Timeline: Past

Point of View: Claudia and Lisa

Location: Red Planet (Buzzsaw Village)

Claudia descended into the tunnel. As she did, her eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness. Not enough to see clearly, but enough to see faint hints of walls to her sides. The tunnels were deep, wide, and tall, of which she was thankful. She wasn’t exactly claustrophobic, but she figured that there was a touch of claustrophobia in everyone. The red tone of the outside world filtered into the tunnels from her back and she could hear a faint hum the deeper she descended. To her it seemed to be the sound of silence, when the mind started creating audio where there was none.

The tunnel curved and she followed the curve, the last of the red light fading completely behind her. I am so fucked, she thought to herself in the pitch darkness, unable to see where she was going. She would be attacked and killed at any second now.

It is a possibility. Spoke the voice in her mind that was both her and not her.

“Goddamn, you are not good at following instructions,” Claudia said, well aware that she was talking to herself and that her chosen words were deeply ironic. How often had her own parents thought the same about her as she was growing up?

Her voice echoed off the nearby walls, and she stopped momentarily, realizing that down here she was likely exceptionally loud. If there were buzzsaws in these tunnels, they’d likely heard her speak, if not her steps. It was possible the tunnels were connected to the other mounds as well, a vast city under the Earth where they were crawling and waiting.

Not connected, just as houses aren’t usually connected on Earth despite being so close. This is one building of many in the city above.

If you are a figment of my mind, how do you know that?

I am both your mind amplified, as well as the voice of the stolen essence within your body. Part of me came from the buzzsaws you killed, and with them, some of what they knew.

So can you tell me then where these tunnels lead?

No. I know some of the subconscious aspects of their life, little nuggets of data that was leeched from their bodies after death. Most of it seems to be worthless information. For example, I can tell you that each of these little caves will have a room with a carved platform in the rock that resembles a bucket. I would advise avoiding those structures. The buzzsaws have not yet invented plumbing.

Understood…

Additionally, I can tell you that you will soon reach a door. Inside the door will be lighted flames, eternal flames, and you will be able to see again.

Awesome. But… why a hallway of darkness before the door?

That I do not know.

Claudia stumbled around the bends and curves at a nearly crawling pace, worried she could fall into a deep pit or crevice that was lain as a trap. Eventually, however, she did reach the door. It had no apparent handle, and would not budge when she tried pushing it.

How do they open these damn things? She wondered, and her mind, knowing that this was rhetorical, gave no response. She pushed on the door but it only rocked on its apparent hinges. She thought about the structure of the buzzsaw, considered how they’d efficiently use their bodies to open a door in the same way that a door handle is conveniently placed at hip-height for humans, but the feel of the door still didn’t make sense. They had hands, why was there no handle?

Through her vision, she could still see the speck of essence deep within the walls of the building. It had grown larger as she’d approached the door, but it still didn’t have much of a form. It was a fuzzy, unmoving blob.

What, now you won’t talk to me? You were pretty damn helpful earlier.

Try sliding the door to the side.

Claudia put her fingers into a crevice on the far side of the door and pulled. There was a scraping sound as the rock door shifted an inch into the tunnel walls at the side. She continued pulling with more force until the door was fully opened, the light of fire leaking out into the tunnels.

You couldn’t tell me that earlier?

I didn’t know that it would work.

You sounded pretty confident.

You pushed. You pulled. It was the next logical choice.

Oh, fuck you.

She was looking in at a much larger room, bare of any notable furniture. She stepped inside, choosing to leave the door open at her back. There was a single doorway at the far end of the room, and so she stepped through that next to find herself in a long hall. There were several doors in this hallway, doors of the same sliding stone. Fire light danced in between each door like torches in some fantasy world.

You called this eternal fire?

Yes. The fuel that lights it is a compressed stone from the core of this planet. Once lit ablaze, it burns for over year of Earth time. One of the mounds in the city leads to a mine for this stone as well as other resources that sustain the buzzsaw’s way of life.

Claudia approached the first door and considered opening it. She placed her ear against the door. There was only silence on the other side. There was no essence glowing beyond this door. That light was beyond what appeared to be the door on the far side of the hall, but the essence there still wasn’t moving.

Do you know what this place is?

No.

Claudia stepped away from the door, deciding to confirm the light on the far side of the hall was Lisa before exploring the other rooms. She attempted to quietly run down the hall, conscience of the fact that she could hear her own footsteps as she ran.

I wouldn’t perchance have some kind of stealth ability to dampen the sound of my steps, would I?

It’s possible, but you will only know with more training. After we finish this mission, we must work on training your essence.

