Hey guys! I am SO sorry it's been so long since I updated last! I'm finally done with school for the summer, and it's off to search for a summer job. I had DSL internet at school, but here my parents have Dial-Up (Yes, it sucks, I know lol), so I'm not online at all. The other problem is I haven't connected my computer to the internet yet, so currently I'm on my Mom's. In other words, I don't have the internet in my room yet, otherwise I'd probably post every night.

I know this chapter is a bit of a filler, but a little bit of important information comes in at the end. I'm also really sorry it's so short, the next will be longer, promise! I hope to get the next one written sometime this week, but I've got a lot to do, like finding a summer job lol. This weekend I'll also be out of town most likely (unless something goes wrong lol, which it probly will knowing my luck X3). Another thing is my Mom found a litter of 6 kittens that around about three weeks old, so we're bottle feeding them every two hours…really cuts into my life lol, but it's okay because they adorable (cept 1 died…it was really sick  ).

Anyways! I'm really sorry this took so long, the next chapter will have lots of fighting and Chronos action, I swear! I hope you're still sticking around, and as always thanks SO much for all your reviews whether they're critical or just happy lol, I enjoy and really pay attention to both, they help me write and fix the bad stuff. Well, enjoy! X3

"A Moment of Peace"

"Dammit!" I yelled, slamming my fist into the nearest wall after entering my room and slamming the door.

I spun around and slammed my back into the wall before folding my arms and fuming from where I stood. I didn't care if no one was there to see it, or if no one was there to care, all that mattered was that I was mad and this was somehow going to help…hopefully.

I hit the back of my head on the wall several times as I squeezed my eyes shut and gritted my teeth against the growing pain. I just wanted to get him out of my head. That stupid smile, those pathetic, tearful eyes…everything that reminded me of him, I wanted it all gone no matter how hard I had to hit my head against the wall.

I opened my eyes after hitting my head against the wall one more time before standing still, my fingers digging into my upper arms and my shoulders tensed. I hadn't been able to show all of this in front of Creed moments before, I didn't think I should. If I was going to keep this act of mine up I had to show some sort of feelings for him, whether they were friendly or merely placid, either way I didn't think exploding in his face was an option I should take…that and he'd start crying…

"Rrrr!" I growing through gritted teeth as I hit my head one more time before stopping, realizing that too much more of it and I might do some permanent damage.

I stood there for several seconds, which in turn turned to several minutes as I breathed heavily and attempted to force my anger to subside. I was so mad; I couldn't even put it into words. Why did he always do this? Either he had to hurt someone or he had to go behind their backs and do something that profited his cause. I just wanted to punch him or wring his stupid neck.

Not only was I mad about what he had done to me, but what he was doing to Ash was just wrong. Not only that but something about what they had told me felt wrong…I couldn't decipher through all the terms and confusing numbers, but I knew something was a lie…it just had to be.

I pushed away from the wall and slowly crossed the room until I stood in front of the large window. I shoved the panes open, stepped up onto the bay seat, and pulled myself up onto the roof as I had done so many times before.

I turned slowly and sat down, staring up at the full moon that hung high in the sky above me. The breeze was cool and smelled of salt, rushing over the ocean waves until it ran through my hair and against my skin.

I could feel how warm my rising temper had made me as the cool breeze played across my face. I was so bad at staying calm when it came to Creed, I had never been good at it and especially not since we had both left Chronos. Something about him-the way he looked, the way he talked, even his name got under my skin within seconds and it got worse every time. Over the past few months I had tried to suppress the anger that tended to rise up in me whenever I ran into him, or had to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner with him, but lately I had been able to calm it-to keep it from rising so quickly.

I sighed heavily as I looked out onto the stars, knowing full well what might be out there-something I wanted more than almost anything. I was going to have to start all over again now that he'd done this. The anger I had worked so hard to suppress was back, boiling out of control and about to reach its limit.

"Dammit, Creed," I thought to myself in the cold night air as I clenched my fingers around the edge of the roof. "Why are you so good at pissing me off?"

