Rude Awakenings (Closed to Garth)

Redline's eyes opened in a blinding flash as he took a deep inhale, his first voluntary breath in weeks. A dull ache rang in his chest cavity then radiated to the extremities as his chest held at its inflated state. It woke him closer to consciousness. Consciousness, true unillusary life. The events that had lead to this point still held tight in his ravaged mind. Even now they were hard to believe, but the feelings from them proved to him without a doubt their reality. Shi had lead him to the maw of Hell and there drew forth from him the monster that was Scott Silver. And that being, that vile spawn which had existed for so many years only to hurt, was cast into the eternal fire, leaving Redline, only Redline in his stead. He could feel it, Scott was gone, he was no longer him and the darkness no longer hung over him like a black cloud. Redline was free and took in another fresh breath of clean pure life. Come to think of it, the breath felt...healthy. It was raspy and a little labored, his throat still suffering from his previous life's abuse but the lungs themselves, he couldn't be certain but they felt clear, at least clearer. Sai, she must have fixed him in the real world, physically, while Shi repaired his spirit. Immediately the healing Redline shot up in his bed. "Sai...I don't know what...you did but..." There was no one. Redline's words rasped out through an empty room, echoing off its eerily quite walls. That was odd. Looking about he began to notice that something was amiss.

Dust had accumulated on every surface in the small room. The lights dull blue as usual, flickered as though running low on power. This was impossible. The base ran totally efficient and if he knew Sai like he though he did there was no way that she would leave her home away from home in such poor condition. Feeling a panic rise in his body, Redline looked to his own body. What he saw was no more reassuring. The same grey dust that coated the room lay in a thin blanket over the bead and over him. Not only had he not moved from this spot since Sai had repaired him, but he suspected that no one had come to check on him since then. Red flags went off all throughout his overactive mind and his heart raced uneasily. Without another though he hopped down from the bed and reached for the tall dolly next to his bed, its technology still pumping synthesized nutrients and hydration into his blood through the IV in his left arm. His legs were uneasy, giving way as soon as his feet hit the floor. "Aaahhh" he roared frustrated that he could not even stand. How long had he been out? Why had no one checked on him? Where was Sai? He became more and more concerned as he pulled himself once again to his sky footing.

Carefully he breathed in. The new lungs were healthy but they were not yet used to any kind of physical exertion and even his little fall put a tax on them. This wasn't good, he needed Sai and he needed answers, now! As soon as he felt he had a firm grasp on his footing, a rather wobbly Redline began to make his way to the door to the right of his bed. At this speed and with his mind, it took an agonizing amount of time to reach the metal door. Upon reaching it he instantly reached down and flung open the door. Immediately, he wished he hadn't. Light from a hole in the ceiling came in nearly blinding eyes that had seen nothing other than the back of their eyelids for weeks. Wires and metal hung to the ground from tears in Sai's carefully built structure. It was almost unbearable, forcing Redline to his knees sending a puff of dust up from the ground only to float lighly down and cover the ash and dust that coated the outer hallway as well. There was no action he could take, no fight to fight. Whatever had happened at OCEAN happened while he was unconscious, lying inert in a hospital bed begging for his soul. Redline wept at the irony and the pain in his heart. The one time he had been selfish, the time his team and his friends most needed him, he was not there. Shi had saved him and lead him through, but to a world where OCEAN lay in ruins.

It was almost as if Redline did not have the ability to deal with the trauma. He had been through something like this once already at the hands of Shi but now it was real. There was no dream to wake up from or some test to pass, only the irreversible and unforgiving gravity of reality. He wanted to blame Shi, wanted to force that responsibility on him but he couldn't. Shi was here, in the fight with the others when whatever calamity had happened tore OCEAN apart. The blame rest on Redline alone. Tears continued down his face as he tried to imagine what could have done this. He had to do something, had to pull himself from this and carry forward.

Reluctantly he rose to his feet again, clinging tight to the dolly. Slowly, his eyes still swollen with hot tears, he inched through the sunlit corridors of OCEAN's former glory. It was all destroyed, shattered, ripped to pieces. He began to consider the sheer luck that he and his location would be left untouched, once more affirming his purpose. Something, just as when he was granted his abilities, had wanted him alive for something. Until that divine purpose was fulfilled he would not rest.

