Nearby the Hero Base, looking at it from afar standing within the grassland allowing the wind to blow freely around him was Zuo Ci, who seemed to just look carefully at the place, the land around it and the trees in the distance. The sun indicating it was in the afternoon around here. "...He has finally awoken. The delay is an annoyance, but now I can proceed…"
He looked up to the blue skies above, spotting Griffon flying over the base. Within the place the sound of metal clashing could be heard.
The noise was overheard by Regal and Yuichiro as they were walking down one of the corridors. Dr Hikari was carrying a metal clipboard in his hands whilst Dr Regal held paperwork in one hand and a datapad in another. Both were talking about their tasks today before they heard the sound once again.
Regal frowned. "Hmph, If I'm to hazard a guess, the training room is being used again. I thought they were told on Tuesdays and Saturdays we wanted them to stay out of those so we can check them over?"
Yuichiro gave a small chuckle looking at his co-worker. "We can't expect them to not use it. It's not like they have anything better to do besides test themselves against each other lately."
"Yes well, if anything collapses and they get hurt, whatever they sue for is coming out of your families account."
"We could always watch for now, see what's going on. Come now, the inspection father had tasked us with can be completed afterwards." With that, Dr Hikari walked on ahead motioning him to follow.
The doors of one of the training rooms opened, as Dr Hikari pressed a few buttons on a control panel next to the door.
"I got you now!...what the!?"
"You gotta be faster than that Terra!"
Within the training room, a crowd of people can be seen around the edges of the room, watching two heroes fight it out. Within the group were of course the likes of Ryu, Jak and Daxter, Sonic and Knuckles as well as Darkmega and Diamas.
At the front of one side of the crowd was the Net Navi Ruth, who was now wearing instead of her navi gear of her original body, a yellow buttoned top that went from a sunset yellow from the bottom blending into a sunset pink at the top, a pair of white tight trousers and pink, yellow lined trainers. Her crest had been removed. Standing with her, was Hub, Samus, Lucy and Xiahou Dun.
"I think Scott's being a bit overconfident guys...maybe we should stop him before he gets hurt bad…" Ruth suggested.
"He's got this. Terra isn't as fast as the kid." Xiahou Dun looked to her for a moment before back on the fight. "Reminds me of some time back..."
Samus noticed the arrival of the two doctors, who made their way over to where Ruth and the others were, pretty much in front of the crowd. "Doctors."
In the middle of the room, Terra is seen jumping back, then swinging his keyblade sideways, clashing with a sword.
The blade of darkness.
The user of it was a boy of about 19 years of age. Brown medium messy hair, blue eyes, wearing an orange shirt, blue long sleeved jacket with white fur around the neck area, blue trousers and grey shoes with a silver dog tag around his neck. On his back is a grey leather holder, designed to carry the sword that was now his.
"Ah, I see it's Scott again. What did he do this time?" Regal asked the group.
Lucy got her datapad out and typed on it before allowing a robotic female voice on the device reply with what she put. "Nothing this time Dr Regal. It's just he wanted a match with Terra and it was due for tomorrow, but Terra said he wanted to visit Earth V then so they pushed it for today."
"I'm surprised so many people are in here." Dr Hikari noticed.
"Well, Terra is quite the fighter, and the person his taking on is a blood relative of Primus, so of course people are gonna want to watch." Samus pointed out whilst standing close to the docs.
Ruth still couldn't help with her concerns over her friend as he ducked another swing of the keyblade. "Maybe we should stop it now if his losing his focus."
"Don't worry Ruth. We always stop the fights when it gets too ugly." Hub reminded her.
"...Remember last week with Pang Tong broke his arm thanks to falling off his staff then tried to fight Ken till he slammed face first in the ground due to the pain overwhelming him?" Samus pointed out.
"He refused to stop and claimed he could handle it. That's different."
Standing on the other side of the training room were a majority of the officers from Earth V as well as Freya Crescent. Beside her was Cao Cao, who was clearly focused on the fight.
"Terra. You're leaving openings for Scott to use. You must try and different approach." Freya advised aloud.
Cao Cao had his arms folded over his chest, watching the fight whilst standing there. "...Very similar. Yet their movements are different. The last one was more aggressive. Scott is being more defensive."
