WARNING:
EMOTIONAL CONTENT.
Includes graphic depictions of violence and fighting scenes, emotional distress, illness, critical hospital condition.

The Clinic had a strong hand sanitiser smell that burned Ashryn's nose.
She was waiting by Sophia's side, as the doctor examined her now slightly swollen face.
She looked around, trying to determine where medical files would be kept.
Luckily, Ashryn, Sophia and the doctor seemed to be the only people in the Clinic right now, but she knew it wouldn't stay that way for long.
Other doctors would return, injured agents might even join them.
And she was sure Faizah would be coming by at some point for her usual appointments.

"Ah, you like what you see?", asked the doctor, smiling at Ashryn.
She had light brown hair that was tied up in the most ridiculously tight bun Ashryn had ever seen.
Small wrinkles pinched at her temples and mouth area, and her overall demeanour told Ashryn she must be one of the more senior members of staff.
She was hoping she was wrong though, which was entirely possible because Makoto was much better suited to read these sorts of signals.

Ashryn nodded.
"Yeah, it's um, it's really interesting.
All the equipment and stuff, I mean."

"We don't get many people like yourself interested in medicine", said the doctor.

"People like me?"

"Yes.
I've seen you around.
With the amount of force you use when you practise fighting test dummies, it's a miracle you're not in here ever week", she replied. "It's usually the tech savvy ones that show an interest in the work we do here."

"Well, I am definitely interested.
In fact, I um, well I don't suppose I could take a quick look around the Clinic?
I'll be extra careful and won't touch anything."

Ashryn could see that the doctor was hesitant at first.
She looked at Sophia, then back at Ashryn. "Ok.
Just please, be careful."

Ashryn jumped up and walked around the Clinic.
She made sure to call out a few times, with questions or praise for the immaculate state of the Clinic itself.
When Sophia started chatting to the doctor, Ashryn saw this as her chance to look for the medical files.
There was a small room, one that looked very smilier to the other rooms, but there was a golden sign with the word
'OFFICE'
on it.

Ashryn looked back, smiling to herself when she saw that the doctor now had her back to her.
She gently pushed the door open, bracing herself to have to make up an excuse if someone was already in there.
Thankfully, it was empty.
She ran to the cabinets, cursing under her breath when she saw that it required a key. Ashryn turned to one of the desks, lifting up papers and mugs.
She carefully lifted up one of the computers, grinning to herself when she saw a shiny silver key.

Not wanting to waste any more time, Ashryn hurried over to the cabinet and unlocked it.
She sifted through the files, smiling triumphantly when she saw Natasha's file. She flicks through pages, trying to find some information that could be useful for her. Her eyes widened when she got to a certain page.

AGENT NATASHA OLIVE has not responded well to the treatment. Due to the prolonged use of Pluborium, the effects of the criminal's serum seems to have strengthened. Only option is to ensure that she does not come in direct contact with childhood friend Raphael Yuan-Ko. If she does come in contact with him, it is likely she will become even more violent and obsessive. The unprecedented effects could be lethal for both herself and those around her.

Ashryn whipped out her phone, quickly scrolling through for Raphael's number.
She pressed it and held the phone up to her ear.

"Pick up, pick up, pick up!"

When he didn't answered, he tried two more times, exhaling sharply when they both went to voicemail.
She looked down, her contact bar catching her eye.
She reached for it and quickly typed in the agency issued code for Raphael's contact bar.

"Robo Boy, are you there?", asked Ashryn. "Come on, Robo Boy, pick up!"

There was a long silence, followed by the sound of mild static.
Ashryn let out an exasperated sigh.

"Listen, you need to stay away from Natasha.
She's unhinged!"

"Unhinged?", questioned Natasha, an eery tone to her voice.
"You haven't seen what I can do.
Raphael doesn't need you anymore.
He has me.
I'm all he'll ever need."

"Listen here you psycho, you better not lay a finger on him!"

Natasha chuckled, leaving pauses between each laugh.
"You don't scare me.
Now leave us alone."

