Broken Universe: Fate Saga

by dragonridley

Universe 3. After the destruction of Unicron, Chad, one of the two who slayed the planet eater now must face further battles against those who control mortals fate, the deities, as well as others who intend to destroy him and those he cares for.

9. Mobius: Abrupt End

The realm of deities was divided into two. There was the top part, where those that carry the titles such as Deity or Summon can feast, be merry and live their lives of comfort under the protection of their creator god if they so choose. Then the re was the lower half, the prison.

"Millions of years we wait. Millions of years we watch the same walls, for soon there will be a day that we will be free to wreck havoc once more!"

Down a long winding stony path from the heavenly lands above and through blackened gates lay that prison. A maze of caves with no light beyond those placed on the walls, haunting blue flames that brought no warmth nor comfort. Pools of water formed from drips escaping from the ceiling gave little in the way of refreshment, bitter to all who drank from them. No natural life survived here, food and useable water was sent down from the realm of the deities to those trapped here to fight over.

"I was once free, once a ruler of many worlds. Under my reign of evil hope did not exist! ...Till Primus came. Together with that damned Samurai they destroyed my body and banished me here to this prison!"

Beasts and those of power that could threaten deities were placed here. Set up to be used as pawns in whatever plans they have. The food and water laced with magical enchantments or powerful medical herbs in order to weaken or grant them strength to match the purpose they are needed for. It didn't matter if they survived or not.

"But now they are long dead, their bloodlines have long ended. So I-"

"For the sake of the Chaos Lord PLEASE stop with this every, single, day. How Trigon hasn't gone insane with your daily ramblings Aku I shall never understand!"

"Be silent Darkseid! I must remind myself of what I await so what sanity I have does not slip away to allow those deities to take control!"

"They will never hold control over me and I don't need to talk to myself aloud!"

Each prisoner had a spot made for them here. A cell with no bars to hold them, for the gates leading out could easily contain them. If they killed eachother it meant whatever died was not worth the long term investment in keeping around.

And those who don't kill eachother, have clearly had time to know one another.

Trigon sat in his own personal hole, a cave far and deep allowing him to remain in darkness. His arms folded. He chose to create this hole to keep to himself, finding the others intolerable. Bar Aku, who he acknowledged as what they would regard as a neighbour to his hole. He was used to the being talking every day. It helped him keep count of how long he has been trapped away...how much vengeance he'll dish out to the deities and any heroes they throw at him.

He listened for Aku and those around him to continue their little feud. Perhaps a fight will break out. The sounds should be amusing enough to pass this day.

But there was something different. Their fighting stopped too soon. The silence that came seemed off. Then, Aku spoke again.

"Who are you to enter this depth of the prison!? We are the ancient ones who fought Primus and you are no Deity!"

A mortal? How amusing.

"What power is this? I cannot fully sense what it is and-AAARRGGHHH!"

Trigon opened his eyes, their fierce glow illuminating the cave wall before him. He certainly didn't expect that sound. He could hear more yells, more screams of pain as he listened on...was a purge going on? Was this new arrival so powerful he could take out Aku and the others surrounding him?

He heard someone whistle from above.

He looked up. His glowing eyes locked onto a figure with twelve claws that stood on the edge of the hole he resided in.

"There you are."

---

Chad was in darkness.

Voices echoed faintly. He couldn't understand most.

He wanted to look at himself, but could see nothing. It wasn't scary though. He felt fine with this.

But now and then, something came through clearly. Either memories, or a whisper that broke through the darkness.

Memories of the Hourglasses.

Anna's embrace.

Their first kiss.

Elie's anger to him.

Darkmega's worried looks.

Then Roll. Her smile as she disappears into nothing...a faceless version of her appearing after.

The claws, the claws of that bastard slowly move their way around her, keeping her away from Chad.

A few whispers reached him as she disappeared into the darkness:

You need to stop hurting yourself, even just for this short time to listen to us.

It's tough to promise someone you'll keep them safe when it's beyond you.

My memories from Hub are very strong towards Roll…I want her happy. But she can't smile like this.

Then more memories, flashes of moments in time.

Chaos, his father, with a beautiful woman with long brown hair beside him, her eyes a teal green. A long blue dress.

They were looking up at a starry night sky. Two moons, the middle of a clearing in a pine forest.

Then he saw a young girl. Pink hair and red eyes. He held her cheek as she was leaning towards him.

Then she and him, they were together within a bed naked.

A ruined city. Destroyed by an enemy. Chaos was beside him holding his shoulder. He looked angry towards the wreckage. Whatever caused it...it made Chad just as angry too.

Then that woman with brown hair was dead, along with several others before Chaos, Chad and the pink haired girl who was broken on the ground beside Chad. Standing other the bodies was a shadow. A shadow with a glint of purple from it's eye.

Then the memories died.

A new whisper spoke out to him.

They put you in this little thing. Just as the deities summon for you. Wonderful.

This might break their desire for you.

You'll be free. Isn't it what you want? To leave this fate behind? To be left alone?

Let's just make sure though. Let him take care of you.

Chad opened his eyes.

He was in the hero base lab. He noticed the lab door open as he opened his eyes, but soon enough they closed again. Around him there was white fog, the computers were clearly switched off and there was a faint sound of wind blowing through the place. "...Huh, I don't recall the labs being filled up with mist before."

Chad didn't feel any different from when he was before Sabek and Regal. Maybe they had woken him up. He looked down at himself whilst patting himself down.

Nope. All normal.

"Uhh. Hello? Anyone?" He made his way towards the lab door reaching out for it's handle.

Only now something was very clearly off as his hand phased through the handle with no contact whatsoever. He stared in utter shock at what just occurred looking to his hand, then at the handle.

"The hell?" He tried to place his hand on it again.

Again his hand phased through. He tried a third time and now his hand had gone through the door itself.

Now he couldn't figure out for the life of him what was happening. He chose to step through the door, curious to see if it was his entire body that was able to phase through objects. Maybe it was a strange state for a Navi, between the digital and the real world, or perhaps a new technique Sabek unlocked by accident or, as he passed through the door into the main room of the base, it could be-

"RATHER EARLY FOR YOU TO PASS ON ISN'T IT?"

"...Oh. Fuck."

---

"So is this another thing inside Chad Oswald?"

"It's entirely possible, that I wouldn't deny but something doesn't feel right with the way he spoke."

"And the way he beat himself and damaged the cell. Chad was fine going in but this thing clearly isn't happy about something."

"I'm think it was fine when Chad was present inside the body but the moment he was moved...We need to talk to it again."

Dr Regal and Sabek were both still standing before the cell that contained Chad's body, which had finally stopped twitching and was currently still.

Regal was quick to disagree on the idea of making Chad move again. "I'd rather we get a teleport suggestion in and get him transported from here to one of the quarantine areas now. If he can punch out one of the bars I'm not comfortable on the chance he'll do it to the others."

"That could be simply due to the change of host. It may have suffered distress."

"And the part it said about killing?"

Sabek thought about this, hand on his chin. "Well emotional outbursts aren't that unusual for him."

"Why don't we let the body lie and just monitor from afar while looking into if this is a Navi issue? Might have happened in the best before. I just don't feel comfortable in here with him right now and we have a security system set up. If he gets out we'll know."

"Then go. I'll try and talk to him a little more. I'll see you at the labs shortly."

Regal didn't wait. He left without looking back whilst Sabek squatted down near the cell, holding onto one of the bars to help him balance a little. "Hello?"

There was no movement but the mouth as the static-like voice spoke back. "I'm busy, but that doesn't mean much to you, does it?"

Sabek adjusted his glasses, looking slightly bemused. "I'm sorry?"

"You handle it. I'll speak for now. It needs to rest. It's calming down. But afraid it'll fade away without him. I hate this. I'm not supposed to be here."

"Where...exactly, is here for you? Can you describe it?"

"One of the rooms. The point of entry, the opening. This is where he sleeps. But his gone now. I'm so afraid. Stop it. I'm speaking."

"The point of entry? I don't quite understand."

"For us not for you. You don't belong here. Never seen here. Please bring him back. I need to know his safe. Please don't try again. Let her talk to the others. She's been there. She can handle things for a short time. No." One of Chad's eyes moved, his right one, looking at Sabek. "I've never taken control. I merge, we speak, nothing else. Better then any of us or myself."

Sabek stared at the eye for a moment, waiting for more movement before talking again. "It sounds like your, talking to yourself?"

"I'm not insane. You act a little hot headed at times though, snappy too. Really should've got him to give you a massage previously. Shut up or I will leave you to handle the issue!" Chad's head moved a little, repositioning itself to that both eyes could look at Sabek. "You're the one who removed him. Explain yourself."

