A couple days passed as Joshua began to recover, but there were still no signs of the mission picking up anytime soon. But regardless of that… Ethan still found himself in hot water.
"I refuse to send any of you to Esanii! Being there will put the institutes you work at in danger!" Ethan shouted for what felt like the umpteith time. "It was bad enough what Terra did last time before all this, I don't want to risk something bigger!"
"Kid you're what, ten!?" Maria growled getting in Ethan's face. "You're putting people we care about in danger there so actually we have a say! Right!?" She looked to her colleagues hoping they'd back her up.
Ethan growled, slamming his hand on one of the machines.
"15! I'M 15! AND I'M AWARE OF WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING! I'M TRYING TO CARRY OUT WHAT MY FATHER ASKED ME TO DO! DON'T TELL ME-"
"ETHAN!"
Feliciana put a hand on his shoulder, worry in her eyes.
"Please… don't shout… it's not like you…"
There was still rage dancing in his eyes before it slowly faded, lowering his head.
"Sorry Felly… just…"
She brought the boy into her arms, hugging him tightly.
"You're stressed… you got a lot on your shoulders…" She stroked his back. "Deep breaths…"
"I… I just want to keep everyone safe…"
Erhuard stepped forward. "We want to help if we can… We know the risks… But we had a responsibility back then that we didn't live up to… We should have taken out Terra when we had the chance… Allow us to right that mistake… Please…"
Ethan looked to all of them, before giving a small nod.
"Alright…. but I'm not sure what we can with the condition of Joshua's disk."
"Then we try to take out Terra, if she's removed from the equation then there will be no obstacles." Naomi reasoned. "All that will be left is to reactivate the tower."
"Mom's got a point…" Lucas sighed leaning against one of the machines. "But… She's as strong if not stronger then Todd was back when he was Malus Cordis and you guys took him down… She killed a god…"
"Waiting until Joshua is able to deliver the disk would be preferable. In that case it would be a matter of keeping her busy till the tower is reactivated."
"Makes sense." Tomoe commented. "Will you be able to provide armor?"
"Due the fact you were soul fused, using the subconscious transfer should work just fine without bracelets, your original partners will be drawn to you."
"Then we got a plan…" Maria cracked her knuckles. "Been awhile since I got to beat up some viruses… Hope they're ready for a beating…"
"We'll do all we can… Especially for Joshua." Hank lowered his head a little. "Gabe… would want his son safe."
Erhuard nodded gaze going to the ground. "We couldn't protect him from the first attack… But we can prevent a second… We owe it to his father's memory… That's what he'd want…"
"Then in this battle when it comes… we'll honor him as we go into combat with Terra."
"HEEEELP!"
"JOSHUA WHAT THE HECK?!"
"He shoved me in…"
"LUUUUUUUCASSSSSS!"
"Papa?"
Alistair opened his eyes. He had been meditating and had drifted off to sleep… odd dreams haunting him the whole time.
"You okay?" she asked, worry in her eyes.
He tried to give her a reassuring look but it came off more like exhaustion. "I'm fine… I just had a weird dream is all…"
Elly sat with him. "You wanna talk about it?"
"Yeah… Someone was calling me for help… With who I assumed was Joshua… he got stuck in something… and some how Lucas was involved…." Alistair gave a sheepish look. "It was strange."
"Huh… weird…"
"Tell me about it… Got a splitting headache too." He rubbed his head sighing. "How's our patient?"
"He's doing better, he's mostly resting."
"Good, he drink enough? Or is he still on the "This is unnatural" thing he was on earlier when he was feeling crabby?"
"I got him to drink a little more, but he's still crabby about it."
Alistair shook his head. "What is with users and trying new things?"
"I don't know… but least he's being less resistant…" She hugged his arm. "I just hope you ain't getting sick…"
"I'm not sick Elly-girl… Promise…" Alistair kissed her head nuzzling her a little. "I've just been worried… Haven't had a round the clock patient in awhile."
"Yeah… only real patient you had for awhile was me whenever I got hurt…"
"And that nearly gave me an energy attack…" He brought her into his arms hugging her close. "Love you so much… Hate seeing you in pain.."
Elly nuzzled him. "I love you too Papa…"
Alistair stroked her hair. "My little spark…"
Elly smiled, nuzzling his hand. "Hee…"
Alistair smiled as he continued to do it. "You're so cute."
Elly giggled. "Just me…"
He held her close. "You're so much more… You mean everything to me Elly…" He stroked her back. "You've been my rock these last cycles… I would've lost it if you weren't around."
"And I probably would've died if you hadn't found me…" Elly kissed his chin. "I was so scared…"
Alistair kissed her head. "I'm glad I found you that day… You've grown up so fast… But you're still my little girl…"
Elly smiled. "Forever and always…"
"That's right." He smiled hugging her. "Forever and always…"
I can't believe I'm doing this….
Joshua looked around trying to be careful as he moved out of the room he was in, trying to find some kind of exit. He felt guilty but brushed that aside. He was going stir crazy in there with nothing to do but sleep.
But this is SO something Lucas would do! Ugh I feel unclean! He cringed shaking his head. "Freedom…" He muttered. "Just five minutes…"
He looked around to be sure no one would see him as he moved. Just… A little more-
"Ahem."
