Hey everyone! I'm alive!

Thank you to everyone who gave ideas for Megan's Nobody name! I ended up going with Genxam, which sailorsenshi13 suggested. So shout-out to sailorsenshi13! Thanks for your idea!

Hope all is well with everyone!

Enjoy!

Chapter 35 – The Newest Member

I opened my eyes, looking around the room briefly. They went from one side of the ceiling to the other, looking at everything as though I was seeing it for the first time. It seemed like it was. I blinked a couple times. Things seemed different. Even though I couldn't feel, and for lack of knowing how else to describe it, things felt different.

There were no emotions in any of my thoughts, nothing clouding any of my judgements. I was just there. No feeling whatsoever to anything. It was strange. Strange… was that a feeling? Or just my mind trying to make sense of the world purely through logic?

"Morning sleepyhead" came Axel's voice from the corner.

I sat up quickly in surprise, supporting myself with my hands on the bed behind me.

"How long have you been there?" I asked.

"Not long" he said in his usual teasing voice. "We figured you'd wake up today".

"Wake up?" I asked, tilting my head slightly in confusion.

"You've been asleep a few days" he replied.

"A few… days?" I said calmly.

Axel smirked. "Wow, you really are a Nobody now…" he said. "Normally, you'd have completely freaked out at being asleep for so long".

I just looked at him blankly. He continued.

"Don't worry" he said, grinning again. "Roxas and I'll have you laughing and having fun again soon. It's takes a bit of practice for a new Nobody, but I'm sure you'll pick up on it pretty fast". He smiled encouragingly. "Anyway, it's time to show you off to everyone as our newest official member. You ready to go?".

"Oh, uh, yeah" I said, getting up from the bed.

I walked over to him. He put him arm behind me, guiding me as we walked out the door. Coming to the Circle Room at short while later, we stopped at the double doors.

"Alright" said Axel beside me. "Ready for this?".

I nodded. He pushed open the doors, and then guided me in and up onto the central platform. We looked up at all the thrones above. It was only my second time. Xemnas addressed the room.

"Comrades" he began. "Today we officially welcome one who has been with for some time into our ranks. Number XIV, Genxam".

Xemnas' orange eyes then focused down on me, followed by everyone else's. I could see a few faces, Demyx, Luxord, Xigbar, Saïx, many of the others had their hoods up.

"Genxam, huh?" said Demyx enthusiastically. "I like it!".

I looked up at him blankly. At that, he pulled a slightly confused face, but then returned to his usual demeanor.

"Take your seat, Genxam" said Xemnas, indicating an empty throne with his outstretched arm.

Axel teleported to his own, as I looked at the newly added throne. It was the lowest, just slightly below Roxas's. All I did was think that I wanted to go there, and I appeared on it. It required almost nothing. Nothing compared to what I had had to do before.

I looked across at everyone from my new vantage point. Some seemed disinterested, others were looking around the room. Saïx broke the silence.

"Let us begin the meeting" he said from his throne, only lower than Xemnas's.

"DiZ has been an impediment to our plans for some time now" began Xemnas. "It is time we dealt with him".

"Genxam, you know much of their base of operations" said Saïx. "You will go and put an end to their plans".

"What if Riku's there?" I asked calmly.

"You will not be going alone" he said. "Axel, Marluxia, and Lexaeus will accompany you".

"Got it" I said confidently.

I didn't feel anything towards DiZ or Riku. No conflicting feelings like I would have before. I only remembered that DiZ had betrayed me, and Riku was working with him. If they planned to get in our way in completing Kingdom Hearts, then we would have to stop them.

"Dismissed" said Saïx.

Many of the others began teleporting away from their thrones. I looked at Roxas and Axel, who both smiled at me before teleporting away themselves. I followed suit a few seconds later.

"Lucky we tracked the power down, eh?" said Xigbar after everyone but himself and Xemnas had departed. "Never woulda thought it'd end up in a Somebody... You been workin' on that experiment for a long time, huh? All the way back to when we worked under Ansem, right? Stored it for safe keeping, and then it gets taken from right under your nose by the man you broke away from. Bummer". He paused, and smirked. "Nice one turning her against him though. That must really be eating at him. Is it really true that it's a copy of Kingdom Hearts power?"

Xemnas made eye contact with him. Xigbar grinned.

"I'll take that as your answer" he said.

I appeared in the common area after teleporting from my throne, many of the others appearing in various places around the area. Axel and Roxas walked up to me.

"Genxam, you're official now!" said Roxas happily. "Wow, it's gonna be strange not calling you by your other name!".

I looked at him, my mouth slightly open, not sure what to say.

"Ah, we'll get used to it!" said Axel. "I'm sure it's stranger for her than it is for us!". He grinned.

I couldn't help but try to replicate what he was doing. My face formed a smile, but I didn't feel anything at all. Axel saw it.

"There she is!" he said enthusiastically. "Told you it wouldn't take long! You'll get better and better, and you'll be back to your happy-go-lucky self in no time!".

"Huh?" I said, the smile disappearing as I tilted my head sideways. They both laughed.

Marluxia then walked up with Lexaeus, nodding at Axel.

"Genxam, I congratulate you on entry into the Organization" said Marluxia calmly.

I nodded to him. It was a different experience interacting with others when I didn't have emotions to depend on, only thoughts. I still remembered everything about them, but didn't feel anything towards them. Not nervousness, or happiness, or suspicion.