"You mean why I removed Chad's soul?"

"Of course idiot. Now speak. Keep some patience now..."

"I had assumed Angelus was still within Chad. I was hoping to speak with him or not to have anything at all happen on removing Chad's soul and placing in the Muo-Ping…mister...?" Sabek was trying to get a name.

"Mister?" Chad's body seem to pull itself up into a sitting position with the arms still limp and the head swaying a little with his neck muscles relaxed, sounding angry. "Do I sound like a male you mortal outsider?! Keep it together! Gender is not a current concern right now! Then adjust it so he can hear me! He can hear you fine! You're using the body remember? Just let me—urk!" Chad's right hand suddenly moved and grabbed one of the iron bars of the cell. "Don't you even dare try to touch anything! I am in charge right now! And I don't need you having a power rush right now!"

The bar was heard creaking and groaning as Chad's hand was crushing it, making Sabek move back and stand up again instead of staying close.

"I've seen through his eyes before! You have no idea though on how it functions! Let me help! Focus on that abomination and I'll deal with this! I AM NOT AN ABOMINATION! I WANT HIM BACK!" His other hand now grabbed another bar. "JUST GIVE HIM BACK! Look just...accept what the standard thing is and talk to Sabek! I'll keep it calm!"

The hands let go of the bars. The right one had now indeed an imprint of Chad's hand in it. "Fine. But this 'Sabek' can remove souls. I can't trust him should he attempt to remove me."

"Well—" Sabek was about to talk but Chad interrupted him.

"Sabek has been with us our whole lives! You seriously need to dive deeper into things once this is sorted out! He knows Beyondard! He knows Alex and Aurora! He knows of the sister we lost and the two others we had to leave behind alright!? Now look who's getting agitated. Listen I didn't need IT to rush in here howling in despair and causing chaos once Chad was gone! Quite happy to let the system stay shut off! Chad needs to be here! I need him here!"

Sabek breathed in. "I-"

"Destroy the cell! Let's go now! You don't belong! You're going to make it angry! Chad doesn't know about it but he will in time now please listen to Sabek! I do not trust him! You really are gonna stop us with trust issues!? Please bring him here! I don't want to face the dark again! Alright stop for now we're just not getting anywhere! Let go of it!"

With that the body went limp once more and Chad fell back, hitting his back and head hard on the ground, going still again.

Sabek went silent. This is certainly not what he expected whatsoever. "...Perhaps I need to get some tea and think this over. Regal and the others might help with this. Could be Navi related…" He moved away from Chad and left the cargo area.

As the metal doors slid shut, Chad spoke again. "This shouldn't be happening. It's your damn fault for letting it in. You took pity when Chad didn't even know. It isn't a Dark Soul so stop."

---

Medi stared at the hospital computer. She was trying to keep focus on the status of Elie that was on the screen whilst Dr Light was busy preparing synthetic skin for her. The girl was put into a state of sleep for now, a mask over her nose and mouth as her damaged arm hanged to the side with a tube connected to it from a blood bag hanging from a stand nearby. A grey sheet covered her as they had removed the upper half of her clothing to ensure the damage hadn't gone any further beyond her arm.

Dr Light had concluded the burns were fixable with time, medication and medical gel-V 5, a healing component that boosted the regeneration of damaged tissue, used mostly for those who don't touch Battlechips these days.

But from her left elbow down...That was a different story. The acidic compound detected had destroyed nerves and cells alike. It they hadn't intervened in a few more hours Elie would've either bled out or barely had any muscle tissue left.

Medi struggled with the smell. Never before had she noticed so much, especially coming from bodies. The rotten acidic stench that was produced from Elie's exposed flesh made her gag heavily and Dr Light had to suggest she step into the cyro room for a moment to clear the air for herself. Keira had been dismissed at this point with Shademan as Dr Wily said he was fine enough and wanted to help.

Dr Wily had been the one to decide about skin replacement. He noted to Medi about the clear signs there was an infection already taking hold and suggested she ready a round of antibiotics and apply medi-gel to at least work like a bandage, healing and stopping the bleeding for now whilst they get the replacement operation ready. He was currently now staying beside the girl, staring at her as she slept. Clearly concerned.

Dr Light soon told Medi she needed to reapply the gel and get the antibiotic injection in.

As he headed to the small storage room nearby, Medi headed over to one of the glass cabinets they had set up and looked at the selection she had to pick from, the cold air that vented through the cabinet hitting her face.

She stopped. Staring at each of the small glass jars containing different coloured liquids, the names of them she knew but their contents, and what Elie needed...she was missing something. Worry was building inside of her.

"...Medi?"

Dr Wily saying her name made her focus on him.

"Is something wrong?"

"I, am not sure what allergies she has. I think I've…" She paused a second. "Skipped a step."

Dr Wily seemed to stare at her for a while, before answering "Elie has no profile in the system yet. You've probably been so used to the regulars that you haven't used the scanner for some time. Go ahead and get it from beside the computer and get a blood sample from her."

Medi was thankful for that. She closed the cabinet and walked over to the computer spotting the datapad that had a cylindrical device attached on the back of it for placing fluids in. She used a small needle to get a sample and placed it in the cylinder and looked at the results, keeping them in her mind to compare to the choices of antibiotics she had.

Soon enough she had sorted out the injection, and was now gently cleaning the clear through-slightly blue hue gel off of Elie's arm with a cloth that had been doused with sterile water.

"You're being cautious Medi."

That made her stop for a moment looking over at Wily.

"Your normally more to the point and efficient. Are you distracted?"

"A bit. Yes…I can still smell it."

"It's not your first major encounter. You've been through plenty of simulations and real-life experiences." Dr Wily got up from where he had been sitting and walked over near Medi, watching as she continued to finish off removing the medi-gel.

"I know sir. But lately things have been...hard."

She was ready for him to ask a dozen questions about it. Ready for questions about possible faults or a bug, then scans and finally them knowing about that.

"How lately are we talking about?"

Medi finished cleaning and began to apply the new gel, thinking of a time to say. "About...four days ago? I just woke up and something…" She paused for a moment. Didn't want him to get suspicious. "Felt different. Not like an illness or anything, just, different." She cursed herself mentally. That was the best she could come up with?

"Now that's certainly interesting. Tell me what exactly feels different then before four days ago?"

"Well...Smells are more prominent. I guess I don't feel so, restricted?" She was telling herself to play it cool. She could feel herself sweat now. "I feel just things around me are different now."

"...You're sweating."

"I—I guess I just never thought of exactly what it was before and I'm getting a little worried." She quickly focused back on her work. "The gel's nearly applied now."

Dr Wily gave a small sigh and seem to shrug something off, obviously having been thinking something on his mind during this. "Well perhaps we should look into getting you help now. A few assistants."

Medi stopped for a moment. "Huh?"

"We can't expect you to always be at your best. You've had to adjust to a life beyond your duties. So I think you need help to ease the work burden of aiding the people here and keeping an eye on all the medical records and tests."

"I fully agree with Albert." Dr Light had now returned, carrying a few plastic white boxes with detailed labels on one side explaining the components of the synthetic skin stored within. "Sorry, overheard in the room next door Medi. But he has a good point. You've been active for many years now."

Medi smiled at them for a moment before finishing her work and stepping back away from Elie. "Well, I wouldn't say no...But Keira helps out. So do you Dr Light. Roll does too, and that Light Rich fellow has been taking interest now and then, willing to use his power to heal minor problems. That's normally enough."

"To a point it does, but you need people long term. Keira should focus more on tech development like she currently is with Richard Wily. I myself have plenty to do in the labs. My daughter Roll often has her hands full dealing with the cleaning robots and kitchen ones to maintain them when I'm not around. Light Rich, I want him focused on the lab. His proving to be quite the intelligent fellow and I can see him being useful in the biology of several species. It'll be an ease of burden on all four of us and you. Plus we have extra room in this place anyway."

"Far too many empty spaces...still, we'll discuss who we can hire at a later point. Now let's focus back on Elie. The gel seems to have been doing the job. How long before we begin the grafting?" Dr Wily look over to the sister of Anna.

"An hour. Plenty of time for the new gel to heal what it can before we apply the skin. She'll remain asleep till we finish the task." Dr Light placed the boxes nearby. "Medi I'll need you to remain here to make sure nothing changes with her. I'll be in the lab till later. Need to talk to Regal and that Sabek fellow about whatever they were doing with Chad."

"Hm?" That caught Wily's attention.

"Ah right. While you were gone Sabek came to me with Chad and-" He was speaking with Albert as both left the hospital room, leaving Medi by herself now.

