p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd awoke with a jolt to see darkness surrounding him. He was back in his dorm room. His eyes glanced at the clock beside his bunk. 3 AM. He sat upright with a groan, drenched in cold sweat. He round his hands into his eyes until the mental images faded from his mind. The nightmares had started to—/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Wait./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd glanced down at his hands. His real hands./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"His mechanical arm was gone. In it's place, real flesh and bone. Shaking, he felt the arm, flexed the fingers, and even punched the wall beside his bed to make sure he wasn't dreaming. It was real./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"He closed his new hand into a fist. So what The General was telling him was no lie./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Slipping out of bed, he pulled on a white T-Shirt that hugged his form and shorts, not bothering to waste another second and tie his hair back into a ponytail. He crept down the hallway, careful not to wake anyone else, and made his way into the mess hall./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The lingering scent of tobacco told him The General was up. He found him leaning against the wall, a smoking cigar in his mouth./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""You don't sleep?" Lloyd inquired, his voice rougher and edgier than usual./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The General held the cigar between his fingers, blowing out a puff of smoke, but he didn't say anything. Then, his eyes glowed with fire in the light of his cigarette upon seeing Lloyd's real arm back. "That's new."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd gripped his real wrist. "You were right. The Presence is fucking everything up. Things are returning to the way they used to. For the worse."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The General crossed his arms, an emotionless expression crossing his face. Lloyd caught sight of dark circles underneath his eyes. He shivered, but showed no reaction. He looked like how he used to… all those years ago./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd ran his hands through his lose hair. "I can't believe this. I can't fucking believe this."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Etrius and the others won't be too happy about hearing this."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Something awakened within Lloyd. And it was emangry./em He seized the collar of The General's shirt, snarling into his face. "If you speak a emword/em of this to Nox, there emwill/em be consequences."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The General calmly brushed Lloyd off. "You're changing faster than I am."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd blinked at the realization, then shook his head. "No, I'm not. I'm fine."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Besides, how will everyone react when they see your arm suddenly grew back overnight? How will emNox/em react? They're going to find out sooner or later, and hopefully it's not too late. If you're not going to tell them, I will."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""That won't be necessary." A familiar, feminine voice spoke from the shadows. Nox's eyes sparked to life in the darkness from another corner. "I heard everything."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd's heart dropped to it's lowest level. "Nox…"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox stepped out of the shadows. "I felt you wake up." Lloyd knew she meant there was a change in his brainwave pattern. "Did you really think you could keep something like this from me?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd held his breath, then, "Nox, I swear, I only found out emjust/em recently. I was going to tell you when you woke up—"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Stop lying, Lloyd." Nox said with her mouth tightened into a thin line. "I read your mind the minute The General showed up." She closed the space between them, The General's presence fading away./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""You knew?" Lloyd was breathless./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox's gaze hardened. "Why didn't you tell me before?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd sighed, closing his hands around hers. "I never took it seriously… mostly because I didn't want to. And I didn't want to put neither you, nor Angel through any shit of the past. Haven't we all been through enough?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox blinked in surprise, but not because of Lloyd's words. She glanced over his shoulder. "Where…?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd followed her gaze. "I don't see anything."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Exactly. The General is gone."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd's hands tightened around hers. "Good for us. We never get any time alone anymore."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox shut her eyes, tapping into the feedback waves that rippled through the air. "No, something's not right. His brainwave feed just… vanished. We should—"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd silenced her by pressing his lips against hers, his hands travelling up from her arms, to her neck. Nox gave into the sensation, her defenses melting away, the previous problem nothing but a grain of sand in an hourglass. She allowed herself to drown in Lloyd's embrace, as he backed them down against the wall./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd had her pinned in place, almost like a sign of dominance. His hands left behind a hot, delicious trail everywhere they moved./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd's shoulders stiffened./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox pried away and glanced up at him, something undecipherable igniting her eyes. "Lloyd?