After a brief choker call to Shikage to make sure Jabber's limp body wouldn't be stopped at the entrance, Enjin entered HQ, and with the help of Bro carried a tied-up Jabber down to one of the holding rooms in the basement, Tamsy trailing behind with instrument in hand.
When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Enjin was surprised but not shocked to see Corvus and Semiu waiting in front of one of the doors to an interrogation room. Semiu eyed Jabber passively, analyzing him even without the use of her vital instrument, while Corvus looked at them all with familiar dark eyes and smiled warmly, always calm and composed regardless of the situation.
"Good job capturing Jabber, all of you." It hadn't been much of a capture so much as it was a surrender, but Enjin was sure the boss already knew that. "Let's get him in the room before we untie him and check him for any hidden weapons."
Corvus turned then to address Enjin specifically, and spoke in the same warm tone.
"It'll be a bit until he wakes up, in the meantime you should go check on Zanka, I'm sure he'll want to see you."
There was a reason Enjin would die for Corvus, beyond just trusting him as a leader.
"Thanks Boss," He said, and he meant it. "let me know as soon as he wakes up!" Enjin said, already turning around to quickly make his way back up the stairs.
Enjin wanted to interrogate Jabber. he needed to hear what Jabber had to say for himself, even if he knew it would definitely just make Enjin wanna bash his head in. But Zanka came first. Zanka, who was alive and waiting for him. It almost didn't feel real.
Nearing the top of the stairs, the door opened inwards and Enjin was surprised to see Gris come in, also moving quickly. They both paused for a second on the top few steps, before fear gripped Enjin.
"Is Zanka okay?? What are you doing here?"
"He's fine, he's fine. Don't worry. He passed out a bit before I got him to Eisha, but she said she didn't think any of his injuries were immediately life-threatening, just needed to make sure nothing was still inside before she started healing. I came to switch places with you so you could go see him, but, I guess I didn't need to. Should have guessed the boss would always be one step ahead." He said with a soft laugh, looking at Enjin.
Enjin could kiss him. He spoke instead.
"Riyo pistol-whipped Jabber, he's still knocked out. They're patting him down right now and getting him set up in one of the interrogation rooms."
"Perfect, I'll go help out. Better to have more people, and I'm more familiar with him than most."
Enjin nodded, and they shuffled around each other on the small stairs, and then Gris paused and looked at him. "Oh, and Enjin, I didn't get to say much to Zanka before he passed out, if he wakes up before I see him, tell him I'm so glad to have him back."
Zanka was back.
"I will. Good luck."
"Thanks, I'll tell you when Jabber wakes up."
And with that, they had fully switched spots on the stairs and continued heading to their respective destinations.
...
Back in the main hallways of HQ, Enjin moved as quick as his legs would allow over to the infirmary, just barely stopping himself from full-on running.
Zanka was alive. He was gonna be okay. He was alive.
It was when Enjin had just reached the hall where the open door to the infirmary laid that he suddenly heard a choked scream and the sound of an impact, and then the immediate sounds of chaos following it, yelled words and sounds of struggle overlapping incomprehensibly and Enjin dropped all pretenses instantly and sprinted over like his life depended on it.
He rushed into the room and saw Zanka, shirtless on the nearest cot, thrashing and yelling as Rudo and Riyo held him down by the arms and shoulders on either side.
Zanka's eyes were wide and terrified in a way Enjin had never seen, and didn't seem to be taking in anything around him as he tried to wrench himself out of their grip with a single-minded desperation.
Eisha was to the left of the bed, in between the cot and the door, holding a long pair of slightly bloody forceps in shaking hands, and at the sound of Enjin coming in in she turned around and he could see her left eye was starting to swell and bruise.
"LEMME GO!! GET OFF ME, DON'T YOU FUCKING- I'LL KILL YOU!! LEMME GO!!" Screamed Zanka, clearly unaware of his surroundings, kicking out towards Eisha.
"Zanka, its us! It's okay!" Yelled Riyo on the right, sounding just as scared and desperate. "Jabber's gone, you're safe, but we need to get the bullet out before Eisha can heal you, please!!"
"He's not listening, we- shit!" Rudo yelled, almost losing his grip on Zanka's right arm before regaining it. Even clearly weak from fever and bloodloss and with visibly less muscle mass than normal it seemed like it was taking all the strength Rudo and Riyo had to hold Zanka down as he struggled.
Enjin ran over to the foot of the bed and looked at Eisha.
"You still need to get a bullet out??"
She nodded.
"In his side, I-I tried but he woke up and-"
"LEMME GO!! YER DEAD!!"
Zanka sounded hysterical, every word filled with just as much anger as it was fear.
"Can we sedate him??" Enjin asked. He doubted Zanka would let them inject him with something in this state, but anything was better than nothing.
"I think- It's not- with everything in his system, I- but, um, maybe??"
Now wasn't the time for Eisha to second-guess herself.
"Eisha. Look at me. You know this stuff best, and I trust you. Do you think its safe to sedate him?"
"I- ...no. No, I don't. I'm sorry!" She seemed close to tears.
"Okay, I'll grab his legs and try to keep him still while you get the bullet out. You can do it Eisha, I know you can."
"O-okay." She seemed to steel herself and the shaking in her hands lessened slightly, though she still looked sick. "Okay."
Enjin moved over to the right side of the bed with Riyo, and waited until Zanka's kicking legs were in a good spot before he grabbed his boots at the ankles, trying to straighten his legs out and hold them to the bed so Eisha could access his abdomen.
As soon as Enjin did, Zanka started thrashing with even more fervor, if that was even possible, and his voice went from angry-terrified to absolutely petrified.
"No, NO!! Don't- NO!! Lemme go!!" Zanka half-screamed half-sobbed, and Enjin felt like the biggest monster in the world, but still he kept his grip.
"I'm sorry kid, I'm so sorry, it'll be over soon I promise, just hold on." Enjin couldn't help but speak, even knowing full well that Zanka couldn't hear him.
Zanka kept trying to move, and Enjin realized even like this Eisha couldn't get safe access to his wound, Zanka's midsection turning from side to side as he writhed and causing more a bit blood to leave the bullet wound on the side of his abdomen with each turn. Shit, he was just hurting himself further.
