Brain First Down The Road To Damascus

The orange portal opened up from the floor of the Sanctum, making its way up as the bodies of Caesar and Umbra began to form. Once the glow had passed the top of their heads, it fizzled away and left the two of them standing in the center of the massive lair.

“Damn. You were right, it is even cooler in here. How have you never showed me this place before?” Caesar asked, turning in circles as he tried to take everything in.

The Sanctum’s floorplan encompassed many levels and sections of smooth white composition, veined faintly with steel, every edge glowing softly like veins of energy. Above all, a vaulted ceiling arched high overhead, composed of reinforced glass and carbon mesh.

At the center of the Sanctum sat the command deck, a sweeping crescent of holo screens that flickered with maps, surveillance feeds, and half built schematics, and a long steel table with a holographic surface for plannings and debriefs.

The surrounding walls curved outward into armoured alcoves and modular bays, each one meticulously arranged with racks of tools, weapon prototypes, and armour components. But beyond the machines and steel, the Sanctum breathed with unexpected life. Hydroponic gardens spilled vertical walls of green, punctuated by shallow pools that rippled under the filtered light.

“We just finished constructing it. This place is basically unbreachable, cuz I’m the only key. And I don’t crack easily,” Umbra replied, spinning around in a padded chair at the table.

Caesar went over and joined her, taking a seat across.

“I gotta ask, what do you think about all this, with Lucius and everything? Feels like I just keep getting fed new crumbs of information every time something crazy happens, but never the whole cookie.”

“Honestly, I don’t know. The situations that brought us all here have been strange, but he seems pretty adamant about redeeming Lain and Surazal’s deaths. I don’t see how he could have been responsible for ending their lives, and I’m on board for any plan that revolves around bringing them back. Besides, his resonance is pretty lackluster. No way he could’ve taken them both in a fight.”

“From the little I’ve seen, I’d have to agree with you. But, I also agree with some of what Grimebank said, Lucius’s presence is definitely connected. Things could continue to get out of control, become even more dangerous for all of us. Especially during the next steps.”

“Oh c’mon, you don’t need to pretend you care about our wellbeing,” Umbra said with a sly grin. “Caesar’s only priority is Caesar. When this is all said and done, you’ll have your reward. And you’ll have another win over that Curator buffoon. Besides, has a little danger ever stopped you before?”

Caesar smiled in return, flashing the pink rubber ball back and forth between his hands in sync with Umbra’s blinks.

“Nope,” he jovially replied, “and it never will.”

“Then keep quiet and let me get some rest until those two get back. I wanna dream about a world where I can sleep without constant interruption.”

***

The exit opened up in a side alley just like it had the first time Lucius had taken it, but he could tell they were in a different section of the city. Instead of dropping to his knees with sickness, he only gagged a little before calming down his upset innards.

“You handled it better than I expected, I’m surprised,” Ultra said, brushing off the particles from his jacket.

“Yeah, well, I’m getting used to it by now. Still feels like I'm being turned inside out though,” Lucius replied, following Ultra down the alleyway.

The brick walls looked the exact same as any other part of the city, the same clutter and filth that resided throughout. But one area of the wall stood out to Lucius like it was painted with a neon pink arrow, even though there were no visible differences than any other section.

“It’s…right here,” Lucius said with certainty, unsure how he even recognized the invisible entrance.

“Lucius, before we enter, I understand that this must be difficult for you. I will not force you to go in. If you must, you can wait out here-”

“No, no. I’ll be alright. I want to see it too,” Lucius replied, cutting him off.

“Okay. After you.” Ultra nodded towards the entrance.

Lucius’s heart was pounding, ringing up into his ears, clouding his head like a heavy fog.

What if their bodies are still in there. I can’t…I can’t see it again. My failure, my fault, that’s what Grimebank said. Their deaths, all of it, on my shoulders.

Lucius placed a hand up against the wall, a sudden wave of nausea hitting him way more than the traveling did.

No, no. This is what I promised, I wouldn’t run, I wouldn’t hide. I will prove my strength. Through me, Andromeda is kept alive, that’s what Lain said. Through me, her and Surazal are kept alive. Until the moment comes when I can bring them back.

Lucius took a deep breath and stepped through the invisible doorway just like how Grimebank had shown him what now felt like eons ago, rippling the brick wall into calm ocean waves.

Unknowingly, he had clenched his eyes shut on entry, his body physically restraining himself from looking at the hall he stood in.

But he fought the fears, fought the instincts to run, and opened his eyes, glancing around the Angiporium.

It all looked wrong.

The grand hall appeared completely untouched. All the signs of the struggle and torment that had erupted were now long gone, wiped away clean. Paintings that had fallen over were straightly hung up, broken and burned areas of walls were completely intact. Nothing at all pointed towards events of bloodlusted murder, especially since the two dead bodies that previously laid on the floor were nowhere to be found.

What the…it looks completely normal?

Behind Lucius, Ultra entered the hall. His teal hair flickered ravishingly from the rays pouring out of the glass window panes, but his face had never looked so stern.

“Lucius, show me exactly where it occurred,” he calmly requested.

“It was all…right here. But it didn’t look like this. There was so much destruction, so much blood…”

Lucius walked around the room and pointed out the sections to Ultra that he remembered having taken visible damage, areas that now looked as pristine as ever. Ultra took in all the provided information with slow nods.

“And their bodies, they were right around here?”

“Iscarius first came out of that wall when we returned from Andromeda. Surazal ended up over by there too, while I was here with Lain until she teleported me to the club.”

“I see. Their missing bodies is not what intrigues me the most, though. Individuals high in resonance such as them would have quickly faded away, their physical beings becoming one with the essence that flowed endlessly within them. I am positive they are there right now, on the other side just out of reach.”

He brushed his finger against the top of a polished table, noticing the lack of dust on every surface.

“No, the part that stands out is everything else. The cleanliness of it all, not a single particle out of place. But that is how I know you have told us the truth.”

Lucius stared at Ultra, surprised by his response, questioning how he reached that conclusion.

“But how…what’s the connection?”

“You said Lain brought you to Andromeda, a privilege she has granted me as well. She must have told you about the day everything changed for her. The day she had returned to find that her home was just as she left it, but completely devoid of life. The ruins you saw there are a product of age and weathering, but the destruction from an entire race being slaughtered would have been far more than you witnessed. That is the conduct of the Amber King, he always leaves behind a clean slate. All the destruction is swept under the rug, like a child who made a mess in their playroom but doesn’t want to anger their parents. He has been here, that I know for sure.”

“You’re saying the Amber King appointed Iscarius to murder Lain and Surazal? But why? I still don’t get it!” Lucius cried out.

Ultra sighed, exhausted from all he had witnessed. The state of the Angiporium had confirmed his beliefs, but not in any way he had hoped.

“We will interrogate Iscarius once we use the Gnomon to reach back to this place, at the moment right before. But until then, we need to head back to the Sanctum to prepare for the auction. I’ve seen enough here.”

He turned to the exit, ready to head out to the alley and take the tunnel back to the club’s office.

“Wait, Ultra, before we go. There’s one more thing here I’d like to see,” Lucius said, feeling pulled towards a certain area.

Ultra nodded, positioning himself just next to the doorway. “Go ahead. I’ll be waiting right here for you.”

Walking under the archway at the end of the room, Lucius entered the dark hallway ahead.