Morning Coffee And Sweet Surprises (Closed to Poprockz)

[Drobabes]

"I... could send you a memory of me doing it,"

He didn't even need to finish the sentence. Quint shut his eyes, as if that could stop it from coming, and put his hands up.

"No. No, nope, I'm good. I'll just work with the verbal instruction manual."

He shivered and put his hands down, then looked down at his own appendage as he brought it out, his brows knitting. It was healed again, despite his efforts. Pesky thing.

"Right... alright, well, hold the fort down. Water the plants, feed the dogs. Oh, speaking of dogs-"

"Quint, stop dicking around."

Francis was heading for door, his face set in a scowl as he impatiently waited for the man, and Quint help but smile a bit as he kept talking.

"I'm coming! Right, dogs, if the animals start getting rowdy, think of something calming. They especially like the memories of sunshine."

With that last thing said, he gave the side of the bed a little pat, then turned and walked out with Fransisco.
________

Not too long after, Quint and Fransisco would arrive in front of Sayori's cell. The two seemed to be in a heated discussion as they came in front of the door, though it wasn't made obvious until they were closer to the glass and their voices could be heard.

"..swear it has more caffeine."

"I don't believe you."

"Well that's because you're old and set in your ways Fran. If I still had google, I would prove it to you right now."

"It's called a light roast, Quint. Why would they call it that if it had more caffeine?"

"Because of advertising! You're... you're screwing with me, aren't you?"

Francis let out a hardy laugh, reaching around Quint to key in the code, and once it was open, Quint looked over at Sayori and gave her a beaming smile.

"Goodmornin' sleeping beauty. Unfortunately we'll have to skip brunch today, Robo Cop went and left us with his mess again."
________

Tommy stiffened up just slightly, his smile becoming just a bit forced. He hadn't gone to church since he was a little boy, and while he did hold a small sense of belief himself, he didn't really like to advertise it or get into deep discussions about it. However,

Robert's body language looked like a beaten puppy, his whole demeanor being crushed as he was told no. His own emotions were wrenched as he watched the man pocket that little Bible, possibly the only thing had kept him going since the world burned. Would it really hurt Tommy to spend a bit of time listening to the man? He could speed through the laundry to catch up, and it would probably make this guy's day.

"Oh, no, that's alright mam" he said, turning around to gather up the laundry.

"My mother was a Christian, but it's been a very long time since I heard a good Sermon. I would actually like that very much, it would feel a little like home again, you know?"

Jeez, he wasn't even playing it up, was he? He hadn't even realized how much he had missed something familiar until he had said it. Clearing his throat a bit, he picked the basket up and turned back to them.

"Why don't you both accompany me to the river? I can kill two birds with one stone, and it's about the only bit of privacy you can get around this place" he chuckled.

Tommy didn't know it himself, but his words were more true than he realized. It was a blind spot in the base, an area where the General's gear didn't work, and he hadn't even realized it yet.

 

[Poprockz]

He was relieved that Quint didn't want that memory, the memory not being a particularly fond one. In any case he simply listened to Quint as they got ready to leave, accepting that he was going to have to stay and rest.

Sabastian nodded at Quint, "sure thing." It had been awful feeling the animals last time he had come down here, and he could still feel their presence now, though they were fairly calm.

"Drive safe, honey," he called to Quint as they left, as though Quint was leaving him on a business trip, a bit of a grin on Sabastian's face.

As Quint and Francisco passed through, he could feel them getting restless again, and he decided to try out what Quint had suggested. Closing his eyes, he searched for an appropriate memory or image and decided to use the garden. He imagined the smell of the soil as he dug and weeded, the plants swaying in the slight breeze. The smell of the plants mixing together and offering him distinct ones from the mix every now and then, like lavender or freshly trimmed grass. He thought of the way the sun had beamed down on him, being felt upon his back with the weight of a warm blanket. Sabastian had felt so calm and at home in the garden, the complicated thoughts of the day left behind as he simply tended to it. He felt purposeful with a sense of belonging, reveling in the connection he felt between himself and nature.

That was all broadcast to the animals nearby, and he could soon feel them calming down once more. Quint was right, they really liked the memory of the sun, and the illusion that they were outside once more, if only in a dream.

-------------------------------------------------------

Upon hearing Francisco and Quint coming down the hall, Sayori's face brightened and she hopped out of bed excitedly, waiting for them to hopefully come to the door. Though once she was up, she remembered her little visit with Quint earlier and became a bit hesitant, wondering if Quint would avoid her eyes now that he had been forced to see her in such a compromising way. When they came into view, she looked up hopefully, finding that as soon as the door came open, her friend looked directly at her and smiled as though nothing had happened.

It didn't seem like a fake smile either, just one from a friend that was happy to see her again. It was as though he didn't care whether she had cum for Kuznet, nor that she had given in to the General so easily; like a coward she hadn't even tried to resist and only feared for her safety. The fact that he was able to smile like that regardless of those things filled her with joy and gratitude, the woman returning his smile with a big smile of her own.

"Goodmornin' sleeping beauty. Unfortunately we'll have to skip brunch today, Robo Cop went and left us with his mess again."

Speaking of Robo-cop, Sayori noticed that Sabastian wasn't with them, the woman hoping that her worrying was unfounded. Maybe they were just taking a long time to complete the nest.

"Good morning!" Her eyes went from Quint to Francisco and back, nodding at both of them. She enjoyed Francisco's company as well, so she was happy he had come along. "Oh? So wait, Officer Niles is having you pick up his slack? What are you doing for him this time?" Still thinking that Sabastian was removing her eggs, it didn't even occur to her that Quint might be there to do just that.

In any case, she walked over to one of the chairs and picked up a little paper to-go container, opening it and offering them the little cinnamon-sugar doughnuts Jonathan had managed to secure her. "Do you want one? Jonathan got them for my cravings, but I don't think they would mind if you had one."

---------------------------------------------------------

As soon as Tommy agreed to hear him out, Robert smiled with gratitude, happy that he was being given the chance to talk to someone who might be one of Sabastian’s friends. He hadn’t known that his wife would play the sympathy card, but he was more than happy to take advantage of it. He did feel a bit guilty though; lying was frowned upon by the lord. He only hoped that the lord would be willing to give them all a bit of Lee-way considering the circumstances.

"You're very kind, humoring me. I'll be sure to do my best at bringing you a little bit of comfort." Robert smiled.

The couple followed Tommy to the river, chatting lightheartedly as they went. Genevieve told him about how she hoped to set up a church there in the base so that they could comfort those who needed spiritual connection. Robert has agreed, saying that having food, water, and shelter was the first priority, but once established, the soul craved more.

Once they reached the river, Robert and Genevieve stood near Tommy as he started to work, though Robert took a couple steps forward and started to speak. He wanted to get a feel for Tommy before he came out and asked about Sabastian.

“So... tell me, how do you feel about the undead? I have to admit that I’m a bit torn myself. I’ve heard tales of people with fully violet eyes that are described as intelligent monsters, incapable of anything other than self-serving actions. On the other hand, I encountered a man with violet in his eyes the other day, my lovely wife having told me of this peculiarity. He seemed... sane. As though he was just another man. He helped us, in fact, and I’ll forever be in his debt.” Robert paused and cocked his head to the side as though he was remembering what had happened.

“That zombie-man freed me, actually. I had been in a bad position, betrayed by those I had come to trust. They had locked me away, taken advantage of my wife, and continued to do the same to others who passed through. And yet... it seemed as though that man still had a heart, having sacrificed greatly in order to keep his friends safe.” At that moment, Robert turned his head to look at Tommy, his face actually in a position as though he was really looking at him, though it was hard to tell with his sunglasses.

“Do you have an opinion?”

 

[Drobabes]

Quint's nose could smell those delicious little donuts long before she picked up the container, and he had to swallow from how much he was salivating.

"Oh hell yes" he said, reaching forward for one. He was just about to stick his fingers in the container when Francis reached out and smacked his hand down.

"We don't have time for a snack. Ms.Sayori, if you would?"

Francis put his hand on her back, giving her just a little push while he simultaneously put his other hand on Quint's back and gave him the same push. Together, they began to walk out of the cell and down the hall.