Terra then tries to swing the blade downwards at the boy but he quickly blocks the attack, sliding the Blade of Darkness and himself with a shuffle of his feet to the side to allow Terra to stumble forward and plants his foot right into the keyblade wielders side causing him to stumble away. Eventually Terra got himself back into his fighting stance, but it was clear that this fight was wearing him down.
"You're swift Scott, and you know-ah-" Terra briefly rubbed the side of his stomach area, where the foot struck. "—How to hurt someone. But I'll make this battle mine!"
"You know, I was expecting you to do that by now. Maybe you can't beat me." Scott replied with a smirk, lowering his Blade of Darkness down to the ground leaving himself wide open.
Terra was not one to waste a chance and runs at him. Scott waited for the keyblader to get close before saying aloud "Explosion!"
Before Terra could stop he saw the Blade of Darkness transform as it was lifted up suddenly by Scott and swung, becoming blunt as it slammed into Terra's chest. The resulting explosion sent the keyblader flying back and skidding across the ground as his keyblade left his hand and landed close to the spectators.
Everyone waited as Terra eventually pulled himself up off the ground back on his feet, stumbling as he did before looking over to Scott, who had changed his sword back to it's normal form, and saying "You win. That blast is gonna leave enough bruises for me today." With that, he placed his hand out before him as his keyblade suddenly returned to it. He turned and left the training room to go and rest.
Scott watched Terra leave, then noticed the crowd speak amongst themselves before most of them started to make their way out.
As Scott turned to look at Ruth and those around her, he caught the eyes of Cao Cao staring at him, before the Wei King made his way out with the others. "Huh...what's up with him?"
Ruth quickly looked Scott over. "No injuries. Good, I was worrying we might have to send you to the hospital."
"If I did get hurt I'd have healed in time. No need to fuss over me on that." Scott nodded to her. "Still, it's nice to have someone worry."
"Well yeah. You need to have friends here." Hub was giving him a smile.
"Certainly beats the loneliness on Gaia III...especially after what happened with my mom…" Scott's happiness seemed to disappear as he looked down to the floor for a moment, before he found Samus rubbing his shoulder a little in comfort. "...Well, shall we go and get a quick bite to eat guys? Kinda missed lunch to get to this…" Scott started to make his way over to the door with the Hub, Xiahou Dun, Ruth and Samus following as well as Lucy for a time, but as they got close to the door, she saw Dr Richard there next to it, arms folded waiting for her, now with a long black scientist coat over his blue shirt and black trousers.
Scott briefly glanced at him as he passed by, as Dr Richard did to him and looked to Ruth, before settling on Lucy. "Hey."
She typed on her datapad. "What do you now think of him?"
"I'm not going to change my view on him Lucy. I don't like how the docs are fine with Hub being both their guardians and keeping them close to one another."
"That's not his fault and you said their hands were tied on the matter."
Dr Richard gave a huff.
"Let's go and eat. I'll sit with you. We can talk about the energy sources needed for the gateway and the robot masters." She gave him a warm smile.
With that she left with him eventually following her.
The training room was almost empty, bar Dr Regal and Hikari, who both stood there with Hikari looking at his clipboard after they had seen someone who had been watching in the corner of the training the entire time till Scott left, then they vanished. "...Father was saying Castiel is being 'more obvious' then the last deity. I can understand what he meant by that now."
Dr Regal nodded. "He keeps a closer watch that's for certain. I just wish my father would acknowledge the deity more. He tries to ignore Castiel when possible compared to the argumentative view he had with Zuo Ci."
"Come on, let's get back to work, before Keira thinks we're being lazy and starts moaning about her being the only one who cares about this place." Yuichiro was getting ready to head off with Regal when both heard their com-links go off. They looked to one another before Regal chose to answer his. "Regal here. Yuichiro is with me."
"This is Thomas Light. Check the power core. We're getting major errors again. Sensors are shutting off and hologram room 3 has lost all power."
Regal sighed in annoyance rubbing his forehead. "Look. I don't think it can be fixed. Keira tried, we've already tried. Any programming patches just break down over time. We might have to settle for plan B."
"We can't do that. Not yet. Keep trying please."
The food hall was packed with those here. It made it a little struggle for Scott and those with him to find a table where they could sit altogether, but eventually settled with sitting with Yuan Shao, Lan and Maylu. Dr Richard meanwhile was about to sit at a different table with Lucy, before mentioning something to her and leaving. Leading to her sitting at the last spare seat on the table where Scott was.
