Chapter Two

[Quantum Rain]

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As the forum auto-splits topics every 50 pages, the next topics will be named further chapters accordingly. This is chapter two, guys, KEEP IT UP!

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Reeds just kept on whistling as guards and crew cleared out of his path. Eventually, he stopped at a door, the label addressing it as 'Science Lab 2A.' He smiled as he opened the door and Lae saw that the science lab was not small by any means. It was massive, in fact, taking up at least five rooms and two floors entirely on its own. It also seemed to host a massive range of equipment, some of which were entirely foreign to him. With all of the technology, equipment, and stores here, one could only wonder what Reeds' intention was with this lab.

He rolled the cart up next to two others and then proceeded to rummage around for a datapad. "Sit down, my fine lab rat." He said friendly still as he finally found his desired object, turning it own and turning toward Lae, a mischievous grin on his face.

[Quantum Rain]

The man brought the blade up in one fluent move to easily deflect the blade and then stepped forward toward Lae, striking in a upward slant at the second dagger, then following up with a shunt at the kid's chest, pushing him backwards.

[Wynn]

The man brought the blade up in one fluent move to easily deflect the blade and then stepped forward toward Lae, striking in a upward slant at the second dagger, then following up with a shunt at the kid's chest, pushing him backwards.

Lae let out a scream of agony when the man hit him in the chest, more so than would be expected. As he did hit him, he felt a lot of give to the bones. Lae staggered back and held both arms over his chest, knife in one hand pointed away from himself. "You [censored] [censored]!" Lae swore at him. He coughed into his arm, and when he stopped, the man saw blood on the sleeve. Lae ran at the man, and threw the dagger at the man's leg. He would jump up, and use his head as a step stone, hopped off it, flipped around and kicked the man in the back of the head. He would retrive the other dagger he had thrown earlier and stand in a semi-ready stance, coughed again, and a bit of blood trickled down his lip.

[Quantum Rain]

The man deflected the next dagger with ease again, but when he swung a reprisal, he missed, not expecting Lae to jump over him in such a way. As he lightly staggered forward, he recovered, taking two further steps and spinning abruptly around, flourishing his blade again and then resting it at the ground once more. His face bore no emotion it seemed, as he stared blankly at Lae, unforgiving and uncaring. This kid is weaker than I imagined. He thought, as his mind went through all of the different moves and strategies he could utilize against Lae. Crafty and intelligent, but weak...

[Wynn]

The man deflected the next dagger with ease again, but when he swung a reprisal, he missed, not expecting Lae to jump over him in such a way. As he lightly staggered forward, he recovered, taking two further steps and spinning abruptly around, flourishing his blade again and then resting it at the ground once more. His face bore no emotion it seemed, as he stared blankly at Lae, unforgiving and uncaring. This kid is weaker than I imagined. He thought, as his mind went through all of the different moves and strategies he could utilize against Lae. Crafty and intelligent, but weak...

Lae charged at the man, punched him in the face, kicked him in the groin, then stabbed the dagger down into the joint where the spine crosses the shoulders when he would inevitably double over..

[Quantum Rain]

The man sidestepped away from the punch, the sword arm still relaxed as he spun around to avoid the next move. The sword rose up with him as he avoided the kick and had it crash into the dagger, forcing it down with superior weight and force, following up with Lae's weakened defenses with another shunt with the blunt side of the metallic blade, with less force than the last time, but still significant. The aim was to send Lae back again. Tenacious as well. He thought, flourishing the blade again as Lae recovered, the tip resting on the ground again.

[Wynn]

The man sidestepped away from the punch, the sword arm still relaxed as he spun around to avoid the next move. The sword rose up with him as he avoided the kick and had it crash into the dagger, forcing it down with superior weight and force, following up with Lae's weakened defenses with another shunt with the blunt side of the metallic blade, with less force than the last time, but still significant. The aim was to send Lae back again. Tenacious as well. He thought, flourishing the blade again as Lae recovered, the tip resting on the ground again.

