Project Angelius
Chapter 1, Part 1 - The Great Escape

          My eyes slowly opened, as I left the world of nightmares. Dark visions, dark sounds were gone, to only be replaced by the real nightmare that I had been trapped in for the last decade of my life. The sting of stasis chamber's fluid against my eyes, quickly drove away my grogginess. For years I had been kept in this prison of technology. My limbs secured by massive restraints, and my every breath dependent on the mask latched to my face. It was like being a fish on permanent display. I slowly turned and looked down towards where my right arm once was. I could still feel it's presence, but my eyes confirmed what my mind would not. It was still gone, a permanent scar of my body, a metallic seal now covered the spot where it once connected. A permanent reminder, and my dreams never let me forget it.  As long as I could remember for every night since I watched my family killed, the events replayed like a twisted movie set to never end. It only served to fuel my anger for the man who ruined it all, and I could feel my fury welling up inside me as he walked into my view.
"So our little soldier is awake, how are you feeling?" he said.
"Why should you care? You know everything about me, and I still know nothing about you Doctor. Not even your name." I replied.
"And Doctor it shall remain, I have no need to tell you my name boy." he said harshly, "You are nothing more than another experiment in this facility. Forget your sense of honor and humanity, they do you no good anymore."
"So be it. When I learn your name, and after cursing it to the four corners of the world. I will hunt you down, and make you pay. There will be nothing that can stand in my path to kill you." I said, struggling against my restraints
The Doctor let out a small laugh, "She must be teaching you ancient literature now, I don't think I've heard such a ridiculous remark." he said mockingly.
His words felt like a low blow to my pride, and I only grew angrier. The strain I was putting on my bindings was now audible, they creaked and groaned as I pulled against them.
"While I appreciate your fervor, I can't have you damaging yourself, or the equipment." he said, motioning for someone to approach.
I watched as a second figure came into sight. It was him, the Hell Angel from that night, there was no denying it. I could never forget that face which was permanently scarred into my memory.
"You!" I shouted, the sudden burst of breath forced a stream of bubbles from my mask. The liquid poured inside it and I coughed as the fluid entered my lungs. I struggled even harder within the tank to break free.
"I see you haven't forgotten that night, or two-two-four-zero." the Doctor said, "Two-two-four-zero, subject Two-two-four-one needs a bit of sedation, we require his body soon."
"As you wish." Two-two-four-zero replied. His gaze focused on me, and I felt myself being crushed. I couldn't breathe and I gasped for air. There was nothing I could do to resist. I screamed in agony with the last bit of air I had before my body slumped into submission from lack of air.
          I felt weak when I woke up, and  my sight was greeted with a pleasant face peering down at me.
"So how are you feeling Four-one?" she asked me.
I tried to move but I could not. I looked down to see myself secured tightly to a gurney.
"Restrained." I replied bleakly.
"Oh come on cheer up Four-one, I hear your going to get a new arm today." she said cheerfully.
"I told you Miss Black, you could call me Cruxis." I sighed
"Its just a habit, I can't help it." Lisa laughed.
"I can't even remember my first name anymore, how sad is that. For that matter, I still don't know yours either after all this time."
"Well you could of gotten amnesia, and forgotten everything." she said.
"Why do you always dodge the question?" I sighed, "Anyways. I would of preferred that and have memories of that night gone for good."
She began walking around the room, tinkering on the now vacant stasis tank. Her long white lab coat trailing behind her like a cape.
"My name will is a secret, Cruxis. Besides it's nice how formal you sound when you talk like that. So you still have the nightmares?" she asked, as she went to a nearby desk.
"Take a wild guess. I'll figure out your name another day then." I said sarcastically, looking towards her as she busied herself in some notes. Her eyes left the notes to look at me with a raised eyebrow before she put the notes back down.
"So you said I'm getting a new arm?" I asked.
"That's what I heard Four-one, I mean Cruxis." she said.
"I give up, call me what you want."
"Easier for me then." she said returning to the stasis tank.
