Jay just say "Stop" when you've had enough of my requests 😂🙈 I'm here with another request pal, if it's not too much trouble can I request "This is gonna hurt. A lot. But it'll be quick. I need to pop it back into place." from Injury Starters for Higgs please? 😇 I know, i know I really have a problem, can't keep myself from requesting when I see your drabble lists 🙄
@argetlam007 PFFT. I’ll never get tired of you sending in requests. Hell, send in more! I love you! Hope you like it :D!
“He’s as scared as a deer getting hit by a bike.” One of the men said to another in the group, all the while an elderly woman was patching up the wounds on Higgs’s face and body. His skin shuddered as he kept to himself, trying not to look at anyone directly in the eye. His daddy always taught him to keep his head low.
“Don’t let folks think you are stronger than you actually are so you can get the best of them if they try anything.” was what daddy used to say. This was one of the few life lessons Higgs took to heart. He was thankful for it because he didn’t know what to make of the group that found him, stranded miles away from the void out crater his daddy’s body had created.
“You’re gonna scare the kid if you keep talking shit, now get back over here. We gotta discuss what we’re gonna do with him.” A middle-aged man said, then gestured for the two men who were examining Higgs to go back to the group of ten. Their words became a hushed mess of sounds and gestures. Higgs was too far away to hear, but he knew damn well than to get his hopes up considering the hell he had been through.
“Don’t mind them, boy.” The old woman piped up with a sigh. Higgs swallowed, looking at her from the corner of his eye as she smiled briefly.
“We ain’t gonna up and leave you to rot. It’s not every day we come across kids anymore.”
“Anymore?” Higgs asked quietly.
“You must be out of the loop. There ain’t a lot of you left.” The old woman said. She smiled, but her eyes were filled with a sadness Higgs felt he could relate with in some way. It was strange. Is this what a connection was?
“How’s he looking?” The middle-aged man from before asked, approaching the old woman and Higgs. She gently let go of his leg, watching as Higgs nervously stared up and down at the man.
“All the mess wasn’t his blood. His right arm is dislocated. He’s a little scrawny. I think after a meal he’ll pep up in no time.”
“Can you fix it, the arm?”
The old woman nodded.
“No--” Higgs managed to choke out, shaking his head as he glanced between the two. His arm had been killing him, but at this point, Higgs would have rather much dealt with it than to snap it back into place. The thought scared him immensely.
“Get your hands off me! Stop it!” Higgs yelled out as the man grabbed a hold of his body, keeping him still. As strong as Higgs was for a child, he couldn’t break free from the vice-grip the old-timer had on him. Higgs was gonna have to face the music, and it scared him. Tears began to stream down his eyes as he looked up at the old woman who calmly pat his leg then took a hold of the arm. Not before she picked up a stick and had Higgs put his mouth over it.
"This is gonna hurt. A lot. But it'll be quick. I need to pop it back into place." Her words were soothing, and for a brief moment between panic and terror, Higgs felt a peace come over him.
When he felt the first pop, he screamed so loud his throat strained. The second pop made him kick outward, accidentally landing with the old woman’s stomach. She let out a grunt but kept trekking despite whatever pain she was in. The last pop, Higgs began to sob, but a warmth traveled down the arm, almost as if he had sunk it into a hot spring.
Higgs spat the stick out, letting harsh gasps escape. His nose began to fill with snot, which he wiped on his other arm shortly after.
“Not so bad, was it?” The old woman asked as Higgs shook his head.
“You’re insane.” Higgs choked out, blinking a few times as the old woman laughed and rose. She pats Higgs on the side of his face a few times then leaves to join the others. He looked on with fascination, wondering how something as ancient as her was still kicking.
“Where did that blood come from boy?”
Higgs snapped out of his trance, looking up at the middle-aged man. He swallowed, giving a shrug.
“I know you ain’t much of a talker, but we gotta know. Otherwise, we can’t help you.”
Higgs debated with himself. Between the pain of having his arm popped back into place, and the future promise of a warm meal, he could feel his resolve beginning to break. He vowed not to tell anyone about his daddy, but the cat was already out of the bag. And Higgs didn’t want to lose out on being with people for the first time in his life.
“My daddy. He--” Higgs couldn’t bring himself to say it. That he killed him. Even though the bastard had it coming, there was a guilt that swam in the pit of his gut.
“And your arm, did your daddy do that too?” The man gestured, and Higgs bit his lower lip and gave a nod. A sigh left the man as he sat by Higgs, looking outward towards the group.
“Say no more kid. Don’t worry. We’ll help you. See we’re porters. Some of us are. We’re going to the city, maybe we can drop you off there. Get you set up with a family. Sound good?”
“A family?” Higgs asked.
“Uh-huh. A kid like you, I’m sure you’d have no problem getting one. C’mon, let’s get you something to eat.”
Higgs followed in silence, his nerves spiked from everything that transpired. He couldn’t stop looking at the uniforms the men and women wore, save for the old gal and a few others. The term porter kept running through his head, and in his boyish mind, Higgs thought they were cool. Something akin to astronauts he read about in the old books his daddy had lying about the bunker.
“What’s your name?” The man asked.
“My daddy called me Higgs.”
“Huh. Unusual name.”
“What about you? I doubt anyone calls you old man. Fossil sounds more fitting.” Higgs said sarcastically, and he half expected to get slapped. Surprise filled him when the man chuckled.
“I’m Patrick. You can call me Pat for short. You’re a sharp little shit ain’t you?”
Higgs shrugged, earning yet another laugh. He could feel his small lips form into a smile, despite it being busted.
So far, life outside the darkness of the bunker was good. Maybe daddy was wrong.
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Thank you to those that have stuck around reading my work and leaving reviews despite the long absence. I can't express enough how thankful I am for the feedback. Each time I get something, my heart grows. There's a lot of crap going on in the world right now, and I'm sending you love and courage. Get to the good, whatever that looks like for you.
We got two more chapters left. This one, and the finale. It's been a long time coming, but I figured out an ending I'm satisfied with and I hope you'll be too.
Higgs felt radiating pain shoot throughout his body. With every assault he had taken from Sam during their altercation, Higgs was growing weaker. It didn’t help that Amelie’s powers were dwindling, but Higgs never let up. It didn’t matter anyway in his mind. The end would come, whether Sam or himself liked it or not. He had never been so determined wanting something so terribly. The only thing that came close was when he fought his daddy for freedom out of that godforsaken bunker years ago. Death would come for all, or he’d die trying. It was the only thing keeping Higgs afloat and not wanting to take his own gun and blow his brains out. Higgs couldn’t give Amelie or Sam the satisfaction of suicide, even though he wanted to be with Gene. He'd meet her again when the time was right.
By the time Sam had knocked Higgs out in the first round and went to save Amelie from her own entangled web, Higgs was surprised he had mustered up any kind of strength to get up and confront his nemesis in the waves of the ocean, of which was festering into a thick tar from Higgs using up whatever was left of his powers. As he spread his arms over the water, Higgs knew this was it. His true strength under the guise of godhood would be out for the world to see. Higgs knew he was weak. Terribly so, but it didn’t matter. Nothing did.
“You can’t stop this thing. No one can.” Higgs hissed under his breath, continuing to approach Sam as he carefully pulled back the hood of his cloak. He wanted to face Sam not as a god, but as a man. Two humans on opposing sides that had been strung along like puppets. Amelie would get the show she desperately wanted.
“We got DOOMs, Sam. This was only ever gonna end one way. So come on!” Higgs shouted, feeling his throat scratch as he bellowed before taking an offensive stance. He frantically began to punch. Whatever training he had to fight went out the window as Higgs could feel himself regress. He went feral, fighting like a child backed into a corner with no way out but forward. It was almost too easy for Sam to exploit as he kept a level head, and Higgs felt an onslaught of punches blemish his face and body. It was worse than getting slammed with cargo on the beach, and without Amelie’s powers backing him up, Higgs became more aware of how frail he was.
“Go to hell Sam!” Higgs shouted, his breath hoarse as he lurched forward, wrapping his arms around Sam’s waist. It was a desperate attempt to get his opponent to fall into the water and become entrapped, but Sam was like a boulder. He didn’t budge but found a way out of Higgs grasp. Before Sam could perform another onslaught, Higgs splashed water at Sam’s face to blind him. As soon as Higgs saw an opening, he grabbed a hold of Sam by the neck and started applying pressure.
“Just fucking die already!” Higgs bellowed as his teeth grit. He could have easily snapped Sam’s neck with the angle he had him, but Higgs wanted to add further insult to injury. Growling, Higgs lunged and bit down hard on Sam’s left ear. Between Sam’s screams and tearing flesh, Higgs ripped off a chunk of meat and spat it into the water. Little did he know, he gave Sam an opportunity of a lifetime as Higgs felt several punches collide into his face. A smashing sound penetrated his eardrums as he felt his world beginning to fade. By the time it was over, Higgs swayed and tried to ground himself between a splitting head and mind only to feel Sam grab him by the shoulders and headbutt him. It felt like thunder pierced his skull as his brain radiated with an ache like no other. Higgs didn’t know when it was going to end, but he prayed it would be soon. He didn’t think he could take much more of it.
Higgs’s wish came true as he felt his body tumble backward like a building being decimated. His nerves were shot out to the point where he didn’t register the tar encasing his body. Drifting in and out of consciousness, he felt something strong pulling him out of the water. A groan escaped his mouth as his eyes began to flutter open, realizing that Sam had brought him out of the tar pit and to the shoreline of the beach. Shock, not just from the battle but from Sam taking pity on him despite everything had Higgs taken aback as he heard Sam fall to the ground with a thud. His faint breaths echoing throughout the air around them.
“Getting a little touchy-feely there, Mr. Aphenphosmphobia.” Higgs said weakly, coughing while he laughed as he could see a faint smile come across Sam’s face. Higgs would be lying if this moment didn’t touch his heart a bit. Sam was his enemy, but they were two pawns at the end of the day. Both fucked over for the same reasons. Nonetheless, Higgs knew better. There would be no happy ending for him or anybody else no matter how hard Sam fought. Amelie could flip the switch yet again.
“Well, congratulations. You won the game.” Higgs muttered tiredly, forcing his head up some to look at Sam. “Too bad you didn’t stop shit.”
Sam leaned up, looking over at Higgs with a glare. All the while, Higgs kept his eyes on the grey sky. He wanted to take in his last moments while he had the chance knowing that Sam had every right to kill him, to get his pound of flesh and then some for the crimes and hurt he had caused.
“Well? Get on with it.” Higgs said defeated, letting out a sigh. It hurt to breathe, much less think about anything else. He could already feel the broken bones in his body throb from the fight. Sam got him good and then some.
Higgs didn't register Sam getting up and leaving until he heard the thud of a bag nearby his head. He visibly flinched, looking at it with confusion as his gaze slowly traveled up. He weakly forced the upper half of his body to rise as recognition turned to fear. Higgs swallowed, his mouth slightly agape.
“Fragile?” Higgs quietly said. Some part of him was wondering if he was seeing things. She was the last person he expected on Amelie’s beach.
“Guess I left a lasting impression. I’m Fragile, but I’m not that fragile.” Fragile said. Her tone was quiet, but there was an authority to her voice that had a shiver go down Higgs's spine. He looked ahead, seeing Sam was already in the works of freeing Amelie from afar before his attention went back to his former business partner, who crouched down by his side. Puzzlement crossed his features as she began to speak.
“This time, you’re the one who’s going to break,” Fragile said calmly.
There was a pause on Higgs’s end of things as he had an epiphany: Sam served him up on a platter for Fragile. So that she could have her revenge. Bitterness swelled in his gut much like his wounds festered with pain. Of all the crap Amelie had him believe, Higgs believed he had a right to die by Sam’s hand. It was only fair given how Amelie had set the game up. To be taken out by someone he considered weaker than Sam or himself, Higgs felt insulted.
“Is that right?” Higgs muttered tauntingly. “I think you’ll find our bond is made of stronger stuff.”
It was cowardice, and Higgs knew better, but he tried in vain to steal whatever powers he could from Amelie. He knew he would die, but he didn’t want to go down like this. His grand finale had to be from Sam. Anyone else, and it wouldn’t amount to anything. He stretched his right arm out, jerking to get some form of reaction.
“Give me power, damn it!” Higgs grunted, watched as Sam and Amelie had turned around. The Extinction Entity rested in Sam’s arms as they looked in Higgs’s direction like he was the dumbest shit on the planet. Eyes widened with shock, Higgs retreated his hand as he realized that it was it. All his juice was gone for good. He couldn’t even feel his DOOMs anymore. Everything had been zapped away.
“Oh? What’s this? You’re already broken.” Fragile teased, her tone mocking Higgs and his predicament.
“What the fuck?” Higgs exclaimed, watching as Fragile hovered over his body. Her form was imposing, despite the brave face he tried to put on. He couldn’t fight her physically, but Higgs knew where to hit someone where it hurt with his words. It was his last line of defense and he took it.
“I’m Higgs! I’m the Particle of God that permeates all existence. What are you? Honey, you ain’t nothing but damaged goods!” Higgs spat. He wore a look of pride on his face until he could see Fragile slipping one of her gloves off. There was a weird moment where something clicked inside of Higgs as he watched her hand slowly inch towards his face. Upon seeing the wrinkles, the damage he had caused to her, defeat washed over him. Higgs’s eyes stared blankly at Fragile while she started touching his face, caressing almost. He swallowed as the tender touch soothed whatever hatred he had, remembering how it felt to be cared for. To be cherished. There was a brief second in his glazed eyes as he kept them on Fragile, that he saw Gene and instinct had him lean up, wanting to get close until an immense pressure collided into his cheek.
“You’re damaged goods.” Fragile stated while Higgs felt his world finally go dark after the punch.
Higgs had no idea how long he was out for, but upon being hogtied by Sam he was disappointed that death hadn’t come to claim its dues. Higgs ignored what was going on, giving a glare here and there while his mind tried to process what was happening. It was only after Fragile loaded the gun that Higgs slowly turned his attention towards her. Fear ransacked his eyes as he breathed shallowly.
Fragile took in a deep breath, approaching Higgs as she held the gun firmly. There wasn’t much Higgs could do anymore to cause harm, but there was always that chance he could break out and try to take the gun. Fragile wanted to say so much to him, but words refused to come out as pity washed over her face. Higgs looked like a scared little boy, not ready to face the music of his misdeeds.
“You have no idea how badly I’ve wanted to kill you since South Knot.” Fragile began as Higgs locked his eyes on hers. He blinked a few times, biting on his bottom lip as he sighed. Higgs closed his eyes briefly.
“I understand.” He murmured, feeling his throat tighten.
“Do you really?” Fragile asked. “Just a while ago, you were going to try to hurt me again. After everything that’s happened, you can’t give up ruining lives? How many more is it going to take, Higgs?”
“I was going to hurt you but I can’t anymore. I don’t want to fight.”
“Bullshit.”
Higgs flinched as he forced himself to look at her. Tears began to stream down his eyes as the weight of everything he had done, everything that had transpired up till this point, broke him. His lip trembled as he sniffed, trying not to burst from the avalanche of emotions that clouded whatever judgment he had left to spare.
“Fragile, I don’t care anymore. I long for death. Sam should have killed me back there, not you. I suppose it doesn’t matter anymore. I’m finished. Before you pop a cap in my crown, I’d like to get something off my chest. Something important. It probably won’t do jack shit to help, but ya’ll need to know.”
Fragile debated with herself, then sighed in defeat as she adjusted the gun in her grasp and crouched down. Furrowing her brows, she got on level with Higgs as her face softened.
“Make it quick.”