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd's mouth hung partly open, his eyes staring ahead in shock. A low, haunting breath brush past his lips. He collapsed to his knees./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox felt his brainwaves going haywire. "Lloyd!" She steadied him as he toppled forward, leaning against Nox's frame. Nox grabbed his shoulders, leaning him against the wall. Her hand was still tightly clenching his own./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"But something went wrong./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The hand that held his… Fell right through. Almost as if he was leaving existence. Fading. Even his panicking brainwaves were receding into nothing, like a fading radio signal./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd's eyes were shut tight, his body limp./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox noticed her radio on the opposite end of the room. She couldn't waste time to get up and get. She would have to wake Etrius and the others up emher/em way./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Etrius mumbled in his sleep, images flying across his brain. Dreams./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Then, he was plummeting into darkness. At the end of the long fall, a light shone, growing brighter and brighter the faster he fell towards it./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Through it, a hand extended through, reaching out. A familiar voice echoed in the back of his mind./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"emSon. Come home./em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"A sense of nostalgia grabbed hold of him. He reached out to take the hand, but that was when his descent stopped. He was suspended in the air like a puppet with strings./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"emYes. Come home, Etrius./em A feminine voice, only this time, it was cracking, and rotten. emOr should we say… Murderer./em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The faces of two rotting corpses burst into his face. He opened his mouth to let out a terrified noise, but the sound was trapped in his throat. He tried to move back, but he was locked in the air with no escape./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Whatem have you been thinking all this time? That we'd be proud of you? Look at all the death you've caused./em The male voice pointed at his rotten face, then at his wife's./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Between the two, a silhouette was walking from the light, towards him. But as the shadows melted away, they revealed not the young face that he always remembered… But the face of death. It extended a bony hand to him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Suddenly, the team stood in front of him. They were bloody and scarred, and some of them had lost limbs, which were still bleeding. Lloyd pointed at him in accusation. "It's because of you, we're this way. Now it's your turn."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""No," Etrius said between his teeth as the hands grabbed him. Dust began to creep onto his military uniform, making it's way into his skin and burning through his body./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""NO! FUCK YOU!" Etrius' eyes popped open. He leaned forward in his bunk, clutching his chest and taking in gulps of air. Ice cold perspiration drenched the sheets./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"He rubbed his eyes, dark circles beneath them. It was only a matter of time before the nightmares consumed him whole./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"He felt a small spark in the back of his mind, like the slightest tinge of electricity. Nox was trying to contact him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"He shut his eyes, answering the mental call. emWhat?/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"emEtrius, get your ass in the Mess Hall, now! And wake up that crackpot Romanov!/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"emWhat's happened?/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"emIt's the Presence. He's getting closer and closer to completely erasing our existence. And he's starting with Lloyd./em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Etrius' heart plummeted. emI'm on my way./em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The Wise One entered the medical room for the second time that night, wide awake. His eyes were flashing and alert. He noticed the form of Lloyd lying unconscious in the medical bed, Nox sitting in a chair beside him. She had her head bowed between her shoulders, her hair covering her face. Etrius, Beecher, Josiah the Girl, and Scott were all standing around the room. Etrius was leaning against the wall, his head down, fighting to stay awake. They looked exhausted./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox immediately perked her head up when the doors opened. She leaped to her feet and eyed him with distress, but said nothing. The Wise One raised a hand to reassure them. "It is not like we predicted. He won't disappear from existence, but he's being moved."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Etrius' brows creased together. "Moved? What the fuck does that mean?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""It means that The Presence is changing the past. Being trapped inside a wrinkle of time, we thought that he would be gone from out dimension, but being inside that wrinkle has only given him power. All these years… He's been harnessing it. Learning to use its capabilities to the full extent, so he could attack us unexpected. If I had known from before… I could've stopped this by now. Since the past is being changed, The Presence is merely testing his power with Lloyd. And I'm afraid we're next."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""So what does this have to do with Lloyd being fuckin' moved?" Beecher pressed, resulting in an elbow-jam from Josiah./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Before Lloyd joined this team, what was he before?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""An Assassin," The doors slid open again, and The General emerged into the room. "More accurately, a prisoner of war. I'm pretty sure Lloyd told you all everything by now."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""We both told them." Nox crossed her arms, something dark passing through her eyes. Etrius gave him the same look./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The General held up his hands. "What! It was in the past. Can't you all see a changed man?