The line cut out, boiling Ashryn's blood. How was she going to help Raphael now? Well, she could always go in guns blazing, kicking and screaming.
But that didn't seem like the right plan.
If she was going to get Raphael out unharmed, she'd need to take a more subtle approach.
Something crafty.
Normally, that wouldn't have fazed her.
But she didn't exactly leave a good impression on Natasha.

No.

She'd need help.

◆◆◆

Ashryn knocked on the door, taking a small step back when she did so.
The door opened.

"Ashryn?", questioned Makoto.
"Is everything ok?"

Ashryn peered into the room, a small smile appearing on her face when she saw
Rhiannon was in Makoto's room too.
She barged in, almost knocking Makoto over.

"Oh, uh, come in, I suppose", they said.

"I should've known you would both be together", said Ashryn.
"This is perfect though.
Raphael needs your help."

"Raphael?", questioned Makoto.
"What happened?"

"Why do you even care?", asked Rhiannon. "He's a bully and a manipulator."

Makoto frowned.
"But, if he's in trouble..."

"Good!", exclaimed Rhiannon.
"Serves him right."

Ashryn scoffed, the smile of disbelief remaining on her face.
"Well isn't this interesting?
The 'peace and love', 'friendship never dies', 'we're a team' girl is backtracking on her words."

"You don't know the full story, Ashryn", snapped Rhiannon.

Ashryn stepped closer to her, making Rhiannon stepped up to show she wasn't intimidated.
"Then enlighten me."

Rhiannon scoffed.

"No, come on, tell me.
Tell me why you turned your back on someone you called a friend."

"He's nothing but a liar, Ashryn", said Rhiannon.
"A liar and a cheat.
He's been collecting blackmail information so he can get what he wants.
He forced me to make sure Minerva didn't win the tech competition, or he'd make up a lie to destroy Astra and Sophia's relationship.
He had really convincing evidence that would look suspect without context.
He played us all."

Ashryn stood there, momentarily stunned. She tried not to show it on her face, but her eyebrows knitted together as she processed what Rhiannon had said.
Irritation bubbled inside her.
Why was Raphael so stupid?
He talked a big game about being such a brilliant inventor, cockiness seeping out of every pore.
But he didn't believe in himself.
Ashryn thought it was pathetic.
He shouldn't have felt like he needed to cheat.

"That idiot", she said.
"So look, are you going to help or not?"

Rhiannon's eyes widened in disbelief, and she let her crossed arms fall to her side. "You did hear me, didn't you?
I'm not doing a single thing for that snake."

"What does he need help with?", asked Makoto.

"You're not seriously thinking about helping him, are you?", asked Rhiannon.

"Some crazy girl has him hostage in his room, and he needs our help to get out", said Ashryn.

Makoto and Rhiannon looked at Ashryn as if she had turned blue.

"I'm sorry, what?", asked Makoto.

"Look, I'll explain properly on the way", said Ashryn.

"Well, I'm not coming", said Rhiannon.
"He got himself into this mess, he can get himself out."

"But Rhiannon-", started Makoto.

"You shouldn't even be considering this, you know that right?", interjected Rhiannon. "He's a monster.
Are you really ok with helping someone so twisted?"

Makoto frowned.
"I... I know he's done bad things.
Really bad things.
But, in Agoraville, we can't choose who we help.
We can't turn down someone's pleas just because they were mean.
That's not our choice to make."

"Makoto, that's not the same thing!"

"I'm sorry, Rhiannon", said Makoto, walking towards Ashryn.

"You know what you are, Rhiannon?", asked Ashryn.
"A hypocrite.
You go on and on about how we're a team and how we need to support each other, but when it comes down to it, you won't.
Was Raphael wrong for doing what he did? Yes.
But does that really mean you're going to turn your back on him?"

◆◆◆

Makoto waited nervously as Ashryn knocked on Raphael's door.
When no one answered, Ashryn turned to Makoto.