Enjin made sure Zanka's legs were straight, then manuvered so he could raise a leg onto the bed and keep them trapped under his own bent leg, half sitting on Zanka's knees so he could free his hands and hold Zanka's hip steady with one arm on the side without an injury.
"NO!!" Sobbed Zanka, and Enjin was horrified to see tears in his eyes. "I can't- please!!"
Riyo kept talking to him, trying to calm him down and snap him out of it, but her words fell on deaf ears.
Eisha moved quickly, foreceps entering the hole in Zanka's side as she moved it steadily and with concentration, flinching but not pulling back even when it caused Zanka to scream out a wordless cry, tears running down his face.
It only took a couple seconds but her eyes widened and she tightened her grip before pulling out the foreceps again, this time with a small bloody piece of metal held between them.
"I-I got it!"
She set the foreceps down quickly on the small cart of supplies next to the bed while her vital instrument activated, black plug reaching out toward one of the many available outlets and plugging itself into the socket. Eisha put two hands on Zanka's stomach before taking a deep breath and letting the healing electicity flow through her and into Zanka.
Enjin could feel it moving through him as well, just barely, likely by virtue of his physical contact with Zanka, and whatever minor scrape or ache Enjin wasn't aware he'd had faded quickly and then he felt nothing, save for the feeling of some of his hair raising due to the static.
Enjin watched the bullet wound close up, skin sewing itself back together until it sealed up into a scar and then vanished entirely, the residual blood being the only hint anything had ever been there. At the same time, the redness eminating from what looked like some sort of small round burn wound on Zanka's left shoulder began to retreat, returning the skin to its normal color.
As soon as Eisha had started using her instrument on Zanka, his thrashing had slowed significantly, and within a few seconds his clouded eyes had rolled back into his skull as he went limp, head falling back against the pillow, unconscious again.
A shaky breath of relief went around the room and everyone but Eisha slowly let go of him, though Riyo kept a hand on the side of his neck.
Rudo broke the silence first, horrified.
"...Okay what the fuck. The hell was that?"
Enjin wished he knew.
Eisha continued to heal, and the flushed redness of Zanka's face and neck retreated, as did the thick line of irritated skin that seemed to wrap all the way around his throat that Enjin had missed before, since Zanka's chin had been tucked to his chest, and Enjin hated to think about what might have caused it. The purple bruising on his wrists and the almost matching color of his eyebags started to fade, and some red returned to his pale lips and fingers. The mark on Zanka's shoulder looked months older and more healed but it stayed, meaning it had already scarred before Eisha started healing.
Zanka's breathing evened and his shoulders relaxed in his sleep. He was still grimy and clearly exhausted, his eye bags mostly faded but not gone entirely, but overall he looked significantly healthier than he had when they'd found him. Significantly more alive.
After maybe a minute Eisha stopped and opened her eyes. She lifted her hands off Zanka's stomach and brought them back in front of her, wringing them nervously.
"That's all I can do, I'm sorry. He's still got some trace poisons in him but just barely, I couldn't figure out what they were, I'm so sorry."
"You don't need to apologize Eisha, you saved his life. Thank you." Riyo said sincerly, if somewhat somber. One of her hands was still resting on the side of Zanka's neck, and Enjin wondered if she was feeling his pulse.
Eisha avoided eye contact and Enjin walked to the other side of the bed to put a hand on her shoulder, making her look up.
"Riyo's right, thank you Eisha. I don't know what we would have done without you, seriously."
She fidgeted, looking horribly guilty.
"I just made things worse though, I should have found some way to anesthetize him before removing the bullet, it's just- it can be really dangerous when it interacts with other compounds and he was unconcious so I thought- but, I made the wrong choice, a-and I hurt him. I'm so sorry."
"You didn't make the wrong choice though." Spoke Rudo harshly, and she looked at him, as did Enjin. Rudo was staring down at the bed, with the scowl Enjin knew meant he was looking for the right words to say. "You said you didn't know what Jabber pumped in him, so if you'd given him something to keep him asleep or numb the pain or whatever he might've just died from it right?"
Eisha was quiet, and Rudo kept talking, gloved hands forming loose fists at his side.
"Zanka would rather be in pain than dead, so. Don't say you made the wrong choice."
Enjin smiled, despite everything. Rudo had come a long way when it came to comforting people, and even if he was still a bit brash it was clear he was trying. Enjin stepped over and ruffled Rudo's hair, causing him to grumble and swat at Enjin's hands, ducking out of the way. Enjin looked back at Eisha, who seemed unsure.
"Yeah, what Rudo said! You did the best you could Eisha, and I'm sure Zanka will tell you the same when he wakes up."
(When. Because Zanka waking up, Zanka talking to them, Enjin hearing his voice again was a when now. Against all odds.)
From this side, he could see Eisha's injured eye better, which had only gotten worse.
"And I'm sure he'll apologize like crazy about that eye, too."
Eisha brought a hand up to her swollen left eye like she'd forgotten it was there, even though there was no way it wasn't already impacting her vision.
"H-he doesn't need to do that, it was my fault, really."
"Good luck trying to convince him that." Enjin joked lightly.
It was too true though, when Zanka woke up and realized he'd given Eisha a black eye the guilt would probably eat him alive. Nothing would be able to convince him it wasn't his fault, and Enjin really wished –not for the first time– that Eisha was able to use her powers on herself, not just because he didn't want her to be in pain, obviously, but also because Enjin knew when Zanka saw it he'd be inconsolable, and the kid had enough to deal with already after going through....whatever he'd gone through.
Whatever it was, it had clearly been pretty rough. Enjin was sure the sound of Zanka's voice crying and begging for them to let go of him would haunt him for a long time.
Enjin looked over at Riyo, who had hardly moved since Zanka passed out again. Other than looking up to comfort Eisha, she hadn't taken her eyes off Zanka a single time, and she hadn't quite relaxed like everyone else, tension still in her jaw and something like horror still behind her eyes.
Enjin caught her eye and tilted his head subtly, and her gaze flitted over briefly at Eisha and Rudo before she looked down again, not saying anything. Huh.
