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Zayne Li was no longer a doctor, but a grim reaper for those beyond salvation. In this pursuit, he ventured to the ends of Linkon City to take down a particularly strong Alterum. He didn't even realize he was on the border between Linkon and the N109 Zone, until the Alterum had been defeated, and he could take a deep breath.
He shouldn't linger there, the N109 Zone was a lawless place where criminals run rampant. He should return to the Fractal Library and continue his research.
But... not far away from where he stood, he heard a heavy thump, followed by an angry whimper. Against his better judgement, Zayne still acted like a doctor, wanting to make sure there were no casualties, and if there were, to help them. Perhaps that Alterum managed to make a victim and Zayne hadn't noticed. So he moved fast and turned the corner of the building to see if anyone was in need of help.
As soon as he turned, there was a man kneeling, breathing heavily as he grabbed onto the side of his abdomen. Even in the low light of the street, Zayne still saw the drops of blood seeping through the man's fingers and staining the ground.
"I'm a doctor, let me help you," he said, approaching the injured man with a quick step. Technically, he wasn't a doctor anymore, even if the hospital didn't want to let him go. Still, he was trained as a doctor and knew how to proceed. It would take too long to explain, and this injured man didn't deserve to know his sorrow.
The white haired, injured man tried to chuckle, but ended up wincing and coughing. He raised his eyes towards Zayne, and squinted at him. The grim reaper kneeled beside him.
"Can I check the wound? It looks serious. I have the necessary supplies to close it and stop the bleeding."
"Very well," the man agreed, sat down, winced again as he moved his leg, and let the doctor inspect his wound.
To Zayne's dismay, it was pretty deep, a good portion of the muscle tissue being torn, but thankfully, whatever pierced him didn't hit any organs and didn't go through to the other side.
"I'll stop the bleeding and close the wound momentarily, and then I'll call for an ambulance to take you to Akso Hospital."
"I refuse. I do have that right as a patient, right, doctor?"
Zayne glared at the man. "Of course, if you want to risk losing your life."
The other guy laughed, and once again, had to stop with a wince and a cough. Zayne refused to make anymore small talk, and got to work. Thankfully, he carried with him all necessary tools and medical equipment he might need for collateral victims in the large pockets of his coat.
With the help of the wounded man's phone flashlight, he quickly sanitized the area and closed the wound with stitches. He didn't have any anesthesia, but the patient assured him he's endured worse. He also managed to find out from the man he was currently suturing, that he wasn't hurt because of a Wanderer, but from a more intense typical fight for the N109 Zone.
Zayne finished the stitching and cleaned the area once more, and then secured it with bandages.
"I still believe you should go to Akso Hospital," Zayne reiterated.
"Once my Evol recovers, it'll be a thing of the past. Besides, I have the necessary equipment to treat any wounds at home."
Those ruby red eyes of his patient seemed far too confident for the state he was in. Zayne didn't fail to notice the way his pupils shook, close to losing consciousness.
He wanted to reply and insist once more, perhaps even take his phone and make the call for an ambulance himself, but the guy pulled him down and growled: "They're coming back. I can't use my Evol, so you'll have to rely on yours. And I'm sure they have more anti-matter weapons."
The injured man appeared more clear minded in the wake of incoming danger, frowning as he scanned the area.
"We have to get you to a safe area—" Zayne tried to stand up, but the man pulled him down again and interrupted him.
"Backup is coming. You can't both keep me steady and fight against them. Focus on defending."
Although he wasn't pleased with the situation or the man's plan, Zayne had to listen to him. It was clear he knew how things in the N109 Zone worked, while the grim reaper had no idea.
Different footsteps were coming from all directions towards them, and Zayne acted before the attackers could even reach them. He created a wall of thick ice to encase both him and his patient against the abandoned building's outer wall. There were far too many assailants coming here, based on the sound of footsteps. What mattered most, is keep the injured man safe.
