XCEL

The dreadful silence echoing throughout the Yorusada Mall was punctuated by the drip, dripping of blood. The tip of a knife protruded from Tegata’s chest.

“Tsushin,” he murmured, eyes wide. “Why?”

The emotionless girl pulled harder, until the hilt pressed up against the skin on his back. Tegata swayed, vision swimming, before he hacked up another red spurt. A heavy pulse thundered in his ears. A wicked burning radiated from the centre of the heavy bloodstain on his shirt. His chest felt hollow, deflating. He fought to breathe, but very little air came in. The blade must’ve punctured his lung.

Just when it mattered most, he had let his guard down. But it wouldn’t end here!

Psychic energy electrified his nerves; a sudden flood of strength and adrenaline surged through his veins. Tegata struck out, throwing himself back. Tsushin let go of the knife, raising both arms to guard. Tegata’s fist struck metal. Pain shot up his arm. He stumbled and winced. Every slight movement jostled the blade inside him. Psychic energy pulsed along his skin, locking the object in place.

The most he could do was hold the wound shut.

Taking a knee, Tegata tore off one sleeve with his teeth, and wrapped the cloth tight around his chest to stem the bleeding. Any kind of external pressure on the wound would give him precious minutes. His psychic reinforcement was helping, but it wasn’t much use now that the wound had already been inflicted. In mock solidarity, whoever Tsushin’s puppeteer did the same, ripping off both black sleeves of her jumpsuit in one sharp motion to reveal two sets of smooth, brushed metal prosthesis.

Tegata grit his teeth, shivering. The sight of those arms again made his stomach wring itself dry. Bile stung the back of his throat. Tsushin wasn’t in control of herself. The Queen undoubtedly determined her every action, just like she had against Kinuka.

But she was still in there!

“Tsushin, fight her!” He shouted. His collapsing lung made forcing any kind of speech literal torture. “Look at me with your own eyes! Speak to me with your own voice! Take back control!”

“Control…” The girl murmured.

“What about your own will? Your own self!”

Tsushin mumbled something more, before her eyes snapped back into focus. “My dear, you should know most of all—” that sickly sweet other voice spoke using Tsushin’s lips— “this girl has no more will, not anymore.” She took up a cobra stance.

Instantly, Tegata assumed another of his own. Hands splayed, he cast a silhouette onto the floor.

“Shadow—”

Jammer; her third eye opened, cutting off Tegata’s connection to the Eye. His flow ceased, and the needles stabbed at every pore in his brain. Tsushin kept her gaze locked on, one finger pressed into her temple.

Tegata clutched at his head, clenching his jaw. “Please. Listen to my voice. You’re not yourself right now; those thoughts are not your own. I won’t let you go this time. I’ll save you from those screams.”

Tsushin burst forward with a left palm strike. Tegata wouldn’t give her the opportunity. Despite the stabbing pain in his head, he lurched forward. Throwing his right leg out in front, he dropped down onto his hands. Hooking his right leg around the back of her knee, he pulled inwards, sweeping the girl to the floor.

Tsushin hit the ground with a muffled clang, but didn’t stay down for long. Springing up with one arm, she traced a swift circle with her foot to catch him out. He jumped just in time.

Pacing forward, she threw a series of blinding sharp jabs and crosses, breaking his every attempt to guard. One roundhouse kick hit him in square in the chest, knocking the wind from his remaining lung and ejecting the knife from his back. The blade clattered to the floor. Tegata winced. Blood gushed from the open wound. His shirt was soaked, and residuals slicked the back of his coat, dripping onto the floor.

How was he still alive? He knew the answer, but couldn’t accept it. Steeling his gut, Tegata surged forth with a cry. Still unable to use his Specialty, he threw his best attempts at retaliation. However, every time his knuckles cracked against steel, a horrible pang of familiarity pierced him through the heart.

How many times, and how many more?

For how long, and for how much longer?

Tears stung at the corners of his eyes, blurring his vision long enough for Tsushin’s next left hook to nearly shatter his jaw and send him spiralling against the iron railing. The mall’s fluorescent lights were from back then. The whites of his eyes reflected the whites of the walls. Tsushin advanced, and so did he—neither of their own volition. Both unwilling combatants exchanged regretful blows, neither backing down.

In their heart of hearts, neither would have ever stood against the other.