Enjin looked over instead at the small pile of clothes and bandages on the ground next to the bed. The top half of Zanka's uniform and his undershirt, now cut up and completely unwearable. Not that it was very wearable before, dirty and bloodstained and full of holes, but the problem remained that they had nothing to re-dress him in.
"It'll probably be a while 'til Zanka wakes up again, right?" Enjin asked Eisha, and she pulled at her sleeve nervously.
"Um, I think so. He was pretty exhausted, and only more so after- ...all that. He should be sleeping for a long while."
"Okay, good. Rudo, you wanna go into Zanka's room and get him some fresh clothes to change into? I think he'd appreciate not waking up shirtless."
Rudo nodded, seemingly glad to have something to do with his restless energy.
"Yeah, I'm on it." And Rudo left.
Enjin turned back to Eisha.
"Thanks again Eisha, seriously. Sorry to make you deal with all this so suddenly, I know it was pretty intense. You should take a few minutes to relax, maybe go get yourself a drink or something from the kitchen, Riyo and I can watch over him in the meantime, and we'll call if anything happens."
"Oh. If, um. If you're sure..."
"Yeah, we'll be fine, right Riyo?"
"yeah." She was quiet, still not taking her eyes off Zanka.
At Riyo's quiet response Eisha looked like she wanted to say something, but ultimately decided against it, giving them both a quick bow with her hands clasped in front of her.
"Okay, please let me know if he wakes up!"
"Will do. Thanks again for everything."
With one final lingering look at Riyo, Eisha left the infirmary, and if there was any doubt she'd missed Enjin's hint, the fact that she closed the door behind her eliminated it, and Enjin was grateful. People made Eisha nervous, but unlike her brother she was adept at reading them. His team knew each other well.
Enjin looked at Riyo.
"So?"
She moved her hand off the side of Zanka's neck and closed it into a fist, staring at the area where it had been like she was trying to burn a hole through it.
"He-" She breathed, trying to control herself. Enjin gave her time. Finally, she moved her eyes away from Zanka and looked at Enjin with an expression he hadn't seen in years. "Enjin. I need to kill Jabber. I should have shot him in the head when I had the chance, that was my mistake, but I can find a way to do it now. Would you be able to get a key to the room he's in?"
Enjin would be lying if he said he wasn't tempted to tell her yes. He'd almost killed Jabber himself, and he was sure when Jabber woke up and started talking to them the urge would revive itself several times over. But they couldn't.
"The cleaners don't kill, Riyo. We're not the Hell Guard, we dont get to be judge, jury, and executioner. I want him dead too, but-"
"Then I'll quit the cleaners. I don't care. Enjin, you don't get it, you didn't-" She got quieter. "You didn't see it. After we cut his shirt and the bandages off, Eisha tried to get the bullet out and he woke up and he was just..."
Enjin nodded, remembering.
"He was terrified." Enjin said quietly.
"No. He was angry. He had this...feral look and he just started attacking, and Rudo and I had to pull him back and hold him down, and then he was terrified. That's when it started, when we grabbed him. And then, when you had to hold down his legs and his hip he just-"
She cut herself off, not willing to keep going. Probably because that would make it more real. Enjin really hoped she wasn't hinting at what he thought she was.
"And to top it all off he had these- these marks on his neck." Riyo motioned toward the area her hand was resting on before, which now just revealed plain, unmarked skin, and Enjin suddenly realized she hadn't been feeling Zanka's pulse earlier, she'd been hiding whatever was there from everyone else until they were healed. "And they looked like...they were hickeys, Enjin. Or bruises that looked a hell of a lot like hickeys."
A lot of things were starting to make sense and Enjin hated all of it. He felt sick.
"You think Jabber-?"
"I don't know. But I wouldn't put it past him. Fucking freakhas always been obsessed with Zanka." Enjin was glad he'd already vetoed killing Jabber before Riyo had started speculating, because if she'd asked him now he probably wouldn't have been able to say no. Riyo continued talking. "But even if it wasn't that, he still hurt him. Bad. Whatever he did, he needs to pay for it."
Just then, the door opened and they both did their best to school their expressions as Rudo came back in with a stack of neatly folded clothes, giving each other a quick "we'll talk about it later" look.
Rudo didn't need to know about their speculations. Both because he didn't need to carry the weight of something that might not turn out to be true, and also because if it didturn out to be true (The very thought made Enjin want to throw up and put a hole through a wall. Or Jabber.), then Zanka deserved to be able to decide for himself who knew.
Rudo set the pile of clothes down on the small table next to the bed.
"I wasn't sure what to grab, so I just got a few things. Woulda been more if someone hadn't been stealing his clothes." He said, sending a scowl with no heat behind it to Riyo. She cracked a small grin at the action.
"Hey, that could've been anyone. Not like his room is locked any more."
"I saw you wearing his cardigan thing yesterday."
She shrugged, carefree and smiling. Mask fully back on.
"I like the smell of his detergent."
"We all use the same detergent."
"Nah, he has his own special stuff. No clue where he gets it." She paused. "Damn, I'm gonna have to give that back too now, huh." She looked down at Zanka again and softened, running a hand through his hair. "Guess it's a good trade, though."
Rudo made a "Hmph" sound, but also looked at Zanka and Enjin could see the relief in his eyes, even if it didn't quite show in the rest of his face.
Enjin just looked at them all. Zanka was back. The team was whole again. They no longer had to ration what was left of his incense to keep the smell of him from slowly fading from his sheets and clothes, they no longer had to worry about keeping the dust from settling in his room. He'd be able to breathe life back into it, a room again instead of a time capsule. He'd be able to breathe life back into them. Enjin would be able to hear him training at ridiculous hours of the morning and would actually be able to go down and get him to stop. Because now he would actually be in there.
Damn, Enjin must have gotten some smoke in his eye before.
An incoming transmission sounded from his choker and he reached up to it, accepting the call, but not before swallowing and making sure his voice would come out normal.
"Hello?"
Gris's voice sounded out from it.
"Hey, Jabber just woke up, it'll be another few minutes before the interrogation, but I thought you'd wanna know."
"Thanks, I'll be down there soon."
"Sounds good."
He looked over at Riyo and Rudo. Riyo waved him off.
