The Hospital

‘I have acquired the data.’ Aclysia sent a sudden mental call to John as he was treading down the walkway down to the hospital. ‘I thought we had agreed on the thing you should make before addressing me?’ John sent back a curious reprimand. ‘Ever since acquiring better memory I have found out more about feelings outside of the shallow burdens of momentary ones. I have judged the calling sound you have designated me to be embarrassing and hoped you forgot.’ ‘It was your idea though.’ ‘Affirmative. It was a bad idea.’ ‘Just once, please? I mean you call me Master, this can’t be more embarrassing.’ There was hesitation in their mental conversation, something akin to frustrated sigh reverberated through his head, ‘Ohayou gozaimasu, Danna-Sama~.’ A soft voice then spoke into his mind.

He stopped in his tracks and barely held back the laughter, causing Rave to look at him with slight confusion. ‘…I disapprove of your amusement, Master. Besides I found out that this is a greeting for mornings, it is almost 7 PM.’ ‘Okay, okay, you don’t have to do it again. Just wanted to hear it one time.’ John caved in. That sparked the curiosity of his creation. ‘Why?’ ‘I thought it would sound kinda cute.’ ‘…Did you think it was cute, Master?’ ‘Mhm, a bit, but I mostly found it funny.’ ‘That was recognised. Would a repetition of this act make you happy again?’ ‘No, I think it would get old rather quickly. We will find something else.’ ‘Understood. Shall I return to you or stay here for the moment?’

Good question. Victoria was just around the corner, and her two bodyguards were with her. “He is betraying us.” One of them grumbled, “I have no doubt.” “Yet still we will remain watchers.” Victoria said in a stern tone, “We have no other orders.” “Indeed.” The second one agreed. “Fine.” The first guy spat out, “You are right, wouldn’t want to go over our orders. What if he tells them of HER, though.” “We have spies inside. The second he utters a word we move in.”

‘And thank you Victoria.’ John laughed to himself. “This is almost too easy.” He told Rave what he just found out. “Man, their network is wide.” The techno-lover said slightly baffled “There are probably a lot of Bloodaddicts hanging around.” John agreed and had a sudden idea. ‘Aclysia, stay for the moment and see if you can find an archive of some description. If you could find out something about all of the organisations they are connected to that would be great.’ ‘Lethal or non-lethal approach?’ Why was she asking weird video game questions at times like this, ‘Non-lethal. Try to remain unseen.’ ‘Understood.’

‘I wonder if I should give her a last name. Fischer or something.’ John thought to himself as they went around the back of the building. “So, with that new information, what's da plan?” Rave asked her boyfriend. “Mhm, yeah it makes things a bit more difficult,” John mumbled as he kept listening to Victoria and consorts. They weren’t dropping any further hints though.

“I would need somebody I can trust or at least somebody who is not affiliated with them.” Well, he knew no one inside there but that one Herman fellow that had looked after Jimmie. He had looked nice but was he trustworthy? ‘Yes.’ That was Aclysia, with a lot of conviction again, which was weird because to John’s knowledge she had never changed a word with the fellow.

‘What makes you say that?’ John wanted to know. ‘He helped me with…. things.’ Came the vague answer. John was torn. On the one hand, it was the only lead he had on the other he wasn’t so sure if Aclysia was the best judge of character. ‘Please, master, he is a very gentle person.’ She insisted. ‘Okay, fine.’ John caved in, not like he had a better idea.

“We should look for that fellow who helped Jimmie.” John broke the situation to Rave, and they went inside. “Excuse me; we are looking for a Herman Glaurum.” He asked at the reception. “One moment.” Came the mechanical answer of somebody bored of their job, “There is no Herman Glaurum in treatment here, so…” “You are looking for me?” An unsure voice interrupted.

The receptionist shot the newcomer an understanding glance and went back to work, probably complaining about the fact that John didn’t say that he was looking for a person who worked here in his head, while Rave and John turned to the newcomer. The muscular brown-haired dude scratched the back of his head in an awkward motion. “Ehm, yes.” John finally managed to get out, almost mimicking the motion.

“Geez, get it on!” Rave shoved both of them forwards, “We need to speak with ya in private, any empty rooms around.” “Sure?” He said, sounding the opposite of sure. While Herman was guiding them, Aclysia popped up in his head again. ‘Master, I have found something of potential interest about the guilds, although the material is of different nature.’ ‘Okay? Send it over anyway.’

His mind was filled with the images of several pages.

Guild: Zuk’Zuk

Blood addiction successful. Extermination successful. Remaining members unable to be converted. Assets taken over. Operation overall success.

Guild: Gehenas

Blood addiction successful. New method successful. Extermination successful. Two members converted. The rest was let go and killed at a later date. Assets taken over. Operation full success.