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""That's not what we're worrying about," Josiah intervened. "Nox and Lloyd told us everything that happened in the past. And if The Presence is rewriting history…"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""That means everything emyou/em worked for will also go down the drain." Scott finished. "I'm not angry anymore about what you did, but all of us soon will be if something isn't done."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""So what the fuck do we do?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""It's not like we can just enter the Ancient's Universe, or the Wrinkle of Time."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""The past is something that should never be tampered with. He's going to erase us from existence, just like he promised."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Will someone come up with a fucking answer?!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""ENOUGH!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"All eyes turned to the door, where Romanov stood enraged, holding the Wise One's books, as well as research papers. "I can't believe you all are acting this way. This team is always so organized, superior, and confident. If you'd stop whining and start thinking, maybe things won't be so bad after all." He strode into the room amongst the thick mist of silence, holding out the research papers. "Information from the first and second Castle Project, as well as the Portal's structure."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""So we need to open another portal?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Correct. But we need more KrSAPPHIRE."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Wait," The Wise One shut his eyes, his brainwaves feeding into the very air around them, and even passing through the atmosphere itself. "The Presence is making his way to the Ancient's Universe."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""emWhat?/em"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Beecher gestured to him. "See what I have to deal with?" Josiah nudged him again./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""He is going to the very place where he originated. Where all of this originated. We need to get there first, and quick."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Hold on," Scott waved his hands around through the air. "You mean we're emactually/em going back to the Ancient's Time?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox ignored his flabbergasted expression. "Where do we find more KrSAPPHIRE? That element isn't easy to find here on Earth."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""I'll get us more KrSAPPHIRE," The General uncrossed his arms. "At the base. I don't hold my rank anymore, but everyone there still remembers me. I should be able to get in and out without a problem."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Beecher raised his hands. "Is anyone actually hearing this? Why can't we just go in and—?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""emBeecher,/em" Etrius snapped. "We're fugitives. Remember? He's not. If we even show our faces there, they'll shoot us on sight."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""I'll go," The General's tone finalized the discussion. "And if I don't come back, then prepare for the end."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Wait./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd glanced down at his hands. His real hands./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"His mechanical arm was gone. In it's place, real flesh and bone. Shaking, he felt the arm, flexed the fingers, and even punched the wall beside his bed to make sure he wasn't dreaming. It was real./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"He closed his new hand into a fist. So what The General was telling him was no lie./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Slipping out of bed, he pulled on a white T-Shirt that hugged his form and shorts, not bothering to waste another second and tie his hair back into a ponytail. He crept down the hallway, careful not to wake anyone else, and made his way into the mess hall./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The lingering scent of tobacco told him The General was up. He found him leaning against the wall, a smoking cigar in his mouth./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""You don't sleep?" Lloyd inquired, his voice rougher and edgier than usual./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The General held the cigar between his fingers, blowing out a puff of smoke, but he didn't say anything. Then, his eyes glowed with fire in the light of his cigarette upon seeing Lloyd's real arm back. "That's new."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd gripped his real wrist. "You were right. The Presence is fucking everything up. Things are returning to the way they used to. For the worse."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The General crossed his arms, an emotionless expression crossing his face. Lloyd caught sight of dark circles underneath his eyes. He shivered, but showed no reaction. He looked like how he used to… all those years ago./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd ran his hands through his lose hair. "I can't believe this. I can't fucking believe this."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Etrius and the others won't be too happy about hearing this."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Something awakened within Lloyd. And it was emangry./em He seized the collar of The General's shirt, snarling into his face. "If you speak a emword/em of this to Nox, there emwill/em be consequences."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The General calmly brushed Lloyd off. "You're changing faster than I am."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd blinked at the realization, then shook his head. "No, I'm not. I'm fine."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Besides, how will everyone react when they see your arm suddenly grew back overnight? How will emNox/em react? They're going to find out sooner or later, and hopefully it's not too late. If you're not going to tell them, I will."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""That won't be necessary." A familiar, feminine voice spoke from the shadows. Nox's eyes sparked to life in the darkness from another corner. "I heard everything."