"Fran is grousy today" Quint said, his mouth full of donuts. Behind him, one of his tentacles was holding the box, and another was snagging one more and lifting it up over his head, where he caught it in his mouth by tipping his head back.

"Goddamnit Quint."

The half zombie chewed and swallowed his sweet treat before offering the box back to her, and then leaned around Francis so that he could see her face as he talked.

"Sabastian pissed off Robo Cop. Hit him right in the dick with some well placed words, but it kind of backfired."

"Niles beat him badly" Francis said, letting his hands down to take a more traditional army stance as he walked.

"So Sabastian won't be able to remove the eggs."
________

Was he being tested? Was this man one of General Kuznet's lackeys? He wasn't sure, but what the blind man was talking about felt very pointed, as if he were trying to test him. Of course, Tommy didn't feel as on the edge of the cliff as he did with The General, but that didn't mean that this man might not go running back to him to report what he had said, putting his 'loyalty' into question. He needed to be careful.

"Do you have an opinion?"

Tommy glanced up, his eyes looking into the glasses for a brief moment before he looked back down at the clothes in his hand.

"Do I have an opinion?" he repeated, buying himself just a bit of time as he reached up and into his uniform, seemingly scratching an itch on his chest. What he was really doing, however, was trying to get Francisco's attention. Tommy knew there was a hidden mic in their uniforms, and he knew this because Fransisco had told him to scratch against it if he ever needed the man to radio in and save him from something. Not that he would always be able to answer with words. What he would often do instead, was hit the button on his radio to make it click, and then Tommy could 'check' to see if he had been trying to get a hold of him for something.

"I mean, everyone has an opinion, right? I think that if someone like that saved me, I would find it difficult to not to feel indebted and grateful to them."

He pulled the shirt from the river, squeezing and rinsing the water from it before dunking it in again. He didn't look back up at Robert, seemingly just content with his task and waiting for the man's own response. What he had said was neutral and true, and he couldn't see Kuznet being suspicious of such an answer. Tommy was curious why he wasn't getting response on his radio, though, as he knew Francis was in the base.

 

[Poprockz]

Sayori had been happy when Quint accepted her little sugary gift, though Francisco soon seemed intent on spoiling their fun. She sighed and was forced to put them down as the Officer insistently ushered them out of the room.

Though when she heard Quint comment with his mouth full, she couldn't help but giggle slightly. He was so funny with how mischievous he was sometimes. She took the box back and took a doughnut herself, taking a bite and chewing as Quint leaned and made eye-contact with her and told her of Sabastian's recent altercation with Niles.

What he said made her frown slightly, chewing worriedly as Francisco gave her a more direct explanation. His words made her stop dead in her tracks for a moment, the smaller woman having to almost jump from the realization that she was falling behind so she could scuttle back to them. Once she was back in line with the Officer, she shook her head, "Why did he do that...?! He knows Niles has a temper." Another doughnut was popped into her mouth as she walked, almost as though she was now stress-eating. Though when she swallowed, she looked at Francisco and asked, "well, if he's not taking out the eggs, then will they be left inside to mature with the rest of them? Where are we going, by the way?"

---------------------------------------------------------------

Robert pursed his lips. He got a bad feeling from Tommy's answer, as though the man was hiding something. The clothes in the basket smelled like they belonged to someone who had spent time with Sabastian, yet they also reeked of someone else's semen. It was possible that he was being evasive in order to protect Sabastian, but he felt that if he were doing that, he might have offered a more positive response. No, this response seemed like he was humoring Robert's opinion while keeping his own a secret. If that was the case and he was hiding something, it could very well mean that Sabastian was in danger.

He moved forward and crouched next to Tommy, watching him as he worked with the clothing. Robert had never really been a fan of beating around the burning bush, so he figured a more direct approach would be more useful. If Tommy didn't react favorably, he would likely have to knock him out and escape with Genevieve, to come back later for the blonde zombie. Being this close to the man, he could easily overpower him. He didn't like violence, but sometimes it was necessary.

"These clothes you're washing... You might not be able to smell it, but they remind me of him... Sabastian. The smell isn't so strong on them as though he was wearing them, but someone spent enough time with him for his scent to rub off on them, probably sharing a room with him. You also don't know this, but those pink pants she was wearing are also covered in semen, and it's not his. Now." Robert paused for a moment.

Genevieve had moved so that she was blocking the space in-between Tommy and the man in case any prying eyes were looking their way, looking over their shoulders as though interested in the conversation.

The red-haired man reached up and removed his sunglasses, looking Tommy right in the eye with his peculiar half-full violet eyes, his gaze dead-serious as he continued. "I don't know if you're a friend of his or not, but I get the feeling that you know more than you're letting on. I should be able to feel him in this base, yet I can only pick up the very slightest of frequencies despite being attuned to it. What I told you before is true, and I would do anything to repay that debt."

 

[Drobabes]

"Why did he do that...?! He knows Niles has a temper."

Francis didn't answer, and Quint lost his smile. The half zombie crossed his arms as they walked, his eyes taking on a bit of rebellion as they glared down the hall.

"Sayori, sometimes you just have to take a beating if it means keeping some part of yourself intact. Niles couldn't break him, and Sabastian will be wearing those scars like a badge of honor for a long time to come."

Fran's eyes travelled over to him for a moment, before he looked down at Sayori and put a hand on her shoulder, gently forcing her to match their pace. Kuznet was waiting, and his own patience was thin today as well.

"No Sayori, Quint is going to have to take them out. We're going to the room where Sabastian built the nest."
________

"These clothes you're washing... You might not be able to smell it, but they remind me of him... Sabastian."

Tommy bristled, his hands pausing in midair and his eyes looking over to Robert. Who the hell was this guy?

"You also don't know this, but those pink pants she was wearing are also covered in semen, and it's not his."

The boy dropped those clothes like they had burned him, a disgusted look coming over his face that quickly turned to shock, and then horror. His face whipped around to look at the rest of the clothes then. Really look. What...the...fuck?! He knew he had been washing women's clothing, the size simply being too big for a kid, but he had been unnerved by how...well, childish they were. So to hear that they had semen on them, and to know that whoever's they were, that person had been down in those cells...

What if he had gotten Jesse?

The thought came out of nowhere, but once it had come to his mind, it made him weak and sick to his stomach. His already light skin seemed to drain of it's remaining color, his face becoming a bit ashen and only more shocked as he turned back to see Robert take off his glasses and show him his half purple eyes.

"What I told you before is true, and I would do anything to repay that debt."

"I..." he swallowed hard, bringing a hand up to run it over his short hair. He tried to keep his body language easy, relaxed, but the thought of what could be happening in those underground cells was making him shaky. So even though he tried to be casual about it, when he looked over his shoulder and then around the riverbank, he was anything but.

Suddenly he sat back, his eyes looking at Robert's with fear as he took his top uniform off slowly and, with great effort, spoke as casually as he could.

"No, I haven't seen that guy since he left the base. The last I saw him, he was traveling with some guy and his girlfriend I think."

With his top shirt now in his hand, he reached out and dunked it in the water, holding it under the current as he kept his eyes locked with Robert's.

"They played one hell of a good concert though-he even sang with me for one of the songs."

Once Tommy felt like the shirt had been thoroughly soaked, and, praying that little device had been broke, he pulled his uniform out and then threw it as far away as he could, onto a large boulder to 'dry'. When he turned back to Robert, he still looked scared, but now he was glaring.

"You don't know what you're up against" he whispered harshly.

"If you don't want to die, I would get the fuck out of here right now. You probably already said too much and just screwed yourself."

 

[Poprockz]

"Sayori, sometimes you just have to take a beating if it means keeping some part of yourself intact. Niles couldn't break him, and Sabastian will be wearing those scars like a badge of honor for a long time to come."

Sayori only frowned further, "battle scars can only be badges of honor if you live. If you're dead, they are simply marks upon your corpse." It was the fear talking and she knew it, immediately looking away from Quint and hugging herself with her arms. He was much braver than she was. Though he was afraid, he still kept his own pride and dignity intact, while in her case she would do most anything out of a desire to avoid the pain Kuznet could bring, even things she was ashamed of. Maybe one day she would know courage like Quint did, but it was certainly not today.