Bullets rained down on the ice barrier he created, and Zayne fortified it with thicker layers, every time the bullets dissolved it. Hopefully, the man's backup was going to come soon, and be skilled enough to take care of those thugs. His Evol won't be able to withstand such weapons for long, and if a bullet so much as grazes Zayne, he'll be just as defenceless as his patient.
Meanwhile, Zayne glanced back at the patient, who frowned while keeping his eyes closed. He opened them again before Zayne could wonder if he was still conscious. He didn't say anything, but it was clear he was struggling, and the blood loss must have been the primary reason.
Indeed, the man's backup came quickly, tires screeching and more bullets flying as the assailants were being dealt with. Zayne could still see faintly though his ice what was going on, including a crow flying towards where they were hiding. His strange caw echoed inside the ice fortress, and the wounded guy finally focused his sight on the bird.
"Mephisto. Take down the ice wall, doctor. We're safe now." Even his voice was more weary now, and Zayne worried about his condition. The adrenaline was dying off.
Still, he listened to his instructions, melting enough ice to let the crow inside, who instantly perched on his owner's shoulder. Right after, a guy dressed in all black and wearing a crow mask ran towards them, while another one dressed the same, took care of the last couple of attackers.
"Boss! We've intercepted EVER's accomplices and we took care of one of their hideouts."
Zayne fully melted the wall once the subordinate approached. EVER. He wasn't surprised they were involved in the N109 Zone. After all, this was where one of their old research centres was located before the Chronorift Catastrophe occurred. Where his childhood sweetheart had been kept as an experiment.
Both he and the subordinate stood up with the patient —this 'boss' apparently— and gently guided him towards the car. He was limping, something Zayne hadn't noticed and the man didn't complain about. He must have sprained his ankle as well. The other guy got behind the wheel, while their boss was being laid on the back seats.
"Get in the car, doctor. It isn't safe for you here," the first masked guy said, walking towards the passenger door.
"We also probably need you to stay with boss. Our private doctor isn't in the area at the moment," said the second one, the driver. Even the crow added another strange caw to this conversation.
So, Zayne got inside the car and knelt in front of the backseat covered by the injured man.
"We got a hold of the weapons, boss," the driver said after starting the car. "We'll send the model to the odd shop and see what we can do to reverse the effects of those bullets."
"Don't worry about it, boss," the passenger added. "We'll get your Evol working at its full capacity in no time!"
The 'boss' in question grumbled, a forearm thrown over his face. "It'll come back on its own. But make sure we'll save a supply of antidotes once Phillip develops them."
The two identical guys, perhaps twins, glanced at each for a moment. The crow, who had been previously perched on the shoulder of the driver, flew down to land on Zayne's. He looked at the strange bird, noticing the metallic sheen of his feathers. This wasn't a real bird.
"I've had patients before who were hit with Evol neutralising weapons, and their Evol hadn't come back. This might be a bigger issue, if they were developed by EVER," Zayne added to the conversation, still watching the strange metallic bird that was inspecting him.
The boss scoffed. "Their anti-matter weapons are stronger than last time, I'll give them that. Still, they're not even coming close to neutralizing my Evol for good. Don't give them that much credit, doctor."
Zayne was still impressed by the man's confidence, considering his condition. What state would he have been in if no doctor were to attend to him? But after all, he shouldn't be surprised by the audacity of a wanted man in the N109 Zone. Even at a quick glance, the model of the car, the high-tech crow, the fact that this man had two loyal subordinates who were also incredibly skilled, meant that his patient was surely an important name in this lawless land. Zayne tried not to think how important this man was, and if he was going to regret saving his life. Still, this wasn't the first time he treated a dangerous person.
"I suggest you shut up and preserve your strength," Zayne replied, then turned his attention towards the two young men in the front of the speeding car. "You two, do you have medical equipment necessary for a potential surgery, an IV pole and drip, blood for a transfusion, and a heart monitor, at least?"
"Sure do, doctor!" Said the first masked guy, seated as the passenger.
