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Snow fell slowly on a very late night. The Blackrock facility was dead silent, saved for the machines running and the occasional sound of footsteps of soldiers and robots patrolling. It was peaceful, but the rumors about a certain captive criminal was running around the inphernal soldiers.
Have you heard? One of the biografts got back with the Crystal criminal.
What? There’s no way, that dude is very difficult to catch.
Well, I did hear some noise from the cells last night, screams and laughs.
While the soldiers were gossiping (very unprofessional of them) they did not see that three intruders entered by the open door they were supposed to guard. When the three intruders were inside and no one was there to see them, they all sighed in relief.
“Brrr, gods above, it's freezing out there!” the red horned inphernal with a skating helmet complained while he was shaking the snow off his shoes and backpack.
“Yeah… Good thing that now we know they have him locked up here” murmured the shortest one of the three, adjusting his visor so it could make some light to illuminate the area. Boombox saw a long dark corridor with some pipes near the ceiling and it led further into the facility.
The cafe owner scoffed very annoyed because of the cold and wet shoes “We got lucky that’s for sure. I can’t believe I'm in the most secured faction in all the Inpherno for a rescue mission” Slingshot looked at Skateboard who was looking at the direction of the corridor with a worried look, then he saw the blue horned inphernal glaring at him “What? This is my buddy we are talking about! And I cannot sit around and wait! He’s been missing for two whole days and knowing how his escapades go… ”
Slingshot crossed his arms “And what’s the plan now Skate? Go door through door with a very likely chance to get caught by soldiers to find Coil?”
Skateboard was quiet for a few seconds but that was enough for the other two to realize that he didn't have a plan. Slingshot facepalmed “You are unbelievable”
“And very careless,” Boombox added with a worried expression.
Skateboard scoffed, very offended “Well! We did get this far so now we go forward! You guys also tagged along! Why are you complaining?”
The musician put his hand on the shoulder of his friend “Because we care about you and we knew that it was stupid to go alone” The sounds of metal footsteps alerted them and moved to a blindspot from the corridor, Boombox continued whispering “I’m also worried about Coil as much as you”
Slingshot peeked behind the wall to see if there was someone near “Yeah, as much as I hate Coil being annoying at the cafe, he is your friend and I’m going to help you”
The skater looked at his friends, the fact that they were willing to risk their safety for him and his friend made his chest warm up and smiled. He was so worried when he didn’t see Coil after one of his missions two days ago. He started to worry and everyone around him noticed, it was just that afternoon when he made up his mind and tried to find him. Boombox and Slingshot were at that moment with him and they thought it was just how Coil worked, but Skakeboard kinda spilled the beans about his buddy being a wanted criminal and that he’s been hiding him for a while, which shocked the other two. Look, he was frustrated and anxious about this mission, he didn’t do it on purpose. So now here they were, after a long way though the snowy forest and infiltrated the building it was time for Operation: save coil. (OMG title drop :0)
Skateboard sighed and smiled at his friends “Thank you guys, this means a lot to me. Even tho we are getting ourselves in danger, I promise I’ll keep us all safe” They were going in blind, risky enough to get them killed. But as crazy as the situation was, they were all there to save their friend.
Luckily for them, the metal footsteps of the Biografts were gone and now the trio could continue their rescue. Slingshot went first to take the lead, he was fast and quiet, perfect to alert if someone was coming. Boombox went after, summoning his gear to boost up in case they were in danger. Skateboard went last as a backup for any attack from the front or the back. They treaded carefully through the long corridor, the cafe owner stopped at an intersection and looked both ways. There was no one. He now needed to trust his gut and for where to go and it could mean everything or an absolute death. He sighed and turned left, beckoning his friends to follow.
The air was tense. There were a lot of corridors, ones with high-tech doors or windows with machines bigger than a whole building. The soldiers, inphernal or robot, strolling around made the run more difficult, it was incredible that no one noticed yet.