That gentle hand on her shoulder encouraged her to pick up her pace, the woman feeling the urgency in his touch and stride. Though he must have known his next sentence would almost make her stop, his hand being the only thing that had reminded her to keep going as she looked up at him in shock before looking away once more.

Sayori let out a heavy sigh, her face scrunching up into an expression of extreme displeasure. She really didn't want Quint to be putting his tentacles inside her. It wasn't because she found him disgusting or anything like that- quite the opposite, really. Quint was a very attractive man, but she didn't have any interest in developing feelings (even fleeting sexual ones) for a man who wouldn't/couldn't reciprocate, and who she considered a dear friend. It wasn't really about feelings though, it was about the discomfort of the whole situation.

She just really didn't want their friendship to take a weird turn where they simply couldn't stand being around each other due to the weight of shame and embarrassment. Sayori's hands squeezed her arms almost painfully as she tried to keep her eyes from fogging up. She know she was simply delaying the inevitable, but she didn't want Kuznet to have the satisfaction of her already crying when she entered.

"I swear... soon the only ones who will not have been between my legs will be you and Officer Jonathan." she quietly spoke in a bitter tone, not knowing that it was actually only Jonathan that had not felt her wet heat.

---------------------------------------------------------------

There it was: a reaction. Tommy looked shocked and afraid, as if he hadn't known anything about the clothes having been sullied. In addition to that, it almost looked like he had an idea of who the clothes might have belonged to, or maybe he was simply horrified at the implications. He also had reacted to Sabastian's name, showing that he really did know the little blonde. What his relationship to him was still unclear though.

The way he suddenly became stressed, looking over his shoulders with his eyes darting around told Robert that the man felt like someone might be monitoring them. He watched in confusion as Tommy took his shirt off and dunked it, wondering if he was doing that for a reason as he answered Robert's query. It didn't seem like he was lying per se, but it didn't seem entirely truthful either, his suspicions being raised further as he studied Tommy's every movement.

"You don't know what you're up against... If you don't want to die, I would get the fuck out of here right now. You probably already said too much and just screwed yourself."

Not even slightly phased, Robert stood his ground, replying in a hushed but calm voice. "We all have to die at some point or another. While I don't want to pass into the heavenly gates so soon, I can't ignore a friend who needs me. If I won't stand up for what is right, then who will? I'll find a way." Robert sternly looked at Tommy, almost as though he was scolding him for trying to make him turn tail and run, as though he could be that bereft of morals. He then looked up at his wife as though asking if he had her support. She smiled and reached down, rubbing her hand on his shoulder, her gold band glinting in the sun despite being dull from years of wearing it.

 

[Drobabes]

"I swear... soon the only ones who will not have been between my legs will be you and Officer Jonathan."

Francisco didn't say a word to that, his reaction being almost nothing. Not even the twitch of an eyebrow or his eyes looking down at her. In truth, he didn't even consider what he had done to be 'between her legs' as she was implying, as what he had been doing was strictly for medical purposes. However, he kept his thoughts to himself, knowing that she would see it much differently considering the position she was in.

Quint bent over slightly, looking around Francis and frowning. He then shifted himself behind the man, taking a few slower steps and then catching back up to put himself between Francis and the little women, taking over where the Officer had been. Instead of putting a hand on her back though, he put an arm over her shoulders and then pulled her close to his side. As they continued to walk, he bent down to whisper in her ear.

"Sayori, nothing he could force you to do would ever make me look at you any differently, okay?"

He stood back up, still looking down at her as they walked.

"Nothing " he repeated, wanting to make sure that she really understood. He knew how easy it was to fall into that pit of self loathing, and he wasn't going to let her. Not if he could do something about it, at least.

...

Soon enough they reached an elevator, and after going down a few floors, they came to another hall. After walking just a bit longer, they rounded a corner to see Kuznet standing before a door, waiting for them.

"Right on time?" Francis asked with a smile, which only drew a bored gaze from The General.

"You're late."

"Well, I was late to being born, and you know that saying about old habits."

Kuznet gave him a somewhat amused smile, reaching forward to open the door and then ushering them in by placing a hand on Quint's shoulder.

If that, unfortunately familiar, hand hadn't been enough to make Quint stiffen up, the room certainly would have done the job. He had yet to actually see a nest, nor smell one for that matter, and he found himself bringing a hand up to cover his nose and mouth, fighting off an urge to gag. It wasn't that the room smelled rancid, but it was...weird, and he couldn't quite place a finger on what it was that bothered his senses.
________

That stern look that Robert gave him got through Tommy's fear, and his ashen face was given a bit of color once more as his cheeks turned slightly pink with humiliation, his eyes turning down towards the river so that he could avoid the half zombies gaze.

The way that Genevieve had come to him and put her hand on his shoulder like that had reminded him so much of his parents, and with a bit of shame now pumping through his veins, he realized that he was letting his fear get the better of him. What was he doing here if he was just going to get his knackers in a twist from hearing a mere implication of something grotesque? He had signed up to be a soldier. He knew what he was getting into, and war crimes were part of the deal. But he also had a unique opportunity to put an end to it, or at least be a wrench thrown in the machine.

"I'll be the way" he said, swallowing hard and then looking back up to Robert.

"If you give me a bit of time, I think I can get you in."

 

[Poprockz]

Lost in her own thoughts, she hadn’t noticed Quint moving to her side until she felt his cool arm around her, bringing her close to him as they walked. She didn’t resist, simply leaning into his familiar and comforting embrace. Though when she felt his breath tickle her ear and heard what he had to say, she looked up at him. Quint’s words had brought a look of surprise to her face before she simply gave him a conflicted look. How did he know what she had been worrying about, was she that easy to read?

She really wanted to believe him, but she was still unsure. It seemed as though he was convinced that he would always look at her the same, and yet they truly didn’t know what the future held in store. What if Kuznet fucked her in front of him, or made Quint or one of the other officers fuck her? What if he cooked up something absolutely disgusting that she couldn’t even fathom?

After a long moment, she simply said, “I’ll take that as a promise.”

................

When Kuznet came into view, she avoided looking at him, not feeling particularly chatty after what had happened yesterday. Though she didn’t hesitate to go into the room when directed to do so.

While Sayori’s nose wasn’t as sensitive as Quint’s, she could still smell that meaty aroma that wafted from the nest. If that wasn’t enough to make her want to turn tail and run, then the sight of the flesh-covered walls almost did the trick. She paled and stared, thinking to herself that Sabastian had been forced to make all of this disgusting room. Everything about the room unsettled her, the urge to flee having to be pushed down.

The only things not covered by the sticky meat was the light switch, the light, and small table that had been moved back in. The box of sugared doughnuts was still in her hand, but she knew she wouldn’t have the stomach to eat anything in there. She wondered how they were going to do this; would they have her lay down on the table, or on the sticky meat itself. God she hoped not. She had to admit that part of her was actually a bit relieved that some of them were being removed, as her belly was even more swollen now, making her noticeably pregnant. If this was how big she was half-way through, by the end her belly would have been enormous with that little body of hers.

————————————

Robert’s expression turned to one of surprise, the man not having expected Tommy to actually offer to help. He had intended to get a bit of information out of him, but this had turned out better than he had hoped. That being said, he hoped that Tommy would take necessary precautions to ensure that he wouldn’t get punished for betraying whoever it was that was keeping Sabastian (presumably). He didn’t know what was going on here at the base, but it sounded dangerous and insidious.

His gaze softened then, becoming one of gratitude. It took a brave and kind soul to risk oneself for someone they barely knew, Robert finding himself quite impressed with Tommy’s resolve. He put his sunglasses back on and smiled, “take as much time as you need. The very fact that you are willing to help someone like him and myself fills me with hope. People think that only people who don’t have anything to lose should stand up to prevent the heartbreak of those they love, but it is precisely because we have something to lose that it is our responsibility.”

He paused for a moment and continued, “The three of them were still traveling together when I met them, and they were able to reunite with Vin as well. They all seemed relatively happy when they left, and I know that he and Vin had strong feelings for one another... it makes me worried about what might have happened in the interim since I can’t imagine they would ever separate willingly.” He turned a bit pensive, not noticing that he had absentmindedly taken out his Bible and was now thumbing it as he thought.