It must have been hours later that I realized how long I had really been sitting there in the cold night air. I was so used to being on my own here. Creed often left me to my own devices, allowing me to wander the mansion or the grounds on my own. He knew I wouldn't want him around all the time, and whether it was what he wanted or not he gave me my space, at least enough to breathe. I enjoyed it to an extent; it was as if I had gone back two or three years to when I lived on my own. I enjoyed being by myself, but I also enjoyed the company I had had as a sweeper.

I lifted my head to look out at the crashing waves below and past that to the stars. My freedom was just beyond that horizon line-just beyond that invisible wall I knew I could never climb over. In staying here and letting my friends go I had signed an invisible, yet very real contract. I couldn't leave unless I wanted something to happen to them, and though Creed hadn't verbally stated it, I knew Echidna would have no problem finishing them off.

With a louder sigh than any before I fell back and pulled my hands behind my head, lying below the stars. I wanted out of here. I wanted out of the insanity that Creed lived in-out of the sick and disturbing experiments that Doctor conducted, and out of the silent insane asylum that was now my life. I was tired, I was fed up, and I was lonely.

I closed my eyes as I lay there, feeling the cool night air and listening to the sounds of the waves below. I could've stayed there forever if only a few things had changed. If I had been back at Sven's hideout with them, if I had been waiting the next day when we might go after our next target, and if I had been with friends, then I might have enjoyed it, but for now it was more than torture.

"Have you been here all night?" A voice swam through my mind as I lay in a deeper sleep than I had felt in a long time. "Train?"

I stirred as I slowly pulled my mind out of the comfort sleep had given it. I turned my head slightly before opening my eyes to see not only the bright blue, cloud filled sky above me, but Creed's face as well as he stood bent over me, his face just in my vision.

"Did you sleep up here?" He asked again, his expression slightly confused as he continued to look down at me.

I sat up slowly and glanced around. I was still on the roof…apparently I had fallen asleep there. I blinked several times as I tried to wake up a bit more before responding to Creeds questions, not really knowing the answers yet.

"I-I guess," I muttered as I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand and wrist.

"That doesn't make any sense," Creed laughed as he straightened up behind me and shook his head. "Why would you sleep up here?"

"You don't make any sense either, Creed," I muttered as the memories from the previous day slowly surfaced and the anger began to ebb at the sleepy emotions in my mind.

"You're not still mad, are you, Train?" He asked curiously as he stepped up and settling himself down beside me.

I didn't reply as he swung his legs over the edge of the roof and let them dangle there awkwardly as if he wasn't sure how to do it. I continued to glare out at the ocean in front of us, hating the waves that crashed against the shore, hating the seagulls that cut through the morning breeze, and hating every single thing that moved as the anger continued to grow to a point I feared might be dangerous.

"I understand why you're mad, Train," He said softly, his tone pathetically sad. "But I wish you'd forgive me…it wasn't entirely my idea."

"Just because it wasn't your idea doesn't mean you couldn't have stopped him," I muttered back, trying to hold the anger back.

"I know, I know," Creed nodded submissively before following my gaze out to the blue sky. "But maybe you can pretend it didn't happen for just a day?"

I didn't reply once again, letting my silence do all the talking as I continued to glare at a cloud that was slowly making its way across the horizon. I jumped slightly as I felt Creeds cold hand settle on mine, his fingers pressing against mine in a way that I assumed was supposed to be comforting.

I tore my eyes away from the cloud before turning to look at him, my glare slowly softening before my expression turned curious. Creed was looking back at me with his best attempt at a grin-something he was either amazing at (in an extremely creepy sort of way) or just ended up looking somewhat constipated. This time around it seemed sincere, almost playful as he smiled at me, pulling at something inside me as the anger slowly pulled away, but barely.

I turned away and looked back to the bright-white clouds. I felt his fingers press further against mine before I saw him turn to the sky out of the corner of my eye.

"I suppose you're still wondering about what we told you," He said quietly as we both sat in the cool, morning breeze.

"Maybe," I muttered in response.

"You're not doubting it, are you?" He asked and I saw him turn to look at me again.

