:SEAN:

"Phew." Cody slides onto the floor. "That—whatever that was—was heavy."

"Yes, even with your powers we had a much harder time lifting that generator than I anticipated. Still that was the last." Rhys squeezes his shoulder in thanks. "you two can stay here, take a breather. I'll see how other things are coming."

I sit by Cody's side. He tucks himself under my arm, and I don't mind at all. This relationship I have with him is accepted on the surface. Below—I fear otherwise. I'm supposed to be an emotionless power source. I probably wouldn't even be allowed to visit Cody—let alone touch him, even through a suit.

"I'll have to thank Rhys." Cody suddenly said.

"Why?"

"He asked our help—or my help—on purpose, knowing we'd finish sooner. Usually, I'm not allowed to help except with light things. Too clumsy."

"You're not clumsy." I tell him. "a little hasty, perhaps."

Cody smiles. "And you're not as mean as Thomas says. What did he tell you before?"

"Nothing much," I whispered. "that he was sorry he wasn't more understanding before and that he'd miss me."

"Really?" Cody gives me a delighted grin. "I bet the two of you could even become friends. If you stayed, that is."

I said nothing, I still don't know. And you'd think I should by now. We're running out of time.

"Oh no," Cody said shortly, into the silence.

"What?"

"Message from Trey." Cody said, holding his ear. "he wants us to leave. Now."

I don't want to leave this carriage. Or make the decision that will decide the rest of my life, and Cody's too. Although I'm not letting him come with me. He doesn't see how the underground would wear him away, he's too stubborn to even think of the possibility that he might be wrong—actually, that's kind of like me when I arrived.

"We have to go." Cody says, tugging me out of the train,

Trey is going over the evacuation plan with everybody. I watched him. He's so serious, when he's dealing with the other's safety. I'm glad he doesn't know about Cody's intentions. So maybe I still have time to talk him out of it—I must, if I will leave. I can be brutal and lie and just tell him I don't want him around, that I hate him—but I don't want to do that. The last tiny bit of my machine training whispers that it's illogical, that it may hurt him momentarily but it's for his greater benefit. But all I know is that I would face ten Rabid bears before I willingly hurt Cody.

Not that I won't hurt him, either way.

"Thank you Corrin, for raising me and all."

Corrin looks at Cody, surprised. "Uh, you're welcome, Cody." he patted his head. "I mean, you've already thanked me several times before, but now... Well, it is all of the sudden."

Yes, indeed—I wondered why...

"Lori, Meeko, thank you for always looking out for me during hunts and helping my training there!" Cody hugs the twins, even as the other is placed awkwardly on his brother's back. "You're the best!"

They looked as confused as Corrin, responding in the same way as well. Cody continues thanking people and hugging them in random: Genesis batch, Jonah, Leon, even Bryce...

So when Trey comes in, I feel apprehensive.

"Sean, you're still in a suit." He frowned. "is that your decision?"

I hesitate. "I—uh..."

"Thanks Trey!" Cody throws his arms around Trey's waist.

Trey blinks down at him. "Uh, sure kiddo." The look of puzzlement on his face would've been comical if I didn't fear what was coming. "May I ask what for?"

"For everything. Taking care of me, being like a father I never knew." Cody pulls away, tearing up. "I'm going to miss you."

Trey raised a brow. "Miss me? But you're not—" Then he looks at me and his eyes widened in understanding. "No." He looked at the child sternly.

"But Trey—"

"No!" Trey cuts off in furious desperation. "it's not up for argument, Cody."

Corrin came over, "Am I missing something?" he asked peevishly. "do you have to shout at him like that?"

"Cody..." I interpose hastily, trying to avert a disaster, but I'm too late.

Cody turns to his so called mother. "I'm going back with Sean to the Underground."

"You're—" Corrin stares at him, eyes wide. "No, you're not! Not on my watch!"

I flinched as Cody had. This might be the first time he was being scolded this way.

"Cody, have you gone mad? They'll kill you!"

"They may not, Meeko..."

"You don't know for sure they won't."

Trey's tone is almost balanced, but it's got an undertone I don't like.

"You can't just leave us, Cody!" Meeko continues. "we promised to stick together, and you we will. You can't just abandon us!"

Corrin kneels down and take the child's face between his. "We can't lose you, Cody. You're not leaving us, you're staying right here, understood?" He tries to speak firmly, but his bottom lip is trembling. "Please say you understand."

Cody stares at him sadly, then at Trey, his lips trembling. This is even worse than I thought it would be.