Yuan Shao looked down at his meal, which was leg of lamb with seasonal vegetables of this world and smiled as he looked at those at the table that had joined him. "To visit here once again and enjoy this meal with you all, it's certainly quite the pleasure!"
Maylu nodded. Whilst Lan added to it. "Especially with someone that can certainly hold his own like we saw in the training room. Nice going there Scott."
Scott gave a smile. "Thanks." Before looking at Lucy, noticing as the others started to eat, she just sat there without anything in front of her. "...Lucy? You okay there? Did he decide to skip again?"
Lucy looked at him gave a small nod, not bothering with her datapad.
"...It's not because of me, right?"
Lucy shrugged.
"Well. I wish he wouldn't act like there's an issue here. It's annoying that the moment he was told Hub is gonna show me around and that I'm an Oswald his just been antagonistic. I mean his reaction whenever Ruth is close by for example…"
Ruth had to agree there, swallowing down a mouthful of carrots. "I've noticed that too. Since Hub has been assigned to watch us he's been getting agitated more."
"Well, he IS a member of the Wily family. Maybe he just doesn't like me doing such a good job of getting people introduced here?" Hub suggested to them.
Lucy frowned on that and now decided to use her datapad. "Hub you almost got Scott in trouble with Lu Bu and you left Ruth in the net three times when the doctors clearly want you to make sure she isn't attacked by too many viruses."
"She was fine."
"She led the viruses into our network to log back out and it caused damage to several systems. Wily had to ask Richard to clean it up."
"Well...they're both still alive." Hub went back to his meal, clearly a little embarrassed on reflecting on his failings.
"Still, I want to try and cool things off with Richard. Got any ideas? Anyone?" Scott looked around the table.
"Have a couple of card games at Ridley's Bar? The chill and game hours are between 7 and 10 in the evening. Just invite him along." Maylu gave for an idea. "Just, be careful of the snacks. Ridley is still honing his craft on that."
Yuan Shao looked at her. "How can you say that? The finger-licking mystery deep fry is quite a taste in the mouth."
"Depending on what you get. I got diced cow hearts and intestines...though the barbecue dip he makes is great with it."
Yuan Shao was a little surprised. "Wait he told you what it was? He wouldn't say it to me."
"...That's...probably because it was something worse on your turn of it."
Lucy still liked the idea Maylu gave though. "It would pull him away from his work and give him time to relax. Plus to make it easier I could be there."
"And me." Ruth chimed in. "It'll help ease his tension I think and get him to explain himself."
Scott was happy with that. "Alright. I'll send him a message, or just leave him a note and we'll see what comes of it."
At another table, Dr Light was taking a break with the likes of Ryu, Rock, Roll, Blues and three new recent additions to the base: a boy by the name of Eugene Chaud who brought along his Net Navi Protoman, both were once given a chance to join the base before a few years back but had refused. On another letter to them by Lan, this time they decided to accept.
The other two were both wearing lab coats, but while one, Dr Cossack, appeared to be what you'd expect from a scientist, the other had a coat was more flare, bright orange on the inside, whilst he wore a yellow top with the green numbers '45' on it, brown trousers with a red leather belt, red fingerless gloves and green trainers with red lines. This is Mr Famous, as he prefers over 'doctor' as per his qualification should grant him the title of. He finds it too informal and likes that people either call him 'Famous' or his first name Eguchi, or finally if they have to go with something that's got formality, Mr Famous.
"So I managed to get Guile and Chun Li on board with us yesterday. Charlie had to convince them too but they finally said yes, so long as it doesn't disrupt any missions they get from the local government of Earth X." Rock told his father.
"Excellent. I take it the rooms have been set up for them?"
"Yep. All sorted out. Though...I need to say about this...the simplistic set up of these rooms. The complaints of the difficulty personalising them."
Dr Light sighed. "I understand people would want to do so, but the overall cost for so many people, so many different tastes-"
Blues interjected. "We can afford it. I know Rufus gave you guys a bit of a bonus for your expansions in the other bases and to fix them up. Why not here?"
Roll joined in. "Dad. It'll boost morale. Things are looking up lately and people are optimistic. Why not keep at that with allowing personal additions? Plus we don't have to cover everything...the basics like wallpaper, paint, carpet, floor changes, the lights? Yeah that's fine but personal objects like cabinets? Shelves? We pay them already, they can use the cash to get their own, and we can teleport it in for them, help with the aid of the robots to get the objects in place."
