C.A.L.M. Chapter Four

It was mass confusion after the first explosion and and a mixture of panic and chaos once the second guard tower exploded. A number of slaves, not wanting to be caught out in what they knew would be a striking zone for guards, rushed back to their owners homes while others hurried for various exits. A few were caught immediately by some quick reacting guards, but a fair number of them were eventually saved by fleeing passer bys. In all of this, Celes undertook the horrendous task of attempting to find a needle in a haystack caught up in a hurricane of activity. She couldn't leave without some form of confirmation of Lori's safety. So as individuals flee, Celes keeps looking from face to face hoping to spot a familiar one. At least until she's pulled to the side by Felicity who doesn't look quite like the mastermind of all of this. Rather she looks panicked as them.

“What the hell are you doing?” Felicity shouts over the carnage around them trying to keep a nearby group of guards in her line of sight.

“Lori. I have to find her first.”

“Who's Lori?”

“She came in with me. I can't leave without first knowing she's safe.” Celes looks around worried as Felicity shakes her head.

“She may already be out. If you stay in here looking then--”

“There she is! Lori!”

She shouts out and even waves hoping to attract her friends attention but before that can happen she's grabbed by a few guards and forced to the ground. Celes tries to get to her but Felicity hugs hold of her waist drawing her back.

“Don't!”

“Let me go!”

“If you go you'll be caught too.” Felicity struggles and looks around as Lori is brought up to her knees. Finally, Felicity pulls Celes into a nearby building closing the door behind them.

It isn't long afterward that better armed individuals come down and things are put into a calm state as just as quickly how things became chaotic order was brought down. Those who had been stopped before their escape were brought into a small circle in the courtyard when a jeep pulls up in front of them.

“Shit.” Felicity whispers. “Should've figured she'd come down.”

“Who?” Celes asks taking a peek out the window seeing only a few uniformed soldiers standing by the circle of collected slaves.

“Harriet Whitmore. General and self proclaimed Empress of Slutton.” Felicity replies as Celes continues watching out through the window spotting a young girl in a military uniform approaching the circle.

“Is that her daughter?”

“No, that's General Whitmore.” Felicity once again replies in a hushed tone. “Not long ago there was a military coup over control of this city. Harriet's mother was the one behind it until her daughter seized control and ultimately won.”

Harriet approaches the group and looks them over for a short while taking a few paces along the front of them before ultimately stopping in front of Lori and points at her.

“This one.” At her command, two soldiers grab hold of Lori's arms, jerk her up to her feet, and force her over where they strip what remaining clothes she has and begin covering her up in leather. “This will be the example.”

“What are they doing to her?” Celes asks almost ready to burst out to save her friend...if it weren't for the heavily armed soldiers now in among the guards. Felicity remains quiet and turns away from the scene. This only prompts Celes to watch more as Lori is soon masked and given a simple metal collar that's wrapped up tightly around her neck. It's locked in place as ball gloves are put on over her hands and given the same treatment. Now Celes turns away and looks toward Felicity. “What are they doing to her?”

“Your friends' set to become a shade. I'm sorry.”

Celes gives one final horrific look as Lori is shoved forward to begin her walk completely senseless and torn away from the world around her.

“We have to do something!”

“We will, just...calm down.”

Celes approaches Felicity and takes a seat down on the bench next to her still able to hear Harriet's scornful voice outside. Indeed there wasn't anything they could do yet.

“Your friend still has some time left in her, alright? The suit hasn't mended together yet.”

“Mended?”

“It's the reason they have to first put on the collars and shackles. I'm sure you know this city abhors magic of any kind, so the shades must be made with a more...archaic touch. Over time, the gloves will mend into the sleeves and the mask will mend into the torso. Once that happens...”

Felicity lets out a troubled sigh as Celes is about to ask but soon realizes what is meant there and nods.

“We'll get some sleep for now, rescue your friend during the night when things have calmed down.” Felicity suggests before she begins looking for a safe place they can lie down.

Celes stands and stretches herself out as Felicity pats a spot on the floor in behind some boxes. Soon, Celes is lying down beside her hoping her feet aren't sticking out too much.

“Thank you.” She whispers. “If it weren't for you stopping me...”

“I'd be on my way back home.” Felicity replies silencing Celes rather abruptly. However, Felicity soon smiles and strokes a hand along Celes' hair. “But we'll be on our way out soon. Sorry to point it out that way.”

Celes nods before shutting her eyes leaving Felicity to give a quick check around prior to resting herself.

~*~

Celes is woken a few hours later by a gentle nudging against her shoulder. Opening up her eyes to yet another horrendous lack of sleep, she forces herself up alongside Felicity who makes her way toward the door looking back with a whisper.

“Everyone's called it a night. I spotted your friend heading just past the courtyard.” Felicity comes back to Celes who wonders just how much sleep she managed to get herself. “When we get to her, take hold of her gently. She's not going to have any way of knowing who you are, just that someone is pulling her.”