Feeling revitalized in purpose, Redline ripped the IV from his vein and zipped his blood stained suit back up, feeling glad that he was wearing it at the time of his collapse. And taking a few warm up bounds, he took off down the hallway at full speed, testing out his new lungs and taking in as much of the base as he could to assess the damage and search for survivors. A cloud of dust kicked up in his wake, the wind at his back sweeping out the cobwebs of the massacred base and revitalizing some of the shine that once hung on the walls. Through every nook and cranny he searched and while there were plenty of signs of struggle but none of a survivor or inhabitant left in the base. It was empty, gone devoid of life, but..."Xeionix!" He shouted, his cry ringing in what had once been Sai's own quarters. "This is Second in Command...Operative Redline...I need a status report...now!" Anger and determination snapped in his voice, uncharacteristic of the typically stoic Redline. A low whirring began somewhere deep inside the base as what Redline hoped was Xeonix came to life. Then that voice, its light echoes and unmachinlike personality came in softly over a damaged intercom. "Base fu...cion halted...ope...ve...dlin..." He was damaged, along with everything else. And his presence here once again begged the question, where was Sai? Surely she would not leave him of all people behind, willingly at least. "Xeionix...come to me" Redline called to the mechanical being. Once more a whirring was heard, this time followed by a sickening metal scrape. At least he was moving.

Hurriedly Redline shot through the base once more looking for the damaged being. The scarping sounds led him right to him. Xeionix looked pitiful. He lumbered forward in his bird form, one leg missing and a wing with a basketball sized hole in it. As gently as he knew how Redline extended out his hands to the injured being and lifted him to his shoulder. "Don't worry Xeonix" he muttered reassuringly to Sai's companion, "we're going to figure out...what happened here..."

Shi’s eyes opened, his could feel another spirit within the realms of Ocean. His mask on a chain attacked to his tasset, jingling as his face turned to the door which led from the mess hall, which was now a make-shift training arena. Shi just looked, his straw hat tilted at just the right angle. The few individuals gathered there, all of them apprentices’ of Ruyrou, looked to Shi almost concerned. Never before did Shi stop in mid sentence, unless the situation was grave. The last time he cut off mid sentence, three of the other apprentice’s died from an attack from the forces of the Spirits. Shi smiled, and everyone seemed to relax, as he turned back to them, his crimson eyes scanning over all of them, as he resumed his lecture about the fighting style, Kushala Tatsu.

    Shi knew it was Redline, awakened from his long slumber. Long ago had the energies powering the medical bay gone out, there was now only a generator that powered the area. Stepping form there to the hallway would have been eerie, finding only wires hanging from the roof, and a near total power-outage. The grand construct such as OCEAN H.Q was once a place so alive, so full of life. It was home to many good people, and many virtuous meta-humans. It was both Headquarters and HOME to many operatives. Ocean was a family…and now…it was nothing more than a training grounds for the regrowing Circle of Death. Shi had enchanted almost everywhere in the base, and now it was nothing more than an extension of his body. The lobby now had a makeshift skylight from the battle between Yam and Sean, The damage done by Madame, and even the damage done in the sparring match between Saileyra and Shi himself. Not to forget when Zell Atterrius broke in specifically to cripple Shi. The entire place was a mess. Nothing that a nice benefactor couldn’t fix, however it was still far more than Shi had. The only place that remained anywhere near untouched was the Tank squad’s area.

     With Redline awake, there was only Shi and He. For now, that was. Redline gently placed the bird upon his shoulder, the bird itself fighting to keep online and composed. Redline spoke as if they were going to find out what happened to the base, but Xeonix was already rather informed on the events…being present for most of them. ”Op…edli…base….rity…ty per…” The bird attempted to warn Redline about the base reaching twenty percent integrity. ”sev…Un…rized…lifefor-…tect…tank squa…mess…no living…ratives…tected. The bird continued. It was glitching out through several parts of the information debriefing. It was attempting to alert Redline that several unknown lifeforms had entered the base, and of them none were operatives. Of course Xeonin forgot to meantion that Shi was never alive on their scanners to begin with. It made the issue of him coming up K.I.A or Deceased all the time. It eventually flustered Sai and Shi to the point they simply let it go.

