Part 22: Infection! But Is The Cure Worst Than The Malady?


Lingual notes:

  1. qué = (Spn.) what
  2. Medicine Line = an old Native American name for the boarder between Canada and the United States
  3. oniisan = (Jap.) "big" brother
  4. gringa(/o) = (Spn. slang) a derogatory term meaning someone from the United States. A good translation would be "the ugly American"
  5. montañas = (Spn.) mountains
  6. dondé = (Spn.) where
  7. dare = (Jap.) who
  8. nanio = (Jap.) what (the hell)


'Dancer hit the ground with a sickening thump, laying where she landed like a discarded doll. She felt discarded. Tossed away and forgotten. Behind her, a good thirty meters away, Zelgadis and Mekeio fought courageously. Vainly, she corrected herself, closing weary eyes. The blackness of shut eyes was no different than the gloom of the Forest and she opened them again, not really paying attention to the raging battle. She sighed softly, unaware of Mekeio's desperate chanting or Zelgadis's frustrated shouts at her. She wasn't hurt, but strangely lacked the will or the energy to move. She concentrated on that, trying to describe the symptoms to herself, to figure out what was wrong. But she wasn't in pain. At least, not the ordinary kind. Just... overwhelmed by the emptiness. Emptiness. Like a drained vessel. A dry well. She closed her eyes again, her heart rate slowing, her breathing returning to normal, her strained muscles relaxing. She knew what was wrong. Instinctively she had known from the moment she had stepped into the Forest something was out of place. Still it surprised and bothered her that it was she who was out of place. She who was born in a forest, in error. She didn't belong here. Neither did Zelgadis. And Mekeio, only marginally. She, 'Dancer Saisan, the bold, the arrogant, she was the problem. The allergen, the invading bacterium. Zelgadis wasn't much better, a cut perhaps, not causing as much concern, as much of a reaction as she had accomplished... Mekeio, a cancer. Turning on her "body", her protection and provider. And the Forest... 'Dancer flinched, feeling the strands of magic tighten around her, anchoring her to the ground. Ensuring her good behavior. Moving over her the way macrophages move in for the kill. Enveloping her. Her toes and fingers went numb, then her feet and hand, her legs and arms, her shoulders, her -

The numbness stopped at her knees, scraped and bruised, blood oozing out the torn tatters of her once green pants. She focused her blurred vision on that spot. Why had...? She struggled to lift a unfeeling hand, sweat breaking out on her brow from the mere effort of controlling that one simple motor skill. Unconsciously she gritted her teeth, focusing her whole being into that one action, the one movement- She suddenly released her control, her hand dropping like a dead bird, a stone, on her right knee. And she felt pain.

It felt so good, was such a relief, to feel something other than the utter nothingness that had filled her mind, that a grateful sob escaped her atrophied throat. She basked in the dull ache some time before she comprehended that she could feel her finger tips. She lifted the hand, a Herculean task, but slightly, just slightly easier, and tried to focus on the blood smeared digits.

Her head began to go numb, and she brought the sullied fingers to her forehead trying to rub feeling back into them. She knew. She knew that if she let the emptiness take over she was dead. Beyond dead. How would her heart know when to beat, her lungs when to inhale? Please, I don't want to die. Not yet. Not until I've seen Zelgadis cured. Please, please, not yet.


Zelgadis whipped around, his sword slashing through strands of forest magic that Mekeio's magic made visible. "ASUTORARU VAIN!" The astral ribbons shredded and he wondered briefly how often he had cast that spell in the last five minutes. He glanced over his shoulder and saw a "wave" of energy rolling towards them.

"Behi-!" "I see it! GIGA AEGIS!" A thin mist of darkness flowed up to her left forearm, condensing into the shape a small shield. Lifting her arm over her head a golden light showered her, and above them, interposed between them and the gathering wave of Forest energy, was a colossal shimmering shield, identical to the one on Mekeio's arm.

