Chapter 21: Family Bonds

Dec 12

Roger Cain walked through the Annapolis mall, looking for Christmas presents. But his mind wasn't fully on the search for good gifts. He kept thinking of his younger brother Sigma. Something was wrong, but he didn't know what. He tried to tell his father, but David thought everything was okay. This was one of those times Roger was frustrated with him. He was always busy with the City Guard and never seemed to have time for his sons.

It was unusual to have mixed families, but Roger wasn't the only human in school that had a reploid sibling. Couples like David and Zeta were rare but existed. Having children between such a pair usually meant adoption. However, the Cains were rich enough to afford the genetic-programming procedure that allowed them to actually be full parents to their two children. Roger knew it didn't matter how it happened; Sigma was his brother. Something was wrong with Sigma and Roger wanted to find out what. But if their parents believed everything was okay, how could he know?

Just as he was thinking that, he passed by the oracle shop. He wondered. Oracles had a strange place in society. Most people would say out loud that prophecy was self-fulfilling and too vague to rely on. But many also believed such people saw truth for what it was. Were oracles con men or true seers? It was a risk.

Lulani had a solid history in Annapolis. His reputation was a good one. His predictions were on the vague side, like all oracles, and he was better known for his uncanny matchmaking. Maybe he couldn't say exactly what was wrong, but maybe he could point out something Roger was missing.

Roger stepped into the lobby at the same time as Lulani. "You're looking for me," he said simply.

"Of course," Roger said. "I need some help."

"Come in. Your father's running late today, so you have plenty of time."

"Um, sure." But when wasn't David running late?

The next room was simple in décor. White curtains covered the walls. Two low benches flanked a black piece of glass on the floor. Many stones were scattered on the glass. Etched on the glass and the stones were the forty-nine Ring-Art blends of magic, plus other significant signs. Lulani sat on one bench, so Roger took the other.

The unicorn reploid pulled the stones off his glass reading table. "So tell me what's bothering you." He put the stones in a bowl and mixed them.

"I think something's wrong with my reploid brother."

"Younger or older?"

"Younger."

Lulani pulled out some stones and began placing them. "Go on. What is wrong?"

"I'm not sure, but he seems to have changed. He was a regular kid, you know, curious, liked to go outside despite the cold, played with his friends a lot, loved school. But over the summer, he changed; now he hates being outside, he plays alone most of the time, he's given up some of his friends for more dubious kids… but most of all, he doesn't recognize us as family anymore. He says we're not the same. He never had a problem with our family arrangement before."

Lulani looked over the stones he had down. "Hmmm…"

Roger thought of other things but wasn't sure how they connected. "He's also obsessed with his holo-battle set. I mean, we both always liked it, but he's on it so much lately. It seems odd. And he gets these terrible headaches too, which never happened until he changed."

"Was it a gradual change or sudden?"

Roger tried to recall it. "I think… both, really. He got struck by that weird falling star in June. He changed some that day, but dad fixed him. Then he kept changing over the summer. Mom and Dad think nothing's wrong, but I think there is."

"Falling star," Lulani mumbled. He kept studying his arrangement. "Odd."

"What?"

"Your brother's change does have to do with the star. All of the signs are from the star. But this pattern is new to me. I'm not sure how to interpret this."

"Really?" Roger looked at the tablet, but it made no sense to him. "What's odd about it?"

"Just the relations. It's odd enough though. Hold on a minute. I can get you the means to find the truth."

"Okay…"

Lulani left the room for a back room, where he spent several minutes doing something. When he came back, he handed a small plastic box to Roger. It had a strange powder in a tea bag. "Here you go. But you must follow my instructions precisely. This normally isn't used for amateurs, but based on the signs I can see, it will be best for you to seek the truth this way."

"Is this dangerous?"