"Go. We got it. I'm gonna see if I can get any of those cloth rags from Eisha, try to clean him up a bit. Go give Jabber hell."
He nodded, moving to leave the room. In the doorway, he turned to take one last look at the three of them, Riyo already sorting through the clothes Rudo had brought, and Rudo looking at Assistaff from where she was propped up against the wall next to the bed. Zanka sleeping peacefully between them. Yeah, he was in good hands. He smiled to himself, and continued out of the room.
He headed through the halls, and when he got near the stairwell, his choker buzzed again, and he answered.
"Go for Enjin."
Semiu's voice crackled out of the choker.
"Glad you're feeling chipper. Jabber's up."
"Yeah, Gris told me already, I'm on my way."
"Of course he did."
"I'm gonna ignore that, is it me and you on interrogation then?"
"Yep, I already took a look at him with Eyes, I'll give you the rundown once you get down here."
"Sounds good, see you in a sec." Engin said, hanging up as he opened the door to the stairwell and headed down.
...
At the bottom of the stairs, in front of the door to the interrogation room, stood Gris, Semiu, and Tamsy. Corvus must have already returned to his office then, and Bro probably went back to Dear.
"How's Zanka?" Asked Gris, as soon as Enjin was close enough. Enjin hesitated for just a moment, and Gris's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly in response.
"He's fine. He's good. Still asleep for now, but he'll be fine. Eisha healed him up."
"That's wonderful to hear." Chimed in Tamsy from the side. "I was so worried when I saw the state Jabber left him in, just dreadful."
Enjin frowned at the reminder.
"Yeah. Has he said anything to you guys?"
"Nothing useful." Gris answered. "He didn't have anything on him when we checked him either, except a remote and some sort of keycard. And two pairs of car keys."
Semiu put a hand on her hip.
"Yeah, someone should really go check that car. Gris, Tamsy, y'all wanna handle that while Enjin and I are in there?"
"Sure." Agreed Gris immediately, while Tamsy seemed a bit more hesitant, but only for a moment, before he nodded too, giving his signature smile.
"Of course. Best of luck."
Enjin waited until Gris and Tamsy were mostly up the stairs before he looked to Semiu.
"So, what'd you see?"
"Well, physically, he's not in the best shape. He's got pretty deep bruises on his wrists and ankles, plus a few...." She cleared her throat. "various injuries on his neck, and he's got a gunshot wound going all the way through his right arm above the elbow."
Huh. Those all sounded way too similar to Zanka's own injuries. Enjin was getting more puzzle pieces and none of them seemed to fit together. Semiu kept talking.
"Other than all that, even without using Eyes I can tell that he's dehydrated, hungry, and critically in need of a shower. I mean seriously. Yikes."
"And mentally?"
"The guy's got issues, obviously. Definitely got a couple screws loose up there. He's obsessive, he has almost no impulse control, and he really likes pain, though weirdly enough it seems to be more of an active choice he makes than an innate reaction? I think it gives him a sense of control over it, and there's definitely a sensory-seeking aspect to it as well, he feels like he needs it to function. No clue why."
"Sorry, you're saying he chooses to get turned on when he gets hurt?"
"I did say he had issues."
"Eugh, clearly."
"I got the sense some pretty bad stuff happened to him when he was young. If I had to guess I'd say the pain thing is likely a trauma response, or a coping mechanism."
Enjin scoffed.
"Oh great, so the psycho's got a tragic backstory, guess that makes everything he did a-okay then!"
Semiu crossed her arms, raising a brow at him.
"That's not what I'm saying and you know it. Don't take this out on me."
Enjin sighed, rubbing his eyes and wishing he had a cigarette.
"I know, I know. You're right, I'm sorry, it's just..." He heaved out another sigh, not wanting to think about what had happened in the infirmary. "I'll tell you later. What else?"
"Well, the guy's a genius, no doubt about it. Probably always has been, but I think because of that he finds most people boring cause they have no hope of ever matching up to him. He craves an equal, and for better or worse, he sees Zanka as that. More solidly now than ever for some reason. When he fights he wants to lose, wants to get hurt, but it annoys him to have to hold back to make that happen, so he seeks out strong people. He loves fighting and inflicting pain on people but...it's weird."
"Weird how?"
"He's got way less malicious intent than I expected, for one. Same with hatred and anger. And what was there mostly seemed to be pretty new. Honestly, a big portion of the emotions I sensed all seemed to be pretty new, like a lot had changed in him in a pretty short period of time, it's bizarre."
"What do you mean?"
"Hard to say for sure, I think....It feels like something really bad happened to him, but also something really good? Dude's a cocktail of complicated emotions and mental issues."
Enjin snorted, humorless.
"Yeah, checks out. Damn psycho..."
"Y'know, I don't think he is actually, not clinically at least. He has way less psychopathic traits than I expected given what y'all told me about him. He actually has a lot of empathy, in the sense that he can feel what others do when he wants to, I think he just doesn't care most of the time, especially if he deems those people to be weak or uninteresting. He's surprisingly honest too, doesn't feel much of a need to lie about anything or manipulate anyone, though lately I can tell he's been pretty conflicted, he's hiding a part of himself that scares him."
Enjin perked up. Maybe they could use this.
"Yeah? What is it?"
"He's in love."
What.
"I'm sorry, I must have heard you wrong. Love??"
"Yep, plain as day. Caught me off guard too."
"...With Zanka."
"Seems that way."
"You sure it wasn't just obsession that he thinks is love?"
"Oh there's obsession too. Lots of it. Maybe more than anything else. But there's love. Real, honest love. And he's terrified of it."
"So that's why he took Zanka?"
"I'm not sure. Honestly? I'm starting to think he might not have."
"The hell? Who else would it have been then? The other Raiders? You think he went rogue?"
"Mmm, I don't think so. It's weird. I can't quite explain it, and I get the feeling we're not gonna get any real answers 'til Zanka wakes up, but I'm curious to hear Wonger's side of the story."
"Yeah, same here. Boss cleared us to go in?"
"Yep."
"Good. I'll let you take the lead on questioning, I got a feeling the guy's just gonna piss me off."
"That does seem to be his specialty. But you gotta remember to keep a cool head, don't let him get to you."