Yet, time and again, cruel fate smiled as it forcibly curled their hands into fists.

* * *

Traumatic reminiscence had a tendency to rear its head at the worst of times.

Three years had passed since incarceration, not that Tegata had any idea. One day, those faceless guards had seized him and Tsushin from their cell without any warning. Neither of them had the capacity to resist. The Warden’s Drain had long since lulled them both into catatonia. Just like all the rest, they lay slumped against the stone walls, awake yet not conscious. Their jaws hung slack, eyes staring where they longed for but could not reach.

Even if they could resist, any such effort was met with excruciating punishment. Remotely emulating Dr. Nori’s Specialty, a device had been surgically implanted into the base of their brainstems, capable of delivering a bright, sharp pain that eclipsed the midday sun; a pain so short, the body could never grow accustomed.

Soon, all that remained imprinted in their minds was action-on-command; otherwise, learned helplessness. The Queen’s voice had replaced all thought in their heads. This was the aim of the doomed Project Theia. Children’s minds are far more plastic; they would be conditioned through their adolescence, trained in psyche, combat and obedience.

Tsushin had been the first successful subject to manifest a Specialty, at number 150.

Tegata was second, at 181.

All preceding Tsushin had been Rejected. Culled like beasts—warped souls denied any chance at returning to the Well—their remains were used to satiate the Eternal Hunger. Any that failed subsequent testing met a similar fate. The rest lay eternally dormant in their cells: slumped, deactivated, rotting inside husks that still drew breath. Biological necessities were automated through intravenous delivery; JPRO didn’t even grant the mercy of death.

All Tegata could recall between the periods of lapse was training. An endless series of bright, blank rooms; two-way mirrors; whitecoats and clipboards. Syringe-like electrodes repeatedly pierced his third eye, forcing psychic energy to arc through his veins in agonising, alternating currents, until he was able to do so of his own accord. For his defence, physical torment was in store. Fields of knives tore up his skin until his psychic reinforcement deflected blade strikes. Machine gun fire riddled his torso with holes until he could outpace bullets.

It hurt. God, did it hurt.

Before any injury could grant sweet release, however, they’d immediately strap him to the operating table and stitch him up. Burning liquid was injected directly into his arms, a near-lethal concentration of nutrients, stimulants and steroids, forcing the body to rapidly heal itself beyond any normal limit. This consumed any remaining stamina, leaving him aching and empty.

This was yet further conditioning: the healing process was made intentionally more painful than being hurt to begin with.

Today, the faceless guards marched him to a new chamber. Outside the prison, the subjects were no longer suspect to the Warden’s Drain. However, the moment they left their cells, the guards slapped a slab of dense metal onto their faces. The mask practically welded itself to their skin and eyes, suppressing any kind of psychic energy expenditure. By the time he could see again, he was locked in yet another white room. Another part of the testing facility. A gigantic metal door loomed out in front, interlocking plates cascading down from the ceiling.

What lay beyond?

Dr. Nori’s voice cut in through the intercom, “Subject 181. You will now start a new phase of testing. Having begun to develop your Specialty, you will now face another in live combat. Your objective is to kill without mercy, using all at your disposal.”

Tegata no longer had any capacity to resist. The boy stared ahead, and nodded. The shuttered metal doors in front of him raised in succession, to reveal a pristine circular arena. The floor was engraved with concentric black and white rings, and alternating stripes adorned the walls. Tegata’s head started to spin. A clouded glass observation deck lined the top rung. Vague silhouettes loomed beyond, watching, waiting.

Tsushin Techukara emerged from the opposite door. Eyes sunken, black hair already limp and frail, she crept forth, anxious and hyper aware. Her gaunt face lit up at the sight of him, however. She rushed forward, and crying his name. Tegata couldn’t help but do the same. Seconds from each other’s embraces, arms outstretched, a harsh buzzer cut through the room. An instant of agony flashed behind their eyes, knocking both subjects to the floor, screaming and writhing.

“Stand up,” commanded Dr. Nori. “Your objective is to kill without mercy, using all at your disposal.”

The pain ended as soon as it had begun. Bones still resonating visceral aftershocks, both subjects somehow found their feet.

“No! I don’t want to fight you!” Tsushin cried. Her eyes filled with tears. “Tegata! Please!”