“Thank you.” Higgs murmured gently, taking Fragile by surprise for a moment. “Amelie--the Extinction Entity--she was using Sammy boy and me. She told me before the fight--that she more than likely will side with Sam, keep humanity afloat for a couple thousand years. Sam’s in danger, being alone with her.”
Fragile grimaced, letting out a breath. “I don’t believe you.”
“Believe what you want.” Higgs said as he tasted blood on his bottom lip. “None of you are out of the woods yet. I was a chess piece. The real enemy is the queen ya left Sam alone with.”
“You’re impossible. Even at the end, you still lie.” Fragile spat, then looked to the left. She could see Higgs’s mask from afar. It was half-buried in the sand, scathed, and scratched up from the battle that took place.
Fragile rose and left Higgs momentarily to pick the mask up. Her gloved hands wiped away at it as she stared at its details. She gently blew at the mask while examining closely. There was something peculiar radiating from it. Pulsing like a heartbeat that was approaching a stop. Whatever energy was left felt foreboding. To Fragile, it felt like she was holding a tangible manifestation of a nightmare in her hands. Something that could easily sway a person into madness. Her DOOMs made her wary of the mask as she continued to look the skeletal thing over.
Fragile’s mind began to race, thinking about the conversations Gene and her had about Higgs. How Gene believed there was good in him still. After what happened in the last confrontation between Gene and Higgs and seeing the end results, Fragile had her doubts. Gene’s fight had been for nothing in her eyes. The sacrifice wasn’t worth any redemption Higgs could have performed.
“I don’t recommend putting it on unless you want to see an ugly side of yourself,” Higgs said weakly, snapping Fragile out of her thoughts as she sighed and walked back over to him.
“Don’t even think about moving, I’ll be right back.” Fragile said firmly, then went off to find Sam and Amelie. She would know for herself if Higgs was speaking nonsense.
Higgs watched as Fragile disappeared out of view. By all accounts, he should have been trying to find a way out of his bindings but a broken body could only do so much. He coughed, feeling his chest tighten as whimpers escaped his mouth. If there was any way he could bash his head on a rock formation to put himself out of misery, he would have done so. There was no way in hell he would be getting off the beach alive. Higgs doubted Fragile would be willing to jump back home with him in tow, regardless if by some miracle she took pity on him. This was his grave. His final resting place. Amelie’s beach would claim him much like she took hold of his mind and heart.
As Higgs’s mind combed over his short and pathetic life, he closed his eyes and allowed the good memories to fill him. There was so much he had. People that loved him not for power, but for the deeds he had done. He was only a man but had a world where he mattered. Daddy had been wrong. He was worthwhile, even if no one could see the value. Now it all amounted to nothing. Higgs knew he had squandered it all by falling into temptation. He had no one to blame but himself. This was the ending of a sad man who threw everyone into the trash. No glory would await him upon death. Back home, people would celebrate the end of his tyranny along with Homo Demens.
Higgs was all alone. He had no one to blame but himself.
Higgs could hear footsteps approaching and sighed. Assuming it was Fragile coming back to finish the job, he kept his eyes closed so he could hold onto whatever good was left in his head before the grand finale.
“Not to be a smartass, but I told you so.” Higgs murmured before repeating his earlier warning. “As long as Amelie is still around, ya’ll are in danger.”
Something fell in front of him, and Higgs felt smooth fingertips glide over his tarnished face. Furrowing his brows, he opened his eyes. He expected to see Fragile, but it would have been out of character based on what occurred between them. As his vision became clear, Higgs felt his heart drop. His eyes widened as big as they could get as he stared right at Gene’s face. Tears flowed down her eyes as she smiled at him, cupping his face in both her hands. They felt warm, contrasting with the deep cold that settled on Amelie’s beach.
“You--you’re not dead?” Higgs began choking up as she shook her head.
“Not yet,” Gene whispered, her voice scratchy as she sniffled. Her voice was not shallow because of the mask she wore. “You said we’d be together in the end right? On the beach?”
“Yeah,” Higgs swallowed, feeling his eyes become fogged with his own tears. “I did.”
Higgs felt Gene’s body collide into his as she embraced him. His wounds didn’t matter. The pain was worth being held. He buried his face into the crook of her neck and inhaled her scent deeply. Higgs cried against her. He didn’t care if he looked weak, or if it hurt. Higgs could have died right then and there, knowing Gene was alive. He didn’t murder her.
As they both cried, with Gene holding onto Higgs for dear life, Fragile approached the scene. She stopped in her tracks with the mask, her bag, and gun in tow and watched. A look of disbelief crossed her features as she sighed. Conflict arose inside Fragile. She was surprised Gene had the strength to make it to Amelie’s beach after seeing what became of her Ha back home. Fragile knew this would be it. There was no coming back. This would be the last time she’d see her friend. She smiled, feeling tears escape the corner of her eyes. Gene got what she wanted, but the price was too high.
Fragile looked down at the gun, furrowing her brows as she debated with herself. Fragile had no intention of killing Higgs despite how infuriated she had become towards him. It would have been poetic to leave him stranded on the beach, slowly perishing with no way out but forward. After meeting with Sam and Amelie, she went over the events that transpired. There was something incredibly off about the interaction with Amelie that had goosebumps travel down Fragile’s body. So much so that she had to leave Sam quick to avoid being drawn in further. Her own jealousy was aroused by how Sam seemed to have discarded her, despite everything the pair had been through to stop Higgs. All the while, as Fragile held onto the golden mask that Higgs wore, it seemed to come to life in her hands. Beckoning for her to put it on. To give into her strong feelings she had.
Fragile didn’t want to admit it but Higgs was right. The battle may have been over, but the war was still ongoing. Fragile knew she couldn’t stop at Higgs. She couldn’t stoop to his level if she was going to continue helping Sam face the Extinction Entity, the real enemy.
As Fragile looked up, seeing Higgs staring at her over Gene’s shoulder, her heart sank. Without spoken words, Higgs was pleading for Fragile not to take him away from Gene. He weakly shook his head against Gene’s shoulder for emphasis. His way of begging mercy.
“It’s not the way I’m wired.” Fragile whispered to herself, then pointed the barrel of the gun towards the sand and blew off a few rounds. The action surprised Gene as she quickly turned around, seeing Fragile in the distance. Shock crossed her features as she witnessed Fragile discard the gun, pulling her umbrella out from the bag, and began to twirl it before making the jump back home. Not before offering a quick smile in Gene’s direction then going neutral.
Higgs could feel his heart beating a million miles when Fragile jumped. He let out a deep breath as Gene faced him once more, smiling at him proudly.
“Let’s get you out of those binds, yeah?”
Higgs nodded, holding still as Gene walked behind him and began to untangle the strands Sam had used to hogtie Higgs earlier on. He grew more anxious as the last of it came off, and like an animal being free from its cage for the first time in years, Higgs threw himself onto Gene, holding onto her tight as he squeezed her. Gene let out a cheerful cry as more tears left them both before Higgs collapsed with her weakly into the sand, not able to keep up with the broken ribs he had endured.
“I’m sorry--it hurts too much,” Higgs choked out as Gene tucked back strands of Higgs’s hair out of his face.
“It’s okay,” Gene started as her eyes glanced over Higgs's face. She missed this, the longing in his eyes as they stared at each other, completely enraptured.
“I knew you were in there still,” Gene said as Higgs shook his head.
“I fucked up Gene. I fucked up so much I don’t know where to begin to fix shit. I promised your daddy I’d take care of you. Look what I’ve done. I fucked up. I nearly got you killed.” The remorse in his voice hurt as Gene shook her head, bringing Higgs close to her as she held him against her chest, smoothing out his greyed hair.
“Higgs, we don’t have much time.” Gene murmured. “I don’t have much time on the beach.”
Higgs quickly bolted up, concern, and fear taking over his features as he glanced over Gene. She looked alright at a first glance, but then he saw the spot where Gene had been stabbed radiating a dull light, and the umbilical cord on her abdomen. It was slowly fading, turning a deep blue. The color reminded Higgs of the Egyptian myths he had read about, seeing people colored in blue before they were swept off to whatever rebirth awaited them. His bottom lip quivered as he wanted to scream. It was too good to be true, and Higgs felt he should have known better. A person like Higgs could never get a happy ending. Gene wasn’t spared after all from his screw-ups.
Denial took over as he shook his head and gently helped Gene onto her knees. He faced her, cupping her cheeks and feeling over her mask with his thumbs. He so desperately wanted to rip it off so he could feel Gene’s skin but knew doing so would destroy what was left of her.
“If you’re gonna die here, I’m not letting you go alone. There’s nothing back home for me but you. Everything else I’ve destroyed.”
Gene started to chuckle, trying to hide her own worries and sadness as her right hand gently clasped over Higgs’s left arm. She studied his eyes, seeing there would be no point in talking him out of it.
“Every step I took, every sacrifice I made, was to bring you back home,” Gene said sincerely.
“I can’t believe you went through all that for me,” Higgs confessed. “I threw you away and you still--you still fought for me.”
“It’s cause I love you, fucking idiot. I’d smack the shit out of you for what you’ve done, but I’ve been beaten to it.” Gene laughed, her voice weak as Higgs joined her in between cries.
“I wouldn’t blame you darlin’. Not one bit.”
Their foreheads pressed against each other as they nuzzled. Words couldn’t encompass the emotions that flew through both their bodies as they breathed in each other. Despite the beach, and all the foreboding weight it carried, it couldn’t destroy how happy they were to be reunited.
“Higgs, remember when we first met?” Gene asked, her voice careful as Higgs pulled away and sat by her side, letting Gene lean against his shoulder as they looked out towards the ocean. The tide was beginning to make its way towards them. Gene closed her eyes as Higgs began to speak up, hearing his heartbeat steady itself as he took in a deep breath. There was so much he wanted to say but knew it would be wasteful of their final moments together. He settled for paraphrasing, hoping Gene would forgive him for it.
“I thought I forgotten a long time ago,” Higgs whispered as his lips pulled into a smile. “Dancing with you was fun. We should have done more of it. If there’s one memory we get to keep after dying, I hope it’s that.”
His left hand began to entangle itself in Gene’s right, enveloping her fingers as they rested. A peaceful silence fell over both Higgs and Gene as they enjoyed each other's company. Gene suddenly winced and Higgs backed up a little, seeing that the umbilical cord on Gene was nearly gone. He furrowed his brows, getting up as he murmured for Gene to stay put.
Higgs looked through the sands, coming across his golden knife. During the altercation, Sam managed to slam the weapon from Higgs. He grasped it tightly, swallowing as he found it damn near poetic: what better way to die than at the hands of the very weapon he used on his beloved? It was fitting for the end. He calmly walked over to Gene who was now standing up, albeit having difficulty keeping her balance. Her coughs made his chest tighten as Higgs’s features were filled with regret. Upon reaching Gene, they held hands and looked into each other's eyes.
“I’ll be right behind you darlin’. Always.” Higgs vowed, leaning forward to press a soft kiss to her temple. Gene nodded, starting to cry. Higgs assumed it was because she was scared of dying. He couldn’t blame her. There was so much he didn’t know about the afterlife, but Higgs figured Gene and he would figure it out together.
As Higgs took in a deep breath, letting go of Gene’s hand, he aimed the tip of the knife right above his heart. If he was quick, Higgs could easily tear the right ventricle and atrium apart. It wouldn’t be the quickest of deaths, but it was better than going for the throat. Fragile’s gun was lying on the beach not that far away, but with how big it was, Higgs didn’t have the heart to ask Gene to shoot him. He couldn’t traumatize her any more than he had.
“Forgive me.” Gene murmured, and before Higgs could react, he felt something slam onto his face. Gene’s mask latched onto him as he fell backward onto the beach, struggling to pull it off as he yelled.
“No! No! Damn it!” Higgs bellowed, trying in vain to tear it off. His actions came to halt as he got on his knees, watching as the umbilical cord on Gene disappeared. From her abdomen, the dull blue traveled throughout her body. Gene’s eyes closed as she let out a sigh, her breath visible in the air as she turned towards Higgs and grinned. He stared at her in disbelief. She was looking more and more like a victim of frostbite by the second.
“My mask will take you home, it’ll make the jump.” Gene said as her tone grew duller. It was as if her vocal cords were shrinking up, disappearing entirely from her neck.
“No, you can’t! You can’t do this!” Higgs protested as he crawled over to her, grabbing a hold of her body.
“You gotta live, Higgs. For me. I can pass on knowing I brought you home. I can’t let you destroy yourself for me.”
“Gene, damn it! Darlin’, you can’t leave. You can’t go! Fuck! Gene don’t leave me, please!” Higgs begged, his voice growing hoarse as he could feel her slipping away. His hands suddenly went through Gene's body, as if she were a projection. Higgs watched in awe as Gene’s expression went neutral, her eyes fixated on the waves as the last bit of her body turned. Like a zombie, she marched towards the waves. Dipping into the shore before the water met her at waist level. There was a pure light on the horizon that appeared and like a moth, Gene had been drawn to it. A terrible rage flickered in Higgs as he snapped out of his trance, knowing that if Gene made it to that light, it was over.
“No! Gene come back! Come back!” Higgs screamed, then frantically looked for the knife. In vain he grabbed a hold of it and started slicing at himself, but thanks to the power of Gene's mask, no wounds came from his onslaught. In disbelief, Higgs shook his head, sprinting towards Gene while he could feel his body being tugged back. Like victims of BTs becoming engulfed, Higgs was dragged through Amelie’s beach. He yelled until he couldn’t feel anything. His voice and not even his heartbeat registered as he was shot back to the world of the living.
Higgs’s body was lying on the cot in the old bunker he grew up in. He was lifeless until his eyes suddenly shot open. His lungs took in a deep inhale before Higgs turned to the side and began vomiting. Coughing horribly, Higgs gripped his stomach. His wounds from the fight with Sam still remained. He could feel his broken ribs ride up against spots they were not supposed to touch. As his Ka settled into his Ha, Higgs squinted and took in his surroundings. Upon realizing where he was, he shook his head. Denial and deep guilt pooled in his gut as he forced his body out of bed and took off running to the stairs.
The sun blinded Higgs as he made it out of the bunker and fell onto his knees, kicking up dust and dirt. He closed his eyes, gripping at a rock nearby him and then tossed it out of anger. He leaned up, glancing around. Gene wasn’t here. Whatever stupid hope he had gone out the window as he whimpered. She was truly gone. Higgs momentarily stopped, feeling something in his right hand. Looking down, he nearly shattered like glass. The beautiful Egyptian and Aztec themed bracelet he bought for Gene long ago was in his possession. His cries became louder, yelling and cursing until his body gave out. It was the final nail in the coffin for Higgs, a physical reminder of what he lost.
Sam may have saved the day by beating him physically, but his heart did the rest of ripping him to shreds. Higgs Monaghan had been defeated.
Time didn’t matter. Not when a loved one was no longer in the world of the living. Higgs spiraled out of control. Besides drinking himself to sleep, he went on a craze after most of his wounds were healed and patched. The bunker had already been in disarray from the big plans he had for Homo Demens, the seal of approval granted by Amelie. Everything Higgs had to hide from the world was splayed out in a chaotic mess only someone with either a brilliant or fearful mind could comprehend. Graffiting the walls became his latest binge until Higgs had run out of paint and pens. Most of it was intangible by the time Higgs sobered up, but it made sense in his own way. Since losing his DOOMs, it had become a coping mechanism; the brain trying to ground itself after being bombarded by nightmares it couldn’t fully comprehend without destroying itself.