 

[Drobabes]

Francisco had been about to make some clever quip, but when The General opened that door and he saw what it looked like, he clamped his mouth shut and looked down the hall. It was beyond unnerving, and he didn't want to start gagging. Kuznet on the other hand, who had had a moment to inspect it before they had arrived, seemed completely unbothered. He stood just outside the door, his hands crossed behind his back, and his gaze on Quint. He didn't need to ask if the half zombie was going to cooperate, as he was quite sure his threat from the night prior was motivation enough.

Looking down at Sayori, Quint put his hand down slowly and swallowed hard.

"Well... let's get this over with. Do you want to lay on the table?"

His hand on her shoulder had started to become a bit shaky, so he moved it and simply let it drop to his side. He didn't want her to be worrying about him when she already had enough on her plate. They probably wouldn't be given any privacy, although he was just happy that Niles wasn't here to stand over them and sneer. Francis would stand guard near the door, and he knew Ray would be more interested in learning about the process, and therefore, less likely to find something sexual to torture them with.
________

"People think that only people who don’t have anything to lose should stand up to prevent the heartbreak of those they love, but it is precisely because we have something to lose that it is our responsibility."

Tommy stared at him for a few lingering seconds, a bit taken aback by what he had to say. He found himself only able to nod in agreement, not really knowing how to respond. When there was that brief pause, the boy took another chance to look around, being much calmer this time, although he was still very nervous.

"...it makes me worried about what might have happened in the interim since I can’t imagine they would ever separate willingly."

"I really don't know...but I have my suspicions." he said quietly, going back to his chore of washing the clothes; although now he had a knot in his stomach as he picked up those more feminine articles.

"The last time that I talked to Sabastian he was not acting like himself. I think he was threatened into acting like one of those people with the fully violet eyes."

Tommy's own blue eyes looked up to Robert's face briefly, wondering what he thought of that.

"You said you could feel him? I haven't been given a lot of information on what you guys are capable of. All I know is that your very strong, and that the infected ignore you. But please don't tell me anything else."

He paused, his hands stilling in the water.

"If I get caught, I don't want to give him any more of an edge than he might already have... anyway, Sabastian is underground. I'll have to find a way to sneak you down there without you getting spotted. There's cameras everywhere, and almost all the soldiers have mics hidden somewhere in their clothing."

 

[Poprockz]

She could feel Kuznet's eyes upon them, but more than that she could feel the way Quint was shaking. He hadn't withdrawn his hand quickly enough for her to not have noticed, but she decided to pretend that she hadn't felt it. Besides, she didn't need to feel it to know that this was going to be a very uncomfortable situation for everyone involved (with the exception of Kuznet himself). She imagined that the tall General enjoyed the idea of watching them squirm once more.

"Yes... that would be preferable." Sayori nodded, glad to have been given the opportunity to lay on a surface that wasn't coated in... whatever that stuff was. There was no use delaying or arguing; the quicker she complied, the quicker they could all get out of the hellish flesh-room. Her sweater and long-sleeved crop top underneath didn't need to be taken off, so she left those on for a little bit of decency. However, the under-armor leggings and puffy pants had to come off.

Reaching down, she pulled both pairs of pants down, bending over to make sure that while they came completely off, the fuzzy pink socks stayed on. She really didn't want her feet touching the disgusting flesh after all- it was bad enough that she could feel the way it gave under the weight of her feet. With that done, she laid her pants down on the table to make it softer for herself before sitting down on it, then laying her back down as well and spreading her legs slightly.

It was embarrassing being half-naked in front of everyone, but it was even more embarrassing to know that Quint would soon part her legs further and reach deep inside her, though she was a bit thankful that it was his tentacles and not his hand touching her. She didn't want to close her eyes and therefore be able to feel him better, so she turned her head away from them and toward the opposite wall, focusing on one spot and breathing deeply to try to calm herself. Were she not clasping her hands above her belly, her hands would be shaking just as Quint's had.

"Okay... I'm as ready as I will ever be. Do what you must." Her voice was resigned, simply praying that this would be quick.

Having thought she might swim while in town, she had waxed her bikini area as well as her pussy itself, leaving a simple, trimmed triangle of hair there. Since she had waxed and it had only been a week, she was still well kempt between her legs.

---------------------------------------------------------------

"The last time that I talked to Sabastian he was not acting like himself. I think he was threatened into acting like one of those people with the fully violet eyes."

Robert thought about it for a moment before replying, "I myself haven't met one with fully violet eyes before, but I do believe that Sabastian has. If I'm not mistaken, it was his previous employer. I suppose that would make it easier for him to pretend to be one of them. As for being threatened... I don't doubt it. If he knew you from before, it was possible that he was partly trying to protect you. Imagine if he had spilled the beans to you. They wouldn't have been able to let you see the sun again; you would have known too much."

When Tommy talked about him withholding any other information, he simply nodded. He doubted there wasn't anything that they didn't already know if they already had Sabastian, but he would respect the young man's wishes regardless.

"If I get caught, I don't want to give him any more of an edge than he might already have... anyway, Sabastian is underground. I'll have to find a way to sneak you down there without you getting spotted. There's cameras everywhere, and almost all the soldiers have mics hidden somewhere in their clothing."

An eyebrow was raised. So he was underground, was he? Still, unless they were drilling into the earth to beat the 7.5 mile record, he didn't imagine that they were too far down. No, it seemed more like they were beyond the boundaries of the base itself. This led him to believe that maybe their little underground base jutted outward from underneath, almost like its own little escape tunnel. That being said, the closer he got, the more direct the link would be. It was odd though; he couldn't help feeling like he was sensing more than one frequency though that was just barely tickling the back of his brain. He doubted they could feel him yet, but he might wander closer and see if he could make contact later.

"Hmm... It's a shame you probably don't know sign language. Not that that would solve all of our problems, but it might help." Robert tapped his chin and thought for another moment. Well, I might just try to wander closer and see if I can get more of a feel for things." He took out his pocket Bible and thumbed the pages. "This is really a Bible, nothing more. I'll give it to you, and when you have more information or a plan in motion, you can come find me to return it. If anyone asks how the blind man intended on reading it to you, you can simply tell them that my wife reads it if needed but that I have it completely memorized." He gave Tommy a smile, setting the Bible on a nearby rock to keep it from getting wet. It was true, he really did have the whole thing practically memorized. It had taken years, but he had eventually met his goal.

 

[Drobabes]

Quint just waited for her to get ready, and once she was, he stepped up to her. He put his hands on the table, trying to hold himself together. If he had been tasked with doing this by himself, without Kuznet in the room, it might not have been so bad. It wouldn't have been good, but at least he wouldn't be getting flooded with old feelings of trauma, trying desperately to fight the memories off that came with them and simply focus on the task at hand.

Letting out a shaky breath, he brought two of his tentacles out. With the first one he...got things lubricated, as Sabastian had suggested, and then once that was done, well...it was like instinct took over.

He felt more than knew what he had to do, slowly inserting the appendage and beginning to seek out the eggs. He closed his eyes, trying to come off like he was simply concentrating, but not being able to ignore the way the tip of his appendage felt. If his skin had been any lighter in tone, Sayori might have caught him blushing.

There it was, the first one. Opening his eyes just slightly, he looked down at the table as he latched onto it, and then he began to pull it out.

"Tell me if anything hurts and I'll stop."

"She can handle it" Kuznet said, suddenly stepping up and looking over his shoulder. With the General now standing directly behind him,it was much, much harder, to fight off those old memories.

Tell her Quinton.

His eyes clamped shut again, and this time he almost looked like he himself was in pain. He swallowed hard again, trying to just focus on what he was doing.

"You will not stop until you have at least half of those eggs out. Do you understand, Quinton?"

"Yes-"

His voice cracked and he lost it for a second, having to swallow and try again before he could answer properly.

"Yes sir."
_______

Tommy imagined he wouldn't be seeing much of anything again if Sabastian had talked, but he didn't feel the need to bring that point up. All he wanted now was to get through those clothes and hope he never had to do the laundry again.