Joshua froze as he looked behind to see Alistair who had a very unamused look in his eyes.
"Uh… Hi there… Alistair… F-Fancy meeting you here…" Joshua tried to act innocent turning around. "What are you doing here?"
"Checking on you… and feeling better to the fact you're getting out of bed?"
"W-Well…" Joshua winced as he shifted. "Just thought I'd stretch my legs a-and I was thirsty so-" I'm SO dead...
Alistair smirked, his unamused look being replaced by one that was seemed rather amused.
"Then may I assist you to the little garden we got here in this system?"
Joshua blinked surprised. "You… Aren't going to haul me back to the medical room?"
"Can't let you get cabin fever now." He walked over to the boy, looping an arm around him, giving him support. "C'mon."
Joshua gave him a grateful look as he went with him. "Thanks… I just need to get out of there for a little while…"
"Can understand."
Wasn't long before they came upon a small grassy field like area with some trees and a river running through it.
"Here we are, Joseph's private garden."
Joshua looked around amazed, taking a deep breath savoring the fresh air. "It's beautiful…"
"Agreed."
Alistair lead him, setting him down before bringing some water for him.
"Here you go."
Joshua gave him a grateful look before drinking it. "Sorry I've been a bit of a brat…"
"Hey, you were in a lot of pain, I would be crabby too." Alistair said, sitting down with him.
"Thanks…" Joshua sighed rubbing the back of his neck. "Can we just keep this whole "trying to escape" thing between us? Lucas wouldn't let me hear the end of it until the day I died and if he was still around after he'd probably bring it up at my funeral… This kind of thing is what HE does often."
"Noted, your secret is safe with me."
He grinned. "Much appreciated."
"Yeah can't let him have too much ammo on ya." Alistair chuckled. "Pranks are bad enough…"
Joshua laughed. "Oh don't I know it. We've been at it since we were kids… Rivals and yet he's one of my best friends too… You have no idea how glad I was when I finally was too big to fit down the laundry chute!"
Laundry chute…
"Heh…. that happened a lot…" Alistair said, almost muttered.
Joshua gave him a bit of a confused look. "Yeah… It did… How'd you know?"
Alistair rubbed his head a little.
"I think I heard it from someone once… not really sure…"
"Huh… Probably Lucas…" Joshua rolled his eyes. "That sort of stuff he'll never shut up about. "Hey Joshua remember that time-" And out goes how he used brute force to shove me right down that thing… First time was on a bet, he thought I wouldn't fit, I thought I would… It was a moment of weakness… Twenty bucks…" He hummed in thought. "... Never did see that twenty…"
"Oh yeah… Heh Lucas screamed like a little girl when I-" Alistair stopped, himself, shocked at what was coming out of his mouth. "I… I caught him..."
Joshua's eyes were wide. "When… You caught him?" But… The only person who ever caught him was…. Oh my gosh...
Alistair brought his hands to his head, feeling the pain from earlier coming back… this time however it was worse… He felt like someone had set his mind on fire. He looked up at Joshua, recognition coming into his eyes mixed with pain.
"Joshua…"
Joshua was terrified… But he couldn't help the words that came out next…
"It's you…. Dad."
Alistair stared at him for a moment, eyes completely focused before he cried out, falling to the ground, gripping tightly at his head.
"AUUUUGGGH!"
No, NO! Joshua gripped his shoulders. "Stay with me, it'll be okay…" He grabbed his communicator. "Hey I need help down in the garden. It's Alistair he's down!"
Before long Todd and Scotty came rushing in with Elly right behind them.
"PAPA!" Elly ran over to him, kneeling in front of him. "Papa…?"
Alistair looked up weakly, the circuits on his face fading away.
"E-Elly…"
"Papa… your marks!"
Todd's eyes widened a little as he noticed a black mark was starting to form on his forehead.
"What…?"
Alistair's eyes started to slide shut. "Ngh…."
"He… He's…" Joshua shook his head quickly. "Just please help him!"
Todd picked Alistair up into his arms.
"CALL ALL THE HEALERS WE HAVE! BRING IN THOSE USERS I DON'T CARE GET SOME HELP!" Todd barked.
Scotty nodded, rushing off as Todd headed for the medical center.
Elly fell to her knees, tears forming in her eyes.
"Papa.. no…" She cried out, burying her face in her hands. "Please don't die… Please…"
Joshua felt horrible… He hesitated before bringing Elly into his arms. "Shh… He… He'll be okay Elly-girl… He'll be okay…" This is all my fault… This is ALL my fault… Stupid… Stupid… Selfish… I… UGH!
Elly brought her arms around him, hugging him tightly.
"I can't lose him too…"
"You won't… I'm sorry…. I am so sorry…" He murmured rocking her a little.
Elly hiccuped a little before cuddling close to him.
"Joshua… please stay… I don't want to be alone…"
Joshua nodded keeping her close. "Of course…" He hummed softly trying to help her calm down.
Elly calmed a little, burying her face in his chest.
"Phoenixes… please help him…"
Please Dad…. Be okay… I don't care if you hate me for doing this to you… But don't leave another kid…. Please…