After covering the walls of the bunker, Higgs decided he needed to get his feelings down. No matter how incohesive it was, the emotions that had been stabbing his heart since Gene’s passing needed to be vanquished. Much like his determination on the beach, Higgs had a plan he was ready to set into motion. He stayed up all day and night, writing out journal entries. Each of them detailing a significant part of his pathetic life that led to his undoing. There were too many details, so Higgs resorted to paraphrasing the majority of his life. Several times, he wanted to write about Gene. How they met, what kind of person she was, some sort of testament to her life and legacy. Alas, he was too weak to put the words down. Higgs thought he would be tainting the truth about her. He had destroyed her, and he’d be damned to continue the onslaught after Gene’s death.
Higgs didn’t reach the catharsis he had hoped for, but by the time his entries were complete, a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. All he felt now was numb. He didn’t know what to do anymore. Having been so ready to throw away life for the Extinction Entity, Higgs had no clue how to go about finding purpose again. He couldn’t return to living the life of a porter. Not with the reputation he had built up. The UCA would kill him. There was no getting a slap on the wrist from the law, regardless if he had been seduced by Amelie and her abilities and somehow had evidence to back it up. Higgs couldn’t go forward, and he couldn’t go back. He was stranded.
The night he completed his journal entries, Higgs cried himself to sleep. He tightly held onto Gene’s bracelet. It had been a long while, and Higgs was already forgetting what she smelled like. He would have given anything for a picture, but it was too risky to hack the Chiral Network. There was also uncertainty about the state of the world that flooded him. Higgs had no clue if Sam was capable of saving the world from extinction. With how Amelie flipped on decision making, it wouldn’t have surprised Higgs if she’d pull a fast one on Sam. A being like her, with the complexity of human emotions, was a disaster waiting to happen. Higgs just prayed that if the world was going to end, it would be quick. Nonetheless, if Sam managed to find a way out of the mess, Higgs had left him a simple request and a treasure trove of information if the porter sought it out. Higgs figured revealing his secrets, no matter how maddening, was the least he could have done for Sam. He wanted his rival to understand him, even just a little. It was the human part of Higgs that wanted to be remembered.
Higgs awoke the next day. Grumbling, he reached for a bottle of stale wine and drank the last bit. Smacking his lips, Higgs grimaced at how bitter the taste had become. Sitting up on the cot, he put Gene’s bracelet on his right wrist, looking down at it sorrowfully. His fingertips on his left hand gently traced over the trinket.
“Forgive me, darlin’.” Higgs murmured, rising from the cot as he went to the locker nearby. It had been his daddy’s once upon a time.
Making a face, Higgs searched around and came upon a handgun. He checked the chamber and other compartments, finding there were two bullets. One for daddy, and one for Higgs, he remembered from his youth. Higgs was ready to die and be buried with the demons that lingered in this godforsaken bunker. He knew his legacy was done for. Offing himself would be the most sensible thing to do for the world. He was a coward anyway.
Higgs took in a deep breath as he held the gun to his temple. He swallowed, feeling his body wanting to fight against what his brain commanded. Before he could pull the trigger, Higgs heard a commotion coming from above ground. Sighing, he tucked the handgun into his pocket and headed up the stairs. Whoever it was, he didn’t care.
Storming out of the entryway, Higgs walked out of the terminal only to see three people standing twenty feet away. His features softened, going to fear soon after. He could make out their masks from afar along with their unique getup. It had to be them. The Death Walkers Amelie had mentioned. The ones Gene consorted with. Higgs could feel his body tremble, even without DOOMs, he could sense that the three individuals were not to be fucked with. Shooting himself in the head was starting to sound good once again as two began making their way towards Higgs, while the other, the one in the middle, went to a bike and took off a large package then made their descent.
Higgs took a step back when they got closer, to which the individuals stopped minus the middleman. It became clear that it was no package he had been holding, but a body bag. Higgs felt his spine freeze. Instinct told him to flee, but he was too damn curious for his own good.
Pride furrowed his brows as he stopped in his tracks, five feet from where Higgs was. His gaze locked with Higgs’s blue eyes, looking him over as hesitation crossed his features. Pride held onto the body bag tightly, cradling it like a child in his arms. He shook, wanting to fight against what needed to be done.
“You’re the Jackal in the flesh.” Pride said as Higgs swallowed the lump that had been growing in his throat.
“I dunno what you’re playin’ at old-timer, but I never been called that,” Higgs said in his defense.
“You lost your DOOMs and probably don’t remember much of us, but we have been watching you, Higgs. We’ve seen what you’ve done.” Pride said. He tried to hide the bitterness in his tone.
“What do you want from me?” Higgs asked, furrowing his brows into a glare. He braced himself as Pride took a step forward and presented the body bag.
Pride closed his eyes, gaining his composure. It was hard given the circumstances, but he needed to let go. Pride never thought something like this would be so difficult. Not for someone like him was very much in tune with death. The clan's visions never lied. He had to trust them.
“If you want her, go ahead and take her.” Pride said in a low voice, stretching his arms out further for emphasis.
Higgs was about to say something foolish until he repeated Pride's sentence in his head. Eyes widening, Higgs rushed over and grabbed a hold of the body bag. It felt like he was carrying a small kid with how little muscle was on the corpse that resided within. He fell to his knees, pressing his cheek up against where Gene’s face would have been and started choking up. His body quaked as Higgs rocked the corpse back and forth in his arms, desperately wishing there was some sign of life in the Ha that Gene left behind.
Pride and the other two sorrowfully watched the scene unfold. He crossed his arms, keeping his emotions in check but he too had shed tears. This would be the last time he would be around his pupil. Pride knew the consequences of Gene’s actions if she went down the path she had chosen to save Higgs but even he foolishly believed that Gene would have given up on Higgs before her actions caught up with her body. By all accounts, Pride felt she deserved a full funeral. One where the clan would celebrate her time among them. Her body set aflame in a roaring fire, not before her handprint was added to the wall where physical signs of the departed remained. Gene deserved all the rites, and yet Pride had to forsake them all for a man who had burned cities and lives to the ground.
“Take her to the incinerator. You’ll know the one.” Pride whispered, crouching down as he got eye level with Higgs.
Higgs looked up, his tears falling down his cheeks as he nodded. No words needed to convey how thankful he was for getting this chance to put Gene to rest.
Pride softly smiled then went neutral as he rose up. His two companions from the clan disappeared into one of the astral planes while he traveled back to the bike, starting the engine up and began his long travel back home.
There were a thousand questions Higgs had from the strange encounter, but he blinked and realized the weight of the situation. He had to act fast. Whatever had been preserving Gene, he could sense it was no longer there. She was a void out waiting to happen. He didn’t waste time taking Gene’s body into the bunker and then prepared to leave. Higgs found his old porter pack discarded underneath the cot and filled it with the necessaries then gently fastened the body bag to it. He was careful, tearing up all the while he was being gentle with Gene’s corpse. Higgs was half tempted to unzip and look upon her face but decided against it. The only lasting images he wanted of Gene, was when she was alive and with him on the beach.
Higgs dug through old maps he had screwed with earlier on and began looking for beacons. There were not as many incinerators these days. Most having been taken out by Homo Demens as an act of terror. He beat himself up over it as he realized the nearest one was closest to Capitol Knot City. Higgs knew the risks, knowing there was a high likelihood he would be detained, but as he looked over his shoulder at the body bag, his resolve grew. Higgs didn’t care. The UCA could do whatever they wanted with him so long as he got to give Gene's body a proper cremation.
The journey had been treacherous. Between encountering MULE camps, his own broken body from the fight with Sam, and dodging Timefall, Higgs was amazed he had the grit to survive all the way to the incinerator. He considered himself lucky by most standards. Higgs traveled day and night, hardly getting sleep as he kept watch of Gene like a hawk. He started talking to Gene’s body as if she were still around. It was the only solace he had during the trip, despite how morbid it was. Higgs had no one else after all.
Determination filled his heart as Higgs witnessed the large grey foreboding structure upon making the climb up through the mountain pass. Furrowing his brows, he caught his breath while bracing himself for the inevitable. This would be the final goodbye. His final delivery.
“C’mon darlin’, we don’t have much further,” Higgs whispered, then forced his legs to move. He trembled all the while, feeling the atmosphere growing cold by the second. He could smell the rain from miles ahead. The dark grey skies were in the distance, signifying their presence elsewhere. Higgs made haste as he held onto the straps of his porter pack tightly. No matter what, he would see this through until the end.
When Higgs entered the incinerator, he was cradling Gene’s body bag in his arms, having discarded his porter pack near the entrance. His eyes gazed around at the morose scenery. The windows had been thrashed, no doubt due to BTs and the elements. The glass was covered in dust and filth from the passage of time. The blue chandeliers that dangled down the ceiling, emitting their cerulean hues added more to the ambiance. Every so often, the lights would flicker on and off, illuminating how vast the building was. To Higgs, it was amazing how once upon a time, incinerators were places people had gathered to celebrate life after death, where people had come to move on. Churches had long since been extinct, this was the closest to sanctuary one could get. There was no redemption for him here as Higgs boldly looked ahead. He came to do one thing and one thing only.
Higgs went through the motions after setting the body bag down, getting one of the many crematorium machines up and running. It was so quick, he was surprised it took mere seconds until the table popped out of the ground, waiting for him to place the body bag down. Higgs slowly picked up Gene, his arms hovering her body above the metallic table as he took in a deep breath and placed her. He made sure to straighten her legs out through the bag, keeping her head upright. All that was left was saying a prayer or two and pushing a button. His brain registered the finality, and Higgs snapped.
Higgs fell to his knees and sobbed. His heart throbbed painfully in his chest as he begged and pleaded for anyone to hear him, to not make him go through with this. By all accounts, Higgs deserved it, but by God, it was excruciating. Higgs already had to say goodbye once, but a second time and only to an empty shell felt humiliating and ghastly. Gene deserved better than this.
“I’m sorry---I’m so sorry darlin’--I’m so sorry baby,” Higgs said between shallow breaths, wiping at his eyes as he started to lightly bang his head against the metal table.
“I’m not--I’m not strong enough. I’m sorry Gene, I’m sorry. I’m so damn sorry. Damn it!” Higgs got up, storming out of the building. He couldn’t do this anymore. Of all people, he deserved to suffer, but Higgs couldn’t face the music.
Outside of the incinerator, Higgs began to pace around, trying to man up and finish what he started. If he was truly a so-called god as he claimed before, one death should have been easy. Nonetheless, Higgs was a mere man. A flawed one. He cried into his hands, ignoring his surroundings. It was the only comfort he had. There was no one else to mourn with but his lonesome.
A thud echoed throughout the building, catching Higgs’s attention but he was too caught up in his own sorrows to look behind and see what was up. Being the only person in the area, he highly doubted it was BTs or an intruder. The building was decrepit. Anything could easily fall off. It was only when he heard the sound of a zipper coming loose, did Higgs quickly turn. His blood ran cold, eyes blown wide as he silenced himself.
An arm began to reach out of the body bag. At first, it looked like a mutilated piece of flesh and bone until it appeared as if time reversed itself. The arm became strong, lively. As if life were breathed back into it. The rest of the bag opened up, and Gene’s upper half rose. Shallow breaths escaped her mouth as she tiredly became aware of her surroundings. Gene looked like she had been in a coma for years. In Higgs’s eyes, she looked as beautiful as the night he had met her. Disbelief washed over Higgs as he looked on cautiously, hoping his mind wasn't playing tricks.
As Gene got out of the body bag, her hands felt over herself. She vaguely remembered the afterlife. How quiet it was, and how she didn’t feel or sense anything. Pain was the first sensory she gained back as she stumbled onto her feet, feeling her nerves trying to make connections. Like a newborn, she swayed. Every so often tripping and ending up on a knee. It was strange, being back in a body. Gene kept her eyes on the ground, making sure she didn’t run into anything before her head looked up. There were no words to express the shock and awe of seeing Higgs in the flesh. Gene’s body tensed as her eyes watered.
“Higgs?” She called out weakly.
Higgs nodded, smiling as his eyes blurred from more tears. He held out his arms, watching Gene get closer while his bottom lip trembled. When Gene tripped and had fallen against his chest, Higgs held her tight as he shouted and screamed in joy. Gene was a mess, bawling her eyes out as she embraced him back. Hands traced over faces and lips sloppily met from time to time. All the while, as they celebrated their reunion, neither of them noticed how Gene’s lower back had been connected to a faded umbilical cord, surrounded by a light that faded with each passing second. There were BTs nearby too, but they merely stood as witnesses then disappeared.
Hours later, Higgs carried Gene in his arms as she slept. They were far away from Capitol Knot City, and out of range from MULEs. Words couldn’t begin to express the life that shot back through Higgs as he gazed down at her. He smiled, tucking a braid of Gene’s hair behind her ear while he carried on. Despite his wounds, Higgs wasn't about to let anything stop him.
“Where are we gonna go?” Gene croaked out, her voice was hoarse as she drifted in and out of sleep. Her Ka was exhausted trying to accumulate to her Ha again.
“Somewhere far away,” Higgs murmured. “I’ll build you a new world. Just the two of us.”
Gene smiled, snuggling into his chest further as Higgs shut his eyes, stopping for a moment to compose himself. He had been through so much in his short life that his mind begun to race, flooded by an avalanche of painful memories and regret until a simple comfort entered Higgs's consciousness: Gene was home. That was all he needed to keep moving forward.
281 pages and over 140,000 words later and we have arrived at the finale. I'm satisfied with the ending, having changed it at the last second. This was not the direction I expected to go, but I'm happy I listened to my gut here. With the state of the world, I felt like people needed hope. And maybe I did too.
Thank you to those have been reading since the beginning, and thank you to those that have taken the time to leave me feedback and reviews. This is bittersweet, but it's been incredibly fun working on this fic. I'm not sure what other projects I'm gonna do yet aside from working on my own original content offline, but I hope you stick around.
Summary:
Here's some context in case people need a refresher: This chapter occurs in the first part of the game where Sam is getting ready to dispose of the body in Central. Everything you're reading right now, happened behind the scenes before Higgs got the big ass BT (Biggs) to destroy everything.
Notes:
Thanks for your patience guys and thank you to those that have reached out to me about my grandmother's passing. I hope you all are safe, that you've found some peace during quarantine, and that my work entertains you. Please don't give up. We can get through this. Thank you for sticking around <3
Fragile crossed her arms, leaning against a rock formation with a rugged valley below the cliffside she was on. The silhouette of Central Knot City was within range, covered in a thick fog. She could smell that Timefall would come around again, it was only natural for this terrain. The area didn’t get too much sun, usually blanketed in clouds and soft shades of blue.
The first contact with Sam Bridges had been made, and her mind was swimming with all the manners of thought. It didn’t necessarily go according to plan, but for all intents and purposes, Fragile had a feeling if she could get him to let his guard down a little it would be easy to convince Sam to help her take Higgs out. Nonetheless, Sam wasn’t immune to the rumors and news that spread that Fragile Express had worked with terrorists. He didn’t outright say it to Fragile, but she knew well enough by the harshness of his tone that Sam strongly distrusted her and was aware of the situation that befallen the company. Fragile couldn’t blame him. Higgs did a good job ruining her reputation and then some.
While waiting for Gene to arrive, she ate a few cryptopbiotes from a small jar that was clipped on her duffle bag. The moist crunch against her teeth made Fragile hum in delight. The metallic taste was unpleasant at first, but she found herself scarfing the small creatures like the candy rocks her father used to purchase. It was the only thing she found through Heartman’s research that could help stop the spread of Timefall damage that ravished her body.
Fragile crunched on yet another cryptobiote, then sensed something off in the atmosphere. She stopped her motions, body freezing in place. The sensation was akin to when she could feel a BT close by, watching and waiting for the right moment to come out of hiding. Fragile looked outwards and scanned the horizons. The weather hadn’t changed. There was no Timefall, no indication a BT would be wandering about. There was also no indication a BT had that kind of power to sneak up on her. Fragile’s DOOMs level was extraordinarily high. She could sense a BT coming from miles away, but not this creature.
