Including this one, there are five more chapters to the Babylon story arc. As I previously said already, the story arc is vital to the characters' development in multiple ways. It's also important in understand this story as it goes all over the place and can be quite difficult to follow at points.

Not much else to be said other than enjoy and review if you enjoy.

The moon seemed so magnificent as it loomed over Babylon. Such an extraordinary object that simply sits and watches over Anascentia, giving off radiance so strong that it keeps all users alive and moving. Do people still feel afraid even when they know they are not alone?

Maybe,Sabre_Mace thought to himself as he lay in his hospital bed. The room he was situated in was rather small with his bed taking up most of the room. There was one chair in a corner and then the glass wall which showcased the moon and all its glory to the young user.

As he looked down at his right hand, slowly shutting his eyes, he noticed something rather odd; his hand was shaking uncontrollably. He placed his calm left hand over his right but they both began to shake now. Soon both his legs joined in on the insanity. In only a few minutes his entire body was shaking madly.

Sabre_Mace looked to the right side of his bed where a remote that called down to the office was sitting. He reached over the best he could with his trembling hand but accidentally knocked it off, the remote sounding to have broken as it crashed to the floor. His eyes tearing up, he looked to the ceiling and tried his best to calm down.

He could feel his heart racing madly, his future uncertain in his eyes. Gripping the soft blanket he was equipped with, he whimpered quietly and waited to fall asleep.

Then it all stopped.

The big wooden door on the left of the room creaked open. The screeching of the bolts on the door caught Sabre_Mace off guard. He jumped slightly and looked over, eyes twitching at the tall, shadowy figure that was entering.

"I hope I didn't disturb you, Isaac."

Sabre_Mace nearly cried. Instead he leaped out of bed and stared at the figure's body as the moonlight shined on it; it was Echo, looking calm as usual. He looked all around him as the rebel approached him, trying to identify something that could act as a weapon. He quickly grabbed a picture off the wall and faced Echo.

Echo shook his head, "You need your rest, Isaac."

"Tell me something, you traitor," Sabre_Mace demanded, locked in a defensive position as this intruder stopped at the foot of the bed, "what are you doing in Babylon? Why are you calling me Isaac?"

The room had an eerie atmosphere after those words. Sabre_Mace slowly moved to the left, keeping his distance from Echo, who was approaching yet again, "Isaac, that is irrelevant. You need your rest."

"No! You're going to kill me in my sleep, I know it!" Sabre_Mace shouted.

At almost a blinding speed, Echo dashed forward, sending his spear through the picture and holding Sabre_Mace against the wall, "Don't make me say this again. I don't wish to hurt you; I wish only the best for you. Reacting this way won't help."

"How can I trust you?" Sabre_Mace was ready to break into a panic attack.

"How can you trust me?" Echo questioned, taking the picture off his spear and placing it on the wall, "Isaac, if I really wanted to kill you I would've done it already. I'm not here for blood or murder. I'm here only to ask for forgiveness."

"Forgiveness?" Sabre_Mace was confused and unknowingly began to sit on his bed while Echo took his seat on the one chair, "For what?"

Echo rubbed his eyes, obviously exhausted, "I've beaten around the bush during all these encounters. I fear that is pushing you over the edge and that is not what I want. I want only the best from you."

Sabre_Mace could feel his right forearm shaking, but this time in fear, "Echo, what is it that you want? You don't seem like the one to belong in Babylon. I fear that you're after me. Is that it?"

"I just want peace of mind. The travesty that is overcoming this world is as irritating as those who don't acknowledge all the possibilities of life. The reason we suffer greatly is because of our lack of understanding," Echo said and placed his right hand on Sabre_Mace, "but I think you understand."

"What? What do I understand?" Sabre_Mace's left forearm began shaking.

Echo looked to the moon, "Understanding."

"What does that mean?" Sabre_Mace sat up as Echo moved towards the door.

"September of Love, Isaac." Echo uttered and disappeared into the hall.

Almost immediately two interns rushed into the room, turning on all lights and inspecting Sabre_Mace, "Are you alright dear? We heard you scream but we weren't sure who that scream belonged to."

After another few minutes the interns left, leaving Sabre_Mace along again. He looked at the moon, not taking his focus off it. The dark and light patterns of the realistic looking object were interesting. It was a sign of the combination of both worlds; how it is Minecraft but with what looks like the real world.

It is proof to those who survived the Tech Apocalypse that this was no dream.

A rather rainy day was upon Babylon, which was odd. Rain wasn't common in the ancient city because of its location. The only time that such conditions were met would be when a thunderstorm was passing through and the billowing clouds began to take effect.

Rain pelted the streets as Serenade only sat by and watched, the streets being slightly flooded, "Can't work today. This won't be good."