"I don't want to leave you either, momma..."

My head aches suddenly, but I shake it off. I need to do something about this...

"But I want to go with Sean. He can't be alone," I stepped back as Jonah looks at me, and I think at this point he would rend me limb from limb cheerfully, if it would make Cody stay. "at least you'll have Trey and everyone else with you..."

Corrin shook his head. "That's not the point, Cody."

"Please Corrin, Trey..." Cody looks between his two—what, guardians? Parents?—desperate.

My heart aches. This is my fault he's being hurt like this, mine that no matter what happens, someone is going to get hurt.

"Corrin, stand aside." Trey placed a hand on the healer's shoulder. "Cody, look at me."

Corrin frowns at him before doing as he was told. "Don't be too hard on him."

"I'll try. But I'll do what I must."

Cody pulls a deep breath and then obeys. The two just stare at each other for a couple of minutes. I frowned, trying to work out what was going on.

"Kytes," I hear Thomas's voice from behind. "they're using telepathy, aren't they?"

Of course. I forgot about that.

"Yes," Kytes said, sounding grave.

Trey has a clenched fist, gesturing to the people around him. Cody points at Nina and clench desperately on my hand.

"What are they saying?" I asked Rhys. At least he doesn't seem as upset with me... much.

Rhys shakes his head. ""I can't tell. None of us can. This is between them and them only," he shudders. "Given the anger radiating from Trey, I don't think I want to—"

Cody's crying now. And Trey's angry face is faltering to one of remorse and sympathy. He raises his fingers, like he's counting.

I'm sorry Cody, I think as I watch. But this is for the best . . . the best. Even if it doesn't feel like the best—

Trey whirls away from Cody, then turns back to face him. Cody's face, although wet with tears, remains set, adamant. The leader crosses his arms. "Fine," he says, breaking the silence. "Stay. It's your funeral."

In the protests that follows the response, my own exclamation is unheard.

"You can't be serious!"

"He'll be killed!"

"You can't let him go!"

"You can't be serious Trey! You can't allow him—" Corrin's voice most vocal.

"He's thought about this and he knows the dangers. He really wants to do this—we can't prevent him."

Corrin does not sound happy at all.

Nor am I—I was counting on Trey to force Cody to stay if necessary.

"You are not going Cody—even if I have to tie you to a tree and guard you myself!" Corrin protests.

"I already thought of that," Trey says with a grave sigh. "Sooner or later, we would have to untie him, and then he'd just head back to the underground—" he turned away.

Corrin grumbled, taking Cody's hand. "Fine, then I'm going with him!"

Even more protests. Trey turns back to the pair, eyes wide and I see a flicker of fire threatening to come out from his fists.

"But Corrin," Cody frowned up at the taller boy. "they need you. You're the healer."

Corrin only gripped the hand tighter. "Doctor Roland will be able to cover for me, with Rhys's help, they'll be able to come up with effective medicines."

"Not as swift, though." Rhys frowned. "and what about your sister?"

Lexie nodded eagerly. "I know you love Cody, I love him, too! But I don't want to lose my brother, too!" she cried.

"You'll be safe here, you won't be left alone." Corrin looks torn, but almost like Cody, he's made his decision. "We can't be sure Cody will be the same, though. If I'm there—"

Someone else interrupts. "Corrin, no." If possible, Trey's tone gets even dangerous. "I'm not losing you, either."

"Trey..." Corrin's resolve falters a bit but he stands his ground. "remember what I told you before? We make our own decisions?"

Trey grabbed the healer's shoulder. "You can't use that on me now!"

"The hell I can't!" Corrin lets go of Cody's hand, "If you couldn't convince Cody to stay, then you can't tell me—"

This has gone far enough. "But I can," I cut them off, looking at Cody. "You are staying."

"Sean?"

Corrin and Trey stopped arguing in favor of watching us. Everyone was watching.

"You are not coming with me, I will not allow it."

"D-don't you like me anymore?" Cody frowns, and my heart aches to hear the hurt in that question. "Is it because I'm being a brat now?"

"Of course I want you. But you have friends here, a life you know. You can't leave." Seeing Cody about to argue, I forestalled hastily. "they won't even let you come back."

"I'll promise to wear a suit..."

"They will not waste a suit for you! They have no use for you aside from being a test subject."

"But—" Cody's voice finally cracks again, his eyes brimming with tears. "I got to go with you, Sean! I need you—"

"No, all you need is food, water, a shelter and oxygen. I am not a need, but I want you can't pursue." I murmured weakly. And yet, I believe him.

