While the guardian’s remains were Dr. Haley's goal, all they had was a small shard of the Crossbearer’s crystal Sam had taken as a sample. So instead Jonathan explained the existence of the crest and its merging with him.
When Dr. Haley heard this she devolved into a jibbering, excited mess, demanding to see proof. Which Jonathan provided by removing his body armor and revealing a spiraling set of runes etched into his abdomen. The majority had been covered by his shirt, but it wound up his torso, halting just before his shoulders with perfect symmetry. Now that there wasn't any direct danger, a closer inspection revealed fine pathways moving through the dark tribal-like runes.
From there it was easy to negotiate terms. Mark had to make sure they knew he could not lower the construct around Jonathan under any circumstances. He had been keeping the two of them covered as he could still feel the marks. Sam was able to suppress her’s by now but Jonathan's was still very much obvious. Dr. Haley was not ecstatic about this but eventually conceded it probably wouldn’t make a difference.
Minutes later they found themselves walking down the stairs and into the main testing room below.
Dr. Haley skipped around, giddy with the thoughts of results. Issuing orders to her people to begin preparing the chamber. Which was functional but not yet up to her standards.
“Dr. Johnson make ensure we get the telemetry recorded properly. I’m not giving up this chance”
The room became charged with a hungry air as scientists began to set the machinery into motion.
Sam watched with rapt attention while Jonathan looked on without a shred of hesitation. Only Karter and Mark still held some reservations about this. Sam noticed this and without taking her eyes off the vacant chamber she spoke.
“Don’t worry he’ll be fine. Just think of it like a detailed MRI. It will be able to tell us more about what's going on with the crest. Maybe even give us an answer or two.”
Mark nodded slowly. It was Jonathan's choice to make, he just hoped the information was worth it.
The hum in the walls had begun to build up as the equipment drew more power.
The console’s screens were covered in a series of text and statistics that Mark could barely follow. Gradually the voices in the room began to die down, replaced by the building sound of equipment coming to life.
Dr. Johnson was putting in the final commands into the main console and looked up to Jonathan.
“Alright, Mr. Wilson you can step in for us.”
Jonathan did so stoically, walking over the ankle-high threshold and pulling the door closed. A technician stepped forward and engaged an electromagnetic lock on the door. A series of shouts went up from the people in the room as Dr. Haley called out for all-clears.
One last shout and a command to the console and the machine’s hum turned to a groan.
There were no flashy lights or warning alarms, yet the walls shuddered as the equipment taxed the generator. The whole process only took about a minute, but in that time a mechanical arm extended from the top of the cylinder and spiraled the length of the machine and back up.
There was a moment where the equipment quietened while it compiled the data and the room was suspended in time. Not a soul spoke until Dr. Haley let out a victorious grunt, hushed whisperers exploded into the room as if signaled to start breaking down the results.
Sam moved towards the main console and Mark followed with Karter right on their heels.
“So, what does it say?”
Dr. Haley didn’t answer too busy scanning the data. Dr. Johnson walked over from another console wearing an excited expression.
“This is unprecedented! Full integration between physical substances!”
Jonathan had been released by then and arrived as Dr. Johnson continued.
“The crest you spoke of has seamlessly merged into your body, Mr. Wilson. I’ve never seen such a perfect transplant.”
For the first time, Jonathan tilted his head, caught off guard.
“Wait, transplanted?”
Dr. Haley woke up at the question.
“It's exactly as it sounds. The system has for lack of a better word, surgically implanted the item into your body. Almost like a new organ, whatever form you said it took before this, has been bonded into your flesh and even your bones on a molecular level. It probably instills lesser benefits, while not active, such as improved energy saturation but I can only guess as to its true purpose”
The woman looked at Jonathan the same way a child would look at a present on Christmas morning, yet Jonathan's face had taken on a cold expression.
“Try,” he said.
Dr. Haley placed her hand on her neck and rubbed absentmindedly. Looking over the results once more and back up at him,
“My best guess is that you are now as much a part of the First rite as say, the seed. A component or… ”
“Module?” Jonathan finished for her.
Dr. Haley mulled it over and nodded.
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“An apt description. I would say that you now play a key role in whatever process the First rite would entail. And before you ask, no I can’t help you get it out, it's spread throughout your body like a drop of dye.”
Jonathan just shook his head. He had already known that when he had used the crest, he wasn’t looking to get it removed.
“My best guess as to its function would be as some kind of controller or limiter.”
Jonathan’s frown deepened.
“What does that mean for me?”
Dr. Haley didn’t respond right away, instead glancing at Dr. Johnson. For a woman so out of touch with human emotion, her pause spoke volumes.
“Most likely outcome would be burnout and…in all likelihood death.”
Jonathan straightened himself and turned his head towards the chamber, his brows knitted together.
“But, the stronger you are, the more strain you could functionally handle, so while you might not be able to get out of this, you can certainly prepare for it.”
Dr. Haley tried to keep her voice upbeat but it didn’t suit her.
Jonathan had a distant look in his eye but he spoke anyway.
“Alright, I’ll keep that in mind. Should we return to the office, you have your readings so it's about time you held up your end of the bargain.”