"...Look, I'll talk with Dr Wily and if we agree, then we'll hold a meeting and-" His com-link went off. "Hold on." He picked it up looking away from the table. "Yes?"
"It's Albert. Silk just reported to me the news I've waited for. Chad has finally woken up."
Chad was shaking.
His body hurt everywhere.
His skin was pale, blackness around his eyes and his lips were slightly blue.
He was laying on one of the hospital beds. A light blue cable attached to his left arm that led to the hospital computer, a small black square device strapped down on his left wrist that gave off a green glow from the part next to his skin every few minutes which was an auto-recovery chip injector that triggered a much less potent variant of the Navi recovery battlechip, and two IV bags hanging on a metal stand on his right, one attached to his right wrist and one to the upper part of his arm. One contained blood, the other contained saline water.
His clothes had been placed in the wash, and a grey blanket covered him whilst he had a small white pillow for the back of his head. His clothes according to Dr Wily smelled rotten and were soaked thanks to the cyro-freezing process, and would either come out intact or he'll just have to use another set.
Dr Wily was at the computer, checking over Chad's readings whilst Sabek had arrived on getting a call from Wily on Chad's revival and was with the doc and asking for every detail of any errors or damage to Chad.
There was a new Navi here with them. A female one with medium length light-blonde hair that was in a ponytail, real and non-metal, with a dull-light blue nurses cap on her head, small bangs of hair at the side of her white skin and metallic blue iris' eyes. Her nurses cap had her navi crest symbol on it, a white plaster. From what he could gather from her outfit, a dull-light blue long sleeved uniform with a long skirt, black navi suit beneath that went up over her neck, with white leggings and white gloves finally ending with small high-heeled light blue shoes, she was of a thin stature with curves.
She had been the one who first found him on the floor of the cyro room after he weakly called for help. Silk was her name.
Then there was Medi.
He noticed there was some changes to her. Like her hair not being metallic, the nurse cap and visor she used was gone and now she had small red rimmed square glasses on, the bun she used to have it tied up at the back was gone and her hair was down now, reaching just midway down her back. She had hand gloves now instead of the ones that used to go up to her elbow and her boots were now white shoes, showing the purple navi suit she had on underneath went all the way down to her ankles and her wrists. The torso segment of her outfit had been changed also, into a white tunic, her navi crest symbol imprinted on the tunic on the right side of her chest, that ended as a flare skirt that reached her knees.
He wanted to ask what was the deal with Medi's changes and with Silk, but couldn't find the words right now. He just wanted to rest.
He kept finding himself flicker in and out of consciousness.
He heard Dr Wily talking with Sabek.
"His organic side has taken a dive. We're just able to keep it all going. If he woke up a few more hours later allowing himself to come back to a more safe temperature…"
"So all of his muscles are damaged?"
"Not all. But those that are, are torn in many locations. Dozens of them thanks to his sudden jolt. Smacking into the floor and forcing his arms and legs into action just to drag himself made it far worse...His lucky his heart wasn't frozen enough to shred itself to pieces on attempting to work. I have to wonder what the hell made him wake up."
"What about his Navi side?"
"...Errors. Alot of errors...Sabek I need to tell you something as well as that Dave Hayami."
He found himself waking for a moment with Sabek standing in his view on his right, clearly thinking as he had his hand on his chin.
Then an another moment, Medi was right close to him to his left, stroking his hair and smiling warmly.
The next time he woke up, Ruth was there in her new clothing to the left of him holding his hand, looking relieved. She said something but he couldn't pick it up as his world faded to darkness again.
When it returned, the hospital lights were dimmed right down and Laserman was near the corner of the hospital to his left, his single yellow eye glowing in the darkened room looking right at Chad, arms folded. He then walked past Chad heading to the computer before the mobian navi closed his eyes.
He then woke to find Zuo Ci sitting beside his bed on the right side, tarot cards in one hand and holding Chad's hand in the other, looking down at it, then at him...before Death appeared to the left of Chad's vision as Zuo Ci then focused on the reaper.
"This is what you call a delay, Death?"
"A SMALL ONE. YES."
Zuo Ci looked to Chad again. "Look what it has done."
"HEAL HIM THEN."
"...I am forbidden to do so."
"BLIND IO IS CONTENT THEN?"