He looked over at the bible as it was sat down, the thought of it comforting him a bit. He wondered if he still had his dad's bible in the small box of stuff he had kept.

"Alright. Be careful wondering around, though. They don't like it when civvies try to go too far from the base."

 

[Poprockz]

The warmth of Quint's lube made her shudder, the woman thinking to herself that it almost felt like cum the way the warm liquid poured inside. That was not something she wanted to think about though, so she redirected her thoughts to how disgusting the walls looked. Though they couldn't hold her attention for long as his egg-bearing tentacle was soon slipping up into her depths.

Just as she couldn't see Quint's face from over her belly, he wouldn't have seen the way her face screwed up just a bit when his tentacle entered her womb. It didn't hurt, per se, but it certainly didn't feel good. It was like the most invasive gynecologist visit she had ever had. When he latched onto the egg and started to pull it through, she had to take deep breaths in order to not squirm. Though the further out it came, the more unbearable the urge to wriggle became.

"Tell me if anything hurts and I'll stop."

She was just about to say something when the General stepped up and in no uncertain terms told them that he expected them to finish their job. The woman could almost feel the General's presence as a physical force upon her as he stood close and watched. It was unnerving, but she had more urgent things to focus on now.

"Don't worry Quint... it feels uncomfortable, but it doesn't hurt. With that said, the further you pull the egg, the more I lose the ability to resist squirming due to how uncomfortable it is. So... please hold my legs or I will likely end up kicking you in the face by accident." While it felt a bit awkward saying such a thing, she knew it was better to warn him than to end up looking like she was resisting, or hurting him.

Her toes curled slightly as she felt the egg come out further, her hands going to the edges of the table to try to hold off the urge to kick him off of her.

-----------------------------------------------------------

"I'll keep that in mind." With that, Robert donned a serious expression again and leaned forward slightly. "There's one more thing you should know about us zombies... It's imperative, and it could save your life." The zombie-man paused, letting the silence go until the tension was unbearable, leaning forward even closer.

"We can smell the fear of bees and can make a perfect eggs benedict without fail." His serious demeanor started to crack and he finally started laughing, holding his sides as he let loose. Genevieve giggled as well, having been drawn into that little joke.

With that, Robert stood up and patted Tommy's shoulder before putting his arm around his wife. "Well, I'll see you around, then. I think we're going to head to the bar for some of the blood and body of Christ." He smiled and turned away, letting his wife lead him back to the base to explore a bit.

 

[Drobabes]

"So... please hold my legs..."

Quint paused for just a brief second before continuing, and he was glad that Sayori couldn't see him. Glad that she couldn't see the way he had to bend his face down and hide the tears spilling down his cheeks. Oh but someone else noticed, and as Quint brought out two more of his tentacles to hold the tops of her feet down gently, that someone bent down to whisper in his ear.

"It's been a long time, hasn't it little Quinton? Are you remembering it? Are you remembering how wet she used to get?"

"Stop it."

"She confessed to me once, you know. She told me how good it felt."

Quint's eyes shot open, and very slowly, he turned to face Kuznet, his own stormy ocean blue meeting those glacial depths.

"She only felt that way because you literally drugged her you sick fuck" he growled, keeping his voice just as low.

"It was fabricated. It wasn't her own choice."

The General smiled, then slowly brought a hand out from behind his back to caress Quint's cheek.

"Mm. That may be true, but she doesn't believe that. Even to this day, she still thinks she willingly came on your cock."

The hand that was stroking his cheek stopped and simply patted him, a bit roughly so that it felt more like a slap then a gentle gesture. It had the desired effect, of course, Quint flinching with each little sting before Kuznet finally stood up and stepped back, going to a position in the room where he would be able to see the egg coming out.

Shaking, wanting to vomit, Quint pushed it down and focused. He needed to get out of here. Out of this room, out of Kuznet's sight. Away from Sayori who was, more and more, simply reminding him too much of his past and a promise of the future.

The first egg was almost out now, and Kuznet watched with rapt attention to see what it would look like, it's bulge beginning to be seen as it breached.
________

Would he have been able to hear a pin drop? Perhaps not, but in the silence that followed, he certainly heard the crickets stop their singing, and his own heart rate behind his ears.

He stared with wide, nervous eyes, until Robert delivered the punchline, at which point Tommy let out a stressed breath. He then smiled, and before he knew it, was laughing right along with him. It had actually been a funny joke, having the right amount of warmth in it that Francisco often lacked when he was fucking with him.

"Alright, I'll see you. Look for Dave, he's the bartender. Just don't believe him if he says anything about cookies!"

He yelled the last part over his shoulder, still smiling as he turned back to his task.

 

[Poprockz]

Sabastian had simply been resting, the animals having calmed down a little while ago. His mind had simply been wandering as he lay there, wondering if his body was simply bruised or whether Niles had indeed fractured a bone or something. If he took off his clothes and stood in front of a mirror, would he have big purple splotches all over himself? For once he was a bit glad not to be at Vin's side. If the big man was here right now, he could only imagine the hurt look he would give Sabastian as he slid his fingers gingerly over his bruised skin.

However, his thoughts were soon interrupted as he felt the slow chill of dread from Quint. He shivered, tuning more into him to see what was wrong. Obviously taking out the eggs was not going to be a fun experience, but hopefully it wasn't going to be unbearable. He felt like Quint was feeling uncomfortable, Sabastian having expected that. But more than that, he soon felt an overwhelming wave of rage and disgust directed at Kuznet.

He tried to concentrate harder, to listen in. Closing his eyes, he focused and really tried to tell what was going on.

"She told me how good it felt."

"She only- you literally drugged her you sick fuck- wasn't her own choice."

"-willingly came on your cock."

The blonde could only make out brief snippets of conversation that seemed to reverberate through Quint's mind, but it gave him enough of an idea. He could feel that they weren't talking about Sayori, but who were they talking about? Cora? It couldn't be... And yet, that answer felt right.

Sabastian felt sick himself, slowly coming to the realization about what sick things Kuznet had done to them. He already knew he was depraved based on the dreams and what he saw in real life, but he was nevertheless shocked about how evil he truly was.

----------------------------------------------------------

She had been able to hear the low voices, but she couldn't quite make out what they were saying, nor could she see their faces. All she knew was that Kuznet was saying something that was really upsetting Quint, and she hoped that that evil man would leave him alone soon. Quint was already being made to do something awful, the last thing he needed was to be taunted or threatened on top of that.

"Ngh!" Sayori made a little sound of discomfort as the egg was pulled through the opening of her womb, relaxing slightly and breathing deeply once it was finally out. Like she had warned, her legs had indeed fought him slightly, her body squirming a bit as the large egg traveled through her. It was simply too much for her to keep still, but once he held it in his tentacle above her, she was at least able to take a break.

While pulling it out had been... an experience, she was glad to be one step closer to being done. She imagined it was going to be the same for each of the eggs, which was a bit comforting. It wasn't fun, but at least she knew she could get through it. Propping herself up slightly, she also looked with curiosity at the egg she had grown within her own body.

It was large and cream-colored, almost the size of a soda can but just a bit wider in the middle. So that was what it looked like... it looked just a bit fleshy, as though the outside was a bit softer and more pliable than a bird's egg. She didn't feel an ounce of attachment to that egg, but she didn't hate it either. It was simply something that was now none of her business.

Her eyes went to Quint's face and she could see the way he was really trying to hold it together, something really bothering him behind those kind eyes of his. She pursed her lips in worry and laid back down, wanting for him to continue so they could be temporarily free of Kuznet. Every minute counted.

 

[Drobabes]

He was glad she didn't feel the need to say anything. Even though he hadn't caught her eye when she looked at him, he saw her look at him out of the corner of his eye, but he couldn't bring himself to look up.

He turned and, not moving from the table, let his tentacle reach out and put the egg up to a wall. Instinct seemed to be kicking in again, Quint simply knowing that the egg could be placed there, though no one had ever told him. Perhaps he had seen it in one of Sabastian's dreams, though. In any case, the way in which the wall took it made his stomach flip again and get back to his task.

Soon enough, he had two more eggs out, each being placed near the other on the wall. He had the feeling that they had come out too early, although he was glad for it. Perhaps they wouldn't hatch.