The "wave" washed over them, and Mekeio staggered back several paces before Zelgadis steadied her. Sweat rolled down Mekeio's face, her expression strained. "Zelgadis, I need - " "Here." Raw energy flowed into her already existing spell, and the wavy image of the shield solidified. Zelgadis let out a tiny sigh as the Forest's attack dissolved against the shield. Stabilizing that spell- what had she called it? Giga Aegis? -took a lot more out of him than he had expected. He glanced down at her, suddenly perplexed. Giga Aegis? Like Lina's Giga Sla - "VUREIBU HAURU!" Glowing magma exploded out of the ground and taking a queue from Mekeio, Zelgadis used it scythe-like to cut down the remaining threads of Forest energy. GET UP! He willed in the direction of the fallen latina.


Amazingly, 'Dancer could feel the sensation creeping back into her head, across the temples, spreading like spilt milk down her face and over the top of the cranium, down her neck. She was aware of every hair bound rigidly in the tight warrior's braid, the eyelash settled on her cheek, the trail of drying blood marking her forehead, war paint. She blinked her eyes, squinting as Zelgadis lit up the Forest with a particularly devastating fire attack, and silently commanded the attention of her unresponsive body. When sitting up proved to be too much of a challenge for her, she half closed her eyes and tried to feel her abdomen muscles. Wake up! She sternly commanded herself. Apathetic muscles continued to ignore her. Her brow furrowed, and in frustration she bit her lower lip, drawing blood. The coppery taste made her gag, and she spat out the blood. The leaf litter sizzled as the saliva/blood hit it. 'Dancer watched as the seemingly dead leaves untouched by the saliva/blood curled up tightly, as if trying to move away from the sputtering blob. The effected "dead leaves" writhed and twisted before turning black and going limp. 'Dancer blew gently on one of the leaves, and was rewarded with it crumpling to dust. ¿Qué?


"CHE!" Zelgadis exploded, his Bomb Spread spell only cutting down part of the Forest's attack. "Guardian, DO SOMETHING!!!!" "I'M TRYING!!!!" Mekeio snapped, her scythe glowing golden as she used it as a focus. "FLAXEN GALE!" She made a quick slicing motion. A burst of golden energy whipped out, whirlwind-like and vaporized the encroaching spell-strands. But as soon as they vanished, more appeared in their place. Both Mekeio and Zelgadis took a step back.

"Why-?" Zelgadis half-asked, as Mekeio bumped into him.

"We're too close to the Forest's heart. It's power is nearly unlimited this close the Well." Mekeio answered his interrupted question, fending off another "wave".

"You planned to lead us out by way of the Forest's source?!" Zelgadis asked incredulously. Mekeio shot him a poisonous look. "It couldn't be help! The moment you stepped off the path you were shifted here, to It's kill-zone." Zelgadis stared at her for a second, then turned to where he could barely discern 'Dancer's form.

" 'DANCER WAKE UP!!!!!!! Shimatta! VAN REIRU!" His web-shield of ice bought them several seconds.

"Zelgadis-san." Zelgadis glanced over at the purple-clad girl . "There's something that might work..."

"Yes?" He asked tersely. Mekeio's empty eyes regarded him sadly. "In order for this spell to work, you'll have to drop your shield-spell. You'll also have to hold off the Forest by yourself for several minutes." Zelgadis studied her grim expression for a second, then sighed. "Fine." He closed his eyes and cleared his mind. Opening his eyes suddenly he shouted, "FUSHON SARU VO!" His Van Rehl spell vanished even as the snowflake-sized balls of spirit energy rammed into the magic threads, causing each one to implode. Behind him Mekeio began chanting in the language of a people long deceased.