Fragile slowly turned her head, letting out a small gasp as she saw a figure before her vision. After scanning the body, it didn’t take long to register who the stranger was. The familiar face lighting up in her mind as she smiled.
“Gene!” Fragile calmly took a few steps forward as Gene remained in place. She smiled behind her mask, the mouth part of it showing her gentle lips among rows of teeth. It was then that Fragile’s smile faded upon seeing Gene’s new look. She observed the rope strand of cords on Gene’s upper right arm, seemingly covered in blood and dripping down her flesh. How there was a barely visible umbilical cord attached to her abdomen, the end piece broken as if a father had cut it after the birth of his child.
“Gene.” Fragile repeated the name quietly as it dawned on her that the peculiar energy had been emitting off of her ally.
“It’s still me. I’m just a little--different.” Gene said with a chuckle, rubbing the back of her neck. She levitated about a foot off the ground and found herself lowering onto the grass nearby. Her feet gently rocking against the blades of green.
“This isn’t your Ha, is it?” Fragile asked as Gene nodded.
“My body is back with the Death Walkers. I’m currently walking between this plane and another dimension. There was no way I could have met you out here in time if I took another route.”
“I apologize. If I wasn’t feeling so weak from Timefall damage, I would have made the jump to you.”
“It’s no biggie. I’m just glad you’re okay,” Gene said.
Fragile nodded, nonetheless surprised. She swallowed and blinked, deciding it was best not to get into questions. She had a million for Gene, so many that proper words couldn’t form in mind, but time was of the essence. There was a serious reason for their meeting to take place. A storm coming in the form of a fight.
“I’m relieved you found a way to get to me. I made some contacts, and encountered Sam Bridges.” Fragile said with relief in her voice. Gene smiled but could see there was hesitation in Fragile’s features, something she hadn't mentioned yet.
“Did everything go alright, is he going to help with Higgs?” Gene asked curiously.
“We--didn’t get that far into the conversation. There was a BT swarm, and he got a call from work. He knows about Higgs, our company's reputation at least due to him. It’s not going to be easy, getting Sam to join us in our fight but I am going to try contacting him again.” Fragile said as Gene furrowed her brows.
“Would you be angry that I'm glad you failed in a way?” Gene asked as Fragile shrugged.
“Maybe weeks ago I would have been, but for your sake, I’m glad it ended this way,” Fragile said sincerely, knowing how much it meant to Gene to try to convince Higgs to return to himself, return to her, to justice. Deep down, she still believed Gene’s conquest was a fool's errand and there was no point in trying to save Higgs. Not after everything he had done. Nonetheless, she wasn’t cruel enough to extinguish the opportunity Gene had, even if Fragile strongly felt it was built upon false hope.
“Did you sense Higgs coming this way towards Central Knot, based on the reports I told you about last night?” Fragile asked.
Gene took a few steps towards Fragile, standing right alongside her and looking out towards the city. Gene briefly looked down the cliffside, watching as small bits of debris fell down to the earth below.
“I didn’t have to. I found Homo Demens and I took them out, save four that escaped.” Gene said. The words were so bold, that Fragile had to let out a chuckle, thinking it was out of the question.
“You’re joking, right?” She asked.
“No, I’m not.” Gene said, her tone serious as Fragile frowned. She let out a deep breath, tongue briefly flicking out to run along her bottom lip as she contemplated. Shock crept up her spine repeating Gene’s words in her head, only to stop pondering when Gene turned her gaze towards her.
“How--?” Fragile was speechless as Gene let out a sigh.
“I killed them. I had to before they detonated the bombs towards the city limit shields. I sensed them while traveling to you, it was easier than I thought.” Gene swallowed, feeling her mask tighten a little from sensing chiral matter as a small hiss escaped her throat.
“It must be a heavy burden, having all that power on your Ka like this.” Fragile said.
“If it saves Higgs, whatever pain I’m in will be worth it.” Gene replied.
Fragile reached a hand out, resting it on Gene’s shoulder for comfort. Gene felt cold to the touch but almost weightless. It was as if Fragile’s hand at any moment would fall right through Gene like a ghost venturing through the walls of a decrepit house.
“What’s it like?” Fragile asked, snapping Gene out of her thoughts roaming over Higgs.
“Like being born---only much colder. I can’t explain, but I don’t feel sick or numb, I’m just here. The pain I felt just now was from my body. The ocasus plant has affected my Ha stronger this time around.”
“Is your body alright, going through this?” Fragile asked. Gene had communicated telepathically a while back on the training Pride was having her undergo, but Gene didn't elaborate on how stressful it was. How it might have been killing her slowly, draining her Ka over time until there would be nothing left but a hollow shell ready to cross over. Gene didn’t want to scare Fragile, or have her call off the whole deal they had when it came to capturing Higgs.
“I’ll be fine. If you could survive Timefall as you did, rest assured I’m just as badass as you.” Gene smiled, putting on a brave face as Fragile let out a sigh and nodded.
“Higgs has grown stronger. I faced him a few days ago before venturing to find Sam.” Fragile said, watching as Gene’s expression turned morose. The news hurt her from what Fragile could tell.
“Why didn’t you say something sooner to me?” Gene asked.
“Because if I distracted you from your training by sending out a signal, it could have hurt you. I didn’t want you jumping into the arena when you weren’t ready to fight. Also, I wanted to see for myself how much he changed. Higgs tried to cut me down after he went into a long speech about him being the particle of god. How he was chosen. He’s lost himself in illusions of grandeur. I don’t know how you intend on reasoning with him, but---Gene, he’s very lost.” Fragile admitted. The sadness in her voice was telling, shifting a type of weight onto Gene she couldn’t explain. It felt like rocks had been placed on Gene's stomach, and she was waiting out for the pressure to pop her organs.
“Higgs is going to attack Central Knot soon. I have copies of his plans I retrieved from Homo Demens camp on the way to the city. You were right about earlier, the terrorists were going to blow the shield generators and attract BTs to the city limits to cause a void out.”
Fragile tilted her head up and gazed at the sky. The clouds were growing dark by the second, and Fragile’s spikes on her uniform stood up. It was a clear indication that Timefall was lurking around the corner, coming in at a high speed. She swallowed along with Gene as they both stood in silence, letting their respective powers pick up on the dull aura rampaging about the area. Despite Gene having grown strong, there were some senses Fragile had that Gene could never fathom and vice versa. Fragile seemed more in tune with the atmosphere than Gene was.
“That’s him, isn’t it? Higgs is creating Chiral clouds.” Gene asked as Fragile nodded.
“I can smell that it's him,” Fragile said as Gene swallowed.
“We shouldn’t waste time. Sam was heading towards the city limits, right?” Gene asked.
Fragile’s eyes widened as she shook her head. “No, we can’t let anything happen to him. Not when--oh god this is bad.”
“I have an idea,” Gene said, resting a hand on Fragile’s shoulder for a brief moment before she gestured at the duffle bag Fragile had resting on the ground.
“You have those plans right? There are Homo Demens members I didn’t have the chance to take out. If you make sure they don’t detonate the bombs located on those plans, I’ll fight Higgs then we’ll meet up and take him down together.”
Fragile thought Gene sounded a little too confident for her own good, nonetheless, the idea seemed sound. It was the best shot they had. Nonetheless, Fragile was disappointed in herself. If she wasn’t suffering side effects from Timefall at the moment, she could have lent a hand in helping Gene fight Higgs.
“Don’t get cocky when facing him, Gene. I didn’t get the chance to fight him earlier. He was so strong, I had to flee in order to survive. I hope for your sake, you know what you’re doing.” Fragile said softly.
“Higgs uses death to achieve his ends, and I’m going to use life for mine.” Gene said and lifted her hand up, looking down at her palm along with Fragile who watched as a pure light began to glow around Gene’s fingertips.
“Fragile, when you take out those other Homo Demens, don’t burn their bodies as I did to the others. Bring them to me, however close you can get when you make the jump.” Gene said calmly.
“Those will bring BTs out.” Fragile said.
“I know, but trust me. I got a plan.” Gene said as she gave a smile towards Fragile.
Higgs scoped out Central Knot with a pair of binoculars he had, letting out a huff as he furrowed his brows. He didn’t understand, the shields to the cities access points should have toppled down by now. Higgs sighed, tossing the binoculars down, kicking up debris into the air. He stood still for a moment, eyes closing as he tried using his DOOMs to sense anything amiss. There was nothing he could pick up on that would give any indication his men had been incapacitated.
“Fucking idiots,” Higgs said aloud, figuring Homo Demens must’ve screwed up the circuits to the bombs. It wouldn’t have been the first time it happened, but with something so important as blowing up Central Knot, Higgs couldn’t afford any mishaps. Not when Amelie was counting on him. Not when he was getting ready to face his adversary for the first time. Regardless, Higgs was thankful he had a backup plan with Deeter’s corpse. Sneaking the poor fellow in to look like a suicide so the body disposal team would come out could work in his favor if the bombs didn’t work. Deeter didn't have much time left before BTs would come sniffing him out.
Whatever trepidation Higgs felt had fallen away as he squinted his eyes, looking ahead. He bent down, picking up the binoculars and dusted them before looking through the lenses. Clear as day, he could see Sam Bridges in his rugged wonder, getting close to arriving within the city. He had a few more miles to trek, but he was so damn close that Higgs could almost smell his fear. Higgs chuckled, shaking his head as he put the binoculars down.
“Oh Sammy boy, this is gonna be fun. The bombs haven’t gone off, but it don’t mean I can’t fuck with you right now. I’m sure Amelie won’t mind me tossing you around a bit before the big show.” Higgs proudly said, grinning as he could feel his body brim with energy. The thrill of the hunt was on his mind as he stepped back from his lookout spot, and got ready to jump.
Higgs stopped dead in his tracks, feeling something creep up his nostrils. A smell made its way through the chambers of his skull, and he felt a sense of dread make its way up his spine along with a yearning he hadn’t felt in a while. Higgs’s eyes widened a bit as he glanced towards the area where it was coming from, seeing someone was approaching from afar.
Higgs, snapping out of his temporary freeze, stood his ground and clenched his fists. He glared towards the figure making its way casually to him.
“It ain’t kind to sneak up on someone,” Higgs said with a dark chuckle, hiding whatever fear might have lurked under his flesh.
“I had no intention of scaring you. Especially to an old friend.” Gene said, her voice making Higgs drop his guard as he could feel something in his heart ache. He swallowed, seeing Gene coming more into his vision. Higgs was in awe at the power radiating off of her being, he craved it just as much as he craved pulling Gene into his arms to sate whatever touch starvation he had from being away from her for so long. He blinked a few times, wondering if maybe this was another hallucination, some trickery his mind was putting him through so he wouldn’t stay on the beaten path Amelie had for him.
“You--Gene.” Higgs said, eyes looking over Gene as she stopped about twenty feet away from him. He looked right at her eyes, seeing how bold they had become versus their last encounter. He then settled on her mask, seeing the rows of sharp teeth on the mouth part, and how the lower jaw was reminiscent of a powerful canine.
“It suits you well, the raw anger of it. I suppose you’re still mad at me for what happened back in Middle Knot.” Higgs said calmly, gesturing towards it. “But honey, do you have the stomach for the kind of power it's giving you? You feel--no, you smell--” Higgs paused and took in a deep breath, removing his mask for better effect. His eyes rolled back into his head as Gene merely looked on, watching him like a hawk as he sniffed the air further.
“You smell phenomenal. As good as the night we ravished each other. Remember that? Oh, I do.” Higgs chuckled. “I miss it when it was just me and you in that cave. Back when none of this bullshit was going on. No one could touch you the way I did. You certainly had me, a god, at your beck and call.”
Gene let out a deep breath, shaking her head as she tried not to let the feelings of that night plague her thoughts. “If you answer for what you’ve done to Fragile and everyone else you fucked over maybe we can salvage what’s left of us.”
For a brief moment, Gene could see a light in Higgs’s eyes that screamed he wanted nothing more than to do just that before his calm demeanor turned cold. Almost too playful for his own good.
“Darlin’, this thing here between you and I ain’t nothin’ compared to what’s coming. The final extinction. The end of this fucking world. It’s coming to a stop whether you or I like it or not. No one’s gettin' off this here train. Gene, why waste our time beating each other to a pulp when we can enjoy a final sunrise together, hm?”
Higgs suddenly jumped, teleporting right in front of Gene. He was taken aback Gene didn’t lurch away unlike before. Gene stood her ground, staring up at his cool blue eyes as her eyes wandered over his. Higgs’s gaze lingered on her lips before he cupped the side of her cheek, taken aback at the texture of bone that made out Gene’s mask.
“That’s why you came out here, right? Is that why you got stronger, to be my equal, so you could stomach the painful things that need to be done? Please tell me it’s true.” Higgs’s words were dripping with a smoothness Gene wished nothing more than to fall into, to become enraptured by his voice like before. But as she took his hand off her face, lowering it down all the while holding his sight, Gene shook her head.
“I got stronger for me, Higgs. Extinction is coming--I’ve seen signs of death with the powers I have. You’re right about it, but Higgs, your story doesn’t have to end like this. We don’t have to fight, just come back home with me. Please. We can hide from the world. The UCA doesn’t have to capture you. I can keep you safe. Higgs, we can restart our lives. I’ll go wherever you want to go, but--Higgs, don’t make bring you back in a body bag.”
Gene pleaded in all sincerity, with every fiber in her being that still loved him. She could see the gears in his mind turning and yet the crazed look was still ever-present. Higgs then took both of her hands into his, squeezing them tight as Gene winced, furrowing her brows as he smiled.
“Darlin’, I have a better idea. What if--just hear me out,” Higgs waved a finger in front of Gene, silencing whatever words wanted to come forth and interrupt him. “Gene you’ve gotten so strong--with your power and mine, maybe we can destroy the Extinction Entity. Fuck Amelie. What if we make this world bow down to us? You and me, a pharaoh and his queen, conquerors of death. We can end the world on our terms. We can break the strands one by one and undo billions of years of suffering and bullshit.”
Gene shook her head, pulling back in full from Higgs as he let out a gasp. “I choose life, Higgs. Even over you.”
Gene’s words hurt Higgs to the core as he briefly appeared upset. He quickly composed himself, letting a deep breath escape his nostrils as he placed his mask back on and chuckled.
“Have it your way hon. I saw the end, we end up together on the beach as Amelie foretold. You’re just too stubborn to see it yourself.”
Gene tilted her head before she sighed sadly. “You made this easier for me to take everything from you.”
Higgs let out a laugh, giving a clap with his hands as he sighed, not amused in the slightest. “Now, you’re strong but you’re nothing compared to me. I’m Higgs, the Particle of God that permeates all existence. What’s the worst you gonna do, slap me around a bit, maybe growl? You have no domain over me Gene--”
As soon as Higgs blinked, Gene was gone. He let out a gasp as he could feel her come right by his side, and felt her fist collide with his face. Higgs tumbled back as Gene disappeared and reappeared on the opposite end and pummeled him once more before teleporting back to her original spot. It happened so fast, even with Higgs’s power he wasn’t able to keep up with the speed.
“How--how the fuck--!?” He was angry as he could feel blood trickle down his nose. Gene merely stared him down.
“Slapping some sense into you sounds like a good time to me.” Gene shrugged, letting out a laugh as Higgs sneered.
“Alright, I’ve had enough going easy on you.” Higgs muttered stretching his arms out.
