Undead Lair

Mary POV

“Alright, everyone, we’re going out for a little training session. It’s vital for us to get used to our new environment, and bodies.” Ensign Asamoto says addressing the room. He was acting reluctant to take command, but it seems to come naturally to him.

We quickly file in with practiced steps, and even the unknown skeletons line themselves up behind us. Whether they have individual intelligence, or just have a herd mentality, it’s hard to tell.

“Red eyes will form up the vanguard, and the ranged units fall to the rear. Mary, go see if you can’t find anything useful in Vragska’s room. You were his protege after all.” He says picking me out.

“I don’t recall saying I’d take orders from you. Probably just want to rid yourself of a nuisance.” I retort. I cringe at myself for acting this way, but I can’t help myself. Ever since I discovered how he felt about me, it’s been this way.

“Then why’d you fall in line? Now hurry along.” He says passively.

“If I find something useful, I’ll be sure to test it out on you.” I respond before storming off. My emotions getting the better of me again.

Soon, I find myself alone in the dead Lich’s room. My thoughts once again wandering to my first meeting with the ensign.

As soon as I had graduated from the academy, I was immediately assigned to the USS Atlantis due to my grades, and the pay was great, so I accepted.

I found myself surrounded by men, and the prospect of having to spend up to 6 months at a time with them didn’t sit too well with me. I’d heard stories of what could happen to a female soldier in such an environment. I had hoped it wasn’t true.

It happened just under a year later. While we were sailing near Russia on a particularly long trip. A couple of guys who shared the same berthing compartment as myself had me bound and silenced.

The next few hours were pure hell as I was debased. My mind fraying and refusing to believe the situation as it tried to hide. My eyes glossing over, and feelings going numb in order to protect my fragile mind.

When it was over, I just lay there. My body refusing to move, not even to wipe the filth and sweat. Tears flowing from my long dead eyes. When morning came, the men who had raped me cleaned me up, and clothed me. In an attempt to hide their deed, no doubt.

Ensign Asamoto came and found me when I failed to show up for the count, and instead of reprimanding me, he just sat on the cot across from me.

The hours passed in silence, the time showing it was already night. I was resolved to never speak, but curiosity got the better of me as my roommates never showed.

“S-sir?” I asked, the small act taking every bit of courage I could muster.

“You don’t have to force yourself. Just try to sleep. I’ll watch over you.” He said.

With what had happened, I didn’t feel as if I could trust another man ever again, but somehow, I found myself drifting off before I noticed.

The next time I opened my eyes, he was still there. The dark circles around his eyes so prominent that they elicited a small laugh from me.

He just smiled and said, “it’s your turn.” He promptly fell asleep. I checked the date to find out that he had spent two sleepless nights.

I remember sitting next to him. Gazing at his sleeping visage, and found myself humming a song. The tune unfamiliar, but soothing.

This happened night after night until we finally reached an allied port. The location a closely guarded secret. We all left the sub, most of the men heading into the nearby villages to take care of their needs.

I opted to stay on base, and despite my hopes, Ensign Asamoto had left with them.

So he really is the same. I remember thinking.

When it came time to return, we were missing three men. I was shocked when I learned who they were, and I immediately looked up at the Ensign. Despite the grim news, he didn’t bat an eye as he ordered the rest of us on.

I knew what he had done for me. Something faint took root in my heart that day.

Years passed without incident after that. I quickly moved up the ranks, and established my place as Jyun’s right hand. The Ensign’s sharp intuition catching wind of any attempts to harm me in the same manner. Ever so slowly more women began showing up, but for some reason that only worried me.

None of them were ever harmed between the Ensign and myself, we managed to root out all the potential problems. The crew forming into a well-oiled machine.

I admired him for how far we had come. How he had caught me and prevented me from sliding down a steep slope. Every month that passed just made me more and more certain that my feelings towards him were real.

He wasn’t charming, or outgoing, but he drew me in. From what I’ve seen of him, he refused to let others get hurt, even if it meant harm to himself. I admired that, and grew to love him for it. He was there for all of us, but nobody else ever noticed.

They had come to expect that from him. So much so that they couldn’t see it when it happened.