"Except for the blood," continued the driver. "Boss has never needed it before."
Zayne turned to glare at his patient with furrowed brows. "What is your blood type and Rh?"
The man shrugged, a forearm still covering his eyes. "Don't worry about it, doctor. Your human categorisation of blood doesn't apply to me."
Zayne blinked a couple of times, and refused to ask further questions. If the criminal in front of him wanted to be an annoyance, then he won't entertain him. He'll do as much as he could, and ignore the fact he was already starting to regret following his medical instincts.
But at this point, he was buried too deep in this man's business, and there was no way of escaping this situation without a brawl. Those two subordinates will not hesitate to protect their boss if Zayne were to turn against him. He had no doubt he'll be able to escape, his Evol was powerful enough, and those two didn't seem to be Evol users. But so deep into the N109 Zone, Zayne might be caught before he could return to Linkon. This wasn't his territory, he didn't know how to traverse it and avoid all danger. He had to be tactful dealing with these men.
No other words were spoken until the identical guys pulled into an underground parking lot. From his position on the floor between the front and back seats, Zayne wasn't able to properly see where they had been going. But the building they entered, seemed to have been grand and imposing.
Once the car was parked near the elevator, the guys got out and opened the doors Zayne couldn't reach. He stepped out, and all three of them carefully removed the boss from the back seat. He was unsteady on his feet, wincing once he put pressure on his left foot, and Zayne propped his weight against his shoulder. As confident as the man had been before, he was quiet now, letting most of his weight rest onto Zayne, who was slightly shorter than him. Thankfully, the previous driver came to take of some of his boss' weight and helped dragging him to the elevator.
Just before the car door was closed, Zayne noticed fresh blood stains on the back seat's leather. The wound had reopened during the drive. The doctor put pressure on the man's wound, trying to keep as much blood inside him as possible.
"You two need to bring all the medical equipment you have available immediately after we lay him down," Zayne instructed as all four men and one crow were rising with the elevator.
"Understood," the masked men nodded in unison.
The patient was breathing heavily against Zayne's face, his head bent down, weak. Zayne raised his hand to check the state of his pulse at the throat. It was concerning how fast his heart was beating.
"Mr…?" Zayne started to ask, wanting to check his consciousness. It also seemed proper to at least know the name of his patient.
"Sylus," the man replied with a shaky voice, so unlike what he previously heard.
Ah…
Zayne wasn't surprised to hear this name. As fate would have it, he managed to stumble into and save the life of the most infamous man in the N109 Zone and Linkon City. The founder and leader of Onychinus, a criminal organization that dealt with illegal Protocore trading, manufacturing and distribution of enhanced Protocore weapons. The most feared and powerful man in this lawless land, and its undisputed ruler for more than a decade.
And yet, at this moment, he was merely an injured man who was close to losing consciousness and relied wholly on Zayne's medical expertise and care.
A few months ago, he would have risked his life and fled, leave this man to die. When he thought this man was after his sweetheart's Aether Core, and caused the explosion that killed his childhood friend and their grandmother. But after her return from the N109 Zone, she cleared this man's name. Even more, he helped her find out who caused that explosion, protected her in the N109 Zone and became an unlikely ally, who also assisted her in uncovering what had happened in her youth inside the Gaia Research Centre. If she trusted this man, and she felt safe under his protection and authority over the N109 Zone, then so will Zayne.
He showed no reaction over learning this crucial information. He only kept Sylus as upright as he could, the heavy man soon to fall unconscious.
***
After many hours, that Zayne didn't count, the penthouse above the Onychinus base was quiet. He and the twins —whose names he learned were Luke and Kieran, though he didn't know who was who— moved Sylus to lay in his bed as soon as the elevator reached its destination. The doctor barked out commands for the twins to bring all the medical equipment they'd promised was available. Indeed, those two brought everything and listened to each of Zayne's instructions. He didn't know what kind of people they were, or what type of relationship they had with their boss, but their obedience towards a strange man that could save Sylus meant they must care for him.