"I always keep a cool head."
Semiu just stared at him, unimpressed.
"...Fine, I'll keep cool."
Semiu nodded, and opened the door.
They entered the room and behind a table, tied to a metal chair Enjin knew was welded to the floor, sat Jabber. His hands were secured behind his back to the chair with rope, and more rope was looped around his midsection, keeping him locked in place. Now that he knew what to look for, Enjin noticed the bullet wound he'd missed earlier, having mistaken the blood for Zanka's. He didn't feel any sympathy as he looked at it.
He also noticed the state of Jabber's neck under his hood, which before had been mostly concealed by his wicks and the shadow of his jaw, and finally understood what Semiu had meant about his neck having "various" injuries. He had a matching ring of irritated skin wrapped around it just like Zanka had, but on both sides of his throat were a series of dark bruises all over. Hickeys. Just like Zanka. Though unlike the ones Zanka had apparently had, Jabber's were so abundant Enjin was shocked he'd ever managed to miss them. Looking closer, he could even see a number of fading bite marks. What the hell.
Jabber grinned at them as they walked in and sat at the other side of the table in regular chairs.
"Finally done makin' me wait then, huh? Honestly, y'all are mad rude, knocking me out like that even after I let you tie me up." His tone was light and teasing, as if he was entirely unconcerned with being at the cleaner's mercy. "What if I got brain damage or something?"
"What a shame that would be." Enjin muttered sarcastically, glaring at him, and Jabber laughed. The sound was grating.
"I can see why Zan-zan looks up to you so much, you got that same fire behind your eyes. I like his better though, not gonna lie."
Oh absolutely not. Zan-zan was their stupid nickname for Zanka, when the hell had Jabber even picked that up?! Enjin could feel himself getting angier, before Semiu tapped his foot under the table. He glanced her way briefly, though her eyes were still on Jabber, and he calmed himself down. Right, right. Keep a cool head. Ugh.
"Ohhh, good cop bad cop, I love this one! Though I prefer bad cop bad cop, its way more fun that way."
Semiu didn't rise to the bait, keeping her gaze, as well as her tone, caculating and unreadable.
"We got a few questions for you, Wonger. Why'd you kidnap Zanka?"
"I didn't."
"Bullshit." Enjin growled.
"I'm bein' honest. Ask your friend if she thinks I'm lying, she looks like the type who'd be good at sniffin out that sorta thing. Or just ask Zanka, he'll tell you the same. How's he doing by the way? Y'all fix him up yet?"
Enjin wanted to punch him, and he was glad Semiu took the lead and spoke instead.
"How sweet of you to be concerned. How bout you answer our questions and maybe we'll tell you?"
Jabber looked at both of them, slightly smug look still on his face, though his eyes were analyzing.
"Hmmm. No way he's dead, he wouldn't let a wound like that kill him after everything, plus y'all would be wayyy more pissed if he bit it. Nah, he's good huh." He squinted at Enjin. "Well, maybe not good, but he's gonna be just fine, probably just unconscious and in the meantime y'all are questioning me, right?"
Damnit. Enjin was sure his displeasure was showing in his face because Jabber just laughed.
"I got it, didn't I? Y'all gotta work on your poker faces. Still though, I'll play along. What do you wanna know?"
Enjin and Semiu shared a look before she spoke.
"You said you didn't take him, so who did?"
"Uhhh, blow dart guy I'm pretty sure. Yeah. Tranq'd him then knocked him on the head with something. Gave him a pretty gnarly concussion for a bit."
"Who the hell is blow dart guy?" Enjin interjected.
"I dunno man, I never learned his name. He's dead now anyway, so it's not like it matters."
Okay. If Jabber was telling the truth, and that was still a very big IF, Enjin was glad that at the very least the asshole who'd taken Zanka from them was dead. He just wished he'd been the one to kill him, but Jabber had probably taken that too.
"Why'd he take Zanka?"
"Some sciencey bullshit or other, they all droned on and on, used way too many words to say nothing at all, at some point I jus' stopped listening."
"They? How many people were there?"
"In total?" Jabber thought for a moment, furrowing his brow and biting the inside of his cheek like he was doing a particularly challenging mental math problem, and then shrugged, seemingly giving up. "A lot? The place was pretty big, I don't think we even saw a fraction of the people. I think there were a lot though."
Enjin shared a look with Semiu. This was an organized attack, likely by a large group. That spelled trouble. Enjin leaned forward.
"This place, what ward is it in? Could you point it out on a map?"
Jabber snorted.
"Oh man, I could try, but I doubt y'all would be able to find anything even if I did. 'Cept rubble I guess. And ash. And maybe some bodies if you're lucky. Actually- parts of bodies probably."
"What? What do you mean?" Enjin questioned.
"I mean most of 'em probably got crushed, but I think there were a few above ground that probably went flying, which- man, I wish I'd been able to see that. But Zanka was kinda bleeding out so I didn't really get to enjoy it. No way they stayed in one piece though. I wonder how far they went..."
Enjin was at his limit.
"What the hell are you talking about?!"
"Okay." Semiu said, and Enjin could tell even she was losing patience with Jabber's antics. "I think we should back up a bit. How'd you find Zanka?"
"I didn't really find him, they brought him to me. Put him in the cell right next to mine. We were roomies."
Great, now there were cells? It seemed like every answer Jabber gave just brought more questions with it.
"How about this?" Enjin grit out through his teeth. "You just start at the beginning and go from there?"
Jabber looked at Enjin impishly, and he realized "the beginning" was definitely vague enough for Jabber to take advantage of it and say some stupid shit, and he got ready to restrain himself from leaping over the table and throttling him when he did. To his surprise though, Jabber apparently decided to exercise restraint, and shrugged.
"Aight. About...a month ago maybe? I got knocked out in my apartment while testing a new paralytic for Mankira. And when I woke up I was in a cell, no choker and with this big collar thing 'round my neck instead. Weird, but not thatweird, y'know? I just figured it was Hell Guard again. Tweedledee and Tweedledum-"
"Who?"
