"This is bad…" Scotty said as he scanned Alistair. "Rose?"

Rose looked at her charts.

"Short circuit… no question… something I wouldn't wish on anyone… but…" She looked at Alistair. "I don't understand… this whole time my scans have always found Data Child structure… why now… are we seeing… A User?"

"It's because the Phoenxies made it that way."

They looked to see Todd come in.

"What…?" Rose got a confused look.

"That's not a Data Child copy… You know very well who that is on that table."

Rose brought a hand to her mouth. "No…"

Scotty's eyes were wide. "But… you…"

"I had to… the Phoenixes asked me… and it's why I called out for the User doctors… They need to know."

Todd looked behind, opening the doors.

"Come in now… It's time you knew the truth."

The team, both Advent and those of Salva-Cruor entered. They were confused… Concerned. And in some cases downright horrified.

"Alistair…" Alyssa gasped.

"What happened to him!?" Riza cried. "What did you do to him!?"

"I did nothing." Todd answered. He looked to Rose. "Diagnosis. NOW."

Rose sighed, making her chart appear on a screen.

"He's suffering what we Data Beings know as a short circuit. It's when the mind gets over loaded with information or energy all at once and well… it's not a pretty picture… it's basically the equivalent to what User's call brain damage… and Alistair… he's no Data Child…" She showed the other part of her chart, showing his structure.

They all recognized it. "He's a user…" Erhuard murmured.

"Then… There's a reason he was so familiar…" Tomoe looked to where he was pain in her eyes. "Dr. Cunningham."

"What…?"

"Uncle Gabe…!?"

"But…"

We thought he was dead…

He might as well be now… If it's as bad as she says… He might be brain dead… Alyssa looked down tears in her eyes as Vincent pulled her into his arms. "Shh…"

"No… No! NOT AGAIN!"

Tomoe brought her hands to her face.

"Dr. Cunningham… Why couldn't you… Why didn't you just let us help you?!"

Erhuard brought his wife into his arms. He looked to where Gabe laid sighing. "He was stubborn… And knowing him… He didn't want to tear us away from our own lives… Remember… He didn't even want to be treated.."

"Idiot… freaking idiot!" Maria shouted. "Just had to go out on us like that! Just typical!"

Naomi said nothing looking at him in disbelief.

"So… Our uncle…" Lucas started. 'Came to Esanii… TO KILL HIMSELF?! He freaking came here to commit SUICIDE!?"

Todd held up a hand.

"It was his intention to help… Joseph contacted him and he came… knowing the risks of coming alone… He almost did die that day…" Todd looked to Gabe. "Terra nearly killed him… but couldn't… due to the sickness he had… She wanted his life energy. She got half… but the rest was out of her grasp… Virxinia and Jivin rescued him… they planned out what they needed to do to fix things… Gabe was willing to help… but in exchange, he asked them to rewrite his memories."

Alyssa was quiet soaking the information in. "Virxinia… Is this true?"

"Yes…" She answered. "I couldn't erase the memories… I locked them away so that one day he could remember… I didn't think this would happen."

"And now he might die… Thanks."

"So that's what happened…" Naomi murmured. "Gabe… Life by the sword die by the sword… As per usual…."

"These past three years he was convinced he was a Data Child by the name of Alistair… I believe you met someone by that same name Naomi. Long ago."

Naomi nodded. "He was part of the group of Data Children that rescued me…"

Todd nodded. "He provided the template, being one of Alex's best warriors. Being under bondage, he wanted someone to be able to use his skills. The memories he had… were a mixture of true memories… and false ones."

"Alright so he was living life thinking he was someone else…" Erhuard felt empathy as he looked to Gabe. "Losing his memories as part of it…"

"Yes…" Todd looked to Rose. "Rose… anything else you'd like to tell them?"

Rose got a solemn look. "... He's in about as much pain as anyone can be… especially being in the inbetween state."

"In other words." Virxinia chimed in Alyssa's mind. "He can't die."

"In our world that's called two things depending on the person… Being a zombie… And being brain dead… Both of which you can't come back from!"

"Inbetween?" Hank asked.

"It's a rare condition. When Gabe got half his energy ripped out it basically made him immortal or some cases half dead." Todd gestured to him. "Look at him for a moment. Notice something?"

Tomoe was the first to notice.

"... He… He looks exactly the same. He has no signs of aging… The only thing that's different is his hair…"

"He couldn't change…" Erhuard murmured. "Still himself…"

"But what about now?" Maria asked, growling. "He's brain dead… he might as well be dead now! From what I can tell, you can't fix it!"

