Dio had given Elizabeth's sword back without a fuss. Clearly he did not see her as a legitimate threat.
The young noble could do little more than clutch her weapon and stare daggers into the back of Dio's head as they road down the elevator together. Despite how tough she acted, she knew Dio could smell the fear on her.
Just be calm, Liz. Listen to what he has to say and try not to piss him off. Further outbursts will only make things worse.
She hated this. She hated how much power she'd given him by simply relenting. She knew she could not best him physically, and her words could only get her so far. With no real tangible power behind them, she had nothing.
She was just a helpless pawn in this man's grand scheme.
Just hang in there. Bide your time. You knew it wouldn't be easy, Liz. You can win. You can beat him.
The elevator ride down the tower felt far longer than it had on the way up. When she looked up at the digital display near the door, she realized why.
"We're underground?" she muttered as the readout changed from B4 to B5.
Dio nodded. "Most of the R&D on this project takes place in a remote facility far from this city," he told her. "However, recently I had a large portion of the project transferred to a newly constructed underground facility. I wanted to keep a closer eye on things."
Elizabeth furrowed her brow. "What kind of things are you researching down here?" she asked in as firm a voice as she could muster. In truth, she really didn't want to know.
Dio did not answer. Instead, he simply looked at her from over his shoulder and grinned.
Then, the elevator finally stopped. The digital display read, "B23"; nearly 70 meters underground.
"Right this way," Dio beckoned as he stepped through the elevator doors.
The enormous hall they stepped into resembled that of a hospital, except even more sterile and not nearly as bright. In fact, there was an eerie dimness to the lighting that sent a shiver down Elizabeth's spine.
Talk about oppressive atmosphere.
As far as she could tell they were the only two people on the entire floor of the complex. Perhaps these were Dio's private labs?
He's not a mad scientist... the staff's probably just off for the night...
Elizabeth's mind ran circles as the pair delved deeper into the laboratory. Eventually the walls on either side of them turned into windows and the young woman couldn't help but sneak a peak at the rooms on the other side. Many of them contained empty chairs and operating tables, not unlike that of a medical examination room.
A little further now and...
Elizabeth covered her mouth with her freehand and gasped. "What are you doing down here?" she whimpered. She had seen some truly horrible things since the train robbery, but this was... What was this? "D-Dio... what have you done to this woman?"
Without even realizing it, Elizabeth has pressed herself up against the window to get a better look. All manner of tubes and electrical wires had been fed into a dismembered woman from a collection machines against the back wall. It was like something out of a science fiction movie. "So eager to see her up close?" he asked with a small chuckle. "Come." After punching in a short code on the keypad, he opened the sealed chamber and led Elizabeth to the operating table.
Her whole body shuddered as she approached the motionless form sprawled out on the table before her. The woman's face was... she looked alive... but that was impossible.
With but a moment's hesitation, Elizabeth reached down and prodded the woman's hand. It was cold, but it didn't feel like a that of a corpse.
Examining the rest of her, Elizabeth couldn't understand how the woman had such a lively complexion. She was missing her entire lower half, after all. That, and her left arm had no skin on it at all. "What is this?" she mumbled as she ran her fingers along the artificial limb.
"Her entire body, or at least, what has been created for her so far, is made of a hyper-dense carbon polymer," Dio told her. "It's a lightweight material with enough density to withstand rifle fire and extreme temperatures."
Elizabeth couldn't believe what she was seeing. "Is she human?" she asked as she caressed the woman's forehead.
The skin felt so real.
"Was," he corrected her. "She was a spy for the Gentleman." He grinned. "Actually, she still is. A double agent, ultimately working for me now. Once we've finished upgrading her, she'll feed the Gentleman false intel, and eventually embed herself back into his network. From there, she'll bring his empire down."
"What?!"
Dio grinned. "There are others," he said, gesturing whimsically. "Soldiers who will usher in a new age for us all."
"This is wrong," Elizabeth said, shaking her head in disgust.
This poor woman.
"This is what Margaret would have wanted," Dio argued.
Elizabeth gripped the hilt of her sword instinctively. She wanted so badly to cut him down right then and there. "Don't say that," she warned. "Margaret was a good woman. An honorable, and kind woman. She would never do something so... monstrous!"