Nori delivered fresh reprimand to Tsushin directly. The girl stiffened, eyes rolling back into her skull, paralysed in agony before the scream could even leave her lungs. Tegata looked on, mortified. His legs refused to move. The moment he stepped forward to comfort, he would only be struck down from above.

“It’s no use, Tsushin.” His voice warbled. He didn’t want to have to say those words.

Tsushin’s sobs caught in her throat as she shakily found her feet.

Tegata didn’t look at her, but opened his arms. “Hit me first.”

“But—”

“Do it, Tsushin!” Tegata screamed, “Or you’ll only get hurt again! Please!”

Swallowing heavily, the girl stilled her ragged breathing. Psychic energy surged along her skin. Tsushin lunged, hooking Tegata square in the cheek. The potent electricity crackled into his bones, sending the boy careering across the patterned floor.

“I’m sorry!” Tsushin shrieked. “Are you okay?”

Tegata didn’t want her to worry, but he couldn’t stop the tears from streaming. Raising himself onto one knee, Tegata bowed his head and contorted his hands. “I’m sorry for what’s to happen, Tsushin. Please don’t worry about me.”

Shadow Puppet

影絵人形 Kagē Ningyō

Psychic energy flowed through Tegata in a renewed wave, crackling down through his arms into those hands that obscured the harsh light from above into a single silhouette.

Sed Jackal

冋豺 Keisai

Tegata’s shadow lengthened across the floor with a mournful howl. The shadows ballooned outwards, warping and twisted into two dark hounds. The boy couldn’t bear to look. The dogs’ pupils glowed so bright. Eyes that he’d squeezed the light of life from himself. “This is my curse, wrought by my own two hands,” Tegata murmured, his stare blank. “Go.”

The jackals advanced with a reluctant whimper. Tsushin recoiled in fright, tripping over her own feet. “Tegata, please…”

Tegata stood and walked behind the dogs, face shrouded in shadows of his own. “Focus, Tsushin. Use your Specialty on me. It halts the flow of my psychic energy. You’ll be at an advantage.”

“But I…” Tsushin’s breath hitched in her throat. She backed even further away. “Tegata! I’m scared!”

* * *

Flashes from the past merged and clashed with visions of the present. Reflected in Tsushin’s approach toward him now, Tegata saw himself. Eyes that saw nothing, eyes that didn’t want to see anything more. Those were once his eyes. He’d been so afraid, he wanted nothing but to screw his eyes shut, such that no more light could enter. The light in that place was scary. The light here scared him too. It scared him even now. In order to escape that awful place, he had to move forward. To move forward, he had to open his eyes. The fear would never go away, but the fires of resolve burned brighter. He could see it still, but only just. Her flame had dimmed, flickering faintly, to the point where it seemed hopeless. It seemed so, yet it wasn’t. He would save her. He refused to remain a failure any longer.

“I will open your eyes.” Tegata pushed himself from the railing and took up a stance, one arm reaching over his shoulder.

Tsushin let loose a grating screech and pounced, the fingers on her metal hands splitting into bladed claws.

“I won’t apologise for underhanded tactics. At this rate, it’s practically my brand.” In a single motion, Tegata gripped the nape of his black coat and pulled, throwing both arms forward and slipping them out through the sleeves. Dislodged completely, the jacket broke Tsushin’s line of sight for just a moment. That was all Tegata needed. Isolating a light source, he clasped and contorted both hands beneath it into an unfortunately familiar shape.

Sed Jackal

冋豺 Keisai

His shadow warped and twisted once more, into the glowing-eyed hound. Only one remained. Originally, there had been two. Together in life, and until recently, in death. The first had been destroyed by one of the Rejected, thrown violently against a tree. Those girls they’d rescued that night, were they okay? They could have been among the victims here. He didn’t want to give it mind. Again, the fear made him want to close his eyes, but he forced them open. He wouldn’t run away anymore.

Reacting to the sudden blind, Tsushin slashed prematurely, claws tearing through Tegata’s coat. She was still one and a half metres away.

“Take her down!”

Circling around, the jackal howled, pounced and bit down on Tsushin’s side. She yelped in pain, distracted. Pivoting on one foot, Tegata threw himself to the floor and kicked upward, driving his boot into the girl’s midriff. That had halted her momentum. Coiling his leg once again, Tegata felt the psychic energy flow through him once more. He struck out, and sent her flying. The relative lack of resistance meant his strike hit what remained of her flesh. It had all once been flesh. No longer. Tegata winced. The screams from that day still rang in his ear, those horrible screams. He had promised to save her from them. Some promise that turned out to be.