"Only if you use it too often. Listen carefully. Take a pot of very hot water, three ice cubes, and a sturdy mug. Place the bag in the mug, pour the water over it. Let it steep for exactly one minute. Pull the bag out, throw it away, preferably in an enclosed incinerator, then let the mixture sit for five minutes. Place all three ice cubes in, wait until they all melt. Then drink the brew. Do this right before you go to bed and place a picture of your brother under your pillow, preferably from before he changed, but not too old. You should receive a truth dream concerning your brother's problem. It should be clear, but if it isn't, write it down immediately upon awakening and come back for an interpretation. You understand?"

"…yes."

"Let me write that down, just in case. Be careful, and good luck."

As Lulani said, David came home late. Roger didn't mention his meeting with the oracle. His father was very much a no nonsense man. He would listen politely to an oracle, then proceed with what he had planned anyhow. The one time where he had used an oracle's advice, he had nothing else to go on in an emergency situation. And even then, David said it was mostly luck that it turned out the way it did.

Finding a picture of Sigma in the right time frame was easy. Zeta loved to take pictures. Within a few minutes, Roger had found several appropriate photos. He picked one of Sigma alone, climbing their apple tree to gather fresh fruit for pies. Roger put that picture under his pillow, then carefully read Lulani's brewing instructions again. His timing was precise.

The tea smelt like curry, but tasted woody. Roger hated the first drink and felt like he never wanted to taste this stuff again. He finished off the brew, although his opinion didn't change. He went to sleep and had a vivid dream.

He was standing by the apple tree, which was heavy with fruit. The indoor bees buzzed around the plum tree. Just like their garden had been then. But Sigma wasn't in the tree. Roger looked around and spotted something odd through the glass. A floating walkway going straight off the rooftop.

He walked down the walkway; it was solid as if it were on the ground. At the end of the walkway was a stone arch. Roger touched it.

He was transported to a maze of paths and arches. He heard crying. Roger followed that sound down a lone path that shot away from the rest. At the end of the lone path was a small plain square surrounded by bars wrapped with barbed wire. Sigma sat inside, crying into his knees.

Roger looked at the door, but it was secure. "Sigma?"

"Roger?" Sigma came to the door. "Roger, how did you get into my mind?"

"I'm dreaming. I went to the mall oracle and he let me do this. What's wrong? Why are you in a cell… in your own mind?"

"It's not my fault. That star was an evil being that came from another world."

"An evil alien being?"

Sigma nodded. "Yeah… he, um… he hates you. He wants to kill you."

"So that's why some of your looks unsettle me."

"It's not me," he insisted. "It's the other guy… the adult version of me."

"You?"

"Yes. He hates all humans, but especially you and dad. He also thinks most reploids are ignorant, although he really hates those Ikari kids. He hates them more than humans, really."

"I see."

"Did you come to free me?"

"I came to find out what was wrong with you. I'm not sure how to get you out."

"Oh."

Roger reached through the bars and patted his brother's head. "But don't worry. I'll find a way to get him out and get you free. I promise."

Sigma smiled. "Thanks big brother."

"Anytime, little brother."

"What are you doing here?" The alien Sigma's voice was deep and used to being followed.

Roger stood up to him. "I'm getting my brother out of here and sending you back to hell."

"You can't do that, human. You have no control over my mind."

"I'll find some way." He willed himself to wake up.

The alien Sigma frowned, then pointed to Roger. "You're in my mind right now. You're not getting out without punishment."

Sigma woke up. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. That was an odd dream. But it seemed so real. Just in case, Sigma got out of bed and left his room. Roger's room was next door and he was able to walk in easily.

Roger's body was in a seizure. So it had been real. Sigma smiled. "You won't tell anyone," he said quietly.

The light turned on. "What's going on in here?" Zeta asked sleepily.

Sigma froze for a second. Then he realized he'd better pretend to be the good little brother. "Roger's in trouble!" he said panicky. He tried to mimic crying.

She realized the problem and blanched. "Good heavens… David! Call the hospital! Roger…"

Dec 13

It was early in the morning. Sigma was sleeping on a set of waiting room chairs. He'd done his best at being a worried brother, but the act wore him out. And he hadn't gotten to sleep long last night. And he didn't really care; falling asleep was the best thing for him.

