Chapter 32: Agonizing Potential

Metal scraped against metal as the slacked chain between Dan’s ankles dragged against the floor. The pair of overly tightened manacles dug into his skin and Achilles heel, causing a thick pad of reddened blisters to have grown where the rubbing was the worst. Every step, every time they needed him, his world became uncomfortable.

The creek of the transport vehicle’s door gave Dan enough time to tightly close his eyes. A moment later the sack covering his head was ripped off and a rush of light invaded his thin eyelids. He was well used to bright lights at this point, but his time in captivity was primarily in the dark.

“Is this him?” the Association guard who opened the door asked in the local language. Behind the man was a platoon of extra hands, all as weak as the last. Two quick harsh gestures were enough to push the small convoy through the paved outside.

The three of them stood at the gated entrance of a landfill, the putrid smell of souring meat as familiar for Dan as ever. The two manacles were unlocked, the constricting straight jacket released.

Stretching his back in a slow methodical way, Dan fluttered his cores like dusting off a dirty kitchen counter. He did it with purpose, flicking motes of power at the guard while staring at him through his periphery. The effects were keenly noticed as a pool of foul smelling liquid trickled around the boots of the guard.

Dan pulled his attention from the shivering man, focusing on the battleground. Slowly grazing over the piles of trash were monsters – nothing new, nothing worrisome. He’d done this countless times, after all.

Sully the old stood at the center of the facility, waiting. Their meetings were more distant as of late, which caused a storm within Dan. He needed to talk to his friend, he needed whatever guidance the elder was willing to share. And quickly at that, before Sully the younger appeared. There would only be chaos at that point.

“Go,” his handler whispered.

The single word of permission was all Dan needed. He fired off, dead sprinting through the concrete parking lot towards the trash. Light flooded the space behind his head, acting like a spotlight much to the common eye.

A spike, no thicker than a young branch, shot from the floating bubble of golden light. It arced around Dan as he ran, dozens more spikes jutting out from its main identity. In a single decisive moment, he brushed the back of both his arms against the light.

His skin sheared without grimace, his legs never once slowing or hesitating. Dan held the painful maneuver for only a moment before allowing himself an ounce of reprieve. The light, once geared to harm him, turned soft, gently kissing his crimson wet skin with the touch of warmth. His wounds healed in a mere heartbeat, rebuffing against the cold of blood loss.

A trail of red followed closely behind Dan, each heavy footstep casting more droplets off his smooth skin. The blood moved with him, taking to his command like ducklings following their mother. With a sick thought, Dan’s core exploded in needed power, forcing all of the blood outside his body to rush to aid.

It gathered around his right arm in a vortex of red, forming a silken sheath before draining to his fingertips. As Dan punched the first monster of many, his bloody fingers sharpened and bolstered. They took the powerful form of the very beast that started this whole mess, the very beast that invaded his rig so long ago.

The monster growled with a world shifting metric as it clamped onto Dan’s outstretched arm. He looked at it in confusion, trying to identify just what it was trying to do to him. With a mental command, his claw reacted, slicing the beast apart. It crumbled into defeated foliage, returning to the original plant material it overtook.

At this point the whole of the landfill took notice of the invader, rushing through the garbage to intercept. One by one Dan sliced apart anything that neared while making careful adjustments to the slightly different mutations of the plant beasts.

He reached the first of the mutations with breakneck speed, the lighter of the trash around him taking to the sudden wind. As greasy napkins and the odd damp box floated through the air, Dan stuck his hand deep within the monster before him. He searched with his magical claw, clipping and yanking anything that seemed important.

Movement drew his split concentration, pulling a secondary thought process from hibernation. It reacted swiftly and without recourse, moving the globe of golden light from behind his hunched back to his side. A hail of seeds blasted into the cloud of light, each of their viciousness failing within the magical construct.

Through the corner of his eye, Dan dispatched the attacker with a hidden trap. Dim light erupted below the beast, searing into the overgrown things it called feet.

Dan’s blood claw touched upon something hard and small. With a grin he ripped it from its host’s crumbling form, revealing a glinting green gem. In a swift movement, he sprinted to the next mutation while subtly swallowing his prize. It fell through his throat and into his stomach like a led weight, the acid in his stomach instantly freezing over.

He stumbled at the wave of pain, catching himself from slipping off the trash pile. With an agonizing roar, Dan let loose a dire cry of pain. The thought of clawing his flesh apart to remove the corruption invaded every shattered section of his mind, only the warmth from his light core guiding his way.

A monster took the moment to attack with scythe-like branches, finding itself lacerated a breath later. Dan heaved cold breaths through his body, each pumping more of what he desperately needed into his blood. He reached a threshold, igniting his blood core into a second wind.

Power bubbled from within, turning his usually pale skin deep red. The pores along his arms began to leak with frightening speed, ushering in a new weapon. The blood took to his command, falling upwards in an antigravity blitz.

One by one the stars above winked out of existence, each being consumed by the rushing rains. Droplets started to pour, covering the landfill in Dan’s blood. Slowly the blood pooled under the trash and waste, waiting for its only coveted command.