"What kind of an arm?" I asked again
"The 'right' kind," she said chuckling as she did so.
I stared at her half bemused.
"See what I did there? I said 'right' kind. Get it? 'Right' kind... 'right' being the arm your missing... and" she said, trying to urge a smile out of me, "OKAY, I know it was a terrible joke. Just trying to lighten your mood." she sighed
I laughed, "You don't get out much do you?"
"I'm a geek and you know it Four-one. Not much of a life I have beyond the walls of this place." she said with a slight sigh, adjusting the thinly rimmed glasses on her nose.
I watched as she pulled a chair up besides me and sat down.
"Your the nicest guy I've ever met you know? You don't judge me, you just treat me like a normal person."
"Your the only one who's kind to me in this place. I figure I could return the favor. Besides your the only one who treats me like a normal person also." I said looking up at the ceiling
She smiled a bit, "Thanks Four-one. I think your probably the only person I really talk to, You always listen, you never judge, it's really nice. No one cares for smart girls where I live, all the boys are only interested in my looks, and always trying to get to second base." she let out a slightly irritated sigh.
"Well it's nice to have someone talk to me in an actual conversation, even if I'm just listening most of the time. You'd be amazed with what you say when you think I'm asleep in that tank." I laughed a bit. I turned my head towards her in time to see her blushing.
"I...I..." she stuttered.
"Of course you've taken time out to educate me as well, I appreciate that too."
"Yes... that too." she said softly.
"So when you think I'm asleep do you really mean all that?" I said looking back at the ceiling.
"Oh stop it Four-one, your just messing with me now." she said as she stood up angrily.
At that moment I heard the doors to the stasis tank room open, and the voice of the Doctor entering the room. Lisa immediately straightened up almost at attention as the Doctor entered the room.
"Ah, Miss Black prep our subject for surgery. We are expecting him in ten minutes."
I waited till the door closed before I spoke, "How can you work for him after all you know he's done?" I paused, "Especially me."
"It's complicated Four-one, there aren't many places I'm qualified to work at and this is about the only place that'll let me do whatever research I want with good pay. As long as I keep my mouth shut. I know what they've done to you is wrong, and I've even participated in some of those terrible things. It pains me deep down inside, but there's so little I can do to stop it." her voice cracked, and I could see her eyes water.
"Let me go then, all you have to do is loosen these bindings. I'll do the rest." I said.
She wiped her eyes with the long white sleeve of her lab coat, "I wish it were that easy Four-one, but they are always watching. They'd know you escaped, and that I did it. Where would you and I be then?"
I looked at the cameras dotted along the ceiling and sighed, "Nothing is ever as easy as it seems is it?"
"Never is, kid." she said gently
"Well, you better put me under. At least I'll get a new arm today." I said
"That's the spirit Four-one. See you on the other side." she replied
She pulled a mask from below the gurney and placed it over my nose and mouth. The slow flow of anesthesia slowly entered me and I fell into a deep sleep.
            My slumber broke, and I screamed in pain. I could feel my body being cut, parts of me already open. The bright lights of the surgery room blinded me, and I caught glimpses of the numerous tools around me, the new arm was partially attached. My body squirmed in pain. Then came the looming silhouette of a large figure who jammed a syringe into my chest. I felt a calm wash over me and my mind once again fell back into it's deep slumber.
          I opened my eyes, but something was different. My vision was perfect, but layered over it all my vision had these almost constantly moving rings. From what I could tell they were adjusting my eyes to view whatever I was looking at clearly. There was a slight shock along my spine. I felt the back of my neck and running my fingers down it, I felt the cool touch of metal. I sat up and looked around the room, there was no one else, and oddly enough I wasn't restrained anymore. The surgery light was off and the recessed lighting along the ceiling was illuminating the bleach white walls throughout the chamber. I caught a flash of light from my right and looked down to see my new arm. It's metallic shell shined like a white flame from the lighting. It moved as naturally as a real one. I finally had a right hand again as well. I stared in amazement as I opened and closed my fist. The back of my right hand had a dark blue gem embedded into it. I touched with with my other hand and it glowed a bright azure green before it faded back to it's original dark blue. Then I noticed I felt where I had touched it, I had the sense of touch along the entire prosthesis. I sat there amazed, then I saw my face reflected off the side of a nearby cart. Twin vertical scars went straight up and down my face from my left eye. My hand slowly ran down the scars, but they weren't scars, I felt metal. Then I saw a large upside down 'V' with a smaller triangle inside it etched on my chest. It too was like the lines on my face. There was more to see as I looked at my reflection. My left arm and both sides of my neck had what I figured were large circular metal disks. What they were for I couldn't figure out, when the Doctor walked into the room.