The beeping of the computer, pinging and constantly updating the status of Elie was the only thing she could hear for a time as she walked over and sat down next to it looking at a datapad, containing information on the people of the Base. She decided to have a read through...something she hadn't done for years but as she noticed already, recalling things hasn't been as instantaneous or easy as it used to be. She then recalled the sweat, feeling the cold wetness on her face as she quickly got up and went over to the nearby wash basin grabbing a few paper towels to wipe it away.

'Never sweated under pressure or worry before, have we?'

Medi went stiff for a moment, looking over at the hospital door. It took her a little while to realize no one else was here and soon figured out what talked to her. "It's you, in my head."

'Don't have to respond out loud. It'll make you look crazy.'

Medi looked over at the glass cabinet, approaching it to vaguely see her reflection...it smiled at her.

'You don't have to look at me either. I'll always be here.'

Medi thought to herself. 'I feel a little more comfortable looking at what I'm speaking to.'

'So, your first new encounter in your work. Very different isn't it?'

Medi remembered it well enough. 'It's the look of it. The smell. Trying to think about things, I mean actually think...What's happened there?'

'Your recall system has been updated. The guidance program that is normally automatic for you has been placed in minimal assistance. Lets you go through the information you know to find what you want.'

'Is this a part of the change? Do they...suffer this?'

'They were activated with this setting. They got used to it, each one probably has developed to use it differently. Chad for example. Sometimes he can be a little hot headed, doesn't take his time to think about things. Throw him in a fight though and his mind can create a small plan in moments. Another example is the one you took from. Roll struggled with time didn't she? Not perfect on that at all. If she tried cooking she'd probably burn things in the oven. But hacking she could focus on sharply and recall the codes as she tried them. She focused on that over anything else. Prioritised and allocated to what she personally deemed important. It's natural to them.'

'So...I can allocate it? What program do I access?' Medi looked down at her hand for a moment, noticing the soft feeling of her gloves as she moved her fingers.

'You don't. You develop. You focus your mind on what you want to focus on. Now this will hinder you here in your work...I mean they still expect a Medic Type 2 Navi out of you.' The reflection then seem to notice something Medi hadn't. 'Talk later. I suggest you turn around. Eyes just caught someone coming in.'

Medi turned and there entered Blue Light. Staring at Elie, shocked at the state of her arm before looking at Medi. "Shademan passed by and mentioned something happened to Elie. What the hell went on without me?"

---

Ignoring Regal for a moment while he was sitting at one of the tables with a few paper documents out as they entered the Labs, Dr Light looked over at his friend and noticed, despite the little hobble he was doing due to the bruising on his chest and stomach area, he seemed to be smiling. "Hmm, did I miss something?"

Dr Wily got himself to one of the main computers chairs and sat down, leaning on his staff a little while Thomas sat beside him. "I believe that 'it's' happening to her."

"...You've lost me."

"A natural evolution Thomas. What we've been observing for years about." He sat back in the chair now, staff to the side. "I've always theorised Navi's could grow further with the Life Program in their system beyond our expectations. Like robots could with their programming."

"Yes but the robot side of things was thanks to Earth XI. Their scientists cracked the code and created the minds needed to become that of proper independent beings. We merely mimicked the whole thing with X and Zero."

"But it worked for them. Wonderfully so."

"We simply stood on the shoulders of others for that. Navi's have been made by us before that discovery...We couldn't figure it out for our robots so I doubt it'll happen to Navis."

"Yet there was Medi who reacted differently today."

Dr Light frowned. "Mmm. I suppose. But that could be her suffering from memory space overflow. Too much on her plate. Processor can't keep up. Her system is outdated these days. No updates due. You know they stopped using Type 2's and 1's in hospitals a few years back."

"There was nothing wrong with them. People just want things to be more fancier and modernized."

Dr Light nodded a little. "Yes well the lack of a male nurse Navi type did put some hospitals off, at least they've made some improvements. Heck I saw an advertisement for personal home care ones. The Type 4 is quite the hit on that. It doesn't need a medical area, any time on the net and can constantly scan to acknowledge any changes to the people they look after and contact emergency health centers moments after detection of a critical condition. Some even have emergency teleport rights installed to get the person there instead of waiting for a short time. Expensive mind you."

Dr Wily was a little interested. "Go on."

Dr Light didn't need to. He just focused on the keyboard beside him, accessing the net and decided to show Wily via the actual network page that advertised the Net Navi. White clinical background, green writing, the logo of the Shinra company, now used for the Shinra Federation with a red medical cross beside it, and several images of nurse Navis looking after old and young humanoids, all with the signature metallic hair, wearing light blue uniforms, nurse caps, shoes and a white bodysuit hidden beneath whilst they had a black hood that covered the sides of their heads down to their shoulders.

Medic Type 4. The kindest Navi your loved ones can be supported by.

Whether it's terminal, required 24 hours care or simply to give them the company they need in these difficult times, Medic Type 4's are created with you in mind;

Flexible install components. Worried about food or water requirements when times are tough? Concerned they may sleep when your loved one needs them the most? Without the Life program you won't need to worry about such things with your Type 4. Only require them in the network in your household to monitor? Removal of the Real program is the solution.

Adjustable appearance. From their hair to their body size, anything can be adjusted to help ease those you care about into accepting our Type 4. A missed loved one in their life can be returned to them with our image copying program.

Personality editor. To match your loved ones hobbies and interests, we can prepare your Navi with the same to that when they're alone you know those you hold close to your heart will be having the most personalised time of their life.

Free updates. Your Type 4 will be constantly updated to make sure that they provide only the very best of care with no issues or bugs. If your concerned or don't have access to the network, you can disable this feature at any time so that your type 4 remains exactly as you got it. (*)

Extras. Need to protect those you care about? Concerned that emergency services won't get to them in time if something goes wrong? Want to terminate the Type 4 at any time with no penalty or risk of a criminal charge against you? All this and more can be bought on the day of purchase to truly make sure you are set up for your new life with the Type 4. (**) (***)

In small writing at the bottom:

(*) Please refer to net site 'SFHS Terms and conditions' P 23 on failure to use updates and insurance.

(**) Battlechip combat installation requires the buyer to have a Battler License and acknowledgement of the risks and factors to allowing a Net Navi to use Battlechips. A random set of 20 will be provided on purchase, further chips can be brought from your local sellers. Please see 'Net Battler Terms of Use' net page for further information.

(***) Termination service charge begins at 20,000 gil and is subject to change as well as additional fees variant on time, location and reason for termination. Termination of Navi without a viable service can lead to related fines for household property damage with a lack of Real or Life Program. Fine amount dependent to your local system. Termination of Navi without a viable service when both programs are installed may lead to murder charges.

Then there was the price tag.

" 'Starting at 120,000'? Are they serious?" Dr Wily looked quite annoyed at that. "I hope that isn't monthly or it'll be ten times easier paying to live in a care home."

Dr Light meanwhile had gone silent for a few moments. Looking at the page again seemed to make him feel a little sick on the inside. "It irks me that people still sell them like this...especially with the option to take out our two programs."

That's when Sabek walked in with a mug of tea in one hand and went over to Regal as Dr Wily continued to talk to his friend. "It's for those who can afford it Thomas. You have money, they want it. Do anything to get it. Bet those who privately sell Navi's make it far more. At least this is from an official company."

"I suppose so. Still, now you've seen it."

"Yeah…Makes me wonder how they perform." Wily looked at the images. "...I'll get in contact with them."

"Hmm?" Dr Light glanced at him.

"I think we found our hospital assistant Thomas." Now he turned the chair around slowly and looked over to Sabek and Dr Regal, whilst Dr Light had gotten up and stood beside him. "Now what's been going on with Chad?"

Sabek focused on them whilst Regal continued to look through the documents he had. "Albert. Thomas. So far we're just trying to find out, what's wrong with him."

"Is there a problem then? Dark Soul related?" Dr Light looked a little worried on hearing that news from Sabek. "If so the cell might not be enough."

"No no no it isn't dark soul related, at least I don't think it is. I thought we would encounter Angelus through him-"

"His currently on Mobius." Dr Wily pointed out. "Trust me I've seen him."

"Well yes I've concluded that now. But the issue is Chad is still active without his soul in his body. We're trying to figure out if it could be a Net Navigator issue or bug."

The doctors looked at one another. "Ring any bells?" Light asked the other.

"There have been a few reanimation incidents but that's normally a severe virus or major bugs. The Navi body normally doesn't hold out long and breaks down. Last I read up on that stuff the eyes are severely glitchy and difficulty moving the body. Zombies to sum up." Wily remembered.