"What do you do for work, anyway?" Roth asked, sipping on some coffee at the bar. The place had been vacant for the entire time they'd been there except for their first night.

"Collecting and selling flowers. It's simple and gives me good money. Can't do my job in the rain, though," She sighed and sat down next to Roth, "so who was that girl you were hanging out with last night?"
SunRose came running down the stairs, "Yeah, who is she?"

"Way to be nosy, guys," Roth sighed, "to be honest, I have no idea. I met a guy and he told me where to find you, Serenade. Next thing you know I'm meeting this chick who is interested in me and we go on this 'search' for you. More like a date."

"Aww!" Both girls replied.

The door behind the bar counter flew open and Garfunkel walked out, "No more drinking. Frank is finally sober and I don't want to think about what would happen if that were to change. Has anyone come into contact with Master Mace this dreadful morning?"

Everyone shook their heads.

"That should change. SunRose, why don't you go and pay him a visit?" Garfunkel volunteered her.

She turned red suddenly, "What? Why me?"

"I have decided to take charge of this place while the owner is missing. Without me, you've known him the longest. I feel he would enjoy a visit from you." Garfunkel said.

"Missing?" Serenade was intrigued.

"Yes, the owner of this place went missing the morning after our hangover. No one knows where he went, but rumor has it that he is involved with those Redstone Rebels that began robbing Highland Garden of its flowers." Garfunkel explained, washing the glasses that the others had been using that morning.

Serenade froze slightly, thinking back to her job.

"Didn't happen last night, though," Roth said, "Babylon officials are doing a pretty shitty job of handling things here. There was that standoff that happened yesterday. Isn't that the one that Sabre_Mace got hurt in?"
Frank came down the stairs, looking incredibly tired, "You guys are really loud. Can't sleep."

"It's eight in the morning. You should have been awake an hour ago, Master Frank." Garfunkel lectured and walked into the backroom again.

Barely even listening, Frank stumbled over to the counter and took his seat beside Serenade, "Not working today?"

"It's raining." Serenade pointed out the obvious.

"Right," Frank turned away and saw SunRose putting on a raincoat, "where are you off to, missy?"

SunRose flipped the hood onto her head, "I'm going to the hospital to the north to see Sabre_Mace. Someone has to and Garfunkel told me to." She said and walked over to the front door. As it came open, rain blew inside, soaking the wooden floor. She pushed herself out and began to force her legs to walk through such heavy water.

Frank only watched as SunRose trudged away, "Well, what about the rest of us? The hell are we supposed to do?"

"You know, you are acting like a dick right now," Roth chuckled, "what happened to that polite and happy attitude you had back when we first met you? If you acted like this we could have just left you behind."

"Har har. Seriously, what are we supposed to do? The city is pretty impossible to walk around in today." Frank whined.

Serenade shrugged her shoulders, "Just hang out, I guess."

Frank leaned over, "Maybe play around a little?"

Roth stood up and slapped the former rebel across the face, "Grow the hell up."

Business all over Babylon was weak that day. Whenever it rains, which isn't often, businesses usually go out on a holiday. Same with such vital services, like the hospital, except that they still watch over patients who are currently staying in the facility.

With this in mind, the interns were very surprised to see a soaking young girl enter through their front doors, breathing heavily. Water dripped off her raincoat and made small puddles on the lobby floor. One intern, a middle aged male, walked up to her and took her coat and placed it on a rack.

"What are you doing here, miss?" The other intern, a young, dark skinned woman asked, clicking a pen constantly and looking bored out of her mind.

SunRose coughed heavily, "I'm here to see Sabre_Mace."

"Ah, his first visitor. You his girlfriend?" The woman asked.

"What? Of course not!" SunRose turned red and looked around for a hallway or staircase, "How do I get to his room?"

The male intern pointed to a door to the left of the entrance, "Take that up to the top. He's the first door on the left."

SunRose thanked them and rushed off up the stairs, feeling embarrassed by the way the hospital interns treated her. Shaking her head of the thoughts, she found the door and nudged it open slightly. As she entered in, she saw Sabre_Mace asleep on the hospital bed, his beater off and on the chair beside him. She noticed his rather muscular torso and became even more red.

As she stepped into the room, his eyes shot wide open and he sat up furiously, "Back again, Echo?" As he saw SunRose he sighed and lay back down, "It's just you."

"Yeah, who else?" SunRose seemed worried as she sat down on the chair.

"What are you doing here?" Sabre_Mace asked, staring at the ceiling.

"I'm here to visit and see how you're doing. Garfunkel said that someone should pay you a visit so here I am," SunRose explained, looking out the window at the city of Babylon as it was drenched in endless rain. Most of the city could be seen from this height. The hospital was the tallest building in the city.

Sabre_Mace sighed and sat back up, "I shouldn't be here."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you see anything wrong with me?"