When he went back in for the fourth, he once again paused briefly. He was still deeply troubled and in a hurry to get it over with, but he still noticed that this one felt...different. And when he pulled it out, they all found out why.

 

[Poprockz]

She had watched him place the eggs up to the wall, feeling just a bit disgusted and horrified as she watched little tendrils come out and pull the eggs almost into the flesh in a way. It was truly something out of some kind of sci-fi horror movie.

Thankfully, Quint got the hang of it quickly and soon they were on the last egg, though this one felt much easier than the other three to pull through. Why there would be a size difference in the eggs, she didn't know, but she was grateful that the last one didn't make her want to cringe and struggle. Her stomach was now half its size, the woman sighing from the relief of knowing that her stomach would at least not be frighteningly large later.

When he raised it up, she once again propped herself up to look at it, her relief instantly melting away. It was tan and speckled with black spots, completely different from the other eggs that had come previous. She was confused for a few moments before her eyes widened and her face paled. A day ago, she and Sabastian had been having a conversation about the eggs in which he had mentioned that the main reason they were put in humans was not primarily to gather nutrients, but more to soak up the host's dna. That speckled egg he held was dainty and tan like herself, the size difference being significant between it and the others... just like herself and Kuznet.

For a few moments she couldn't find her voice, her mouth slightly ajar in horror. His cum had infiltrated her womb and seeped into her eggs, allowing them to choose his own Dna over her own. Thus, she was now bearing his children. That sick realization made her want to vomit, the woman overcome with revulsion as the fact sunk in. It almost felt like even now he was inside her, forcing her to be reminded that he had slid himself inside her pussy and made her cum all over his cock like his own personal whore.

Her body was visibly shaking at this point, her eyes going to the eggs on the wall and back to the little one.

"Take them out." Her voice was barely audible, the woman almost looking as though she had seen a ghost. "I don't want them inside me, take them out. Take them all out." Her voice was still a frantic whisper, her eyes refusing to look at the General. Maybe he didn't know. Maybe he would think that they were mature enough to all come out at once.

 

[Drobabes]

Quint was confused. Deeply confused, especially as he saw the way that Sayori was reacting to that one egg. He didn't understand what was going on, or why it was bothering her so much, but whatever the reason, he put it away quickly, letting the wall take hold of it before going back to her. He could hear her, although just barely, and he was about to do as she asked until Kuznet reached out and laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Your job here is done, Quinton."

The mountain of a man then looked to the wall before slowly turning his gaze on Sayori and giving her a wicked smile.

"Well I must say, I thought that perhaps the little lab rat might have been misinformed. But it appears he was right, wasn't he Sayori? Interesting. Very interesting."

Francis had been standing just outside the door, his own curiosity competing with his disgust. Curiosity won out, and he too had watched as the last egg was removed. However, when the realization hit the little lamb and he saw the way in which she began to tremble, he shifted from his position a bit.

Usually Francisco would remain still, keeping his stiff pose until the job was done. However,he had another job, one in which Kuznet had only entrusted him to, and that was to keep the prisoners from reaching a point where their minds would break. If...The General didn't want them broken.

"Would you like me to take Sayori back to her cell?"

It was a question, but also a warning. Francis could see her reaching her limit, even if Ray might not recognize it.

Kuznet looked over at him, his smile dropping slightly to become simply amused once more. After a brief pause, he walked over and out the door, stopping to speak with his loyal soldier.

"Yes, I believe that is a good idea. Make sure she eats. Quinton,"

He looked back through the door.

"Come along."

The man looked up, then back to Sayori. He put his tentacles away and then turned to go with him. Before he left the table, though, he reached out and took Sayori's hand, squeezing it gently for just a brief moment.

Francis watched them go, and when they were further down the hall, he slowly looked over to Sayori.

"Do you need to be carried?"

His voice was neutral, showing no signs of feeling one way or another. Although, perhaps it was just the softness in his eyes that conveyed that his question was more of an offer than yes or no.

 

[Poprockz]

Only when she heard the General deny her request did she look up at him, her eyes fogging up as a lump settled in her throat. She suspected he knew even before he spoke, based on that wicked smile of his. That smile that mocked her, almost asking her what she was going to do now. She wanted to claw at her stomach, to get them out and away from her, now wanting nothing to do with the disgusting proof of what he had done to her, but she wouldn't have been able to do such things to herself. Still, it didn't stop her mind from fizzing with panic.

She almost didn't hear what he was saying, her eyes almost looking a bit unfocused as she stared up at the demented man. The woman was still struggling to remain relatively calm, her heartrate having gone up significantly. It was obvious that he enjoyed this development, he liked knowing that they were his eggs. HIS eggs. God, what was she going to do? Was she really going allow these eggs to come to fruition? There was nothing she could do though. She was trapped. Her breathing started picking up slightly, the woman's mind starting to get really worked up.

"Would you like me to take Sayori back to her cell?"

Francisco's voice distracted her, the mention of her name making her look up at him. Going back to her cell sounded like a good idea. It felt like if she stayed in that flesh room any longer, she would come undone. She couldn't bear to look at those four eggs on the wall, the proof that she was Kuznet's little brood mare.

When Quinton was called, she wished she could beg him to stay with her, needing to feel a bit of comfort. All she got was a little squeeze of the hand before Kuznet took her buoy in the middle of the storm. It almost felt like there was nothing else to hold on to. Sayori looked down at the ground, feeling like she might drown in all the emotions threatening to pull her under.

"Do you need to be carried?"

Her eyes looked up at the man standing in front of her, and she didn't know if she was imagining the softness in his eyes or not, but she chose to believe that maybe he cared even a little bit; she needed to believe it. Not answering just yet, she shakily got up, putting on her pants as the silence settled. Normally she wouldn't have been able to stand it, but her mind was so numb right then that it felt as though the silence was nonexistent. Now fully clothed, she looked up at Francisco and nodded. "Yes. I don't think I can make it on my own."

 

[Drobabes]

Quint was quiet for a moment as they walked, but it was burning away at his mind. Why was Sayori so scared? Why had that last egg made her turn white as a ghost? Looking up briefly, he stared at Kuznet for a moment. Finally, he cleared his throat.

"Ray."

Kuznet looked down at him, his mood seemingly have improved quite a bit.

"What did Sabastian say? About the eggs?"

There was silence, Kuznet simply turning back to staring down the hall. If he were the type of man to do it, he might have whistled as they walked.

"It is very interesting, really. He believed that the eggs absorb the hosts DNA, and also those of any donors. I'm very pleased to learn that he was indeed correct."

Quint stopped walking. His eyes stared down at the ground, not noticing that Kuznet had stopped a few feet ahead of him and was now looking back at him with an amused smile.

He felt cold. It felt as if gravity had just drained the life force from him, draining it right down through his feet and out of his body.

DNA. He had said DNA. So...those eggs were hosting him. More...of him. In bodies that would possibly have unimaginable amounts of strength. He...

Quint's eyes looked up slowly, his mouth slightly ajar with shock and horror. For a solid minute, he simply stared at Ray. And then...he ran.
________

Francisco simply waited patiently for her to dress, his eyes occasionally flicking to the eggs. For the most part, though, he tried not to look at that fleshy room.

When she was done and ready, he swallowed down his disgust and strode in. It made a shiver go up his spine, disgust showing on his face briefly as he felt the way in which the floor squished beneath his boots. Once he was by Sayori's side, he bent down and let her wrap her small arms around his neck, picking her up in a similar way as he had done with Quint before. And once he had her up, he turned and got the hell out of that room, the smell of it making his chest clinch as he fought off a gag.

He held her against his chest with one arm, the little women's weight being light enough for him to do it easily, as he turned and shut the door. He was just pulling out a key from his pocket to lock up, when he heard the sound of shoes pounding against the ground.

"Shit" he hissed. Very quickly he stuffed the key, then put Sayori down. He tried to be careful and not simply drop her, but no sooner had her feet hit the floor, he saw Quint come barrelling around the corner.

"Quinton, stop!"

He had to physically catch the young man, all but tackling him like a football player might, and Quint definitely wasn't happy about it. His fists flew, punching Francis in the ribs, on his back, on his stomach... seemingly everywhere but the man's face. And yet, Francis didn't fight back.