"P-Papa…?"

Everyone froze, looking to the entrance to see Elly and Joshua. Elly had a look of horror in her eyes as she rushed towards Gabe, throwing her arms around him.

"Papa!"

"Who…?" Maria started.

"That's his daughter." Lucas hissed under his breath. "Don't give her a hard time right now or ask questions. The low down here being he had a life here too… He had someone who needed him… And now… She might not get him back."

Joshua slowly made his way over looking at Gabe keeping silent. Dad… I'm so sorry…

Elly sniffled, burying her face in Gabe's chest.

"Papa… please… open your eyes… you're scaring me… You promised you'd be there for me… We'd get to be a family after everything was over… You'd have Lisa back… Papa… PLEASE!"

"Elly…" Joshua laid a hand on her shoulder. "I… I don't think he can hear you…"

Elly shook her head. "No… NO!" She broke into a full out sob. "Not again… Please Ark above not again!"

Joshua pulled her into his arms. "Shh… Shh…"

Why did we get tangled up in this? Alyssa thought watching before going over and kneeling beside Elly stroking her hair. We lost our uncle years ago… But she has to lose her father now? How is that fair? We had him for years… She only had him for three…

Todd lowered his head, looking to Gabe. He approached him, bringing his hand over the black mark on his forehead.

You're in there… I know you are… You can't die… Just need to find a way to get you out…

"... Virxinia… There better be something in that knowledge for yours that knows how to fix this…." Todd growled. "I'm desperate at this point."

"Well… Might be drastic but if it gets the word out…" Lucas looked to the others. "All in favor of quitting this mission right now if we don't get that means say aye." It got too personal now… He means so much to all of us…

VIncent raised his hand as did Riza.

Everyone else did the same.

Virxinia sighed, using Alyssa as her speaker.

"This is not something I can do but-"

"I can."

All looked to Joshua, stunned hearing him talk… not to mention sounding different at that. Elly looked up to Joshua confused.

"Joshua…?"

"Sorry I took so long… and the surprise. of just being present." said a familiar voice to Joshua in his mind.

"Ark!"

"My disk has been repaired, but that doesn't mean my soul wasn't free to wander while it was being fixed. I can save your father."

"Then please… Please… Help him… Make this right again…"

"I'll need your help… and… I imagine Elly will want to help too."

"Let me ask her… But you already have me in…" Joshua looked to Elly. "Elly…" He spoke with his own voice. "There's a way to save him… I need your help…"

Elly nodded quickly. "I'll do anything…"

"Good… Ark? Take the stage."

Joshua closed his eyes, reopening them showing they were blue instead of brown.

"I can save Gabriel with the power I have left. I will guide Joshua and Elly into Gabriel's mind. In there, they will locate the focal point of the short circuit. They heal that… and Gabriel will reawaken, everything intact."

"Then do it…. Please…" Alyssa pleaded. "He's suffered too much already… And…" She looked to the rest of her team. "You'll have a mutiny on your wings if something isn't done soon…"

Joshua nodded. "I understand… Stay close…" Joshua lead Elly over to Gabe, placing her hands on his forehead before placing his over hers.

"Ready?"

Elly nodded.

"Ready."

"Close your eyes… and focus."

Elly closed her eyes, Joshua following suit. They felt energy come over them before things faded to black.

When they opened their eyes again they found themselves in a flooded area that was completely black… and was currently raining.

"Whoa.." Elly stumbled back a little.

"This is Dad's mind?" Joshua looked around worried. "This… It's awful…"

Elly looked to Joshua confused. "Wait… He's…?"

Joshua cringed a little. "Yep… He just realized it too when he… You know… I feel like this is all my fault because I called him on things only he could've known from when I was a kid…"

Elly was stunned. "Alistair… was really… Gabriel Cunningham… My father… is your father…"

Joshua nodded. "Yes… Which I guess makes us brother and sister…"

"It's why I was hoping Elly could help too."

They looked before them to see Ark in a static flying position.

"You both mean something to him."

"His son… And his daughter…" Joshua looked to Elly. "Brother and sister…"

Elly looked to Joshua before looking at Ark.

"I… did feel like something was familiar…"

Ark smiled. "He played with you once when you were young… You refused to get out of a tree and he beckoned you for the sake for your mentor."

Elly smiled at the memory. "I remember that…"

Joshua chuckled. "Glad I wasn't the only trouble maker…"

Elly giggled. "Guess… it's just how it was supposed to be."

