Cyberknight: One Path

⁕ High Voltage (part 2)

*Hours before Athena's rescue operation, inside the Inverted Monolith

A group of surgeons carefully worked around Kadyn's dormant body while Jagger watched with a devious smile behind a window. Beside him, Dunhill showed an uncomfortable expression as he watched the doctors cut open Kadyn's metallic skull with an industrial saw. The resulting rain of metal sparks caused Dunhill to gasp in shock while Jagger stood unbothered.

[Dunhill] - "My lord, I know they will be coming after her but is this really necessary? "

Said Dunhill with a disturbed undertone in his voice.

[Jagger] - "This woman means nothing to me. I just happen to appreciate her for my personal pleasures. For this, I figured, why not make her a toy instead? "

[Dunhill] - "I don't understand, my lord, why do this now? We are currently expecting them to attack at any moment from now. This could've been done earlier or even later after we had dealt with the enemies you mentioned. "

As if Dunhill's question had triggered Jagger's happy nerve, he suddenly showed a sadistic smile.

[Jagger] - "I kept her alive because I know my enemies will come to rescue her. However, I don't only want to defeat my enemies, I want to watch them die in despair. I want to destroy their hopes and faith in humanity by putting them in hopeless situations. I want them to die knowing how little their defiance meant to the grander picture. "

Said Jagger with a dilated pupil as he savoured every moment he spent explaining his plan.

There was a visible look of fear in Dunhill's eyes but he knew better to quickly put on a facade to please Jagger.

[Dunhill] - "Wha... What a brilliant plan, my lord! "

Ignoring Dunhill's praise, Jagger leaned in closer to observe as the surgeons began lobotomizing Kadyn by slicing into her brain. The scene, on the other hand, was too much even for Dunhill to handle as he lit up a cigarette to distract himself from the cruel show.

Meanwhile, inside Kadyn's crystal, she watched in horror as the surgeons mercilessly removed her humanity. Like butchers, they stabbed and removed pieces of her frontal cortex until there was nothing left of Kadyn herself. Slowly, Kadyn lowered her head as she noticed Mike sitting by the fire in her periphery.

[Kadyn] - "I thought this was goodbye. How ironic... "

[Mike] - "I underestimated Jagger's perversion. "

Said Mike in a defeated voice.

As Kadyn approached Mike, he didn't dare raise his head to look at her.

[Kadyn] - "This must be what you felt as they opened you up and carved away your humanity. If I never allowed them to play with your body, none of this would've happened. "

Said Kadyn as she kneeled down to meet Mike's gaze.

However, even as she tried to see Mike, he lowered his head further down to hide his face.

[Kadyn] - "Mike, Mike, stop hiding from me. It's not your fault. That was Jagger, not you. "

Said Kadyn in an understanding tone.

[Mike] - "I don't know what came over me. I told you rescue was coming but look at you now. Everything is now gone, reduced to ashes because I couldn't be there for you when you needed me the most. "

Said Mike with guilt in his voice.

[Kadyn] - "I don't mind this anymore. As long as I get to spend eternity here with you, I'm happy with this arrangement. "