"Like hell she will," Rav moved till he was in front of me, shielding my vision of Speck as he snapped at him. "Beth is not going anywhere near you."

   Not that I need Rav's guardog services or anything, but I was glad he stepped up while my body stayed frozen. The only thing in motion was my mind, with thoughts of why the hell Speck wanted me to join him on stage and that the reason had to be that he was going to use the placement gun on me, starting to give me a headache. Why did he choose me first though? Why did he choose now?

   The silver lining I foresaw from being my mind controlled was the inability to be aware of the sick way he'll take care of Dorian.

   Although a part of me wanted to believe that there was still some hope in getting out of here, reality was not doing the best job reinforcing that hope. The doors which served as the entrance and exit of the assembly pod were had red dots of light on them–indicators that they were locked– they had weapons, and even if we managed to fight those on the stage and by some miracles take their weapons, any slowness on our part could be the very opportunity for Speck to do something to Dorian.

   And I couldn't see us not being slow. Especially taking in account the strength and combat skills wielded by Landon and the Yunies. Also, I wasn't going to take the fit form Speck had–something that was not common for men his age for granted.

"Beth," Speck ignored Rav, calling my name instead. "Come here."

   His hand was on Dorian's shoulder again, his fingers inching toward Dorian's neck at a slow, but nonetheless dangerous pace.

   I couldn't take this anymore.

"Okay, I'll do it." I croaked. "I'll-I'll come up. But first, leave him alone."

   Moving a stunned Rav away, I walked to the stage, ensuring that each foot forward did not wobble. I just had to keep reminding myself that this was worth it. That obeying Mr Speck and trying to stall our interaction and consequently Dorian's tragedy was worth it.

    When Speck left Dorian to the stage's edge and met me with his hand held out, I took it, allowing his too-cold-to-be-human grip to guide me his choice of spot onstage, not too far from where Dorian and Landon were. Unfortunately, in our current stance–Speck and I facing each other with considerable space between us– my back was to them. No amount of subtle eyeball work made it possible to get a good view of Dorian. I did hear, however, how every breath in and out of him was louder and heavier. He was doing a good job hiding from us down there how much pain he was in.

   My breathing passage constricted as Speck hand dipped into his pocket. Most likely for a placement gun. Guess he wasn't going to waste any time. It took everything in me to not run away. My eyes wouldn't leave his pocket, and I could feel them pricking at the sides as he pulled out a sleek, black device.

   Not a placement gun.

   The grin he directed my way showed his awareness of my paranoia and relief.

   The device in his hold was small with an oval-shaped body and a roundness that protruded at the centre.

   My guess was confirmed when his finger pushed the round area. The device was a remote. But for what?

   The answer to that instantly appeared like my question was the password. Speck and I had to take steps back as the floor between us opened up and a cube-like metallic table emerged from it.

   The fascination triggered by what just happened was made fleeting by the horror that sprung within me as I recognised what was on the table.

"Beth," The glee on Speck's face was too much to look at. "Would you enlighten everyone else on what this is?"

   It was then that I remembered Speck and I weren't the only ones in the room. Still, I refused to make eye contact with anything that wasn't the floor, clenching my fists so that my fingers don't go tapping my thighs and showing how much of my anxiety had consumed me.

"Beth," he said again. "Tell your friends what it is."

   I raised my head and, swallowing the guilt that rose as bile to my throat, mustered the best blank tone while replying, "It's the Neuroskel. My Neuroskel."

   A part of it anyway.

   What was before me was a long way from the headgear I'd left in the Tunnel so many weeks ago. Aside from the helmet frame that stayed distinct, everything else had more sophisticated modifications that screamed Speck Tech.

   Right now, I was looking at the crown of a psychotic tyrant from the post-apocalyptic era.

"I think you meant to say our Neuroskel? I named it that after you, by the way." Speck grinned. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting to thank you in person for creating this masterpiece. I mean, talk about one man's trash!"

"That's why you brought me here?" I cut Speck off mid-laugh with a sneer not even I saw coming. "To thank me?"

   Was he being serious right now? How could a person who had the damned futures of the world in his hands be this ridiculous?

"Yes, but that's not the only reason, " he replied. "I have something for you."

"I don't want it."

   He still proceeded– with a less jolly voice though, thank God. "All the other mind control devices lead to this powerhouse right here. But i realised even this gadget has its limits. Very soon, I'll need more Neuroskels like these to ease the current burden on it. I'm in the process of creating them, actually, which brings me what I have for you; an offer. Create these Neuroskels with me. Let's make them better than the one we're seeing now. This Neuroskel is more than enough proof that our combined efforts can make the world what it ought to be."

   I glanced down at the Neuroskel with different eyes this time. Like it was the first time.

"Beth, don't listen to him!" Rav yelled. "He's going to treat you like everyone else once he gets what he wants."

   Only a sentence of what Speck said stuck with me.

"You get world domination," I remarked, touching a pointed edge of the table. "What do I get?"

   The smile he displayed reminded me of the man we believed he used to be. "Your free will. Unlike the rest of the world, you've proven to be a significant contribution to greater good all on your own. You don't need my help like the hopeless lot."

"Neither does my mother."

"Well, she raised you, so that speaks for itself. No placement gun with her name on it, I assure you."

   My eyes lowered to meet the shiny, pleading ones of Rav and Camila.

   I patted the pouch on the side of my armour several times before turning back to Speck.

"So, Beth," he had the look of someone used to getting what he wants. "What do you say?"

   My fingers tapped against the table, "I say... RAV NOW!"

   Not giving Speck a chance to understand what that meant, I gave a knife strike to his throat, crossing over to where he was doubled over and clutching his throat and using that as my chance to knee him in the groin and kick him away from the table.

   Landon, who was rushing over, was sent sprawling to the floor by Speck bumping and falling onto him, so hard that he was knocked out cold upon his head's impact with the floor. The gun on Landon slipped from his hand in the process and I rushed to get a hold of it before it slipped further away.

   A growl brought my attention to the Yunies gaining on me from both sides. My body wracked with vibrations as I pulled the trigger toward the alien on my left. My victory over that, however, was short-lived by the feel of heavy metal digging into my back. I wasn't fast enough. The other Yunie's gun was going to do what his friend's didn't.

   But before I could shut my eyes and only hope I'd been good enough for heaven, a loud crunching sound came from the alien. I watched in shock as its eyes rolled to the back of its head and the Yunie fell at my feet.

"Beth." Dorian's soft call brought me back to earth.

   He'd regain consciousness.

   I was at his side in an instant, tending to the straps that imprisoned his hands.

"You're okay, you're okay. I'm going to get you away from him," I said, even though my fingers were beginning to ache from how tight the buckle of one of the straps was.

   Soon enough, it got looser and Dorian's right hand was almost free.

   But then his lax body tensed up right before he yelled, "Beth look out!"

   The first thing I saw upon turning back was a gun.

   The same gun I'd discarded as I rushed to save Dorian.

   Kissing the space between my eyes.

A/N: Double update!! This is my way of apologising for how inconsistent my updates have been for the last few weeks🫠, sorry, guys.

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