David and Zeta weren't able to sleep. They were with Roger, who was unresponsive, seemingly asleep. The doctors were running tests, but tests took time and the cause of Roger's seizure was elusive. No one knew what would happen to him.

Then someone came in. Not the doctors. Lulani, the oracle who worked in the mall, was the one. He came straight in and looked at Roger's face.

"Excuse me, Lulani," David said, "what are you doing here?"

"I know what's wrong with your sons," he replied, still looking at Roger's face.

"Sigma's okay, but Roger…" Zeta started.

"Where is Sigma?"

"In the waiting room, sleeping."

"Sigma has been possessed by an evil self-aware virus, a sort of spirit we have never seen before. Alive, anyhow. Roger noticed and worried about his change of behaviors, so he spoke with me. I was unable to interpret the reading, so I sent him on a dream quest. Therefore, I am partly to blame for this."

David was normally polite to Lulani, but no more. Still, now he said he knew about Roger and Sigma when no one else did. "Sigma's possessed?"

"Yes. Roger went into Sigma's dreams. The evil spirit must have noticed him and attacked before Roger could come out. He was inexperienced in dream world mechanics. I felt it was fine before, but in the middle of the night, I realized what happened, both to Sigma and last night. I apologize; I had no intention of hurting your human son, only helping your reploid son."

"Can we bring Roger back?"

"I can, and I will. But the evil spirit still lies within Sigma." Lulani touched his alicorn. "I am unable to perform such exorcisms. However, if you bring him to the Cathedral, you will see the truth. The priests there should be able to clear Sigma. But in order to keep the evil one in the dark, you should not inform Sigma that Roger is alive."

December 14
Cain residence

Sigma studied the security systems of Monsteropolis. It was a tight system, apparently one of the best in the world. Which was fairly good, he guessed, based on their technology level. He was still trying to understand how magic figured into it. Many of these systems referred to runes and spells in connection to shields and surveillance. But he had a hand on the inside now. That would make all the difference in five or eight years.

The best plans took years to formulate, Sigma knew. However, he also knew that the best laid plans could be ruined in a matter of minutes through miscalculation or wild-card factors. Magic was a definite wild card while he didn't know it fully. He thought often of bullying X and Zero into getting the three of them back home, or conning Domino into it. He'd much rather be at home where he knew how everything worked.

On the other hand, he had in this world a brilliant opportunity that he thought he would never have again. This world had no idea who he was. They had viruses, which he'd learned through the whole Gate family getting ill with some Hexacon virus. But those were unthinking parasites. This world had never had a self-aware virus that could be transmitted easily (under the right circumstances) and which altered a reploid's personality. In his original world, he opened the eyes of the blind slaves and made them see the humans for the cruel masters they were.

And this world had no idea that a virus like himself could exist. Well, X and Zero knew, but they were kids. The babies of the school, as Sigma's classmates liked to call the first years. If he could attack before they would be taken seriously, he might have a shot at fulfilling his dreams.

That is, if he could get rid of the original soul of this body. Sigma could hear him crying sometimes, because Roger was dead. It was that pampered idiot that was keeping him from spreading. Maybe it had to do with magic, but Sigma could not remove the brat from his body without shutting the body completely down. He kept telling the brat that he was letting him live; truth was, Sigma didn't know how to get rid of him. And while that brat remained, he was trapped in another way.

His com buzzed. It was Shield Sheldon, for some reason. He put the call through. "What is it Sheldon? It's late."

"You're awake too."

"I'm studying for the test," he lied. "What are you up to?"

"I'm outside your building. My babysitter thinks I'm asleep, but I'm gonna sneak over to my dad's party. Do you want to come?"

Childish pranks, Sigma thought. "What's so interesting about this party?"

"It's only the adults, so it must be something fun that they're keeping from us. They've got all sorts of weapons on display there, like the Chassina blade. And they're supposed to have a dessert table with all sorts of cakes and candies. I want to go see the weapons, but I also want to sneak off with some desserts. Sounds like fun, huh?"

