After a bit of hesitation, Silver sped off through the streets of New York. Although her care for traffic was at its usual minimal, She couldn't help but feel concerned for Darkness as they pulled into what looked like a huge mental facility, it read 'Pure Mind Solutions aftercare facility' on the front, and had a green shooting star for a logo. "Uhhhh why are we here bro?" Asked Lyte. Darkness smiled sadly and jumped out of the Jeep. "Well Lisa, we're here to visit an old friend! Why don't you head up to the reception desk, I need to have a quick chat with Silver." He requested. Lyte paused briefly before getting out of the Jeep and walking inside.
Darkness pulled out a flask and took a quick gulp of something that smelled close to rubbing alcohol. "Silver... Why was I never told about Saryn being involved in this?" He asked with his back turned away from Silver, who sat in the Driver's seat. Silver grunted and looked at the back of his head. "How in god's name was I going to tell you ANYTHING about this without talking about Lyte's Sexual Assault? You and I know you don't break promises to Lyte, Once she slams a door, it STAYS shut!"
"Look I love Lisa, I DO! But Saryn being involved in the coverup of something related to her isn't something I'm comfortable with... At this point, it's only a matter of time before the rest of the story comes out..." Said Darkness. Silver slapped his shoulder. "And whose fucking fault is that Mr. 'I shot myself in the head Lyte' dumbass? Look, I did what I had to do to keep people from investigating Lyte and possibly taking her away! Be happy I had an ace up my sleeve." She said with a huff.
Darkness just sighed and nodded. "Fine, it is what it is... now let's go" He Said as he walked into the reception area as Darkness filled out the rest of the forms. As they waited, Lyte just put her phone down to look at Darkness. "So Derek... who are we here to see?" She asked Curiously while looking at Silver, who clearly didn't want to be in the area.
Darkness hugged them both and looked down at his shoes. "Probably one of the last friends from my old unit I've got left." He admitted with a sad smile before they were given a room number. As they walked through the white hall rooms, Lyte noticed there were different kinds of patients, and none of them seemed to be fully aware of their surroundings.
"Room 777... Jackpot" said Darkness as his Hair turned black. His powers left him as the three of them stepped through. A lone patient with long, unruly black hair that reached the floor looked up at them. His eyes had a far-off look, and he let out an eery grin while crooking his neck to the side. "Hiya, First Sergeant! Long time no see!" He rasped as he stood up, revealing he was in a straitjacket.
Derek hugged the man tight and rested his chin on his shoulder. "Hey Xaldin.... how ya been buddy?" He asked in a strained voice. But he knew Xaldin could only kind of hear him. Lyte's eyebrows raised as She Saw Derek converse with Xaldin... Both men looked broken inside. "What... Happened?" Asked Lyte as she looked at Silver.
"This isn't just a Mental hospital... this is a treatment facility for patients who suffered from the effects of an officially scrapped drug that was meant to treat people afflicted with Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder... It was known as Neural Nirvana Injection or NNI... They tried to use it to Fix Xavier Aldin's Psychosis... then they tried to use it to... Fix Derek." Answered Silver.
Lyte put a hand to her mouth as she watched Derek wrap up a small conversation with Xaldin, who had barely talked. "I'll chat with you later when I can Xavier... I miss you." He said as he guided his family out of the room, his body slowly powering up as the door closed. "So yeah Lyte... That's where my mind was all these years." He said as they walked.
Lyte was about to respond. only to stop dead in her tracks as she saw a man her age with robotic eyes in nothing but a medical gown, he had brown hair and a sickly build, but a very creepy wide smile. "T-Tommy?" She asked as she struggled to breathe.
The man turned to face her and tilted his head. "Hello Lisa... I'm nice now...." He said as he looked at her. "There's beautiful positive vibes up in my brain... I don't want to do... awful things anymore... not anymore..." He told her as he began to walk away, leaving Lyte visibly shaking with fear and anxiety.
An hour later, Darkness and Silver held Lyte as she Vomited in the toilet. "This Lisa, THIS is why I Keep a lot of things to myself." Said Darkness as Lisa weakly looked up at him. "THIS PLACE IS HORRIBLE!" She said through sobs. Darkness patted her. "I Want to protect you from the ugly truths of this world, but I've come to realize that in my attempts to do that, I was also isolating you... we live in two different worlds... consider this just the softest glimpse" he warned.
Lyte finally calmed down and hugged him. "I'm sorry you had to go through all of this, I didn't know... How can you even still be comfortable with the nickname 'Darkness' After all this?!" She demanded. Darkness just laughed. "Never forget and all that.... I'll tell you one day... Right now I'm sure this is a lot to process... I'm still trying to process the fact that my Little Sister apparently thought I'd judge her for defending herself from a rapist." He replied.
Lyte stood up and hugged him. "I'm sorry big brother... I'll try to be more open with you if you do the same." She said. Darkness looked to Silver, who winced back as they both gulped. "Deal" He lied while texting His boss before they got ready to head home.
"Awww That's sweet, little Lisa Sonata is growing up." Said Mr Capryse as he checked his phone while Dragging a concrete block to a Lime green convertible. Inside the car was a bald man in a black suit whose hands were zip-tied to the steering wheel and a gag in his mouth. The car was positioned in front of a ramp with the Statue of Liberty in sight.
"Now buddy... You don't gotta go seeking no thrills like this, I'm here to talk you out of this suicidally reckless stunt!" He said calmly as he took the man's gag off and looked inside. "ALRIGHT! ALRIGHT I'LL SING! MR. FARLEY HIRED SOME FREAK TO GO AFTER DARKNESS! HE THINKS IF THE VOID WALKER IS DEAD YOU'LL BE DEFENSELESS!" He screamed.
"Now See was that so hard?" Asked Mr. Capryse. with a smirk. "You fucking psycho! Your family is next after-" But the man was cut off by Mr. Capryse dropping the Concrete block onto the gas pedal. The sound of screams and a loud engine, as well as a car splashing into the water, filled the air while Mr Capryse sipped coffee from a thermos. "Why do they ALWAYS Have to threaten my family? Ah well... consider this Darkness' first real test... Good luck!" He said as he went for a casual nighttime stroll across New York."