Dio shrugged. "She may not have agreed with my methods, you're right," he admitted, "but she could not argue with the results. What your sister wanted... her goal... it was beyond ambition. She wanted to change the world. Rebuild it from the ground up. This is as good a way as any other."
"No," Elizabeth said, "you're wrong. She would never allow this to happen."
"Oh, grow a fucking spine," Dio spat. "You want the same thing, don't you? Well guess what, people will never be moved by sentiment alone. There is only one thing they answer to. Only one thing they understand."
Elizabeth glared at him and smiled cynically. "And what is that, M'Lord?" he asked.
"Power," he said simply before turning around. "Let me show you what I mean."
Elizabeth gave the poor woman one last glance before following after her betrothed.
Margaret wouldn't want this. She would never stand for it.
Despite how much she'd convinced herself of Margaret's purity, she couldn't deny one simple truth. The one thing that had allowed her doubt to fester...
She'd never truly known her sister at all.
"We're here," Dio announced, snapping Elizabeth out of her trance. Where had they wandered off to? She hadn't been paying any attention.
Stepping into the narrow room behind Dio, she took a look around. It was a dark, featureless rectangle with nothing in it save for a motionless figure near the back wall. Pointing towards it, Elizabeth looked to Dio. "Another one of your puppets?" she asked.
"No," he said, shaking his head. "He is something more." Holding out his arm, Dio snapped his finger. "Masakado, awaken."
An unsettling silence hung in the air for what seemed like an eternity, and then, the figure moved. Slowly, it lifted its head up and looked at the two nobles. Elizabeth couldn't really make out its features in the dark, but there was something in way it held itself.
Imposing was the right word.
Elizabeth had been too taken in by its mystique to notice when Dio drew his revolver. Noticing a glimmer of light reflect off of its chrome surface, the young noble looked to the weapon. "D-Dio, what are you doing?" she asked in suspicion. Grinning, he held the gun to her head, causing her to jump backwards in surprise. "Dio?" She asked again, pressing her back against the wall. The barrel of the weapon was no more than three meters away.
Keeping his eyes on Elizabeth, Dio's grin grew more sinister. "Masakado," he announced, "do not let harm come to this girl." The bestial figure did not make any kind of acknowledgement.
Elizabeth's breath grew heavy. "D-Dio," she muttered again. She was afraid. She was so completely terrified.
Dio couldn't get enough of it. "This is power," he whispered. An explosion rang out in the narrow room just as soon as the words had left his mouth. Due to the darkness and the close range, the muzzle flash blinded Elizabeth, forcing her eyes shut.
A few, long seconds passed with nothing. The blinding light, the deafening ringing and the overwhelming smell of burning powder in her nostrils told her, at the very least, that she was still alive. Though she felt no pain in any part of her body she couldn't bring herself to move a muscle. As her senses began to return to her, she conjured up the courage to finally open her eyes.
"Oh G-God," she cried, the moment her vision returned to her. Standing between them now was the tall figure from before; his long, shimmering blade held between his hands, caressing the floor in front of him. How had he crossed that gap so quickly and how was he so... still?
His dull, empty eyes stared straight ahead. She could tell he knew she was looking at him, but he clear wasn't acknowledging her presence. Still trembling, Elizabeth looked passed the man. "Wh-what...?" she stammered.
"As I said before," Dio begun as he bent over to pick something up off the ground right near the tip of the long blade, "power." Rising back up, he held his hand out for Elizabeth to take. She hesitated a moment, but eventually reached out. Stepping around the giant as if he weren't even there, Dio took her trembling hand in his own, and placed something into her palm. "Look." He whispered.
Choked by fear, Elizabeth withdrew her hand and reluctantly opened it. Her eyes opened wide in surprise. "Th-that's impossible," she mumbled. It took her a moment to register what it was she was looking at. It was impossible after all. There was no way. "H-he sliced it..."
Resting in her palm were two halves of a bullet. The same bullet Dio had fired moments ago.
Dio patted the tall figure on the shoulder and laughed out loud. "He is quite something," he said. "Now come. I have one last thing to show you tonight."