          "Awake are we?" he said.
"What did you do to me?" I yelled
"What I've done is nothing compared to what you will be capable of two-two-four-one." he replied.
"That doesn't answer my question Doc"
"Bio-mechanical augmentations specifically. Improved strength, stamina, and all your other abilities. Including that talent of yours Two-two-four-one. Of course we had to give you an arm that wouldn't destroy itself when you do use that particular skill. Took us years to develop a proper alloy. Your half-machine, half-man now I suppose you could say."
I let the information sink in before the obvious thing to do in the back of my mind came into focus.
"Big mistake Doctor, you've just signed your own death certificate." I said as I got up
"You really think things are that easy in the world Two-two-four-one?" he laughed.
"There's no one else around, and I got a metal fist with your name on it." I answered as I walked towards him.
"Stop." he ordered.
I felt like a white hot flame had come over me. The metal scars along my eye lit up along with the symbol cross my chest. Then my body came to a halt, halfway to where the Doctor stood.
"What's going on?"
"Your augmentations also let me control you, you fool. Did you think you could just kill me just like that?" said as he laughed.
"What did you do to me?!" I said again in fury
“I have created the ultimate warrior. Now Two-two-four-one, follow me.” he ordered.
My body began to follow him, no matter how hard I tried to stop. I soon gave up as I followed him out of the surgery room and into the seemingly endless bleach white hallways throughout the entire facility.
“The ultimate warrior to fight what?” I said
“To destroy the Cancellers, and all that associate with them. You will be the first of many Two-two-four-one. The children of Project Angelius. Soon we will have an army, and unleash them upon the Cancellers, and anyone who gets in our way, will pay dearly.”
"You said 'our'. Who else is in on this?"
"It doesn't matter to you, these Hell Angels' plans aligns with my agenda and that's all you need to know."
“I won't help you do it.”
“Creating a product that turns on its master, or disobeys wouldn’t be very helpful now would it?” he said with a smirk
“Even if I can’t kill you, I’ll never submit to the every beck and whim of the Hell Angels.”
“On the contrary Two-two-four-one, you forget that you have no choice now." He started to smile, as he spoke “I believe you deserve to be punished for your attempted insurrection.” 
“Punished?” I said to myself, "What more could you do to me?"
"We have our ways." he replied
          We continued in silence along the corridor, with the occasional passerby staring suspiciously as I followed the Doctor. Eventually we entered a chamber I remembered all too well.
"You remember this place Two-two-four-one?" The Doctor asked me
"This was where you kept me the day after you had my family killed, before you had me placed in that oversized fishbowl of yours. It's prison for test animals, not for people." I said
"Your memory is as sharp as ever. However, I think I your wrong accusing me of killing your entire family,"
"What are you saying?" I asked curiously.
"I'm saying your going to be the one who is going to finish what I did not that night." he replied.
I grew tense as his words sank in. "They weren't all dead?" that thought ran in circles in my head, The Doctor led me to a cell a few doors down, and opened the chamber.
"Do you recognize this girl?" He said as he pointed inside.
"It can't be..." I said, disbelief washed over me
It had been a decade, but there was no mistaking it. Her identity was clear, it was my sister. She had huddled into a corner as soon as the door opened, and I slowly stepped in.
"Melissa? Is it you?" I said softly as I entered the cell.