A wave of BT’s shaped like the thousands of victims Higgs made from every bomb Homo Demens created lunged towards Gene. Her eyes widened, seeing the massive forms come at her like a plague of zombies trying to get their jaws into a piece of flesh. Gene’s arms stretched, body lighting up with a clear aura as the black wave crashed down on her. Higgs flexed his fingers, trying to summon the BT’s to bring Gene to him but over time he could see as much as they attempted in vain, Gene wouldn’t budge. The BT’s began to screech every time they made an impact on Gene, their essence shirking back into the ground and disappearing.
“How in the hell--” Higgs was speechless, watching as Gene ceased her ability and glared. For the first time, Higgs was truly scared of her as he backed up.
“You use death, I use life. We’re gonna cancel each other out, but it’s my turn Higgs.” Gene said firmly, stretching her arms. The aura once more showed up, and Gene closed her eyes and released a breath. A long stream of her Ka escaped from her, splitting into four separate strands that quickly moved through the atmosphere to arrive at their respective destinations. As soon as she felt her Ka settle, Gene quickly moved her arms forward and in a flash, the four corpses of Homo Demens Gene had Fragile dispatch flew to her side. The strands of Gene’s Ka made up an umbilical cord on their lower backs, connecting to Gene’s partial umbilical cord on her abdomen.
The corpses sluggishly began to flex, mimicking whatever gestures Gene was performing. Upon Gene opening her eyes, they too did the same thing. A hollow grey filled their orbs as they readied themselves to fight their leader. A harsh snake-like hiss escaped their mouths while Gene breathed, and Higgs felt his blood boil upon seeing the familiar faces staring at him.
“You fucking bitch--” Higgs said, and before he could shield himself, Gene and the four Homo Demens were on him. He felt every kick and every punch. As Higgs tried to escape by jumping, Gene was able to match him. She teleported with such ferocity even with the powers Amelie had bestowed, Higgs couldn’t keep up. Higgs was growing frustrated by the second, and slowly losing his resolve despite his best efforts to counter and avoid the blows. Nonetheless, Higgs had been watching Gene for patterns. Over time, he was beginning to get the idea of where she would go. She followed him like a duckling to its mother, and Higgs decided to take advantage of that.
Upon receiving a punch from one of his undead comrades at Gene’s command, he stared right at Gene, watching as her body began to teleport. Using his DOOMs, Higgs watched for that split second where Gene would appear right in front of him to hit, and upon catching it, Higgs punched Gene square in the face and sent her flying. She collided into the ground, skidding herself as debris flew past them. The Homo Demens Ka puppets fell to their knees, writhing in pain mimicking that of their host. Higgs took the opportunity to dispose of them, jumping to each one and using BTs to snuff the Ka out. It caused mini void outs to occur, small five-foot craters appearing where the corpses once stood. Higgs looked up every time Gene screamed, growing amused by the second as he began to connect the dots.
“Putting your Ka into the bodies of my men was not only insulting but stupid too! It’s killing you as well, ain’t it darlin’?” Higgs mocked, finishing off the last one though Higgs made sure the BT that locked lips with Utto’s corpse made the process slow, wanting to enjoy Gene shudder in pain. She managed to get onto her knees but screamed aloud to the point where Gene could sense her Ha back with the Death Walkers was becoming overwhelmed by the stimulation. It was like a thousand daggers were drowning her throat as the BT further embodied the corpse, consuming whatever Ka was in its wake.
Higgs chuckled, making the jump to Gene as he picked her up by the collar, and began to punch her face in over and over. He didn’t care if her mask hurt his knuckles or how much she bled, Higgs was enraged at how much of a fool she made him out to be. Enraged she thought she could beat him. His pride was hurt and he took it out on her then tossed Gene to the side.
“Stay down, Gene! You’re nothing compared to me! You’re all smoke and mirrors! Those people, whoever taught you how to use your Ka like that are idiots! Do you really want to die like this, at my hand? Do you?!” Higgs yelled, his tone bellowing as he approached Gene, getting ready to kick her.
“Fragile, now!” Gene exclaimed as Higgs paused his movement. He was so focused on Gene, that Higgs neglected to use his DOOMs to sense danger was coming up from behind. Fragile ensnared him in her arms, trapping Higgs in place as he squirmed and attempted to break free.
“What the--?!” Higgs growled, jumping all over the place as Fragile met his actions until he tired himself out. She held onto his body for dear life, feeling her strength growing weak by the second but knew she had to give Gene a shot at this like they talked about before the fight.
“Gene! I can’t hold on much longer, do it now!” Fragile screamed as Gene managed to usher herself up and ran straight towards Higgs and Fragile. Her Ka was blinking in and out of dimensions, the ocasus plant was almost done making its way through her Ha back with the Death Walkers. On top of Higgs weakening her, Gene knew she didn’t have much time left before disappearing completely.
“No!” Higgs exclaimed as Gene used her left hand to grab Higgs’s face, the other placed on his abdomen. A blinding light ensnared both their visions as their minds fell into oblivion.
Gene woke up in the middle of an ocean with strong currents, but the waters below the surf were crystal clear. At the bottom, where the sand lay among skeletal fish swimming with the tides, she could see Higgs floating. His eyes closed, body a dark blue compared to the lighter tones of the water. Gene kicked and began to swim towards him, eyes filled with determination to reach Higgs before the Extinction Entity would know she was around. It was already a few seconds into her descent, and Gene looked behind her to see darkness was rushing towards her direction, emitting a piercing screech that was comparable to dolphins making high pitches to alert their pod of danger.
Gene used whatever energy she had left to make it to Higgs, stopping at the bottom and cupping either side of his face as she shook him awake. The blue that painted his body began to recede from her touch. His eyes began to flutter, eventually looking upon Gene’s features. There was no malice in his gaze, only awe like he hadn’t seen someone in years. Gene smiled and took a hold of his hand and gestured for Higgs to start kicking up. It didn’t take long before he swam with her, not sure where Gene was leading him but Higgs felt something inside wanting to break the surface, wanting to breathe in air for the first time in what felt like an eternity.
A strong wave separated the two, causing them to somersault through the raging current. Gene exclaimed in the water, feeling the liquid fill her lungs as Higgs was being dragged back down. He desperately tried to reach out as BTs drug him by his legs. Gene attempted to make a break for him, only to be stopped. She turned and saw a leviathan creature with skinny humanoid arms--reminding her of a cryptid Ningen take hold of her legs and swim off with her. Gene was traveling so quickly, she couldn't register where she was. The last thing Gene saw was Amelie’s face, staring right at her as Gene lied on her back on the beach, coughing out bile and black goo.
“You don’t belong here.” Amelie said, putting a hand on Gene’s forehead. A foreboding presence overtook Gene’s Ka as she grimaced, feeling every fiber in her being tense. “I promised him I wouldn’t hurt you, but this has to stop. Higgs has a purpose to fulfill Gene. I’m only going to say this nicely, just this once, stay out of my way.”
Amelie then shoved Gene, and she could feel herself freefall back to earth.
Gene gasped as she opened her eyes back in the world of the living, letting go of Higgs and felt her Ka disappear, forced back into her body. She had run out of time. She failed to save Higgs, bring his humanity to the surface.
Back with the Death Walkers, Pride quickly went to Gene’s side, helping her up as Gene coughed and gagged. Water and bile pooled in the back of her throat as she threw up whatever was left of the ocasus plant into a shallow bowl one of the Walkers had put before her.
“Easy, easy.” Pride tried to soothe her, fingertips rubbing at Gene’s forehead to help stimulate her body, make her Ka realize it was back where it was supposed to be. Gene shuddered, feeling her blood running cold as Pride gestured for someone to bring her a warm blanket.
“I was--so close---I almost had him out of there--” Gene coughed out as Pride shook his head.
“Gene, you did well but you need to rest. I told you, this wouldn’t be easy. Pulling someone out of their own hell is difficult. Higgs is too intertwined with the EE's powers.” Pride then turned his attention towards the back end of the cave, seeing Fragile emerge from jumping. She looked around after putting her umbrella down to the side, in shock at seeing a bunch of bodies lying on the floor, seemingly in a deep trance of sorts. Fragile swallowed nervously as Pride beckoned her to come forward.
“Don’t be afraid. I know who you are.” Pride said, watching as Fragile approached, then knelt by Gene’s side. She let out a gasp, looking over Gene’s body as Pride furrowed his brows. Their gazes met for a brief moment as Gene peered up at Fragile.
“Is--the city safe?” Gene croaked out as Fragile shook her head. The sadness in her features was strong as stray tears began to emerge from the corner of Fragile’s eyes, overwhelmed not only from the presence of BTs back where Higgs was at but the situation at hand
“No, but we distracted Higgs long enough to give some folks a fighting chance. Sam is safe too.” Fragile said calmly, reaching one of her gloved hands to take Gene’s into her own, her fingertips gently going over the wrinkles that littered Gene's flesh.
“Next time--next time we’ll be flawless. I’ll bring him back--I know I can--” Gene said, forcing herself to smile as Fragile nodded. Now wasn’t the time to dispute with her. More tears fell as Fragile looked upon the aged Gene, how her hair was white as snow, her face covered with wrinkles. Gene appeared as if she had been soaked in Timefall, just like Fragile but no part of her was spared of the havoc. Her body had taken on years of experience it wasn’t ready for.
I hope that you're staying safe and hanging in there during these tough times. Thank you for reading and continuing to support this work. You have my love and appreciation <3.
Higgs stared down at his golden mask, his gloved fingers gently carding over the small details and intricate dents scattered across the item. He was lost in his thoughts, that not even the waves on the beach wetting his clothes on the shore distracted him. Higgs didn’t know how long he had been sitting there, but when Amelie approached, he didn’t give the courtesy of acknowledging her. He was so caught up in his own mind, that when she crouched down and patted his shoulder, Higgs jumped.
“I didn’t mean to startle you. Higgs, it’s almost time.” Amelie said gently, trying to coax Higgs out of his shell.
“What’s the fucking point?” Higgs asked as Amelie furrowed her brows, shaking her head.
“Higgs, I don’t know what you mean.”
“You know damn well what I mean.” Higgs finally looked up at her and brought himself up. He held onto his mask so tight that if his anger alone could have broken it, the mask would have shattered.
“My men have been obliterated. I’ve encountered Sam several times now, and you have yet to let me sick him, and on top of it--I can’t help but notice it’s almost as if you want him to succeed.”
Amelie sighed, shaking her head. “Higgs, it’s like I explained, when Sam gets the Chiral Network up and running, everyone’s beach will be connected. It will help my powers, and it will allow me to destroy everything in one go. You have to be patient. It wasn’t my fault Homo Demens failed. You were the leader.”
Higgs growled as Amelie held herself in high regard. She wasn’t going to let Higgs belittle her for his mistakes. As far as she was concerned, Amelie gave Higgs power and he had misused it instead of thinking ahead like she had told him many times. She watched as Higgs began to pace around, rubbing the back of his neck from time to time.
“I didn’t anticipate Gene sweeping in and fucking things up. Neither did I think Fragile and Sammy boy were gonna team to kick my ass. Everything’s falling apart.” Higgs said sadly, shaking his head as he let out a deep sigh he had been holding onto for a long while.
“A leader--a god knows when to take the credit when things go good, and the blame for when they are bad. Higgs, it’s alright. You’re acknowledging what you lost sight of. I admit I was blindsided when it came to Gene’s interference. I should have taken into account how dangerous she was becoming, consorting with the Death Walkers. They were never a threat and kept to themselves, but she’s taken it a step farther.”
Higgs made a face, biting his bottom lip as his eyes grew more saddened by the second upon Amelie mentioning Gene’s name. His memories were a fog, but Higgs recalled Gene trying to pull him out of the sea, into his own beach before Amelie had chased her away. There was something profound about the experience in that he felt so little, but also one again with--something. Higgs couldn’t wrap himself around the concept. Maybe if he got to the surface with her, maybe he would have gotten an answer. Either way, Gene's powers scared him though he wouldn't allow himself the courtesy of such despicable weakness.
“What did she do to me?” Higgs murmured as Amelie approached, cupping Higgs’s face. He barely peered up at Amelie as tears stroked down his face, smudging the bit of makeup he had on his eyes.
“Does it matter?” Amelie asked sincerely.
“To me, it does. She--tried uprooting me, from where I felt safe.” Higgs muttered, the defeat in his voice tugging at Amelie as she shook her head. She couldn’t allow Higgs to focus on this, not when they were getting close to the finish line.
“If you must know, all she was doing, all she was attempting at, was taking you from here. Higgs, Gene was trying to sever our connection. She was going to take your powers away.”
Higgs looked up, glaring as he shook his head.
“No, she cannot do that. Not when I have so much to finish.”
The anger in his voice made Amelie smile sincerely for once. Relief captured her breath as she nodded, agreeing with Higgs in full. Whatever she could do to pacify him for the time being, Amelie was going to take advantage of it.
“You’re absolutely right, Higgs. That’s why I have a plan.” Amelie said, watching as Higgs’s facial features eased up. He was curious, tilting his head to the side as Amelie stepped back and held out her hands, conjuring up a golden knife. The base black as BT’s themselves. Higgs hesitated, but eventually took hold of the weapon and studied it carefully. His brows furrowed out of confusion.
“This--looks like my old one.” Higgs muttered as Amelie nodded.
“It’s special. The gold is made out of the same material that went into your mask, that gave you power. This is more concentrated. I based it on the cufflinks Sam received from that woman, Mama. When Sam uses the knife against BTs, he sends them back to the afterlife. This however, will level the playing field with you and Gene should she get in the way again.”
“This won’t kill her, will it?” Higgs asked, shooting a glare towards Amelie as she shook her head.
“No, but it will give her the idea to back down. It’ll make her too weak to use her Ka against you.”
“Good.” Higgs said with a huff, then replaced said knife with his old one, discarding the former into the sands without care. The tool was disposable much like the people he had come across and led to ruin.
“Walk with me, Higgs. Let’s go over the plans again.” Amelie said, smiling at him as Higgs joined alongside. They both walked the shoreline of the beach in silence for the first while, letting nerves and emotions filter away. A certain air of peace resided in Higgs, despite his body feeling a weight on it. Even with his powers, on the beach, he felt hindered in a way. Higgs nonetheless chalked it up to being human unlike Amelie, who merely dressed herself as one.
“We spooked Sam with the dream you conjured up, where I took that pretty necklace of yours.” Higgs started as Amelie nodded.
“I ambushed him with the BT cat, while he delivered that woman to Mountain Knot--pushed Sammy boy that much closer out West. I'll face him down in Edge Knot City after I blow up what remains of the people there, and kill the poor bastard once and for all.”
“No, before you encounter Sam out on the boundary line of Edge Knot City, you need to take care of Fragile.”
Higgs tensed as he glared, letting out a disgruntled huff. “What of her?”
Amelie sighed, picking up a stranded shell below the sands by her feet. Higgs watched as she carefully played around with it, her fingers circling over the shape with utmost care. An odd thing for an Extinction Entity to do, hold onto something so fragile all the while knowing one could easily crush it.
“Much like Gene, she’s in the way. Though she’s not necessarily going to be a problem for you, but for Sam. Their bond--I fear even though she inadvertently is helping Sam head towards West, she’s going to mess things up. Turn Sam against me before you and I can usher the final extinction. I can feel it.”
Higgs chuckled amusingly. “Sounds like someone is jealous.”
“Regardless,” Amelie chose to ignore Higgs’s remark, and he watched as Amelie crushed the shell between her fingers, scattering the remains into the sand like it was nothing. He could only imagine what it was going to feel like when Amelie would chart the course of the Final Stranding. A vibe of dread and ease went down his spine, the hairs on the back of his neck standing at attention the longer he thought on it. Excitement overtook his aura.