One night, I had steeled my resolve, and went to his room when we were posted at another base in Japan where I heard he spent his summers as a child.

I found the door unlocked, and he was sleeping. Seeing how he tossed and turned, I made to wake him, but something stopped me. An uneasy feeling that told me to leave, but I refused. I sat down next to him, and drew closer as I heard him mutter.

I rushed out of the room. Tears, anger, feelings of betrayal all swarming around in my head.

He had never loved me. This I was alright with, but the reason… I was just a replacement for his sister. All of the girls were. He was scared that he could never make it up to his family, and he was using us as a crutch. A replacement, a doll. He didn’t view me as myself. A unique and individual person.

Being kind, always looking out for us. Leading us along, and having us dance in the palm of his hand. I couldn’t forgive him for using us like that.

I couldn’t forgive myself, because I still loved him.

I sigh as I feel tears welling up before remembering that I can’t cry anymore due to this skeletal body. I catch something out of the corner of my eye. Something glints from the corner of the room, near a destroyed slab of stone.

Drawing closer I spot a long silver chain. Following its path, I spot a resplendent gem connected to it. Picking it up causes it to glow, but the light fades in the next second.

I’m tempted to put it on, and I don’t resist. As soon as it’s on my neck, it shivers, and I feel something inside me linking with it.

“What is this?” I mutter out loud as the strange sensation fades, only to be replaced by a surge of strength.

With great humility, I serve the new master. I hear a voice whisper in my head. Confused, I head towards the others. Ensign Asamoto might know something. It’s not like I’m still reliant on him, it’s just that two heads are better than one.

Asan POV

Annoyed at having to come to this place a second time, I kick at the mud as I walk. With the free time I think through my plan.

I’ll meet the boy named Luke here, and tell him I left the soul gem inside. Hesitant to touch the thing as it gave off a deadly aura. He’ll probably tell me to lead him to it, and I’ll begin to do so.

As soon as the black skeleton pops up, he should engage it with that rash personality of his, and that’s when I’ll run. I’m not too sure how strong either of them are, but they’re both leagues above me.

Hopefully they take care of each other.

“You did well to not run.” Luke says as soon as he spots me. He’s standing near the entrance with his sword already drawn.

“There’s no reason for me to. I left the damn thing in there. It gave off a sinister aura, and felt like too much trouble.” I respond.

He looks at me for a moment before sheathing his sword. He brings his hands up as if in a prayer, and I panic a bit as light starts to wrap around me. It passes soon and he speaks.

“At the very least, I can’t sense you ever making contact with it. I’ll trust you for now. Lead on.”

“Sure thing.” It’s going exactly as I planned. So far, so good.

We both enter the dark cavern with me in the lead. The silence broken by our footsteps, and the occasional drop of water from the stalactites overhead.

“They’ve got a clever commander.” Luke suddenly says as he unsheathes his sword. The sound echoing through the cave.

“What are you-” I begin, as I look around, “talking.. about.” Over two dozen pairs of orbs glow all around us. The sounds of bone against rock growing louder as the skeletons move toward us.

“W-when did they get there?!” I cry out in panic. As a rogue it should have been easy to spot them. I’ve been vigilant since the beginning!

“If you didn’t catch wind of them, that most likely means they sensed us at the entrance, and had the skeletons lie in wait… but to have that much discipline to resist their urges is quite impressive.” Luke says.

“What urges?” I asked confused.

“When an undead is close to those of the living, they are compelled to attack. It’s akin to us feeling the urge of a wild beast to feed after being starved. These aren’t your run of the mill skeletons, and that’s no ordinary commander behind them.”

“I’m glad that you’d praise me to such an extent.” A voice calls out. Difficult to pin down where it came from given our location. The words send shivers down my spine.

“I don’t sense the presence of a lich. Are you their new leader? I should have expected this sod next to me wouldn’t be able to kill a lich.” Luke responds unperturbed.

“Oh? Perhaps you have some sense. I don’t seek to kill you. I just have a few questions.” The hollow voice rasps.

“Normally, my calling as a Paladin of Lumox would be to slay you, but retrieval of the soul gem is of utmost importance. I would make a deal with you.”

Maybe we’ll get out of this alive.