"After making me hand Griffon to Castiel, and setting down what I can and cannot do…I can talk to him, I can suggest actions for him, I can watch him and advise him but-"
"BUT YOU CANNOT DIRECTLY INTERFERE. LEST YOU WANT TO LOSE YOUR POSITION ENTIRELY. THE DOCTORS HERE MUST FIND IT A LITTLE AMUSING WHAT YOU'VE BEEN BROUGHT DOWN TO."
"I have told them. I have been granted a room here to allow myself a, place of thought should the realm of deities be unwelcoming, or as Albert put it, 'to let a humbled deity live with us humble mortals.', in a manner clearly filled with sarcasm."
"WELL YOU DID ACT HIGH AND MIGHTY AROUND THEM."
"...Why this long?"
"I SAID TO YOU BEFORE. HE WAS IN OBLIVION. I'M SURE HE'LL LIVE. HIS HOURGLASS IS STILL MODERATELY FULL...THEN AGAIN IT WAS BEFORE HE DIED SO ITS ANYONE'S GUESS WITH AN OSWALD. IT'S NOT MY FAULT THE BODY WAS INTACT FOR HIS RETURN. IF IT WAS DESTROYED OR UNUSABLE I WOULD HAVE MADE HIM A NEW ONE."
If they spoke anymore, Chad didn't hear it. Darkness again returned.
…
"It's the best the recovery can do. The rest is time and patience. Remove the auto-recovery injector and the IV's. We'll disconnect him from the computer shortly, make sure he has stabilised enough."
Chad felt the needles of the bags being pulled out, and felt the straps of the device on his wrist get taken off as he opened his eyes, his vision came back as well as his hearing and other senses. Dull pain was ever present as he saw Sabek, Wily, Silk and Medi around him again and the hospital lights were back up to normal.
"Chad Oswald. Welcome back." Dr Wily started with.
"B-been back for a while...hard to remember but, I was here yesterday." Chad's throat felt stretched and damaged, the sound that gave out was hoarse and weak. "Couldn't, stay awake mind."
Sabek now spoke. "You're body has suffered a large amount of trauma. From the soul removal process to your eventual return and movement whilst coming out of cryostasis. What...do you remember after I had trapped your soul away?"
Chad rested his head on the pillow, looking up at the ceiling. "I, vaguely recall whispers in the dark. Then I found...myself in the labs. The place was, not normal. I went through it and out into the, the main room. Death appeared before me and said about...someone not looking. Then he swung his scythe and...and...that's it. Everything else is blank."
"No recall of the Lifestream? The Farplanes?" Sabek seemed intrigued.
"No. I, I don't recall ever seeing anything else. Just, then to suddenly waking up in the cyro room...you guys have no idea how I got back?"
Sabek looked to Dr Wily, who explained. "You know of Zuo Ci, correct?"
"Yeah…"
"He came to us. He said he got Death, the very being that's the embodiment of it turning out to apparently be a real thing, to bring you back to us but there would be a small delay in the recovery process. We decided to wait for some time before allowing you to unfreeze."
Chad looked to him. "How long?"
"Three weeks."
"Three weeks?...You can't be serious doc. I can't have been out for three weeks."
Sabek looked to Wily and the two nurse Navis, as they looked at him, before back to Chad. "Well actually, you've been frozen for three weeks. You were in the middle of thawing out when you woke. Before that the fine nurse Navi here-" motioning to Medi "-Had been preserving your body as best as she could with a small degree of assistance from me, before we realized that your organic flesh was still decaying that...if we waited for another day your body may not have been usable to you and you may not have a way back. So it was decided to place you cryostasis. We waited for as long as we could before that in hopes the delay Zuo Ci mentioned was indeed 'small' but..."
Chad turned his head, the surge of pain in his neck as he did was barely tolerable as he tried to focus on Medi. "H, How long did you try to keep me out of the freezer?"
Silk answered it before Medi could. Her voice sweet, gentle and caring. "Head Nurse Medi had said she had kept you out for 8 days-"
"I've been dead for 4 weeks and a day!?"
There was silence from those around Chad after he managed to shout that revelation out, before Medi decided to speak up. "W-Well, at least it wasn't two years this time huh?"
Never before did she see Chad with such a dark, angry look before and giving her a whip of his sarcastic tone in the midst of his weakened voice. "No. Yeah no that's just GREAT Medi. That makes all this so much better for me."