Lae ducked beneath the counter attack then jumped upwards and brought the blade beneath the man's chin, followed by a kick to the chest. "Sorry, but I have absolutely no intent on dying here." Lae said bitterly.

[Quantum Rain]

The demon jumped backwards and then spun again, striking in an upward slant, followed by a horizontal slash, and a kick backwards in perfect succession, one after the other. The demon laughed as he went to strike again, not flourishing the blade or resting it. He struck again in a thrust followed by a spinning downward slant, combined with a leg sweep, and then he jumped back up, back-flipping clear off the ground, away from a reprisal, standing again in a ready position. You act pretty cool and calm for a young kid.

[Wynn]

The demon jumped backwards and then spun again, striking in an upward slant, followed by a horizontal slash, and a kick backwards in perfect succession, one after the other. The demon laughed as he went to strike again, not flourishing the blade or resting it. He struck again in a thrust followed by a spinning downward slant, combined with a leg sweep, and then he jumped back up, back-flipping clear off the ground, away from a reprisal, standing again in a ready position. You act pretty cool and calm for a young kid.

Lae dodged the first few attacks, and to the kick to the chest by the second hit. Blood splatted out of his mouth. AGAIN WITH THE CHEST!? Lae caught the blade in his bare hand on the next attack. The blade sank slightly into his hand, but it was stopped. He delivered an especially hard punch to the face immediately afterwards, not letting go of the sword. It would be obvious the last blow to the chest had him royally pissed now.

[Quantum Rain]

The demon didn't flinch as the fist slammed into his head, he instead caught the hand with his free hand and lifted Lae up, throwing him overhead, along with the sword, which came crashing onto the ground in a clatter. The demon stood there for a moment as Lae recovered again. He knew full well what would happen following any follow-up attack. It's sad that I am going to have to call it quits here... He thought, calling the blade from its resting position into his hand, You clearly need to grow stronger if you have to count on your other half. He sheathed the blade and proceeded to walk away. "We both know how this would end should neither of us have been holding back, but for now, feel free to leave." He said with a wave of his hand. "I hope I'll see you stronger some day, Lae." He emphasized the name as to say he knew more than what was thought earlier. As he disappeared into the dark night, all that was left with Lae was silence.

[Wynn]

The demon didn't flinch as the fist slammed into his head, he instead caught the hand with his free hand and lifted Lae up, throwing him overhead, along with the sword, which came crashing onto the ground in a clatter. The demon stood there for a moment as Lae recovered again. He knew full well what would happen following any follow-up attack. It's sad that I am going to have to call it quits here... He thought, calling the blade from its resting position into his hand, You clearly need to grow stronger if you have to count on your other half. He sheathed the blade and proceeded to walk away. "We both know how this would end should neither of us have been holding back, but for now, feel free to leave." He said with a wave of his hand. "I hope I'll see you stronger some day, Lae." He emphasized the name as to say he knew more than what was thought earlier. As he disappeared into the dark night, all that was left with Lae was silence.

Lae attempted to follow, he had no intent on letting him get away, but collapsed from his injuries. He fell flat on his face and passed out. Before blacking out, he simply thought. This sucks.

[Quantum Rain]

--Road to home--
The demon allowed a faint smile show on his face as he walked along the moonlit trail. The kid is determined, but he has a long way to go. He thought to himself as the escorts soon appeared at his sides. I can't wait to see him get that far. It will be a blast! He laughed to himself as they emerged into the city. He would be pleased to send this report to his masters. They would be undoubtedly pleased as well.

---

--Foot of the mountain--

Lae would be left there for almost a half hour until figures emerged from the darkness. Armed soldiers, fanning out around Lae and checking the perimeter. They wore black armor, mildly armed, and helmeted and no definitive symbol or marking to show their allegiance. Two more armored figures appeared, this time entirely from the shadowed ground it seemed. The first figure looked to be the leader, the second his aide, or something to that effect. The first signaled to the second and a couple other soldiers as he scanned the area.

Three men lifted Lae up, carefully, and then proceeded towards the mountain. The soldiers did not move, still ensuring that they were not watched. When they were satisfied, they slowly withdrew, the first figure among them. Not a single word was spoken and hardly any noise was made as they all blended into the nightly darkness.

