Salvation
Chapter ten
Lost Between

“It’s been way too long...” Locke’s voice broke the silence that lay between him and the gambler. Setzer woke from his trance with a slight hum. The hours had passed and still no idea of how to penetrate the warrior’s camp came to mind. And that troubled him to the extent where he no longer bothered to hide it.

“Don’t you think I know?” Setzer’s voice stood as neutral as his face. “How the hell--how can we get inside a base completely flooded with men in Magitek Armor when there are only three of us?” Setzer’s heavy boots pounded with a certain rhythm on the wooden floor beneath.

Interceptor raised his black head and gave a little yelp. The gambler, for the first time since Shadow had been taken from them, smiled. “Make that four of us.”

Satisfied with the man’s answer, the dog laid his head back onto the rug and continued sulking. It was quite obvious that Interceptor missed his master. The dog’s ears would perk up every time he heard a noise or the presence of a person in a room. Of course, he knew it wasn’t Shadow, but even the animal never lost his hope that perhaps it could be.

The shadows of the new night reflected over the walls of the lower deck. It’s cold bit at them as the frost seemed to cover the world. “I never thought Shadow would become this much of a friend.” Locke sighed, trying best to stay hopeful. Not only for Shadow, but for Setzer and Gogo as well.

“Sir, if you don’t mind me saying...” Gogo approached the brooding Setzer. After the gambler gave a grunt that Gogo perceived as a sign to go on, the robed man continued, “The more time we waste, the more torture he will receive.”

Setzer removed his thumbnail from his lips in question. “You think they are torturing him? But I thought that freak said Shadow was special. Why would he--?”

“You saw what he did to those soldiers from Figaro. There’s no saying just how fickle that...guy...is.” Locke shivered in the chill of the sudden winds. Then, seemingly annoyed with this cold went to shut the window, slamming it harder then he expected. When Setzer glance at him the thief shook his head. “Sorry.”

Setzer sighed. “That’s okay kid. I know you’re pissed. So am I, but that’s not going to help...”

“Well, not to be rude sir, but what will help?” Gogo stroked Interceptor’s sleek fur, calming the animal.

Setzer headed for the upper deck. “Getting the bastards who did this....and getting Shadow back.”

Locke ran after the gambler with Gogo and Interceptor close behind. “But you said yourself that we are outnumbered. How do you expect to get inside? Use the front door? That’s what fucked us up in the first place.” The thief followed Setzer to the ship’s wheel.

Setzer didn't answer him, mainly because he knew he was right. But if he had to fly the ship straight into the camp just to get inside, he would. And he knew damn well that everyone in his craft would do the same. Setzer took the vessel up off the ground outside of Figaro Castle. He flew it, not too far, to the edge of the forest and where the beginning of the small barren region lied.

***

Shadow kept a shaky hand on the cold wall of the corridor to lead his way through this apparently impenetrable darkness. He sorely regretted using his last Fire Skill on those men. But he did not show remorse for his reasons. The injection that he had received was starting to take its toll on his already weary body.

The path before him began to blur and sway back and forth, almost nauseating. As the shot began to take its course throughout his bloodstream, Shadow did not know if it was set to kill him or simply sedate him. Either way, stopping to take a breath was not an option. If he was to make any progress, he must keep going. He only made it a few more steps before swaying then crashing, shoulder first, into the wall. He let out a silent cry as he felt the hard wall beneath his arm and the swell developing on his skin.

Shadow grabbed his upper arm and continued on, slower this time. That did not help the poison that was, little by little, inching it’s way throughout his body. Paranoia set in, causing the ninja to even believe he could feel this liquid in his skin. Shaking his head, he staggered along.

It‘s.....almost..... Shadow no longer felt the desire to keep going so he simply stopped where he was, thrust his back against the wall and slid down to the ground. It seems so ironic. Me dying like this.... I never thought I would have to pay for what I did with this much torture. I’ve gotten my second chance....people don’t get a third. Shadow’s own eyes widened as that last thought swept through his mind. “People don’t get a third....” He whispered, almost mechanically.

Shadow strained to get up, failed and soon fell back to his place on the ground. No, I always win. The ninja growled in his mind, trying again to stand. “I’m never beaten so easily and I’ll be damned if I lose my chance to make things right.” Then with a little smile he tried again to rise and this time became successful. “After all, the world still needs a hero.”

***

“You’re insane you know that?” Locke followed Setzer’s gaze as the gambler’s ship hovered over the camp. “They’ll see us you know.”

“And do what? Throw Magitek Armor at us? Ha! I’d like to see that!” Setzer patted Locke’s back, then proceeded to land the vessel right besides the base, knocking most of the tents over. If the shadow of the aircraft hadn’t caused much commotion, now it seemed like every man there was coming out just to see the ship.

“Aw, all this for us?” Setzer set the craft down with a thump, hoping he managed to crush a few warriors with it. “Come on men! We‘re lacking one broody ninja and I think it‘s about time we go get him back.” The gambler gave his cocky grin as they headed out, armed and ready.

Like this day had been waited upon for generations by these warriors, each man in Magitek Armor stood at the main gate of entrance. The rest were simply scattered about inside the base. They approached the way in: Setzer laughing; Locke strangely optimistic; Gogo armed with Interceptor.

In fact Setzer didn’t even bother to slow down his pace as they proceeded. He just strode up to the men and gave a slight bow. “Good weather ain’t it?”

The warrior simply grinned, obviously not one of the men who had thrown them out earlier. “Ah, you are interested in joining up with us?” With out bothering to wait for their response, he continued on, “sorry, but you’ll have to come back when we have time. One of the rooms in the underground base has exploded.”