It was like a labyrinth, each turn was a gamble and the eerie silence was making it more exasperating. Boombox couldn’t take the silence anymore, he whispered with a tremble in his voice “Do you know where we are going? We need to find the cells”
Slingshot stopped near a corner and peeked to the other side. He saw a robot soldier, one of those Biografts that the skater mentioned before entering the nation, the ones who Coil always defeated. It was standing near a door, a different one from the high-tech ones, one singular wooden door in a dead end hallway. Slingshot turned around “Look, I just trusted my gut and it got us to a dead end here, there’s just one robot guarding a door. Let’s turn around, Skate you take the lead now”
Boombox went in front and looked at the Biograft “Huh… Weird, why would it guard that door? Seems too far off from the other ones”
Skateboard made way and also looked to the hallway “If it needs a guardian, it must be something important” he smiled, summoning his gear.
The blue horned phernal tried to stop the skater, but it was too late. He charged with his skateboard at full speed, crashing with the Biograft. It flung to the wall, making it fall to the ground. The skater quickly grabbed his gear and swung it to the head of the robot, the sound echoing through the hallway. The Biograft made some glitching sound but then it shut down from the damage malfunction.
Slingshot ran towards him screaming while whispering “Are you out of your mind?!”
“What? It was quite easy to take it down” Skateboard defended. He turned around with a triumphant smile “Take a good swing and it won’t get up anytime soon, that’s what Coil told me”
“Do you know how reckless that was?” He scolded getting in front of the skater, he was very anxious, frustrated. Mostly worried about his friend getting himself in danger.
“I–” he hesitated. Looking at the situation, yes, what he did was reckless. It dawned at him that he might have just compromised the mission “Look, I was curious about the door and I thought–”
Slingshot grabbed him by the shoulders, looming over with a glare “You can’t throw yourself into danger like that! I know you are worried about Coil but this is not the time nor place to act on impulse”.
“I-I’m sorry, okay?” He murmured, trying to get his hands off him. The last thing he wanted right then was Slingshot’s anger, also he might get his ‘tester of pastries’ privileges removed and he didn’t like that possibility. Feeling his friend’s worried expression he took his hands to reassure him “I’ll do better, I just thought there might be something important there, it was stupid of me. I did promise to protect you both, and I’ll keep my word. So now no more running to danger”
The cafe owner looked at him, waging his words if they were true. Just then he sighed tiredly “Okay… I’m sorry to lash at you like that”
“Totally valid, you know how I get for a little bit of fun”
The other huffed amused, crossing his arms “Yeah sure. Okay we need to think better on this plan tho”
Both Skateboard and Slingshot debated. They were losing time, Boombox was getting more anxious by the second. Thinking about what to do, he saw the door and the broken robot. If Skateboard got curious about the door the best he can do now is open it so they can move on. He got curious about the door too, but it's mostly because of his friend.
He got close to the door and tried to open it. It was locked. While the other two weren’t looking, the musician got near the Biograft and searched for any key. Luckily for him, there was a key attached to it by a tiny piece of leather. He approached the door again and put the key in the keyhole. When it opened, Boombox peeked inside.
An unconscious figure was beaten up and tied to a chair. Dual colored horns was the trait that stood out the most.
“Umm… I think I found him” he murmured, still shocked.
The other two stopped their talk and whipped their heads towards him “What!?”
Boombox opened the door fully, letting his friends see the objective of their rescue mission. It really was Coil!
The room was dark, there were some shelves near the walls with boxes littered everywhere, it must’ve been an old storage room, the chair was in the middle of it. Skateboard, with a little difficulty, turned the singular light bulb on to see better. Coil’s head hung low, totally unconscious, his body had too many bruises and wounds mainly on his face and arms. All three inphernals entered the room, being careful to close the door quietly.
Both the skater and musician quickly got behind the recluse to free him from his binds, there were thick ropes with a lot of knots around him to his arms and legs. Supposed to be a safe measure because of how strong Coil was. Slingshot on the other hand, got in front of the unconscious inphernal to grab his face and checked if he was still breathing. Which he was but very weakly. He sighed in relief then put his body into a more comfortable position, there were signs of fatigue with the eyebags he had, how long did they have him awake until he collapsed from exhaustion or some concussion? “He still breathes but I don’t think he’s gonna wake up anytime soon. How are the binds?” he asked looking to see the progress of the liberation.