SunRose examined his torso a bit before shaking her head.

The young user began to stretch his arms and legs, "I wasn't hurt at all. I was just in a state of panic and the officers at the scene thought I was hurt."

"That's great! Let's get you out of here!" SunRose grabbed his arm and tried to pull him out of bed but he fought it and remained still.

Sabre_Mace pulled off the covers and stood up, still wearing his dress pants, "The doctors said that I have no idea what I'm talking about. They won't let me leave no matter what."

"That's stupid! You know what's better for you than anybody else!" SunRose said and passed Sabre_Mace his black beater.

As he put it on, he looked out the window and noticed that neither the sun nor moon could be seen. Nothing was watching over him, "Welcome to the world of doctors. Are you hungry?"

The two left the room and went down the stairs to the second floor where there was a cafeteria. Sabre_Mace walked over to a table against the front wall near a window and sat down, looking out the window, "What time is it? I can't tell anymore with this rain."

"I think it's around nine. There are clocks everywhere, you know," SunRose took a seat across from Sabre_Mace and watched as he continued to stare out the window ominously, "are you alright? You seem awfully fascinated with the rain."

"I'm fine. Just watching for the moon."

SunRose leaned forward and looked out the window as well, "The moon? Why?"

"I feel safe with the moon."

"But it's not even night."

"But it's still there."

"No it isn't."

"Then what is?"

"The sun." SunRose pointed out, confused as to Sabre_Mace's logic.

Sabre_Mace shook his head, "You can't stare at the sun, can you?"

SunRose shook her head.

"Then what good is it?"

"It gives us light."

"So does the moon."

Standing up, SunRose pushed her chair in, "Are you alright? I'm really worried that your brain is acting up or something."

"I just want the moon," Sabre_Mace stood up, "it makes me feel safe."

SunRose stood there, completely dumbfounded.

Sabre_Mace smiled, "Come on, let's get some food."

Back in Home Sky Ale House, the place was still empty except for Garfunkel, Frank, Serenade and Roth, who were all gathered around one table in the center of the room. Bottles of liquor were strewn around with some even shattered mostly.

On top of the table were a massive pile of cash and a desk of cards. Cards were all over the table and on the floor, no one obviously taking care of keeping things clean.

"Alright, wanna hear another story?" Garfunkel laughed, throwing an empty liquor bottle in his hands onto the floor and letting all the glass spread everywhere, "There was this lady I got rather fond with back in my golden days…"

Frank began laughing hysterically, throwing his hand of cards onto the table, "We outta liquor? We need more. Serenade, get us some tequila."

With her head on the table, Serenade sighed and coughed badly, "We ain't got no more. I think I might go lay down for a little bit."

"Here, I'll lay down with you, baby." Frank giggled and reached his hand out to put on Serenade's chest.
Roth's hand reached out and smacked Frank right in the face, "Knock it off, jackass. You're embarrassing yourself again."

"Come on, Master Roth, have a drink!" Garfunkel pleaded.

"I don't drink anymore because of this. I'm afraid I'd be a complete asshole if I were to try drinking again. How about we get back to the game and let Serenade rest." Roth said and set his cards in the middle along with another dollar bill.

Frank leaned over to Roth and whispered in his ear, "Come on, I just wanna have sex with her!"
Furious at Frank's immature behavior, Roth stood up and sent his face into Frank's jaw, forcing him out of his chair and onto his back. Roth shook his head and went over to the bar counter, taking his seat and cracking his knuckles.

"What the hell man?" Frank rubbed his jaw.

Just as things began to calm down, the front door opened up and SunRose walked in, soaking wet from the rain like she was when she entered the hospital. She took off her raincoat and walked over to the others,
"Sabre_Mace is doing fine. What's going on here?"

Roth stood up, "SunRose, don't bother with-"

"Hey, you should let me grope you a bit." Frank smiled at SunRose.

SunRose shrieked and hid behind Roth, who was even angrier than before, "Out." He shouted and pointed to the door.

Frank stood up, "Ya can't kick me out!"

"Just did. Get out and come back when you're sane."

The two stared at each other while Garfunkel continued playing cards like nothing happened. Finally, Frank picked up SunRose's raincoat and marched out into the street, nowhere to go with all the rain closing most of the businesses in the city.

"Is he gonna be fine?" SunRose asked.

"Don't worry about him. Are you hungry?" Roth asked.

SunRose sat at the counter, "Actually, I ate with Sabre_Mace."

"How is he? I hope he's doing fine."

Twiddling her thumbs, SunRose thought back to the bizarre behavior she saw in her friend, "He acted strange the entire time I was there. He said that he wasn't hurt and felt safe with the moon."

Roth stared at SunRose, lost for words, "I don't even understand."

"Neither do I. Maybe if someone else visited him."