“Having Fragile walk through Timefall wasn’t enough to deter her from interference. Something more permanent needs to be done. That is what I’m charging you with, Higgs. You have my full permission and support to do whatever is necessary to make sure she is off the board.” Amelie said firmly. She came to a halt, staring directly up at Higgs. There was a moment of hesitation in his eyes that Amelie caught onto and before any words could escape his lips, she interrupted.
“Is the particle of god having second thoughts?” Amelie questioned, sounding suspicious in tone as Higgs shook his head. His persona taking on a playful stance as he let out a laugh.
“Far from it. Don’t worry darlin’, I’ll take good care of her for ya. Just like we planned.” Higgs said, resting both hands on Amelie’s shoulders and giving a pat. It was affectionate, almost too much for her liking but she went along and smiled. Whatever kept Higgs happy for the time being, Amelie went along with it.
“It’ll give me a chance to test out the knife you conjured. I’m very much looking forward to burying the hatchet with Fragile in a manner of speaking. She was always a nuisance. Bitch always thought she was better than me.” Higgs chuckled, then took a few steps back. He placed the mask over his face and got ready to jump.
“Higgs,”
“Hmm?”
“Don’t fail me. Not on this one.”
Higgs paused, thinking on Amelie's words for a moment before he smirked underneath the mask and jumped back to the world of the living.
Gene was at the mouth of the cave on the cliff, nearby a small fire Walkers had made for her. A blanket wrapped securely over her body. Now that Gene's Ka settled back into her Ha, some of the damage to her body had receded but she looked like a fifty-five year old woman now, with strands of gray tattered throughout her hair, and wrinkles creating crevices like the moon into her flesh.
Gene felt unsteady than before, even with all the training Pride had her undergo to beef up her body for her powers, there were new points of weakness she had to adjust with. Gene felt colder than usual for starters. It was hard to sleep without feeling like she was being entombed by ice in her blood.
“How are you holding up?”
Gene turned her head, seeing Fragile had appeared after jumping to the Death Walker's location. Gene smiled up at her, giving a shrug.
“Nice to see you. I feel like an old hag, look like one too.”
Fragile chuckled, shaking her head as she sat down by the fire, stretching her legs while letting out a content sigh. She was happy to catch a break from all the work being done alongside Sam and the UCA.
“Makes two of us. At least, from the neck down for me.”
“Lucky bitch.” Gene chuckled, surprised as Fragile joined her in laughing.
Fragile unclipped a small jar from her belt that had a dozen cryptobiotes inside, squirming about. The little pudgy pink blobs chittered around. She uncapped the jar cautiously, pulling a few out before they could escape into the air. Fragile was quick to shove the first few in her mouth, then gathered four in her hand, making a fist so they wouldn’t escape, and handed them over to Gene.
“Do you want them?” Fragile asked. “The taste isn’t so bad when you get used to it.”
“I’ll try anything once,” Gene said with a smirk, grabbing a hold of the bug-like creatures and popped them one by one into her mouth. The texture was weird. Half of their bodies felt crunchy, like bits of chocolate scattered about a piece of cake, while there was a moist texture that made her tongue feel weird. Gene couldn’t help but make a face, feeling goosebumps trail over her arms. Nonetheless, the metallic taste was rather pleasant.
“Seems like someone’s enjoying themselves.” Fragile grinned as Gene shook her head, swallowing the bits and letting the blood flow down her throat.
“It’s kind of messed up. I think these little guys are rather cute.” Gene said, furrowing her brows sadly as she looked at the jar, seeing the other cryptobiotes looking up at her. She felt guilty. It couldn’t be helped.
Fragile activated a button, a dark shield covering the glass of the jar as she shrugged.
“They keep the Timefall at bay according to Heartman. I figured they’d do the same for you, more or less.”
“Speaking of him, did you send Heartman the information Pride and the clan allowed you to take?” Gene asked.
“About the prehistory, the cave paintings, and the Neanderthal EE? Yeah. You should have been there, Gene. Heartman was so excited, he couldn’t stop talking. I was held up for almost two hours. Don’t worry, the Death Walkers and this location haven’t been disclosed. I made sure of it.” Fragile said, smiling proudly as Gene let out a sigh of relief.
“Good. Pride and the clan all want to help scientists understand the Death Stranding, but they don’t want to be lab rats for the UCA. I can’t blame them. I’m on the same boat now.” Gene said with relief, her mind briefly pondering the what-ifs of that particular situation. Luckily, she knew she could count on Fragile to keep things under lock and key.
“Higgs is now the most wanted in the cities. The UCA has a price on his head. I learned that after joining them to help Sam on his mission to hook up the Chiral Network.” Fragile said, changing the subject as Gene clutched more onto the blanket. Her body adjusted, trying to get closer to the fire without burning herself. Fragile could see the unease in Gene’s body language and swallowed.
“What’s he been up to since blowing up the Capitol?” Gene asked, curiously looking towards Fragile’s direction.
Fragile let out a sigh, closing her eyes for a moment. She wasn’t sure where to begin. So much time had passed between then and now.
“Higgs posed as a member of Bridges, nearly got Sam and me into deep shit. Almost blew up another city, but Sam helped me toss the nuke into the tar pits. That was long after your fight. I tried tailing Higgs afterward, but--he went under the radar. I couldn’t follow him to the beach. From what I gather, he’s been there mostly save for the few times he’s come out to cause havoc in the smaller communities. I think he’s running solo, now that Homo Demens has been taken out. Whatever it is you did to him, he hasn’t been as bold since the fight in Central Knot.”
Gene tossed a few more sticks into the fire, both she and Fragile watching the flames come more to life. The reds and oranges danced in front of their eyes while they basked in the warmth. It made the cool air up in the high altitude more bearable.
“Does Sam know about me, about this whole ordeal?” Gene asked.
“No, no one does. I promised you I’d keep the Death Walkers and you a secret. Sam knows about the situation in full when it comes to Higgs, my half of it at least.” Fragile paused for a moment, her gaze falling over Gene as she studied her.
“I asked Sam to keep Higgs alive for me, should he face and take him down.”
Gene’s head shot up, surprise lit her eyes as Fragile gave a modest shrug.
“It’s not a guarantee Higgs will survive long enough for you to do anything, but--I thought about you when I asked Sam to help me with him.”
“Thank you,” Gene said sincerely, reaching a hand out and clasping it over Fragile’s gloved hand that was on the ground. Fragile glanced between their hands and Gene’s face, offering a small nod in return. She gently grasped Gene’s fingers before letting go.
“Gene, I wanted to ask you something. What did you do to Higgs back in Central Knot? I never got the chance to ask.”
Gene let out a puff of air, blinking a few times as she tried to retrace her steps. Remembering the battle wasn’t hard, but when she dived into Higgs, the memories were a blur. Like pieces of an intricate puzzle she had to put back together by memorization alone.
“Pride and the Walkers call it ‘diving’. It’s where you enter someone’s beach through their Ka, their soul. That bit of humanity I told you that was still in Higgs, I tried to pull it out. You can say that Higgs is literally drowning in his own personal hell. Pride mentioned that people who worked with powerful BTs were generally locked away in their beach while the BT controls their Ha. You know the stories of exorcisms in ancient traditions throughout cultures? Pride said a lot of that was inspired by this ability, the same with possession from the dead. I was close--if I had more time, I could have yanked him out of the ocean. Whatever powers the EE gave to Higgs, he’s so bonded to it that even that--woman, was able to kick me out, the EE.”
Gene could feel anger rise at that last part. Half of her jealous, the other upset with herself that she was too weak to save Higgs back then. Gene had plenty of time to train since the first fight and felt some of her confidence radiate in mind. Next time, like she promised Pride and Fragile, next time she’d succeed.
Fragile was about to say something when a buzzing noise came from her communication device. Furrowing her brows, she looked over at Gene apologetically.
“I’m sorry for the interruption, but that’s my cue. I need to make way to one of the small communities Sam recently connected, see if we can get more crew onto Fragile Express now that the company's reputation is starting to return.” Fragile got up and took out her umbrella, not before resting her hand on Gene’s shoulder. Gene looked up at Fragile with a sincere smile, as Fragile returned the favor.
“Rest and keep training. Don’t worry about things for now. Sam and I got it covered.” Fragile reassured.
“If you bump into trouble, you know how to get a hold of me.” Gene reminded her.
“Of course. I’ll see you in a few weeks unless something changes.” Fragile said, stepping away from Gene’s general area, giving a faint twist of the umbrella handle and jumped.
Now alone for now until Pride returned from a hunt, Gene took in a deep breath and closed her eyes after consuming a small amount of the ocasus plant that was in a cup by her side. After smacking her lips, face twitching from the tart taste, she put her mask on.
It wasn’t enough to send her Ka out of her Ha, but Gene could feel the different planes of existence, sensing how close things were if she concentrated hard enough. In a way, it was Gene's only method of keeping tabs on everything since she was so far from the action. Like Pride, she could mentally venture out far beyond the mountains and see the whole scope of America, able to zoom and hone in on a spot like a computer.
As Gene walked between this plane and the next above it, she tried to feel for Higgs. Back in her body, tears escaped her closed eyes as she felt desperate to reach him again.
Higgs stared down at his golden mask, his gloved fingers gently carding over the small details and intricate dents scattered across the item. He was lost in his thoughts, that not even the waves on the beach wetting his clothes on the shore distracted him. Higgs didn’t know how long he had been sitting there, but when Amelie approached, he didn’t give the courtesy of acknowledging her. He was so caught up in his own mind, that when she crouched down and patted his shoulder, Higgs jumped.
“I didn’t mean to startle you. Higgs, it’s almost time.” Amelie said gently, trying to coax Higgs out of his shell.
“What’s the fucking point?” Higgs asked as Amelie furrowed her brows, shaking her head.
“Higgs, I don’t know what you mean.”
“You know damn well what I mean.” Higgs finally looked up at her and brought himself up. He held onto his mask so tight that if his anger alone could have broken it, the mask would have shattered.
“My men have been obliterated. I’ve encountered Sam several times now, and you have yet to let me sick him, and on top of it--I can’t help but notice it’s almost as if you want him to succeed.”
Amelie sighed, shaking her head. “Higgs, it’s like I explained, when Sam gets the Chiral Network up and running, everyone’s beach will be connected. It will help my powers, and it will allow me to destroy everything in one go. You have to be patient. It wasn’t my fault Homo Demens failed. You were the leader.”
Higgs growled as Amelie held herself in high regard. She wasn’t going to let Higgs belittle her for his mistakes. As far as she was concerned, Amelie gave Higgs power and he had misused it instead of thinking ahead like she had told him many times. She watched as Higgs began to pace around, rubbing the back of his neck from time to time.
“I didn’t anticipate Gene sweeping in and fucking things up. Neither did I think Fragile and Sammy boy were gonna team to kick my ass. Everything’s falling apart.” Higgs said sadly, shaking his head as he let out a deep sigh he had been holding onto for a long while.
“A leader--a god knows when to take the credit when things go good, and the blame for when they are bad. Higgs, it’s alright. You’re acknowledging what you lost sight of. I admit I was blindsided when it came to Gene’s interference. I should have taken into account how dangerous she was becoming, consorting with the Death Walkers. They were never a threat and kept to themselves, but she’s taken it a step farther.”
Higgs made a face, biting his bottom lip as his eyes grew more saddened by the second upon Amelie mentioning Gene’s name. His memories were a fog, but Higgs recalled Gene trying to pull him out of the sea, into his own beach before Amelie had chased her away. There was something profound about the experience in that he felt so little, but also one again with--something. Higgs couldn’t wrap himself around the concept. Maybe if he got to the surface with her, maybe he would have gotten an answer. Either way, Gene's powers scared him though he wouldn't allow himself the courtesy of such despicable weakness.
“What did she do to me?” Higgs murmured as Amelie approached, cupping Higgs’s face. He barely peered up at Amelie as tears stroked down his face, smudging the bit of makeup he had on his eyes.
“Does it matter?” Amelie asked sincerely.
“To me, it does. She--tried uprooting me, from where I felt safe.” Higgs muttered, the defeat in his voice tugging at Amelie as she shook her head. She couldn’t allow Higgs to focus on this, not when they were getting close to the finish line.
“If you must know, all she was doing, all she was attempting at, was taking you from here. Higgs, Gene was trying to sever our connection. She was going to take your powers away.”
Higgs looked up, glaring as he shook his head.
“No, she cannot do that. Not when I have so much to finish.”
The anger in his voice made Amelie smile sincerely for once. Relief captured her breath as she nodded, agreeing with Higgs in full. Whatever she could do to pacify him for the time being, Amelie was going to take advantage of it.
“You’re absolutely right, Higgs. That’s why I have a plan.” Amelie said, watching as Higgs’s facial features eased up. He was curious, tilting his head to the side as Amelie stepped back and held out her hands, conjuring up a golden knife. The base black as BT’s themselves. Higgs hesitated, but eventually took hold of the weapon and studied it carefully. His brows furrowed out of confusion.
“This--looks like my old one.” Higgs muttered as Amelie nodded.
“It’s special. The gold is made out of the same material that went into your mask, that gave you power. This is more concentrated. I based it on the cufflinks Sam received from that woman, Mama. When Sam uses the knife against BTs, he sends them back to the afterlife. This however, will level the playing field with you and Gene should she get in the way again.”
“This won’t kill her, will it?” Higgs asked, shooting a glare towards Amelie as she shook her head.
“No, but it will give her the idea to back down. It’ll make her too weak to use her Ka against you.”
“Good.” Higgs said with a huff, then replaced said knife with his old one, discarding the former into the sands without care. The tool was disposable much like the people he had come across and led to ruin.
“Walk with me, Higgs. Let’s go over the plans again.” Amelie said, smiling at him as Higgs joined alongside. They both walked the shoreline of the beach in silence for the first while, letting nerves and emotions filter away. A certain air of peace resided in Higgs, despite his body feeling a weight on it. Even with his powers, on the beach, he felt hindered in a way. Higgs nonetheless chalked it up to being human unlike Amelie, who merely dressed herself as one.
“We spooked Sam with the dream you conjured up, where I took that pretty necklace of yours.” Higgs started as Amelie nodded.
“I ambushed him with the BT cat, while he delivered that woman to Mountain Knot--pushed Sammy boy that much closer out West. I'll face him down in Edge Knot City after I blow up what remains of the people there, and kill the poor bastard once and for all.”
“No, before you encounter Sam out on the boundary line of Edge Knot City, you need to take care of Fragile.”
Higgs tensed as he glared, letting out a disgruntled huff. “What of her?”
Amelie sighed, picking up a stranded shell below the sands by her feet. Higgs watched as she carefully played around with it, her fingers circling over the shape with utmost care. An odd thing for an Extinction Entity to do, hold onto something so fragile all the while knowing one could easily crush it.
“Much like Gene, she’s in the way. Though she’s not necessarily going to be a problem for you, but for Sam. Their bond--I fear even though she inadvertently is helping Sam head towards West, she’s going to mess things up. Turn Sam against me before you and I can usher the final extinction. I can feel it.”
Higgs chuckled amusingly. “Sounds like someone is jealous.”
“Regardless,” Amelie chose to ignore Higgs’s remark, and he watched as Amelie crushed the shell between her fingers, scattering the remains into the sand like it was nothing. He could only imagine what it was going to feel like when Amelie would chart the course of the Final Stranding. A vibe of dread and ease went down his spine, the hairs on the back of his neck standing at attention the longer he thought on it. Excitement overtook his aura.
“Having Fragile walk through Timefall wasn’t enough to deter her from interference. Something more permanent needs to be done. That is what I’m charging you with, Higgs. You have my full permission and support to do whatever is necessary to make sure she is off the board.” Amelie said firmly. She came to a halt, staring directly up at Higgs. There was a moment of hesitation in his eyes that Amelie caught onto and before any words could escape his lips, she interrupted.