The short trip back up the stairs was silent, when the door closed behind them Karter kicked things off.
“Right, so what do you know about the current movements of the Loyalists.”
Dr. Haley was watching them but it was Dr. Johnson that ended up answering the question.
“Well, first thing I'm assuming there is a question you want answered so you better start with that.”
Karter nodded and avoided looking at Jonathan.
“I’m trying to get more information on the movements of a man by the name of Mr. Oscar Wilson.”
Dr. Johnson made a face as though he were sucking a lemon.
“Only a little. He’s the faction's favorite attack dog. Heard he’s an irredeemable narcissist, and powerful at that. When everything went down, he was on the frontline and executed anyone who ran. I know he’s made a name for himself by getting people to sign up for long-term service with the loyalists. As for his recent exploits, he’s been quiet because of an altercation at one of their courthouses. He and a few members of NAS got into it, and a group of Scions were hurt as a result. Though if rumors are to be believed he started it in a fit of rage and is now under extreme supervision. He is only tolerated because of the results he gets.”
After a stint of silence, Dr. Haley spoke.
“On a wider scale, the Loyalists seem completely happy to maintain the status quo, though many of their methods are looked down upon by NAS. This is why it is worrying that they would ask the Loyalists for help in dealing with some large expedition. As of yet no decision has been made but they need to decide soon.”
“Any idea on the time frame?” Sam asked.
“NAS is set to launch the mission in around three days, but if the Loyalists are going to gather a sufficient force, they’ll need to respond within the next twenty-four hours.”
Mark thought over what they said and was glad they still had some time til the second excursion. NAS had held up its end of the bargain so he felt it was worth the risk they had taken back then at the very least.
“Right, well if you hear anything else you think would be worth our while then do keep us in the loop,” Karter said as he slid one of Jude's modified radios over to Dr. Johnson.
As if the punctuate this, Sam placed the crystal sample on the coffee table as she got up.
“This can be our advance.”
Dr. Haley casually swiped the sample, her eyes crinkling with satisfaction.
“We’ll keep our ears to the ground.”
Leaving the laboratory was even easier than getting in, as the guard seemed all too happy to kick them out of the facility. This begged the question, how did Karter get a meeting with the two doctors? Even if he knew them personally Mark found it hard to believe getting them a message would be easy. Deciding to ask as much, Mark broke the vehicle's silence.
“Ah. Well, I have Gibby to thank for that, he had a contact on the inside who could get a message to the doctors. So when they made a personal request of our Order, the Loyalists had a hard time saying no.”
Mark knew for a fact that those two had significantly more sway than they let on, even if they wanted to pretend otherwise.
The car went right back to quiet as soon as Karter finished speaking. The distraction had ended and Sam looked like she had gone right back to fretting for Cara. While Jonathan had a distant look that was gradually being replaced with a mask of fierce determination.
Mark decided to relax in his seat and let the evening drive be the most normal part of his day.
They passed the clinic and Mark had the desire to go check on everything, but the bone-deep exhaustion was finally catching up with him.
Arriving back in the lobby they all made their way up towards the penthouse, but before they were even halfway there, one of the turns brought them face to face with Chloe. She had been waiting in one of the empty hallways, expectantly.
Her eyes were cast down as they approached, but when they came within speaking distance, she looked up at them with that same prescient gleam in her eye.
Mark had been hoping to avoid her, but wishing to dodge someone who could see the future was probably the height of futility.
“It doesn't make a lot of sense right now — I know that. But I need you to trust I'll get you where and when you need to be.”
None of them said anything but they were listening and that was enough for her.
“I kept Cara’s involvement a secret, and for that, I’m truly sorry, but I promise you all, I’m working for the best possible outcome for everyone. You just need to trust me.”
Mark could not detect any deception, only tortured knowledge of the events yet to come, too early to speak of.
The ability to see the future must be terrifying, Mark mused.
Stepping away from the other two, Mark extended his arm to her.
“I do trust you, I hope that was never in doubt.”
When she took his offer hand, an exhausted smile bloomed, and Jonathan seemed to stir.
“Well, I trust you but any kind of heads up would be appreciated next time.”
Chloe grimaced.
“Yeah, I can do that.”
Sam however did not mirror this, her eyes were as frigid as the ice she often summoned.
“I get you did what you thought you had to. And my rational brain keeps telling me as much, but I’ll make one thing very clear. If she gets hurt, or worse, because of your plan, we are going to have a problem.”
Chloe held Sam’s gaze with a despondent expression.
“I understand Samantha.”
Sam nodded and kept walking past her.
Chloe seemed happy with the encounter and waved them off.
When they arrived at their rooms, Mark just wanted to sleep for a couple of hours but Jonathan gripped his arm.
“Ten minutes, meet us upstairs for joint training.”
Mark looked at the beckoning grain of his bedroom door, which held a bed behind it, and then back to Jonathan. He then realized Jonathan had taken Dr. Haley's words to improve himself to heart. Feeling another sigh coming on, Mark suppressed it and nodded, they needed to take every opportunity to improve.