"That's what I'm looking up on, Got the files from our hard copy storage compartment on Navi research." His adopted son explained, looking between two folders. "None of them hint to a communicative encounter."

"...After his soul was taken?" Dr Light was now genuinely surprised.

"Exactly. We're not sure what we're dealing with. There's more then one I think. The way it's talking seems to imply it." Sabek explained.

"Well where is the body right now? And the soul for that matter?" Wily asked them.

Regal motioned over to a collection of dark grey metal storage cabinets near the computer. "Compartment 5 has the bottle Chad is in. Blues informed me on my way here. The body is still in storage, in the cell."

"Anyone watching it?"

"No. I suggested to Sabek we use the security cameras. Chad was...a little violent."

Dr Wily turned his computer and typed into the computer to access the cameras. Dr Light meanwhile joined over with Sabek and Regal. "Does it intend to attack any of us? Any hints of it's purpose?"

Sabek tried to explain. "It's angry, but part of it wants to talk. Another simply wants Chad to be returned and was, quite distressed when it was clear Chad wasn't around. The soul I mean. One of them threatened to kill if need be. Mentioned about the 'dark' and didn't want to face it again."

Thomas folded his arms, eyes closed and thinking. "The dark? Did it give a description? Explain what it meant?"

"No it simply said that Chad had pulled them from the dark. It's desperate to have him back."

"It's destroyed the bars of the cell and is now wandering the cargo storage area." Wily said to them in a casual manner. "Seems about right with him."

"What?!" Sabek quickly came over and looked at the screen along with Dr Light and Regal.

There was Chad walking around between the crates. An empty vague look on his face, swaying a little back and forth and arms down at his side. He would walk towards the doors leading into the hallway which automatically open, stared out at the hallway as the docs and Sabek watched the screen before he turned around and walked back in, eventually repeating again after several minutes of wandering.

"Do we have sound?" Sabek now asked as Chad again approached the doors and simply stared out beyond them.

Dr Wily nodded and clicked a button on the screen. The voice was static, audible with a sense of fear in it.

"I can't find him. I can't find him. I know the one who made it dark is watching me. I can't find him. I can't find him. I know the one who made it dark is watching me. Please come back. Please. Please come back." Then Chad once again turned away from the door and walked around the crates again. "The others are fighting. They don't understand. Everything is grey. I am here. I am here…"

"This is nothing like we've dealt with before. I suggest we quarantine him before anyone interacts with him. Who knows what this, thing, might do to people." Dr Regal suggested as Dr Wily meanwhile had accessed the security system and made the cargo storage doors no longer respond and locking before zooming in towards Chad with the cameras, switching them as Chad disappeared from view from one to another.

Before he came to a dead stop and slammed face first to the metal floor. Groaning, rolling around before sitting abruptly upright. A minute of silence before he started to talk again. "Damnit all to hell. I left to have a word with the damn thing and that creature makes it move without me. Now let's try and focus…" Chad started getting up. "I'm not a creature. I dunno what you are but your pissing me off. Your worse then that damn soul."

He was stumbling around, smacking into the sides of crates stopping for a moment, before trying to walk towards the cage. "I swear if you make Sabek scared of coming back...He will. He must. We have to find him. His safe in that stupid jar now shut up and go somewhere else please. I got this." It stepped over the destroyed fragments of metal bars and got back inside, sitting on the bed. "This is why I'm the reserve. I'm not suppose to be controlling anything, advice only. Yet here I am. If that bird could keep it's mood swings in check I'd let it handle this."

"...What is going on here?"

All four turned to look at the lab entrance.

Zuo Ci was there, looking at the screen in confusion.

"Ah, Zuo Ci. We're having a minor problem with Chad right now, if you don't mind we're rather busy…" Dr Wily started to explain.

Before another person came in.

"Elie had been kidnapped and you didn't want to tell me, the one person who knows Station Square the most out of everyone in this damn base?!"

Blue had now arrived.

Sabek felt perhaps using the Muo-Ping now really wasn't such a good idea afterall.

---

They were running through the streets of Station Square heading for it's outskirts. They had gathered all those they could and were making their escape.

Angelus was pissed off the whole scheme had been completely destroyed inside and out. They were exposed, a majority of those they had were killed, the deity who backed them with the idea it was all in the will of the gods themselves had now abandoned them, and Richard had used them with no further contact. He knew he should've thought it over a little more. Chad's memories, especially those of Unicron should've been a good enough warning sign that the dark soul was dangerous.

A part of him wondered if perhaps it'll pay off in the long run though, maybe Richard hadn't turned entirely.

He wanted to choke that part of his mind right now. The cloudy night sky barely visible in the streets lit with lights, the roads empty as they had left the tower blocks of the center part of the city behind. The houses around them now more individual and divided. They came to a stop in an empty park. A water fountain in it's center, the lights sparse and weaker then the normal street lights. To those who monitored them now, it seemed like a rough gang and walked into the place and were discussing things to themselves, the glows of their eyes no longer as visible in this lighting.

There were 18 of them left.

Many had left whilst they ran. They didn't want to be around Angelus anymore. Perhaps they sensed the change, the sudden abandonment of the deity shook them as well as the hunting prowess of those from the Hero Base.

Spike was leaning on one of the blue painted lamposts as the others were now standing around to recover, he himself looked a little exhausted from their fleeing. "Hey. I know first plans don't always work out but this one really went the wrong way. You got a spare plan on standby?"

Angelus looked around, checking to see if anything had followed them, still getting his own breath back. "Unless we go back to Beyondard Spike, no. I don't at the moment."

"But what about what The First promised us?" Dursella went over to him, holding his shoulder and looking a little concerned with all that's happened. "He promised we would rise in power within the stars away from your prison, our home. He said you would escape from the child of his own host and both of you shall bring about an age of chaos and-"

"I know what he promised but he hasn't come has he." Angelus hissed at her, his vampiric face showed letting her realize his real frustration with all this. "We're supposed to have allies within the higher powers aiding us, he's supposed to have plans in motion to bring an uprising of vampire kind from the time of the Ancients, but isn't it obvious to you? He isn't here when his supposed to be!"

He turned away from her and Spike, walking onto the uncut wet grass in the dark away from the path before continuing, looking around to the distant houses and roads as he spoke. "None of this is right. Gabriel spoke to the First himself. He said the age of vampires is coming and is foreseen by the gods. The Beast, Harbingers, the Turok-Han, preparing to open the seal of Danzalthar at the opening to the realms of oblivion on Zebes, we're suppose to have these things with us as I escape Chad with the foolish idiot Sabeks help but it didn't happen. None of it has."

"What, you're saying you got woken up too soon or something?" Spike wondered.

"Exactly." Angelus turned to them both. "I moved out of Chad while he was in quarantine in the base. I latched onto the dark soul because it felt right. It was a lure and I took it. Someone lured me in...that was Lucy Valentine…" He looked angered now. "An alternate version of that whore from Beyondard did this. She disrupted it all."

"An alternate? Universal version you mean? So you wanna go hunt her down as payback?"

Angelus fell silent for a moment. "...No. I don't think she is the Universal version. Something was wrong with her, like with Richard...Nameless…All the same."

"And none of them will help you on your recovery from this anyway."

All of them turned towards the fountain in the middle of the park that was inactive.

A dark grey skinned male elf with orange long hair tied into a ponytail, a goatee on his sharply featured face and vampiric glowing yellow eyes was looking at them as he was sitting at the side of the curved green wall of the fountain with his arms folded. His silver coloured hardened leather outfit along with black boots and gloves made him stand out from the group. "News gets around fast when vampires are being slaughtered. I doubt trying to leave this world by normal means will even be possible for you at this rate."

Angelus was not angered by the intrusion. The smell was clearly of a fellow vampire, it was easy to understand why none of his exhausted allies noticed the arrival quickly. But there was a lingering smell on this one he didn't take to so quick...the scent of a leader, another Vampire Lord. A rival in his eyes if he were to fall prey to such primitive senses. "Then you're trapped as well…?"

"Call me Garan Marethi. And no, unlike you, my lord has a way for me to leave this world. Though we tend to avoid this...time of technology, we've found teleporting is highly useful to avoid detection if you know the right wavelengths to hide your movements in. We can offer such to you."

Spike looked annoyed on that. "Oh yeah? And for what? To bow to your master?"

"Whilst I'm sure he would take pleasure in seeing someone like your lord bow the only reason I was sent was because a certain other vampire lord, though he tends to pride himself as something more, mentioned the existence of you Angelus."

"...Who?" Dursella hoped for one name as the answer.

And she got it. "The First. Though my lord has come to call him 'Chaos' instead after a rather bitter exchange between the two."