Claudia reached the far end of the hall and the faint shape of a human was lying on the floor behind the door. She felt her heart racing with anticipation, fearful of what she might find on the other side. If it was Lisa, she wasn’t dead, which she knew because she could see her essence still. However, if it was Lisa, she could still be dying or close to death. Even still, the body might be someone else.

She pushed open the door, the stone screeching as the heavy rock retreated into the etched stone wall. Before her, as the light fell, she saw only blackness in the room and the outline of two human feet.

“Lisa?” Claudia asked the room, but there was only silence. The body lying there did not move.

She could hear the faint shouts from buzzsaws outside, far beyond the hall. Had they found their dead friends? Perhaps the rotation crew had.

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“Lisa, is that you?” Still no response. If it was her, Claudia needed to wake her quickly. Would they think to check down here, in this random mound within the city? Possibly. Where else would their escaped prisoner go, if not to save her friend?

No, that didn’t really make sense either. How would the escaped prisoner know where to go? The buzzsaws didn’t know of her ability to see Lisa’s essence. They would think she ran away, found a path in the trees. It was wishful thinking.

She approached the body in the dark. Once fully engulfed in the darkness, she knelt beside it.

Why can’t I see her character sheet, as you called it? You said I’d be able to see something about other humans.

It’s not present because this human is not present. This human is unconscious, but not dead. It could possibly be near death, or drugged. Or in another state entirely, one that we’re not aware of yet.

Claudia reached out and touched the body. It was cold to the touch, and barely clothed. She reached up and touched the hair. It was long and tangled.

“Lisa, please wake up,” she whispered.

I don’t believe she’s asleep. She wasn’t a prisoner here. I believe this to be a tomb. The essence is very weak.

Can I give her some of mine?

Yes, but it will drain your power. You might need some of it soon, if the buzzsaws are aware that you’ve escaped. It is a risk.

I’m willing to take it.

Then focus your essence through your touch and into hers. Once the connection is established, break it quickly or you might freely give all of your essence to her.

I’m guessing that means…

Yes, Claudia. Death. That means death.

She took in a deep breath, instantly fearful of what was before her. Some choices were not choices at all, but still felt like impossible choices to make. On one hand she faced death, but on the other hand, Lisa would die.

She focused her essence away from her mind, and the glowing white hue faded as the power coursed through her body, through her arms, through her fingers, and out through her touch. Instantly she felt the magnetic connection, and the flow from pole to pole was near immediate. She felt her energy drain, began to feel tired.

Sever your touch. Now. Now!

Her mind screamed at her, but Claudia didn’t really want to let go. Feeling that coursing flow of essence felt good. It felt right. It felt natural. Yes, death was natural, wasn’t it? It was nothing more than permanent peace. And that felt rather nice, didn’t it?

Claudia, you damned fool, you’re nearly drained!

She lifted her hand, shocked by her near willful suicide, and felt nauseated. She turned to her side and threw up, the wetness splashing up and onto her legs as it hit the stone.

Look at your essence now, so you know what you nearly did.

Essence Current: 2 | Max: 20

A shiver went down Claudia’s spine. “And when that hits 0…” She whispered into the dark.

Yes, Claudia. That is death. That is when humans die, when all their essence is used up before it can be restored.

I won’t do it again.

You better not.

Wait a minute, who’s in control here? You don’t get to make commands. If I want to die, then dammit, I’m gonna lay down and croak like a suicidal frog lying spread eagle before a starved snake.

Re-establish contact with the body, please.

Why?

Because I’ve decided I’d rather be in this body’s mind instead of yours.

Jesus you suck.

I am only you amplified.

Yeah, yeah, I’m aware.

Claudia noticed something else.

Learned Abilities • Enhanced Strength, Agility, and Hand-to-hand Combat

• Minor Astral Vision

• Healing Touch

Cool. There’s no minor in front of that one.

Congratulations. You’re competent in something.

Thanks, asshole.

I am here to serve.

Outside, the buzzsaws voices were getting louder. They weren’t in the mound yet, but they were clearly searching for something. Their voices were loud, eager, and angry.

I am so fucked. Claudia thought to herself.

The body stirred. “Lisa? Lisa is that you?” She asked the body as it quaked below her. She didn’t dare touch it. She knew that if she did, she’d be fine as long as she didn’t use her new ability, as long as she kept that last remaining essence away from her fingertips. Still, she felt nervous about the potential. She’d liked that touch too much, that willingness to shed herself into another human being.

“Claudia?” Came the response, a dry, hoarse voice. With it, Claudia could see Lisa’s information, a knowing of the abstract that was near instantaneous in her mind and without tangible physical attachment. Quickly, the knowledge was organized.