"Think she took him somewhere else?", asked Ashryn.

"I doubt it", said Makoto.
"It would be too easy for him to escape if they left the room, right?
Does she know about any of us?"

"Just me.
And I'll just say we are not going to be best friends any time soon."

Makoto nodded.
"Well... let me try something."

Makoto knocked on the door, moving their face so that it was an inch away from the door.
"Raphael, are you in?
Remember when you told me about Natasha in combat class today?
Well she sounded really cool and I wondered if I could meet her?
Maybe we could do something
together-the three of us?"

A worrying silence followed.
Makoto looked back at Ashryn, who shrugged and gestured for them to try again. Makoto turned back to the door and opened their mouth to speak.
Suddenly, the door opened, revealing Natasha.
Her eyes widened when she saw Ashryn, and she moved to close the door.
Ashryn slammed her hand against the door, forcefully pushing it open and storming in.

"Raphael?", called out Ashryn.
"Where are you?"

Ashryn ran around the room.
Her eyes landed on the en suite.
Natasha's eyes widened, and she lunged at Ashryn.
Ashryn ducked, which caused Natasha to stumble and land on the floor.
Ashryn kicked open the door to the en suite, frowning when she saw Raphael huddled in the corner.
She walked towards him and knelt down in front of him.

"Hey, are you good?
Did she hurt you?"

Raphael just shook his head, but it was clear from his silence and from the way his body was vibrating a little due to how tense his muscles were, that he was far from ok.

"Get away from him!", yelled Natasha, grabbing hold of Ashryn's leg.

Ashryn tried to shake away Natasha's hand, but her grip only tightened.
Her eyes were wild and erratic, and she bared her teeth.
Ashryn's eyes widened as she realised what Natasha was going to do.
She reached down and pried each of Natasha's fingers off of her leg.

"Let go or I'll snap them off!", yelled Ashryn.

Makoto watched in horror as the two girls brawled.
Somehow, Natasha got the upper hand, and straddled Ashryn as she reached for her neck.
As her grip on Ashryn's neck got tighter, the blonde haired girl scratched at Natasha's hands, desperately trying to free herself. Natasha's eyes were crazed, all sense of humanity drained from them.
There wasn't an ounce of the real Natasha left.

"Hey!", called our Raphael, reaching for something in his drawer.
"Natasha, look!"

Raphael held out a robot about twelve inches in height.
It had a metallic red body that looked like armour, and a glossy black head and limbs. When a small button was pressed, it's face lit up, revealing its facial features.

"This... is a mini NanaBot.
The invention I made for you, remember? The real thing would take up a lot of room, so I didn't bring it, but this is the first version.
Here, take it.
Please, I need you to just take it, and remember who you are.
This... this obsessive, controlling behaviour? This isn't you.
Please, please just... come back to me."

Natasha wavered, her hands moving away from Ashryn's neck.
Ashryn gasped for air.
Natasha stood up and moved towards Raphael.
Ashryn pulled herself back up, assuming a fighting stance just to be on the safe side. Natasha held her hands out, and Raphael smiled softly as he placed the robot in her hands, breathing a sigh of relief.

"Ahhh!", she yelled, pressing down on the robot and pulling it apart with her bare hands.
She threw the pieces against the wall.

"There's no getting through to this she-devil!", exclaimed Ashryn.

"I'll get Head Guard Aoife", said Makoto.

"No!
She'll only blame Raphael for all this", said Ashryn.
"We've got to take her out."

"Take her out?", questioned Makoto.

"Yeah, we knock her out and drop her off at the Clinic.
They'll just assume she fell or-"

"Ashryn, look out!", yelled Makoto, pointing ahead.

Natasha was facing them, a sharp piece of metal from NanaBot in her hands.
Raphael looked completely out of it.
He was staring at all of the broken pieces of NanaBot.
With a loud scream, Natasha threw the piece of metal at Ashryn, slicing her cheek. Ashryn winced, dabbing at her cut with her finger.
When she saw blood freckles on her finger, she clenched her jaw.

