AN: Hey so this is my first fanfiction of Xenosaga. This was originally written for a friend of mine over email, then she suggested I upload it, so here it is. I hope you like it, I've been getting back into writing so hopefully I didn't butcher anything too bad!

Disc: I do not own anything Xenosaga related. I have some OC's, but they are both temporary and not important, so you can basically ignore them and focus on the main cast.

Rubedo...

A pang was felt within the mind of the child, as he stirred from a well-rested slumber.

Rubedo...

Again, the strange yet familiar sensation echoed. Ignoring it, he attempted to roll over, only to be stopped by an unknown snag. His eyes slowly opened, revealing the wires connecting him and the nearby heart monitor.

In an instant, he was sitting straight up, his increased heart beat blinking across the screens around him. His blue eyes darted to and fro, trying to piece together where he was, and why he was there. During his rapid actions, he didn't notice some wires disconnected from the machine, which in turn activated an alert.

In seconds, a nurse-styled Realian rushed into the room, carrying a very worried expression. Her model seemed to be only a couple years older than he, roughly fifteen or sixteen, and her uniform showed the Federation insignia across her chest. "Is everything okay, U.R.T.V. number 666?"

For some unknown reason, he flinched at that name. "Uh, yeah. Sorry for worrying you." His voice appeared distant, his mind was clearly somewhere else. She only smiled, thankful for his positive response. The Realian then reattached the missing wires to the monitor.

"Please, try to remain calm and let yourself get more rest. From what I've observed, you've been through a lot recently, have you not?" she offered him a warm smile, and he blushed in return. Her small giggle made him at ease, which helped him not to struggle as her hands gently pushed him back to laying down.

Once situated again, the U.R.T.V. glanced at her and asked, "Where am I?" Without stopping her work, she answered, "You are currently on Federation Ship One, also known as-"

"-the Ranger." He didn't mean to interrupt her, it just slipped out. She stopped working with the machines and gave him her full attention. "Yes, you're right. Do you know this ship?" He looked away slightly, trying to find something else to focus on, to hide his embarrassment. "I've only heard about it."

The Realian responded with "Then when you are able, you should really have a look around. I find this ship to be very pleasing to the eye." She then grew a little more serious, but the smile remained. "Is there anything else I can do for you, number 666?"

Again with that name. "You know what? If you don't mind, could you call me Rubedo? I'm not really a fan of my original name." Her face expressed wonder, as she politely bowed to him ever so slightly. "Oh, forgive me. I didn't realize that name was a burden for you to carry."

Rubedo then felt a mixture of relief and guilt. He didn't mean to make this girl feel bad; she didn't know after all. "Nah, it's really alright! Don't worry about it." She returned to full stance, and nodded. He then wanted to ask her something in return.

"What's your name?" Rubedo asked her, his eyes showing his curiosity. This is why the Realian loved working with children; she loved their pure hearts. "I am Glory. I am one of the specialized Hospice Models, designed to care for humans in hospital and/or home like settings. My specialty is working with children, so that makes you my responsibility."

"Sounds like you have a lot of fun." Rubedo added a laugh after his immediate response. She accompanied his laugh, "Yes, it's a lot of work. But I do enjoy working with children. They make everything worth it." Glory then saw the time on Rubedo's wall. It was already late, and she needed to get her work done before heading back to her own living quarters. "Well, I believe it's about time I go check up on your comrade, 669."

Rubedo gasped. "Nigredo? Is he okay? How is he?" Glory warmly stated that he was resting, and his injuries were already on the healing path. "He suffered plenty of blood loss, but he has you to thank for that." When she received a confused look, she explained further.

"He needed a blood doner, and since you were the only remaining U.R.T.V. available, we borrowed a potion of your blood and transferred it into him. You saved his life, Rubedo." This news didn't make him feel heroic. If anything, this made him feel so much worse after what happened back on Miltia.

"I see." He paused, then with a hopeful voice, asked "Can I go to him? Can I see my brother?" As respectful as she could, Glory shook her head no. "I'm sorry, Rubedo. You still need your rest too." Once she saw his happiness instantly fade, she redirected this conversation, as trained.

"I'll tell you what. Tomorrow, if you're better by the time I check on you, then I'll take you to see your brother. Deal?" Rubedo thought about it for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah, okay. Deal." Glory bowed once more, and left with a "See you in the morning, Rubedo."

Moments passed as he silently remained in bed. How could he sleep now, especially after knowing his brother is okay? He wanted to apologize to him so badly, it hurt to think about it. Also, what were they supposed to do now? Live like normal people? Live and grow up as soldiers? Either way they most likely would be turned over to the military as weapons.

He had to look after his younger brother; Nigredo is all he had left in this world, and his brother only had him as well. Together, they would somehow survive the events surely to follow the tragedy on Miltia. Together, they would build a new life for themselves.

There was one more thing that clawed at Rubedo's curiosity. The voice he heard inside his head, as he was coming out of sleep. It didn't sound like Glory's, and besides, she didn't even know his nickname. It didn't sound like Nigredo, but couldn't be him anyways because of his current condition. But this voice sounded so familiar. Too familiar.

Then it hit him; he suddenly realized the voice which echoed throughout his being in sleep. As Rubedo slipped into slumber once again, one name found its way into existence from the U.R.T.V.'s mouth.

"Albedo."