Her head lifted at the sound of her name, and she looked at me curiously. She seemed to be almost detached from the world, as if trapped within her own. Her eyes looked deep into mine, but there was no sign of recognition. My gut clenched, and I stood still in the cell coldly accepting reality. There was no way she could of remembered me from when she was so little.
"Now, finish it Two-two-four-one. Kill her." The Doctors voice was cold and sinister.
I turned around in disbelief at what he had asked of me, only to be reaffirmed by his dark grin.
"That is an order." he said to me.
My body moved against my will, and with great resistance did I hold myself back.
"You can't be serious?! How could I kill- you can't make me do this." I said.
"Yes, the irony is truly remarkable. You will kill the sister you almost died to protect ten years ago. I'm curious Two-two-four-one, how does it feel knowing you will be the one who kills the last member of your pathetic human family?" He replied mockingly
"You bastard." I muttered through my clenched teeth.
          My sister turned her attention back at me after hearing the Doctor's words. Her eyes once again peered into mine. This time it was different, a curious gaze that slowly unveiled the presence of recognition. Her mouth slowly began to move, "Brother?"
She slowly reached out to me, as if she couldn't believe I was there.
"NO! Stay back!" I shouted, and I felt my eyes begin to water.
Her body awkwardly jostled as she stopped herself.
"How grand is this Two-two-four-one? She even knows who you are now." the Doctor laughed.
"Can you feel it Two-two-four-one? Your spirit will be broken, and no longer will I have to deal with your less than compliant attitude. Do it, kill her!"
Then my sister had snapped out of her dream-like state, and the gravity of the situation dawned upon her. Fear was now reflected in her eyes.
"You heartless bastard! You'll never get me to do that." I yelled back
"Is that so? Then shall I provide some motivation for you." he said as he grabbed hold of back of my neck. I could feel my spine being pressed in.
"Do you know what this is Two-two-four-one?" he said
"No, but you have one hell of a grip for a lab monkey..." I said as his grip grew stronger.
Exasperated gasps were the only response I could muster as I felt the cold metal along my neck press in deeper and deeper.
"No? Then I shall educate you. You see this part of the implants allows me control over how obedient any particular subject is. So far, yours hasn't been turned on. Only the latent obedience protocols in your augmentations have been active. Are you ready Two-two-four-one?"
My angry glared did little to deter him.
"So be it." the doctor said as he pressed a panel on the metallic plate at the bottom of my neck as he released me.
          My body began to burn all over. The sub-dermal pathways lit up a fiery red as their light surged through my skin. I collapsed on the ground writhing in agony. There were the sounds of someone running towards us. The steps grew louder until, out of the corner of my eye I watched Miss Black hurry into my view.
"What are you doing?! You promised you'd leave the girl alone! You promised me!" She shouted at the Doctor, and swung her arm down at the Doctor to slap him. He quickly grabbed her arm. I watched as he squeezed and she slowly fell to the ground in pain.
"Ah, Miss Black come to watch as well?" he replied mockingly, as she clutched her pained wrist.
"Obey Two-two-four-one. Kill her now!" he barked at me.
"As you command, master." I said, but my words were not my own. I had no control anymore. I stood up slowly, and marched towards my sister. She tried to move deeper into the concrete corner. There was no escaping as my puppet of a body moved along.
"Four-one! Don't do it stop! Please, stop!" I heard Miss Black cry out, as she clutched onto the frame of the door. Her words wouldn't make me stop, no matter how hard I wished them to. I watched as my sister's eyes filled with pain and sorrow begin to cry. Nothing I tried would stop myself. In my mind I screamed for her to run, but words never left my lips. My body stood in front of her, and slowly kneeled. Her tearful eyes only made me struggle even harder, but to no avail. My right arm reached out and grabbed her by the throat. Her frail arms struggled desperately against my grip as I lifted her up by her neck.
"Strangulation Two-two-four-one? How barbaric." the doctor said.
"Don't do it!" I heard Miss Black call out again.
"Was this all I had? I had endured all these years of pain, only to find myself a minion of him, and kill my sister with my own hands?"
