#103

Needless to say, Klaus and Doctor Kai have been fighting through the Red Tower for some time. Unlike the kids, they disregard things like “stealth” and “quick movement”, instead preferring to use fists and magic pistols to beat down wave after wave of mutant/soldier/Crimson Guard factions. They do make sure to take out the cyborgs too, despite the questionable morality behind such a thing. The passages of the Red Tower are in ruins, but they don't care; they don't sense the presence of their bad Brother or badder Father anymore. So it's safe. And they do have Klaus' backup plan. They just sincerely hope they won't have to use it.

Casually, they trade kill counts, not counting the cyborgs. It's a nice bonding moment between the two of them, and also a stream of unsteady humor. All chatter of such sort stops when they reach the elevator platform, though. The platform has to be called from the bottom, and when it gets they see the signs of the fight. However, there is a surprise for them. As we know already, this surprise is an actually-pretty confused and grossed out Mark. (Grossed-out, as he had woken up very much covered in blood.)

They ask him right away what happened, and he replies by spinning around while trying not to vomit. Then, he asks where they were, but they don't reply. They fear the worst.

They go to the top level, sensing at once the ghost-pattern of the apprehension the kids felt at that point. They embody it as well, to pay respects; but they don't know they need to pay respects yet. They are presuming, and in that presumption, they still yet fear the worst.

They enter the throne room and see their fears have been justified.

Doctor Kai struggles to find which skull is Jacob's, for he'd grown very fond of him; but then he realizes it doesn't matter, as he sadly realizes that he had grown to love Mina and Susie, too. Even in all of his experience, even after all the people that he himself has personally murdered, this scattered field of bones still gives him pause.

Klaus, meanwhile, is driven further.

For Klaus knew this would happen. The Lady warned him it would, when she continued to help him Guide You. It was You's destiny, and the full plan hasn't yet been implemented. But there's still nothing like this. Nothing like seeing the pulped remains which barely resemble the boy. He couldn't have prepared for how far the Emperor would go, and the rage he feels against the Emperor—against his Brother, who shares the Doctor's name—is still dwarfed by sadness.

And suddenly Kai and Mark are gone, as Klaus holds You's bloody body close to him and feels his own body shake with sobbing.

“NEIN...!”