X35: Bloodied Rubble

A line of blood trickled down Kazuki's face. He opened his left eye, but instead of the cargo interior he expected, he was met with a memory. The blood felt real, maybe it was real. He looked up and around, seeing the shopping centre around him. 

Blood stained his formal clothes, dripping down his skin. Looking upwards, Kazuki saw a cacophony of explosions rattle outside the station's reinforced roof-window. 

He placed himself on his back. His body continued to sting, but not from cybernetic troubles but from the sheer pain. He took his aug-glasses off for a moment, seeing that they were cracked.

"Kazuki!" a voice cried out. He shot upwards, looking towards the high pitched cry that shattered his peace. His one good eye fell upon a pile of rubble. Someone was trapped underneath, her side braid etched into Kazuki's mind.

What… was going on? His memory ached. This was far from normal, he typically had control over what happens in simulations; but here he was but a victim to his mind. Something told him to keep pushing as he started to crawl towards her. His vision started to blur as a field of red covered him. But pushing himself further, he eventually crawled close enough to distinguish her features.

Other than the two of them, there were a few other people dying nearby, crushed under rubble as a shockwave rippled across the space station. He tried to move his legs, only to find his right leg in shambles as any movement caused it to cry in agony. Victoria stretched her left hand out towards Kazuki, her pink, braided hair dotted with blood.

Rubble had completely enveloped her lower torso. Her crimson dress was bloodied beyond comparison to him. Peering towards him, her red eyes glinted at his one blue eye as he reached her.

"Kazuki… please…" begged Victoria, "Please… don't leave me… not like…"

"Quiet, I'll try…" said Kazuki, calmly. But he was far from calm, his outside actions betraying his inner thoughts as his body ached and his hands shook with adrenaline. He pushed himself closer, placing himself next to the rubble as he tried to pry the rubble off her.

But each attempt led to her screaming in pain as more rubble piled in from top. Kazuki let go, no longer being able to bear the cries as she was crying. She slowly turned her head to him as he collapsed beside the rubble.

"I'm sorry… I shouldn't have put you… on the spot…" Victoria trailed off, slowly slumping over as small pieces of rubble gave in. "Go… save yourself… please. I… can't move."

Her plea fell onto silent ears as Kazuki shook his head, pushing himself forward as he got close. Panic set in. He scrambled for words to soothe her, failing, "No. No. No. I'll… I'll save you! Alright? Just… JUST HOLD STILL. PLEASE." 

The once calm exterior he portrayed was gone, peeling back to show desperation. The facade fell away as he pushed his hands forward, trying to lift the rubble. She did her best to hide the pain, gritting her teeth. But just as he felt something move within the rubble, a spark of hope ignited in him as another shockwave rippled. And as it crashed towards him, he put his back into it. Something cracked.

Her eyes lit up in worry as he continued to push himself forward. Adrenaline blocked pain. All he cared about now was getting Victoria out. And he'll die trying if needs be. Even though he had the willpower to power through the pain, his body slowly faltered. His back gave way, as his limbs fell. If… only he had cybernetics… like those his dad talked about. He could save her if he just had them. He fell directly beside her, his lungs stung with smog and dust as he gasped for air.

"Kaz… I… don't…" Victoria's eyes were even redder. Reality was finally dawning on the two of them. All factors led to one conclusion: she was as good as dead. But he refused to believe that. 

He ignored her words, trying to pull himself together and failing. He kept trying, twisting himself back towards the pile of rubble as an explosion could be felt from outside.

"No… I… Kazuki, can you… promise me something?" asked Victoria, her voice fading.

He ignored her, instead continuing to struggle against the rubble, pushing his shoulder against it with his one good leg bracing him.

"Kazuki! Please… listen. Please?" she asked again, her voice a whisper.

"What?" Kazuki uttered, unable to process everything that was happening. An explosion rippled, causing a gas pipe above them to burst.

"It's painful…" Victoria trailed off. Kazuki looked down at her. The blood loss was even worse than before. Rubble had jabbed into her arm and sides, causing blood to seep out from open wounds. Blood slowly exited from her lips as her vibrant eyes were dulling. "Please… make it stop."

"I… can't… I can't move it." said Kazuki, placing both his hands on the rubbled floor. "I… can't do it…"

It still hadn't sunk into him just exactly what was going on. The pain of it all was still ringing… but he felt a measure of guilt crept in.

"I… can't look after them… Eliza… Ulysses… please do it in my stead." muttered Victoria. Kazuki froze. He slowly nodded, acknowledging a pledge to those words, but he'll have to get out of here to follow those orders… it was clear what Victoria wanted. She wanted him to live in her place.

"I promise." stated Kazuki, holding back from crumbling from the pressure put on him. He's seen death before, but this was far too much.

Victoria smiled. Blood crested her lips as it rolled down her chin, hidden beneath her charm-pink side braid. "Then it's a contract… please… stop the pain."

Her eyes glanced down to a shard of broken glass beside them. He shook his head as he grabbed it. "Please…"

"Just… stop the pain." repeated Victoria, her voice slowly fading as more blood pained his view.

Of course this would happen… It always happens. It never changes. He's never changed. It's always about him, just him. Everyone has sacrificed something, yet he has not thrown in his token just yet. If he had been selfless, he would have pushed further…

Kazuki gulped down as he raised the shard towards her neck. He didn't know if he had the guts to do it. He closed his eye, thrusting his hands forward as he tried to ignore the noise of blood. He crumpled backwards as his eye shot open. Victoria's lifeless eyes stared back at him, a slight grin on her face - a vain attempt to calm her friend in her death, instead: panic started to set in…

Why… those same eyes. Victoria sacrificed herself, that he knew. She sacrificed herself so he could leave her, leave her so he could live… And here he was, selfishly clinging onto what Victoria gave him; unable to protect the ones she loved.

And as he stared into those dead eyes, Kazuki felt a jab come from his brain. His mind sharpened as pain struck him all over. The simulated memory faded away. He started to remember, and his memory bled out in agony. Everything came to him at once. And reality set in.