Desserts weren't interesting, but the weapons could be. This child's body had no innate powers, weapons, or abilities, much to Sigma's disappointment. The Chassina blade was some legendary runic blade, like a plasma beam sword. It was powered based off of the will of the wielder. I could certainly form an impressive Chassina blade, Sigma thought. "That does sound fun. Where is this party?"

"At the Cathedral, because they've got some dark weapons that need holy restraint. But come quickly, if you are coming. I can't be gone too long."

"Okay, I'll be down in a sec." Some dark weapons as well? Anything called dark and evil, Sigma had learned over the years, was usually due to superstition or lack of understanding. One of them might be just as useful as Chassina. So Sheldon was worth something.

He greeted Sheldon eagerly when he got outside. They ran for the Cathedral, three blocks from Sigma's building. It was one of the oldest and most beautiful structures in Monsteropolis. Sigma had never been inside, but he was interested. If the outside was any indication, the inside had to be masterful and awe inspiring.

Despite having weapons on display, there was no security visible at the Cathedral. They didn't expect trouble, especially not from a pair of kids. Sigma felt a thrill at the thought. There were some advantages to being a child.

"Where do you think everything will be?" Sheldon asked. "Is there a map?"

"They've probably got the largest room open for dancing. That might be where they have the refreshment bar. I'd think they'd keep the weapons in a side room. We might want to see them first, you know, because we can just hide the sweets and run for it."

"All right." Sheldon followed Sigma inside.

This was a large party. Either that, or everyone was in the foyer chatting. Sigma and Sheldon made their way through the adults, not getting any notice. He did notice the floor shimmer, but figured it was fancy effects. However, all the doors were shut, and there was no indication of where anything would be.

Then Sigma walked into an invisible barrier. It knocked him back with the sound of a steel drum. The barrier materialized, formed like a white sheet of water. "What's that for?" he muttered.

Sheldon somehow walked through the barrier. "It's for you!" he said accusingly. "You stole my friend."

Everyone else was walking out of the barrier's circle. "You idiot, I am your friend."

"No you're not. Sigma wouldn't call me an idiot."

The barrier began to shrink inward. Sigma tried to walk out, but was knocked back again. "What the hell is this?"

"It's a holy barrier that has always been inside the Cathedral," David Cain said, appearing from the crowd. "It keeps those with unbalanced hatred from entering this holy place."

Great. Somehow they had caught on. Sigma backed up; the shield was still coming at him. He glared at David. "You'll regret this, human." Then he attempted a mass infection. He had done it many times before. Every reploid, robot, and computer should become infected and listen to his revelations. It would sap a lot of energy to bypass the brat's protection, but it would work.

Most of the time, his infections couldn't be seen. Most reploids could feel it before he opened their eyes and some fought with all their will. This time, a burst of bright red energy came from him. The red energy clashed with the holy barrier, making it stop its advance. Pink sparks flew in every direction, causing witnesses to back up.

Then Cardinal Windell appeared and empowered the barrier. His infection's red energy failed. The barrier crashed into Sigma from all sides. Before he blacked out, he felt a strange sense of fear.

December 15

It took three hours for the Cardinal and two priests to get the dark soul out of Sigma's body. They came back close to midnight; Sigma looked exhausted and covered in fine white lines. The alien had been immensely strong, but he seemed to know little about magic.

Sheldon managed to be the first to reach him. He hugged his friend. "Are you all right now?"

"I guess," Sigma said, clutching a silver ankh the Cardinal had given him. "But I..."

Zeta picked him up. "It's great to have you back."

David patted his shoulder. "Of course. We'll do everything to protect you now."

"But I couldn't help Roger," Sigma finished. "I saw him; he was trying to help me."

Zeta put him down, so Roger could snatch him from behind. "So long as you're free of that hateful spirit, I don't mind."

"Roger? I thought you were dead." He hugged his brother tightly, feeling some tears come to his eyes. It seemed incredible, but so wonderful!

"Sorry we had to do that to you," David apologized.

"Everything will be fine now," Roger said, messing Sigma's hair up.

