Author's Note: This is the second fanfic that I have planned to start working on after Dark Angel. The first one is Love Angel and that's a Shion and chaos fic. I know some people will like that.

Title: Identity

Summary: (Xenosaga Ep. 2) chaos is separated from the Xenosaga cast in a horrific gnosis accident. He must now survive on a foreign planet until he can make contact with the Elsa. How can he survive in a horrible corrupted world while trying to retain his identity?

Rating: PG-13. It may go higher…but I doubt it.

Prelude: The Accident

Elsa

1:53 A.M.

chaos:

It was another routine flight on the Elsa in the middle of deep space. Life had virtually returned to normal after Abel's Ark swallowed up the Zohar. Surprisingly, Jr. managed to get it back up into his control and now it rested in the Restricted Area along with pieces of his brother. Everyone was so sober, so sad. The grief was far too much of a burden on me. I felt everyone's emotions keenly and that caused me to have a lot of sleepless nights.

So the trip out to a Dock Colony was a relief. It was just the crew of the Elsa this time, which made for a very lonely ship. I had to admit it was a lot more interesting with Shion and the others around. There was still the matter of stepping further into the political mess the Zohar left behind. I wonder what people would think of me if I showed the true extent in which I can act.

"chaos, you've been rather quiet since we left the Durandal. What's up?" Hammer asked.

I took my eyes away from the screen I was supposed to be studying and regarded Hammer.

"I'm just trying to monitor the Elsa, Hammer. Captain Matthews would be awfully upset if Tony wrecked it again."

It was far from the actual reason why I was being quiet. I suppose it was a talent of mine: being able to twist people around so that I would remain mysterious. It wasn't hard to figure me out really. It was hard to explain the powers…the fact that I couldn't age…

"Ha, ha, you're hilarious chaos," Tony snapped.

I smiled gently.

"So I've been told."

"All right, people when we reach the Dock Colony, I want you to unload the cargo as quick as you can and get back on here. The natives aren't exactly friendly to outsiders. That means you need to be careful, chaos."

Me? Careful? I have the touch of the gods. I adjusted the straps on my gloves.

"I will, Captain Matthews, but you know there's no real reason to worry about me," I commented.

"God chaos, you must think you're superhuman or something," Tony commented.

I am superhuman. Have you seen my wings?

"You're amusing, Tony."

"All right, you two, stop your chatter and get the Elsa into the dock," Captain Matthews ordered.

I turned back to my screen, scanning over the window that showed the Elsa's systems. There was a slight shudder as the ship pulled into the dock.

"All right, kids. Do what I told ya."

Kids? I got up from my chair and headed for the door. Tony and Hammer followed suit with a heavy sigh. As soon as we exited the bridge, Tony and Hammer gave me a look.

"You know you don't have to help us unload, right?" Hammer asked.

"It would take you yours without me. Besides I don't mind."

Honestly, I really didn't mind. It kept my mind off of the issues at hand. Besides, I was used to people hating my presence. I mean, I didn't look normal.

"Ok…"

We stepped into the elevator and pressed the down button.

"Is this another war torn colony, Hammer?" I asked.

I didn't know a lot about colonies, especially since I grew up on Militia. Space was another adventure for me, I guess. I could fly in space and in transfer columns undetected and without assistance.

"Not exactly, chaos. Realians and the Federation government are barely tolerated here. Mutants or ubër-humans are subject to extreme violence sometimes."

Extreme violence? That rose an eyebrow. And here I was hoping that the gnosis wouldn't come around.

"Why?"

"People fear what they can't understand. It's as simple as that."

That much was true. The elevator doors opened and we walked outside and through the metal door. Lights immediately flickered on, illuminating the lower hatch of the Elsa. Several large crates rested in the middle of the floor, product of the scheme that tore us away from the Durandal. Tony pulled a small hover cart out of the corner.

"Still…couldn't you use your powers to make this easier?"

Dock Colony

3:43 A.M.