"What? Oh, the guards. Two guys. Pretty big but boring as hell. Anyway they didn't really do anything the first day, just threw a few nutrition bars and a water bottle at me. The second time they came I guess they were pissed I wouldn't stop talking to 'em–" Enjin knew the feeling. "–and they zapped me with the collar. Got my ass good, I ain't even gonna lie. I was too dazed to ask 'em to do it again before they left. But the next time they came they brought Zanka, which was even better!"
Enjin leaned foward, listening.
"They also had him in a collar at that point, and the side of his head was pretty bloody. When he woke up he was pissed. You shoulda seen him..."
Jabber sighed, like the memory was a fond one. Enjin wanted to knock his lights out. Jabber kept talking, oblivious to Enjins growing frustration. Or uncaring.
"He tried breaking the bars, which obviously didn't do shit or I woulda been outta there already, but I did get a nice show. For a guy with twig legs he can kick pretty well."
Then Jabbers smile took on a different, deeper tone, like he was remembering something.
"...Yeah, he can kick real well."
Enjin wasn't even gonna begin to unpack that.
"Anyways, the next day they came and dragged me off to some lab and kept poisoning me til I passed out and then zapping me awake, shit was wild. They did the same for Zanka, but only after they brought me back. Kind of a one-at-a-time deal, y'know?"
Enjin felt horrified.
"They what?"
"Yeah, with the collars? Oh, right, so we had these collars- wait, no, I mentioned that already huh. Hmm. Did I mention how he punched me? It was awesome, didn't see it comin at all. Totally broke my nose."
Enjin felt like he was struggling to keep up.
"Okay, was that before or after the poison-electricity thing?"
"Uhhh, in between? It was kind of a daily thing, so- wait. No, before, I think actually. Yeah, that was the second day. Huh."
"Which was a daily thing, the guards punching you or the poison?"
Jabber tilted his head.
"The guards? Nah man, that was all Zanka. The guards didn't really do shit besides bring us to the lab for experiments."
Experiments. He said it so casually. Zanka had been kidnapped and experimented on for a month and a half, apparently daily. He tried not to let the horror he felt show on his face, refusing to show any weakness to Jabber of all people, and kept talking.
"Okay, so, let me get this straight. You were both taken to some kind of...prison? lab? And kept there while they experimented on you? What kind of things did they do?"
Jabber seemed to consider his answer for longer this time before he shrugged again, the movement somewhat stilted by the fact that his arms were still tied behind him.
"Depended on the day. Mostly boring stuff, can't say I really remember."
"I don't think that last part is true." Mused Semiu, eyes piercing. "I think that's the first lie you've said so far."
Jabber took a second to respond and looked at her, still grinning but with his eyes narrowed slightly.
"...Those glasses are your vital instrument, right? Think Zodyl mentioned somethin about that once. How do they work?"
Semiu continued to show no reaction, unshakable.
"What kind of tests did they do, Wonger?"
"Hmm. Alright. Like I said, it changed. But mostly they were doin tests with our instruments."
"The were testing your instruments? Care to elaborate?"
"Do the glasses let you see through clothes? Cause if they do, I gotta say I'm flattered but you ain't really my type."
Enjin leaned forward, elbows resting on the table, and spoke.
"I saw Assistaff was damaged, did they do the same to your rings? That have anything to do with why you only handed over nine?"
At that, Jabber's consistent infuriating grin faltered just slightly, almost imperceptibly, before returning to his normal expression. Interesting.
"Careful now, I been real nice so far."
"Oh? Did I hit a nerve?" Enjin said sarcastically.
He didn't say anything to that, and Semiu went in for the kill.
"What happened to your pinky ring, Wonger?"
Jabbers smile stayed, though where before it had been a casual, almost teasing grin, now, without changing, it had somehow morphed into something more reminiscient of a predator showing its teeth. A warning.
He looked at Semiu and Enjin, analytical, then huffed out a sharp chuckle.
"Y'know...Zanka reeeally believed y'all were gonna come save him, didja know that?"
It took everything Enjin had not to leap over the table and attack him right then and there. Jabber kept talking.
"He mentioned it once, 'round the start of our lil vacay, how it wouldn't be long til y'all tracked him down. Threw it in my face like it was a fact. He didn't tell me exactly when that hope started to die of course, but I could see it. Gotta say, he held on to it for mad long though. Probably longer than y'all deserved, 'specially given how surprised you looked when I brought him here." Jabber leaned forward, teeth showing and eyes shining with scorn. "Makes me wonder, did y'all even bother to look for him, or do you only keep that energy for your lil spherite?"
Enjin surged forward, chair screeching backwards as he stood, and grabbed the collar of Jabber's shirt with his left hand.
"You little shit-!"
"Enjin!"
Semiu, now also standing, held the wrist of Enjins right hand, which had been winding up to punch Jabber in the face.
Jabber was laughing, the grating sound of it bouncing off the walls.
"Aww c'mon, it was just about to get good!" Jabber looked Enjin in the eyes, raising his eyebrows mockingly and tilting his head. "What, did I hit a nerve?"
Semiu increased the strength of her grip on Enjin's right hand, no doubt anticipating how he wanted to rip it out of her grasp and follow through with punching Jabber regardless.
"Enjin. We should talk outside."
Enjin continued to stare at Jabber, filled with utter loathing, before harshly letting go of his collar and standing back up straight to walk out of the room, Jabber still laughing until the door closed and the sound was blocked out.
Semiu didn't say anything at first, and Enjin looked at the floor.
"...I know, alright? I shouldn't have lost control. I'm sorry."
"Nah, honestly? He had it coming. But you know that he was goading you. He's deflecting. My guess is his ring was heavily damaged or broken by whoever took him and Zanka. By his reaction and what I felt with Eyes? My money's on broken."
Despite everything, part of Enjin felt the smallest pang of sympathy for Jabber. Just barely. A broken vital instrument really was a fate worse than death for givers, even if it seemed like Jabber was still able to use it without the last ring given what had happened at the gate. Maybe Rudo was rubbing off on him.
"So you think he's telling the truth about the rest of it?"
"I woulda stopped him earlier if I didn't. I think we'll get a more coherent story from Zanka once he wakes, but I'm pretty confident in saying he didn't take Zanka."
"Ugh. None of this makes any sense. Why the two of them? Why did Kuro lie??"