When Dio turned to leave, Elizabeth did not follow. Instead, she simply stood there next to the large man. She couldn't pry her eyes away. "What are you?" she asked it, but did not expect an answer.
He did not move an inch. He did not acknowledge her in any way whatsoever.
He was not a man. At least, not anymore.
***********************************************************************************************************************************************************
To Pixie's relief, Cameron had been a real trooper. After the first barrage of ear shattering screeches and curses, Cam had been content to bite down on the towel in her mouth and groan. Pixie could hardly blame her though. Pouring vodka on an open wound was pretty goddamn painful.
Aesop had been sitting across from them in a chair, watching intently the whole time while Carlos was keeping look out. He was certain they hadn't been followed, but after what had happened earlier they couldn't be too sure. With Cam in tow, Pixie had to join her men outside the bar where they fought their way out of the Barrens. Though some of their attackers were no doubt on Dio's payroll, the local gangs were never very keen on strangers starting firefights on their turf, so in the end, who knows who the hell they were actually shooting at.
Truth be told, Pixie really didn't give a shit, she just wanted to get her girl out of there. She'd already had enough men die. "Attagirl," Pixie cooed as she finished suturing Cam's wound. "As good as new."
Tears in her eyes, Cam laughed despite herself. "Thanks Pixie," she whispered. "Reckon you can kiss it and make it better?"
Pixie smiled. "Of course," she mused as she held the woman's arm gently in her hands and kissed her shoulder, right above the wound. "Now lay the fuck down."
Just as Pixie began laying Cam out on the sofa, Carlos called out to her. "We've got someone outside," he said.
Looking to Aesop, Pixie pointed to Cam. "Look after 'er, I'll be right back," she instructed. Hopping off the edge of the sofa, she grabbed Mr. Monroe up off the coffee table and approached the front door. Carlos was peeping out the window with a pistol in his hand. "Who is it?"
"Bonnie," Carlos muttered.
Pixie cursed under her breath before nodding towards the door. "Open it," she said. Just as soon as Carlos had opened the door, Pixie flew out with her rifle level. Bonnie's eyes went wide, but before she could react Pixie reached out with her freehand, grabbed her by the brim of her corset and pulled her into the safehouse. The smaller woman let out a frantic yelp as she was thrown onto her ass in the middle of the room.
"Were you followed?!" Pixie barked as the door slammed behind her. Approaching the prone woman, Pixie pointed her rifle at her. "Answer me!"
Bonnie furrowed her brow. "You're hardly one to demand an answer for---" Bonnie's words died in her throat when Pixie suddenly dropped down onto her knee and pressed the barrel of her rifle against Bonnie's forehead. She was serious. "F-f-fuck, Pixie! Jesus! NO! No, I wasn't fucking followed, alright?!"
Pixie glared at her for a moment before lowering her weapon. "What ar' you doin' here? Yer a fuckin' idiot fer comin' here!"
"You are not one to talk! You blew my cover! Remember?!" she shouted as she struggled to her feet.
"I didn' blow shit," Pixie said with a scoff.
Holding her hands out in surrender, Bonnie sighed. "Whatever, fuck, look," she said, "I talked to Contessa. She wants you to meet her at the masquerade tonight. I'll be coming a long too... to supervise."
Pixie cocked an eyebrow. "Masquerade? I ain't got masks an' shit lyin' around here!" she whined.
"If you hadn't thrown me across your goddamn safe-house the moment I arrived you'd have seen my bags outside," Bonnie spat.
"Oh," Pixie muttered before turning to see Carlos retrieve said bags. "What time?"
"Two hours."
Pixie looked to the smaller woman and grinned. "Well let's get ready fer a lil' party then, shall we?" she chirped.
"What's with the mood swings, lady?" Bonnie asked, shaking her head in disbelief. She closed her eyes and bowed her head in mock defeat. "You're really throwing me for a loop here."
"I've never been to a masquerade before," Pixie admitted. "You need ta' make sure I look alright!" Grabbing her wrist, Pixie dragged Bonnie into her bedroom. After slamming the door shut behind her, Pixie called out to Carlos in the main room. "Make sure Cam's alright! I gotta doll myself up like one of these fuckin' loony-ass noble bitches!"