[Wynn]

--Road to home--
The demon allowed a faint smile show on his face as he walked along the moonlit trail. The kid is determined, but he has a long way to go. He thought to himself as the escorts soon appeared at his sides. I can't wait to see him get that far. It will be a blast! He laughed to himself as they emerged into the city. He would be pleased to send this report to his masters. They would be undoubtedly pleased as well.

---

--Foot of the mountain--

Lae would be left there for almost a half hour until figures emerged from the darkness. Armed soldiers, fanning out around Lae and checking the perimeter. They wore black armor, mildly armed, and helmeted and no definitive symbol or marking to show their allegiance. Two more armored figures appeared, this time entirely from the shadowed ground it seemed. The first figure looked to be the leader, the second his aide, or something to that effect. The first signaled to the second and a couple other soldiers as he scanned the area.

Three men lifted Lae up, carefully, and then proceeded towards the mountain. The soldiers did not move, still ensuring that they were not watched. When they were satisfied, they slowly withdrew, the first figure among them. Not a single word was spoken and hardly any noise was made as they all blended into the nightly darkness.

Lae awoke much later in a medical bed. He took in the environment. "This is going to be a regular thing, isn't it?..." He remarked quietly. He got up out of the bed and looked around, trying to figure out exactly where he was.

[Quantum Rain]

A few seconds after Lae emerged from the bed, Reeds walked in through the door, carrying a datapad, fully engrossed in it as was usual for him. "Good morning sunshine." He said casually, not even looking up as he entered the med bay. He laid the datapad onto a cart, and took a scanning device from the far end. He turned toward Lae, tapping on his shoulder once for him to remain still as he proceeded to scan his chest and shoulders in a sweeping manner.

[Wynn]

A few seconds after Lae emerged from the bed, Reeds walked in through the door, carrying a datapad, fully engrossed in it as was usual for him. "Good morning sunshine." He said casually, not even looking up as he entered the med bay. He laid the datapad onto a cart, and took a scanning device from the far end. He turned toward Lae, tapping on his shoulder once for him to remain still as he proceeded to scan his chest and shoulders in a sweeping manner.

Lae groaned. "Reeds, just- Just don't say that again, alright?" he said out of a certain level of annoyance. He held still for the scan. "How did i get here?" He inquired.

[Quantum Rain]

"Carried here by an extraction team. You were beat up pretty bad, but..." He stopped as he studied the scan results to give a proper answer. "You seem to be in fair condition." He rummaged through his pocket, handing Lae two small pills. "For the headache you'll be having soon." He said, as he laid the scanner down on the cart and started filling in a formal report on the datapad. This report took mere seconds to complete, as he answered Lae's questions.

[Wynn]

"Carried here by an extraction team. You were beat up pretty bad, but..." He stopped as he studied the scan results to give a proper answer. "You seem to be in fair condition." He rummaged through his pocket, handing Lae two small pills. "For the headache you'll be having soon." He said, as he laid the scanner down on the cart and started filling in a formal report on the datapad. This report took mere seconds to complete, as he answered Lae's questions.

Lae took the pills and pocketed them. "I think I'm going to go have my last meal." Lae said dryly. "Rain's probably going to have me shot for my stupidity on that mission." He sighed and looked out the window. "I should've just listened."

Xaldius: Yeah, you probably should have.
Lae: This coming from the [censored] altar-ego who doesn't know how to stay buried like he's supposed to?

[Quantum Rain]

"What do you think the pills were for?" Reeds commented with a serious attitude, finishing the report and placing the datapad on the cart again. "And to answer your earliest question, I rather doubt it." He said again, referencing to the first thing Lae said when he awoke.

[Wynn]

"What do you think the pills were for?" Reeds commented with a serious attitude, finishing the report and placing the datapad on the cart again. "And to answer your earliest question, I rather doubt it." He said again, referencing to the first thing Lae said when he awoke.