“They really knew how strong Coil is. The ropes are very hard to come undone, there's double knots and fisher-like knots everywhere!” the skater complained while biting a knot to lose it up.
“This is gonna take a while…” commented the green horned inphernal, looking apologetically to his friend “It might sound impossible, but can you try to wake him up? If he’s awake it would be easier to get out quicker”
“I’ll see what I can do” Slingshot looked back at Coil and started thinking. As much satisfaction would bring him to slap Coil awake after all the ragebaiting at the cafe, it wouldn't make any difference if he was actually concussed. Thinking of anything, he remembered how he usually woke up Shuriken when he sleeps more without having an argument. Thank the deities he always had a nutrient bar on him for him or his roommates for a quick snack.
He rummaged his pockets to find the sweet treat, opening the wrapper to reveal it and put it close under Coil’s nose. He waited a few breaths to see any reaction, unfortunately the other wasn’t moving yet. The other two saw the strategy curiously, the musician was the first to ask “Are you sure it’s gonna work?”
Slingshot sighed defeated, still wiggling the snack in front of the hellhound without looking. “It works with my roommates when they are ti- WOAH!” he jumped when he felt a sudden pull by the snack, letting it go. The other two got alerted by the yelp and got near him to see what happened. The man who literally was out cold 3 seconds ago pulled the nutrient bar out of Slingshot’s hand and started eating it with the wrapper like a wild animal who didn’t eat for days. Slingshot reacted fast, getting the wrapper out of his mouth “Dude! Don’t eat it so fast you are gonna choke!”
Coil, hearing the other’s voice stilled while still chewing the snack, opening his eyes to see his friends in front of him. He swallowed more calmly, his voice rough with fatigue.
“...Skateboard?”
“That’s me, yeah”
“...Boombox??”
“Yo”
“...Slingshot???”
“Hey, why are you looking like you didn’t expect me here?”
He sighed, relieved it wasn’t a hallucination or dream. After those two days in captivity with almost no food or sleep, his mind was starting to waver. He was so glad he finally got something. He looked at the cafe owner, a subtle cocky smile appearing “Well… With how boring you are, I thought you didn't leave that cafe of yours, working all day”
“You are so lucky you’re already beaten up-”
“Wait…” Coil looked at his friends again. Maybe it was because his mind was still concussed but right then he realised something, and it mortified him “What the fuck are y’all doing her–?!”
Quickly, three panicked hands shot out to Coil’s mouth to shut him up. Boombox waited a few seconds until he wasn't screaming to explain calmly “We are here to save you, Skateboard had this plan to rescue you and…” the hands came down from the recluse's face “He did tell us about your… Uhh”
Coil shot a murderous look at the skater, which his face changed to full guilt. Skateboard was ready for his brother-in-arms to yell at him, telling him that he won’t trust him anymore. He knew he deserved it, after all those years of hiding Coil from the bandlands police and his not so legal missions just to let it all out frantically to their friends because he didn't know how to explain without having to fall back on saying ‘Oh you know I am going to save my friend from the most military faction because he likes to mess around’. Besides, regardless of how suddenly he blurted it out, their friends deserved to know…
Suddenly another voice defended him, it was Slingshot “Take it easy with Skate, will you? He was worried sick. We also were worried about you, so we tagged along”
“Yeah, it got us by surprise but that doesn't change the fact that you are still our friend” Boombox smiled, looking at Coil and giving some support to the skater by putting his hand on his shoulder.
Coil was still, his face was taking an anxious look “I don’t worry about if you see me as a friend or not. I’m more worried about the fact that you could be in danger and it would be all my fault” he swallowed nervously, looking down at the sheer amount of vulnerability he was gonna spit out. Man, the headache was not helping either. “Blackrock is my enemy, I cannot tell you why I do this. But if someone saw you”
Skateboard tried to reassure him “No one saw us–”
“If he sees you, I don't even want to think of the possibilities of what his dark and twisted mind would do” the threat was always there, imminent from the moment they set foot on the snowy terrain. Coil didn’t want help, didn’t need it since his teacher left him on his own, he got lucky enough to set this life afloat even with his missions. The last thing he wanted was his friends being targeted because of him, being used as bait, or even worse, getting hurt in the process.
