05-19-2018, 08:13 PM
Erik woke to the sun shining through the windows of the recording studio, splashing lazily across the empty foyer. The psychic stretched his stiff body as he rose from his makeshift bed, his back tight from the lack of support.
“I really need a new bed.” He groaned as he stood up. His thoughts turned back to the objects he had extracted from Emperor Scorpion’s body last night, and curiosity bubbled up inside him once more. A thought striking him, Erik summoned his communicator and called Sand Hawk.
“Hello, Sand Hawk speaking!” The bandit exclaimed as he answered the call.
“Sand Hawk, it's me. Can you come down to the recording studio?” Erik asked.
“Of course!” Sand Hawk said, as Erik realised that he sounded much clearer than he should. Spinning around, Erik found that the bandit was already in the studio with him. There was a moment's pause between the two as Erik tried to understand what was happening.
“How long have you been here?” The psychic asked, a little unnerved.
“Since they kept me out of the hospital, I was just so excited to start my career as a radio star!” Sand Hawk replied cheerfully, as if there was nothing wrong with that statement.
“Ok… Do you know anything about Emperor Scorpion’s chains?” Erik inquired as he went and grabbed the box containing the object.
“All I know is that he's had them for as long as I've worked for him, and that they- holy shit!” Sand Hawk cried as Erik took the lid off the box, revealing the mass of rusted chains and the heart-like core. “Wha- when?! How?!”
“I went and found his body last night, then I ripped this out of his back.” Erik said matter-of-factly, as if it were the most typical thing in the world. “And I want you to help me implant it in my back.”
“Well, alright!” Sand Hawk said, failing to hide the nervousness in his voice. “Do you know how it works?”
Erik studied the hieroglyphs lining the object, trying to make out what each was depicting. They seemed to show the process used to fuse the object into someone’s body but, disturbingly, each one depicted some form of sacrifice or similarly dark offering.
“Looks like we need a blood sacrifice to numb the pain, open the back, fuse the thing through the ribs, seal the wound and animate the chains, if my analysis is correct.” Erik said grimly. “Luckily, we’ll only need blood for the last step.”
“But who will we sacrifice?!” Sand Hawk asked uneasily.
“Well, I can just use my own blood.” Erik replied casually.
“Oh…! Of course…!” The bandit sighed. “So, how do we start?!”
“We’ll use this as an operating table.” Erik said as he lay down face first on the table he had cut Emperor Scorpion open on the night before. “How’s your hand doing?”
“Good as new!”
“Excellent. Go lock the door, and make sure no one can see in.” Erik ordered, taking his cloak and shirt off as the bandit did as he was told.
“Now what?!” Sand Hawk asked.
“There should be a scalpel around somewhere, can you see it?” Erik said. The bandit searched around for a moment before crouching under the table and producing the scalpel from beneath.
“Is this sanitary?!” The bandit exclaimed as he inspected the still bloody scalpel.
“What do you mean?”
“What do you mean?!”
“It's just a scalpel.” Erik said, a hint of confusion in his voice.
“But it's covered in blood, and who knows where Emperor Scorpion has been!” Sand Hawk cried.
“Fine, if you're that worried about it go rub the blood off with some sand, that'll sanitise it.”
“Can't I wash it?!” The bandit asked. Erik was silent for a moment before responding.
“Where do you think we are right now?”
“Good point!” Sand Hawk said before leaving to clean the blade. The bandit returned after a minute or two, carrying the now clean surgical instrument. “Are you sure this will be enough?!”
“At least 75% sure.” Erik replied.
“I… No, I'm not using the scalpel!”
“What?”
“I'm too squeamish.” Sand Hawk replied, receiving a dirty look from Erik.
“How is a bandit who throws knives squeamish?”
“I just am, OK!”
“Fine, I’ll come up with something else.” Erik said, deep in thought. After a few minutes of lying on the cold table, Erik was about to go and find someone else to cut him open when an idea struck him. “Pick up the core.”