          I reached out with all my will to stop myself, and I saw my grip lose it's tension.
"What are you doing, Boy?!" a voice rang in my head.
It wasn't the Doctor's voice, nor Miss Black's it was someone else. The voice was deeper and commanding, and seemed to echo throughout my head.
"Who are you?!" I shouted in my mind.
I was surrounded by shadow, I lost sight of the world beyond my body. Then a pair of burning red eyes glared at me from the shadows.
"You dare stop me child?" he said back at me.
"Your the one controlling me?" I shouted back at it
"Ah, so the boy can think." he replied
"You will not interfere!" he shouted.
His voice was booming and I felt as if I was blown back by the sheer force of it. Then I felt myself stop. A warm white glow came from behind me, and I felt a gentle touch of another placing their hand upon my shoulder.
"You woke me much sooner than I expected, brother." a second voice said from behind me
"S-sister!" he said, as the glowing pair of eyes reflected his shock.
"You will not win this one over." she replied.
         My consciousness returned and my sister was still in my grasp. Her head slumped to the side. At once I felt a new feeling rush along my body. The searing red lines crisscrossing my skin faded to an azure blue, and my vice grip around my sister's neck was broken. My arms shot out to catch her as she fell.
"What?!" the Doctor said in utter disbelief, "You are our slave, I order you to finish the job!"
I straightened myself up as I held my sister's limp body in my arms.
"No."
"What did you say? I gave your an order!" he shouted
"No, I won't do it."
I turned around slowly, and laid my sister down on the bed next to the wall.
"I spared you, I gave you everything!" the doctor yelled at me
"Yeah, well I hope you kept the receipt." I said.
I drew back my arm and punched as hard as I could. My fist slammed into his gut, the Doctor doubled over slowly and fell to the side. The sub-dermal lines along my skin slowly faded away until only an extremely faint indistinct glow replaced them.
"Wow, did you really just say that Four-one? I mean... wow, and you said my jokes were lame." Miss Black said with a weak smile as she slowly stood back up, using the door frame to support her.
          I went back and picked up my sister before I kicked the unconscious Doctor into the empty cell. Black closed the door before we slowly moved down towards the hallway's exit. A dark figure emerged from the adjacent hall.
"It's Four-Zero." Black said, and immediately numerous red lights along the ceiling lit up bathing the white walls in a dark shade of red.
"He's triggered the alarm, everyone will be looking for you Four-One." she said
"I think I figured that out already Miss Black." I said
He slowly began to walk towards us, and I took a few steps back unsure of what to do. I saw his face look up in disgust, as several blast doors began lowering from the ceiling sectioning off the hallway.
"The system is securing the prison wing, we're going to be trapped." Black said.
"Improved strength..." I said to myself, "Miss Black what's on the other side of this wall, and how thick do you think it is?"
"This one? I think it's one of the storage rooms, it shouldn't be too thick I suppose. Why?" she asked.
"Stand back." I said.
I slammed my right fist into the reddened wall and felt it give way. I struck it again and again, each time more cracks formed. Then I heard a the screech of metal, the sound sent a shiver down my spine.
"He's coming for us." I said, my voice cracking as I spoke, "Not again."
           My right arm lit up faintly giving off a gentle glow of white light. I let loose one final punch with all of my strength, and I felt the wall buckle and break. The wall burst into pieces and flung themselves into the adjacent room. When the dust cleared the collapsed bodies of the lab's security forces were scattered about the room, crushed by the debris. The walls covered with numerous panels displaying visual feed from the facility's security cameras.
"Storage room huh?" I said as I looked back at Miss Black.
"How am I supposed to know? I didn't build this place." she replied
The sound of warping metal rang throughout once again.
"Come on we have to go."
With my sister in my arms we hurried out through the security room, nearly dodging a security patrol that was hurrying down the corridor. We both let out a sigh of relief as we both slid down along the wall to the floor.
"How exactly do you plan on getting out of here Four-one?"
"Well, you work here. How do we leave?" I asked hurriedly
"The only place in and out is one of the four entrance elevators, so those would probably be heavily guarded." she sighed.
