellowed lower, "It's not like I'm good for much more," she said with such conviction. "Say...you almost joined the military correct? My brother and mother fought over a few students for their forces, how did that feel, pyromaniac?"
"Oh…" that title didn't bode good thoughts. Mandalay U, some of highest highs and lowest lows for Lena in terms of anger management, "So you know about all of that?"
"Mhm, I study everyone before I meet them," Lucki advertised her abnormal behaviors, "I was scared to see who the pyromaniac was. I heard after you almost torched half the campus Rote placed a seal over your flame" past became present. The hothead with a fascination for immolation. So much so they were willing to burn life itself for just a moment. A known fact that mentality reflected one's magic, what would that say of the sacrificial flame?
"But you're not as bad as they all made you out. You seem way nicer than any-"
"You're wrong," Lena owned up to her actions, "Maybe some of what you heard was exaggerated, but it's rooted in truth," the madwoman left her mark. To those who knew her reputation in this city, none dared to look her in the eye. "I've cooled down since my fire faded...but to be honest some of that is still in me," Therapy, anger management, and even sedation couldn't stop her warped passion for destruction.
"But you've been making changes? Correct?" Somehow, the Dyson overlooked the sorrow coming from the one beside her, "You've acknowledged what you were and are taking steps to be better, is that wrong? The past may follow you forever and dampen your mood, but it will never define a changed you," she hummed. "Or maybe I'm wrong, I do not know."
Under the pale moon, they sat for an uncounted time. Neither continued to speak but their silent message went on. The Dyson's hum was joined in by Lena. A new friend made on the night neither wanted to end...but time marched on. Lucki had to depart on account of her duty, guiding Lena back into the walled city. A secret entrance dug under the wall with brass doors that went unseen. Within the confines she was left humming on the path home.
The scent of rain wafted on autumn weather. Subtle hints of heat from the stones. Lanterns of plasma lit their path on the main walkway. Home, the last house en route. She used the spare key as always, on entering she heard Wilson snore from upstairs. Dynamo was nowhere to be seen. Slowly Lena climbed the stairs; the time was 3 a.m. Without another thought she went to her room.
Comparatively small, it was cluttered with accolades her past marked by pictures and medals. It wasn't as dusty as she expected, the floral carpets and trinkets on the wall alluring. With closed eyes, she fell to bed. Falling asleep she surfed her neuargear to find a few stray texts from Strider and others. A back and forth lead her to the land where no worries could bother a soul. The god of dream's dominion was a pure one for the visitors. Though Lena's dreamed, one was about to be shattered.
A clamp and a yelp. A sound that jolted her awake to peer out the window near her bedside into the backyard, "Ah, who the hell put that there!?" a certain unit managed to get his oversized leg caught in a beartrap. Lena was unimpressed as Dynamo flailed in an attempt to pull it off. She noted another figure with her.
"Oi, people are trying to sleep over here," Lena argued, "Why are you sneaking through my backyard and dragging Patrick with ya?" Despite his attempts to conceal his face, she recognized his twitches in seconds. Pinpoint accuracy and an arrow later struck the balance in the center of the trap, resetting the teeth to the side; a few were missing.
"He told me it was the fastest way here," Dynamo pushed blame.
"Wha-?" Patrick coughed, "Umm...I didn't think you'd be home so soon….hi Lena."
"It's like five the morning, what are you two doing?" she shook her head, "Know what? Forget I asked just get inside."