    The Tank-Squads area was well restored, thanks to Ryurou’s efforts, in fact his room was the only one still untouched. It was full of statuetts and figurines and religious idols, having been used as the a safe-haven and a place to seek the truth for any and all who would believe in a life after death…though Shi never told them if they were correct or not. Something’s were just better left unsaid however. Using His Scythe, he conjured the illusion of sound, echoing to Redline like that of an unknown figure.

    Where are you going? It asked. Him. Sho knew of Redline’s rather ‘susceptible’ mind, and so the way he spoke it was clear that it was not threatening, though how Redline would react was still up for debate, considering what Redline had just gone through. Ryurous Shi was hoping to get the chance to speak with the reborn hero, though it seems as if that might not happen, considering he felt another presence. A presence he knew all too well. It was not a creature he knew by name, but it was a vile creature of darkness and corruption, a creature as twisted and warped as the minds who made it. With a Sigh, Shi stepped forward, and in a gust of wind he shadow-stepped with a great velocity to the source of Redline’s soul. Shi was far faster since the last time Redline had seen his own stepping powers at work. He stopped short. He would not be seen, heard or smelled by Redline, his Illusion had shifted slightly, virtually masking Shi’s presence. When he stepped forward into the threshold of the doorway, darkness formed and Shi revealed himself, walking through it as the illusion faded.

    ”Welcome back…Redline” Ryurou said as his stone cold face, and nearly dead eyes fell upon Redline. The last time Redline had experienced an event with Shi, Shi was disciplined, respectful and on Redline’s side, being the one who offered up redemption to the broken man. Despite his eyes revealing what he was…his eyes had almost been warm…almost alive. But now…it was like someone else had taken over. As if the same Shi was not here any longer. He lowered his head slightly and turned around to walk away. He seemed to be ending the interaction right there, but he knew very well after what Redline had gone through…and what redline had woken up from…
     A snowball has a better chance in Hell…
  * * * * *

    His boots released a crack beneath them as he stepped upon the broken glass that lay in mass quantity upon the godforsaken floors of the OCEAN lobby. He gave a little hum as he looked the area over. Their sensors hadn’t picked up on him yet, his suit was aptly developed by his creators. His red eyes narrowed as his gum turned into a slight growl. This was such an inconvenience. Apparently there was someone who already did his dirty work. Not that it matters, Garth had one reason, and one reason alone to be there. Ryurou, Shi was a threat to his master…and Shi himself was one of several people who were studied for Garth’s creation. It was only natural he hunt this inferior predator and whatever little “clan” he was establishing.

Xeonix was no help unfortunately. The constructs vocalization apparatus was almost totally shot and its attempts to speak to Redline were all but futile. However, one message made its way to him loud and clear..."No living operatives detected". To be honest, it was what Redline had expected and knew somewhere in the back of his mind, but the confirmations was still jarring. No one was left, not a single operative still within the walls of OCEAN. Maybe it was a good thing, if no one was here there was a chance that they got out before this happened. Maybe someone made it out, saw the calamity and bolted. It wasn't the ideal situation as that would have meant someone ditched their dying comrades to save their own skin. But Redline was too hopeful at the idea to be mad, at least at the moment.

Breaking Redline suddenly from his contemplation was a disembodied voice that seemed to echo from within his mind. "Where are you going" it whispered in his mind. "Who are you!?" Redline quickly shot back to the voice. It was unclear what this entity's intention was or what it was for that matter. For all Redline knew this voice may have belonged to the thing responsible for destroying OCEAN. "Show yourself...creature...what have you...done here!" His heart raced, beating hard on his chest and his muscled twitched and tightened preparing for action. The hairs on his body raised, like an animal ready to pounce and he lowered his form, scanning the darkness in front of him. And the darkness responded to his attentiveness. As though a dark cloud were dissipating a figure stepped forward, parting the smog. Redline nearly pounced at its onset but held back, a twinge of hope in him that somehow Xeonix had been wrong and this mystery man was a part of OCEAN. His hopes were confirmed as out of the black stepped the man who had saved him, literally pulling him from the maw of hell. It was none other, than Shi.