Celes nods and struggles up to her feet to join up with Felicity by the door. After slowly opening it a couple inches and looking around, the elf huntress opens the door up completely and slips out with Celes following. They pass by the shackled slaves awaiting the next day of work and Celes certainly wishes there could be something done for them, but nothing that wouldn't cause an alarm and get themselves caught as well. So, for now, Celes is forced to swallow her feelings and continue following Felicity as they catch up to the shade Lori.

“Are you certain this is her?” Celes asks looking her over as she gently takes hold of her wrist. The shade panics for a bit but Celes begins stroking her other hand down alongside her face.

“She's still collared and shackled. It has to be. Come on.”

“There you are!” Celes nearly jumps at the familiar tone before turning to find Jess locked up in a stockade. “Thank the goddess you're here. Quick, let me out.”

Felicity looks over toward Celes. “Friend of yours?”

“Not really.”

“What are you talking about? Of course we are!”

“Shut up!” Celes whispers.

“Yeah? Or what? Guards are gonna lock me up? HEY!”

“Shut up!” Celes again whispers covering up Jess' mouth for a moment. “Fine, fine. I'll release you. But you have to promise to keep quiet.”

Jess nods her head and when Celes removes her hand her smile becomes visible. Celes gives the locking mechanism a quick look over and finds it's just set with a latch. After unhooking it, she lifts the top of the stock up and is immediately met with a hug from Jess.

“Oh thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

“What were you doing in there?”

“I don't know. One minute I'm walking out of the club, the next I'm grabbed by a couple guards and locked up.”

“I think the two of you can catch up later, we still need to get out of here.” Felicity says now holding onto Lori's wrist.

Celes nods as they start off for the hole in the wall. It's still heavily guarded, as predicted, so the four come to a halt in behind a building overlooking it.

“So what now?” Jess asks looking between the two elves.

“Hold here.” Felicity states as she wanders off from the trio leaving Jess to look toward Celes a little uncertain.

“Where's she going?”

“Just stay here like she said.”

A little while passes as Jess looks toward Lori up and down for a moment then to Celes.

“Look, this probably won't mean much right now, but--”

“You were an idiot to think coming her was a good idea. I know.” Celes quickly responds while keeping her eyes fixed on the guards ahead of them. They looked well trained so Celes was doing her best to keep Lori calm.

Eventually, Felicity returns with a little smile on her face. “Ready?”

“You seem...pleased.” Celes mentions in a questioning tone.

Her concern is only waved off as Felicity turns toward the guards. “Come on.”

She starts but Celes grabs hold of her arm. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah.” Felicity assures looking back at Celes. “Just stick to the shadows.”

Arching a brow, Celes allows Felicity to take point on this one...with a several foot lead. But, to her surprise, this actually works as they traverse through the shadows unseen. A few times Celes believes them to be seen but the guards just look over them and then down to another part of the construction zone. Once outside, and far enough away, Celes breathes out her fear and turns toward Felicity.

“What was that all about? Are those guards--”

“No. But there isn't much time left to discuss this now. Not when your friends suit is already starting to mend.”

That's enough to get Celes' feet back working as she nods. She knows it'll be a long walk through the fields and over the mountains, but one that must be made if they're to free their friend.

~*~

The next day in Slutton, slaves are hard at work rebuilding the very structure keeping them confined to their unwanted lives. At least for some as today is a quiet day of work, the only sounds being that of the construction itself. In the midst of it all, a solitary cloaked figure makes her way up to the tavern looking over the skeleton hanging off the sign, the wire cable still stuck in the back of its head holding it up. The woman removes the hood of her cloak and click her tongue.

“So THIS is what happens to those who survive a sorceress?” The Gamma Sorceress sighs and reaches up stroking her hand along the side of the ribs. “Well, let's get you down from there.”

As if on cue, the skeleton falls apart and lands on the ground attracting the attention of a couple of guards who make their way up to the elf.

“Hey! Get away from that!”

“Oh my.” The Gamma Sorceress turns and smiles, her red eyes beginning to glow as the guards take note of her horns and ears. “I'm curious to see what will happen should I not.”

Seeing her as a demi-human, one guard brings up their rifle pointing it directly at the Sorceress' head.

“That's not something worth finding out. Now get down on your knees, elf!”

“Hm...seems kind of boring giving myself up this soon after waking up. So I suppose you best just...fire awa--”

Indeed he does. He pulls the trigger but the bullet is caught by the Sorceress who looks a little alarmed.

“So quick?” She calls out. “My oh my, I suppose you need to be dealt with.” She says dropping the bullet as the guard staggers back, his shaking grip nearly dropping the gun. “Well, it's my turn then. Such a shame I've only just woken up. Therefore, Walker, get up and deal with this.”

The second guard staggers back and turns ready to shout.

“SORCER--”

His words are cut off with a skeletal hand comes punching its way through his throat.