Angelus was now quite intrigued as he walked over to Garan. "So The First was still making moves whilst I struggled with a deity. At least his still active. So I take it's a gathering of our kind? Plans put into motions and such?"

"The First did mention plans, though it is down to my lord if he wants to set such plans in motion. He makes the final decision."

"...And this lord of yours thinks he can order around the first evil?"

Garan was showing his teeth as he smiled a little. "Of course. That 'evil' could very well be the first. Of this cycle. But my clan and my lord...we go beyond that. So try to be humble when you meet him."

Angelus was fine with that. "I can pretend to be. So when can we see this lord?"

"As soon as your ready. He'll be interested in meeting you I'm sure. Do you have any others that need to be gathered up?"

"They're probably dead by now thanks to all the hunting going on."

He was right on that, but not by those of the hero base.

The vampires who had split off had managed to sneak into the train station to escape. The night train being an easy target as hardly anyone was on it.

They had escaped to the place known as the mystic ruins, and noted some-place nearby they could rest and recover, and perhaps find something to feed on. A home that doubled as a workshop on the cliff nearby.

The lights within now flickering, damaged. The kitchen, the hallway and the entrance were wrecked. Tables smashed, chairs torn asunder, the wallpaper slash and clawed with photo frames smashed on the ground. Blood and dust scattered all around in the eerie silence.

In the workshop where there was a blue painted metal plane, there was one mobian breathing in panic on the concrete floor up against the wall in the corner.

Tails escaped to his home to think over what he had decided to do months ago. When he chose to help Keaton to avoid Rufus Shinra. He'd read up on him before and just had the inkling he would be bad news for the future of his kind and his friends, even compared to the reckless and hate-filled Keaton. He chose to side with what he deemed the lesser evil. Then he saw the chance to help them, through the creation of weapons from an already fought evil.

He just never expected the 8th variant to be slowly approaching, growling as it stood on it's back legs, claws and maw covered in blood.

The vampires barged in through the front door, spotted Tails and mentioned how he would do 'for the time being', but before they could act beyond that, it appeared. It met the twenty strong group with a roar and claws plunging into its targets. Tails fled to the workshop whilst all hell broke loose in his home. His mind going blank on how to deal with this before the silence came...and the slow, thumping steps of the beast entering his workshop.

It's glowing red eyes had locked onto him and it's towering form was now standing right before him. He felt the trickle of blood coming out of it's mouth land on him as it looked down. It's shadow consumed him with the light overhead. He just waited, his mind quickly processing the fact that this could be it.

Before it spoke, it's menacing growling voice made Tails listen very sharply. "I want you alive, Tails. I require you to come with me and bring all the information you have on how I was brought into existence."

"I, I put all that stuff in the second cabinet over on the left wall-"

It smashed one of it's chitin-hardened hands into the nearby metal cabinet that bent inwards, fell off the wall it was attached to and landed on the ground right close to Tails, him flinching and shaking as screws and bolts rolled around on the floor before all was silent bar his rapid breathing. "I was not asking you to come with me. Simply what you need to bring."

"R-Right."

---

Hub, Ruth and Quickman had been talking at Ridley's bar for the last few hours. Mostly with the two guys telling her about each and every person they knew here as she felt the information she could gathered network wise was minimal.

The talks soon went to the idea of more battlechip practice instead of getting interrupted by Ridley now and then asking them what kind of ingredients they liked and soon headed off through the base to the hologram rooms. As They were now heading down one particular corridor, Ruth felt a cold feeling rush down her spine and came to a stop at one large door, staring at it. The other two failed to notice for a moment as they focused on but soon realized one of them was missing and double backed with Quickman asking her. "Hey Ruth, you okay?"

She was staring at the metal door. "...Where does this go into?"

"Huh?" Hub looked at it for a moment. "Cargo storage. Nothing much there unless you need some shelving in your room or the computer replaced."

She walked towards the door, placing her hand on it. Something worried her more now. The feeling of...fear, crawled across her skin. "The door is locked."

Hub nodded. "Probably for the best. We don't need people looking through the supplies without prior acknowledgement from grandfather and Wily."

The feeling of fear was replaced now for her though. Something changed inside that place. She didn't feel welcome. There was anger. "...Something is inside."

Quickman now walked over and placed his hand on the door. "I'm...not getting that feeling. Like a virus or something? I mean I know you can hack doors but I thought it needed you to use-"

There was a green flash of light behind them.

Standing in the corridor now was Chad, looking dazed, confused, and completely out of it. Staring off into the distance not focused on any of them as his head aimed towards them for a moment, before looking ahead. "Why are you here?"

The three Navi's looked at one another, unsure what to say to him before Ruth spoke, moving her hand off the door. "Chad? Are you okay?"

"Let go, please. Don't do anything stupid. I don't know why she's gotten under your skin being so close but leave her alone." Chad slowly placed his right hand on his left shoulder. "We need to wait in the cargo area." Then he abruptly shook his own hand off said shoulder. "No. I need to look at her. What they have done…"

His head turned to Ruth, his eyes locked on her. It was clear from Chad's now changed expression to utter hatred he didn't like what he could see. "C-Chad?"

"What did they do? What did the doctors do?"

"I, I don't understand you."

Hub now spoke. "Chad, the doctors haven't touched Ruth since she was activated."

"Reset. A complete reset." The facial expression then went neutral. "Yes they did. They had to do something with it. It was long enough." The look of hate returned. "Then why couldn't I feel it!? Why did it take so long!? Why was I so far away!?"

Chad's arm shot up...as he decked himself in the face, stumbling back in shock and smacking into the wall opposite the trio, breathing in surprise. "Why is it in control!? You said you could handle things!? This is not handling things! I tried but it sensed her!"

Quickman quickly went over to Chad along with Ruth whilst Hub got on the com-link. "Dr Light! Wily! Something's wrong with Chad!"

"Chad, buddy, you need to take it easy. What's gotten into you?" Quickman placed his hands on Chad's shoulder and back.

Only to suddenly find himself pinned up against the wall, arm across his neck as Chad has grabbed him, spun him around and placed him where the mobian was previously. "Keep away from me! I don't trust you! Leave him alone! They want to help!"

Ruth quickly grabbed him now. "Chad stop!"

"DON'T LET HER SPEAK ANYMORE! PLEASE!" Chad let Quickman go and grabbed Ruth with one hand, his fingers digging into her arm whilst his other hand, pushed against his jaw with just the same strength. "DON'T TOUCH HER! HELP ME GODDAMMIT!"

As Ruth yelled in pain and tried to yank her arm away...they all heard a cracking sound as Chad let go of her arm, stumbling back as his jaw was loose, dislocated. His hands were now over his mouth as he fell on his knees with blood leaking out between his fingers. He was horrified.

Ruth kept her distance now whilst Quickman did the same, both unsure what was happening as Hub got off the com-link. "Ruth! Quickman! We need to get Chad to one of the quarantine rooms. Something is wrong with him!"

As Hub said it, Chad was on his feet and bolting down the corridor as soon as he heard the word quarantine. All three quickly gave chase.

---

Death was standing there, in the middle of the main room of the Hero Base. His blue glowing orb eyes staring straight at Chad.

"I...I'm dead?"

"YOU'VE BEEN TAKEN OUT FROM YOUR MORTAL COIL. SO YES. YOU ARE DEAD. EFFECTIVELY."

"What happened?" Chad looked down at his hands, still in disbelief. "Why am I here? Where is this exactly?"

Death walked over to him, making the mobian navi look up at the figure of the end. "THIS IS YOUR VISION OF THE AFTERLIFE. YOU MORTALS ALL HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS OF WHAT COMES RIGHT AFTER. THIS IS YOURS."

"You can...see what I see? The faint white fog down the corridors? The computers all off, no electric power? The faint wind that, won't stop coming from…" Chad motioned all around him. "Like it's if the walls don't exist?"

"YES. I CAN PERCEIVE WHAT ALL MORTALS SEE. IT'S MOSTLY EITHER QUITE COLOURFUL OR SHOCKINGLY GRIM. YOURS ISN'T UNUSUAL. QUITE TAME. ANNA'S WAS THE SAME. NOW AS FOR THE WHY YOU ARE HERE, SOMEONE LET YOU LEAVE THE MUO-PING."

"I got out?"

"AND THE MOMENT YOU DID IT WAS A CALL TO ME. SABEK WOULD'VE PREFERRED TO HAVE YOUR BODY NEARBY WHEN YOU GET OUT SO YOU KNEW INSTINCTIVELY WHERE TO GO, BUT CLEARLY IT ISN'T NEARBY ENOUGH TO ESTABLISH THE NATURAL BONDING OF THE MORTAL FORM TO THE SOUL. SO NOW YOU ARE A WANDERING SPIRIT THAT I'VE COME TO COLLECT."

