YTSK II: Chapter XXXVIII

In Universe Date: 28 December 2021

"I'm so glad you're alive, father. I thought I had lost you forever. I... I love you" Jake smiles. "I love you, too." Tears start flowing from DH's eyes.

Jake collects himself. "The reason I revealed myself was to help you return to the plane. There is a double door nearby with which you can exit this lair into the ocean. Yan used it to examine aquatic life, but you can torpedo through the ocean if you exit while covered in oil."

DH nods and picks up a nearby oil barrel, throwing the fluid onto himself. He then follows Jake to the double door.

As DH prepares to exit, he turns to Jake one last time. "Father, I still have one question. How did you know I could enter ultra instinct?" "I read it in one of the Sibylline Books that Yan recovered" "The WHAT?" "We're running out of time, just go!"

DH then goes through the exit, plunging into the ocean. "Well, there goes my son. Godspeed."

Jake hurries back to the ventilation shaft, his heart pounding in his chest. He reaches the familiar narrow opening and pauses, taking a deep breath before pulling himself up into the confined space. The cool, metallic walls of the shaft press against his shoulders and hips, the space feeling even narrower than he remembers. He twists his body, angling his legs to fit in the cramped quarters. The shaft is barely wide enough to accommodate his frame, forcing him to remain in a constant state of contortion.

The air inside is thick and stale, filled with the lingering scent of dust and rust that has become all too familiar. Breathing is a shallow, conscious effort, the limited airflow providing little comfort. The metal surfaces feel cold against his skin, a sharp contrast to the oppressive warmth of the lair outside.

Every movement is a challenge. Jake has to be careful not to make any noise, each shift of his body causing a faint creak or scrape that echoes louder than it should in the confined space. The darkness is nearly absolute, his eyes struggling to adjust to the lack of light. Only the faintest slivers of illumination filter through the tiny gaps in the shaft, casting eerie, fragmented patterns on the walls.

Inside the shaft, Jake's only company is a small spider he has named Peter Parker, after the comic book character with spider powers. Peter has woven a complex web in one corner of the shaft, catching countless flies. Over the 14 long months they had spend together in the shaft, Jake has come to think of Peter as a friend, the only living creature he can talk to in his solitude. Both of them had survived by eating bugs: Jake by eating cockroaches, Peter by eating flies.

In that time, the only news he received about the outside world was through Yan's ramblings to herself or her torture sessions with victims. When she had left the lair to go on duty, he was free to take some time to explore the lair and peak through some books, like the Sibylline books that his son had asked him about. He was always afraid to take them into his shaft, fearing that Yan might notice something amiss when some books were gone.

"Well, Peter, it’s just you and me again," Jake whispers, his voice barely a breath in the cramped space. He watches as the spider scuttles across its web, seemingly oblivious to the world outside. The web is an intricate marvel, a testament to the spider's patient craftsmanship. It stretches across the corner of the shaft, glistening faintly in the dim light.

Peter Parker has been a source of both amusement and companionship for Jake. The spider’s diligent work of weaving and repairing its web had become a focal point for Jake during the long, lonely days. He had watched Peter catch flies and other small insects, marveling at the efficiency and precision with which it operates. In many ways, the spider has become a symbol of resilience and survival, traits that Jake himself has needed to embrace.

"You know, Peter, I've never felt more useless," Jake whispers, his voice a soft murmur in the darkness. "DH is out there risking his life, and all I can do is hide and wait. But I guess it's better than nothing."

Peter continues his ceaseless work, oblivious to Jake's words but a comforting presence nonetheless. The spider moves methodically, each movement deliberate and precise, a small but significant reminder of life in this otherwise sterile environment.

"I wonder what it's like out there, Peter," Jake muses, his thoughts drifting. "Do you think I'll ever get to see the sunlight again?"

As if in response, Peter moves to another part of his web, continuing his tireless task. Jake sighs, leaning his head back against the cool metal. The shaft, though claustrophobic and uncomfortable, has become a place of safety and familiarity. It is his refuge from the chaos and danger that lurk outside.

