'Hey Kimiko,' said Yuuji, smiling slightly as he ruffled his hair slightly.

He handed his gas mask to Katsuya who had taken a couple of steps away from Kimiko. Kimiko was staring at him. His outfit was that of their own soldiers, but it had the insignia of Chase Young's army on the sleeve. He caught her staring and then realised what she must be thinking.

'Oh no! No, it's not that! Those were there from the mission you and he sent us on. We got stuck in the mountains for ages in an avalanche. When we got out we didn't know the location of the new base. We're not on his side anymore.' Explained Yuuji.

'Right,' Said Kimiko, swallowing slightly and then turning away, 'There are people who need medical attention, we had better get ready.'

'We've got some supplies with us.' Said Yuuji.

Kimiko didn't answer. She had been wishing, hoping that when that helmet was taken off it would be ... but of course not. His memory had been wiped and he would be off living a perfectly happy normal life somewhere. He wasn't coming back. Raimundo wasn't going to come to her rescue this time.

The first few people were appearing from the vortex that had opened not too far away, and she pushed Raimundo out of her mind. This wasn't the time.

Ashley pulled herself up. She was in serious pain. As she tried to stand, her leg gave out and she cried in pain. It must be broken, she decided. She looked around for Jack, but really wished she hadn't. He had obviously broken the fall for her, his form lay broken and bleeding not too far away. She dragged herself over to him and felt for a pulse. There was nothing.

She bit her lip, but she couldn't stop the tears from coming. She had killed Jack. She had killed the one person she cared for more than any other. To save the world, she had to kill the one she had only ever wanted to save.

She collapsed onto his chest. Then she noticed something. A small flash – a spark! Jack's form started twisting and writhing and the sparks covered it. It took a hideous, rasping breath as the neck snapped back into place. The bone cracked into place and the cuts sealed themselves and his form rose with the magic seething through him.

As he opened his eyes, Ashley wanted to scream in anger. They were still blood red, with no visible pupils or iris.

'That wasn't very nice.' He said, 'All I want is to protect you.'

'Leave me alone!' She screamed as he came closer.

He knelt down in front of her and placed a hand on her leg. She flinched at his touch and it began to heal itself. She glared at him through her tears.

'I don't understand why you hate me so much.' He said, the red eyes making her uneasy as they gazed straight at her, 'I want to help you. I want to save you.'

'I don't need saving by you.' She hissed though gritted teeth looking down and fighting back the tears.

'I'm not your enemy, Ashley.' He said, 'I'm your friend. You don't want to make me your enemy.'

'What I want is to have the old Jack back.' She said, her braids falling across her face.

'He won't be coming back.' He said.

She didn't know what to do. She wanted to get away from him, but she didn't know how. She knew she couldn't kill him. He wouldn't let her kill herself and every time either of them was injured he just healed them. The red eyes could see everything and she couldn't think of a way to trick him into letting her go. If she could just speak to the real Jack...

'I'm not going to let you speak to him.' Said the other Jack, looking out through the mist. It was sneaking up and over them now. He wasn't letting it harm her.

She was taken aback by this sudden statement. Could he really read her mind or was it just coincidence?

'Why not?' She asked, 'He can't stop you. I can't stop you. There's nothing we could use or plan to help him. Why can't I just see him?'

'He can stop this.' Corrected the other Jack, 'He could destroy us both, but if he made one small error I could survive and this body would be mine to control forever. If you were to persuade him to try it, he would listen to you and I would be destroyed.'

'I would never ask him to destroy himself.'

'So you say, but you tried to destroy us both just now when you pushed us off the cliff.'

'I ... I couldn't live on my own. If he was destroyed I would destroy myself as well.'

'How very sentimental.' He said, not turning to look at her, 'But you would have survived that fall anyway and he wouldn't have. You just killed him, if it wasn't for me, he would be dead.'

'If it wasn't for you I wouldn't have pulled him off the cliff.' She snapped.

'I hope that comforts you when you think about the pain you're causing him.'

She slumped against the wall and closed her eyes. Please, please, let this be a nightmare.

Kimiko was sat staring into space when Clay walked over. She glanced at him and he passed her a mug. She smiled and took it from him as he sat next to her, his own mug clasped in his large hands.

'How're you holding up?' He asked.

'Hm? How do you mean?' She said.

'Yuuji and his sudden return to Rebellion life?'

'Oh, that ... I'm fine. That's nothing. Why should it be bothering me? We're not dating anymore and I mean, he's been away for a long time ...' She sighed, 'I'm just waiting for everything else that's been haunting me to return.'

'I expect you would a little happier if Raimundo returned.' Said Clay.

'Did I mention Raimundo?' She asked.

'No, but you don't have to.' He shook his head slightly, 'We all miss him Kim. Maybe ... maybe we should bring him back.'

'We can't. He has no memory of the Rebellion.' Said Kimiko, 'And even so, he's a traitor. We can't bring him back to us with everyone's knowledge of that.'

'He has no memory of the Rebellion, he still remembers us! He remembers everything before he fell into the time rift. He can help us like he did when he first started! The Raimundo that betrayed us is dead!' Said Clay.

'I can't!' She snapped, 'I can't bring him back ...'

'Can't, or won't?' Asked Clay.

'It's too late. He'll be in civilian life now.'

Clay shook his head again. 'This is pathetic Kim, you're letting your pride get in the way of what the rebellion needs!'

'You are dismissed!' She snapped. He walked away, angrily muttering to himself. She sat down again and went back to staring into space. Can't, or won't?

(A/N) Just when I got back into writing, my laptop was unfortunately busted and I had to get it fixed. Took ages too, but it's better now and my wireless is finally up and running too so easier updates! Yay!

Also, sorry to disappoint, I know many of you were expecting Raimundo to be the one there, but you should be so lucky! I wouldn't bring him back this early in the game. Lol.

Becky.

XxX