Realization dawned slowly on 'Dancer. -blood seeking bone cathedrals to dwell within - She blinked, wondering absently which poet she was mis-quoting this time. No matter. She knew what to do. Sliding her hand along her belt she located a sai and pressed her thumb against the sharpened point of the central prong. Tears sprang to her eyes. -And you bleed just to know you're alive- Flitted through her mind. She winced, pretty certain that the songwriters didn't have her situation in mind when they wrote that line. Blood, hot and fluid, streamed down into her palm, coursing down her wrist, spreading across her forearm and pooling in the crease of her elbow. The sound of muffled popping was accompanied by sensation returning to her middle, and 'Dancer blinked back tears of repressed agony as the pain from her fall finally reached her brain, clouding her purpose. No! Must get up! Must get-UP! 'Dancer hissed the last word aloud, and, amazingly, found herself sitting up.


Zelgadis made a strangled sound as the strands of magic tightened around him. He swore at himself, cursing his luck, Rezo, his foolish trust of Mekeio's abilities, and 'Dancer, for talking him into taking this route. As thick cords tightened around his throat and blocked out his sight he fancied that he saw 'Dancer standing up. Then, everything faded into a red haze.


'Dancer had looked in time to see Zelgadis jerk back as if something had slammed into him. She had heard Mekeio shriek "MELD!" and continue screaming when something went terribly, terribly wrong with her spell. She had seen the up until then invisible strands of magic constrict around the two magic users, and begin to glow dull orange. She stood shakily, and began to move unsteadily towards the glowing bundle that held Zelgadis. Please, don't let me be too late...


Zelgadis sped down the highway, sun on his face and the wind ruffling his hair as the jeep surged forward, the gas petal pressed against the floor. To his right, her newly dyed hair unbound and whipping around in the speed induced maelstrom, 'Dancer let out a shout of delight.

"WOOOOHOOOOOOO! To the Medicine Line and the North!" Zelgadis chuckled. It was just like her, to use archaic terminology. He reached over and ruffled his little sister's hair. She stuck her tongue out as he did.

"Why the gringa disguise, 'Dan-chan?" He asked as Sacramento disappeared from the rear view mirror. She tossed her head arrogantly, then grinned.

"For change. On whim. Call it an impulse buy, oniisan." She winked and glanced out the window, watching the countryside pass. "I can't wait to get back to the montañas." She said more softly, almost unheard by him. He smiled understandingly returning his gaze to the road ahead.


'Dancer grasped the strand enveloped blade of his sword, and tightened her grip. The blade, still charged with his last Astral Vine spell, slide easily through the strands of magic and bit deep into 'Dancer's grasp. She watched detachedly as the blood gush over the glowing strands, staining the putrid orange cocoon darker red. The strands of magic hissed, as if on fire, then suddenly loosened, and 'Dancer staggered back from Zelgadis's weight as he slumped against her. She dropped his sword to catch him.

"Zel, Zel snap out of it." She whispered hoarsely. Zelgadis coughed, nearly knocking her over, then blinked hazily up at her.

"Nan- Are we there yet?" He asked fuzzily as 'Dancer's knees began to wobble.

"¿Dondé?" She asked as he righted himself. He held to her elbow as she leaned against him. Mutual support. "Canada?" He rubbed his eyes, blinked a couple of times, and looked around.

"Canada?" 'Dancer repeated stupidly, swaying slightly. Blood continued to spurt out from her hand and she was begining to feel light headed. "What does Canada have to do wi - " Her eyes rolled up as she fainted. Zelgadis grabbed her arm to catch her and stared in shock at her right hand. The flesh was cut from the wrist to the fingerbones and hung free from the rest of her hand. White bones glittered tauntingly at him as her life blood continued to spill out. Hastily Zelgadis closed her mauled hand into a fist, trying to stanch the flow.

"Y-!" The rest of whatever he was going to say was drowned out by the screeching of a thousand voices. Zelgadis half turned as the bundle-that-was Mekeio flared up.

ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The wide fibers slowly fell away from Mekeio, revealing the guardian, armed and standing tall. She held out a hand, palm facing the duo. "Dare!?!"

MOVE AWAY FROM THE HUMAN, CHIMERA.


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