Carlos allowed himself a genuine smile. Pixie was such a character. "Sure thing, boss," he said.
The young noble could do little more than clutch her weapon and stare daggers into the back of Dio's head as they road down the elevator together. Despite how tough she acted, she knew Dio could smell the fear on her.
Just be calm, Liz. Listen to what he has to say and try not to piss him off. Further outbursts will only make things worse.
She hated this. She hated how much power she'd given him by simply relenting. She knew she could not best him physically, and her words could only get her so far. With no real tangible power behind them, she had nothing.
She was just a helpless pawn in this man's grand scheme.
Just hang in there. Bide your time. You knew it wouldn't be easy, Liz. You can win. You can beat him.
The elevator ride down the tower felt far longer than it had on the way up. When she looked up at the digital display near the door, she realized why.
"We're underground?" she muttered as the readout changed from B4 to B5.
Dio nodded. "Most of the R&D on this project takes place in a remote facility far from this city," he told her. "However, recently I had a large portion of the project transferred to a newly constructed underground facility. I wanted to keep a closer eye on things."
Elizabeth furrowed her brow. "What kind of things are you researching down here?" she asked in as firm a voice as she could muster. In truth, she really didn't want to know.
Dio did not answer. Instead, he simply looked at her from over his shoulder and grinned.
Then, the elevator finally stopped. The digital display read, "B23"; nearly 70 meters underground.
"Right this way," Dio beckoned as he stepped through the elevator doors.
The enormous hall they stepped into resembled that of a hospital, except even more sterile and not nearly as bright. In fact, there was an eerie dimness to the lighting that sent a shiver down Elizabeth's spine.
Talk about oppressive atmosphere.
As far as she could tell they were the only two people on the entire floor of the complex. Perhaps these were Dio's private labs?
He's not a mad scientist... the staff's probably just off for the night...
Elizabeth's mind ran circles as the pair delved deeper into the laboratory. Eventually the walls on either side of them turned into windows and the young woman couldn't help but sneak a peak at the rooms on the other side. Many of them contained empty chairs and operating tables, not unlike that of a medical examination room.
A little further now and...
Elizabeth covered her mouth with her freehand and gasped. "What are you doing down here?" she whimpered. She had seen some truly horrible things since the train robbery, but this was... What was this? "D-Dio... what have you done to this woman?"
Without even realizing it, Elizabeth has pressed herself up against the window to get a better look. All manner of tubes and electrical wires had been fed into a dismembered woman from a collection machines against the back wall. It was like something out of a science fiction movie. "So eager to see her up close?" he asked with a small chuckle. "Come." After punching in a short code on the keypad, he opened the sealed chamber and led Elizabeth to the operating table.
Her whole body shuddered as she approached the motionless form sprawled out on the table before her. The woman's face was... she looked alive... but that was impossible.
With but a moment's hesitation, Elizabeth reached down and prodded the woman's hand. It was cold, but it didn't feel like a that of a corpse.
Examining the rest of her, Elizabeth couldn't understand how the woman had such a lively complexion. She was missing her entire lower half, after all. That, and her left arm had no skin on it at all. "What is this?" she mumbled as she ran her fingers along the artificial limb.
"Her entire body, or at least, what has been created for her so far, is made of a hyper-dense carbon polymer," Dio told her. "It's a lightweight material with enough density to withstand rifle fire and extreme temperatures."
Elizabeth couldn't believe what she was seeing. "Is she human?" she asked as she caressed the woman's forehead.
The skin felt so real.
"Was," he corrected her. "She was a spy for the Gentleman." He grinned. "Actually, she still is. A double agent, ultimately working for me now. Once we've finished upgrading her, she'll feed the Gentleman false intel, and eventually embed herself back into his network. From there, she'll bring his empire down."
"What?!"
Dio grinned. "There are others," he said, gesturing whimsically. "Soldiers who will usher in a new age for us all."
"This is wrong," Elizabeth said, shaking her head in disgust.
This poor woman.
"This is what Margaret would have wanted," Dio argued.
Elizabeth gripped the hilt of her sword instinctively. She wanted so badly to cut him down right then and there. "Don't say that," she warned. "Margaret was a good woman. An honorable, and kind woman. She would never do something so... monstrous!"