Suddenly, a familiar disorienting energy fills the lair. Jake's heart skips a beat as he feels the air shimmer and warp. Yan has teleported back.

Jake holds his breath, every muscle in his body tense as he listens to the faint hum that accompanies Yan's teleportation. The air crackles with residual energy, making the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. He knows she is back, and he has to remain perfectly still to avoid detection.

From his hiding place in the ventilation shaft, Jake hears Yan's footsteps echoing through the lair. Her voice, low and menacing, carries through the chamber as she speaks to herself, unaware that Jake can hear her every word.

"Where are you, DH?" Yan mutters, frustration evident in her tone. "You can't hide from me forever. I know you're here somewhere."

Jake's heart pounds in his chest, each beat resonating in the tight confines of the shaft. He dares not move a muscle, his breath shallow and controlled. The cool metal presses against his skin, a stark reminder of how vulnerable he is.

Yan's footsteps move closer, and Jake's anxiety spikes. But then, she veers away, seemingly uninterested in checking the ventilation shaft. Jake lets out a silent sigh of relief, grateful for the small mercy. He continues to listen, his senses on high alert.

Suddenly, Yan's footsteps halt. There is a moment of silence, followed by a sharp intake of breath. "A barrel of oil?" she says aloud, her voice a mix of realization and annoyance. "So, DH used the oil to torpedo to the surface. Clever move, but you won't get away that easily."

Yan moves to a control panel. Jake can hear the soft beeping of buttons being pressed and the faint hum of machinery coming to life. "Let's see where that plane of yours went," Yan mutters, her tone calculating. "You can't hide from me forever."

Jake's mind races. He knows that if Yan finds the plane, DH and the rest of the squad will be in grave danger. He listens as Yan manipulates the controls, her frustration growing as the minutes tick by.

"Nothing," Yan spits, her voice filled with anger. "The plane isn't showing up on any of the satellite images. Where is it?" She lets out a growl of frustration. "Fine. If I can't find the plane, I'll just have to return to Videomapistan and—"

She pauses abruptly. Jake's ears strain to catch the faint beeping sound that has interrupted her. "What is this?" Yan murmurs, her tone shifting to curiosity. "My aquatic radar is picking up... four lifeforms rapidly descending to the ocean floor."

Jake's pulse quickens. The squad is coming. They are executing their plan, and the final confrontation is imminent. He prays they are ready, that they have everything they need.

Yan's voice turns cold and calculating. "So, they're coming to me. Epic. Let them come. I'll deal with them here."

Jake's mind whirls. He knows the squad is brave and skilled, but facing Yan in her own lair will be incredibly dangerous. He wishes there was something he could do to help them, but his priority is to remain hidden and undetected.

Yan tries to brainstorm a strategy for defeating this new assault. "Should I shapeshift into Jake to manipulate DH? ...No, Jake is dead. DH would just conclude that it's me." Jake struggles to hold back laughter. She doesn't know. He looks to Peter for affirmation, but the spider remains apathetic.

Yan then considers another factor. "I don't want DH to pull a trick like that again." She looks at her control panel. In short time, the control panel shows the double door being opened again. When the doors are shut, Yan turns off their power, preventing them from being opened again. "Trapped. Like flies into the spiderweb." As Jake overhears this, he briefly glimpses at Peter before focusing his mind back on the situation at hand.

The squad moves cautiously inside, the air growing warmer as the doors close behind them, sealing out the ocean. They creep through the dimly lit halls, the oppressive silence weighing on them. Finally, they enter a vast chamber, its ceiling lost in shadow.

At the far end of the room stands Yan Xishan, her eyes glowing with an unearthly light. Her presence fills the room with a palpable sense of power and menace.

"Welcome back DH," Yan says, her voice echoing through the chamber. "I see you've brought your friends."

A mighty battle ensues. Jake is excited as he hears Tenax defiantly shouting and running at Yan to deliver the killing blow. However, when the book fails to kill her, Yan makes the revelation that the biology textbook that had been thrown at her was in fact a mathematics textbook. After shouting his defiant last words, Tenax lies dead.