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd's heart dropped to it's lowest level. "Nox…"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox stepped out of the shadows. "I felt you wake up." Lloyd knew she meant there was a change in his brainwave pattern. "Did you really think you could keep something like this from me?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd held his breath, then, "Nox, I swear, I only found out emjust/em recently. I was going to tell you when you woke up—"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Stop lying, Lloyd." Nox said with her mouth tightened into a thin line. "I read your mind the minute The General showed up." She closed the space between them, The General's presence fading away./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""You knew?" Lloyd was breathless./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox's gaze hardened. "Why didn't you tell me before?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd sighed, closing his hands around hers. "I never took it seriously… mostly because I didn't want to. And I didn't want to put neither you, nor Angel through any shit of the past. Haven't we all been through enough?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox blinked in surprise, but not because of Lloyd's words. She glanced over his shoulder. "Where…?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd followed her gaze. "I don't see anything."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Exactly. The General is gone."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd's hands tightened around hers. "Good for us. We never get any time alone anymore."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox shut her eyes, tapping into the feedback waves that rippled through the air. "No, something's not right. His brainwave feed just… vanished. We should—"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd silenced her by pressing his lips against hers, his hands travelling up from her arms, to her neck. Nox gave into the sensation, her defenses melting away, the previous problem nothing but a grain of sand in an hourglass. She allowed herself to drown in Lloyd's embrace, as he backed them down against the wall./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd had her pinned in place, almost like a sign of dominance. His hands left behind a hot, delicious trail everywhere they moved./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd's shoulders stiffened./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox pried away and glanced up at him, something undecipherable igniting her eyes. "Lloyd?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd's mouth hung partly open, his eyes staring ahead in shock. A low, haunting breath brush past his lips. He collapsed to his knees./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox felt his brainwaves going haywire. "Lloyd!" She steadied him as he toppled forward, leaning against Nox's frame. Nox grabbed his shoulders, leaning him against the wall. Her hand was still tightly clenching his own./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"But something went wrong./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The hand that held his… Fell right through. Almost as if he was leaving existence. Fading. Even his panicking brainwaves were receding into nothing, like a fading radio signal./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Lloyd's eyes were shut tight, his body limp./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox noticed her radio on the opposite end of the room. She couldn't waste time to get up and get. She would have to wake Etrius and the others up emher/em way./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Etrius mumbled in his sleep, images flying across his brain. Dreams./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Then, he was plummeting into darkness. At the end of the long fall, a light shone, growing brighter and brighter the faster he fell towards it./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Through it, a hand extended through, reaching out. A familiar voice echoed in the back of his mind./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"emSon. Come home./em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"A sense of nostalgia grabbed hold of him. He reached out to take the hand, but that was when his descent stopped. He was suspended in the air like a puppet with strings./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"emYes. Come home, Etrius./em A feminine voice, only this time, it was cracking, and rotten. emOr should we say… Murderer./em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The faces of two rotting corpses burst into his face. He opened his mouth to let out a terrified noise, but the sound was trapped in his throat. He tried to move back, but he was locked in the air with no escape./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Whatem have you been thinking all this time? That we'd be proud of you? Look at all the death you've caused./em The male voice pointed at his rotten face, then at his wife's./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Between the two, a silhouette was walking from the light, towards him. But as the shadows melted away, they revealed not the young face that he always remembered… But the face of death. It extended a bony hand to him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Suddenly, the team stood in front of him. They were bloody and scarred, and some of them had lost limbs, which were still bleeding. Lloyd pointed at him in accusation. "It's because of you, we're this way. Now it's your turn."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""No," Etrius said between his teeth as the hands grabbed him. Dust began to creep onto his military uniform, making it's way into his skin and burning through his body./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""NO! FUCK YOU!" Etrius' eyes popped open. He leaned forward in his bunk, clutching his chest and taking in gulps of air. Ice cold perspiration drenched the sheets./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"He rubbed his eyes, dark circles beneath them. It was only a matter of time before the nightmares consumed him whole./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"He felt a small spark in the back of his mind, like the slightest tinge of electricity. Nox was trying to contact him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"He shut his eyes, answering the mental call. emWhat?