Sheldon touched the side of his head. "I'd better go back home," he said reluctantly. "My dad's been calling me."

"Does he mind you being up so late?" Zeta asked.

"Well, I..." Sheldon paused. "It'll be okay. Sigma's better."

"No, I promised I would help you," Sigma said.

"You did?" Sheldon asked.

"Dad, we have to take him home with us," he said quietly, so only his family would hear. "There's something bad going on with his father."

"Is something wrong, Sheldon?" David asked.

"Sort of." He looked extremely shy all of a sudden, looking at the ground instead of David.

David patted the shell on his shoulder. "You can stay with us as long as you need to, right this very night. I think I know the problem; I was looking to find some way to get you out of harm's way already."

Then Sheldon looked back and smiled.

December 17
Light residence

Zero was comfortably in bed, a minute away from being asleep. The blankets were soft and warm. A clock on his dresser ticked softly. The wind outside made occasional noises, but nothing to fear. He just had to stop thinking for a moment and he would be off dreaming.

There was a thud against the windowpane of his room. The lock undid itself with a rude click. Zero opened his eyes and saw a shadowy figure right outside his window.

He sat up, now wide awake. Were they going this far to get to him? The house security should trigger at any moment, he thought. Still, he crept across his bed to the table where he kept Dusty's hilt. A nice loud scream would wake everyone else up.

The shadowy invader lifted the window open. With only pajamas on, the draft of cold winter air hit Zero's skin like a knife. He turned on the lamp first, to make the invader pause. Then to scream to wake everyone up... the invader stepped into his room, so his face was illuminated.

Instead of screaming, Zero asked, "Forte? What are you doing here?"

"Shh," Forte replied. He shut the window. "I hope you don't mind the late visit."

"No, that's fine." Zero looked at the window. "How did you get past the security system?"

Forte chuckled softly as he took off his cloak and draped it over a chair. "I've been breaking into places for a great many years, but I'm not about to tell you how I do it. This place isn't much of a challenge to me anymore."

"Okay. Hey, do you want me to get X? He's right across the hall."

"No, just you tonight."

"Just me? Why?"

"I have my reasons." He sat on the bed next to Zero. "I wanted to visit on Christmas, but the winds speak of a strong storm system to pass through the area soon. Tonight's my safest option. Anyhow, have a look at this." He handed Zero a photograph.

The photograph had Forte and Zero in it, but it showed Zero as a young toddler. They were at the Monsteropolis zoo; he recognized a symbol on an information plaque placing them there. But they weren't looking at an animal. They were looking at a showy orange flower. The blossom dwarfed Zero's face at the time. Child Zero felt a moment of uncertainty. Could he remember such a large flower in this wintery world? "Flowers?"

"There weren't many when we visited that time, but this one enchanted us both. I've never seen one like it, before or since. A friend of mine took this one. She and I had quite a time trying to get you to look at the camera."

"I don't get it. I mean, I sort of know it, but I can't think of it. Why was I with you?"

"You are my son."

Several weeks ago, child X had tried to talk about when he confirmed that Rock was his father, but said it was much too complicated for words. Zero didn't understand that at the time. It was a simple fact. But facing the situation himself, yeah, it was complicated to describe. "You're my dad?"

Forte took his hand. "Yes."

"But when we met in Balna, we were practically strangers. Although, I did have a weird feeling that I should have known you. I didn't know why. How would I forget you?"

"It was Dr. Wily's doing, I believe." Forte looked and sounded lost with that statement.

"He's still alive?"

"I can't be sure it was him; he's been ruined if it was him. I know Ikari Domino was there. I tried to hide you at first, but Ikari knew, and I had to hand you over to him."

"Why would you do that?" He liked Forte, but if he was his father and had given him over to Ikari... Zero didn't know what to feel.

"I didn't want to." He rubbed his forehead. "I may be a reploid, but my mind is not entirely my own. Right now, I can do what I like. But within my father's presence, I must do whatever he says. I must follow whatever order he gives me. It doesn't matter if I don't want to do something; I have to if he says so. I went to extreme measures to protect you when you were first born. I changed my name, I worked as a janitor... I could hardly believe it. People fear my name, but I was working as a janitor, all while trying to keep you safe. But it didn't work."