Coil looked up, serious with honesty “This is not your fight guys”
The room fell into silence.
Suddenly Coil felt two hands on his shoulders, gripping them hard. He saw Skateboard, he had a sad expression. “You always push me… Us away. And look where it got you”
“It was my mistake, I don’t need you or anybody else to get out”
“You’ve been here for two days and you are still tied up in the most shitty and hidden part of this facility. If you ever got out, they’d see you before you even reach a door”
Coil huffed smugly, a shaky smile appearing on his face “You underestimate me. You are a bunch of idiots if you think you’ll also get out. The best option is you guys turn around and– ACK!!” Slingshot’s hand shot out and gripped his hair hard, twisting his head into an uncomfortable angle to shut him up.
The blue horned inphernal was shooting daggers at him with his glare “I didn’t come all the way here on this suicide mission to get your reckless ass back, just for you to say ‘turn around’ and be called stupid. I beg your finest pardon?”
Coil laughed a little at the question, in response Slingshot moved his head around until it hurt “Ow OW! OKAY–”
“Listen to me you hellhound.” His grip got harsher. “Skate and BB care about you. And as much as I hate to say it, I care too. So now you shut the hell up and we all get out nice and quietly. Like we three did to get here, unlike someone tied up to a chair. Got it?”
All three looked at the recluse, waiting for an answer. Coil, with all his pride on the floor, sighed in defeat “Got it…”
The hand released his hair, Skateboard and Slingshot looked at him for a few seconds, with expressions of worry or maybe pity. Not being able to take it anymore, he looked at his feet to avoid it.
Boombox was the first to go behind the chair, trying again to set the knots loose. Since he was getting tired of the others with their arguments. When they all got out, they’d talk about feelings. Don’t get him wrong, he loved to be open about feelings. But those feelings had their moments, and that moment was not it.
The other two followed him, getting to work with the ropes. Little by little, the ropes became loose enough for Coil to move his arms, they were so sore it hurt. He brought his arms to his front and tried to summon his gear. The musician quickly grabbed his arm “You might pass out again if you do it”
“I need to heal, it’s gonna be quicker if I’m in better shape”
“Yeah but… You haven’t eaten at all by the way you ate that snack. And by your eyebags, you haven’t slept either.” he said, pointing out his exhausted face “Your energy is low, you have a lot of bruises and your mind is tired”
Not wanting to argue anymore on who is right, the criminal just sighed. Then he went to remove the remaining ropes around his legs with the help of the others. When the last rope came off, he tried to stand up, quickly losing his balance because of how tired and pained his body felt. Luckily Skateboard caught him before he smacked his face straight on the floor.
Coil, annoyed, let out a groan “ This is humiliating…”
The skater sat him down on the chair again “You can’t even walk”
“Yeah, no shit detective”
Boombox looked at the situation and started thinking on how to move the bruised inphernal quickly. He got an idea, looking at the cafe owner “Hey Sling”
The other hummed in acknowledgement so he continued “You are very strong, mind carrying Coil on your back?”
“WHAT?” Both Slingshot and Coil half screamed very confused.
“Can we not scream for five seconds, please–?”
Skateboard beamed at the idea “Oh yeah! Sling is always carrying his gear like it weighs nothing! I’m sure we’ll go faster like that”
Slingshot analysed the idea. As crazy as it sounded, he realised they were right, it was the fastest way to move around given their time. After giving it more thought, dignity be dammed, he approached the hellhound, turning around and offering his back for support “Let’s get this over with”
Coil, now thoroughly humbled, reluctantly put his arms around the baker’s neck and let himself be hoisted up easily. Surprised by the strength of his ride, he let out a mocking chuckle “You are stronger than I thought. Let me guess. All for kneading the dough?”