Dio shrugged. "She may not have agreed with my methods, you're right," he admitted, "but she could not argue with the results. What your sister wanted... her goal... it was beyond ambition. She wanted to change the world. Rebuild it from the ground up. This is as good a way as any other."
"No," Elizabeth said, "you're wrong. She would never allow this to happen."
"Oh, grow a fucking spine," Dio spat. "You want the same thing, don't you? Well guess what, people will never be moved by sentiment alone. There is only one thing they answer to. Only one thing they understand."
Elizabeth glared at him and smiled cynically. "And what is that, M'Lord?" he asked.
"Power," he said simply before turning around. "Let me show you what I mean."
Elizabeth gave the poor woman one last glance before following after her betrothed.
Margaret wouldn't want this. She would never stand for it.
Despite how much she'd convinced herself of Margaret's purity, she couldn't deny one simple truth. The one thing that had allowed her doubt to fester...
She'd never truly known her sister at all.
"We're here," Dio announced, snapping Elizabeth out of her trance. Where had they wandered off to? She hadn't been paying any attention.
Stepping into the narrow room behind Dio, she took a look around. It was a dark, featureless rectangle with nothing in it save for a motionless figure near the back wall. Pointing towards it, Elizabeth looked to Dio. "Another one of your puppets?" she asked.
"No," he said, shaking his head. "He is something more." Holding out his arm, Dio snapped his finger. "Masakado, awaken."
An unsettling silence hung in the air for what seemed like an eternity, and then, the figure moved. Slowly, it lifted its head up and looked at the two nobles. Elizabeth couldn't really make out its features in the dark, but there was something in way it held itself.
Imposing was the right word.
Elizabeth had been too taken in by its mystique to notice when Dio drew his revolver. Noticing a glimmer of light reflect off of its chrome surface, the young noble looked to the weapon. "D-Dio, what are you doing?" she asked in suspicion. Grinning, he held the gun to her head, causing her to jump backwards in surprise. "Dio?" She asked again, pressing her back against the wall. The barrel of the weapon was no more than three meters away.
Keeping his eyes on Elizabeth, Dio's grin grew more sinister. "Masakado," he announced, "do not let harm come to this girl." The bestial figure did not make any kind of acknowledgement.
Elizabeth's breath grew heavy. "D-Dio," she muttered again. She was afraid. She was so completely terrified.
Dio couldn't get enough of it. "This is power," he whispered. An explosion rang out in the narrow room just as soon as the words had left his mouth. Due to the darkness and the close range, the muzzle flash blinded Elizabeth, forcing her eyes shut.
A few, long seconds passed with nothing. The blinding light, the deafening ringing and the overwhelming smell of burning powder in her nostrils told her, at the very least, that she was still alive. Though she felt no pain in any part of her body she couldn't bring herself to move a muscle. As her senses began to return to her, she conjured up the courage to finally open her eyes.
"Oh G-God," she cried, the moment her vision returned to her. Standing between them now was the tall figure from before; his long, shimmering blade held between his hands, caressing the floor in front of him. How had he crossed that gap so quickly and how was he so... still?
His dull, empty eyes stared straight ahead. She could tell he knew she was looking at him, but he clear wasn't acknowledging her presence. Still trembling, Elizabeth looked passed the man. "Wh-what...?" she stammered.
"As I said before," Dio begun as he bent over to pick something up off the ground right near the tip of the long blade, "power." Rising back up, he held his hand out for Elizabeth to take. She hesitated a moment, but eventually reached out. Stepping around the giant as if he weren't even there, Dio took her trembling hand in his own, and placed something into her palm. "Look." He whispered.
Choked by fear, Elizabeth withdrew her hand and reluctantly opened it. Her eyes opened wide in surprise. "Th-that's impossible," she mumbled. It took her a moment to register what it was she was looking at. It was impossible after all. There was no way. "H-he sliced it..."
Resting in her palm were two halves of a bullet. The same bullet Dio had fired moments ago.
Dio patted the tall figure on the shoulder and laughed out loud. "He is quite something," he said. "Now come. I have one last thing to show you tonight."
When Dio turned to leave, Elizabeth did not follow. Instead, she simply stood there next to the large man. She couldn't pry her eyes away. "What are you?" she asked it, but did not expect an answer.