Guild:…

It continued in that fashion. John only cared about the last entrance Aclysia sent him.

Guild: Collide

Blood Addiction successful. Extermination successful. Remaining members doubtful to convert. No Assets to be taken over. Operation pending. Note: The remaining members of the Guild have high potential, recruitment takes high priority.

“There is no leak.” John suddenly said as they entered an empty room. It was a very typical hospital room, the only thing of note being the alchemical contraptions that hung from the right-hand wall. “What?” Rave asked with a puzzled expression. “Igor said that Travolta got his hands on the formula through a leak, right? There is none. He has been lying from the start.” John walked over to a window in the walls. His fingertips rattled along the board in cold rage. “They just used him as a guinea pig.” “Motherfuckers.” Rave cursed and cracked her knuckles, "I look forward to next week."

“What is this about?” Herman asked in a perplexed tone. “Right, yes, see….this might sound very, very weird but I need you to listen from start to finish….” He told Herman about Thana and roughly what happened so that he got the whole picture. At the end, Herman trembled, “....That poor girl….” Was all he managed to say. A few calming breaths later. “I need to see her once to be able to say if I can help her.” He stated, “This is a bit personal but, well, if you allow me to I could use a technique to tap into your creator-connection with Aclysia.” He had not told him about that part. “How do you know about that?” “I helped her with…. things.” He vaguely answered. Okay, seriously he would need the answer to what that ‘thing’ was eventually. For now, there were more urgent things.

“Fine. Let’s do this.” John agreed ‘Aclysia, you copy?’ ‘Yes, I will go see Thana.’ This all seemed incredibly risky, but if she was spotted, they could teleport her out. Herman put a hand on John’s head, and they followed Aclysia’s movements.

The Artificial Guardian was simply walking down the hallway. The Bloodfallen around apparently didn’t mind her at all. In their black robes, they were walking around seemingly just concerned with whatever it was they were doing at the time, not paying attention to a single thing she did. John could see how sneaking around in such an environment was rather easy. ‘Is there no one who is keeping an eye on you?’ ‘Took him out non-lethally.’ Aclysia explained as she put her hand on the scanning equipment of the vault door.

Okay, that explained the earlier question. Still weird that nobody cared even now. Blind loyalty really blinded apparently. The door swung open. ‘How did you take him out by the way?’ John was curious ‘Hit him over the head.’ Aclysia stepped inside the vault. “STOP HER!” Somebody yelled as it closed behind her.

Well, the Bloodfallen were nothing without them but they sure as hell were quick to obey orders. They all immediately stormed towards the closing vault. However, it was still closing, and only a single one managed to get in before the giant door closed behind him. Aclysia didn’t wait for him to get ready to attack. Instead, she pulled the Sword of Glory from the space Adaptive Bladery had created and hit him over the head with the flat side.

“I humbly apologise.” She said before kicking the stunned man in the sides and then knocking him out completely by slamming his head against the wall. ‘Hurry, when they get Igor, you will have to leave.’ John instructed and Aclysia turned to run in response.

The corridor left behind, Aclysia scanned her hand for the second time. Behind her angry shouting from a voice normally used for sweet talk could be heard. The inner door opened and Aclysia hurried up to Thana. There was a shockwave in John’s mind, coming from Herman. ‘Such…’ A pause of pure shock, ‘…Cruelty.’

“I am very disappointed.” Igor said as he stepped into the inner chamber, “Are you listening, John Newman? This was the last mistake you ever made. What were you even trying to do here? Free her?” Now that he mentioned it that didn’t seem like such a bad idea, honestly John hadn’t expected Aclysia to come this far but maybe if they just released Thana… ‘No.’ Herman interrupted his thought-process, ‘That container is keeping her alive, don’t.’

Well, that was that plan. Igor kept talking in the meanwhile. “We will start your punishment by taking away this little creation of yours and….” ‘Aclysia, you can teleport out now.’ John instructed. In a flash of light Aclysia suddenly popped up next to him. “Greetings, Master.” She said with a bow. “Also, a good evening to you, Herman, Mistress Rave.”

The apothecary had been warned but was baffled nevertheless as he lowered his hand. “Well, this worked.” Rave grinned, “Can ya tell me what the status is now?” “We will get Thana out in her container; you can heal her?” John asked Herman, the apothecary nodded hesitatingly, “With the right equipment and preparation I should be able to, but if you plan to use **** to get her out I won’t be able to help.” Disappointing but expected. Despite his Stats and stature, he didn’t look like much of a fighter. John nodded as he watched Victoria get a very angry phone call. “Don’t worry; we got this,” Rave reassured him with a wink at her boyfriend.