“And you are lighter than I thought. All that muscle and you don’t even eat for it” The other two let out an ‘oooooh’, snickering at the banter.
The recluse scoffed, hiding his face. Getting teased by his ragebaiting victim, he won’t live up to this “Can we go now?”
Boombox opened the door while instructing “Yes. I remember what path we took so I’ll go first. Skate, you stay on the back like before and you Sling stay in between us. You can also look out, Coil.” All of them nodded. They got out of the storage room and marched quietly to where they came from.
While going back on their steps, Coil pondered on that whole situation. Either they were getting too lucky or something was really wrong “I’m still surprised you all got here without getting seen” He muttered loud enough for the others to hear “It looks so… easy. I don’t like it one bit”
“Yeah, I think so too” Boombox agreed, glancing behind him to see the others.
“And I think you guys should relax,” Skateboard advised quietly, his pride stoked by how well the mission was going “You guys are so negative. We are doing amazing, maybe we just aligned this operation on a festive day here on Blackrock and that’s why there's like no soldiers”
“Blackrock doesn’t have festive days” the hellhound countered, leaning more comfortably on Slingshot, which earned him an annoyed scoff.
Boombox made them stop by a corner when he saw some soldiers talking with a scientist near a lab. While they waited, Boombox asked quietly “Say Coil, how did you get captured?”
“Long story short, those clankers cornered me while I was returning from my successful boxing match. I suppose they followed me because I raided this place before the match” After he explained his story, the soldiers began walking away and the scientist returned to the lab. They resumed their quiet escape.
Slingshot curiously asked “And why did they have you locked in an old storage room? When we got here we heard some soldiers mention screams coming from the cells”
“Who knows. That crazy old man just put me in there and talked nonsense. Then he started to beat me up and left me to starve. Maybe he believed I would confess something. Or maybe he just wanted to torture me. I think I heard he wanted to turn me into an android?” he said very casually. The others looked at him a little concerned.
Boombox murmured "Who is that man you talk abo–”
“HEY!”
All of them whipped their heads towards where the voice came from. Their hearts stopped when they saw two inphernal soldiers “Intruders! Hands up!”
“RUN!” Skateboard pushed all forwards.
The chase was on. The soldiers followed them closely, every sharp turn they took keeping them on their heels. Boombox wasn’t even taking the right path to the exit, by then just trying to lose the soldiers. The panicked voice of Skateboard echoed through the halls "Don't you dare use your gear Coil!”
“We need a boost right now, they’ll catch us!”
“And if you pass out on me I'm sure as hell they will!” Slingshot said with anger.
‘Boost…’ With that thought in mind, Boombox summoned his gear, turning around sharply. The others didn't have time to react when the musician gave a boost jump, nearly touching the ceiling, and came down quickly with a shockwave, sending the soldiers straight to the ground. Great, he bought time.
Boombox began running again, the others still shocked by the maneuver but following him nonetheless. They turned another corner and saw that more soldiers were near the end of the hall. Without thinking, Boombox pushed them all inside the first door he found to hide, by sheer force, they all fell into the dark room, the tech door closing right after.
Shit, we lost them.
Don’t say that, they couldn’t have gone very far. Come on.
Should we call for back up?
Are you crazy? They were a bunch of intruders, if we call I'm sure they’ll laugh at us later.
Inside the room everyone was on the ground, motionless, as if the slightest movement would give away their hiding place. They stayed in silence while the sound of the soldiers’ footsteps faded away. When Skateboard was sure no one was near, he asked quietly “Is everyone okay?”
“Ugh, yeah…”Slingshot groaned, his face planted on the ground “Coil get off of me”
“Goodness, and here I thought you said you cared about me” the other said teasingly. The baker huffed, sitting up abruptly, making Coil get off while chuckling.
“So sorry about that guys” Boombox sat up and adjusted his visor that was crooked from the fall. He looked around, it was pitch black inside the room. Skateboard got up and tried to find the switch, but when he was near the wall, he bumped into the musician who made him stumble and fall back into a table, causing something made of glass to fall “Oops…”
“Really dude?” Coil grumbled trying to get up from the floor with the help of the baker.