"Oh..." Zero tried to think of something to say. "Well, I'm safe now. Everyone around here treats me like X. They won't even let us walk to and from school alone."

"Yes, that is good. Ironic too, that you are safest in the house of my enemy."

"Your enemy?"

A smirk wandered onto his face. "Yes. Rock and I have been trying to kill each other pretty much since we met. We're both mature reploids, Dr. Light is gone, I've tried to sever my ties to Wily... even so, if we met, we'd probably wind up fighting again. But if he's willing to take full responsibility of you as his ward, I'm willing to let him. Just so long as I can keep watching over you unseen."

"That's good." Although, the child recalled X with Rock and longed to be with Forte. It couldn't happen, but now he knew for certain. There was one thing, though, that needed questioning. "Hey, um, dad?"

Forte smiled on hearing that.

"I went to the museum a while ago and there was another Zero that looked like me. Why did you name me after him?"

"That doll. I didn't name you after him. I named you something completely different."

"Really?"

"I named you Adrian. Wily... or Domino, could be either... ordered me to forget you and changed your name."

"But you remember now, right?"

Forte tapped the photo. "I had my friend. She loved photography and took many pictures of you. After I was ordered to forget, she gave them all to me. I remember you because of her, but I thought I'd lost you forever. I was hiding out of shame when you came into Balna Forest. But knowing Wily's tricks, I didn't want to cause problems by telling you the truth back then."

As he seemed saddened at those thoughts, Zero tried to think of something good to tell him. "I dreamed of you a lot. That's what got me out of the Tower. Me and X were going look for you and his mom. But then his mom turned out to be bad."

"I heard about that. I wish I could call that unthinkable, but I've met far too many cruel and selfish people."

"So my name is supposed to be Adrian?"

"Whatever you feel most comfortable with. Your mother liked that name."

"My mother?"

Forte nodded slowly. "Yes, your mom. I'm not sure I want to talk of her now. It ended badly when it shouldn't have. I think of her a lot and wonder if I should try talking to her again. But... oh, it's a complicated situation. Perhaps later, but now I need to keep her secrets."

"I guess that's okay. At least I know where you are now."

Forte hugged Zero. It was a good feeling to know him. "I know. After all that heartache, I'm just thankful to have you alive. Now, I've got one more thing to give you at this time, then I must be away. I can't be caught here."

Zero watched as he went to get a white box out of his cloak. "What is it?"

"A few weeks ago, X and I discussed your temper, particularly when you bite people."

"I don't mean to," he said, feeling his ears grow warm.

"I know. Your temper is worsened by things out of your control. This will help put you back in control."

"That's great."

"But it will put you back to sleep, so we'll have to say goodbye now."

Zero put the photo in the drawer of his bedside table, then got under his blankets again. "You be careful out in the wild."

"And you be careful here in the city. This will feel a little strange, but I know how to operate it properly."

"That does feel strange," Zero said, as the device began poking at his mind.

"It will be fine." Forte brushed his fingers through Zero's hair. He used to brush my hair every night before I went to bed, child Zero thought.

He was almost asleep again when his internal security system was tripped. His security tried to shake him awake, while the device made him sleepy. "What's it doing?"

"It's fine. Trust me."

"I don't like it."

"I only want to help you, son. Trust me."

One part of him felt like screaming again. But he could trust Forte. It was okay this time. He bypassed his security to let his father's device work. For a brief moment, he wondered what sort of operation would require such a bypass outside of a hospital. Then he was finally asleep.

Forte stayed with him for another hour, long past when the device was finished. He sat quietly watching Zero, who lay eerily still. Then the clock chimed eleven o'clock. He leaned over and kissed him on the forehead. "I'm sorry it had to be done like this."

And child Sigma wins the battle for his mind and body! Good for him. And we find out the real reason behind Forte's actions. But I ain't yet telling you what that program is.