Upon further questions, Zayne also learned more about Sylus' Evol, and his ability to heal his wounds through regeneration. Per the twins answers, he had never been in such a terrible state before. Zayne tried to keep him awake, but Sylus could barely concentrate on what was going on around him. His blood loss was concerning, and the doctor tried to pry again on the boss' blood type, but the twins didn't know it. With Sylus' barely engaged attention, he once more replied it wasn't a common human blood type, and he shouldn't ask about it again.
Still, Zayne was able to stitch his wound, make sure no organs had been affected for good, and stop his bleeding. He checked and treated the limping leg as well, and was relieved to confirm it was just a sprained ankle, and not a fracture. He hooked an IV drip to Sylus' elbow, a heart monitor to check his resting heartbeat —concerningly fast, but Sylus mumbled it was normal—, and kept the oxygen machine close by, in case his breathing would worsen. It was normal at the moment, so Zayne let Sylus rest and fall asleep, sitting in a chair by his bedside. As he fell into slumber, his heart rate evened out, and the constant beeping became an usual, comforting background noise.
The twins left to visit the man they've previously mentioned, and to possibly gather more information about EVER's weapons that reduced Sylus to this state. Even that mechanical crow suddenly left to who knows where, leaving only the patient and the doctor in the quiet penthouse.
Zayne sat watching Sylus breathe steadily while asleep, his clothes still stained with the criminal's shed blood. Deep inside the N109 Zone, Zayne stood guardian over a man he should have hated. But the truth was, there was no person Zayne could hate more than himself. After all, he was a criminal as well, who let go of his noble mission to save people's hearts.
The oppressive silence was interrupted by a low buzz. Sylus' phone on the nightstand vibrated with an incoming call. Zayne sneaked a glance at the device who stunned him out of his tired thoughts, noticing the cheesy nickname that was calling the ruler of the N109 Zone: "Kitten❤️". Zayne sighed, letting the call end on its own. It seemed even a ruthless boss had a significant other with a ridiculous nickname in his contacts. Perhaps it was true that everyone deserved love. But Zayne chose to grieve over it instead of pursue it. If he did, he might've ended up grieving the person he loved instead.
His gaze settled once more on the sleeping man. In his rest, Sylus looked like every other patient he'd had over the years. He was simply a person who needed to recover; who found a shred of peace in his slumber. Still, the deep frown etched between his eyebrows stayed, and almost unconsciously, Zayne leaned over and smoothed out the tension. Someone out there loved this wretched man, and wouldn't want to see their beloved stressed even in their sleep. Sylus didn't stir at the touch, and Zayne straightened back in his chair.
Minutes, hours passed, and Zayne barely kept his eyes open. He couldn't remember the last time he slept. Maybe he took a short nap after reading another one of the Fractal Library's books yesterday. But since he began researching all those tomes, his dreams have become even more confusing and distressing. Previously, it was only the grim reaper from another dimension that tormented him. Now, there were so many more images of himself he wanted to forget about.
But the constant buzzes and pings from Sylus' phone vibrating every time he got a notification kept the doctor alert. "Kitten❤️" kept messaging Sylus every few minutes, and Zayne caught a few words before the screen would darken again.
"Sy, why aren't you responding?"
"Sy, I used your credit card, aren't you proud of me?😁"
"C'mon, even bait doesn't work anymore?"
"I haven't seen Mephie all day either, what are you up to?"
"Sylus, I'm starting to worry. Just send a short message to tell me you're alright."
"You're fine, right?"
Another few calls went unanswered, and Zayne himself started to feel bad for this Kitten❤️. They were clearly worried about their partner. They had to know the truth.
When the next call came, Zayne picked up the phone and exited the bedroom into the hallway. He swiped to answer and brought the phone to his ear.
"Hello, I'm Sylus doctor. He can't respond at the moment as he's resting, but he is fine."
On the other side of the call, Kitten❤️ gasped.