“Well I’m sorry I can't see shit right now”
“I can help with that”
A robotic voice came out of nowhere, making the inphernals freeze on the spot. From a corner of the room a bluish-purple light appeared, that light came from the silhouette of what seemed to be a Biograft. It stood up, its eyes lit up with the same blue color. The robot approached the inphernals, making Slingshot quickly put himself in front of his injured companion, hiding him from the robot's view, while the others moved out of its way to hide in another corner of the room.
The robot found the switch. White light suddenly illuminating the place, making the inphernals hiss. Coil noticed that they were in some kind of medical room, with tables and shelves filled with medicines, hospital equipment, and a stretcher against one side of the wall. Then he looked at the robot, sure it looked like a Biograft, but the different color on its design ,the rather friendly voice and the way it stood so politely like it was ready to help made it look more approachable. But those horns that reminded him of the crazy old man put him on alert.
“May I help you with anything else?”
The inphernals looked at each other, asking internally what to do with it. The robot looked at each one of them but its gaze fell on Coil. Its eyes started flickering softly, like it was scanning him, and that made Slingshot tense up, trying to hide Coil completely behind him, the others took a defensive stance too. The robot noticed the behavior and calmly explained “I am not here to harm you. I’m Gammagraft, the medical assistant of my creator”
“Medical assistant?” Skateboard asked dumbfounded. Gamma nodded politely.
Coil’s mind was going haywire, trying to assess the situation. He was injured, trapped in a place with people he cared deeply even if he wouldn’t want to admit it, and on top of that, he was now in a room with a robot who was very close to that crazy scientist which he couldn't fully confront because of his injuries. Even if he put up a fight, the soldiers around would hear the ruckus, blowing their cover, and if he did nothing that robot could call its creator. That would be worse actually but no matter what he would not let his friends get caught. He needed to think more possibilities, come on, think, think, THI–
“I sense a rapid increase of heartbeat. It could be signs of an anxiety attack. You also need medical attention for your injuries. May I help you with that?” Gamma interrupted his spiraling mind. Coil looked at the robot again then at his friends who were also looking at him with worried looks. Man, if they get out of there alive, they would look at him differently forever. “I–”
Skateboard jumped in front of the robot “Yes, you can help him”
“What?”
“Dude you need it” He turned around to look at the injured inphernal behind the baker “You can’t even walk, let alone heal yourself”
“I’m sure I can, Boombox just stopped me before. Look” With a little struggle, he stood up from the baker’s support and summoned his gear, the coils around his arms flickering green. He activated the healing but not seconds later he started to feel dizzy, his vision clouding, losing balance again. Slingshot and Boombox caught him, not without hitting his knees on the ground. “Dammit…” he cursed, frustrated by his condition.
Gamma went to his side unhurriedly. It crouched down beside Coil, making him flinch. The robot’s eyes flickered again, staying still while finishing its analysis “Lack of sleep, malnutrition, dehydration, internal bleeding, and several bruises. About to lose consciousness.”
“No need to announce it… I feel it…” The robot got up, quickly grabbed a cloth, and doused it in some liquid. Then placed it in front of the boxer, it smelled strongly of alcohol and other chemicals that forced his mind awake. He and Slingshot, who still was holding Coil, coughed. Boombox held his breath “Oh that smells bad…”
Gamma looked at Coil again, its voice calm and collected. “I am unaware of your reasons for distrusting me, but I assure you that my creator made me to help in every way possible. So I ask again, may I help you?”
The boxer looked at the robot. He was tired, his nerves thoroughly seared by the burn of open wounds and his body feeling sluggish. His mind was no less heavy, feelings of guilt and worry at the thought of being a burden to his friends. Having them there to rescue him was enough to sink his stomach, but being unable to help or make himself useful in his current state was eating him up inside, he couldn’t let them down, not when they could have the same fate as him. This ‘Gammagraft’ was willing to heal him, which would be a wonderful help to his pained body, but still he wasn’t sure it knew about his identity as the crystal criminal. Just to be sure.