"Fate has a strange way of putting things together." Ark looked ahead. "And right now… it's your turn to save him."

"Right…" Both had a determined look. "Let's move Elly."

Elly nodded, taking his hand. "Together."

"Together." Joshua lead her off as they started to search for him. "Dad!?"

Ark flew above them, searching around.

"Gabriel! Where are you?"

"Papa?!" Elly called out. "Papa?!"

"C'mon Dad stop hiding and just give us a break!" Joshua called.

"Papa… please…"

"Joshua! Elly!" Ark called out. "Over there!"

They looked to where Ark was pointing with his beak, seeing Gabe collapsed in the water, head down, dressed in his regular attire from Earth.

"Papa!"

"Dad!"

They rushed over to him, kneeling beside him, rolling him onto his back, their eyes widening when they saw the injuries on him. He had a large cut on part of his forehead, a cut across his right eye and a stab wound right where his heart was.

"Papa…" Elly brought a hand over her mouth.

"Well… We came here to heal him right? Let's fix him up…" Joshua said trying to hide the horror he felt. "We fix him here… He'll be better in Esanii."

Elly nodded.

Ark landed beside them, sympathy in his eyes as he looked at Gabe.

"These wounds were the same ones Terra gave him before he became Alistair…"

"Then we'll just give her the same ones when we run into her next."

"Ngh…. She'd probably… Look better with 'em…"

Elly perked up hearing the voice, grasping one of Gabe's hands.

"Papa?"

He squeezed her hand. "M'up…"

"Hang in there Dad…" Joshua said he started examining the injuries. "We're gonna fix you, make you better than new."

Gabe looked at Joshua stunned. "Why?"

Joshua looked back at him confused. "Why wouldn't I? Can't just leave you like this."

"I screwed up so much… I wasn't there for you… And I couldn't save you both times… I couldn't operate on you when you were sick… And I couldn't keep Terra away from you.." Gabe looked away feeling ashamed. "I'm a failure… I don't deserve any help…"

"Papa…" Elly whispered.

Joshua looked at his dad, thinking about everything that had been said…

"... You're wrong." He felt a power come to him as he brought one of his hands over the wound on Gabe's chest, energy coming out of it, sealing it up and washing out the blood from his shirt.

Gabe relaxed sighing a bit. "Joshua…" He looked at his son sadness in his eyes. "Look at how big you got…"

"Shot up like a weed…" Joshua said as he moved onto Gabe's eye. "Dad… We all screw up… You know that… you told me that when I spent time with you… and some things are just out of our control… and I won't stop loving you if you screw up… that wouldn't be fair… It just wouldn't be."

Gabe was touched… He didn't think Joshua would ever want to come near him again once he knew the truth. "You really are a good kid… I'm so sorry…"

Joshua healed the last of his wounds, helping him sit up. He had tears in his eyes as he smiled at him.

"Dad… It's okay."

Gabe had tears in his own eyes as he pulled his son into an embrace. "Oh Joshua…. I love you so much…"

Joshua hugged him back tightly. "I love you too… I'm… I'm glad…. I finally get to meet you… properly… Dad…"

"I'm here…" Gabe stroked his back. "And I'll never leave you again…"

Joshua relaxed, sighing happily.

Elly kept quiet, smiling at the sight.

He's waited long enough… This is their moment…

Gabe rested his head against Joshua's for a moment. He looked to Elly and smiled warmly extending an arm to her. "C'mere… Elly-girl."

Elly hurried over, bringing her arms around him.

"Papa…"

Gabe held both of his children close, tears of relief rolling down his face. "You're both okay… Thank heavens you're safe…"

"You're the one we should be thanking the Ancestors for." Elly sniffled. "We thought we lost you."

"Ya knucklehead… Gave everyone a freaking heart attack…" Joshua mumbled.

Gabe cringed. "I… Am so… So sorry…" He hugged them both tighter. "But it's gonna be okay… Promise…"

"Good.." Elly cuddled. "I… I'm glad you didn't forget about me… I thought as soon as I heard who you actually were… I wouldn't be part of your memories anymore…"

"I would never forget about you Elly…" Gabe kissed her head. "You're my little girl… You mean as much to me as Joshua does… Nothing will ever change that."

Elly kissed his chin. "Papa…"

"We're all Cunninghams here." Joshua stroked her hair. "And we're gonna get out of this together."

"That's right… Family."

"Then it's time we return to the waking world." Ark said, spreading his wings. "Come…"

The Cunninghams kept close to each other bracing themselves.

We're gonna make it… no matter what.