That was why he deserved only retribution.

A life lived in sin should only end in punishment.

* * *

The first combat trial between the two of them had resulted in Tegata’s victory, through no fault of his own. Tsushin had been too afraid to fight back. Even after disabling his psychic abilities, the paralytic terror had already taken root from the moment she landed the first hit. She had no will to fight. She couldn’t muster the will to even take another step. Tegata ended it as quickly as he could, a single strike to the back of the neck. His memory of the event cut out soon after. Abruptly knocked unconscious by Dr. Nori’s command, he hit the floor as the faceless guards carried them both from the chamber.

Dr. Nori’s plans for the Theia Subjects didn’t end there. Their Specialty training continued. Every day bled into the same cycle. For years to come, those who showed the potential were forced to join their ranks. More subjects; more captives to fill out the prison’s myriad cells; a diverse, downright terrifying array of psychic abilities. They didn’t all last. Even some of the very small minority who even manifested a Specialty gave out under the intensity of the training. The fear on each of those children’s faces were identical. Sheer force of will beat his conscience into submission; Tegata found victory against every single one. He had no choice, but every successive bout still chipped away another little piece from his heart.

Yet again, time passed inside that dreadful facility. Old scars were torn asunder, with new additions joining all the time. Tegata fought and fought, as his life quite literally depended on it. He did exactly as the Queen told of him, as it was ordered. He kept killing, he kept absorbing. Every day, his shadow grew longer. All the while, he continued to fight the other subjects.

The one he fought most often was Tsushin.

It had to be intentional.

This was just another part of the endless conditioning cycle.

* * *

The static crackle of psychic energy rang in his ears. Fifteen year-old Tegata Kage circled the arena in quickstep, darting between a vicious series of blows. Jammer in constant use made every fight little more than a brawl. Neither of them bothered to say anything anymore. The girl’s skin was pale, stretched unnaturally thin over her bones, and cracking ever so slightly at the extremities. They exchanged blows in sequence, but Tsushin had the edge in pure aggression. While Tegata’s strikes were measured, no one movement without consideration, she lashed at him wildly. Unfortunately, her strikes had become predictable.

Tegata caught her next punch and twisted the arm at the elbow, turning her around into a swift armlock. Tsushin fought virulently against his hold, gnashing her teeth as she strained to turn around. Spinning her anticlockwise, Tegata sent her reeling with a powerful blow to her shoulder. She sprang back moments later, a flurry of punches aimed at the boy’s face. He blocked them all, weaving around the outside of a searing jab directed at his throat. He sidestepped, knocking her off balance with a swift kick to the back of the knee. He jabbed her in the sternum, pivoting 180 degrees at the hip to kick her straight in the jaw. This had been their closest fight yet, and had been going on for nearly an hour. His bones ached as they never had, muscles screaming along with, but he knew the price if he ever stopped moving.

Tsushin landed on her back and struggled to get back up. The impact forced her Jammer to deactivate. Tegata wasted no time in securing a shadow on the floor, rolling his arms into a slender, flowing line, and raising a dagger-toothed hand at one end.

Asp

蝮 Mamushi

The hiss from the silhouette echoed around the room, as the slithering shadow flowed and coiled upon itself. The mighty Egyptian cobra raised its head to reveal piercing white eyes and fangs dripping with metaphor. A majestic hood opened around its head and flapped a warning. Tsushin had since risen, but stood rooted. The sight of the serpent king alone sent a chill so visceral down her spine that, for a moment, she was paralysed. That moment may as well have been fatal.

The cobra lunged and sunk its teeth into her thigh. No longer possessing any kind of physical toxin, the venom from Tegata’s Asp instead poisoned the mind. Tsushin yelped and sprang back, before her leg starting convulsing. Unable to support her weight, she collapsed forward onto her front, tearing the snake from her leg and wrestling with it until both her arms went numb. With one final glare up at Tegata, the girl’s strength finally gave out as the mental toxin took hold, and she collapsed.

The serpent let its prey alone, and slithered back along the floor, up Tegata’s leg, coiling threateningly around his throat. Another fight, another regret. Tegata averted shameful eyes, and awaited the inevitable.