Chad then looked back to Wily. The pain was getting worse with each turn. "So, so why the extra three weeks out huh? Why that long if you needed to check when I was back? I could've been back, the day after you froze me that means."
Dr Wily walked closer to Chad and sat on a chair beside his bed, placing his skull cane in front of him. "Freezing a body is not a simple process, nor is it risk-free. You must understand that with each freezing and unfreezing there are risks of total heart collapse, brain death, organ failure...highly dangerous side effects. Thawing out alone naturally weakens the body as it is and readying a body for freezing can cause ice particles to grow within parts of the body. Rapid freezing and thawing quadrupled the chances of permanent damage. I chose for us to aim for every three weeks, the borderline requirement to minimalize the risk."
"Then...the pain? The weakness? The, odd sharp stabbing pain in my lungs? My heart feeling like it's having a hard time?"
"The effects of having a body outside of stasis sadly. Medi did her best for you but your still humanoid in the end. Your navi-side couldn't stop the eventual decay. You're lucky your organs were in working condition really, they're normally the first to decompose. Without Medi's constant scans and power transfers to trick them in still working, you wouldn't be here. Most of the damage and pain is from moving too early out of stasis, and any weakness will be that as well as your muscles that had rotted slightly from the 8 day wait."
"That's, why it's a struggle to even keep my head up? Can I, get better?"
Dr Wily nodded. "I've got medication for you to take for the next two weeks. A collection of them actually. Plus excerise plans and brain testers to get you back on your feet."
"So...just gonna, drop me in my room and let me handle it?"
Silk stepped up near Chad. "That would inadvisable. You cannot aid yourself at this time. You will need assistance."
"...You're Silk right? Said your name when you found me, in cyro?"
"Yes."
"Are you, going to help me then?"
She shook her head. "I am to focus in the hospital. Head Nurse Medi has been advised by Dr Wily to help you with your daily tasks."
"In, my room? What? Visit every hour or-"
Dr Wily talked again. "Miss Thelma will be looking after you 24 hours for at least three days, taking breaks with Ruth replacing her at intervals. When I mentioned what Medi would have to do she was quick to volunteer to help you out."
Chad looked confused. "Miss...Thelma?"
Medi smiled slightly. "My last name."
"You have one now?"
Wily looked over to her, obviously proud about something. "Indeed she does now. As you can see she's changed since you last saw her. I can explain it or she can to you in time. For now-" He looked back to Chad. "Focus on yourself. Medi please get him a wheelchair whilst I prepare the medication and disconnect him."
Dr Wily left his view as did Medi whilst he felt the cable to the computer disconnect by Wily's hand. Sabek meanwhile now sat down where Dr Wily was before. "...I'm so sorry Chad. If I knew this would have all happened-"
"It's….It's fine. Couldn't have, figured it would. I take it I didn't go into the jar?"
"You did actually. But somehow, you got out. We looked for recordings on how but they've been removed from the system. Don't know who. An expert in hacking is what the doctors have guessed. Angelus wasn't inside you in the end."
"That's good, right?"
"Yes but...there was others."
Chad stared at him. "...others?"
"Yes. We only could figure one out before your body was completely shut off. The Life Soul had taken charge."
"Huh." Chad looked amused on the idea. "Bet she wasn't happy to be."
"We'll never know."
Chad raised his eyebrow to that response. "What do you mean Sabek? I'll just, eventually focus inside myself and speak to her. Heck I somehow done it before and she'll probably, be mad at me when I try to sleep tonight."
Sabek glanced away from him. Unsure how to say something. That made Chad worry. "Perhaps, Dr Wily will explain to you when you get a little better."
Soon the wheelchair was beside his bed, brought in by Medi. "Sabek if you can please turn away. I need to place underwear on Chad."
Sabek nodded and moved away as Chad looked baffled at Medi whilst she and Silk were on opposite sides of him. "Wait what? Hold on ladies I can do it myself!"
Medi had picked up a pair of grey boxers, stopping as he said that. "…" She handed them to him. "We'll look away but if you need help…"
"I got this."
Silk and Medi turned away as Chad faced his first obstacle.
Sitting upright.
His arms were struggling, shaking like crazy as he was trying to use them. Trying to turn his body so he could sit at the side of the bed. His legs weren't responding well at all. They twitched at best to the commands sent from his brain. The strain of all this was making it difficult to breathe.
