"Everything will be explained when we get you to the base. Of course, by then it won't matter." The soldier who had been addressed as Z huffed, both men lifting Cicada up into the vehicle. They shut the door, the unbanned soldier banging on the back wall once. They set Cicada down on a plain bench, not very gentle with how they handled her.
"No, actually. They run on a combination of many things." Aron replied, nostrils flaring for a moment. "Not that I would expect kruz'ghul like you to understand that sort of thing. You seem more like common grunts than anything intelligent and capable of understanding that sort of thing." he was purposefully being as nasty as possible. He was actually usually rather polite.
One soldier closed the door of the vehicle, banging on the wall. Neither seemed very concerned with the fact Satsu looked to be on the edge of an anxiety attack; they both started quiet, sitting down and strapping in. There were no seat belts for Satsu.
Cicada figured they were soldiers as they were referring to some type of base. There was more precious information, but her mind wandered as to why it wouldn't matter for them to explain it to her. Her eyes quickly scanned the inside of the thing trying to find a fast exit point only to remember the last time she had tried to move. So she opted to mutter to herself while glaring harshly at them, "When I get out of these binds the two of you are so dead."
Satsu jostled along and held onto the bench tightly, and he kept counting and steady breathing. He then began to 10 things he knows for sure. "My name is Satsu. I am from Obdin. This place is fucking scary. Those guards may kill me. I have fire magic. My best friend and brother is Alex. This is probably Evelyn's fault. My favorite color is red. Faeries are bitches. I like mermen the best. I am not in Obdin." And he named these things a few more times. Eventually he was calm enough to think more clearly.
"Oo, feisty. Wonder if it's gonna end up assigned to U- that'd be interesting." The soldier on the right rolled their eyes, chuckling.
"U's already killed enough charries- I don't think they'll make that mistake again." Both soldiers set Aron down on a hard wooden plank, they themselves strapping into actual seats. One banged on the wall, and in a roar they took off, the speed of the vehicle sending Aron into the wall.
"Yeah, and I'll get elected president." The more talkative soldier chuckled, while there companion elbowed them.
"Dude, just shut up already. You're giving me a headache."
"Actually," one of the guards said, leaning forward, "you don't have for magic. At least, not anymore. And probably never again." They smiled cruelly.
"Dude, why do you have to be such an ass?"
Aron cursed at them, and let out a groan when he hit the wall. He pulled away from it, shifting around as best he could to press his back to it, eyes flicking between the two soldiers. His eyes were narrowed, his golden hair messed up.
The soldier on the right watched Aron, an amused look on their face.
"What, no witty comeback now?" They chuckled.
Cicada rolled her eyes once more. She didn't know what a president was but could figure it was someone of power and difficult to become. So this place didn't have a monarchy. That much was interesting. She scoffed, "No please keep talking. Tell me more about this military base we're going to, or am I too stupid to understand?"
"Not one you would understand." Aron retorted, nostrils flaring for a moment. He cocked his head at them. "I believe your brains are too tiny to understand it. Although you're welcome to try to, if you would like me to say it."
One soldier stepped into the room Syzen was in, and a very familiar one at that.
"I'm surprised to see you again," soldier S said casually. "Charries don't usually return."
A soldier came barging into the room with Noel, slightly it off breath. They took a moment to collect themselves, looking Noel over once.
"Interesting indeed," they mumbled to themself.
”Fantastic, you again. Where’s the other dude? Dead and gone finally?” He asked with an emotionless tone before smirking.
”I’m just kidding, he’s working in another room eh?” he asked with a small laugh.
”Wh-What’s interesting about me…” Noel asked with a shaking tone and a trembling body. He looked nervous in the presence of the man.
Already a transport could be seen making its way towards Time, the tires sending up dust as it sped towards them. It drifted to a halt, two soldiers stepping out. One looked a little shaken but tried to hide it as they both made their way over to Time.
"Who?" Was all they asked the soldiers, head tilted to the side and owlish eyes staring right at the shaken one. They didn't blink, keeping their eyes on the unsettled soldier. "I am in a new place with no recollection of how I got here."
"You are, actually. Damn charrie."
"Z, I said zip it. I'm not gonna deal with your bullshit today." The soldier rubbed their forehead, eyes closed.
"Sorry, C, I'm just having a little fun."
The soldier scowled, moving to strike Aron.
"E, that's enough. We don't want to be bringing in damaged goods, now do we? I'm not taking the fall for your temper again." The soldier put their arm out in front of E, blocking him from being able to hit Aron. Soldier E looked peeved but sat back.
Soldier S didn't seem affected by what Syzen said, but his eyes held a bit of humor.
"One can only wish. He's actually dealing with another character right now. There's a rumor going around you two have the same Author."
The soldier smirked, making his way towards Noel.
"The rumors are true. You really do share an Author with Syzen." He chuckled. "Oh, that's not good, not for either of you."
"What is it with Author's and making their characters clueless?" One soldier mumbled. The shaken soldier shrugged, obviously not wanting to be there.