DH drops to the floor, beset by agonized frustration and loss of resolve. His hands and knees press against the cold stone floor. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Tenax... is... dead... The textbook was our only hope. I... god... my hopes... are ash. We... have lost. God... damn it... Yan..."

Yan turns her gaze towards DH, and gloats. "Tsk tsk tsk. So close yet so far." She grabs her knife. "DH! This knife has killed three videomappers. It wounded Tigerstar and chopped up Khey Pard. I would have spared it the taste of your life as well, if only you could have seen... what I have seen. I hope that you will have the dignity not to further struggle in futility."

Yan slowly walks towards DH. DH lays still, seemingly tolerating the impending end of his life, succumbing to hopelessness while at loss at what to do.

Zed runs up to DH. "DH! Don't give up now. We gotta pull back and live to fight another day. We'll find another biology book. We just gotta use that double door again! We'll soar to the top of the ocean with oil and find our way to the coast."

Yan chuckles. "That won't work. I have turned off the power to the double door. You are trapped in here with me." She then tries to walk towards DH, but is blocked by a forcefield. Although Zed's plan wouldn't allow for an escape, his yells of encouragement had somewhat reinvigorated DH's resolve. DH is still reeling and on the floor, but his will to fight is regenerating. He feels neither dead nor alive.

Yan is feeling a mixture of amusement and frustration. "Oh DH, you really, really don't know when do give up, do you? Do you want to dance this dance again? Do you really want to exhaust yourself against barrages until you lie dead? And for what?"

Yan stands still. She observes DH in this contradictory pose, neither shutting down his shield to allow himself to die, nor standing up to fight. She anticipates three possible scenarios: if DH loses his resolve again and shuts down his forcefield, she will approach and stab him to death. If DH stands up to fight, she will unleash further barrages and kill him the hard way. If DH continues to lie still with his forcefield, remaining paralyzed by indecisiveness, she will teleport through the forcefield and - assuming he won't respond - stab him.

Yan encourages DH to surrender. "You have lost, DH. All that is left is for you to accept it. Do yourself a favour and let it go. Let us put an end to this struggle that has haunted you for so long."

Zed tries to counter Yan's words. "Don't listen to her, DH! You cain't give up now. Not after we've come this far." For eight tense seconds, Zed's thoughts race to formulate a strategy, before he blurts out: "We can still get outta here! Just use your Kamehameha to blow a hole in the ceiling! Your force field'll keep us from gettin' swallowed by the ocean."

Zed's words echo through the fabric of DH's mind. "*Your forcefield will protect us from being swallowed by the ocean.*" - "*us*". "us", of course, means himself, Zed and DRM. But Jake is still in a ventilation shaft. If DH blows a hole in the ceiling now and lets Yan's lair be flooded, his father will drown to death.

DH responds to Zed: "No... we're not retreating from this." Zed is confused. "Why not?". DH, however, is afraid to explain his reasoning, because to say it right here would betray the fact of Jake's survival to Yan.

In the face of DH's unwillingness to answer Zed's question, Yan takes it upon herself. She recalls what happened during the rooftop battle at the Videomapistani parliament back in April. "Dragon Historian is not one to back down from a fight, especially if it's with me. He lusts for battle, in the hope that killing me will fill the void his father's death left. But it seems he's nearing his breaking point."

Suddenly, Jake bursts out of the ventilation shaft. Though he had thus far been too petrified to confront Yan, the prospect of being left to drown in this lair had broken his nerve, and he is desperate to save his life. "I'M NOT DEAD, BITCH!" Yan is incredibly surprised at Jake's presence, and exclaims: "WHAT?". Having left the shaft, Jake runs at his son. DH allows his father to pass through his forcefield. He then fully regains his resolve and stands up. Just as he starts to draw his hands in cups in order to shoot a Kamehameha at the ceiling, Yan teleports through his forcefield and grabs his arms in order to save her lair.

DRM, Zed and Jake look on as Yan and DH quickly roll on the floor, wrestling one another. Jake had hoped to escape with DH, but that plan had now clearly been dashed away. However, while he had been observing the battle between Yan and Tenax from the shaft, he had conjured another plan.

*To be continued...*