"Wrong move."

Ashryn surged forward and pinned Natasha against the wall.
She swung for her head, but Natasha dodged.
Ashryn caught herself, stopping the punch just before her fist connected with the wall. She kept throwing punches, with Natasha dodging each one.

"Ugh!
Just... stop... moving!"

Growing restless, Ashryn pushed her knee into Natasha's stomach, smirking when she doubled over in pain.
Ashryn quickly grabbed Natasha's head and slammed it against the wall.
Natasha's body fell to the ground.
All that could be heard was Ashryn's panting.
The trio moved forward, looking down at Natasha's body.

"Please... please tell me you didn't kill her", said Raphael.

Makoto knelt down, placing their index finger and middle finger against Natasha's neck.
After a few seconds, Makoto looked up at Raphael.
"She's still got a pulse."

Raphael exhaled sharply.

"We should probably move her quickly", said Makoto.
"We made quite a lot of noise so someone's bound to be on their way."

"Raphael and I will carry her", said Ashryn. "Fat lot of use you were.
You just stood there while I got my guts knocked out."

Makoto frowned.

"We don't have time for this", said Raphael.

Ashryn and Raphael carried Natasha out of the room.
The sound of heels smacking against the floor alarmed the trio.

"Hey Head Guard Aoife!", greeted another agent.

The trio looked around for empty rooms, becoming more worried and frantic when they found none that were open.
Ashryn and Makoto dragged Natasha, determined to find some place to hide.

"This is it", said Raphael.
"Time to face the music.
I can't run from this.
I... I can't thank you both enough for what you did.
Go now.
I'll say I knocked her out.
No one else has to get hurt today."

Makoto shook their head.
"We're not abandoning you."

"Speak for yourself", said Ashryn.
"I very much want to."

But she remained in her spot.

The trio looked at each other, before grimacing as they looked forward, trying to brace themselves for the storm that was about to come.

"Quick!
Get in!",
exclaimed Rhiannon, standing in the doorway of her room.

◆◆◆

Once everyone was in the room, Makoto quickly closed the door.
Rhiannon stared at the others as they collected their breaths.
Her focus was mainly on Makoto and Raphael, but it was rather hard to ignore the unconscious girl lying on her floor.

"Was knocking her out part of your plan?", asked Rhiannon.

"Well... that kind of ending up being the only option", replied Makoto.

"Knocking her out was your only option?"

"Thank you", said Raphael.
"For saving our skins."

Rhiannon looked at Raphael, a look of disgust and irritation appearing on her face.

"Let's get a few things straight.
I don't like you.
I don't respect you.
I don't care about you.
But I will always protect you.
Because that's what a team does."

An awkward silence crept upon the group.
Raphael frowned, but nodded.
He didn't expect anything less anyway.
It brought him some comfort to know that he hadn't ruined things to the point where no one would care about his life.

"You have to tell the Head Guards the truth though", said Rhiannon.
"Otherwise she won't get the proper help she needs."

"We'll say she fell or something, and Raphael found her", said Ashryn.
"That way, she'll get treated for the knock to her head, and they'll know to test her because she came in contact with Robo Boy."

"Maybe say you spoke to her a bit too, so they know it was like a long term contact", said Makoto.

"Right, but don't mention that you know who she is", said Ashryn.

"Whatever you're planning on saying, you'd better say it before she wakes up", said Rhiannon.

After taking her to the Clinic, and telling Head Guard Aoife a slightly edited version of what happened, Raphael had to sit through a thirty minute long conversation where Aoife explained exactly what had happened to Natasha before.

And that her memory would have to be permanently wiped.

Raphael sat alone outside, on one of the benches next to the flower garden.
He held one of the arms of NanaBot, pressing his thumb against the little fingers.

"Raphael?", questioned Makoto.
"What are you doing out here?"

Raphael sighed.
"Just thinking."

"About how what happened to Natasha is your fault?"

Raphael frowned, but nodded.