"Let's just get this over with." Both made their way over to Time, each taking one of their arms. Well, the shaken soldier gingerly put their hand on Time's arm, not really wanting to touch them.
"You're going to regret thinking that," Cicada said under her breath as she rolled her eyes. They were underestimating her, fine. She would just use that to her advantage. Her only problem was they had some right since she didn't know much about this place, but that doesn't mean she was stupid. She took a deep breath and shut her eyes trying to remember what Flare had told her about other worlds. It was semi helpful when basically a god shared, or had shared, the same headspace as Cicada. Even if that god knew had no idea Cicada would someday be in this situation. Or maybe Flare had known and that's why she had told Cicada as much as she could about the existence of other worlds, though it wasn't much.
Satsu decided that escape, was impossible, so he sat there and just waited in fear. He hoped he wouldn't die mostly. "C-could these handcuffs possibly come off? Uhm they are starting to chaff my wrists…I've done nothing wrong. Why would I escape?" He can't even breath properly half the time, nevermind be brave and try to leave. He's not stupid. He just hoped they'd release his hands so they'd quit hurting.
"I'm sure," Soldier Z said, rolling their eyes.
"Z, if you speak one more time, I'm going to slap you." Soldier C scowled, looking as if they might smack Soldier Z anyway.
The first soldier just completely ignored Satsu, checking their watch. The second looked over, smirking.
"No," he finally said. "You'd better get used to them- you're gonna be wearing them for a long time."
He sighed and just sat there, staring at his shoes, tapping them together, waiting for them to get to-wherever they were going. He hummed to himself, rocking on his butt, trying to not cry.
"What is it with Author's and making their characters clueless?" One soldier mumbled. The shaken soldier shrugged, obviously not wanting to be there.
"Let's just get this over with." Both made their way over to Time, each taking one of their arms. Well, the shaken soldier gingerly put their hand on Time's arm, not really wanting to touch them.
As soon as the soldiers touched Time, they attacked. Biting the shaken soldier's hand with their sharp teeth and kicking the other in the crotch. "Let go of me." They growled, face blank as ever, even with the threat.
Cicada got an idea, a wicked idea, but it might work. She could tell the two didn't agree, and that neither was higher than the other. It was just that Z was a pushover, "Hey Z, don't let C pushed you around like that. He's not your superior. You've got some good quips in ya."
Soldier S didn't seem affected by what Syzen said, but his eyes held a bit of humor.
"One can only wish. He's actually dealing with another character right now. There's a rumor going around you two have the same Author."
The soldier smirked, making his way towards Noel.
"The rumors are true. You really do share an Author with Syzen." He chuckled. "Oh, that's not good, not for either of you."
”Oh come on, I live in a realm with over a hundred other notable ‘characters’ as you call us, of course someone else would find themselves in here” Syzen shrugged a bit.
”Also, can you get this handcuff out? It’s tightened a bit too much”
”S-Syzen? You mean that Mr. Constellation…? And how is that bad actually…?” Noel asked, standing in front of the soldier.
Eventually, the transport pulled to a stop. The driver could be heard speaking with someone before the vehicle started again, pulling into wherever they were going. The two soldiers unbuckled and stood, picking Satsu up by his arms again.
The soldier who had been bitten cried out, pulling their hand away and backing up, cradling their wounded hand to their chest The soldier who had been kicked cursed, bending over a bit in muted pain.
"O! Get the fuck out of here!" The driver rushed out, aiming a gun at Time. It seemed to be modified, but the meaning of these modifications was unclear.
Soldier Z titled their head at Cicada, thinking over what she had said.
"That's where you're-" C growled a little, slapping Soldier Z's arm.
"For the love of Christ! Shut up!!"
The driver banged on the wall, prompting both of the soldiers to fall quiet.
Soldier S thought for a bit.
"I don't see why not. You know the drill, and your Agent will be coming in this room anyway." Soldier S made his way over, undoing Syzen's bonds.
"Just try not to disappear before you're processed this time, okay?" He chuckled.
"It means both of you were purposefully brought over. If your Author is found, they're gonna face some serious consequences." Soldier K grabbed Noel's arm, beginning to pull him to the exit.
Cicada was silently laughing to herself. That worked, holy Everflame that worked. She could figure out the rest of C's statement and figured even if she was wrong, that was so worth the reaction. Too bad the driver had shut them both up.
The soldier who had been bitten cried out, pulling their hand away and backing up, cradling their wounded hand to their chest The soldier who had been kicked cursed, bending over a bit in muted pain.
"O! Get the fuck out of here!" The driver rushed out, aiming a gun at Time. It seemed to be modified, but the meaning of these modifications was unclear.
"One does not grab another without consent," Time muttered, dusting off their pants. "Now, who are you and what did you do to me?" Their eyes flashed, no magic in it, but only the promise of pain if they refused to answer.
Eventually, the transport came to a stop. Z and C stood, each grabbing onto Cicada again.
"We're here," C muttered, still upset at Z.
"We didn't do anything to you," the soldier with the gun said, not lowering it. "You're the one breaking the law. It's just our job to take you in for processing." The soldier who had been kicked slowly began to straighten, scowling deeply.