"Collect?" Chad slowly moved back. "You mean, reap my soul? Now? But-but I'm not ready!"

"I GAVE YOU YOUR CHANCE BACK WITHIN UNICRON. CLEARLY IF THE DEITIES ARE NOT SO WATCHFUL OF YOU TO LET THIS SLIP HAPPEN THEY AREN'T PAYING ATTENTION. DON'T FRET. THE FARPLANES IS QUITE WARM AT THIS TIME OF THE CYCLE." With that Death placed his hand out beside him, and in a flash of blue flames his scythe was in his grasp.

"But Richard is still here! He's not been defeated! You wanted me to deal with him remember! The Dark One?! The Broken One?!"

"THERE WILL BE OTHERS. BESIDES-" He moved a little closer, grabbing the scythe with both of his skeletal hands now and rising it in position for a diagonal swing across Chad. "—IF THE DEITIES WANT YOU BACK, IT IS ONLY A MINOR PROBLEM FOR THEM."

Chad wanted to bolt, but his mind was clouded with indecision, too late to act as the scythe went through him making him yell in sheer fear...before noticing nothing has changed as Death relaxed his posture after using his weapon.

"THERE."

"...What?"

"YOU'VE BEEN RELEASED. I'VE CUT THE LINK ENTIRELY TO THE MORTAL REALM. YOU ARE FREE."

Chad just looked confused as anything, feeling his chest to make sure the weapon didn't cut anywhere. "Free how?"

"ALL SPIRITS HOLD LINKS TO THE MORTAL REALM. MY JOB IS TO SEVERE THAT, THEN SEND YOU TO WHERE YOU SHOULD GO. BECAUSE OF WHO YOU ARE, I AM GOING TO TAKE YOU TO THE FARPLANES."

Chad moved away from Death. He walked around the main room trying to feel if anything was truly different now. Besides the sense that he was a little lighter, there was not much else. "Can I stay?"

Death sighed, shaking his head a little. "IF YOU SO WISH. BUT YOU WILL BE A SPIRIT. A LINGERING SHADE WITH NO WAY BACK. MANY ASK THE SAME TO ME. SOME DO STAY BEHIND. I LET THEM. EVENTUALLY THEY EITHER BECOME TWISTED, USING ENERGY FROM THE WORLD TO GAIN A CORPOREAL FORM FOR SOME PURPOSE THAT ALWAYS CAUSES THEIR SUFFERING TO INTENSIFY, ONLY TO BE DESTROYED AND FORCED TO MOVE ON BY OTHER MORTALS, OR THEY EVENTUALLY ACCEPT THINGS AND PASS ON INTO THE LIFESTREAM OR THE FARPLANES."

Chad felt hopeless on hearing that, coming to a stop just outside the hospital room door looking at Death once again. "I, I assume everyone asks that? Do most people stay?"

"I DON'T ALLOW THE OPTION TO EVERYONE. I DECIDE FROM YOUR PAST IF YOU EARN SUCH. I WOULD SAY A MAJORITY IF THOSE I ASK DON'T. THOSE THAT DO OFTEN WAIT FOR SOMEONE OR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN, A LOVED ONE TO FOLLOW THEM OR AN EVENT TO OCCUR. IT IS OFTEN WELCOMING FOR THEM IF SOMEONE ELSE IS HERE AT THIS MOMENT OF MOVING ON."

"…" Chad was hesitant on this next question, but he knew he had to if to only give him a small piece of mind. "Did...Anna want to wait for me?"

"SHE WANTED TO SAY GOODBYE. YOU KNOW YOU EXPERIENCED THAT."

"Is she in the Farplanes!? The Lifestream!? Zuo Ci said he couldn't sense her but-"

"SHE WAS IN OBLIVION."

The mobian stared in utter horror, his very being seem to feel this absolute sense of dread on hearing that. "W...what?"

"SHE WAS CAST TO OBLIVION, THEN WITHIN TIME I HAD ALLOWED HER SOUL TO REJOIN THE MULTIVERSE, PURGED AND CLEANSED OF IT'S PREVIOUS EXISTENCE AND DIVIDED ACROSS MANY PLANETS."

"Y-You killed her soul!?"

Death haunting eyes glowed a little brighter looking straight at Chad. "I RECYCLE. NOT KILL."

Chad felt anger now towards the grim reaper. "But she was there! You decided to 'recycle' her! You could've done something then! He killed her and you just let it happen, then decided to tear her apart without giving me a chance to set it right! I deserved that chance! I could've done it and not suffered from having to give her up for your inability to sort it out! You can't even deal with Richard and had to make me try! Do you know what these months have been like!?"

There was a billowing wind, brief and subtle coming out of Death as his eye sockets bent to a narrow state...a glare had formed on him as he slowly moved towards Chad.

"LET ME REMIND YOU, BOY. IF I WISHED, THIS MULTIVERSE COULD END. I'LL TAKE THIS AS YOU STILL GRIEVING AND FAILING TO RESTRAIN YOUR THOUGHTS."

Chad felt himself weaken, his anger gave out to the feeling of dread with Death looking at him like that. He felt humbled and fell silent. Death gave a wave of his hand before Chad. "I'M GOING TO SEND YOU TO THE FARPLANES. CLEARLY YOU NEED A TIME OUT." Before the mobian was swallowed by blue flames for a moment before vanishing entirely. Death felt himself calm a little as the quietness of this place took over for a time. "IT'S BEEN A LONG WHILE SINCE ANYONE DARED TO ACCUSE ME BEYOND THOSE ANNOYING LIFESTREAMS AND GODS...HMM?"

Death looked over to one of the corridors.

There was Diamas, who instinctively moved a little closer to the side of the corridor wall to not be so visible to the reaper.

Death looked away and to Diamas' view back in the normal realm, he was gone.

Meeting Death and returning to the mortal realm was not normal. Diamas had walked that line once being trapped within Unicron. When all power was lost in the time of Primus. As a blessing, or a curse depending on how it was seen, Death was no longer hidden to the furthest corners of his peripheral vision.

He knew he existed. For him the reaper was clear as day.

And it now concerned him as to why he was here in the base. It was clear no one else in the room, Laserman, Xiahou Dun, Ryu and Charlie had seen him. A few people had run by him recently and since they were focused on something else, clearly hadn't seen the reaper either while he was in the main room. "I had best speak to the doctors, see if anyone has passed away here."

---

Chad's body was running, easily dashing down corridor after corridor, trying to find somewhere, anywhere to hide from being caught and thrown into quarantine. Thanks to the jaw damage it could only gurgle and make distorted sounds.

It quickly glanced back, spotting Quickman coming around the corner.

It moved on, continuing to avoid confused people of the base, trying to hide it's damaged mouth. Whilst passing by them.

Before it suddenly went rigid and smacked into the ground, after passing by a very confused Samus. "What in the goddamn…?"

Soon enough as she bent down to check on Chad, Quickman got to her. "Hey nice work! You took him down!"

"I did nothing. What's happened to Chad?"

The body twitched, slowly moving itself to sit up on it's behind, looking at Samus and Quickman. It tried to talk but it was hard to understand thanks to the damage it did to itself.

"Dislocated jaw. Has he been in a fight?" Samus asked Chad's Navi.

"Hold on a moment." Quickman now had gone down on his knees. "Chad? Don't move buddy. This is gonna sting like all fuck."

With that he placed his thumbs inside Chad's mouth and his fingers around the lower jaw before pushing down on the teeth and up on the chin until he felt something move into place and let go. The body didn't react to what he did and as it waited he got a recovery chip out and placed it on Chad's hand, the battlechip, after a while, showed no signs of working whatsoever.

Hub and Ruth had now got here. "Quickman don't heal it! It might get aggressive again!" Hub explained too late.

"I, uh, I can't. He's either not accepting it, or it's not working at all due to an error." Quickman explained as he soon gave up on the battlechip. The bruising on Chad's face showing more and more visible now.

It spoke again after blinking it's eyes a few times and looking around a little. It showed no pain on using the mouth again. "He has shut down. All of him has. She has fled. I'm the only one left behind. What has happened out here?"

"What do you mean?" Ruth asked it.

"It's all quiet."

Samus looked utterly baffled at the others with her. "What is, exactly going on here?"

Hub didn't want to explain and just motioned at Samus to hold on a moment. "Listen, whoever this is. We need to get you quarantined safely. You're a danger to yourself."

Chad turned his head to Hub, unblinking. "I want to see Sabek. He must know of what has happened. I am, struggling, to work this. Parts are not responding. With all of them no longer moving I am alone. And my power is...weakening."