"Well, the Doc said I'm an 'ultimate soldier' now, better go see if he was right." I said as I got up to peek around the corner. As I was about to move I felt someone grab me, I looked back to see Miss Black clasping her arms around my waist.
"Don't go Four-one. They'll kill you and your sister, I know it. Please don't go." she pleaded me.
"Look, I don't have a choice..." I stopped, as I saw her begin to cry.
"Don't go Four-one. You- Your all I have here. I don't want you to die." she wept.
I gently laid my sister against the wall, and knelt down. I slowly pulled Miss Black's arms away from me. "Don't worry about me. I didn't live through these last ten years to blow it all now. So, don't worry about me you've done enough of that."
"Four-one... I- I..." she tried to speak, but her tears held her back.
"For once Sia, let me worry instead." I said
"You- you know my name? When, how?" she said
"I've known for awhile. You came in once, and you forgot to hide your name tag."
"He never wanted to let you know any of our real names, because..." she said weakly
"Because if I escaped, I could give you all away to the government." I said
"Miss Lisa Black... I always thought it sounded weird. Why did you keep asking me if you already knew?" she asked
"You wanted it to be a secret, so I honored that. I wanted you to tell me yourself."
"I never thought you..."
"Besides you liked me being so formal didn't you?"
"I..." Sia stopped as she wiped the tears from her eyes
"Now come on, trust me when I say I don't die that easily." I stood up and helped Sia up before I picked up my sister again. There was a slight moan from her lips, and I looked down to see her eyes slightly open.
"B-Brother..." she said softly
"Be quiet sis' they're looking for us." I replied.
I took a quick look around the corner, and was relieved to find it was still empty.
"Sia, how far is it to the elevator?"
"Not far, if we're where I think we are. Head down and left, then there should be a sign telling us where to go next."
"Now, come on."
           We hurried along the corridor the constant ringing of the alarm and the red lights distracting my focus. At the sign I read the directions as quickly as I could. The elevator was just down the hall. I looked past the sign to see the hall was longer than I had thought, but the light above the elevator's door shone like a beacon in the sea of red that permeated every inch of this place. Luckily there were no guards in sight. However, I heard the indistinct shouts of more security getting closer.
"We have to hurry." I said to myself
I laid my sister over my shoulder and grabbed Sia's hand, "Hold on tight." and hurried down the hallway. It seemed too perfect, there was no guard in sight and by the time I had reached the elevator doors, they opened as if nothing extraordinary was going on. No override, no hacking the control panel, it was too perfect. It didn't matter for me, as soon as the doors opened I laid my sister inside, and hurriedly guided Sia inside. I stood in the elevator's door frame as I heard the distinct sound a gun being readied to fire.
"Halt, Two-two-four-one. You will come with me." a voice ordered from behind me
I slowly turned around to look, with my hands up. At once my body froze up, it was him. The Hell Angel had found me, and had a gun aimed right at my heart.
"I never figured you were the gun type." I said meekly
"I've always been curious regarding their effectiveness." He paused to partially admire the weapon in his hands, "A Desert Eagle this one is called. Nontensities, rely upon these toys so much, I admit I wished to try one out on you Two-two-four-one."
"I'm honored." I said.
"Goodbye, Two-two-four-one."
          Time seemed to slow down, and I watched his finger squeeze the trigger. I listened as the mechanisms inside the gun clicked, and shuffled around. Then the great slam of the hammer, and the puff of smoke as the bullet left the barrel. His arm remained steady, the recoil barely made him flinch. "How was I going to survive this one?" I laughed in my mind. There was a flash of light, and I could feel power surge through me again. A shield of light, was the best way to describe it. My arm was outstretched before me and slightly beyond it's reach, an intense swirling wall of light illuminated the entire room with the shape of the crescent moon in it's center. I watched the Hell Angel lower the gun, and drop it to the floor.
"Useless toy." he muttered.
At once the light faded and my shield disappeared, but I still felt it's power running through me.
"My turn." I said.