His right arm nearly gave way, he could feel it. But eventually the grey cover fell to the floor as his legs came off the bed, a natural counter weight allowing him to sit up easier. Relief came through the sweating he was suffering. "Th-there. I, I got this."
He grabbed the boxers, his fingers numb a little over what just happened as he tried to bend down and put them over his feet.
His world was spinning as he did, he felt sick, finding himself leaning further and further and-
-Medi's hands were on his chest and shoulder, holding him from falling off the bed whilst Silk quickly came over and helped her sit him back on the bed proper.
He didn't say anything, waiting for the sickness to die down as Medi gently took the boxers off him and placed them over his feet and up his legs.
They helped him stand. He couldn't hold any weight on his legs, his feet slipped out as he had to rely on Medi and Silk to hold him up as they pulled the boxers up for him. Shame and embarrassment swallowed him as he just let them place him in the wheelchair and Medi put the grey sheet over his torso and legs, his hands on the arm support.
"...So, I'm going to my room now?"
Medi was to his right as she bent down with her knees to his level in the chair. "That, won't be possible. Something happened to your room while you were, gone. It's sealed off. We're going to a spare room that got set up yesterday for us."
Chad just nodded in understanding as she left his sight, was heard speaking to Wily for a moment before walking up behind Chad and leading him out of the hospital with Silk opening the door.
There was only a few people in the main room. Sun Ce, Terra, Charlie, Samus and Keira. They watched as Chad went by and down the corridor.
It might as well be a hundred people staring at him. Being this weak…
He could hear rain outside. Pouring down.
They passed Hub, they passed Diamas who welcomed Chad back, they passed Dr Light who gave Chad a nod before they nearly passed by Darkmega, who certainly looked shocked at seeing Chad. Meanwhile Chad noticed the fact Darkmega had his helmet off, showing his scruffy medium dark blue hair.
"Chad?"
"Hey man. So, what's with the lack of battle gear?"
The dark navi was soon next to the wheelchair on a knee, looking happy at seeing him. "The helmet? Ah decided to finally separate myself a bit more from Hub since he likes keeping his on all the time. That doesn't matter though. I'm glad you're back. Could use some good news these days. So uh, what's with the wheelchair? Didn't come back right?"
Chad bitterly chuckled. "That's pretty much it…" He gave a weak smile to Darkmega. "Still, nice to see you again. Maybe you can come see me at some point, or we can have a catch up in the bar?"
"Heh, I'd love that man."
"Good. I'll keep it in mind once I'm a little better. Oh...and I'm gonna need to borrow Medi for a few days, that alright with you?" Chad gave a joking smile. "Nothing dirty, promise. Strictly professional."
But the look Darkmega gave was not what he expected. A saddened look was the answer as he looked up to Medi for a moment, before looking back at Chad. "Not for me to say…" He got up and looked to Medi again. "...Take care of him okay?"
"I will." She was now certainly down about something as well before she pushed the wheelchair onwards.
"Medi? What did I miss?" Chad asked her, quite concerned over the reaction he got.
"The results of finally talking." She sounded hurt in her voice as they continued on. "I'll explain when we get to the room."
They continued on, leaving Chad to wonder what she was talking about for several minutes before his heart felt like it had frozen up again.
They went by the quarantine areas.
All of them were open.
Including-
"Medi! It's open!" If Chad could yank himself out of the goddamn chair he would've, but was easily stopped by Medi as she moved around and put her hand on his shoulder and one on his chest.
"Easy Chad. Easy. He's gone."
"What?! But where?!"
"Chad you need to calm your breathing. He, he died."
Chad was dumbfounded. "Medi?"
Medi looked around, noticing no one else was present in the corridor and gave a sigh before speaking again. "More precise the body he had here...Listen us who work here, we had an emergency meeting with Dr Wily. We were allowed to listen to something important. It came from his room before Dr Richard discovered his remains. I'm sure once we settle into our room I'll be able to allow you access. You were vital in confronting him. To the rest of this place though, even Darkmega...his dead. That's for the best, okay?"
"Medi. What exactly happened?"
She got herself back up and moved back behind him, moving the wheelchair on. "Unless Wily gives me permission, I've already overstepped more then I should have. He wants it all quiet."
Eventually they had found the room Chad would be living in for now.