"No, please Sean, I—"

"If you come with me," I swallowed thickly. "I'll—I'll hate you."

Cody's emotions finally overpower him and he drops to his knees, weeping. Trey and Corrin both kneel beside him.

"Cody, please..." Corrin embraces him.

Trey puts a hand on his back and rubs circles around it. "I'm sorry, kiddo... We really need to go."

Cody only cries harder, everyone looks sad, but they look at me, and they're angry. But I don't really care about them at the moment. I'm used to seeing the child smiling, even when he was sad, he would try to smile, to make others happy even if he really wasn't, to make me smile.

At that moment, I would do anything to make Cody smile again. And that's when I realize, for the moment, that's something only I can do. That I should be the one stopping the tears. I can't go to the underground without him anymore than he can stay here without me.

I've decided.

Corrin and Trey are not having much luck comforting Cody.

"Let me," I kneeled between the two. They gave me a glare, before blinking in surprise. Then, they smiled, and move back. I put my arms around Cody awkwardly, but it feels... right. "Cody, stop crying."

"I can't—you're gonna leave me, and it hurts so m-much..." He chokes back a sob. "I don't want you to hate me, but I don't want you to leave without me..."

I imitate an action I often see Mitchell do for his brothers; I kissed his forehead. "I lied. I can never hate you." Cody's silent for a moment.

"You can't kiss me without your suit on, can you?"

I smiled, wiping a tear off, then another, until his eyes are mostly dry. "No, Cody, I can't."

He takes a deep breath then looks up—pushing me away a little so that he can ascertain that my suit is really gone.

"But—I thought—"

"I thought I've made the right decision. Then, when I saw how I've hurt you, I knew I hadn't. Nothing is worth hurting you," I lift him off the ground. Not as hard as I imagined. He's very light and is settled perfectly, like he was meant to be there.

"Sean," He holds my cheek. "you—" he chokes back on a sob.

"I told you to stop crying!" I am most annoyed as he, again, dissolves in tears.

"I can't help it! I'm so happy!" Cody wraps his arms around my neck, his little neck trinket digging into my shoulder blade.

Then there's applause.

"Honestly," I heard Thomas huff. "you should've done that in the first place."

Jonah sighed. "As much as I would've love using him for target practice, I'm satisfied with the turn of events."

"Okay, now that we things under control," Trey clapped his hands. "I wanted this group moving an hour ago, everybody, move." He looked back at us with a smile. "Cody, Sean, let's go."

I dropped a Cody and we moved out.

I lost Cody somewhere in the crowd after a few minutes. I assumed he's up front with the rest of his batch, maybe with Corrin or Trey, making up for his act of rebellion. For some reasons, I'm a little offended by that. I mean, he was so desperate to have me stay, so I thought he'd spend this walk with me.

As it were, I walk along with my batch mates—minus Nina, who seemed attached to Kytes.

"So where are we going next?" The assigned Second-in-Command, Mitchell, asked our leader, Thomas.

If this was my first day up, I would loudly oppose. But now, I have no complains.

"Trey told me it's near the sea, a wrecked ship." Thomas answered. "It's farther, so this walk's going to be longer than the first one we had to make during evacuation. A good two days, three if we have to pull stops."

One of the younger brothers of Mitchell, Milo, frowned. "How will that work out? I mean, it's still dangerous, right? What about this Rabid creatures?"

"Well, according to Trey, when we set up camp, Kytes will give us leafy beddings and there will be a turn for sentries." Thomas shrugged. "they had to do it before, and since Rabid animals, even the nocturnal types, don't hunt at night unless they're hunted at first, we should be okay."

Lindsay nodded. "That's a relief." I had to agree. And here I thought I could never find myself to agree with her. Speaking of...

"I guess you were right, Lindsay." I suddenly said.

She blinks, shock. This is the first time I'm talking to her directly. "About what?" she fixed her slightly cracked glasses. She'll need a new pair.

"That I would thank you for your efforts someday."

Lindsay smiles at me. "I guess that someday was sooner than expected," She nodded at me. "you're welcome, Sean."

Suddenly, Corrin comes rushing towards us. "Sean!" He gasped. "Cody... He isn't with you?"

"Huh? No, why?" I blinked. "I assumed he was with you."

Corrin looks troubled.

"Well, he's probably somewhere in the crowd?" Thomas suggested. "I mean, it is a big one."

"Yeah, maybe... Maybe I'll find him when we set up cam—The pacifier!"