“Do you know who I am?”
“Should I know?”
That settled it.
“Fine…But no funny business” Slingshot and Boombox released the boxer, Gamma then carefully moved Coil to the stretcher to a sitting position. While the robot was searching for medicines and bandages, the other three moved out of its way to a corner to talk about what to do.
“What should we do now?” Boombox was the first to ask, eyeing the robot while it grabbed Coil’s arm and put antiseptic on open wounds, making Coil hiss.
“I don’t know, but at least that robot is helping Coil” Skateboard sighed in relief.
“We know that those soldiers are after us, and maybe are coming with backups. And we lost track on the exit, there might be one near, but where? ” Slingshot reminded the situation they were in. Skateboard glanced at the robot, an idea popping up.
The skater approached the robot awkwardly “Hey… Gammagraft right?”
Coil looked at him with a ‘what are you doing’ look while Gamma was rolling bandages around Coil’s arms “You may call me Gamma if you wish”
“I was just wondering if you know the nearest exit of this facility”
Gamma continued with its treatment to the boxer, moving to a table and uncapping a bottle to dose some onto a tiny spoon. “Of course, when you go out, go to the right and take the right hallway, go straight to the end, and there will be the exit. But do be careful, it looks like it will snow more”
“There’s no way it's that easy” Slingshot murmured, actually surprised.
Boombox followed “At this point I’m gonna bet money because what’s with his luck”
“Thank you Gamma” Skateboard smiled victorious with a cheeky grin. If he got money out of this, even better for his pride and bank.
“I know that look, don’t be stupid” Coil snapped him back before he could even start daydreaming.
“Oh come on–”
Coil laughed. He was going to keep teasing the skater but Gamma interrupted him by shoving the spoon full of gooey marron liquid on his mouth, catching him off guard. He swallowed without knowing, when the spoon was out he started coughing.
“This is medicine for your internal wounds. I apologise for the abrupt assault, but I had the feeling you wouldn’t take this without opposing” explained Gamma, it then walked away. Coil cleared his throat, the unpleasant aftertaste of the medicine still coating his mouth.
“And you would be right…” He heard some giggles from Slingshot and shot an annoyed glance at him.
Gamma came back with some pills and a cup of water for the injured inphernal, saying they were vitamins for his lack of nutrition. Skateboard moved out of its way again and walked back to his friends.
“So when we get back do you guys want to sleep at Slinsh–”
THUM
“You filthy mutt…How did you get out?!”
The sudden noise and the looks of shock of the baker and musician, made Skateboard turn around. Gamma was now on top of Coil, its hands around his neck as he struggled to break free. What was weird was that its color had changed to a strong magenta tone.
All three were ready to help Coil, but the boxer mouthed ‘Don’t move’ to them with a pleading look. They held their stance, waiting anxiously for anything. Coil looked at the robot, a cocky smile appearing on his face while still struggling to get its hands out his neck.
“Nice to see you… Subspace. Nice robot you got here, amiable and helpful...and strong. Are you trying to compensate or something?”
“Don’t play with me you brat” Subspace snarled, his voice robotic coming through Gamma. Coil chuckled at the reaction which made the robot tighten its grip “Insects like you should die, you are lucky enough that your brain is the more valuable thing in you”
“Awww, complementing me old man? I'm so touched! As for your question… I have my ways, you can’t expect to stay put in one place. Oh the crystals I would have missed!”
“SHUT UP” The robot gave a strong push to slam Coil more forcefully to the stretcher to shut him up. Coil let out a pained grunt “Don’t care anymore. I’m glad that my wonderful creation notifies me whenever it completes a task, such a shame I had to see your filthy hands on it”
“Not my fault! Gamma offered-”
“So now!” Subspace interrupted, the robot moved and with enough strength lifted the other without his feet touching the ground “I’m gonna send you to my lab and keep you there until I get back. Oh I have big plans for you…” Coil kicked his feet to get out of its grip, but it was in vain, making Subspace bark a laugh at the attempt “So pathetic~ And so weak too! The lonely hellhound cannot even help himself… I’ll finally keep your mouth shut ONCE AND FOR AL–”
“NOW”
Skateboard and Boombox flung their gears to the robot’s head and torso, the force making it lose its balance, letting the inphernal go. Coil fell to his knees but Slingshot quickly pulled him up and asked “Can you run?”