“Uh, OK!” Sand Hawk said, gingerly picking up the object, cautious of the bearded chains. The bandit couldn't help but realise that, despite being inside Emperor Scorpion less than a day ago, there wasn't a drop of blood on the core itself. The psychic started concentrating as lavender wisps of psi began peeling off his body, increasing in frequency as his body took on a violet hue and turned translucent.
“Now put it where it’ll go in my back.” Erik demanded to the nervous bandit.
“Huh?”
“Come on, put it in me!” The psychic ordered. Sand Hawk averted his gaze, unable to look at Erik as he rubbed his arm nervously.
“I don't know, we’ve only known each other for a couple of days, it doesn't seem right…” The bandit said, squirming on the spot.
“Why are you like this?” Erik asked dejectedly as he snatched the core out of the bandit’s hands with his telekinesis. Slowly, Erik lowered the object towards his back, conscious to keep the chains out of his phased body. Carefully, Erik placed the object between his back and his lungs, making painstaking effort to ensure it wouldn't sever anything. Satisfied that it wouldn't kill him when he dephased, Erik got to work on the rings, maneuvering each one around his ribs. When each ring looped around his ribcage and out his back, Erik decided that it was in as good a position as it would get and prepared to dephase.
The psychic took a few deep breaths before beginning to rematerialise. Slowly, psi turned into flesh and blood, and a mild sting emerged in Erik’s mind. Slowly, the sting grew into an ache, then sharp pain, before settling on the panicked agony that can only come from part of your body being spontaneously replaced by metal. Erik’s mind didn't know how to register such an alien sensation, sending the psychic into a panic. Erik clamped down on the table with both hands, struggling not too either fly into a panicked frenzy or collapse in pain.
Not knowing what else to do, Erik gripped one of the barb chains tightly and plunged the blade into his palm. The blood flowed freely, but didn't hit the ground, instead appearing to be absorbed by the blade. After what seemed like an eternity, but was probably only a minute, the blood stopped flowing and the pain began to subside as the cold metal fused with his flesh. Erik weakly lifted himself from the table, wiping away the cold sweat he didn't realise he was drenched in. The psychic took a few steps before his legs buckled, Sand Hawk barely saving him from face planting.
“How are you feeling?!” Sand Hawk cried anxiously.
“Weak, but alright.” Erik replied as the bandit helped him ease into a chair.
“I’ll go get some food!”
“I can just summon some.”
“No way, you're too weak, I'll be right back!” Sand Hawk said, already halfway out the door. Erik sat alone for a moment, reflecting on what he had just done, as he realised something. He could feel the chains. Experimentally, Erik tried to move a chain as he would his arm, and the weapon obeyed. The psychic watched in awe as he manipulated the chains, each one no different from a long, metal, prehensile arm. Feeling a sense of grim satisfaction with his work, Erik attempted to dismiss the chains, only to find that he couldn't.
“Ah, of course, I can't simply dismiss my arms, can I?” He mused, unsure of what to do. His thoughts turned back to Emperor Scorpion, who kept them bound around his torso when not in use. The psychic hesitated for a moment, did he really want to inflict himself with that?
“Well, it's too late to turn back now.” Erik said as he wrapped the chains around his body. The links fit snugly around him, each one pricking him slightly with their barbs as they adjusted themselves to his body. They didn't hurt now, but the psychic guessed that calling them out would do noticeably more damage. Erik slipped his shirt and cloak back on as Sand Hawk returned, carrying bread for the psychic.
“My thanks.” Erik said as he gratefully took the food, quickly devouring it.
“So, when do I get to go on air?!” Sand Hawk asked excitedly.
“As soon as Victor is free, I guess.” Erik said, his mouth full. “He's the one running this operation, I'm just the man on the ground.”
The bandit nodded to himself as the psychic continued to eat.
“You're going to have to work with Bill, by the way.” Erik said casually, hoping the bandit wouldn't overreact.
“The one who shot me?!”
“That's the one.”
“That's OK!” Sand Hawk said, surprising Erik. “I'm not so petty as to let something like that get in the way of delivering the good news to the people!”
“That's the spirit.” Erik chuckled.
