Now that I've told you of our heroine's decision, it is time to move on to our antihero, who was, if you'll pardon my language, completely screwed.
Axel stood in the middle of the Room Where Nothing Gathers, and was doing his best to ignore his former colleague's snickers and hisses. There were only five left, including Xemnas, so it wasn't particularly difficult to avert his eyes.
"Silence!" Xemnas rumbled. Silence was immediate.
Axel made a snap decision not to go down cowering and begging for forgiveness. He raised his eyes to meet Xemnas' cold ones, and smirked slightly to show how little he was impressed by all the show.
Xemnas was not impressed, either. "You know what will happen to you, don't you, Axel? You knew the whole time, or you're a bigger fool than I supposed."
"My disappearing won't change what happened," Axel informed them. "The Organization's already dying, and it's not gonna last much longer. They're killing Nobodies faster than you can make them. If you don't believe me, just wait. One by one, each of you are gonna disappear."
"That belief will do nothing to change your fate," Xemnas replied.
"And your indifference won't change yours," Axel said coldly. "Our fates were sealed the second we lost our hearts."
Xemnas and Saïx exchanged looks; Marluxia looked eager; Lexaeus stared dispassionately at the wall; Demyx glanced nervously around at his fellows and then at Axel.
Axel caught his look, and grinned. "I'm surprised you've lasted this long, Dem. Have you been lucky, or just been hiding?"
Demyx stiffened before he realized Axel was teasing. He cracked a smile. "Hiding mostly. Letting Lexaeus do the dirty work, and all that."
"Explains a few things," Axel laughed.
Saïx sensed the merriment, and immediately set out to squash it. "That's enough, Number Nine," he ordered. "No talking to the prisoner, or you shall be punished exceedingly cruelly."
"Nice way to put it," Axel snorted. "Long, but nice."
Xemnas glared. "You are in no position to make judgments, traitor. We've talked too long; it's time to get rid of you once and for all."
"Then do it," Axel taunted. "And stop chitchatting. Got it memorized?"
Xemnas raised his hand. For a second, nothing happened. Then a loud bang caught them all off guard. All six Nobodies turned to the door, as if expecting someone to appear. Shouts and squeals rang out from several stories below.
"Lexaeus, take care of the prisoner," Xemnas ordered, as if attacks on his secret base happened all the time. "Everyone else, stop the intruders." He warped immediately after giving the instructions. Saïx was quick to follow, and Demyx as well, although he didn't look happy about it. Marluxia, however, jumped down from his throne.
"I can take him, Marluxia," Lexaeus said woodenly.
"I just want to talk to him," Marluxia said smoothly. "It won't take long." He walked over to Axel, and grabbed his shoulder. Almost inaudibly, he whispered, "If I get out, will you help me overthrow Xemnas?"
"So you can be Superior?" Axel asked. "We're trying to destroy the entire Organization, not just Xemnas alone."
Marluxia shrugged. "So I'll help you do that. It doesn't matter to me."
"Just as you're in charge of something?" Axel guessed. He sighed. "Sure. Why not?"
"Great!" Marluxia said happily. He drew his scythe, and turned on Lexaeus. Lexaeus had about enough time to blink before his head was soaring through the air. His body collapsed, and disappeared into the darkness.
Axel watched him go with an intrigued expression. "That was quick. Good job, Marluxia."
"Anytime," Marluxia said, cutting Axel's chains. "Now, those are probably your friends downstairs. Shall we go help them?"
Axel's thoughts jumped to a young, blond woman, and something seemed to bubble inside him. "I hope your wrong," he said.
"Why?" Marluxia asked, looking curiously at him.
That jerked Axel out of his short meditation. Why didn't he want her here? The answer came to his lips without any help from his mind. "There're just so many Nobodies here. She can't fight them all."
"'She'?" Marluxia said, as if he had never heard the word before. "Sparky, you mean? Since when did you care what happened to her?"
"Never mind," Axel snapped. "It's complicated. Let's go."
The two men warped out the room, and reappeared right in the middle of the fight. Axel hastily looked around. He found Sora and co fighting on one side of the room and Riku on the other side. But there was no sign of blond among the sea of white. Axel was sure if he should be relieved or insulted.
Riku caught sight of him. "Are you gonna stand around, or are you gonna fight?" He shouted.
"Nice kid," Marluxia muttered, starting his attack.
Axel hesitated. Then Sora looked up, and for one fleeting second, Axel was certain it was Roxas staring accusingly at him. Without a word, Axel sprinted forward to join the fight.