So far, the unloading of the crates had gone well. The exercise was excellent for me. I know I didn't look like it, but I had some muscles in my arms. (I couldn't be too muscular. Mainly because I didn't want to be stalked by girls.) Tony and Hammer had gone back to the Elsa by themselves. We had plenty of time before it was time to go back to the Durandal, so they decided to get a nap in. I, on the other hand, decided that I would have a lot more fun exploring the colony.

Of course, I remembered Matthew's warning. No one was going to object to me having a drink of two. I walked down what was left of the street until I caught sight of a small shop with the sign 'Eatery'. So far, so good. I walked up to the shop and sat down in one of the stools in front of the counter. The chef was a middle-aged woman with soft brown hair and brown eyes that seemed to hold sadness in their depths.

"May I help you, sir?"

"I would like some tea, please."

The woman nodded and sat a cup onto the counter.

"I haven't seen you around before."

She poured some tea in the cup.

"I'm with a merchant ship."

"Ah…that's good."

I lifted the cup up to my mouth and took a small sip.

"So…is this all of the dock colony?"

"Actually, no. This is what people like to call 'the bad side'."

The bad side?

"You mean there's a better side?"

The woman snorted.

"Of course. I think you know about the injustices between the poor and the rich. After the entire episode with the mutants, the situation for those less fortunate has gotten worse."

"What about you?"

The woman looked at me in surprise.

"Me? Well…I've got the shop and that helps me feed my children. But it doesn't help me and my dreams."

"You want to get your children out of here, don't you?"

"Yeah. But enough about me…what about you?"

There's not much to say.

"I'm just someone who cares, that's all."

I took a sip of tea again.

"Someone who cares, huh?"

I nodded.

"Exactly."

All of a sudden, a loud sound echoed across the dock. It sounded more like a warning siren. The woman gasped.

"No…not now!"

Huh?

"What do you mean?"

"You better get back to your ship quickly! I wouldn't want the gnosis to catch you!"

The gnosis? Tony…Hammer…they were on the Elsa. I had to go warn them.

"Thanks for the tea."

"You're welcome!"

I took off of the stool and down towards the docks. The familiar ghost-like bodies drifted through the streets, growling menacingly. My powers would make it incredibly easy to dispatch them and save the colony.

"chaos, let's go! Hurry up!" Hammer shouted.

"Go on ahead, Hammer! You know I can catch up! Just get out of the area safely!"

"You're crazy!"

"I know, but I have to save these people!"

I skidded to a stop, inches before the ethereal form of a large gnosis. I reached my hand out and touched it. It vanished instantly with a roar. More gnosis descended through the colony boundary, roaring and hissing. An explosion rocked the street, making me stumble backwards. I extended my hand to the sky…

"Ready? Lunar Seal!"

Energy shot out of my hand like bullets, blowing through the gnosis as if they were paper. My vision blurred somewhat from the discharge, but I was ok. Another explosion rocked the street, this time it was closer than ever. I felt the heat near my body…

"Angel Arrow!"

Two wings spouted from my back, propelling me into the air. Energy beams shot out of my body and flew like laser beams across the sky. I landed on the ground and started towards the Elsa again. I think everything's ok now. I hope. Nothing could have prepared me for what happened next. I had just reached the catwalk when I was literally snatched off of my feet. I hit the ground roughly, knocking the air out of my lungs.

Cold tendrils snaked up my leg… Damn…a gnosis just touched me. I twisted around, my breath suddenly hitching in my throat. I could literally feel energy being drained out of my body. So…this is what people feel when they are touched… The body just slows down and stops…I can't let that happen to me!

The Elsa lifted off of the dock with a mighty whine of its engines. I need to get back on the ship. I forced energy into my right hand and pointed it at the ghost that held me down. White danced at the edges of my vision, signaling to me that the 'whitening' process had begun. I let the energy go…

The gnosis vanished, but the damage had been done. I didn't have the energy to lift my body. I found myself staring up at the heavens as it was being licked by the flames of destruction. The Elsa shot across the sky like a silver bullet to safety…without me.

Help me…come back…please…