CHAPTER 23: CRY FROM HEAVEN
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Mr. P's Lab: Panic and Jokes
The lab was a madhouse.
Clones scrambled between terminals, alarms blinking in angry red across the wall of monitors. One was arguing with another about riot suppression tactics; another just stood muttering numbers, as if sheer math might ward off the inevitable. The smell of scorched circuits and cigarette smoke hung in the air like judgment.
Clone 19, his sunglasses askew, stood in the middle of it all, wringing his hands.
"This is bad...this is very, very... like really really bad. The bastard really put a huge target on your back. He turned you into a scapegoat and a rallying point... kind of a genius move, since its something we could have pulled of but damn.The Choir's have go to move faster now... probably try to damage control or something. Eden's public will want our heads on a spike. And if Luther... God help us.. if Luther finds out... somebody switch the wifi off, i rather be offline when his here."
"I propose we throw him a party," Mr. P said casually, leaning back in his chair with his feet propped up on the console, smoke curling from his lips.
"Huh?!" Clone 19 barked, his voice cracking.
"What? What'd you expect me to do? Cry? Bleed? Write a sad poem about how Zero was mean to me in front of all his friends?" He waved a hand dismissively.
"He's been trying to kill me for years anyway, i mean... All he did last night was finally admit it to himself on a public platform. "
Another clone piped up nervously. "But if Luther finds out…"
Mr. P swiveled in his chair to face them, sunglasses glinting.
"Then we *really* throw him a party. With confetti. And cake. And maybe, if I'm feeling generous, bullets... i knkw he will forgive and since it will be his first birthday party."
They all stared at him.
"Go on then," he said, snapping his fingers. "Keep panicking. I like the background noise... eases the tension a bit."
He flicked a switch on the console, opened an encrypted line, and leaned in lazily.
"Clone 3," he drawled. "Talk to me. What's the situation over there?"
On the other end, the masked leader's voice was calm, but with a strange edge to it.
"He wants to see you."
Mr. P snorted smoke through his nose.
"Well, who doesn't? Tell him to get in line."
"He might kill you Paku."
"Ah. How sweet. His little murder crush lives on. Do try to calm him down for me, won't you? Nobody's dying today."
Clone 3 was silent for a beat. "You're not actually going to kill him… are you?"
"Oh god, no," Mr. P replied lightly, though something colder settled behind his words. "Why would I ever do what Zero wants? Like I've ever listened to that freak. No, no… just keep him from raging out too soon. Whisper code seven-eight-nine in his ear if he gets too close to snapping. Should buy you enough time. He can track me through soul resonance if he really tries to find me... So I can't play hide and seek with a cheat code... and we can't have that yet."
Clone 3 gave a quiet nod, even though Mr. P couldn't see it.
"Understood."
The line went dead.
In the shadows of the lab, Rei leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
Mr. P glanced at him with a grin.
"No need to worry, little assassin," he said breezily. "Everything's under control. All I have to do is look busy and keep doing what I've always done."
Rei didn't respond. He just stared at him, unblinking.
...
The Oval Black Dawn
The Choir's hidden base was thick with whispers.
In his quarters, Luther stood stiffly by the window, golden veins faintly sparking across his arms. His eyes were sharp now. Clearer than they'd been in days.
He turned the moment the masked leader entered.
"Take me to him," Luther said flatly.
Clone 3 didn't answer at first. He closed the door behind him, slow and deliberate, and took a step closer.
"You're not ready yet."
Luther's jaw tightened.
"Don't lie to me. I know where he is. I can feel him. So stop stalling. Take me to Mr. P."
Clone 3 tilted his head slightly, voice calm, almost gentle.
"Why rush? Sit. Rest. We can talk..."
Luther took another step forward, veins flaring brighter.
"Take. Me... To him."
Clone 3 moved closer, lowering his voice like one might to a cornered animal.
"Luther. Listen to me. I just need to tell you something first..."
"Then tell me on the way."
Clone 3 reached for his shoulder.
"Just..."
But Luther's hand shot up, fingers closing around Clone 3's wrist with enough force to make the masked man wince.
"I'm not waiting anymore," Luther growled.
Clone 3's free hand moved toward his mask… as if to adjust it… but then he whispered, just faint enough for Luther's ears only:
"Seven. Eight. Nine."
For a split second, Luther froze. The golden veins across his skin stuttered. His breath caught... just long enough for Clone 3 to try and push him back.
But then…
It didn't work.
Luther shoved him aside, voice rising like a storm.
"What are you doing?!"
Guards rushed in as Clone 3 barked orders.
"Restrain him! Do it now!"
Luther turned on them, eyes blazing.
"I trusted you..."
He lashed out, and the guards scattered as a golden shockwave ripped through the room. He was moving before they could recover, out the door and into the corridor beyond.
"Stop him!" Clone 3 snapped. "Now!"
...
Lust's Strike
The Choir's squad was waiting for him in the main hall.
At their center stood Lust, her mirrored skin shimmering faintly in the low light.
She raised a hand, and black tendrils of psychic force slammed Luther into the wall. He roared and shoved forward, Dodge and decapitated of the soldiers of the squad...
Moved forward like a one man army... toward Lust trying to shatter the illusion only for another to take its place...
Naomi infront of him in white robes... prettier than ever. Luther froze at the mere sight of her. She came closer bearing arms opened to welcome him in her hands.
Naomi's voice echoing in his head.
"It's okay, Luther. Let it out. I'm here."
He staggered, clutching his head. His knees buckled.
The room flickered, his mind flickered...
And with Naomi floating before him.
Kneeling in front of him. Hands cupping his face.
She leaned forward, pressed her lips to his, and whispered into his ear:
"Let it all out, Luther. I'm here for you."
Somewhere in Eden, in Mr. P's lab, alarms screamed as Elian's signal spiked.
20%.
Mr. P froze, cigarette hanging from his lips.
"…shit."
And below, in his chambers, Zero smiled faintly, staring at his bleeding fingers.
"Oh, Luther," he murmured. "You never disappoint."
...
The cry from heaven
The Choir's base shook with Luther's roar.
A cry from heaven itself.
And in the darkness, the game continued.
...
END OF CHAPTER 23: CRY FROM HEAVEN