Name Lisa Suzanne Reed Base Ability Numbness to Pain Essence Current: 5 | Max: 50 Tiers Achieved 1: Energy Awareness

2: Super Human Learned Abilities • Bone Manipulation

• Self-Detonation Pylons Located 1

Claudia had a flood of questions, as she slowly comprehended what she now knew about the woman, namely that she was much stronger than she was. But the thing that stood out in her mind like a beacon…

“Suzanne. You have such a beautiful middle name,” she said, speaking her thoughts.

The body groaned and didn’t move further.

Why is her essence only at 5? I was at 10 and I went down to 2. She should be at least an essence of 9 if she weren’t yet dead.

You forget that the act of using your abilities expels essence, too. Some of your essence was lost in the transition in order to use your ability, much in the same way that you become hungry after a long jog.

Claudia heard what must have been a buzzsaw in the hall of the mound. They would know they were in here as soon as they saw the open rock door. Could they smell her presence in the same way a dog or wolf might?

“Lisa, we have to go now. They’re coming. Please, look at me.”

The weak form rolled to the side and looked up at her then, Lisa’s tired eyes widening at the recognition of someone she knew. “Claudia?” She asked. “How did you escape?” Then further amazement once Claudia’s abilities became known to her. “You know of your power. How?”

“The tree. I sensed it in the tree. But come on, we must go. We can talk more after we go. They are coming.”

“You gave me some of your essence. I feel it in me. I’m not so tired anymore… They leave us in here to die if we don’t have the ability they’re looking for…”

“Lisa, later. We have to go.”

“Oh, Brett!” Lisa said, quickly sitting up from the floor. “He’s in the room beside us. We have to go there.”

“Lisa, we don’t…”

“Claudia, he might still be alive. He can help us.”

Claudia wanted to tell her that he wasn’t, that she couldn’t see his essence, but she couldn’t stifle the hope from the poor woman’s eyes. She listened to the approaching buzzsaw, his scampering feet bouncing off the walls of the tunnels. She hoped it was only the one, because they weren’t strong enough to face more than that. She didn’t even know how she’d face one of them without any remaining essence to fuel her attack.

“Okay, quickly,” Claudia said, using the woman’s own mission to encourage urgency, “They’re coming.”

Lisa stood, hobbled back and forth on her feet to regain her balance, and then they stepped out into the hall. Claudia could hear the buzzsaw yelling out, the screeching shrill sounds as it’s teeth cut against each other. It was calling out for reinforcements.

Lisa, now fully conscious, reached the door where Brett’s body was contained. She effortlessly slid the door open and stepped inside. She wailed when she saw the body in there, and Claudia could hear her collapse to the floor. “Brett,” she said as she cried, “Brett, I am so sorry.”

“Lisa…” Claudia warned, wanting to give the woman her moment but seeing what was coming now. “Lisa, I need you.”

The first buzzsaw was approaching now, scampering at her with fierce speed. Claudia settled into a fighting stance, her right palm extended out before her.

What the fuck should I do here?

Attempt to side step it as it attacks you and grab its neck. You don’t have any essence to use that ability, so put your palm down.

What do I do when I have it’s neck?

Try to squeeze its life from it.

I’m going to die aren’t I.

Chances are good. I’ve enjoyed our time together.

Oh, fuck off.

“Lisa, I really need you here,” she said, preparing herself to jump to the side as the buzzsaw approached. She had maybe a second or two before it would be on her. She knew she was faster than it if she had essence to expel, but without any essence, wasn’t she just a regular old slow-ass human again? The buzzsaw had its blunt weapon raised. Would they kill her? Didn’t they still need her? They had no magnet in the prison as it was. Yes, she wouldn’t die, but she’d be placed in a stronger prison this time.

Just as Claudia flexed her calves in preparation of her leap, Lisa left the room, tears dried. She raised her arm, and Claudia could see the essence pooling there.

The buzzsaw shifted its attention to Lisa, saw her, and tried to stop its momentum.

Before it could, Lisa’s arm shattered into hundreds of fragments, pockets of blood erupting into the air around them. The bone shards entered the buzzsaw like shotgun pellets, and its head seemed to erupt in front of them like a firecracker had gone off in the creature’s mouth.

Its empty husk of a body collapsed to the floor, sliding to a stop, a blood trail in its wake.

Lisa’s mutilated arm bled profusely, and she knelt to the body to sap its remaining essence. Claudia watched as her arm slowly rebuilt itself.

“I’m going to need most of this essence, but there’ll be some left for you. Hurry up, take it. Let’s get out of here.”

Claudia listened.