I shrugged in response before turning my head to look in the opposite direction of Creeds prying stare. I didn't know whether or not I was questioning what I had been told the night before, and even if I was I wasn't about to tell Creed. I had to keep this act up a little longer until I found way out of this mess-a loophole in your silent deal.

He sighed quietly beside me, his expression impossible for me to predict as I refused to look at him. I listened as he stood, his feet scratching against the tiles of the roof and his coat rippling in the breeze.

"A meal is being prepared for us," He said cordially, almost distantly. "If you'd care to join me later I would appreciate it."

I continued to stare past the waves below and into the shimmering sky as he stood there in the awkward silence that had now fallen upon us. I heard him sigh once more before his footsteps crunched along the edge of the roof until he silently lowered himself to the window below us.

I turned back slowly to look at the empty spot where Creed had been standing only seconds before. I was mad at him-no, more like furious, but I couldn't let him know that. He may have already felt it but if I could just keep myself from taking it out on him I might be able to get a bit more information out of him, whether it was a lie or the actual truth.

Hours later, after I had finally left the safety of the roof and eaten lunch with Creed I found myself wandering back towards my room, taking a way much longer than any other I had taken before.

I turned the corner slowly, my hands in my pockets and eyes focused downward when I heard a loud click in front of me. My head rose slowly to see a strange looking figure opening the door that led to my room, their head turn to the side just out of my view and their form covered in a long, black coat.

I ducked quickly back behind the corner and watched the vacant doorway as I heard them rustling around inside. Obviously whatever it was they were doing didn't have to be kept much of a secret or they wouldn't have left the door standing wide open, but then again maybe they didn't have to worry about someone sneaking up on them…maybe they were just that good. Who knew, but I wasn't in the mood to find out just how talented they were, so I kept my distance.

I crept around the corner and silently dashed across the hallway before pressing my back against the wall and sliding as quietly as I could to the edge of the doorway. I glanced inside half expecting to see someone ransacking my room, or stealing all my belongings, but when I finally got a good view of the room I was surprised to find it empty.

I pushed away from the wall and slowly stepped over the threshold, my hand falling to Hades as I did so. Maybe they really were gone, or maybe it was a trick, either way I planned on defending myself.

I reached out and slammed the door suddenly before whipping Hades out and aiming at the vacant space behind it. I turned around quickly again, letting the arm holding Hades relax back to my side.

I took several steps into the room, glancing around as I did before something bright caught my eye in the direction of the window. I crossed the open space between the window and myself before I really saw what had caught my eyes.

Resting on the bench seat as if it had been there all along lay Sven's hat, still that bright crème color and without a dent in it. I refused to relinquish my hold on Hades as I reached down with my free hand and retrieved the hat and holding it up to get a better view. I turned it over and looking inside, expecting to find something, but coming up empty handed.

With a disturbed sigh I glanced past the hat to the window, which stood open, something it hadn't been doing earlier when I had left the room to meet Creed. I set the hat back down on the cushioned bench before leaning forward and glancing out the window only to see the crashing waves and soaring seagulls that were there everyday.

I sighed once again before leaning back into the room and pulling one of the window panes shut, leaving the other open so that a light breeze blew past the ruffled curtains and against my face.

Feeling thoroughly confident that whoever had entered my room was now gone I dropped Hades back into it's holster and retrieved the hat once again. I flipped it over and over as I walked towards the bed, taking a seat on the mattress and eyeing the hat as if it might jump up and bite me.

Whoever had left this here wasn't exactly on my "friends" list, not to mention the fact that it made me want to strangle them until they turned blue in the face. I felt the inner lining of the hat, hoping to find something but came up with nothing but fabric and, what appeared to be dust. I flipped it back over and ran my fingers between the hat and the band around the outside, once again finding nothing but lint.

I furrowed my brows as I felt along the top of the hat and gave it a closer look. There had to be something up with this hat, I swore there did, it was just a feeling I had. Sure, Creed could've left it for me as some sort of sick joke, which he thought was rather endearing (about as endearing as a cat throwing up in my opinion), or one of the others could've left it here merely to make me mad, but that just didn't seem right.