Dan eyed the remaining monsters, a few dozen only two of which were the mutants he was looking for. As if reading his mind, the blood sprung its unholy trap. A set of red jaws erupted from the edges of the landfill, pushing their way to the heavens before snapping closed. The blood continued into the air, spiraling higher and higher like a derelict rocket ship.

Then, the construct burst, raining monster parts, garbage, and blood over the voided battlefield. Dan stared at the carnage, looking for anything that set his cores into a frenzy or lustered like emerald. He frowned at the lack of trophies and walked to his elderly friend.

“Impressive,” Sully said. “Albeit much angrier than I ever taught.”

Dan shook his head, ignoring the ghost’s chiding. “What do you have for me?”

“Straight to the point, I see. That is unbecoming of you.”

Cold dead eyes stared at Sully. “I am sick of this, as you would be in my position.”

That caused a giggle to escape the elder’s lips. “We both know my situation is eons worse than your own.”

“Doesn’t feel like it to me,” Dan quickly said back.

“Perhaps. Regardless, it is time.”

The statement hung in the air. Internally Dan checked for malfeasance or madness, both of which proved near. Around them the ground shifted with chittering antics. Hatred and ire poked their vulgar heads through the crust of the Earth with hair-like tendrils that reached for parasitical life.

“It’s still weak,” Dan said, stomping the madness that reached for him.

Sully met his friend’s eyes, speaking with a calculated tone, “It is time.”

Dan shook his head slowly. “I guess it is.”

He turned to look at the hesitant crowd of local law. Each watched him talk to himself with twitchy expectance, their rifles ready and waiting. Slowly Dan walked back to his handler and the weak guard. His movement was methodical, as was the posturing of his mass of light.

The handler took to the threat instantly, pulling his specialized pistol and firing off the whole magazine as fast as his finger could squeeze. The others reacted as well, fear taking hold of their actions. Thousands of rounds of the Association’s best anti-Dan bullets were finally put to use.

They, however, missed.

Six months earlier

Two weeks after being accepted aboard the USS Herald

The band around Dan’s arm constricted as more and more air pumped into the sleeve.

The Association doctor overseeing the ship frowned at the dial’s reading. He pursed his lips, releasing the pressure and restarting the relatively simple test. Again the dial read something unseemly, something deathly. With a shake of his head, he tried one last time.

“Something wrong?” Dan asked the doctor through the clear protective plastic.

The tents were set on the ship’s main deck, the only place flat enough to allow temporary housing. While the tents were nothing more than glorified quarantine bubbles, Dan had to admit they had everything he wanted. No life threatening monsters, no rotten food, no mining equipment. He and the Dwellers had their every want taken care of.

Within reason of course. Dan’s request to send his family a letter had been denied several times at this point, finally causing him to simply not ask anymore.

Despite being treated like lab rats, Dan was content with his new residence. He thought the other freed slaves, now known as the Dwellers, would agree with his sentiment. Anything was better than the cultist camp. He could do without the constant medical testing, however, something he was glad was only localized to himself for now.

The others were a bit skittish.

“Your blood pressure still doesn’t make sense,” the doctor said. “With these numbers I would bet money that you were currently having a stroke.”

Movement caught Dan’s eye, pulling his attention past the doctor in a protective suit towards the ship’s railing. A familiar form of an elderly alien man stood with his back to the tents, his gaze drifting out through the infinite waves.

Sully, Dan easily recognized, a frown forming upon his lips. A moment later the ghost faded away, leaving only the backdrop of the eerie ocean. Dan didn’t mind his friend’s short appearance even though he desperately wanted to talk to him. The ship’s guardian had been silent as of late, only appearing when monsters approached.

“Doc we are going to have to cut this short,” Dan said, locking eyes with the man. “Monsters are on their way.”

The doctor paled and not just because his eyes met his patient’s. It took the man’s full concentration to rip his glare from Dan’s, only receiving an accelerated heart rate in the process. He cursed aloud, stammering over to a red button behind a clear covering.

Before the doctor could sound the alarm, Shadow, Dan’s handler, readied his weapon and stepped into post. As the ship’s lights turned red and flashing, Shadow’s earpiece below his mask lit up with yelling. The man shut  out the sound, searching the water through an infrared scope. A drag of water forced his fingers to freeze up, sending off six unintended rounds before he could regain control over his body.

The sudden gunfire caused a ripple of petrified screams throughout the tent. The Dwellers cowered away from the loud boom stick, crowding the far corner of the clear tents. Those with the means to fight stood at the forefront of the group, their eyes scanning for the emergence of more threats .

Dan grimaced as Shadow puked, the smell reaching through the quarantine bubble. “You can’t fight monsters unprepared! Filter your core! Like I’ve been teaching you!”

Shadow glared at his charge, returning his attention back to the waters below. This time the man pushed against his core with forceful strength, searching yet again for movement. They were closer this time, nearly to the hull of the ship. He fired, each bullet hurtling through the air with an ethereal sheen. One of the waves died off, dissipating harmlessly to the depths below.