/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"emEtrius, get your ass in the Mess Hall, now! And wake up that crackpot Romanov!/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"emWhat's happened?/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"emIt's the Presence. He's getting closer and closer to completely erasing our existence. And he's starting with Lloyd./em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Etrius' heart plummeted. emI'm on my way./em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The Wise One entered the medical room for the second time that night, wide awake. His eyes were flashing and alert. He noticed the form of Lloyd lying unconscious in the medical bed, Nox sitting in a chair beside him. She had her head bowed between her shoulders, her hair covering her face. Etrius, Beecher, Josiah the Girl, and Scott were all standing around the room. Etrius was leaning against the wall, his head down, fighting to stay awake. They looked exhausted./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox immediately perked her head up when the doors opened. She leaped to her feet and eyed him with distress, but said nothing. The Wise One raised a hand to reassure them. "It is not like we predicted. He won't disappear from existence, but he's being moved."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Etrius' brows creased together. "Moved? What the fuck does that mean?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""It means that The Presence is changing the past. Being trapped inside a wrinkle of time, we thought that he would be gone from out dimension, but being inside that wrinkle has only given him power. All these years… He's been harnessing it. Learning to use its capabilities to the full extent, so he could attack us unexpected. If I had known from before… I could've stopped this by now. Since the past is being changed, The Presence is merely testing his power with Lloyd. And I'm afraid we're next."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""So what does this have to do with Lloyd being fuckin' moved?" Beecher pressed, resulting in an elbow-jam from Josiah./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Before Lloyd joined this team, what was he before?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""An Assassin," The doors slid open again, and The General emerged into the room. "More accurately, a prisoner of war. I'm pretty sure Lloyd told you all everything by now."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""We both told them." Nox crossed her arms, something dark passing through her eyes. Etrius gave him the same look./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"The General held up his hands. "What! It was in the past. Can't you all see a changed man?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""That's not what we're worrying about," Josiah intervened. "Nox and Lloyd told us everything that happened in the past. And if The Presence is rewriting history…"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""That means everything emyou/em worked for will also go down the drain." Scott finished. "I'm not angry anymore about what you did, but all of us soon will be if something isn't done."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""So what the fuck do we do?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""It's not like we can just enter the Ancient's Universe, or the Wrinkle of Time."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""The past is something that should never be tampered with. He's going to erase us from existence, just like he promised."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Will someone come up with a fucking answer?!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""ENOUGH!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"All eyes turned to the door, where Romanov stood enraged, holding the Wise One's books, as well as research papers. "I can't believe you all are acting this way. This team is always so organized, superior, and confident. If you'd stop whining and start thinking, maybe things won't be so bad after all." He strode into the room amongst the thick mist of silence, holding out the research papers. "Information from the first and second Castle Project, as well as the Portal's structure."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""So we need to open another portal?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Correct. But we need more KrSAPPHIRE."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Wait," The Wise One shut his eyes, his brainwaves feeding into the very air around them, and even passing through the atmosphere itself. "The Presence is making his way to the Ancient's Universe."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""emWhat?/em"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Beecher gestured to him. "See what I have to deal with?" Josiah nudged him again./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""He is going to the very place where he originated. Where all of this originated. We need to get there first, and quick."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""Hold on," Scott waved his hands around through the air. "You mean we're emactually/em going back to the Ancient's Time?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Nox ignored his flabbergasted expression. "Where do we find more KrSAPPHIRE? That element isn't easy to find here on Earth."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""I'll get us more KrSAPPHIRE," The General uncrossed his arms. "At the base. I don't hold my rank anymore, but everyone there still remembers me. I should be able to get in and out without a problem."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"Beecher raised his hands. "Is anyone actually hearing this? Why can't we just go in and—?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""emBeecher,/em" Etrius snapped. "We're fugitives. Remember? He's not. If we even show our faces there, they'll shoot us on sight."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;""I'll go," The General's tone finalized the discussion. "And if I don't come back, then prepare for the end."/p