Quickman looked to Hub, unsure of what the body meant before focusing back on it. "Who or what have stopped moving?"

"The ones that maintain this place. They no longer function. One of who waits at the entry point simply just stopped moving and fell."

Ruth moved a little closer. "Hey...can I check on you? See, my antennas can access your body so I can see what's wrong."

"Do so, but if you try to remove me, I shall destroy you."

Ruth quickly glanced at those around her. "Watch closely okay? My arm is still stinging a little from before."

The others nodded as her antennas slowly came forward and their tips touched Chad's chest, entering as her eyes glowed brighter slightly.

It didn't take long at all for her to remove them and look at Hub with very deep concern. "Hub. He's dead."

"What?"

"Nothing at all besides a very weak energy signal coming from somewhere within." Ruth looked to the body. "What are you? Can you tell us?"

The body looked at them all one at a time. "My name, no, what I am, is the Life Soul."

Hub got on the com-link. "Gramps? We've secured the body. Please advise us on what to do."

In the labs, Dr Light and Wily had to explain to Blue why they never contacted him, much to his anger, and were now dealing with a deeply concerned Zuo Ci as Light had received the call.

Blue was standing away from them all, arms folded and listening to everything happening as to make sure they don't leave him out if Elie gets mixed in again. Zuo Ci stood with the two old docs, Sabek was eagerly waiting for what was happening to the body and Dr Regal was now dealing with Diamas at the table he was sat at, both Wily and Light pointed the Hyrulian to go over to him and ask whatever it was he wanted as they were too busy...and what he asked soon caught the attention of Sabek.

"Hold on just a moment." Sabek was clearly more focused on Diamas. "What did you say?"

Diamas explained it once again. "The reaper of souls had come just now. I saw him in the main room. I have met him before."

Sabek felt extreme worry on that. "Regal, could you please point out to me where the Muo-Ping is?"

Dr Light watched as Dr Regal pointed out where the soul jar was contained and Sabek quickly going over and opening the cabinet before the doc decided to focus back on his call. "Hub? Is the intrusion into Chad willing to cooperate?"

"For the moment. It's baffled to what's happened to him though so I don't think it's the cause of whatever is-"

"He's gone."

That hadn't come from the com-link. Thomas had moved it away ignoring whatever Hub was saying as he looked over to Sabek once more as he held the jar.

Empty.

Zuo Ci disappeared in a flash of white light. Leaving a room now filled with dreadful silence for several minutes, Hub trying to get answers through the com-link before Sabek said it once more as if to make it fully sink to those around him.

"I'm, I'm so sorry. But, Chad is gone."

---

Zuo Ci ran through the Deity realm. He got to the throne of Blind Io and asked for an emergency audience. He knew the deity would no doubt have been playing the game and if Chad has been collected, his figure would've turned to dust before the very eyes of the leader of their kind. He was in deep shit now and needed to speak up before he gets called in by them.

He was granted his audience.

Kefka was recalled ASAP.

Lu Bu was called in.

Zuo Ci was now standing before the stairway leading to the golden throne of Blind Io, the leading deity sat in his place. Black clouds covering the sky, flashes of thunder filling them as Zuo Ci explained everything before the other deities who had gathered. The previous two mentioned as well as Slur, Castiel, Palutena, Lady Luck, Gabriel, Akuma and Fate. In Blind Io's left hand which was open for all to see was a small pile of black sand. A northerly wind blew from behind Blind Io, bitter and cold as it blew the sand away, passing the kneeling Zuo Ci as the lead deity spoke.

"Chad is dead."

"Yes, my lord. He has been claimed by Death." Zuo Ci dared not to look upon Blind Io now, His head remained firmly looking to the ground.

Kefka looked utterly baffled motioning with his hands to vent frustration. "I don't understand! You had one job! One little job in all this! The Primus boy needs to live and get in the way of my plans and you BLEW IT!? I had to deal with vampires and they at least tried to keep to the script! You let him die this early!"

"This was in error in my part I admit, but I cannot be blamed for all of these turns of events away from the planned outcome of the game."

Lu Bu felt compelled to speak up for the old deity. "Chad is not Primus. His interactions and movements are more difficult to follow. We must also recall the corruptive entity is within that place and with it's power, makes it difficult to monitor things."

Blind Io numerous floating eyes looked to Lu Bu. "To focus on a single mortal is a simple task. You would find it best to be silent for now." They then focused on Zuo Ci. "What reason do you have for this failing?"

"I had been watching the girl from Beyondard. My focus was on her entirely and I had not thought that Chad would not move to rescue his allies that were captured by Kefka." Zuo Ci motioned over to the mage.

"Well as I told you he didn't! Not only that but the pain in the ass that Lu Bu mentioned was actually hanging out with me and caused me more problems!" Kefka complained about. "He scarred Elie and stole her mark getting access to Trigon! I don't know why but-"

Now Blind Io's eyes were on him. "You teamed up with the corruption entity, the one thing that has ruined this game so far, without informing me?"

Kefka fell completely silent, knowing what he had let slip, before muttering and cursing under his breath whilst rubbing his forehead "Oh fuck me." then choosing to speak aloud. "Look you said I had run of any extras I deem worth using great one. I saw him, noticed a desire to side with me and I went along with it. It was a mistake but I assure you I had expected it to pay off in the long run of things-"

"Sephiroth would've avoided him. Perhaps I should speak to Death to see if he can find the soul anywhere in Oblivion rather then spend more time and effort on you." Blind Io was soon back to Zuo Ci though. "As for you. You are done."

Zuo Ci looked to his leader in disbelief "My-my lord?"

"This is clearly a sign that you are not capable in the tasks of this game. You are to no longer take an active part. You will remain in the deity realm. Lu Bu. You will return to the Hero Base. Kefka, monitor the situation of the foes left to take part." His eyes looked over to Castiel. "You will now take Zuo Ci's place."

Castiel eyed his fellow deities, before questioning the decision. "Blind Io, I have no connections to that Hero Base."

"We will adjust the game and them to accept you...and the reserve we have."

Lu Bu raised his eyebrow as he folded his arms. "A reserve blood of Primus?"

"I had planned to terminate it once Trigon had played it's part. But it's clear now it needs to be used. While we work out the finer points, Slur, I want you to check on Trigon and the rest of our prisoners. Make sure the corrupted one has not done any damage or removed them without our consent."

Slur bowed and left whilst Zuo Ci had gotten himself to his feet. "Blind Io wait! We can simply get Death to bring Chad back! This is a minor setback!"

"So you can fail me again? No." Blind Io got up from his throne. "I grow tired of the game being disrupted."

"But Chad is the one who has faced the corrupted entity! I beg you allow me to bring him back! If not as the bloodline to die when the time is right at least to delay the entity so it no longer gets in our way!"

The chief god looked offended. "You wish to return a discarded pawn to watch from the side whilst his destiny is taken by another? Do you think I am a fool? You believe he won't fight the reserve when he knows he is now nothing to us?"

"I will make sure he is not aware of the change! I will keep him focused elsewhere!"

"And I am to believe that you simply wish to stay in this game and will not try to sabotage Castiel to take center stage?"

Zuo Ci gave a bow, head as low as he could. "I cannot be made to sit in this realm! I must be there even to be at the side of it! Being the main deity of the game matters little to me right now!"

Blind Io slowly moved down the steps, each step echoing around the other deities as he soon came to a stop before Zuo Ci. "...You don't want to be a mockery before Universe 2."

Zuo Ci didn't answer. He kept his head down.

"That Zuo Ci played the game perfectly. Adjusted to it well, let his Chad and those of that Hero Base believe they could defy the game and even at the surprise death of his Blind Io and Fate, he continued it until it was done...aren't you already beneath his capability if you already lost your Primus blood holder?"

Lu Bu had noticed now that Zuo Ci was shaking a little as Blind Io slowly walked by him towards the other deities. His 'ally' to put their relationship in a word was clearly shaking in anger at the comparison the leading deity just gave.

The remaining deities stood aside from Blind Io's path as it was clear he was about to leave. He stopped before the hallway looking over his shoulder. "Very well. If you seek to redeem yourself and not be seen as a complete failure to your counterpart, you may go and retrieve the boy. I will speak to Death and grant you the right. A few dozen souls or so may be required in exchange...I'm sure you can find mortals to kill for it. Just not on Beyondard this time, hmm?"

---

Slur walked through the caverns of the prison. She was trying to sense for the captives they had. She knew where Trigon was kept. He had one of the larger areas. A massive hole that he placed himself in.

What began to worry her was the fact that she knew around where he was contained were several powerful creatures, yet none of their energy levels could be felt right now. She didn't worry about them escaping and instead suspected Trigon had managed to kill them. Aku probably said something he shouldn't at long last.