Others poured from the ship’s interior, each donning weapons and releasing safeties. Most, if not all, crumbled at the sight of the waters below. The deck became slick with vomit as the armed troops fell into anguish laden fits of hysteria. Blood tricked through their nostrils and ears while pooling against the whites of their eyes.

Dan cursed again, just as Troop Leader Aisha Lowe pushed through the stunned crowd. His cores spun to life, light and blood touching his mind. He saw the attack he would use, he saw the spell he would craft. He could heal those in need and dispatch the monsters before the ship could even  reach battle maneuvers.

But Aisha’s glare was enough to stave his desire to help. Dan was not to use magic, other than under very specific circumstances.

The woman bore her teeth at the situation, pulling her rifle to her shoulder and firing pot shots off without looking at the water below. She dragged those she could out of harm's way when she ran out of ammo, often taking the downed soldier’s weapon instead.

Shadow was faring better, but not by much. Sweat and tears broke his vision, blurring the dark waters into a single congealed mass. His chest bounced with thankless vigor as his heart rate continued to climb. What little skin the man showed between his armor and thick padding began to redden and heat, like a scraped knee against a concrete slab.

“Aisha! Grab shadow!” Dan yelled over the blaring sirens.

At that moment, the ship clunked forward, lurching into a hard stop as the motors reversed. The ship’s momentum continued forward despite the overworked engines. The sudden change forced those with weak footing to fall.

Then an explosion rocked against the side of the ship. Metal tore from its riveted homes with audible whines, soldiers fell overboard with crying wails. Water pulled the ship down, teetering against the intact counterweight.

Aisha and Dan locked eyes despite the negative effects the Association member would be feeling later. She grit her teeth and shook her head, but a presence ended their silent conversation.

The monsters rocketed from the water below, catapulting themselves up and past the ship’s railing. Some landed on the main deck, others landed on different levels  overhead. Gun erupted along with the panicked screams of those soon to die.

Dan watched as one monster slung its meaty arm forward, grasping tentacles flailing about along its hulking frame. It gripped its human target without remorse, sucking off her face and most of her skull in the process. Blood dripped down the monster’s sleek scales, pooling around it as if it was collecting the red liquid.

It let loose a devilish war cry, bending the world with every reverb. Wooden planks and metal fittings burst at the sound, rupturing walls and dismantling the floor. The soldiers nearest covered their heads in dying shame, their brains scrambling.

The monster stepped through the carnage, its path locked directly onto Dan’s. Its hunger roused its weighted steps, primal nature pushing it past piles of nutritious food.

“Aisha!” Dan screeched in warning.

The Troop Leader cursed herself, pulling a slobbering man away from the enemy. Aisha glanced at the young man within the tent, he being the only one of the Dwellers posturing to help. Orders rushed through her radio, killing the words growing in her throat.

She fired a full clip, the bullets slicing through the monster closest to her with little effect. Holes appeared along the being’s wet torso, each a kill shot in its own right. The beast failed to slow, taking the attack like the annoyance it was. A blue light appeared at the tip of its fingers, pulling the eyes of all humans around.

Aisha stepped forward, dropping her rifle and kicking past the deceased. A blue orb glinted within her eyes, everything else was moot.

Even Dan fell victim to the mesmeric attack, his cores keeping his feet firmly planted in place. He focused internally, reading himself while shouting for action.

“Please! Please!” Dan begged. “Let me help!”

Dark thoughts drifted to one of the few prohibitions he and the other Dwellers were forced to follow. Was this a test? Was Aisha’s boss that petty to leave the fate of his men to chance? Did he want Dan to attack without direction? Or was this to see if he would?

The clear tent rippled as a soldier dove into the germ free housing. Dan instantly reacted, putting himself between the man and the Dwellers behind him. Hollow eyes met his own as the soldier looked up, Shadow, despite being covered in blood, spoke one simple word.

“Go.”

Hell unleashed as the frenzy of Dan lit the night sky. Under the single triplet of stars, golden light erupted into booming vengeance. They morphed and twisted as they flew, transforming into winged beasts of human design. The enclosing monster stopped cold, instincts gripping its frozen body.

Two golden orbs appeared in its own eyes, reflecting the human monster before it. Pain befell its slimy body as a butterfly of pure magic plowed its way through scales, bone, and internal organs. The monster fell in a brilliant birth of golden plume, falling over to lay with the people it slayed.

Dan appeared behind another monster a floor up, his body red with anger and hardened blood. An open palm collided with the beast, sending it over the railing and into a golden watery grave. Again Dan shot off a flying projectile, taking advantage of the higher vantage point.

Fish, excrement, and blood invaded his nose as the battle concluded. Dying screams, horrified cries, and manic muttering met his ears as the emergency sirens ended.

With a deep breath and a glance to those Dan arrived at the USS Herald with, he summoned forth enough golden light to wash the deck clean of pain and suffering. Those already dead would remain so, but those hanging on would recover.

As the groaning stopped, the ship’s Captain strolled through the carnage, his eyes finding Dan’s own. He smirked, sending a clear message.

“You’ve failed.”