The Dark Arcology
Floor 196 – Conference chambers

Over the years, the Dark Arcology had gained a considerable number of Firsts, and many of them had either a Second, a first rank, or sometimes even both they always brought with them.
So when the Conference chambers had been added, it had ended up growing even larger than originally expected, providing seating for every single First, and space for two others near each of them. The result was an immense semi-circular amphitheatre-like layout, with tier upon tier of places. In front of them was a long table with nine seats along it. The outermost three were reserved for the six Council members. The next two were for Sab and Roxas, the two Advisors, and finally in the centre, on the grandest seat of them all was the Grandmaster's position.
It was well known that like a lot of similarly grand-looking things, Sora didn't like it.
Slowly the Firsts and whoever they brought with them began to fill the chambers. Axel, of course, brought Riku and Kairi with him. One of Sora's friends, Sand, brought Seifer and Rue. Jamie came in with Swordsman, who brought in someone else he didn't know, but from there on there were few people he recognised or knew.
There were quiet discussions among those present while they waited for the session to begin. Sora listened in on some of them from afar using his own reserves of the Arcology's power. Among the discussions were questions of what the Heartless were, why they were something to worry about, and how they'd got into the Arcology.
"Just how many Firsts are there?" Sora asked one of the Council members nearby.
"I believe there's exactly one hundred, Grandmaster," he replied. "There are provisions for up to just under two hundred, giving each First a single floor. No one really wants that many Firsts though. It would be an administrative nightmare."
"I thought it already was..."
"Only if you believe the Registry."
When the Council confirmed that all Firsts were present, they too filed in and took their seats. The discussions quieted down even further.
Roxas apologised for his not being present, explaining that King Mickey had left the Disney Castle and caused him to have to track him down. He did, however, project a pretty convincing image of himself that would allow him to continue looking for Mickey, and also be present. With that, he and Sab took their seats. Roxas remained standing, rapping on the table for attention.
Sora breathed a few complaints to himself. He knew what was coming.
"All rise for the Grandmaster of the Dark Arcology!" Roxas called. The discussions all stopped instantly, replaced with the sound of everyone getting up – those that could, as Sora noted one or two older members had elected to remain seated and give a kind of salute instead.
"Do you mind, Roxas..." Sora muttered to himself.
Doing his best to not look the part and still grumbling under his breath, Sora came in, took one look at the seat, then reluctantly sat down. Everyone else followed suit afterwards, then looking to him. It left him feeling distinctly uncomfortable with so many eyes on him.
This was important though, so he pushed that aside.
"You all heard the announcement about the emergency situation," he began. "By now, the floors infested with Heartless should have been sealed, preventing them from growing any stronger, consuming any more hearts, or taking any more floors."
"Forgive us, Grandmaster," one First called, standing. "But I believe I'm right in saying that very few of us know anything about these Heartless."
"He has a point, Sora," Roxas murmured. "We never did get around to spreading word about them."
He gave them a brief outline of what they were, what they did, and why it was important to stop them.
"They've taken a fair few floors of the Arcology, and now we're going to take them back."
"If they consume those with a heart as you say, then wouldn't we be putting anyone at risk doing so?" someone else called.
"Normally, yes. I've discovered since coming here that I can gift my ability to harm them easier to others here, which will offer some aid there, but that's not important right now. I don't have the time to go through all of you and your people and find people I would choose, so you're going to have to handle that."
"And what are we looking for?"
"Anyone who can fight and is willing to get involved despite the risks. Have them assemble at any of the entrances to those floors and stand ready. The seals on them will be dropped long enough for them to get in, then put back again to prevent them from claiming any more territory."
"You summoned everyone for this?"
"Are you questioning my methods?"
There was an uneasy silence. In the vicinity of the one who'd made that accusation, people started quietly shuffling away from them. One did not accuse any Grandmaster of anything lightly.
"Not at all," they stammered back. "I meant... only it seemed unnecessary..."
Sora decided to let it pass this time.
"I myself will be present, so if you're having trouble convincing someone you think can help, point that out to them." He paused, then carefully avoiding looking at either Riku or Kairi he continued, "It's also come to attention that the Arcology has received it's first guests at the Visitors Entrance. Under no circumstances are any of them allowed near the affected floors. They're our guests, and deserve to be kept safe from such things."
Kairi looked even more irritated at him, if that was possible, and Riku didn't look much better than her after that statement. Sora pretended not to notice.
"Does anyone have any further questions?"
"You can bet on that," the hulking figure of Swordsman boomed. "You've completely left out tactics, Sora."
"Heartless are pretty stupid," he shrugged. "And you've fought them yourself. They're only a major problem in overwhelming numbers. Which they might have, but this is the Dark Arcology, the source of our power. It's stronger here than anywhere else, we know the place – we have the upper hand."
"Just what are these Heartless doing in here anyway, and how did they get here?"
Axel coughed, "That's my fault. As far as I knew, there weren't meant to be any Heartless left at all, but apparently something's keeping them around. I brought some here to study them and find out why that was, and while they were here began to show unusual mutations. The Arcology turned out to be the cause, so while I ordered my team to take a field lab to continue work, I think someone must have released them – though who, how and why, I can't say."