But something was off about him. The deathly samurai did not wear his mask, instead allowing it to hang at his hip, letting his dragon from appear quite vividly. And he carried himself with less of the poise and discipline that he once had. Redline knew the dragon known as Death, had spent quite some time with it during his near death experience, but was none the less disturbed. Bluntly, this new Shi let out a greeting, as though none of what lie in ruins around him even registered. Then promptly he turned and began to leave. "Shi...what are you doing?" he said, looking for answers. Using his speed he bolted in front of the fleeting samurai, meeting him face to face. "What happened Shi...where are our operatives...where is Sai...why does the base...lie in ruins...whathappenedtoSai...whodidthis...wherearetheynow...whatcanIdo?" His speech blurred as he spoke, degrading into a speed more akin to his natural blinding pace. He was worked up and confused. Shi had to know something, there was no way he didn't. But why had he been so cold, surely the answers were in what happened and Redine had to know now. "Shi..." he said once more, this time taking his hands and placing them on each of Shi's shoulders,his faded blue eyes looking deep into the eyes of the dragon with a mixture of true distress and bewilderment, "What has happened to OCEAN...in my absence?"

Speeding in front of Shi? That was not wise ever since he had metaphorically "Dropped the shield". Had he been anything other than the disciplined man he was...Redline would not be coming back this time. Shi's stoic and emotionless face remained as stone as Redline placed his hands upon Shi's shoulders, and pleaded reason out of him. Shi sighed, he didn't wish to be the one to tell Redline this...but none other would be able too...and so he would be the bringer of bad news. As Death itself one would think he'd have been used to this by now.

"Walk with me, Redline." He said, his face softening a little, the faintest emotion of sorrow slipping through. He forced himself past Redline a little, placing his own hand on Redline's shoulder to corral him into walking with Shi, who had left in the middle of a lesson. Shi began to walk the battered hallway of the medical ward, towards the lobby...hoping Redline would be in tow. "Ocean is no more. Saileyra is missing in action, Xeonix cannot find her...I could not find her. Plural...gone... Black Steel...gone. Madame Versaille has gone, after the disappearance of a fellow operative. You were incapacitated. I am still here... Operative Titan...my fellow Death Incarnate has gone rogue... My apprentice and Ocean's Ally, Zell Atterrius, had lost his sanity because of operative Collin. In return, Atterrius broke into the base, and made quick work of it in order to find me, and snap my spine... Saileyra followed him and...we;ve not heard from her since...after all these months she's been labeled... M.I.A. Not long after, Sean Collin returned to end my existence.... Operative Yam...the God of the Oceans intervened upon my behalf...and died defending me. Upon his demise...I...I accepted my role as Death...I reaped his soul, and his soul was ample enough to restore and heal my spine. We drove Operative Collin into retreat...but he is still very much alive." Shi explained everything bluntly and basically. He didn't get into too much detail, and in truth he didn't truly want to.

They turned through the upper lobby and went down towards the Tank Squad's center. The place was already much better repaired than the rest of the base. Shi walked past several doors and eventually led Redline to the Mess-hall for the Tank Squad. It had been totally renovated into a training area, where human's with no special powers were being taught to harness the powers of the human condition, to transcend the limitations that the placed upon themselves. The Circle of Death...was finally ushered into the world. Reborn... as the Dark Phoenix. Ryurous Shi entered with Redline, and dozens of samurai stood there at a formal head bowed to Redline and Shi.

"Ocean is dead. Our Family...is Dead. From the Ashes the Dark Phoenix rises. This is my Clan... they are an order bound by ancient traditions to defend the world form the growing corruption. I have changed it's name...in remembrance of our friend...our sister... Out family is gone, and Ocean is dead....but you are always welcome amongst us Redline." He said. He continued to walk down the stairs into the remolded area. Purple star-dust lit the area, keeping a dark and solemn atmosphere, met only by torch-light and students sparring.