Chapter 10: Mockery

Malikai and Alex walked towards the main chamber. As they walked, Alex 
spoke, "She told me the healers were all dead."

"No.  One is shattered beyond pain.  The other is waiting for us."

With that, they entered the chamber.  A man lay still on the altar.  His 
hair was gone, and he was covered in bruises, cuts, and burns.  Mary stood 
across the table from them.  "Greetings.  He is ready."

The man stired.  He hurt everywere.  ::I can't still be alive:: he thought.  

The woman looked down at him.  She asked him, "Who are you?"  

"I... I don't remember anymore."  He stammered.  ::No more pain.  No more 
hurting.::

Malikai's cold voice cut in, "You were a healer.  You and two others."

"I might have been.  I can't remember anymore."  ::Pain, They're going to 
torture me again::

Alex spoke, "He's broken.  What more must we do?  Can't we let him die now?"

::Yes:: he thought, ::Yes, let me die.  Please let me die.  End the pain.::

Malikai laughed.  "No.  He was only begun to serve."  He grabbed the man's 
neck and pulled him to his feet.  "You will not die.  You will use your 
skills for the temple."

"But, I remember nothing."

Malikai entered his thoughts, and found the memories.  

The man left loose a strangled cry of agony.  "I... I know the body, the ways 
of surgery and medicine.  But how am I going to help you?"

Mary opened a door, and brought the third healer they had captured into the 
room.  He stared blankly.  Malikai smiled, "He is beyond all reason.  His 
mind was destroyed completely and utterly.  Kill him." He handed the healer 
a knife.

"What? I can't.  I..." Pain surged through his body.  Burning, hungery pain.  
"Nooooo!!  Please stop!!!"  The pain ended.  

"Kill him." Malikai whispered again. "Or suffer the pain."

He grasped the knife and moved towards the other healer.  A quick stroke across 
the throat ended the man's life.  "There.  Is that what you wanted?"

"Yes.  Now watch and learn."

The blood pooled at the man's feet.  A glow surrounded the altar.  The room 
vibrated with power.  A splatter of blood on the man's hand formed itself into 
a scourge, and melted into his skin.  His other hand had been ruined by the 
screws and press.  The light filled his eyes.  He saw nothing as his left hand, 
the good one, lifted the knife to his wrist.  One quick stroke later, the 
mangled right hand fell to the floor.  His hand, still guided by the glow that 
engulfed him and the altar, cut the dead man's hand free.  He touched it to the 
stump, and dropped the knife.  A needle and thread appeared on the altar, he 
took them and stiched the wrist.  The light faded.  He looked at his right arm, 
and flexed his new hand.  A strange light filled his eyes as he looked at the 
others.  "I am re-born.  I am Mockery."  He raised his new hand for them to see.
"I will tend to the others now."  He collected the knife and needle, putting 
them into a small black bag now sitting on the altar.  

Malikai looked on the newcomer and smiled.  They had destroyed the sane and good
portions of both men, but only one had survived.  The dead man had been pure and
gentle.  This one had had a darker side, and now it was all that remained of him.

Mary shruged, she had the flegling priestesses to teach, and the other members 
to tend to.  Let this new madman have the prisoners.  She turned to leave. "I'm 
going.  My acolytles are waiting."

Alex turned away.  He felt sick inside.  This creature was as insane as Malikai.
And as magically charged by the goddess.  He left silently, walking to the 
chambers he had claimed to work on his magic.  He needed more control, and he 
needed to forget what he was involved in.

Malikai led Mockery to the cells.  The surgeon quickly learned the locations of 
the chambers and rooms. After teaching him the layout of the temple's section of
the undercity, Malikai left to hunt.  Mockery began to clear and prepare an area
for his workroom.  He whistled a cheerful song as he worked.  The disjointed 
right hand worked fine for him.  He worked and soon he was ready to begin his 
first experiment.  He rubbed his hands together expectantly.  There was much to
do.