Core of the Arcology

"Leaving so soon, Zexion?"
"I'm just going out to learn some more about this place. Nothing more."
"Don't let anyone find out what you did upstairs."
"Of course not."
Vexen watched him leave, then returned to his experiments. They were progressing well. Their effects had already started to show up in the Heartless in the Arcology. Before long, it would be extended to it's members as well.
Thou hast not forgotten why I made thee exist again, Vexen?
"Of course not," he answered the disembodied voice, somewhat nervously. "It's just taking time."
Was that not thy excuse for losing Axel also? And failing to bring Roxas to thy cause? Why dost thou delay?
"Those were mistakes. I didn't get to Axel in time, and Roxas is loyal to his other. I couldn't bring him over to my side."
Yet the question remains, Vexen. Why the delay? Was I perhaps wrong to gift thee with a second chance?
"No! Not at all, I just... I just need more time. Zexion only just got here. I can't rush things. It would make things too risky."
Pray thou art correct in that, for should I discover otherwise thy life can be snuffed out once more, and another shall take thy place.
"Of course not! I'll have what you seek, just wait."

Ruins of the Old Arcology

It was late night, and though the moon hung alongside a sky filled with stars, there was next to no light.
Three figures were only barely visible against the skyline, stood on the hills overlooking the ruins. A fourth, crouched so low on the hill opposite them that only someone nearby would see them, watched and listened carefully.
"What are we doing here, your Majesty?" one asked.
"Hush, Donald," another chided him. "Keep your voice down. It's vital that nothing knows we're here."
"You make it sound like the land itself is alive," the third figure murmured.
"It is. What used to be here is as alive as any world you went to with Sora."
"How's that possible?" the first voice asked, only slightly quieter than last time.
"The same way any new world starts out. Quiet now. Very soon we'll be able to move on unnoticed. Not a sound."
For a long and tense wait, the fourth continued to watch. Then the trio finally headed into the basin toward the ruins, slowly and silently. To anyone else, the lack of light meant their figures simply disappeared, but this fourth one had come equipped. Something was drawn out of concealment and put to the eyes.
They watched as the trio continued inwards, ignoring the triangular area for a different route that lead to the tree in the centre. The closer they got, the less ruined the ruins became, and the further back time went. This fourth person knew of these effects already, and was in perfect position to be affected by them, but remain unseen.
The tree shrunk as time regressed, becoming a sapling again, then only a small plant, until finally the earth it lay in shifted upwards into the ruins and revealed the stairs.
The three figures waited once more.
One of them raised a hand and gestured to the others, reminding them to stay silent.
Finally, after another tense wait, they approached the stairs and went down.
There was no scream, these intruders remained set on their course, and not thrown away from the stairs.
Once they were out of sight, the last figure got up, brushing grass off his robe as time progressed back to the present again. A small jewel was drawn out of a pocket and thrown up into the air. As it rose, normal night-time light returned to the area, revealing the figure more clearly. Moments later, a second one, also wearing an Organization robe appeared.
"What is it? I thought I told you not to call me unless it was important."
"But it is. Those three you're looking for just slipped in the back way."
"Didn't you say that was impossible?"
"They found a way around it. Here," he handed the device he'd looked through over. "I recorded it."
The other appeared to watch, then nodded. "At least now my search is on familiar territory. Thanks Demy."
"It's what you employed me to do. How's Axel?"
"Used to things now. Mind giving me a hand on the inside too?"
"It'll cost you extra," Demy warned.
"What more do you want? You've got free run of the Arcology, you're back and you've got your heart back. What else?"
"How about my sitar back, huh? You never did tell me what happened to it, Roxas."