"I trust you understand the mission?" said Marluxia.

"Yes" I replied confidently.

"Then let us depart" he finished.

Marluxia turned, and with a wave of his hand, opened a Corridor. The four of us nodded to each other, before beginning to walk through. Axel and I were the last to go. I caught a serious expression from him as he looked at me for a moment, before turning and walking through. In my new, emotionless state, it didn't mean anything to me. I walked through.

We came out in front of the gate to the mansion. Once I had arrived, the Corridor closed behind me. Marluxia and the others turned to form a circle now that everyone had arrived.

"Genxam" Marluxia began. "What will be the best plan of action?".

"The White Room on the second floor is where Naminé will be, and DiZ is likely in the basement at his monitors" I began. "It's likely they already know we're here". I paused. "The only problem I foresee for the mission is if Riku shows up. He'll be difficult to get past".

"He should not be a problem" Lexaeus piped in. "I have encountered him in the past".

"Don't underestimate him" I said.

"Alright, we storm the basement then" said Axel. "Can you get that gate unlocked Genxam?".

"On it" I said.

I summoned my Keyblade, and walked toward the large lock on the gate. I had only taken a few steps when a figure wearing the same cloak as our own appeared in my path. Removing their hood revealed long silver hair with a blindfold wrapped around. Riku.

I jumped back to stand with the others, my eyes focused on him. He stood without moving for a second, then dropped his head forward slightly, seemingly focusing on me.

"So they've turned you into a Nobody…" he said, loudly enough so that all of us could hear.

"They saved me" I said. "I was falling to darkness. It was the only way".

Riku looked at Axel briefly, who looked away, and then at the others.

"I'm afraid I can't let you interfere with our plans" he said to no one in particular. "If you try to get through this gate, I will stop you".

"By my count, there are four of us, and one of you; the odds do not look good for you Riku" said Marluxia slyly. "But if it is a fight you want, then it is a fight you will get".

He summoned his Scythe, as Lexaeus and Axel summoned their weapons. Riku summoned Soul Eater. My Keyblade was pointed diagonally away from my right side, as I crouched slightly, poised to attack.

"Megan, you must see through the deception!" said Riku.

"That name no longer exists" said Lexaeus. "She is Genxam now, number XIV in the Organization".

"They've even given you a new name, that didn't take very long…" said Riku under his breath.

"The only deception I see is in the lies DiZ tried to feed me to keep me from knowing his plans" I said. "We have no fight with you Riku; stay out of our way".

"I can't do that" said Riku, raising Soul Eater above his head in a battle position. "I will not let you through this gate".

"Then there's no choice" I said.

With that, I ran at him, my Keyblade engulfing itself in darkness as it dragged along behind me. I jumped up, and swung it above my head to come down on him.

"Haaah!" I yelled in a battle cry, no anger, just pure concentration.

He raised Soul Eater above his head to parry the blow as our weapons clashed. A few seconds later, he pushed me off, sending me flying back to land in front of the others. Marluxia was next to attack. He thrust his scythe across the space in front of him, sending a wave toward Riku, who dispersed it with a slash of his weapon. Riku readied for the next attack.

Lexaeus moved in front of our group, and unleashed the full power of his weapon on the ground. It sent a shockwave toward Riku at the same time Axel threw his flamed chakrams at him. Riku jumped to avoid the shockwave, and parried Axel's attack just before it hit him. He landed on the ground on one knee, one arm supporting him as the other held his weapon.

"Looks like I'm gonna have to use a little dark power after all…" he muttered.

From his crouched position, he pushed forward off the ground, thrusting Soul Eater across the space in front of him, sending a large wave of darkness straight at us. I parried the attack with my Keyblade, but the others were taken off guard. It hit them all head on, sending them back, falling to the ground a short distance behind me, stunned. I looked back at them, and then turned to look at Riku, who was now standing up again. My teeth were clenched. I didn't feel any anger, but the thoughts running through my mind were trying to trying to figure a way to defeat him.

I ran at him again, this time coming head on. As I reached him, I lifted my Keyblade above my head to attack. He simply positioned Soul Eater horizontally to parry the attack, deflecting any attempt to get past. I pushed off, standing a few feet away from him while the others lay stunned on the ground behind me.

I ran at him again and again, as he parried the blow each time. I wasn't getting anywhere this way. I stood back a bit further, and dismissed my Keyblade. Reaching my hand out, I sent a blast of darkness his way. He ran toward it, dispelling it with a slash of his weapon, and continued coming toward me. I summoned my Keyblade just in time to parry his attack once he reached me.

I could barely hold him off, he was too strong. I jumped back to where the others were laying on the ground, beginning to recover.

"They're using you! You have to see that!" Riku yelled across the space desperately.

"I won't listen to your lies!" I yelled back, almost angrily. "I can see things clearly now, now that the emotions are out of the way!".

"They've really gotten to you…" said Riku quietly. "Body and mind".

The others had gotten up behind me now, looking weakened. I looked to them.

"What's the plan?" I asked calmly, not taking my eyes off Riku.

"Retreat for now" said Axel.

Marluxia and Lexaeus begrudgingly teleported away. Axel nodded to me, and then did the same. I took one more look at Riku, and then teleported away myself.

Uh oh. She's fully invested in the Organization now...

Hope you enjoyed this one!

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Until next time!