Chương 91: Chapter 90 – RIP, Rachel, Chuck and Mike

Elios sputtered as cold water struck his face. The shock bit into his skin, flooding his nose and mouth. He gasped, choking, his vision swimming as droplets traced icy paths down his neck. The sterile scent of disinfectant mingled with the copper tang of blood.

"Glad you could join us," Mordak said coldly.

"If you think this little stunt of sleeping on the job is going to buy you some time…" He paused, strolling a few steps away, then nodded at the two guards behind Elios. They grabbed his arms and hauled him upright.

"You'd be mistaken." Elios blinked, dazed, the room spinning in a blur of white tile and humming machinery. The fluorescent lights stabbed at his eyes. He looked around, and the pieces began to click.

"Ah, where's your little friend?" Mordak asked, scanning the lab.

"I don't know, sir. He was here," Elios said, voice hoarse.

"Am I going to find him napping somewhere too?" Mordak raised his eyebrows, lips curling. Elios lifted a trembling hand to his head. The throbbing was unmistakable. When he looked at his fingers, they glistened red.

"Sir, I wasn't napping. I was attacked." He reluctantly showed Mordak his hand.

"By whom?" Mordak asked skeptically, placing his hands behind his back and leaning forward to inspect the wound.

"That's a nasty bump you've got there, but what makes you think you were…" He pulled his hands out and made air quotes.

"…attacked?" Elios gave him a puzzled look.

"Isn't it obvious?" he asked, then caught himself.

"Sorry, sir. I'm still disoriented from the head injury."

"So, based on what you're telling me, you have no idea who…" Mordak made air quotes again.

"…attacked you or why?"

"That's correct, sir." He sighed.

"The last thing I remember was walking back in here with an emberbrew for Mikale, and then nothing." He steadied himself as the room tilted.

"Did you see this Mikale guy when you came back? Is he the one who attacked you?" Mordak prodded. Elios frowned, trying to recall. One moment he'd been smiling, bringing Mikale a drink; the next, darkness.

"Yes, I remember seeing Mikale before everything went black," he said, his body swaying.

"Get him a chair!" Mordak barked. A guard dragged one from a nearby desk. Mordak motioned sharply.

"Sit down before you fall down! The last thing I need is for you to injure yourself even more." Elios obeyed, lowering himself into the chair, confusion clouding his face. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

"Go find this Mikale guy," Mordak ordered.

"Sound the alarm. We may have a hostile or hostiles on the premises." His voice rose, tinged with panic.

"Is it possible they took Mikale?" Elios asked, genuine worry in his tone.

"I suppose anything is possible, Elios," Mordak remarked.

"Do you think they were here for my portal?" His eyes widened suddenly, revealing far more concern for the machine than for Elios. Elios looked around at the scattered components. The air smelled faintly of burnt circuitry and chemical residue.

"Perhaps it was a sabotage attempt, sir," he suggested, pointing to the puddle of shimmering Luminix Substrate on the floor.

"To disable the machine."

"What is it and what does it do?" Mordak asked.

"That's a vital component, sir, and a difficult one to replace." Elios shook his head.

"It's one of the pieces that allows travel to the other realm. Without it, the rest of the machine is useless."

"So let me see if I've got this straight—someone came in here, knocked you out, possibly kidnapped this Mikale guy, and broke the machine?" Mordak began pacing, his shoes squeaking against the wet tile.

"Well, it makes sense they'd take Mikale. They'd need him to build their own machine. They'd know we can't use ours because they smashed such a vital part." His voice grew louder, feeding on his own narrative.

"There has to be a double agent in our midst. But who are they working for? The fairies? No, that would make no sense—they have their own portals." He spun around, eyes gleaming.

"I know!" He snapped his fingers.

"It has to be that pain in my ass, Farrand. He found a way in, destroyed my machine, and took an engineer with him. He wants to build his own machine and take over. He wants to steal my glory. I just know it!" He ranted as he paced.

"He wants to move all the children, all the old and sick to another realm. He wants to take away my workforce. He figures he can ruin me."

"I'm so sorry, sir. I should have been more diligent about protecting myself," Elios said, staring at his feet.

"No, Elios, I'm sorry that you were forced to face that kind of brutality from such a vile, evil man." Mordak's tone softened, dripping with false sympathy.

"I can only imagine what he's doing to Mickey. He's probably torturing him right now—or worse." He shot Elios a look of mock concern.

"You know he's not working alone. He's probably working with those two fairies that murdered my baby. They're probably sitting somewhere laughing at me while they rip Mike apart. It's a conspiracy, Elios, I know it is. You're just lucky to be alive." Elios stared, wonderment filling his face as Mordak's story grew more bizarre, more tangled.

"You know, now that I think about it, they must be why Rachel never came back—and for Chuck's disappearance as well," Mordak said, pacing again.

"Rachel, sir?" Elios asked, confused.

"Chuck?"

"You know, the two shape‑shifting agents, Rachel and Chuck." Mordak snapped his fingers in front of Elios's face.

"I think they did a lot of damage there, Elios. You're really not with it."

"You mean Charlie and Regina?" Elios asked as the pieces fell into place.

"Yeah, them. Fine agents they were, the finest. It's such a shame they were cut down in their prime like that, a real pity." Mordak's voice dripped with sincerity so convincing that, had Elios not witnessed the brutality himself, he might have believed it. Elios decided it was best not to challenge Mordak's version of events. He was on the man's good side… for now.

"Yes, sir, it's a pity," he muttered.

"This band of violent criminals needs to be stopped." Mordak straightened his jacket, puffing his chest.

"I'm updating the charges against the three of them. I want them charged with the murders of Rachel, Chuck, and Mike, as well as the assault on you, trespassing, and destruction of property." He smiled, self‑satisfied.

"I need to put together a press release, Elios. Go see the doctor and get your head looked at, then go home and get some rest. You look tired."