"They're his eggs! Let me go! They have his fucking DNA in them!"

Quint's tentacles came out suddenly, hitting and slapping against Fran's back and legs, two of them trying to dislodge the older man's arms from around his chest as he held on tight.

"Quinton," Francis whispered near the man's ear.

"It will be ok. I'm going to take care of it; they won't hatch."

The fight seems to leave him slowly, his punches and slaps finally losing their strength until he's simply left standing there, sobbing in the man's arms. Suddenly The General was there, having rounded the corner silently. It even made Francis jump, though perhaps it wasn't completely from the huge man coming out of nowhere.

Kuznet was holding a knife in his hand. Reaching out, and while Quint was still distracted by Francis holding him, Kuznet grabbed the half zombie's tentacle and cut it off. One smooth slice that let it drop to the floor, writhing for a few brief seconds before it stopped and was just a piece of flesh on the floor. Quint half yelled, half screamed, and then turned on Kuznet, intent on giving him a piece of his own medicine. What he got however, was one hard punch to his face that knocked him out cold, The General making it look effortless, as if it were merely a lovetap.

Francisco took a step back, a slight scowl on his face as he looked down at Quint. He watched as Ray bent down and picked him up, not being gentle about it in the slightest. He knew that Ray had provoked him on purpose, knowing Quint was already on the edge of snapping, and yet there was nothing he could do about it, nor would he if he could. Not right now, at least.

"Take care of that mess" Kuznet said, nodding his chin towards the now severed limb before he turned and left.

For a long moment, Francis simply stood there and looked down. Then, he let out a tired sigh and pulled a rag out of his pocket, bending down to pick the thing up with it. Once he had it, he finally turned back to Sayori.

"This is not how I thought I would be spending my morning."

 

[Poprockz]

Things seemed to have quieted down for the most part, so Sabastian's attention had drifted yet again. Quint seemed to simply be in a state of contemplation, though he wondered what he was confused about. The next thing he knew, he felt the most chilling sense of dread come over him, shock and a sense of horror and disgust. Sabastian tuned in more, starting to get concerned over how strong Quint's reaction had been, feeling him start to almost get frantic and panicked before a slew of mixed emotions settled in.

"Fuck!" Sabastian sucked in a breath, his side stinging like a bitch. What the fuck was happening over there?! The pain didn't stop until the link was very suddenly cut off, Sabastian flinching as Quint was no longer able to be felt. He must have been unconscious in that case, the blonde left laying there with bewilderment and an increasing sense of unease. It felt like he had been hurt and then knocked out, but why? It wasn't as though Niles was supposed to be there, and he couldn't see Francisco being so cruel as to hurt him before knocking him out.

--------------------------------------------------------

After everything that had happened, it felt comforting being in Francisco's arms. It was the warmth of another person, despite that person being implicit in Kuznet's deeds. With the exception of Quint and Sabastian, his were the arms that she most preferred out of the officers, being that there was something about him that made one feel more stable. Her arms remained around his neck after he lifted her, her head resting against the man's chest tiredly. A little sigh escaped her when they were finally out of the room; it was nice to be breathing air that wasn't tainted by that fleshy aroma.

She heard very light tapping, her head turning with curiosity before she realized they were footsteps. They got louder and more urgent and soon Franisco seemed to become aware of them too based on the way he swore, his brow furrowing. She found herself lighting upon the floor just as Quint came into view, his face looking deeply disturbed and angry. With concern, she wondered why he was running toward them, and what was going to happen to him because of it. Obviously Kuznet had wanted him to come with him, so Quint's little run would probably incite Kuznet into punishing him in some way.

He was coming right at them, but she found that her legs were rooted to the floor, watching as Francisco blocked him and held on for dear life. It looked painful, the way Quint struggled and lashed out at the older man, and to her surprise, she found herself feeling a bit sorry for both of them.

"They're his eggs! Let me go! They have his fucking DNA in them!"

Sayori's stomach dropped. So he knew now, and that was why he was coming back to try to break those disgusting eggs. As far as she was concerned, he would be doing the world a favor by doing away with them, but it was useless either way. She still had four viable eggs inside of her that she would have to bear to maturity, so even if Francisco accidentally let go of him and he was successful, Kuznet would still have what he wanted. That is, unless Quint harmed her stomach to the point where they were smashed, or he pulled them out of her. Either way, he wouldn't have time to do that with the clock ticking on Kuznet catching up to him.

She saw Francisco whispering in his ear, Quint soon losing his steam. Perhaps he had whispered some threat to him, or reminded him of the consequences of his actions. Whatever the case, she almost hadn't noticed the General, silent as he was, until he was almost right next to them. Sayori also jumped, just as Francisco had, thinking to herself that it should be impossible for a man that large to be that stealthy.

A little squeak of fear came from her as she saw him slice off Quint's tentacle, the woman moving forward as though wanting to comfort Quint through the pain. Though she hadn't even taken a step before Quint turned and got his lights knocked out effortlessly by the mountain of a man. She froze and watched helplessly as Kuznet picked him up and left, not bothering to say anything other than to direct Francisco to deal with the result of Quint's disobedience.

"This is not how I thought I would be spending my morning."

Sayori directed her attention back to Francisco and swallowed hard. "Me neither," she responded quietly, looking at the sad, limp, severed tentacle in his rag-protected hand. She hoped Quint would be okay; she doubted Kuznet would be satisfied with just that as a punishment.

 

[Drobabes]

Francis looked up at her, then down to the bit of flesh in his hand. With another sigh, he looked around the hall, and then he pulled out a lighter from his pocket. Setting the severed limb back down on the concrete, he lit the rag on fire, and then dropped it on top of the tentacle. He watched as the creamy white thing simply burst into flames, cracking and popping like bacon, although the smell was in no way similar. It didn't take long for it to completely burn away, and once it was nothing but a pile of ash, he kicked it over to the side.

"Well then, let's get back."

He offered his hand to Sayori as he walked over the pile of ash, unsure if she still wished to be carried, or simply have someone walk with her.

________

A little while later, the door to the room would open, and The General would step through. Quint was unconscious and slung over his shoulder, his hands cuffed behind his back and his torso wrapped tightly with some type of cloth-perhaps medical gauze.

Once inside, Kuznet shut the door and then dropped the man down onto the floor unceremoniously, leaving his body lying there as he walked over to one of the carpets and lifted it up. Beneath it, there were two things-a trap door, and a ring of metal, drilled into the floor, with a short run of chain, which he gripped and pulled out. He then turned and gripped Quint by his foot, yanking him over harshly before using another pair of cuffs to secure his ankles. Once he was secured, Kuznet went over to Quint's side and propped him up against the wall. He then gave him a hard slap to his face, the smack ringing out like lightning in that quiet room.

"Wake up."

The slap already had Quint rousing, but Kuznet's stern, done with his bullshit, tone of voice brought him to full consciousness. Looking around blearily, Quint was finally able to meet the big man's gaze and hold it, although it was difficult. He felt unbelievably tired and delirious, the room all but spinning around him as the lights and colors seemed to blur a bit.

"What did you...do...drug me?"

Quint's voice was slow, tired, and once he got the words out of his mouth, he started laughing, his head lolling to the side. Kuznet didn't answer. Seemingly satisfied that Quint was now consciousness, he stood and then, slowly turned to Sabastian.

"Hey..."

Quint tried to get up, but he got a confused look on his face before looking down. The realization that he was bound sent a shot of adrenaline through him, momentarily making him more lucid, though it did nothing to give him his strength back. He had already been drugged-otherwise his punches to Fran's side might have broke the man's ribs rather than just bruising him, but now he felt even weaker. Even if he wasn't bound, he didn't think he would have been able to get up.

"Ray" he hissed, fighting to sit up again.

"Leave him...leave him alone..."

"You're actions have consequences, Quinton. I did not think I would have to remind you so soon, but...so be it."

Kuznet was right by the bed now, staring down at Sabastian as he pulled a needle out and began to unscrew the cap. The way he was looking down at him was as if he didn't even see a person there, but an object. An experiment perhaps, or simply a toy that Quinton did not want broken.