“Is the particle of god having second thoughts?” Amelie questioned, sounding suspicious in tone as Higgs shook his head. His persona taking on a playful stance as he let out a laugh.
“Far from it. Don’t worry darlin’, I’ll take good care of her for ya. Just like we planned.” Higgs said, resting both hands on Amelie’s shoulders and giving a pat. It was affectionate, almost too much for her liking but she went along and smiled. Whatever kept Higgs happy for the time being, Amelie went along with it.
“It’ll give me a chance to test out the knife you conjured. I’m very much looking forward to burying the hatchet with Fragile in a manner of speaking. She was always a nuisance. Bitch always thought she was better than me.” Higgs chuckled, then took a few steps back. He placed the mask over his face and got ready to jump.
“Higgs,”
“Hmm?”
“Don’t fail me. Not on this one.”
Higgs paused, thinking on Amelie's words for a moment before he smirked underneath the mask and jumped back to the world of the living.
Gene was at the mouth of the cave on the cliff, nearby a small fire Walkers had made for her. A blanket wrapped securely over her body. Now that Gene's Ka settled back into her Ha, some of the damage to her body had receded but she looked like a fifty-five year old woman now, with strands of gray tattered throughout her hair, and wrinkles creating crevices like the moon into her flesh.
Gene felt unsteady than before, even with all the training Pride had her undergo to beef up her body for her powers, there were new points of weakness she had to adjust with. Gene felt colder than usual for starters. It was hard to sleep without feeling like she was being entombed by ice in her blood.
“How are you holding up?”
Gene turned her head, seeing Fragile had appeared after jumping to the Death Walker's location. Gene smiled up at her, giving a shrug.
“Nice to see you. I feel like an old hag, look like one too.”
Fragile chuckled, shaking her head as she sat down by the fire, stretching her legs while letting out a content sigh. She was happy to catch a break from all the work being done alongside Sam and the UCA.
“Makes two of us. At least, from the neck down for me.”
“Lucky bitch.” Gene chuckled, surprised as Fragile joined her in laughing.
Fragile unclipped a small jar from her belt that had a dozen cryptobiotes inside, squirming about. The little pudgy pink blobs chittered around. She uncapped the jar cautiously, pulling a few out before they could escape into the air. Fragile was quick to shove the first few in her mouth, then gathered four in her hand, making a fist so they wouldn’t escape, and handed them over to Gene.
“Do you want them?” Fragile asked. “The taste isn’t so bad when you get used to it.”
“I’ll try anything once,” Gene said with a smirk, grabbing a hold of the bug-like creatures and popped them one by one into her mouth. The texture was weird. Half of their bodies felt crunchy, like bits of chocolate scattered about a piece of cake, while there was a moist texture that made her tongue feel weird. Gene couldn’t help but make a face, feeling goosebumps trail over her arms. Nonetheless, the metallic taste was rather pleasant.
“Seems like someone’s enjoying themselves.” Fragile grinned as Gene shook her head, swallowing the bits and letting the blood flow down her throat.
“It’s kind of messed up. I think these little guys are rather cute.” Gene said, furrowing her brows sadly as she looked at the jar, seeing the other cryptobiotes looking up at her. She felt guilty. It couldn’t be helped.
Fragile activated a button, a dark shield covering the glass of the jar as she shrugged.
“They keep the Timefall at bay according to Heartman. I figured they’d do the same for you, more or less.”
“Speaking of him, did you send Heartman the information Pride and the clan allowed you to take?” Gene asked.
“About the prehistory, the cave paintings, and the Neanderthal EE? Yeah. You should have been there, Gene. Heartman was so excited, he couldn’t stop talking. I was held up for almost two hours. Don’t worry, the Death Walkers and this location haven’t been disclosed. I made sure of it.” Fragile said, smiling proudly as Gene let out a sigh of relief.
“Good. Pride and the clan all want to help scientists understand the Death Stranding, but they don’t want to be lab rats for the UCA. I can’t blame them. I’m on the same boat now.” Gene said with relief, her mind briefly pondering the what-ifs of that particular situation. Luckily, she knew she could count on Fragile to keep things under lock and key.
“Higgs is now the most wanted in the cities. The UCA has a price on his head. I learned that after joining them to help Sam on his mission to hook up the Chiral Network.” Fragile said, changing the subject as Gene clutched more onto the blanket. Her body adjusted, trying to get closer to the fire without burning herself. Fragile could see the unease in Gene’s body language and swallowed.
“What’s he been up to since blowing up the Capitol?” Gene asked, curiously looking towards Fragile’s direction.
Fragile let out a sigh, closing her eyes for a moment. She wasn’t sure where to begin. So much time had passed between then and now.
“Higgs posed as a member of Bridges, nearly got Sam and me into deep shit. Almost blew up another city, but Sam helped me toss the nuke into the tar pits. That was long after your fight. I tried tailing Higgs afterward, but--he went under the radar. I couldn’t follow him to the beach. From what I gather, he’s been there mostly save for the few times he’s come out to cause havoc in the smaller communities. I think he’s running solo, now that Homo Demens has been taken out. Whatever it is you did to him, he hasn’t been as bold since the fight in Central Knot.”
Gene tossed a few more sticks into the fire, both she and Fragile watching the flames come more to life. The reds and oranges danced in front of their eyes while they basked in the warmth. It made the cool air up in the high altitude more bearable.
“Does Sam know about me, about this whole ordeal?” Gene asked.
“No, no one does. I promised you I’d keep the Death Walkers and you a secret. Sam knows about the situation in full when it comes to Higgs, my half of it at least.” Fragile paused for a moment, her gaze falling over Gene as she studied her.
“I asked Sam to keep Higgs alive for me, should he face and take him down.”
Gene’s head shot up, surprise lit her eyes as Fragile gave a modest shrug.
“It’s not a guarantee Higgs will survive long enough for you to do anything, but--I thought about you when I asked Sam to help me with him.”
“Thank you,” Gene said sincerely, reaching a hand out and clasping it over Fragile’s gloved hand that was on the ground. Fragile glanced between their hands and Gene’s face, offering a small nod in return. She gently grasped Gene’s fingers before letting go.
“Gene, I wanted to ask you something. What did you do to Higgs back in Central Knot? I never got the chance to ask.”
Gene let out a puff of air, blinking a few times as she tried to retrace her steps. Remembering the battle wasn’t hard, but when she dived into Higgs, the memories were a blur. Like pieces of an intricate puzzle she had to put back together by memorization alone.
“Pride and the Walkers call it ‘diving’. It’s where you enter someone’s beach through their Ka, their soul. That bit of humanity I told you that was still in Higgs, I tried to pull it out. You can say that Higgs is literally drowning in his own personal hell. Pride mentioned that people who worked with powerful BTs were generally locked away in their beach while the BT controls their Ha. You know the stories of exorcisms in ancient traditions throughout cultures? Pride said a lot of that was inspired by this ability, the same with possession from the dead. I was close--if I had more time, I could have yanked him out of the ocean. Whatever powers the EE gave to Higgs, he’s so bonded to it that even that--woman, was able to kick me out, the EE.”
Gene could feel anger rise at that last part. Half of her jealous, the other upset with herself that she was too weak to save Higgs back then. Gene had plenty of time to train since the first fight and felt some of her confidence radiate in mind. Next time, like she promised Pride and Fragile, next time she’d succeed.
Fragile was about to say something when a buzzing noise came from her communication device. Furrowing her brows, she looked over at Gene apologetically.
“I’m sorry for the interruption, but that’s my cue. I need to make way to one of the small communities Sam recently connected, see if we can get more crew onto Fragile Express now that the company's reputation is starting to return.” Fragile got up and took out her umbrella, not before resting her hand on Gene’s shoulder. Gene looked up at Fragile with a sincere smile, as Fragile returned the favor.
“Rest and keep training. Don’t worry about things for now. Sam and I got it covered.” Fragile reassured.
“If you bump into trouble, you know how to get a hold of me.” Gene reminded her.
“Of course. I’ll see you in a few weeks unless something changes.” Fragile said, stepping away from Gene’s general area, giving a faint twist of the umbrella handle and jumped.
Now alone for now until Pride returned from a hunt, Gene took in a deep breath and closed her eyes after consuming a small amount of the ocasus plant that was in a cup by her side. After smacking her lips, face twitching from the tart taste, she put her mask on.
It wasn’t enough to send her Ka out of her Ha, but Gene could feel the different planes of existence, sensing how close things were if she concentrated hard enough. In a way, it was Gene's only method of keeping tabs on everything since she was so far from the action. Like Pride, she could mentally venture out far beyond the mountains and see the whole scope of America, able to zoom and hone in on a spot like a computer.
As Gene walked between this plane and the next above it, she tried to feel for Higgs. Back in her body, tears escaped her closed eyes as she felt desperate to reach him again.
@senka-mesecine did a wonderful job designing concept of my Death Stranding oc, Gene Dawkins. Those of you that follow my work know she's a central character in my fanfics Sky of Atoms and DS: Rewind. I left the majority of her looks up to readers so they could interpret Gene however they wished, but this is more or less how I envisioned her in my head.
Deviant art link here
Again, this is outstanding work done by the one and only @senka-mesecine I highly encourage you to commission them in the future. Great talent!
Hello lovely 🖤 It's way to hot. So Gene starts to undress herself. Higgs is not having it.
Hello honey! WHY AM I GETTING SO MANY MIXED MESSAGES FROM THIS REQUEST? IDK but here ya go :D!
Higgs finished off the last of the water he had in his canteen, sighing as he put it away for the time being. Gene and he had been trekking through desert terrain for the last few days. There seemed to be no end in sight. Higgs didn’t care for the cold but some part of him would have rather dealt with it than with the scorching heat. It got to the point where Higgs had to remove his cape and hood, having Gene stuff it into her porter pack. Sweat trickled down his brow as he wiped away at his eyes, looking ahead and seeing there were some abandoned buildings coming up ahead. He longed for shade and rest on this godforsaken delivery Gene was going on.
“We should take a break soon. Maybe try to find some water the old fashioned way and--” Higgs stopped in his tracks when he realized Gene wasn’t near his side. He felt his pulse jump, turning around as a relieved sigh left his throat. Higgs was about to scorn Gene considering they had seen a MULE pack close by earlier until he felt his pulse throb for another reason.
Higgs froze in place, watching as Gene took off her porter pack and sat it down with a thud. She unzipped her porter uniform, slipping out of it like a snake shedding its skin. The navy blue tank she wore complimented her body, hugging her figure and showing off muscle and toned skin.
Higgs was taken aback, not realizing how muscular Gene truly was underneath the uniform. The way her dark green cargo pants hung a little loose from her hip, exposing her skin made Higgs swallow, his mouth dry once again. Higgs was so caught up in the little gestures her body made that he didn’t feel his eyes widen upon seeing Gene pull her tank off. Her breasts exposed as she crouched down to her pack, grabbing her own canteen and popping the top off then doused herself with cool water. His eyes were fixated on how the water ran down Gene’s hair, the little beads of liquid clinging onto her strands like fingertips.
A cold shiver ran down Higgs’s spine, his stomach flipping over itself in knots that were almost too painful. He felt flighty. His gaze traveled up and down her exposed back, watching as Gene chugged from her canteen then poured more water over her arms trying to cool off. Higgs couldn’t believe how nonchalant she was given how his body felt constricted. His breathing picked up, Higgs trying to control it through his nostrils as his eyes roamed over Gene’s body, watching as it leaned gracefully into all the wrong angles that did all the right things.
“Hey, Higgs!” Her voice snapped Higgs out of his trance, blinking a few times as he looked at Gene like a moth caught in a lightbulb with no way out.
“Do you want any to drink, I still got some.” Gene offered, slipping back on her tanktop then walked over to Higgs, holding out the canteen. All Higgs could do was stare, his face feeling like it was radiating with fire. As thirsty as Higgs was, he shook his head and watched as Gene went back to get her things.
“I’m gonna go on ahead! Catch up when you’re ready!” Higgs hollered, finding himself walking fast and away from her.
“Alright! Lemme know if we need to scout someplace else to rest!” Gene shouted back, watching with furrowed brows how Higgs took off abruptly. She couldn’t help but wonder if she pissed him off somehow. Gene sighed, shaking her head as she rummaged her fingers through her wet hair, trying to disperse more water to cool off.
Higgs, nearly a quarter way to the abandoned buildings, hoped that Gene would take her time getting ready. He needed a moment to compose himself. All the while, his mind kept playing back every detail. His subconscious savoring the moment where she was so close to him, nearly handing over the canteen and how pretty she looked. Higgs could still smell Gene’s sweat in his nostrils. How sweet it was, like firewood mixed with something floral.
“Get the fuck over yourself we’re keeping this G rated,” Higgs mumbled begrudgingly to his mind.
“You’re not even a catch Higgs.” He said, letting out a disappointed sigh as he arrived at the abandoned buildings, sitting down and leaning his back against a wall in some shade where he was hidden. He looked out from his spot though, making sure he could still see Gene. Leaning back though, Higgs rubbed his eyes and sighed. His stomach couldn’t stop feeling feverish.
**A link to my ko-fi account. If you enjoy my content and want to support me getting my monthly medication for fibromyalgia and arthritis, I would be eternally grateful. It is NOT a requirement however! All my work is free to read!**
Hello readers and friends! This update took a while, for that I apologize. Between real life and catching a nasty flu bug, it's been difficult finding time to work on this story. Nonetheless, here we are! Thank you if you made it this far with me! I appreciate you so much for sticking around and being patient. I don't know when the next chapter will be coming out due to still fighting said bug and dealing with life's curveballs, but alas there's gonna be some interesting shit-stirring up in future chapters! Have fun! :D
Dawn had come. The first rays of light from the sun shown on Gene as she tirelessly worked on her mask. The walking ceremony was supposed to happen tonight. She and several others would take the obcasus plant into their bodies and attempt to run alongside death. Despite Gene’s resolve to save Higgs no matter the cost, her body was growing anxious for what lay ahead. It didn’t matter how much training Pride nor the others in the clan had put her through, Gene couldn’t let go of her fear of death. It wasn’t what came after that frightened Gene, but the pain of being torn from one’s body. She also feared not having the DNA of the Neanderthal coursing through her veins. For all Gene knew, everything she had done the last few weeks could have been a waste of time, especially if she was going to die because of a technicality.
Gene continued to carve, the knife she used scraping upon bone in long drawn out creaks. A mouth was starting to come to life, the lower half of a skull. She couldn’t help but resent how it was akin to Higgs’s, but the longer she worked on it, Gene could see the more animal-like appearance it had. There was something primal that was wanting to escape beneath the bone.
“It’s starting to come along.” Pride said, letting out a yawn as he greeted Gene and sat a few feet across from her. Gene didn’t say a word but continued on. Pride chuckled at how meticulous she was behaving.
“Tell me, what is the point of this part of the ceremony?” Gene asked, her tone blunt and bitter as Pride smiled, gesturing at Gene’s carving.
“Sleep deprivation stresses the body but brings it closer to rest. This makes the obcasus plant more effective during consumption. This is why you stay up three sunrises and three sunsets before the walking ceremony. Your god of death, or your death totem, will come to you in mind the longer you carve. This is your subconscious trying to send a message from your Ka on what will scare the BTs away from you.” Pride said, taking his time to slow his pacing. He knew Gene was out of it. The dulled and crazed look in her eyes a telltale sign she was in her zen, and also suffering from lack of sleep. She was doing well though, despite how exhausted she appeared.