"I don't know. But we should focus our questioning on things he'll actually want to answer, we can get more details from Zanka later." She looked him up and down "You ready to head back in?"
Enjin ran a hand through his hair, composing himself.
"Yeah, let's do it."
They walked back in, Jabber still sitting there with that same stupid grin, and if Enjin hadn't seen the slightest crack in it before, he might've thought Jabber was incapable of making any other expression.
"Oh boy, round two! Ding ding!"
They both ignored him, settling back into their seats. Semiu spoke first.
"So, Wonger, how did you and Zanka escape?"
He looked Semiu up and down, grin still present but entirely unreadable, then started talking.
"Stole a gun from Tweedledee while he was in my cell and we popped the both of 'em. Then it turned out the remotes were also the keys to the collars so we were able to get those off. Kind of uh, iconic?...no, whats the word? Ironic! Kind of ironic, cause if I'd grabbed the remote during Zanka's first attempt we probably woulda been outta there way sooner."
"Zanka's first attempt?"
"When he- wait, actually. Hold on, gimme a minute." Again, Jabber paused to think, looking like he was turning over an idea in his head. "Yeah, no, I think that's fine. Okay. So the scientists underestimated how soon they needed to refill his tranquilizer, and he ended up stealin a keycard and making a run for it one time when they were bringing him back from the labs. Said he got as far as the kitchen, wherever that was, before they caught up to him, and shot him in the shoulder."
So that's what the mark on Zanka's shoulder was. Another gunshot wound, probably cauterized closed. And there was probably no chance they'd given him any anesthesia for it. Enjin felt sick. Semiu lightly bumped her knee against his under the table, a silent show of support, and steered the conversation back on track.
"So after you killed the guards, what happened?"
The slightest bit of red appeared on Jabber's cheeks, and if Enjin didn't know any better he'd almost say Jabber looked a bit flustered, before it disappeared and Jabber kept talking.
"We got the collars off, and went to get our instruments. And get some good ol' fashioned revenge, of course. Dudes needed to pay, big time." Jabber wet his lips, grinning. "And oh man, we got 'em good. Zanka was a freakin vision. Did you know he could dodge bullets?? He was like-" Jabber made a series of sound effects that might have been bullets whizzing by and jerky movements, mostly with his head, since the rest of him was restrained. Enjin felt a vein on his forehead bulge. "It was crazy. Average Joe my ass. Then we rigged the place to blow and got out. Wait, no, that was before the elevator. Eh, whatever. You get the idea."
"Rigged to blow how?" Asked Semiu.
"Methane. Opened a line to the gas main in one room and started a fire in another, then we just had to wait for them to have a lil rendezvous in the vents and it was lights out for science town. But we were already in the car by then. Plenty of time to spare. Told him we'd be fine, but nooo, we had to play it safe." Jabber rolled his eyes, but there was an undeniable fondness to them that Enjin hated.
It was a lot to take in, and there was a moment of silence where Semiu just hummed and tapped the table with a nail.
"Alright. Anything else? When did you get shot?"
"When we were driving away. There were a few dudes on the roof with guns, messed up our car pretty bad, I had to steal a new one once we got to the town."
That explained the double pair of keys then.
"Okay. Is that all?"
"All the important stuff."
"Hm." Semiu didn't look like she completely believed him, but apparently decided to let it slide for now. "One more question, what exactly is your relationship with Zanka? You carried him back here. Why?"
"Uh, cause if I didn't, dude probably woulda bit it, and that would be lame as hell. Duh. Would you rather I kept him?"
"You've tried to kill him before, I wouldn't think you of all people would care. What changed?"
Jabber seemed to contelmplate for a bit, though whether he was searching for an answer internally or just deciding what he wanted to tell them wasn't clear.
"He's interesting. Most people aren't. Thought I was wrong about him after that whole thing in Zodyl's lil birdy, not many people can bring out the real me, I assumed he had a second phase too. But he went down way too easy, it pissed me off. I got bored. But he lived, thanks to bang-bang girl, and the next time I saw him, he was different."
Jabber had seen Zanka after the trash beast? He hadn't thought they'd interacted since then. Zanka had certainly given no indication they had. Did he hide it from them?
"You fought Zanka again? When?" He asked.
"Nah, nah, not me. Just watched him from a distance, he was with the bandana guy and his lil leash kid. I was curious, I'm not usually wrong about people. And lowkey, I was kinda suprised he was still kickin. Sturdy dude I guess. Thats when I realized."
Jabber had a shine in his eyes, and there was something in them that even Enjin could recognize, and he resented it.
"He gets stronger after every loss. He didn't let it keep him down for a second, got right back to it. He's stronger now than when I fought him then, and he's only gonna get stronger. I wanna keep fighting him, cause I know it means eventually he'll be able to beat my ass into the dirt. And it's gonna be great. Call it an investment, but I ain't lettin him die before he gets to that point."
"There's more to it though, isn't there." Probed Semiu.
"Is there?"
"You care about him."
Again Jabber took a moment to reply, looking at Semiu, and Enjin got the sense he was trying to work out exactly how much he could get away with.
"That's a bold claim, miss glasses. What makes you say that?"
"Am I wrong?"
"Depends on what you mean by care."
"I think you know exactly what I mean, but I could say it more succinctly if you'd like."
Enjin just watched the back and forth, wondering who would win the verbal tug of war. Jabber snorted.
"God damn y'all are annoying, the Raiders don't do this shit y'know." He rolled his eyes. "Y'all know its an interrogation and not some slumber party, right? No wonder Zanka isn't reaching his full potential if y'all are this soft."
"You love him."
That seemed to genuinely catch Jabber off guard and he barked out a laugh.
"Oh man! If you wanna call it that, go right ahead I guess, but I'd love to see Zan-zan's face when you tell him that. Come back an' recreate it for me when ya do."
"What would you call it then?"
"Can't say I really give a shit, labels like that are just ways for boring people to dumb down complicated things so other people can understand them. Me and Zanka don't gotta call it anything, cause no one needs to understand what we got goin on besides us."
"So there is something between you two."
"Sure there is, why? Does it bother you that mister perfect is runnin around with a big bad Raider?"