“Exploded.” Locke repeated absentmindedly. “Shadow...” He whispered to Gogo.

Setzer nodded slightly at Locke, then looked back at the man. “Nope, we’re here from a much different purpose.” The gambler was ready to draw his cards and slice then man’s throat when another explosion was heard in the near distance.

The solider disregarded the three men and the dog, and left in the direction of the blast with more troops. Setzer shrugged. “That guy’s life was just saved.”

“By something that might have been caused by Shadow?” Locke asked, already dreading what the answer could be. Before Setzer could respond, they were already running after the men.

“I hope it is him, then at least we know he’s alive.” The gambler panted as they trotted behind the guards. The men in Magitek Armor were still posted around the already gated base. Now the front gate was closed off impeding anyone from clearance to leave or enter. They stopped running as soon as came to the entrance to the underground part of the base. Setzer glanced back. “Looks like we’re stuck in here.”

“But how do we get to the underground?” Locke was pulled into the shadow of a tent by Setzer’s strong hand. Gogo and Interceptor followed silently. In fact, it was surprising the dog was even staying quiet at this point. “Surprise attack?” He suggested.

Setzer bit his lower lip, clearly having a better idea. “Distraction.”

“Sir, perhaps Interceptor and me could be your key for getting in?” Gogo gripped the animal’s collar and motioned for them to go the opposite route. When Locke looked to object, Setzer interjected.

“He’s right, there’s no other way. We can get to Shadow much faster is there is less of us to get into each other's way.” Then he rested a hand on the robed man’s padded shoulder. “You’ll be all right?”

Gogo smiled under his garments. “Yes sirs. I have Interceptor to help me out. Besides, he would only bark when he neared his master.”

With a little nod, Setzer and Locke made ready to leave as Gogo and Interceptor made their way to the center of the campgrounds in hopes someone would notice them from before. Luckily they did.

When the guards sought after Gogo and the dog, Setzer and Locke kept to the shadows as best as they could--simple seeing it was nightfall--and slid right pass the guards patrolling the area. Due to the distraction of the fire that was hungrily swallowing the underground base and Gogo who had now vanished, it was even easier to slip through. Setzer busted in the metal door, which led to tunnel. Locke was reluctant to step upon the laser bottom of the tube, but the gambler’s tug forced him to do so anyway. When the light floor began to lower it’s self into the “basement”, Locke was beginning to regret his decision to come along.

Setzer laughed, especially when it reached it’s end and light’s flickered on. The smoke of the fire, some time away, filled the corridors, but Setzer only led the way into the foggy abyss. “It’s okay. We’ll find him.” He told his companion.

Locke couldn’t even manage a false grin. “What if he didn’t start the fire? What if was simply the casualty of it?”

Setzer shook his head, not falling victim to doubt. “No, I promised Shadow we’d save him. We’re going to. I know he didn’t--wouldn’t just let them cut him up without defending himself somehow. He was equipped when they dragged him away.”

Locke only nodded slightly, coughing in the choking smoke. They didn’t go long before they heard something behind them...

Not thing....a person? No, far more worse: The guards of the camp.

Before Locke could even open his mouth to alert Setzer, the gambler was pulling him across to another hallway. The smoke was no longer their enemy but ally, as the blinding smolder slowed the soldiers down considerably. But their shouts of retreat could be heard, carried by the smoke and wind through the passageways.

This seemingly endless chase did not last long before they noticed another man before them, the fire’s smoke concealing his image. Setzer stepped in front of Locke instinctively, readying his weapons.

But it was not the fear that halted him from attacking; it was Locke’s observant eye, “Shadow?” Setzer let down his cards at Locke’s voice and squinted through the haze around them. “Christ kid, you’re right.” He shoved his cards in his pockets and ran with the thief to aid their friend.

Shadow as leaning against the walls. He looked far too ill to even be breathing, but Shadow not only had outer strength, but inner as well. Something not even the ninja knew he had. Dark circles shaded in the skin under his eyes. He was very pale, but his look of defiance and strength still shimmered in his eyes.

“We have to get you out of here!” Locke struggled to keep his voice heard above the now close crackling flames. He lifted Shadow’s arm over his shoulder as Setzer took the other.

“No....” Shadow’s voice came out hushed, then strained to be heard. “We can’t leave. Not now.”

Setzer would have knocked some sense into Shadow manually if he were not already drained. “I think they must have gotten into your head. We have to take you out of here. If whatever they did to you hasn’t begun to kill you, then the fire certainly will.”

“No, you don’t understand....” Shadow, now summing up great strength, pushed the two men away. “If we don’t get him now, we’ll never have the chance to!” Shadow breathed in, “don’t you see? He’ll just move and start this zoo all over again! If not here, then somewhere else.”

Setzer looked to condemn when a friend‘s voice could be heard at the entrance. “Sirs?” Gogo called out from the top of the shaft. “Are you all right? Do you have him?”

“We got him!” Locke called back. He turned back to Shadow and Setzer. “We can fight ‘bout what we are going to do when we are safely outside.” When his two friends nodded in agreement, they dash out of the fire ridden underground.

Now catching their breaths outside, Gogo and Interceptor went to great their old friend. “Sir, their came a time I believed it would be impossible we were to ever see you again.”

Shadow smiled weakly as he happily embraced his pet. He looked up at the robed man. “Don’t worry Gogo. I would never give them the pleasure of dying.”

“What now?” Setzer watched the camp alit in the brilliant show of red, orange and yellow.

Shadow rose to his feet, finding new energy. “We go after their leader.”