“Have you guys seen anything on Higgs?” Gene asked. Every night when the Death Walkers would cross into one of the planes, seeking out answers to life's questions and trying to keep up with the events across the world, Gene would ask about him. The usual answer was nothing, for Higgs mostly walked on the beach which according to Pride, was not even a part of the five dimensions Death Walkers could transpire through without overdosing on obcasus. It was somewhere near the fifth level nonetheless according to his knowledge.
“Me and three others saw him.” Pride answered, his tone lowered as Gene looked up. She stopped carving and swallowed. This was the first bit of news she heard about Higgs, and she could feel her nerves spiking. Sleep deprivation didn’t help her emotions.
“He and his men are traveling towards Central Knot City, heading East. There was much death around him. The auras of the BTs we saw on the third plane were massive. Even our masks didn’t frighten off all the BTs. Some got too curious for their own good. Whatever powers Higgs gained from the EE, it's like he is a magnet for them but has the BTs on a leash. I see the chords on his arms, connecting to some BTs in the third plane. We had to jump to another level so he wouldn’t sense us or have BTs communicate to him our presence. ” Pride explained, watching Gene shudder as she got back to work on her mask. He could see her fingers shake, applying more pressure to the bone as she carved relentlessly now. It was as if something inside woke her up, be it adrenaline or another thing.
“I have to walk. I can’t let him hurt people anymore.” Gene said aloud.
“Gene--”
“If Higgs gets to Central Knot City, we might as well call this a fool's errand.”
“Gene--”
“What?” Gene didn’t expect the agitation in her voice to sound aggressive, but regardless, her tone betrayed her feelings. Pride tilted his head, ignoring her action. Even as Gene caught herself and shook her head, wanting to apologize, Pride held a hand up to silence her as he spoke.
“It’s not the people you are worried about, but you are worried about him.” Pride said, giving a firm nod as his eyes searched hers. Gene could feel her body further betray itself as tears streamed down the corners of her glazed orbs.
“I can’t let him die there. I can’t let the UCA get him. He’s doomed if he falls into their hands, then there would be no chance of me turning him back to the good.” Gene said honestly as Pride let out a sigh and momentarily shut his eyes.
“My heart goes out to you, but you will not be able to walk successfully if you continue to hold onto your fear of death. It’s through Higgs that you’re feeling that. You fear him dying and therefore you fear your own mortality.” Pride said as a matter of fact. His tone gentle yet hardened, very much carrying the weight of a teacher who had the experience first hand trying to get the naive student to come to their senses.
Gene shook her head and stopped carving, wiping at her eyes as she tried to compose herself. Being tired made it more difficult, but she attempted. Her body tensed as more muscle she had gained from training fluttered underneath her flesh.
“How--how do I let go so I can do this?” Gene asked, her eyes pleading with Pride as he let out a breath.
“Trust your Ka, Gene. Listen to it. I must go help prepare breakfast but finish the mask. You will see it. Your path is your own, Gene. When you walk with death to try and save Higgs, we cannot follow. So you must figure it out yourself.” Pride then got up without a word and left Gene to her own devices. For several minutes and for what felt like hours, Gene did nothing but stare at the half-carved bone. Her feelings a mess as she tried to figure out how to untangle the complicated feelings she had towards Higgs.
“Be with me.” Gene murmured as she took in a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying not to fall asleep all the while meditating. She pulled a small chiral crystal out from her pocket, placing it between her teeth and bit down. Some particles split from the rock and flooded Gene’s tongue. She grimaced at the raw texture while the matter began to take hold of her body, Gene steadied her breaths as her muscles constricted.
The clan would sometimes chew on bits of chiral crystals. Huge doses could procure chiral poisoning, but in small amounts could help the Ka communicate with other Ka's. Gene had already done this before with Fragile, essentially using telepathy to talk to her while Fragile slept. She hadn’t tried connecting with Higgs this way until now, but Gene had a strong feeling if she could bridge a connection with Higgs then maybe it would help her along.
When Gene opened up her eyes, she found herself on a beach. The waves slowly drifted across her feet as she rose up and began to look around. It was strange. The atmosphere was heavy as the dull grey skies grew with each passing second. While Gene tried to walk, it was as if the world was tilting on its axis. She felt wobbly, and some part of her knew she shouldn’t have been here. Not like this. Not yet. Up ahead, Gene squinted her eyes as she saw a hooded figure and it didn’t take her long to realize who it was she was staring at. Higgs. He was there, and she felt herself sprint towards him. Gene’s heart raced, the strong thumps pulsating in her ears.
“Higgs!” Despite the bitterness Gene held towards him, and the rage she had due to his actions, the love she carried for Higgs outweighed whatever resentments she had. As Gene drew closer, she noticed Higgs was on his knees, staring off into the ocean. It was only when Gene screamed out Higgs’s name again did he finally turn his head and acknowledge her. He rose and started walking in her direction, his pace growing fast until he was not more than twenty feet away.
“Usually I can feel your presence, but--I thought I lost you. I know we had our differences back in South Knot, but I didn’t want to give up on ya coming back to me.” Higgs said as Gene furrowed her brows in confusion.
“What do you mean, you’ve been keeping tabs on me the whole time?” Gene asked as Higgs nodded. The relief in his eyes was something of a surprise. He nearly looked like his old self, and Gene swallowed. She didn’t want to get her hopes up but something changed in him.
“The Extinction Entity, Amelie--she said you’d come. She said you’d be with me at the end.”
“Am I really on--”
“The beach? Yeah darlin’, you sure are.” Higgs said with a warm smile, shaking his head in disbelief as he chuckled. “Gene, did you finally see reason in the end?”
“Higgs, we should leave this place. Forget about Amelie, all this--come back with me.” Gene pleaded, getting straight to the point. It was probably a stupid decision, but Gene had to try. Maybe if she could convince Higgs right then and now, she wouldn't have to go through with becoming a Death Walker. Maybe she wouldn't have to hurt him to save Higgs from himself.
“I can’t just--abandon everything. Gene, there’s so much work I have to do. I can’t--she loves me.” Higgs blinked a few times in confusion, and Gene watched as he started to glitch in and out of time. It was as if his body wanted to jump, but was hitting some form of turbulence. Gene rushed up to Higgs’s side, helping his body stabilize as she held onto his shoulders and looked up at him.
“Higgs, what’s wrong? No, no, c’mon we should go!” Gene shouted, and then Higgs froze in place. His eyes widening as he swallowed. Tears mixed with abyssal tar ran down his face as he reached a hand out and caressed Gene’s cheek. He smiled, his features looking deranged as he shook his head.
“Gene--help me.” The hurt in his voice was so powerful, Gene felt like she was shattering into a million pieces as she witnessed the Extinction Entities face within Higgs’s features. The woman smiled at her, then shoved Gene back. As Gene’s body collided with the beach, she felt tendrils of black tar begin to consume her. She fought hard, but eventually, her lungs drowned out and her world went black.
Gene woke up hours later in a cold sweat, groaning to herself. She shouldn’t have fallen asleep, but as she started to come to, Gene looked to her side and noticed her mask was complete. Her eyes widened as she crawled towards the bone structure and picked it up. She gazed over the canine-esque features, and despite her emotions running high, she smiled to herself. Seeing Higgs was the right push, and Gene knew he wasn’t lost yet. She had to hold onto hope she’d survive the ceremony. She promised herself she'd do it for him.
As the day morphed into the night and the stars shone, Gene followed the ten other initiates to the central area of the cave where the paintings lied. A huge bonfire was lit, and many began to chant as deep hums echoed throughout the room. It was almost like a choir of celestials singing the creation of everything, and despite the weight on Gene’s body, she was in awe as she clutched her mask tightly to her chest over her heart like the other initiates.
Pride, along with several other older walkers gestured and led everyone to the middle of the circle and had them kneel down. A small cup with a black like fluid awaited them. Gene could smell the substance, feel it excavate her nose. The ocasus plant had a bitter and pungent scent when broken down into liquid form. From time to time, Gene could have sworn it smelled like death itself. The rot that permeates a carcass as its flesh begins to break down. Fitting for what was about to happen.
“When you are ready, state the name of your death totem and consume the plant. We will walk with you and either say our goodbyes or embrace you as one of the ancients. If you die, you die with honor. Proceed.” A woman said, then joined Pride and some others in consuming their portion of the ocasus then placed their masks on. They lied down, and their Ka’s flashed before everyone’s eyes, hovering above their Ha’s with an umbilical cord connecting them to their physical state.
One by one down the line, death totems were spoken aloud and after consumption, many had dropped and blacked out. When it came to Gene’s turn, she looked over at the bodies of her peers, seeing that their Ka’s were not popping out like Prides’s or the others. She swallowed nervously, wondering if she was going to die right then and there. For a brief moment, Gene met Pride's gaze as they watched each other. She clung hard to her mask then placed it upon her face. She saw Higgs in Pride’s spot, watching her with worry like he had done when Gene signed up for training to become a porter. Gene slowly exhaled, and brought the cup and its disgusting contents to her lips through the mouth of the mask as she felt a surge of adrenaline course through her body.
“Xolotl.” Gene said aloud and consumed the plant substance in one gulp. Her body ceased and the world went void. There was no pain. Death had consumed her quickly before her mind could process what was going on.
A powerful whooshing sound was the first sense Gene gained back from having died. Despite having no physical body, some part of her was moving through space. A vast void that stretched as far as the eye could see followed by cackles. It was like a pack of hyenas post-kill, but the sounds were altered in such a way that it was like hearing a primordial hoot. Something that should never have been but was.
From the corner of Gene’s peripheral vision, she saw four lights shoot past her. The first bit of anything alive glimmering in the dark. They met up at this weird tunnel-like tube followed by Gene trailing after. Her Ka felt like it was being sucked out of a cup through a straw as she tried to scream, but couldn’t. Gene was conscious yet was not. It was strange being on the boundary line between life and death. She was starting to lose sight of the concepts that were on her world, bound for the light at the end of the tunnel.
Gene suddenly opened her mouth, finding herself drifting through ocean water. She kicked up from the sand beneath her feet, launching her body at the surface. She arrived with a powerful gasp of air, mimicking the same motions a newborn would make after leaving the womb before she swam back to shore. As soon as her hands clasped the sand beneath her, Gene became fully aware again. She could feel the hairs on her skin rise, knowing she was on a beach but it wasn’t the one Higgs nor the EE were roosting in. She could feel her mask tighten on her face while her breath hitched. Gene attempted to take it off, but to no avail. It was glued to her, and then she saw them. BTs, giant whale-like creatures that transcended death flopping about. Their large bodies moved through the sand and water like a ghost drifting through walls of a broken home.
Panic began to rise in her as Gene froze upon one of the BTs drifting in her direction. The creature let out a guttural sound as it looked her over. The thing didn’t have eyes, but Gene knew instinctively it was checking her out, sizing her. Eventually, it brushed past as its towering body went back to mimicking its real-life counterpart, swimming through the skies in boundless eternity. Gene couldn’t help but smile behind the mask. BTs were scary, and she knew all too well the horrifying feelings they could invoke, but seeing them like this, as her Ka, it was something to behold.
“Gene--” She heard a voice call out, Pride. He along with several others were waiting for her fifty feet away. She quickly rushed over to them, feeling weightless in this new plane of existence. There were four people from the ceremony that joined her as they each acknowledged one another, nodding in congrats as Pride stepped forward.
“Out of ten, only four of you made it. Congratulations. You have the blood of the Neanderthal. We are in the second dimension. This beach is called Purgatory. This is where most BTs congregate when they are not trapped in the world of the living. We will join you all in taking your first steps in death. All of us will walk this beach, and then you will begin your training for whatever it is you have come to seek by becoming a Walker.”
After the group had finished sending thoughts and prayers to those that perished during the ceremony, Pride pulled Gene aside while the initiates went with their respective mentors. He gave her a friendly pat on the shoulder, smiling proudly through his mask as Gene returned the affection.
“I’m happy you made it. Xolotl was something I didn’t expect, but it makes my death totem happy to find kin.” Pride said as Gene chuckled.
“Yeah, it just came to me. Like you said it would.” Gene furrowed her brows. “Pride, I should apologize--for how I was behaving earlier.”
“Don’t fret. I know sleep deprivation can make any man or woman tired and bitter. We have much work to do. If you’re going to fight someone such as Higgs, who allies himself to an Extinction Entity and its powers, you’re going to need to tap into powers of your own.” Pride said boldly making Gene do a double-take. This whole time, she had been under the impression that Death Walking only meant she could transcend the barriers of the afterlife. What Pride said, shocked her to the core as awe and fear entangled itself in her gaze.
“What do you mean--I have powers?” Gene asked as Pride chuckled.
“Of course! You didn’t think this was it, did you?”
Gene shook her head. “No, but--you mean I’ll be able to face him, head on?”
Pride nodded, but his playful nature turned to one of neutrality as he sighed, looking out towards the ocean. Unlike the beach where the Extinction Entity lay, the waters were so blue that it was like looking in a mirror and seeing the sky reflected in full. Gene joined Pride in gazing. She felt a sense of calm wash over her as they observed more sea life BT’s frolic about, giving them space and merely behaving like real animals.
“Magnificent, aren’t they?” Pride asked softly as Gene nodded.
“I never thought BTs could look this--cool.”
Pride chuckled. “When you’re already dead, they don’t bother looking for a fight. There’s always the exception. BTs like the primordial beasts you see before you are made up of many Ka’s. The ones in Purgatory, are made up of Ka’s.”
“I thought we all go to the afterlife, whatever that may be unless there is a Death Stranding,” Gene said, confusion graced itself in her features as Pride nodded.
“It is true, but some Ka’s are scared to make that crossing. They’d prefer to be with other Ka’s they connect with. So they merge into a BT. At some point, the Ka’s will cross over but until then the BTs here are many souls too scared to take the next step. The BTs we face in the world of the living have no one, no connections to the afterlife so they feed off their primal instincts to kill and consume. It’s the only way they feel whole again. BTs in Purgatory are here to give comfort to the dead who were scared in their final moments. Everything in life has a purpose, just as everything in death has one.”
“Why do I get the feeling you’re about to go into a lecture?” Gene asked with a quip of sarcasm, causing Pride to smile big. He admired her for it. Her personality reminded Pride much of his own when he first began his journey to becoming a Death Walker, though Gene’s reasons made him fearful.
“I’m warning you, actually. People like us Gene, Death Walkers, we cannot come here when we die. We go straight to the afterlife. This is the only time you will see such harmony. The other dimensions we travel are not as pure, and then there is crossing into the Extinction Entities domain. I’ve never been myself, but I know others before me who had pulled it off. It cost them their lifespans back home. When we return to our Ha’s after this first journey, you will age three years. The farther up the dimension you go, the more your lifespan will be drained. This is not counting your powers I will be teaching you. Life pays for death and death pays for life.”
Gene furrowed her brows, not liking where Pride’s words were going. It didn’t take her long to put it all together. “These powers will kill me fast, won’t they?”
Pride nodded. The silence between them that lasted for a while was all that was needed to be said.
“If you fight Anubis, if you fight the jackal, if you fight Higgs, you more than likely won’t last a year on earth. If you fight the Extinction Entity and try to foil its plans, you won’t survive at all. Is he still worth that to you?” Pride asked, turning his head to look down at Gene who was still looking out past the surf. It occurred to Gene that Pride was asking this because he had grown to care about her, much like a parent would to a child. She could tell by the tone of his voice, this was Gene’s final chance to back out.
There was no going back for Gene. She had worked too hard and came too far to give up. Higgs had begged her to help him, and she fully intended on keeping her promise.
“When do we start?” Gene asked, enthusiasm dripping from her tone as she looked up at Pride and smiled.