We all stared at him.

"I lost you at pacifier." Thomas said.

Corrin looked worried. "It's the one thing left to him when I found him as a baby," he told us. "It could be from his parents, and it's important to him. I don't remember it being on him when we were together earlier, but if he left it behind—"

I turned around immediately and rushed away at the implication. "CODY!"

"SEAN! Hey, wait a minute! We don't know for s—!" Thomas's voice was already getting fainter.

I never thought I could run this fast. Is this what they mean by an adrenaline rush, perhaps? I never had an opportunity to check.

Till now.

When I got back to the clearing just outside the train, I saw vehicles. "Please... no..." I crouched low, sneaking in.

My only hope was that Cody hasn't been caught yet. It's illogical. He wouldn't even need a pacifier in this age. I felt something under my boot, and when I looked, it was the offending object. I scowled, picking it up and ready to let out my frustrations by throwing it off. But then, I get a better look at it. It looked familiar. I mean, I was always subconsciously aware that Cody was wearing it, but I never gave it much thought or paid attention to it.

Say momma...

Suddenly, my head hurts and I dropped the pacifier in favor of clutching my head. The throbbing was too intense for a headache, and instead of dizziness, I see images in my head. The ones from my dreams. And I hear voices, ringing in my head.

Come on Cody, so I can show off to Luke... Say Momma...

I see an image, a beautiful woman in my head.

"AH!"

I almost jumped out of hiding. CODY! The guards found him.

"I remember you, the savage kid!"

"Did you help in our maintainer's kidnap?!"

"Let me go!"

My head hurts even more, all the while anger is fuelling my sense. I tried getting up, try to reach Cody. But the throbbing of my head only intensifies that I can't function well. This scene, those guards, a child... So familiar...

Give him back!

"Shut up!" One guard kicks him roughly from behind.

Cody cries again, his voice cracking due to pain and tears. "Stop it!"

Ugh!

Luke!

Sean, why—?!

I shake my head, willing the pain to go away, Cody needed me now. He needed me to function well and...

"Stop it!" Cody cries out louder.

I stiffened, and at that moment, the throbbing stops, but the images get clearer, the voices familiar, the scenes from my recurring dreams—no, memories—vivid.

No, no, no! Give him back, he's my baby brother, you can't separate us! Cody!

"CODY!" I remember you! My brother! Luke... Cody... "CODY! Give him back, he's mine!" I yelled, running up to them as Cody was lifted off the ground.

"SEAN!" Cody smiles, he's happy to see me.

At this point, I wasn't sure if there was anything I can do to help but all my focus was on retrieving the warmth of that smile that I lost so long ago, the warmth I felt whenever Luke and I would argue who's turn it was to carry him back when momma was with us.

I can't lose that again.

"Hey, isn't that our maintainer?"

"Oh crap, he's contaminated. How are we going to explain this to Head Councilor Levin?"

"Figure it out later, let's get them both. At the very least, he'll appreciate more test subjects."

More? How many has the Head Councilor been keeping?

"AHH! PUT ME DOWN!" Cody struggles as he was being dragged to the vehicles.

They're separating us again... No, I won't allow it!

Suddenly the machines veered to life and I widened my eyes. No one was driving that. In their panic, the guards scrambled away and Cody was dropped down. I screamed after him as he was about to be hit.

"NOOO!"

And as if obeying my command, the vehicles stopped.

"SEAN!" Cody ran towards me and I eagerly accept him in my embrace. "You came for me!" He buries his face on my neck.

How could I have forgotten him? I cried, holding him tightly. I carried him in my arms, like I used to do, like I did before they took him from me.

"Of course I did," I kissed the top of his head. "you're my baby brother after all."

Cody pulled back, staring at me with wide eyes. "Your... brother?"

Then there's a sound of what seems to be a gunshot. And when Cody cries out in pain before going still, it became apparent.

He's been shot.

"CODY!" I panicked, kneeling down and letting his head rest on my leg. "No, no, no! Stay with me!"

I feel warm fluid pour into my hands. It's the only warmth I didn't like to feel coming from him.

"CODY, SEAN!"

"CODY!"

I hear footsteps and looked up to see Trey and Corrin running up to us, with them are Rhys, Kytes and his brother.

"Oh no, Cody!" Corrin rushed in immediately, and I let him take him, only because I knew he could take care of him. "He's hurt!" He sets to work closing the wound, even if he'll have to open it later to get the bullet out.

At least Cody wouldn't lose anymore blood.