“I really need a new bed.” He groaned as he stood up. His thoughts turned back to the objects he had extracted from Emperor Scorpion’s body last night, and curiosity bubbled up inside him once more. A thought striking him, Erik summoned his communicator and called Sand Hawk.
“Hello, Sand Hawk speaking!” The bandit exclaimed as he answered the call.
“Sand Hawk, it's me. Can you come down to the recording studio?” Erik asked.
“Of course!” Sand Hawk said, as Erik realised that he sounded much clearer than he should. Spinning around, Erik found that the bandit was already in the studio with him. There was a moment's pause between the two as Erik tried to understand what was happening.
“How long have you been here?” The psychic asked, a little unnerved.
“Since they kept me out of the hospital, I was just so excited to start my career as a radio star!” Sand Hawk replied cheerfully, as if there was nothing wrong with that statement.
“Ok… Do you know anything about Emperor Scorpion’s chains?” Erik inquired as he went and grabbed the box containing the object.
“All I know is that he's had them for as long as I've worked for him, and that they- holy shit!” Sand Hawk cried as Erik took the lid off the box, revealing the mass of rusted chains and the heart-like core. “Wha- when?! How?!”
“I went and found his body last night, then I ripped this out of his back.” Erik said matter-of-factly, as if it were the most typical thing in the world. “And I want you to help me implant it in my back.”
“Well, alright!” Sand Hawk said, failing to hide the nervousness in his voice. “Do you know how it works?”
Erik studied the hieroglyphs lining the object, trying to make out what each was depicting. They seemed to show the process used to fuse the object into someone’s body but, disturbingly, each one depicted some form of sacrifice or similarly dark offering.
“Looks like we need a blood sacrifice to numb the pain, open the back, fuse the thing through the ribs, seal the wound and animate the chains, if my analysis is correct.” Erik said grimly. “Luckily, we’ll only need blood for the last step.”
“But who will we sacrifice?!” Sand Hawk asked uneasily.
“Well, I can just use my own blood.” Erik replied casually.
“Oh…! Of course…!” The bandit sighed. “So, how do we start?!”
“We’ll use this as an operating table.” Erik said as he lay down face first on the table he had cut Emperor Scorpion open on the night before. “How’s your hand doing?”
“Good as new!”
“Excellent. Go lock the door, and make sure no one can see in.” Erik ordered, taking his cloak and shirt off as the bandit did as he was told.
“Now what?!” Sand Hawk asked.
“There should be a scalpel around somewhere, can you see it?” Erik said. The bandit searched around for a moment before crouching under the table and producing the scalpel from beneath.
“Is this sanitary?!” The bandit exclaimed as he inspected the still bloody scalpel.
“What do you mean?”
“What do you mean?!”
“It's just a scalpel.” Erik said, a hint of confusion in his voice.
“But it's covered in blood, and who knows where Emperor Scorpion has been!” Sand Hawk cried.
“Fine, if you're that worried about it go rub the blood off with some sand, that'll sanitise it.”
“Can't I wash it?!” The bandit asked. Erik was silent for a moment before responding.
“Where do you think we are right now?”
“Good point!” Sand Hawk said before leaving to clean the blade. The bandit returned after a minute or two, carrying the now clean surgical instrument. “Are you sure this will be enough?!”
“At least 75% sure.” Erik replied.
“I… No, I'm not using the scalpel!”
“What?”
“I'm too squeamish.” Sand Hawk replied, receiving a dirty look from Erik.
“How is a bandit who throws knives squeamish?”
“I just am, OK!”
“Fine, I’ll come up with something else.” Erik said, deep in thought. After a few minutes of lying on the cold table, Erik was about to go and find someone else to cut him open when an idea struck him. “Pick up the core.”
“Uh, OK!” Sand Hawk said, gingerly picking up the object, cautious of the bearded chains. The bandit couldn't help but realise that, despite being inside Emperor Scorpion less than a day ago, there wasn't a drop of blood on the core itself. The psychic started concentrating as lavender wisps of psi began peeling off his body, increasing in frequency as his body took on a violet hue and turned translucent.