He did not move an inch. He did not acknowledge her in any way whatsoever.
He was not a man. At least, not anymore.
***********************************************************************************************************************************************************
To Pixie's relief, Cameron had been a real trooper. After the first barrage of ear shattering screeches and curses, Cam had been content to bite down on the towel in her mouth and groan. Pixie could hardly blame her though. Pouring vodka on an open wound was pretty goddamn painful.
Aesop had been sitting across from them in a chair, watching intently the whole time while Carlos was keeping look out. He was certain they hadn't been followed, but after what had happened earlier they couldn't be too sure. With Cam in tow, Pixie had to join her men outside the bar where they fought their way out of the Barrens. Though some of their attackers were no doubt on Dio's payroll, the local gangs were never very keen on strangers starting firefights on their turf, so in the end, who knows who the hell they were actually shooting at.
Truth be told, Pixie really didn't give a shit, she just wanted to get her girl out of there. She'd already had enough men die. "Attagirl," Pixie cooed as she finished suturing Cam's wound. "As good as new."
Tears in her eyes, Cam laughed despite herself. "Thanks Pixie," she whispered. "Reckon you can kiss it and make it better?"
Pixie smiled. "Of course," she mused as she held the woman's arm gently in her hands and kissed her shoulder, right above the wound. "Now lay the fuck down."
Just as Pixie began laying Cam out on the sofa, Carlos called out to her. "We've got someone outside," he said.
Looking to Aesop, Pixie pointed to Cam. "Look after 'er, I'll be right back," she instructed. Hopping off the edge of the sofa, she grabbed Mr. Monroe up off the coffee table and approached the front door. Carlos was peeping out the window with a pistol in his hand. "Who is it?"
"Bonnie," Carlos muttered.
Pixie cursed under her breath before nodding towards the door. "Open it," she said. Just as soon as Carlos had opened the door, Pixie flew out with her rifle level. Bonnie's eyes went wide, but before she could react Pixie reached out with her freehand, grabbed her by the brim of her corset and pulled her into the safehouse. The smaller woman let out a frantic yelp as she was thrown onto her ass in the middle of the room.
"Were you followed?!" Pixie barked as the door slammed behind her. Approaching the prone woman, Pixie pointed her rifle at her. "Answer me!"
Bonnie furrowed her brow. "You're hardly one to demand an answer for---" Bonnie's words died in her throat when Pixie suddenly dropped down onto her knee and pressed the barrel of her rifle against Bonnie's forehead. She was serious. "F-f-fuck, Pixie! Jesus! NO! No, I wasn't fucking followed, alright?!"
Pixie glared at her for a moment before lowering her weapon. "What ar' you doin' here? Yer a fuckin' idiot fer comin' here!"
"You are not one to talk! You blew my cover! Remember?!" she shouted as she struggled to her feet.
"I didn' blow shit," Pixie said with a scoff.
Holding her hands out in surrender, Bonnie sighed. "Whatever, fuck, look," she said, "I talked to Contessa. She wants you to meet her at the masquerade tonight. I'll be coming a long too... to supervise."
Pixie cocked an eyebrow. "Masquerade? I ain't got masks an' shit lyin' around here!" she whined.
"If you hadn't thrown me across your goddamn safe-house the moment I arrived you'd have seen my bags outside," Bonnie spat.
"Oh," Pixie muttered before turning to see Carlos retrieve said bags. "What time?"
"Two hours."
Pixie looked to the smaller woman and grinned. "Well let's get ready fer a lil' party then, shall we?" she chirped.
"What's with the mood swings, lady?" Bonnie asked, shaking her head in disbelief. She closed her eyes and bowed her head in mock defeat. "You're really throwing me for a loop here."
"I've never been to a masquerade before," Pixie admitted. "You need ta' make sure I look alright!" Grabbing her wrist, Pixie dragged Bonnie into her bedroom. After slamming the door shut behind her, Pixie called out to Carlos in the main room. "Make sure Cam's alright! I gotta doll myself up like one of these fuckin' loony-ass noble bitches!"
Carlos allowed himself a genuine smile. Pixie was such a character. "Sure thing, boss," he said.