Roth nodded with a smile, "Yeah maybe…" He trailed off before his eyes shot wide open, "Damn it, Frank."

"Alright, are you Sabre_Mace?" An old man with gray hair in a white lab coat asked. He stood beside Sabre_Mace's bed, a young nurse beside him and a couple of papers in his hand.

Sabre_Mace sighed, "Yes and there is nothing wrong with me."

The doctor shook his head, "Now don't be too sure of these things. How do you feel?"

"I feel fine. I feel perfect. Hell, I feel better than perfect!" Sabre_Mace shouted, sitting up in his bed, "Can I please leave? I have things I need to take care of."

"You're not going anywhere until we successfully figure out what is going on with you. Now, any odd feelings lately?" The doctor asked, flipping through the papers.

Sabre_Mace was beginning to shake his head before he thought back to that morning, "Well, I do remember shaking uncontrollably this morning."

"Really? Like a seizure or panic attack?"

"I dunno. I shook horribly and then…" He remembered Echo and clenched his fist, "then it just randomly stopped. I felt so calm and just stared at the moon until I fell asleep. I felt safe from then on."

The doctor nodded, "Safe, eh? Well, that's good. We might need to run some tests on you to determine the cause of this seizure type activity. You can call me Dr. Zenith. I'll be in my office if you ever need me." He said and turned around.

Just as they opened the door to leave, Frank appeared, looking wasted and drenched in water from the pouring rain. He stared Zenith in the eye like he was sleep walking before turning and seeing Sabre_Mace, "Yo, Sabre_Mace!"

"Goddamn it." Sabre_Mace groaned and lay back down.

"Looks like you have a visitor, Mr. Mace. Good luck." Zenith said and left with his nurse, letting Frank enter into the room.

Frank walked over to Sabre_Mace and patted him on the shoulder, "Great job working through this. Must be tough being killed or something."

"I'm alive and you look drunk. Have you been drinking again?" Sabre_Mace rolled his eyes and got to his feet. He adjusted his dress pants and black beater while staring out the window, trying to find the bar that everyone was staying at.

"What? No I have." Frank said and fell onto the hospital bed, "Sabre, Ross won't let me sleep with Serenade. Can you put him in time out or…" He was dozing off.

Sabre_Mace pushed Frank off the bed and onto the chair, "Just leave Serenade alone. She's probably already pissed that you are acting like this. You were such the gentlemen when we met you and now you're this inconsiderate, horny loser. What happened?"

Throwing his arms in the air, Frank walked over to the window and sat by the wall, "Fine, be that way. Don't understand why I get all the hate when Roth is being a dick too."

"Roth isn't being bad, he's being sensible," Sabre_Mace got back in bed before realizing something, "but now that you mention it, Roth has changed. He seemed like some careless freak… Like you, but now he's this honorable person. I wonder what happened."

"Roth has a girlfriend." Frank said, leaning his head to the right.

"He does? Who?"

"Some chick. No one knows who she is but she's hot. I'd bang."

"Shut the hell up and get out if you're gonna act like that. I won't tolerate your stupidity here." Sabre_Mace said and pointed to the door.

Frank stood up and dragged himself to the door, "See ya, Sabre."

Sabre_Mace stood up and shut the door, rolling his eyes at the fact that he actually just had that conversation.

Serenade had moved to her room after Frank left. She slept soundly for nearly half an hour before a knock on her door jolted her awake with surprise. She sat up and looked at the door, "Who is it?"

"It's Harrison. We need to talk."

Quickly she put on her slippers and opened the door to see her boss standing before her, a look of guilt on his face, "Is something the matter?"

"It's the shop."

"I thought we were closed today."

"We are, but it's not that. It's our inventory," Harrison began to shout slightly before taking a lavender flower from his raincoat pocket, "where in Notch's name did you get this?"

Serenade stepped back, "I-I…"

"Spill it. Where have you been getting your flowers? My flowers! Where have you been taking these flowers from?" Harrison shouted loudly.

Roth sprinted upstairs to see what the problem was and saw Harrison approaching Serenade, "Excuse me, what are you doing? We said it would be a short visit, not this."

Harrison turned around and looked furiously at Roth, "This woman is a criminal!"

"Sir, I would like to kindly ask you to remove yourself from this building now," Roth said, removing his sword from its sheath and pointing it at Harrison, who stared at the tip of the blade with worry.

After having a short tussle over whether he should stay with Serenade and risk getting killed or leaving alive, he walked over to the stairs and took another look at Serenade, "I'll be seeing you soon." He growled and walked downstairs with loud stomps.

Roth sighed and sheathed his sword again, "What was that about?"

Serenade shrugged her shoulders and rushed past Roth, running downstairs and out of sight of him.

"What?" Roth scratched his head, "And Frank loves her?"