Sanctum

Ezequiel stepped in, his waist coat unbuttoned as always, his pants full of pockets and rippling with red light as he strode across the room.

“Ace,” he said, lifting the visors from his eyes. “All good?”

“I’ll be fine,” Ignacio said.

“He needs to rest,” Koharu said, her gaze following him around the bed.

Kiyomi walked into the room behind him, followed by Beltran who wore his black hat as always, long dark hair tied back in a ponytail.

And after him came Daichi. The inside of his collar was a glowing white, a cartoon skull flickering on his chest. He was short, his frame scrawny. His eyes darted around the room, twiddling his thumbs together.

He met Ignacio's gaze, winking a silver eye. “So sorry for what happened in the Ethergeist, champ.”

“Yeah,” Beltran said, hands stuffed into his pockets, his neon-red tie glowing.

“I’ll be fine guys, thank you,” Ignacio said.

Kiyomi just glared at him from behind Ezequiel, her arms folded and Oni mask over her face.

Ezequiel placed a hand on his knee as he sat on a chair beside the bed. “You might want to speed up the whole recovery thing, Iggy,” he said. “I found something about your sister that none of us are gonna like.”

Ignacio sat up. “Go on.”

Ezequiel sighed, the muscles in his chest tensing. “I know which Cypher Corp Citadel she’s being kept in.”

Koharu’s arms unfolded. “Don’t say it.”

“She’s in the Sanctum,” Ezequiel said.

Koharu sighed, brushing her hair from her face. “How long?”

“I don’t know. Could be a day, could be a week. They’re struggling to verify whether or not she is the first Nexus because she isn’t complying.”

Koharu grunted. “Somehow I don’t find that hard to believe.”

Ignacio glanced between them. “I’m guessing the Sanctum isn’t as bad as it could be?”

Ezequiel nodded. “If she was at the Imperium Citadel, we’d have no chance. But they will move her there if they confirm she’s the first Nexus, you can bet your balls on that.”

“And if we don’t move now, as in right this day,” Daichi said, patting a fist against his palm. “We run the risk, the possibility, the chance of that happening.”

“Hey,” Koharu said, her kinetic-sleeves rippling with green light as she leaned on Ignacio’s bed rail. “He needs to rest, or he’ll die.”

Ignacio raised a hand. “Koharu, wait,” he said. “What’s the chances of her being moved within the next two days, Ezequiel?”

He shrugged his burly shoulders. “It’s tough to say, Ace. But if you need to rest-”

“I’ll go back tomorrow if you feel I should, Ezequiel,” Ignacio said. “I can’t risk losing her.”

Ezequiel glanced at Koharu, then back at Ignacio. He scratched the side of his white beard, the ring on his pinky glistening.

“You could die, boy,” Ezequiel said.

He was right. So was Koharu, so was the Doc. But that may be the price. He could wait two days, risk losing her in that time frame, and then jump back into the Ethergeist and get taken out by an angry Chey, or some other threat.

She was alone out there. Scared, being tested on in who-knew what ways. There was no other option.

“I’ll take that chance,” he said. “I’m not risking her.”

Ezequiel nodded. Daichi clasped his hands atop his head, cheeks puffing as he sighed. Beltran twisted his mouth to the side, his half-closed eyes wrinkling as he smiled.

“I know what it’s like to lose people,” Beltran said. “We all do, in this room. Friends, family,” he placed a hand on Ezequiel’s shoulder. “Spouses.”

Ezequiel’s jaw tensed, nostrils flaring. Ignacio’s shoulders drooped.

A giant on the outside, a boy on the inside.

“All of them lost to Cypher Corp in one way or another,” Beltran continued. “I know you don’t want to lose her. I know. But you need to rest.”

Ignacio turned to Koharu.

All of them lost to Cypher Corp? He thought.

He blinked. “And what if she is gone in the next two days?”

“That’s two hours in the Ethergeist, Ace,” Ezequiel said. “You won’t make it in time even if you go right now.”

“Yeah,” Ignacio said, leaning forward. “But it’s still a two hour delay.”

Koharu placed a hand on his arm. “You can’t help anyone if you’re dead, Ace.”

He opened his mouth but closed it again. What was the point in arguing? They wouldn’t budge. They needed him alive. He only needed Celeste alive. He didn’t need their help to get stronger. From what Koharu said, he was training with another Cypher user in the Aspectary in Miraveth, and had the Empress herself on his side.

Without any of them.

He nodded, wetting his lips with his tongue. “Okay, okay. I’ll wait two days.”

Ezequiel gave a nod, standing and stretching his arms. “Well done, boy. In the meantime, we’re going to go back in and gather more info about the Sanctum.”

Ignacio nodded. “Please let me know what you find.”

They all filed out of the room, Kiyomi pausing at the door. She placed a hand on its edge, batting her eyelids.

“We’re trying to help you, Ace,” she said, her voice low. “Just let us.”

She walked out, closing the door behind herself.

Koharu sat back down on her chair, crossing her legs. “Ignacio,” she said.

He forced a smile. “All ears.”

Her eyes flickered to him. “Don’t do anything stupid.”

Am I that obvious? He thought.

“I won’t,” he said. His smile deepened. “You didn’t answer my question from earlier.”

She gave him a wry smile. “I had just sat down when you woke up,” she said, standing.

“Aw, really?” he said, his face warming as he blushed.

She leaned over him, her body blocking the light. She brought her face inches from his, her sweet breath warm against his lips. “I’m warning you, Tarvado. Don’t do anything dangerous.”

He smiled. “I won’t. Trust me.”

She pulled away, hand trailing along the edge of the bed as she walked away, glancing back at him as she opened the door and walked out.

He leaned his head back into his pillow with a sigh. He chuckled at himself as he realized his heart was bouncing around his chest.

She was right. They all were. But if there was even a small chance of two hours making a difference, he wasn’t taking that risk.

Even if it meant developing Ether-psychosis.