"Don't...damnit, you...you set me up. You knew I was going to...damnit!"

He fell forward, his face hitting the ground with no way to lessen his fall. With a grunt of delayed pain, he forced himself to roll over onto his side, and then look up at Sabastian. All of his emotions came flooding back to him then, only being heightened and less easily controlled with the drugs now in his system, and that were now being injected into the small blond.

I'm sorry, god I'm so sorry.

 

[Poprockz]

She watched as he lit the tentacle on fire, the flames reflecting in her dark brown eyes before it burned out and was nothing more than black dust. Sayori was already having a difficult time with having had the eggs taken out by Quint, and the realization that Kuznet's dirty seed had created children within her; this new development of seeing Quint so upset, only to be mutilated, knocked out, and dragged off to God-knows-what sort of punishment only made her feel more overwhelmed.

The small woman looked at his hand and came to him, tears starting to come down her cheeks. She was worried about Quint, about what was going to happen to him. Would he come back to her with that same smile of his, or would he have lost some of his light? In a place so dark, he couldn't afford to lose even a beam or be lost to the darkness.

Wordlessly, she reached up, indicating that she would really like to be carried. She didn't want to speak, or risk breaking down completely. At the very least she wanted to wait until she could crawl under the covers of her bed.

------------------------------------------------------------

Simply laying there, Sabastian's head turned when he heard the door open, his eyes widening as he saw Quint handcuffed and carried like a sack of potatoes before being dumped onto the floor. His eyes went to the medical gauze, thinking to himself that Kuznet had likely stabbed him in the side or cut one of his tentacles. That must have been what he felt earlier.

He was shocked at how roughly the man was treating him, and he couldn't help but wonder what Quint had done that had really pissed him off. The cuffs, the slap... he wasn't quite as murderous as when Sabastian had asked if he loved Cora, but he still gave off a vibe that he was done "being kind" to Quint right now, like a parent who had an unruly child blatantly disobey them.

"Mm..." Sabastian blinked and lifted his hand to his head, cringing at the way Quint's dizziness was affecting him. He really didn't like feeling that kind of disorientation, so he was momentarily distracted from the mountain of a man turning his attention to the little blonde.

"Ray! Leave him...leave him alone..."

That jolt of fear and adrenaline made him look up, his eyes immediately fixing upon the man advancing toward him. God, those fucking eyes were so chilling the way they assessed him, probably calculating how much pain was equal to Quint's indiscretion. Being that it was a totally subjective call, Sabastian didn't have a lot of confidence that Kuznet would pull his punches. Sabastian had already built the nest, and Sayori had her eggs already out, Quint still being able to service if needed with the pregnancy. He was now a lot less needed right now, and thus he imagined that he had a lot less protections. Likely Kuznet would want more of his eggs or DNA, perhaps even wanting to blackmail him into using his muscle some day, but today he was Quint's punishment.

He felt fear creeping down his spine, the blonde gulping as he watched Kuznet get the needle ready. There was no doubt in his mind that he was about to be given a very special lesson on pain. His body stiffened and reflexively he scooted away from the big man on the bed. He couldn't move that much though, the zombie wincing from his previous injuries.

A moment later when Quint fell, Sabstian flinched, the pain of his head eliciting a little pained noise from him. The next thing he knew, he once again was feeling an onslaught of emotions from the other zombie, everything feeling more intense in a way, as though Quint was dumping them over his head from a bucket. One thing was clear though- Quint was really fucking sorry. He pursed his lips and tried think clearly, though he couldn't give Quint a reply yet due to his primary focus being the psycho that currently wanted to incapacitate him.

He knew Kuznet was currently in a no-nonsense state of mind, but that didn't mean he couldn't probe for information. "What happened? Were the eggs taken out?"

 

[Drobabes]

Jeez, did she have to look at him like that? Was she trying to break his heart? He bent down, though, scooping her up once more and holding her to him with both arms. Together, they travelled down those cold halls once more.

About halfway back to the cells, he gave her back a few gentle pats and said, "He'll be alright Sayori. You just focus on keeping yourself together so that next time he sees you, you can make him smile again."
________

It was if he didn't even hear him. His eyes simply continued to look him over, then his huge hand reached out and gripped Sabastian by his neck, holding him down as he took the needle to his arm and injected it right into his muscle. Once he was done, he tossed the needle aside, then let his neck go. It would take the drug a few moments to kick in, so in the meantime...

He stood up straight and crossed his hands behind his back, doing a slow stroll around the room. As he walked, he began to talk to Sabastian, completely ignoring Quint as he curled into a ball on the floor and began to sob again, mumbling something incoherent.

"Tell me Sabastian, when you were out on the lake with him, do you think he was being genuine? When he told you that you..."

He stopped walking and turned his face slowly back, giving him a smirk.

"Looked like an angel? I wonder what he would say now. Do you think it has sunk in yet? That you are a monster?"

"Stop it! Stop your... fucking head games you sick..."

Kuznet's eyes flicked down momentarily, then came back up to look at those blue and purple jewels.

 

[Poprockz]

Nestled against the older officer's chest, her tears soaked into his shirt as they walked. She was glad he was still willing to carry her, the woman not thinking that she would have been able to walk back.

"He'll be alright Sayori. You just focus on keeping yourself together so that next time he sees you, you can make him smile again."

"How do you know that?" she asked quietly, sniffling slightly before continuing, "everyone has a point at which they break to the point where neither glue nor tape can put the pieces back together. Quint seems very strong, but I think he's had to be strong for so long that he might break one of these days."

----------------------------------------------------------------

Jesus, his hand was so goddamn big that it wrapped around his neck like it was nothing. He imagined that the General could possibly have enough strength to snap his neck with just the one hand. Holding still, he was powerless to prevent the an from injecting the drug into him, feeling the pinch of the needle before he was let go once more. Now it was only a matter of time before he was rendered completely harmless, just like Quint.

Sabastian did his best to try to block Quint out as best he could, trying to focus more on the General himself. Being that the man was walking around like a hawk circling his dinner, it wasn't hard to keep his eye on him.

A look of shock came to his face at the mention of what Vin had said to him. How in God's name did Kuznet know about that? There was no way he could have... and yet he did. When his question sunk in though, Sabastian's face twisted slightly, trying to figure out how he felt. He had no doubt that Vin really meant that he looked like an angel, though. On the lake, when he looked into his eyes, he knew Vin thought he was attractive. Whether he was exaggerating was up for debate though. That being said... he really wasn't sure whether Vin meant his human body only. He seemed to barely tolerate his tentacles, probably just for Sabastian's sake.

Ignoring Quint once more, he furrowed his brows. "looking like an angel and being a monster aren't mutually exclusive," was his answer. "I... hope he does think I'm a monster, that way he won't come looking for me. That was the whole point of the note I left, after all." What was Kuznet's game? Was he trying to make him feel guilty for leaving the letter?

 

[Drobabes]

The tears were ignored. Or rather, simply dealt with. Francis had had many shirts soaked with tears, and it still did not bother him. At her answer, though, his chest shook slightly as a small chuckle worked up through him. Instead of answering her question, though, he asked one of his own.

"Well, if glue won't do it, and tape certainly won't, what does that leave us with then, hmm?"
________

"I... hope he does think I'm a monster, that way he won't come looking for me. That was the whole point of the note I left, after all."

Kuznet's smile twisted up into a grin and he let loose with a demented laugh. His insane eyes didn't look away as he did it though, where as a normal person might have squinted theirs shut, or at least shook their head a bit.

"Won't come looking for you? Sabastian, what do you think he has been doing this whole time?"

He took a few quick steps forward then, his gigantic muscled body all but gliding towards the bed like some kind of demented spirit.

"Human nature never ceases to surprise me. Although I must say, it works well in my favour. A few carefully planted hints and rumours, and they all came running into my trap like moths to the flame. I do wonder, though, how much it will take him to turn against that street mutt."

He was at the side of the bed now, his hands still clasped behind his back as he bent over and grinned.

"Do you think Sayori's testimonial will be enough? Or will I have to fabricate more evidence? It's so easy, really. A few photos taken at opportune times, and well with you mysteriously having gone missing..."