Once she found the dark, spiralling pit that Trigon had put himself in, his four glowing eyes looked up to her from the darkness. The torches were only placed at the entrance to his cell.

"Trigon. You will be summoned out of here soon. Blind Io has use for you. Once it's over you will return here."

...Normally he would respond to her about how the deities believe they can contain him again but instead, there was this hissing sound along with the creaking of wood.

She didn't see the multiple black and violet limbs with sharpened claws coming, rushing up the walls of Trigon's prison, nor the fact those eyes that were within his head was attached to a mass of shifting blackened flesh, containing multiple different eyes, mouths and a few wings, both feather and leather, assorted randomly on it's central mass form that seemed to drip a horrible sticky liquid as it came up the side.

She was too slow to avoid one claws grasping out and grabbing her, launching itself and her down towards his mouth with it opening wider then it should revealing rows upon rows of misshapen and multicoloured teeth dripping with hissing purple slime.

She found herself being brought into those teeth.

Then crushed and consumed, a brief scream of terror was all she managed to get out. The Leviathan soul within her becoming a part of this abomination. It seemed to squirm at the sensation, before a part of it's huge, constantly shifting mass blasted open and out came a leathery wing to add to it's collection.

It dragged itself through the network of caves, it's size adjusting as it moved, puddles of it's body left behind in it's wake.

Within it were constant screams, the bodies and souls of all those within this prison consumed and twisted into this creature, their minds linked up to one. One who slept in the middle of it, smiling in content through the pain of all others.

As the creature reached the black gates it seemed to use it's limbs to lift itself up off the ground...a large portion of the tar like substance it produced was on the floor, and eventually formed into the shape of Slur. Her eyes were completely black compared to the rest of her that matched her regular self.

She walked over to the gate and with her presence as a deity from above, it opened.

The creature passed by, hissing and snarling as it reached the winding path. Slur rejoined it. Simply walking up behind the monster and re-merging back into it's body as it stopped before the journey up towards the realm of the deities.

Out of it came Richard, walking out as if nothing was in his way, whilst the beast melted and formed into Trigon, now a dark purple, his eyes a blood red glow bar one which was purple, as he towered above the overmind.

"Trigon. Down from here is the way to the Abyss. Head there. I'll call for you soon enough."

Trigon stepped off the side, falling through the clouds below. Richard meanwhile looked to himself...and changed into Slur. Smiling a little as he looked over his hands, he made his way back to the realm above.

---

"Wait you want to do what!?"

Tails was dumbfounded at Kei and Zasz whilst holding close a brown leather sachtel that carried all the information related to the cloning project. They were back within her hive, the poor fox mobian had slime on one of his tails as it dripped from the ceiling.

"She wants to be more humanoid. Change her cells." Kei explained again as to why he was dragged here.

"Look I've read those blueprints and there's nothing that says it's possible. Unless she wants to clone a more human version of herself-"

"No. I know someone who says they can do it without that whole mess. They just needed the blueprints."

"Why? It's clear we know she's a clone so what's the machine got to do with it?"

Kei was a little frustrated. "I don't know that's just the agreement! He'll help if we get the blueprints!"

"So the Shinra Federation can make clones! You really want them to have that?" Tails agrued.

"You set it up for the Galactic Federation! Don't think you got a position for agruing about who should have the right to use it!"

"I made a mistake and that mistake was thankfully destroyed! All I have to do is live with the guilt of turning against everyone else!"

"Enough." Both looked to Zasz, who appeared tired listening to them. "It matters not what they want it for Tails. It is the only way I can move on from this form. I saved you from the vampires. You now owe me."

"Threatening me after killing them is not exactly going to win you anything. Why did you even make me come along!? I don't need to be here!"

"Because I imagine like Kei, you want to make things right after the Galactic Federation. She can help with that rather then you hiding in your home."

"I don't see how this helps me with that." Tails folded his arms, looking agigated.

"You can help Kei with making sure whatever they try to do to me is not going to be a trick or simply a lie to further there own goals. You fell for that with the Galactic Federation. I know you'll make sure not to fall for it again."

Tails sighed whilst focusing away for a moment. It was clear Zasz got it right as eventually Tails gave in, lowering his arms to his side and dropping into a slightly more relaxed posture around them. "Fine. I'll stay and make sure. I know Kei's smart but I might catch something she doesn't."

Zasz nodded. "Exactly."

"Wait you don't trust the one who wants to help you?" Kei sounded a little surprised at that.

"I know several scientists in the Shinra Federation. None of them I would class as trustworthy. You I can trust. You're close to Chad."

Kei's com-link started to beep. "Hang on, got a call." She moved away and answered it. "Hello?"

Tails meanwhile had to ask. "Close to Chad? That's what you base who you trust on?"

Zasz looked right at him. "Those who stand with him are the best ones to side with at this time. I know that for a fact. If you're really smart, you'll do the same in time."

With that they decided to try and listen in on what Kei was saying...well Tails was, Zasz could hear.

"You want to teleport here to see the subject? This is a Zerg hive they are very tight on who's allowed in. Plus a lot of them are undergoing evolution changes as well. ...No I do want you to help her. She wants to be more human. ...I know she has human DNA. But the problem is it's based off a dark soul. ...Nargil I'm trusting you with her on this okay? She's a friend despite the issues we have. ...Yes we have the blueprints...wait both want to help as well? That's fantastic! Are they going to come? ...Okay! I'll let you track my com-link for teleporting and tell the overmind you're all coming! Thank you so much!" With that Kei put away her com-link and was visibly happy as she rejoined them. "Well fantastic news Zasz! We now got three scientists wanting to help! Two of them refused at first but when I said we got the blueprints I overheard them say they want to join in too!"

Zasz and Tails looked at one another. "...Uhh, well that's not a good sign is it." The fox pointed out to her.

"Look it doesn't matter right now, the fact is three minds are quicker then one. And these three are some of best with genetics so we're in luck." Kei kept to a positive spin on this. "And they want to come here to see the subject in question."

"I did not give you permission for that." Zasz reminded her.

"I know but look at it this way. It'll be on your grounds, your terms. Only they are coming. No guards alright?"

"...Hmph. Fine. So that name I overheard-"

"—You overheard what I was saying to them?"

"-The one named Nargil. That is not a name I recall from the scientists I know."

"Nargil? He's a friend of mine. Quite recently joined, 3 years ago. Very good with robotics and genetics. Dr Hojo's been quite impressed with him. I suggested he work with the docs at the Hero Base before that whole Darkmega business kicked off, he missed the chance and now works in the Shinra Building. Maybe you know him by his last name? Dr Chandos?"

Zasz seemed to glare at her.

"What? What is it?"

"Nargil, Chandos?"

"So you know him?"

Zasz moved away from them, clearly in a brooding mood now as she went pretty much to the other side of the area they were in.

Tails was confused by that reaction. "Any clues Kei?"

"None at all."

Soon there was three blue beams of light as the scientists arrived.

Kei went over and introduced herself as did Tails, whilst Zasz decided to look over at them to see who exactly she was dealing with.

One was professor Hojo, who seemed to take interest in the hive structure right away. "Ah, the midst of the Zerg hive. Rarely do we get the chance to see such before the federation decides to burn it all down."

Another was a male, looked in his late 20's with short brown hair, his left eye was covered by a mechanical monocle which had a dark red casing around it, looking similar to the ones Regal and Wily use, his other eye was a dark hazel brown, short stubble beard and, thin body stature and looked a little messily dressed; his purple shirt and black trousers were creased to all hell like he forgot to iron them down and his white scientist jacket had ink marks and small stains on it, carrying a datapad and quickly adding notes down, sounding shaky on arriving here. "I honestly thought th-this place wouldn't be so creepy looking. How the hell did you get mixed up in this Kei?"

"Nargil I got mixed up in a lot of stuff lately I shouldn't have." Kei answered him.

Then there was the third; A woman with long blonde hair and green ribbon tied at the end, her green eyes as she stared straight at Zasz on arrival past her green rimmed glasses. She was wearing a black sweater and trousers with the same coat as the rest, her body was supple and curvaceous. She too held a datapad. Typing on it after a minute of watching and saying what she was putting down "Subject spotted. Will begin examination soon enough to identify means of handling."

Zasz knew her. She spoke the name beneath her breath, cursing it almost.

"Dr Roll Bullen...Of all the people to gain the attention of..."

---

1. Garan is a dark elf from the game Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim DLC: Dawnguard. That should hint to who his master is.

Don't you just love when you feel like writing but the world just slows ya down?

- dragonridley