I leapt forward drawing my right arm as far back as I could before I let loose a thunderous punch to his face. Almost upon impact I watched as a black liquid shot out in all directions. Most of it covered my arm, where it even managed to obscure the light it was emitting. I knew it wasn't blood, it was something else.
"Formless darkness... I thought that junk was a myth." I said to myself, as Two-two-four-zero's body lay sprawled out before me. Suddenly, my arm surged with pain and I fell to my knees. I watched as the darkness quickly vanished into my arm, soon followed by the warm glow of light. I could still feel it on me, no it was in me now. It felt disgusting, my body wretched in pain as it tried to reject it.
          I felt a gust of wind along my face, and I turned my head to see a blur of white appear in front of me. Then there was loud bang of another gun being fired. A brief scream of pain soon followed and I watched the body of Sia fall to the ground in front of me. A guard had come up along another route and taken a shot at me. I couldn't believe my eyes, but the situation only infuriated me even more. I snatched the discarded desert eagle from the ground, aimed and fired a shot into the guard who had shot Sia. The recoil of the gun on my new arm seemed to rattle by body all over, and the shot had forced the gun to wrench itself out of my hand. I hit the guard's shoulder and he twisted back, unloading the rest of his gun's magazine into the air. I leaped over Sia's body to shield her from the indiscriminate hail of lead. I felt the warm trickle of blood down my back and legs, but I felt no pain. I couldn't afford the luxury of it at the moment.
"I told you not to worry about me." I said.
"S-sorry, old... habit, Four-one." she said painfully, as she attempted a slight smile.
"I need to get you out of here your bleeding badly."
"Look... w-who's talking-"
"Just a flesh wound. Now, give me your hand." I said as I lifted her arm up around my shoulders, and carried her back to the elevator doors. My sister was inside where she had propped herself up against its walls.
"Is... Sia-" she tried to speak.
"No, she isn't dead and she isn't going to die." I said.
I quickly glanced over the elevator controls and pressed up before I slumped down into my pool of blood on the floor.
"Brother, Sia's bleeding bad." my sister said.
I turned my attention to Sia who lay next to me. Blood was oozing from her arm. I clasped my hands around the wound trying to stop the flow of blood. It had to of hit a major vein, it seemed it would never stop bleeding. I ripped off her lab coat and tore a long strip of cloth out of it and tied it tightly around her arm. Her body began to slowly slump over, and I carefully lifted her back up and cradled her head against my chest.
"I'm not losing another person I care for, don't you give out on me Sia. I can't lose someone again." I said as my voice trembled.
I felt the warm flow of tears start to bead down my face. I hadn't cried since that night ten years ago, and it seemed that now my tears would never end.
"Brother, are you okay?" my sister asked, as she placed her hand on my shoulder.
"I'm fine Melissa, I'm just glad your okay." I said.
"L-look, who's playing... the tough guy." said Sia, with a weak laugh
She looked up at me with a weak smile
"I just saved you, you could be a little more grateful." I said.
"I am... Four-one, m-more than you know." she said softly.
"Well, your-" I stopped speaking as I felt the soft brief gentle caress of her lips against my cheek. I felt a rush of warmth to my face, as I sat there unsure of what to say.
"...Sia?" I managed to say
She had finally passed out and I felt her body relax as her head leaned against my shoulder.
I turned and looked at my sister, "Did she just?" I asked hesitantly.
"YOU GOT A KISS!" she squealed
          Her face was lit up with joy, it was a nice change from before.
"Alright kid, calm down." I said as I plopped my hand on her head to stop her from needlessly jumping up and down. I let out a sigh as I leaned back against the walls of the elevator. My rest was short lived as the elevator shook to a halt and the doors opened revealing the outside world. The dark night sky greeted us as a gust of cool air blew into the elevator. I lifted Sia up into my arms and with my sister close behind me we took our first steps out. Immediately I noticed more elevator shafts were adjacent to our own.
"Here sis' take care of here for a second will you?" I said
"O-okay brother..." she said as she awkwardly held up Sia.