Lae sighed. "Did you happen to pick up the backpack?" He inquired. "I stowed all of my gear in it when i tried to sneak out of the city."

[Quantum Rain]

"If it was on your person or close by, then it is probably in Rain's office for safe keeping." Reeds replied plainly as he took a device from the cart, pocketed, and then proceeded to the door. "I'll make sure to have a pine box waiting for you outside Rain's office, if there's a body left to bury anyway. Good luck kid. Oh, and if you happen to survive, I upgraded your armor with a thin gel layer between thin shock-absorbing plates in the chest, arms, shoulders, and legs of your armor. Drop by the labs to pick it up." He said, prideful of his work as he exited.

[Wynn]

"If it was on your person or close by, then it is probably in Rain's office for safe keeping." Reeds replied plainly as he took a device from the cart, pocketed, and then proceeded to the door. "I'll make sure to have a pine box waiting for you outside Rain's office, if there's a body left to bury anyway. Good luck kid. Oh, and if you happen to survive, I upgraded your armor with a thin gel layer between thin shock-absorbing plates in the chest, arms, shoulders, and legs of your armor. Drop by the labs to pick it up." He said, prideful of his work as he exited.

Lae nodded and walked out of the room. He went to the cafeteria, had the synthesizers make him an orange soda and sat drinking it for a short time. Afterwards, he got up and went to Rain's office and knocked on the door.

[Quantum Rain]

The door opened abruptly as Lara was about to walk through, stopping immediately at the sight of Lae. She smiled as she gently brushed past him. Rain was sitting, pinching the bridge of his nose as he seemed quite annoyed and stressed at the given time. The door closed as Rain looked up, his cold eyes meeting Lae's. If stares could be lethal then, Lae would have been disintegrated on the spot. "I see you've recovered." Rain said softly, almost hissing it out.

[Wynn]

The door opened abruptly as Lara was about to walk through, stopping immediately at the sight of Lae. She smiled as she gently brushed past him. Rain was sitting, pinching the bridge of his nose as he seemed quite annoyed and stressed at the given time. The door closed as Rain looked up, his cold eyes meeting Lae's. If stares could be lethal then, Lae would have been disintegrated on the spot. "I see you've recovered." Rain said softly, almost hissing it out.

Lae just stood there, and stared at him mostly expressionless, aside from the fact his eyes were narrowed slightly. He said nothing, and just stood there, waiting for the inevitable firestorm.

[Quantum Rain]

"I would not have minded your disobedience, had it not been at the cost of an innocent life, next to several more injuries due the panic you caused." He continued harshly in his tone, but soft in volume. "Not only that though, but significant collateral damage for an assassin, seconds away from your identity being uncovered, and let's not forget the sate you were in, forcing us to go against regulations to extract you due to the threat of 'loose ends' you posed. Do you understand just how deep in this [censored] hole you are now because you refused to listen to a withdrawal order?"

[Wynn]

"I would not have minded your disobedience, had it not been at the cost of an innocent life, next to several more injuries due the panic you caused." He continued harshly in his tone, but soft in volume. "Not only that though, but significant collateral damage for an assassin, seconds away from your identity being uncovered, and let's not forget the sate you were in, forcing us to go against regulations to extract you due to the threat of 'loose ends' you posed. Do you understand just how deep in this [censored] hole you are now because you refused to listen to a withdrawal order?"

Lae still didn't say a word. He stood there just like he had been since he walked into the room, with that same expression.

Xaldius: Speechless, are we?
Lae: Shut the [censored] up!
Xaldius: Perhaps you should rethink saying that since I saved you from being taken by surprise?
Lae: Fair enough; would you kindly shut the [censored] up?
Xaldius: ...

Lae wouldn't show any signs of the argument going on inside his head.

[Quantum Rain]

Rain sat in his chair, that cold, lethal stare combined with the dark, borderline sinister emotions one could almost see clouding around him made the position they were both in even more dark and awkward feeling. The only thing holding back the firestorm Lae saw was an awfully high amount of patience. "I asked you a question." He said, his tone rising slightly to an elevated degree of a cold rage.

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