“Now put it where it’ll go in my back.” Erik demanded to the nervous bandit.
“Huh?”
“Come on, put it in me!” The psychic ordered. Sand Hawk averted his gaze, unable to look at Erik as he rubbed his arm nervously.
“I don't know, we’ve only known each other for a couple of days, it doesn't seem right…” The bandit said, squirming on the spot.
“Why are you like this?” Erik asked dejectedly as he snatched the core out of the bandit’s hands with his telekinesis. Slowly, Erik lowered the object towards his back, conscious to keep the chains out of his phased body. Carefully, Erik placed the object between his back and his lungs, making painstaking effort to ensure it wouldn't sever anything. Satisfied that it wouldn't kill him when he dephased, Erik got to work on the rings, maneuvering each one around his ribs. When each ring looped around his ribcage and out his back, Erik decided that it was in as good a position as it would get and prepared to dephase.
The psychic took a few deep breaths before beginning to rematerialise. Slowly, psi turned into flesh and blood, and a mild sting emerged in Erik’s mind. Slowly, the sting grew into an ache, then sharp pain, before settling on the panicked agony that can only come from part of your body being spontaneously replaced by metal. Erik’s mind didn't know how to register such an alien sensation, sending the psychic into a panic. Erik clamped down on the table with both hands, struggling not too either fly into a panicked frenzy or collapse in pain.
Not knowing what else to do, Erik gripped one of the barb chains tightly and plunged the blade into his palm. The blood flowed freely, but didn't hit the ground, instead appearing to be absorbed by the blade. After what seemed like an eternity, but was probably only a minute, the blood stopped flowing and the pain began to subside as the cold metal fused with his flesh. Erik weakly lifted himself from the table, wiping away the cold sweat he didn't realise he was drenched in. The psychic took a few steps before his legs buckled, Sand Hawk barely saving him from face planting.
“How are you feeling?!” Sand Hawk cried anxiously.
“Weak, but alright.” Erik replied as the bandit helped him ease into a chair.
“I’ll go get some food!”
“I can just summon some.”
“No way, you're too weak, I'll be right back!” Sand Hawk said, already halfway out the door. Erik sat alone for a moment, reflecting on what he had just done, as he realised something. He could feel the chains. Experimentally, Erik tried to move a chain as he would his arm, and the weapon obeyed. The psychic watched in awe as he manipulated the chains, each one no different from a long, metal, prehensile arm. Feeling a sense of grim satisfaction with his work, Erik attempted to dismiss the chains, only to find that he couldn't.
“Ah, of course, I can't simply dismiss my arms, can I?” He mused, unsure of what to do. His thoughts turned back to Emperor Scorpion, who kept them bound around his torso when not in use. The psychic hesitated for a moment, did he really want to inflict himself with that?
“Well, it's too late to turn back now.” Erik said as he wrapped the chains around his body. The links fit snugly around him, each one pricking him slightly with their barbs as they adjusted themselves to his body. They didn't hurt now, but the psychic guessed that calling them out would do noticeably more damage. Erik slipped his shirt and cloak back on as Sand Hawk returned, carrying bread for the psychic.
“My thanks.” Erik said as he gratefully took the food, quickly devouring it.
“So, when do I get to go on air?!” Sand Hawk asked excitedly.
“As soon as Victor is free, I guess.” Erik said, his mouth full. “He's the one running this operation, I'm just the man on the ground.”
The bandit nodded to himself as the psychic continued to eat.
“You're going to have to work with Bill, by the way.” Erik said casually, hoping the bandit wouldn't overreact.
“The one who shot me?!”
“That's the one.”
“That's OK!” Sand Hawk said, surprising Erik. “I'm not so petty as to let something like that get in the way of delivering the good news to the people!”
“That's the spirit.” Erik chuckled.
*The emperor of mankind yeets erik into a sun*
[Today 08:03 pm] Erik Vrell : Bruh
[Today 08:03 pm] The emperor of mankind : don't worship gods
[Today 08:03 pm] Erik Vrell : Bruh
[Today 08:03 pm] The emperor of mankind : don't worship gods