I walked over to each elevator and ripped the doors off with my arm, and tore apart all the cables. There were distant thuds that echoed up the shafts as I returned to my sister.
"Brother... did you?"
"No more bad men will follow us." I said as I rustled her hair a bit, "now lets go."
There were trees not far off, and I decided that was the best way to travel. I picked Sia up carefully once again, and looked back at the massive laboratory that had been carved into the mountain. The name Emerald Seven, was emblazoned upon it's wall. I quickly headed off into the cloak of night that nature had granted us.
          After what seemed like a few miles, I heard the presence of someone else. There were the slight cracks of broken twigs and the crunch of dead leaves.
"Who's out there?" I shouted into the shadows.
"A friend." was the reply
The voice was heavy and coarse, and seemed to have no particular direction.
"I have no friends on the outside. Who are you?" I said.
"I gave you my answer." he said
I watched in shock as a figure seemed to walk out of the shadows in front of me. I felt my sister cling to my leg in fear. He seemed like he was about to speak, but something caught his attention.
"If you survive, I'll find you again." he said hurriedly. and he vanished into the darkness once again.
"Survive what?" I said dumbfounded.
There was a slight moan from Sia, and I helped her to her feet. She still clung to my shoulder for support
"Where are we Four-one?" she said somewhat dazed, as she looked around
"I have no idea..." I said as my sentence was cut short.
"FREEZE!" someone shouted.
Immediately I was bathed in light, my eyes stung from the sudden change and I could barely see.
"Don't move stranger." the voice said again.
There was the sound of boots along the forest floor, and when my eyes adjusted we were surrounded by a dozen soldiers, all with their guns trained upon us.
"How did you find us?" he asked again
"Find you? Who are you?" I said confused.
"He's not one of them, lower your weapons boys." a second voice said.
          It came from the direction of one of the spotlights, and I couldn't see who it was only his shadow, it had to be their leader. I felt my sister holding me tighter I looked over and saw a soldier walking towards us, his gun raised. I lashed out and grabbed his rifle and aimed it up away from us.
"Back off!" I shouted, as the soldier squeezed of a few rounds.
The percussive blast of the gun stung my ears and I pushed it away from us before I let go. I suddenly felt weak and slowly fell to my knees, I could feel the warm flow of blood along my back again.
"Sir, he's been shot!" one of the soldiers called out.
"I see, Take them in. Leave the little one alone, let her go where she wants." their leader ordered, as he disappeared behind the spotlight.
I felt Sia next to me, I turned and looked at her. She was wide awake now, her eyes reflected her worry and she tried to help me up.
"Don't bother Sia, worry about yourself." I said.
"How could I not be worried? Your bleeding all over Four-one!" she said.
The soldiers around us moved in grabbing Sia pulling her away from me.
"No, he needs help, Please you have to help him." She said struggling against their grasp as the soldiers started to cart her away.
"Don't worry about me Sia, just a flesh wound." I said with an attempt at a weak smile.
A soldier who came to pick me up, knelt down and helped me up. I saw the first aid cross sewn onto his uniform.
"Hey, Doc do me a favor would you?" I said
"Not now sir, you need treatment." he replied
"The girl they're dragging away right now, needs more help than I do. Please, treat her first. I'll manage to get by till then."
"Sir, you could die if I don't help you right now." he said.
"I said I'll manage till then." I said as I tightly grasped his collar
"Y-yes sir." he said hesitantly.
He helped me down onto a bed in their medical tent.
"By your leave sir." he said.
"Go already." I replied, as he left.
My sister had followed me inside, and was standing next to me.
"Don't worry sis' I'll make it through this. I've always made it through things like this. I just need to sleep." I said as exhaustion found it's way into my voice.
"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked worriedly
"I didn't just save both of you to go and kick the bucket now, You can stay here with me if it makes you feel... better..." I said as my voice trailed off.
I was exhausted, and I felt myself slowly drift into a much needed calm.

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PROJECT ANGELIUS CHAPTER 1 PART 1 - COMPLETE
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