"It wasn't, you know", said Makoto.
"It wasn't your fault.
There was no way you could've known that Pluborium exposure, or whatever it was, would cause her obsession and possessive behaviour."

"You don't get it."

"What's not to get?
Head Guard Aoife told you that Natasha was experimented on when a mission went wrong.
The serum contained pluborium, and that increased the feelings of anger, obsession and possessiveness she felt towards you.
There's no way you could've predicted any of this."

"I gave her a necklace when we were younger", said Raphael.
"It was made of pluborium."

Makoto sat down beside Raphael, trying to understand where he was going with this.

"Pluborium is naturally found in the ground where I'm from.
It's incredibly expensive and unstable.
But it's a vibrant electric blue colour, and Natasha always thought it was beautiful.
I went to buy some but, like I said, it was really expensive.
The shopkeeper told me not to get it through other means.
But I didn't listen.
I thought I knew better than him.
If anyone was going to successfully stabilise pluborium for a fraction of the original cost, it would be me."

Raphael looked down at his hands, tears blurring his vision.
"If I never gave her that, she wouldn't have had it on her when she was experimented on, and the serum's effects wouldn't have been as strong.
They might have been able to reverse the effects.
My arrogance led to my best friend, the only person that actually really loved me... losing all of her memories.
Everything that made her who she was."

A silence washed over them, and Makoto didn't rush to fill it.
Instead, they looked at Raphael.
His tear stained face.
His trembling lower lip.
His hands pressed together, either to comfort himself or cause himself some physical pain to go with the emotional one.

"Why... why do you think Natasha is the only person who cares about you?"

"Because it's always been that way.
Do you know what it's like to not have a home?
I mean, I had two houses, but I was always going back and forth.
One week with my mother, the next was spent with my father.
Even when my parents decided to let me live in one house... it still never felt like a home.
Everyone at school thought I was weird. Odd.
Home isn't a building for me.
Home is where I feel at peace.
Where I feel loved.
And that place is with Natasha."

Makoto understood what Raphael was going through.
They couldn't relate to him entirely, because they grew up in such a loving environment, but they knew what it was like to view home as a place tied to your soul, not a building.
They also knew what it was like to be seen as weird.

"I think... I think you've got it wrong", said Makoto.
"Friendship, I mean.
It's like, you push everyone away because you're scared they'll do it to you first."

"Well I was right, wasn't I?
You and Rhiannon dropped me."

Makoto shook their head.
"No, we never did that.
We've been dealing with our own things, but that doesn't mean our friendship just stops.
And if you felt like we were pulling away, all you had to do was tell us."

"Really?"

Makoto nodded.

"So, are we...?"

"Still friends?", questioned Makoto.
"Of course."

Raphael smiled, subsequently letting out a sigh he didn't even know he was holding.

"Now, come on.
Ashryn's managed to get you some alone time with Natasha."

◆◆◆

It was midnight, and the only people in the medical unit-a place for the more critically ill patients, were three doctors.
Luckily, Natasha's room was in a discreet area.
Raphael stood behind a perspex wall, too afraid to get closer to Natasha in case it triggered another reaction in her.
She looked so peaceful.
Her auburn hair covered her shoulders, and her white and green gown emphasised her pale skin.
A long plastic tube was inserted into her arm, leading to a translucent cylinder that was connected to a metal pole with wheels to make it easy to transport.
A shimmering black liquid flowed from the cylinder and into her veins.

Raphael gently touched the perspex, as if he was gently caressing her cheek.

"I'm so sorry, Natasha.
I'm so sorry that you're going to wake up with no memory of your parents.
No memory of all the times we had sleepovers, or threw bits of grass into Mrs Darceline's garden without her seeing.
I'm sorry you won't remember all the hopes and dreams you had.
But... maybe it's for the best that you will never remember me.
I can't hurt you anymore."

Raphael blinked, his tears rolling down his face.
He wiped them away, but more just kept coming.