The guards laughed in all their cruelty. "Hurt? That's an understatement, he's dead."

"And you will be, too." The guards aim their guns at us. "unless you come in quietly."

I glowered at them, and I am no longer able to control my anger. And I hear an irritating beeping sound from behind me.

"Er, Trey? Corrin's watch is beeping, doesn't that mean—"

I hear a series of cracking sounds and anguish cries from the guards.

"Agh! My back!"

"Ngh... What... My ankle... My chest..."

"Gah! My shoulder, what?!"

They dropped their weapons. One of them didn't seem affected, but when he saw his companions complaining, he rushed away. I scowled, ready to go after him when all their vehicles corner him and ran into him in full speed.

In a sense, he was road kill.

"Ah..." Corrin fell back and into Trey's arms, "Ngh..."

Rhys frowned, "There goes another one lined up for batteries..." He shook his head and widened his eyes. "Yes!" He rushed towards one of the vehicles that still seemed intact compared to the others, since it was the outermost one in the crash.

"I don't think that's a top concern, Rhys." Trey frowned, adjusting the healer in his arms. "you idiot, be careful. You never tried breaking bones on more than one person!"

Suddenly, there are other noises. Like slithering... Only, not snakes.

"AH?! What now?"

"These things are moving on their own!"

"Wow Kytes," Thomas mused. "nice vegetation control."

But Kytes did not seem impressed with the compliment. "Uh, Tommy? Yeaaah, I can do that, I could've but... I'm not doing that now..."

Silence as we saw the vines and roots completely wrapped around the guards. Other vines were slowly making their way towards us. But then, Rhys drove over them and come to a stop in front of us.

"Still think it's not a top concern?" He smirked. "let's get out of here!"

I didn't look back as we drove away from the train, nor did I look forward. Only at Cody, my brother, still unconscious in my arms, and I can only hope for the best.

Technopath.

My powers seemed to have manifested despite the fact that I took my suit off later than the others, which Thomas and Mitchell took great offense to. But that didn't matter now, nothing did, not Trey scolding me for running off on my own and unarmed, or Rhys discussing to me the pros of the my powers.

Corrin and Doctor Roland have yet to come out of Kytes's makeshift medical tent with any news of Cody's current situation. All I can do was pace back and forth, my eyes shifting to the ground to the tent repeatedly, even as the others conversed and the scouts returned to report to Trey.

"No remains of the Underground men or their vehicles, except the one Rhys took, were found." Leon told him with a grimace.

Jonah looked sick. "Unless you counted skeletons as remains. It goes without saying that, just like the hotel, we should leave the train out when deciding bases for a few years."

I continued pacing. Serves them right... I scowled.

"Dude, can you stop walking in circles?" Bryce frowned at me. "you're making me dizzy."

Dillan nudged him. "Dude, shut up."

I ignored them, my mind still thinking about what had happened. The guards would deserve even worse than being plant feed if something happens to Cody. I shook my head. No, I can't think like that... I can't lose Cody just when I finally remembered... I can't—

"SEAN!"

"Cody, wait, you still need to recover!"

I whipped my head towards the tent just as I was suddenly tackled to the ground, and Cody is on top of me. I could cry in relief. I immediately wrapped my arms around him.

"I was so scared!"

"Shh, I'm right here, it's going to be okay, shh..."

"Sean," Cody tries to hold himself up, but I don't want him reopening his wound. So I sat up and let him settle in my lap. "What you said earlier... Is it true? I'm your brother?"

I smiled softly, wiping the tears off his eyes, "Yes, Cody, we're brothers." I cupped his cheeks. "I'm so sorry for letting them take you, but now that we're together again... I am never, ever going to leave you again."

"Sean... my brother... I have a brother..." Cody wiped at his eyes before launching himself at me once more and I laughed as I fell back. "You're my brother!"

Corrin made a disgruntled sound. "Cody, your injury..."

"Scold him later, Core, let's not rain on his parade."

"So, does Sean get to call you momma, too?"

"Thomas, do you or do you not care that you have your bones intact?"

"Don't even think about it! It was funny when it was just Meeko, but with all four of you and the continuous evacuations... No one is making any clones, fire, flying , or breaking bones until I've got batteries done! Is that clear?"

I think this is the first time I heard Rhys's irritation out loud.

"Yes, Rhys."

I rubbed Cody's back. "I'm so sorry for our lost times Cody, but I swear, I will make it up to your for all those years we were apart." I buried my face to his neck.

"You already did..."