AN: So many positive reactions! :D Your reviews make me very happy :] Here's another talky chapter!

Chapter Ten: Songs of Truth

'Who is Aloe?' 087 demanded, worry seeping through their bond. 104 had, at some point, moved off, having dealt with the majority of her injuries, and 087 had settled somewhat near Kelly.

Kelly hesitated for a long moment, trying to evaluate how much she could actually trust 087.

'You're me. Why would I betray you?' the soldier replied, sounding offended. After another moment of contemplation, Kelly caved to her desire for someone else to just know. It didn't matter if 087 believed her, just that she knew.

Aloe Potter was who I believed I was before waking up as Kelly Black. Aloe was born hundreds of years ago, and Aloe died hundreds of years ago. Kelly sent her original a few flashes of relevant memory – or tried to. Shoving the pieces towards their bond seemed to do the trick, thankfully.

'So. . . You believe you were reincarnated?' 087-Kelly asked hesitantly, grasping at the memory fragments with the same absurd ease that she had thus far displayed.

In simple terms? Yes. In complicated terms? Maybe. I don't rightly know one way or another. Which was completely true. Most cases of reincarnation – of souls or magical cores being 're-issued', or reused by Magic – the reincarnation never retained the memories of the previous incarnation. Perhaps they held personality traits, but memories? No. Not that it was terribly common to be discovered. There were only six documented cases of a reincarnation of soul and core together, seven of core only, and three of soul only, if Aloe recalled correctly.

'So. . . You aren't me, despite inhabiting a clone of me?' 087 inquired, confusion seeping through their bond.

I don't know, Kelly replied bluntly, But we have a bond, one that allows me to see some of your memories. I wish I knew more about what it would mean, but I am far from omniscient, especially concerning involuntary bonds like this.

'Hm.'

Aloe grimaced faintly as her injuries gave a particularly vicious throb.

Why are you even trusting what I'm telling you? I could be lying. You know virtually nothing about me, Kelly abruptly demanded of her original, a faint sour note to her 'voice'.

A soft scoff, barely audible to Kelly, emanated from the still and heavily armoured 087. 'Didn't we already establish that our connection was far from one-sided? I've been having dreams of you and of Aloe since I was taken. Granted, Aloe's life was something that was dreamt of far more rarely – I only recall bits and pieces from one or two Aloe-dreams.'

Of course. That would make sense. It had been foolish of Kelly to believe otherwise.

'How much of my memories carried over?' 087 inquired, perhaps sensing Kelly's reluctance to continue on that particular subject.

A lot of subconscious things. Strategies, fighting forms, how to use weapons, from what I've noticed. Aloe. . . Aloe hadn't exactly been so widespread in her muggle learning. Kelly offered fragments of memories of what she had noticed, of when she had realized that what she knew wasn't exactly normal or easily excused, even being a general's daughter.

The tug of gravity told the witch –the clone – that they were nearing at least one of the moons. Most likely their target, as the other two shouldn't be in their path to Veritas.

'We're about to dock,' 087 explained, 'And I hear we're all due for debriefing. Your group must have been one of the few that actually encountered the aliens before being exfiltrated.'

Encountered and survived was left unsaid, but Kelly heard it clearly. She flinched slightly at the unintended reminder, sitting up, immediately digging through a pocket. Dozens of dogtags were withdrawn, the clinking drawing the attention of everyone.

"When did you get those?" 117 asked, his voice a low growl.

"On our way to the extraction point. And to our weapons lockers, before we met you." Her eyes didn't stray from the bloodied tags, a frown marring her features. There were less than she would have preferred. From her other pocket, she withdrew her father's pocket watch and tags. You can. . . you can have these, if you want them, she offered her – sister? Original? Which was more appropriate?

'Oh, don't start with that. You have been Kelly Black for longer than I was. He was more your father than he was mine.' Kelly fought back a grimace, still trying to get used to the feel of impressions of memories that weren't her own.

"You weren't supposed to stray," 117 stated flatly, unamused and unaware of the silent conversation between his Kelly and the cadet Kelly.

The cadet – ex-cadet? – refrained from saying 'You hadn't even noticed I was gone'. It wouldn't help at all, and she doubted he would appreciate the quip.

'He would – just not from you, not yet,' 087 replied to the unspoken thought, sending her the impression of a smile.

'Not yet'. That implied that he would, eventually. But after what has happened. . . Kelly had no clue where she was going to end up. 087 – the witch gave a heavy mental sigh. We need a better way to differentiate ourselves. I've been calling you '087', but it doesn't sit right, she informed her counterpart as the pelican settled into the Nevermore's docking bay.

'Do we have three names?' 087 asked in curiosity, 'Like you did as Aloe?'

No. Though it would be terribly convenient, wouldn't it? the witch replied. She wasn't Aloe anymore, at least not so much that she would willingly use the name. And now with Kelly-087. . .

'And something that won't be too hard to explain,' the Spartan mused, 'Fulmen? Sárkány? Drakon? Molniia? Eldingar?'

Each was accompanied by a flash of what they meant. The large majority meant 'lightning', though a few seemed to mean 'dragon'. Each was also met with a refusal.

"You coming, Ace?" Both women glanced over to Fred – 104 – both simultaneously, and unintentionally, quirking their heads to the side.

After a long moment – in which Kelly was wondering why he had called her 'Ace', but ultimately decided it didn't matter – the clone stood, following the male Spartan silently.

It would seem that she would be 'Ace' now – depending on how long she and Kelly-087 interacted. There were worse names.

AN: You may have noticed it's been. . . nearly two months since my last update. The reason for that is the holidays, and my job being terminated due to the store I work at closing, and I have yet to find another job. I will continue updating, and I will do my damnedest to do so in a somewhat timely manner.

In the meantime, please leave a review on the way out. It helps keep me motivated.