"I don't want to be like this.
I don't want to push people away and hurt them.
I'm just... I'm so, so scared.
All the time.
Scared that I'll make one wrong move and they'll decide to be friends with someone better.
But I... I can change.
I will change.
Natasha, I don't want to feel all this, this... this pain.
This anger.
I don't want to hold on to it anymore.
I-I can't hold on to it.
I don't want to hurt people anymore.
It's exhausting.
It's terrifying, being alone.
I think I've just been tricking myself into thinking it wasn't."

Raphael closed his eyes.
He pictured Natasha, at nine years old.
Her front tooth was missing from a tree climbing incident a week prior.
Her mousy brown hair was tied up into two space buns, and she had tiny robot shaped hair clips in her hair.
Then, he pictured himself beside her.
His black hair wasn't quite so voluminous back then, and it was curly from having just been sprayed with water by Natasha. Natasha had placed one of her robot hair clips in his hair.
They were both holding two mini water cannon contraptions that Raphael had made, goofy grins on their faces.

Raphael smiled softly at the memory, before opening his eyes.
The reminder that his best friend was lying in a hospital bed, every single one of her memories snatched away from her, hit him like a brick to the stomach.

"Oh, Natasha..."

He felt his face get hot and a lumped formed in his throat.
His eyes started filling up with tears again, but he quickly shook his head, trying to remain calm.

"You were the one person I didn't run away from.
But now I have no choice but to run."

He kissed his index and middle fingers, before gently placing them on the perspex wall.

"I promise I'll remember who you are.
I'll remember for the both of us."

Raphael turned away, looking back one last time, before turning again and walking away.
He heard the sound of footsteps approaching, so quickly hid behind one of the other walls.

"How could you be so careless?", questioned Aoife, before stopping and turning to Calihan.

"I'm so sorry.
I-I don't know what I was th-"

"You were supposed to be looking after Agent Olive.
You were personally assigned to this task because we knew how important it was that Natasha and Raphael never had any contact with each other.
That poor girl has had her, her whole identity stripped away... because of your carelessness."

Calihan looked down, a look of genuine and deep remorse on his face.

"You've been far too concerned with Arden and this Agoraville mission", said Aoife.

"Aoife, that's not f-"

"I know you've always had a soft spot for Arden, especially after Rowdy left, but we have an agency full of agents who need our attention.
I suggest you focus on them, and leave the Agoraville mission to me."

_______

Hi.

What I really loved about this chapter, is that every trainee had a moment to shine.
Ashryn's combat skills showed just how strong she really is.
Rhiannon came through in the end, and I honestly couldn't see it any other way.
She has always been so vocal about being a team that looks out for each other, and she didn't let Raphael's actions change her.
She wouldn't have been in the wrong for denying help, but the fact that she didn't do that shows that she is willing to protect her team no matter what.
Makoto didn't have much of a role in the combat or actual plan, but they did shine in their emotional intelligence.
They listened to Raphael and supported him.
I think they make such a brilliant team and I just flipping love this quartet.

Raphael finally opened up about his feelings, albeit to Natasha instead of the others.
But I think it's fitting that she was the one he felt comfortable to open up to.
This incident has taught him that life is short, and circumstances can change in an instant.
He is finally willing to try and be a good friend, and person, no matter how many setbacks he will face.
But is it too little too late?

There is actually a song that I believe is so perfect for Raphael, but I'm not sure if I'm going to use it in a later scene. If I do, I'll explain my reasoning for it in the chapter, or if it doesn't really fit with the chapter, I'll just add it at the bottom and explain my reasoning.

There is something off about Calihan's behaviour, and there has been for a while. I haven't written scenes with him that much so it's understandable if you haven't noticed, but have you spotted any of the other suspicious things he's done?
What are your thoughts on this?

I am so excited to write the next chapter! It requires a lot of description, but please don't be put off by that!
I can't wait to hear your thoughts on it.

What are your thoughts on this chapter?

DoodleYeet

LeMystical-Puffle

ruesbennett

bardsarethebest