Semiu leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms, and even though Jabber had gotten the last word in it was clear she'd won.
"Alright, I think we're done here for now. Thanks for your cooperation, Wonger. We'll send our doctor in to fix you up in a minute."
"No need, I'd like to keep some souvenirs." He said with a wink.
"No please, I insist. Wouldn't be very 'soft' of us to let someone in our care stay injured, now would it?"
Jabber's eye twitched. Got him.
Semiu rose from her chair to exit and Enjin followed. Petulantly, he couldn't resist giving Jabber a quick double middle finger while Semiu's back was turned, and Jabber choked out another surprised laugh, and then they both left the room.
He and Semiu stood in the hallway, out of view of the small window in the door to the interrogation room, despite the fact that it was one-way. Enjin patted his pockets for his cigarettes and lighter, and pulled them out, realizing as he picked a cigarette that he'd forgotten to turn over a lucky one for this pack. Damn. He lit it up and took a deep inhale while Semiu rolled her eyes. He exhaled, feeling slightly better, before he started talking.
"Well. That was....interesting."
Semiu exhaled a small laugh through her nose, shaking her head and readjusting her glasses.
"That's one word for it. We'll probably have to do another round after hearing Zanka's side. I'll call a couple more people to start watch shifts, then I gotta go make a report to the boss, I assume you're gonna go back to Zanka?"
"Yeah, it'll be a bit til he wakes up, but I don't wanna miss it when it happens."
She nodded.
"Makes sense. Let me know when he feels up to talking about what happened, the boss wanted to be there for it."
"Yeah, will do."
Enjin looked back at the door, frowning. Based on Jabber's side of the story, and how much it seemed to affect even him, Zanka's experience had probably been an absolute living nightmare. He felt horrible about the fact that he'd have to relive it when he told them, and he could only hope it wouldn't traumatize him further. He wished Semiu's instrument could see memories, it would make everything so much easier. But of course nothing ever seemed to be easy for Zanka...
"Oh, Enjin, there was one more thing I noticed about Jabber that I forgot to mention."
He looked back up at her, confused.
"Yeah? What?"
She gave him a small grin.
"Dude needs a retwist like crazy."
He burst out laughing.
...
When he got back to the infirmary, Zanka was still sleeping, redressed in his own clothes and looking much cleaner, and surrounding him were Riyo, Rudo, Eisha, and Gris, who was apparently back already from checking the car.
He waved as he entered and pulled up a chair to join them.
"Yo. No change I'm guessing?" He asked, mostly to Eisha, who was the only one still standing.
"No, there's a good chance he won't wake up until tomorrow. His body really needed the rest."
"Yeah, sounds about right... How's the eye?"
She flushed, holding out a cold compress.
"It's fine, really. Though August was a little overprotective about it, you know how he gets." She scratched the back of her neck nervously. "I'll have to apologize to Zanka in advance when he wakes up."
Everyone knew August didn't play about his little sister, and Enjin pitied Zanka for the petty revenge August would probably try to enact on him, especially because Zanka was in need of a new uniform. He'd have to try and talk August down before then, maybe bribe him with something. Hm.
"So what'd Jabber have to say?" Asked Riyo, saying his name with poorly disguised contempt, and part of Enjin was surprised she'd been able to hold off asking for even this long.
He sighed, wishing Eisha didn't have such strict rules about not smoking in the infirmary, and tried to figure out what to say.
"Hey gang, good news! Jabber didn't kidnap Zanka! Bad news! Some sadistic scientist with a blow gun did and experimented on him for weeks! Good news again though, Jabber didn't assault him! But bad news again, they might be fucking!" Yeah, no way that would go over well.
Enjin sighed again when he realized everyone was still waiting for an answer.
"It's....complicated. But, I don't think Jabber took him."
"Right. Did he tell you that?" Challenged Riyo.
"Semiu agreed. It really seems like it wasn't him."
"Then who? Someone did this to him. And they've gotta pay for it."
"We're not sure. But if it helps, based on what Jabber said, I think they've been taken care of already."
"And you're just gonna believe him."
"I trust Semiu's judgement, and I know you do too Riyo. The rest of it...it was pretty messed up, not gonna lie. And I think Zanka should be able to choose for himself how much everyone knows, I'm not gonna take that from him."
"It was that bad?" Asked Rudo, sounding hesitant.
"I mean, I guess it's subjective, but...it wasn't great."
Riyo caught his eye, questioning. A silent ask of whether her suspicions had been correct. He gave her a minute shake of his head no and while she still looked slightly suspicious, she relaxed significantly. Enjin turned back to Eisha.
"You said he'll probably wake up tomorrow, right?"
"Um, he should. Tomorrow night, at the latest, I think." She looked up, and seemed to notice everyone's attention was on her, and flushed, quickly looking down again and wringing her hands nervously. "B-but it could also be sooner! I can't say for sure, I'm sorry."
"It's alright Eisha, an estimate's better than nothing." Enjin turned back to the group at large. "We should have at least one person stay awake here just in case he does wake up tonight, so I'll-"
Riyo cut him off.
"Yeah I don't think so, how many hours of sleep did you get last night?"
"Okay, rude. And I got enough. Trust me Riyo, I'll be fine."
"I'm with Riyo, sorry." Interjected Gris, and Enjin turned to him, betrayed. Gris gave a slight chuckle and held his hands up placatingly. "You need the rest, and the chance of him waking up tonight is small anyway. You'd probably stay up all night, crash tomorrow morning, and then actually miss it when he does wake up tomorrow."
Enjin hated it when he made sense.
"I'll do it." Said Riyo. "Today was my day off so I slept in late. I'll be up for a while no matter what."
Enjin sighed.
"Fine, but if he wakes up you'd better tell me immediately, I don't care what time it is."
Riyo smiled.
"Deal."
Rudo looked down at Zanka, and then back over to Riyo.
"Me too."
"Alright, sure." Riyo agreed. "If he wakes up tonight, I'll take great pleasure in snapping both of you outta REM for a heartfelt reunion. But if I'm asleep when he wakes up tomorrow you better do the same."
Enjin smiled back.
"Sounds like a deal."
Now all they had to do was wait.
Compared to what they'd already done, that was nothing