Relic of the Cold War Part III

The sound of the terminal’s relentless hum filled the silence in the small control room, the steady tapping of keys echoing as Spectral continued to work, his brow furrowed in concentration. His fingers moved quickly, inputting lines of code into the system, his eyes darting across the screen as though the answers he needed were just beyond his reach. Karl stood beside him, trying to focus on the task at hand, but his gaze kept drifting to Axon. She hadn’t moved much in the past few minutes, her breathing shallow and labored.

Panzer was pacing, his movements erratic as his eyes flicked from Axon to the terminal. He was a man of action, always ready for the next fight, but now, as the minutes ticked by, his usual bravado seemed to slip. Karl could see the anxiety mounting in him, the way his fists clenched and unclenched.

“Spectral, we need to move faster,” Panzer said, his voice tinged with panic. “She’s not going to last much longer without blood. I can’t--” He cut himself off, his eyes going wide as he looked at Karl. “Karl, what blood type are you?”

Karl blinked, taken aback by the sudden question. “What? Why does it matter?”

“Just tell me!” Panzer’s voice was sharp, his urgency unmistakable.

Karl frowned, but then it hit him. “O-negative,” he replied quickly, confusion and concern filling his voice. “Why?”

Panzer’s eyes widened in relief. “Thank God,” he muttered under his breath, rushing toward the medical supplies stored in the corner of the room. He grabbed an IV bag and a needle with practiced speed. “Axon’s blood type is O-negative too. We can use yours. I’ll transfuse it directly into her.”

Karl’s heart skipped a beat. He hadn’t even considered the possibility of using his own blood to help her, but Panzer’s quick thinking might just be their only shot. He didn’t hesitate. “Let’s do it. I’m ready.”

Panzer nodded quickly, his hands steady despite the urgency of the situation. He carefully prepared the blood transfusion, getting everything in place before turning to Karl. “I’ll be fast. Just hold her steady.”

Karl moved toward Axon, gently brushing a lock of hair from her forehead. Her skin felt cold, and she barely stirred, her eyes closed in exhaustion. As Panzer worked, Karl couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. It wasn’t enough. They weren’t doing enough for her. But there was nothing else they could do, not yet.

“Alright,” Panzer said after a moment, connecting the bag to the IV line and securing it to Axon’s arm. “It’s started. Let’s hope this is enough to stabilize her.”

Axon’s body tensed for a moment, but then relaxed. Her breathing, though still shallow, seemed a little less labored. Panzer let out a relieved breath.

Karl stayed close, watching her closely. After a few minutes, Axon’s eyelids fluttered open. Her eyes were heavy, and her voice barely a whisper when she spoke.

“Thank you...” she murmured, her voice hoarse, but her lips curved into the faintest of smiles.

Karl’s heart tightened. “Don’t thank me yet. We’ve still got a long way to go.”

Axon blinked, but her smile remained. “I’m… alive. That’s enough.”

Panzer gave a half-hearted chuckle as he wiped his hands on a rag, his tension easing. “I’ve never seen her this… peaceful,” he remarked, his tone lighter, though there was still a trace of awe in his voice.

Spectral, who had been mostly silent up until now, shot Panzer a curious glance, his fingers hovering over the terminal as he processed the information. “You’re not wrong,” he said quietly. “I’ve never seen her so vulnerable. She’s always so... guarded.”

Karl shifted slightly, feeling the weight of Axon’s head resting gently against his shoulder. She’d fallen asleep, her exhaustion finally taking over.

Panzer chuckled softly. “You’ve got yourself a keeper there, Karl.”

Karl raised an eyebrow, surprised at the teasing tone. “She’s just resting. She’s been through hell.”

Spectral smirked. “We’re just saying, we’ve never seen her like this. Always been a tough one. You might’ve cracked through her walls, Karl. That’s impressive.”

Panzer’s grin widened. “Yeah, and for someone who doesn’t like talking, she sure does have a way of trusting you. We all thought she was untouchable. She was in the first generation of the gang, you know. The real early days. Not a lot of people made it through those times.”

Karl’s eyebrows furrowed. “First generation?”

Panzer nodded, though his face grew a little more serious. “Yeah. Some say she was part of a government experiment. Kids like her… some kind of project. It’s all rumors, of course. But Victor saved her when she was just a kid, found her out of the system, got her out. What’s strange is that she never talks about it. Never says a word.”

Spectral added quietly, “There’s a lot we don’t know about her. She’s one of the most guarded people I’ve ever met.”

Karl processed their words, a tight feeling in his chest. It made sense now, the way Axon had always kept her distance, always had that air of mystery about her. But what had happened to her, and how much of it was true? He didn’t know. But he couldn’t imagine the kind of life that would leave someone like Axon so closed off.

Before he could speak, Spectral straightened up suddenly, his expression changing. “We’re in,” he said with a quiet satisfaction. “The system’s cracked. We can leave.”

Karl felt a wave of relief wash over him. “Good. Let’s get her back to base. She needs rest.”

Panzer moved toward the door, glancing at Karl. “You sure she’s gonna be alright?”

Karl nodded, still watching Axon’s peaceful face as she slept. “She’ll be fine. We’re not leaving anyone behind.”

As they made their way out of the control room, Karl’s thoughts were still on Axon, the mysteries surrounding her, and how much she had been through. But for now, all he could focus on was getting her back to safety. They’d find out the rest later. One thing at a time.