I knew the hat hadn't been in the room when I had left, and now here it was. Not only that but wasn't it a little strange that it appeared after a rather strange looking person entered my room and apparently left through the window…somehow? The thought hit me like a semi and I wanted to hit myself for not thinking of it before.

Still holding tightly to the rim of the hat I leapt off the bed and dashed over to the window before swinging myself out and onto the roof. I pulled myself up onto the flat surface and glanced around as the wind whipped past me and tugged at the hat, threatening to take it from me.

I dashed back and forth as I scavenged the roof for any proof that someone was there and I was finally rewarded when I found what felt like leather, or some other kind of rough paper or fabric folded up tightly and stuck between the roof and the awning where I had been sitting that morning.

I tugged hard before what I soon found out was thick parchment came free. I tucked the hat under my arm as I unfolded the thick paper to see scrawled words written in not-so-straight lines across it. I squinted as I tried to read it and had to hold back the excitement that was boiling up inside my as I began to decipher the words.

Number XIII,

It's been five months, or more and you remain locked in what appears to be the base of the Apostles of the Stars. While we have known about this for several months now we have finally decided to act upon it. Excuse the haste of this letter, we mean for you to understand what you are about to read and it is urgent that you tell no one and destroy this letter once it is read.

In three nights there will be a full moon, you will recognize it far easier than any other night, which is the reason it was chosen. Be in the room you have been assigned within the base at exactly midnight, another number will meet you to inform you of further plans.

As said before, make sure that no one reads this but you, not only that but do not act differently than you have been. If any of the Apostles of the Stars, and most importantly Creed Diskenth were to know of these plans they would most likely be destroyed.

With Sincerity,

Number I,

Sephiria

I folded the letter back up and jammed it deep into my pocket as excitement ran through me. I knew deep down I couldn't' leave, not with the threat Creed had made…but if Chronos came, couldn't it look like I had been taken against my will, or at least that I had no previous idea that they might come to take me away from here?

I couldn't contain my excitement as I swung back down in my room and tossed Sven's had down on the bed, but I stopped suddenly as the had re-entered my mind. What did his hat have to do with Chronos plan? The person who had entered my room had most likely been a number, Jenos, or Belga, or another Chronos member…so why would they have Sven's hat? I didn't even think they cared about Sven, and yet the hat was here.

Maybe it had been here before Chronos had left the note…maybe Creed really had put it there or maybe someone entirely different had. That was something I was going to have to look into, because not only did I want to know, but it made me mad.

I jumped and released the note in my pocket as a soft knock came and the door opened. Beyond it stood Creed as he pushed a rolling table into the room, with a full size, flat screen computer sitting on it.

"As promised," He smiled sincerely and for some reason I felt my stomach drop slightly at the thought of the note that currently sat in my pocket.

Creed looked concerned as he saw my face and looked as though he might turn and cry.

"You did want it…didn't you?" He asked, his voice sounding both tired and sad.

"Oh, yeah!" I flashed him a fake smile as I kept up the act, which seemed to make him feel better before I walked over to inspect the black machine. "Yeah, I did. Thanks a lot, Creed."

"Well, I don't know why you want it," He sighed happily as he watched me try to figure out how to turn the damn thing on. "But I said I'd think about it, and I did, and I can't see the harm in you having it. Doctor says I shouldn't have given it to you, but I couldn't care what he has to say at the moment."

I laughed as I straightened up and looked at him, trying to decipher the expression on his face as he glanced over at the bed and saw Sven's hat. He looked worried, and a little annoyed as he looked at it, making me wonder if it had been him after all. I eyed him as he continued to look at the hat before turning to look at the computer the second his eyes returned to me.

"Well, I really have to be going," He smiled sincerely before turning and moving towards the door. "I'll see you at dinner, won't I?"

"Yeah," I shrugged as he left and closed the door behind him. "Sure…"

I glanced back at the computer before pushed it towards the nearest plug and internet connection. I couldn't wait to begin some sort of research on this "Silicon Variant" of Doctors, not to mention some other things I had seen in his lab that didn't make any sense at all.

One way or another, even if Chronos was coming I was getting down to the bottom of this. Whatever was happening to Ash, what had happened to Sven, and how the hell I could destroy it all.