“Yeah… I think so, the vitamins did he–”
“Good, let 's go!”
Skateboard opened the door and quickly everyone ran through the corridors to the exit, following the indications Gamma gave. They heard a scream from the medical room but they didn’t care. Coil was still hurt but the adrenaline he was experiencing right then kept pushing his legs forward.
“There!” Boombox pointed to the exit and that gave enough boost to reach it. When they opened the door, the freezing weather enveloped them, snowflakes still dancing peacefully as they fell. They kept running regardless of the cold. There was a clearing before the forest. They had to reach it so they wouldn't be found.
And leave the hellhound alive, Hyperlaser
“Copy that” the mercenary lifted his gear and looked through the scope, searching from his spot on the vigilance tower for his target. He spotted one, a rather flashy one with that green visor trying to make his way through the snow. Hyperlaser sighed, so young, so sad that inphernal won’t have a future anymore “See you in hell…”
Before he could pull the trigger, another inphernal showed up, a blue horned one, trying to help the green one walk. Hyperlaser recognised him, he was the cafe owner and neighbour that certain samurai mentioned before. The mercenary sighed again, cursing his softened heart. He pulled the trigger but missed on purpose, the shot landing very close where the green horned inphernal stood. With that, the group picked up the pace and made it to the woods.
He brought a hand to the side of his helmet “The objectives ran away, couldn't see them from here”
The group ran through the snowy terrain, the forest becoming darker and darker as they went through it. Skateboard turned around when he noticed that Coil was going slower, helping him quickly by putting an arm around his shoulder to help him walk. The cold was frigid but no matter what they kept going.
When they were sure that they were safe, they stopped to take a break. Boombox rested his hands on a tree trunk while Slingshot put his hands on his knees.
“...We made it” Skateboard whispered loud enough to the others while stopping.
They all looked at each other, their breathing was laboured, but they couldn't believe it. Coil, still on Skateboard’s hold, started giggling “ You guys…” his laugh became louder “Are fucking insane!”
Slingshot stood there, assimilating the situation, he then groaned out loud “Skateboard, this is the last time I’ll follow you to one of your ideas! Oh my gods! We could’ve died!”
“Hey! We aren’t dead so shush!”
Boombox sighed in relief, putting his fists up in victory “We saved Coil!”
Skateboard readjusted his hold on the injured inphernal “Yeah we did man! Thanks to my awesome plan”
“And insane luck…” Slingshot deadpanned, but smiled too.
While celebrating, Coil looked at his friends. A wave of soreness and pain crashed on him but seeing his friends, who after all this time he tried to push away, came to rescue him regardless of the danger or death. He couldn't help but feel emotional.
“Guys…” His saviours looked at him. He could put it into words how grateful he was, how sorry he was, how he was too weak to protect them and how useless he was. He couldn’t fathom the thought of losing them because of him, he needed to be stronger for them and everything that he fights for. His mind was wavering again, so he only whispered a tired “Thank you…”
Boombox gave him a reassuring smile “No need to thank us”
Skateboard squeezed him gently into a side hug “Yeah, no worries. I know you are a teaser sometimes… Well, all the time. But we still care about yo– Oh shit! Don’t go unconscious again!”
Slingshot sighed, tired of the cold and the inconveniences “Give him here before he falls”
— — —
Knock knock
The door opened after a while with the insistent knocking "It's the middle of the night, who could possibly be–” Vinestaff, still very sleepy, was greeted by Slingshot with an unconscious Coil on his back and the other playgrounders shaking from the cold.
“Sorry for this very late arrival and waking you up Vine, but could they sleep here? Also this one needs your healing” he said with a trembling voice, also shaking.
Vinestaff took some seconds to process the scene but moved so they could get inside the apartment “I’ll make some tea!”