With Medi opening the door it revealed the fact the bedroom/living area was double the size of the standard, with plenty enough room for two single beds which were placed in here. Two cupboards, two desks with on having a computer, the other with a collection of books, two sets of drawers to use, two bedside drawers next to eachother between the beds, and opposite the beds a decent sized tv hanging on the wall. The furniture was all in their lifeless grey colouring beside the beds...something that now Chad was feeling uncomfortable with...the washed out lack of colours seemed to jolt something in his mind.
The beds were the only colourful thing. One had purple velvet sheets and pillows, one had red sheets and pillows.
As she wheeled him in he could see into the nearby bathroom. Larger then normal, the bath was more rounded then the standard tube shape and, if he was guessing right, was a little lower. He felt her stop moving him and head to the door closing it. "So, uh, I take it when Dr Wily said 24 hours a day he meant-"
"Sleeping in the same room. Yes. Your bed is the red, mine is purple. We replicated some clothes for you in the right side cupboard last night whilst getting this room set up." She walked over to him and bent down with her knees to be on eye-level with him. "If there's anything you need from your room...it'll be hard to get at the moment."
"Can you tell me why that is?" Chad asked hopefully to her.
She sighed. "Same as with Richard...I'm sorry but we've had to keep a few things quiet." She got up. "Now Dr Wily will be sending someone with your meds shortly. I'm just gonna send him a message on the computer. Hopefully he'll let us talk."
She sat there on it, typing away as Chad looked down at himself, thinking for a time before looking towards her. "What happened Medi? What happened to you?"
Medi stopped typing, her hands hovering over the keyboard. "What do you mean?"
"Thelma? You and Darkmega no longer being an item? Your appearance? You're, not the Medi I knew right now-"
Just those words made her feel a pang of pain and hurt from hearing it out of him.
"-and I just wanna know what I missed."
"…" She got up from the chair, turning the metal four-legged seat around and setting it down before sitting on it once more, sighing deeply with her eyes closed, hands together. "...My name is Medina Thelma. I'm, I am, an Evolved Navigator."
Chad looked confused at her, looking her up and down. "E-Evolved?"
She sat back, looking over at him as she removed her glasses, folding them gently before placing them on her lap. "The first to be announced as that. Dr Wily and Light are planning to, reveal the new labelling in a couple of months publicly. I'm not a Hu-Navi since I lack actual organic DNA, but I'm not a Net Navi since I, I'm no longer restricted from choice, from certain feelings…I can, question my programming. So, I'm now an EV-Navi."
"...Should I call you Medi or Medina?"
She smiled a little. "Medi is fine Chad. I prefer those close to me to use that name. Medina is more for those outside this base." The smile faded as the silence grew beyond the rainfall landing on the window.
"And the name Thelma?"
"I chose it. Wily gave me a, rather ridiculous long list of names that I could use that held no connections to Earth X thus I could begin my own line...and I chose that after a couple of days. I'm, alive Chad. I have a proper name, I can express myself without my programming holding me back."
Chad stared at her. While she was unsure why, he was thinking, trying to. He knew the limitations of Navis from Dr Wily, and of course, Medi's own but right now his body was just telling him to leave it. He gave her his own small smile. "Well, congrats then Medi. I guess. Must be weird being the first to break past that issue."
She gave a small chuckle while looking away from him, thinking back. "It was about just over three weeks ago. Dr Wily gave me a series of questions to go through and a few choices to make. All equal chances. When he noticed I didn't hesitate or react negativity to the tests he proclaimed he knew I was finally 'being the next step' and called Thomas in. Before I knew it they were praising me and telling me to make myself stand out now, stop being the old Net Navi...so yeah, guess that spurred my change in appearance more."
"...And did it break up things between you and Darkmega?"
She shook her head, the recall of the time made her saddened. "Yeah. I guess I just had to face one major thing in my life once and for all, now I could experience things…It's what made me talk to Dr Wily and get the tests..."
She explained that moment to him as he listened with all the focus he could muster:
"Darkmega."
She was standing at his door. In her normal Net Navi gear. She was tired, exhausted from the fifth day of checking over Chad's body. She would have to go back in about six hours…
Darkmega welcomed her in. At this time he still had his helmet. He sat her down on his bed. "You okay?"
"I...There's a lot on my mind lately. It needs to get sorted out."
"With Chad right? How's he doing?" Darkmega sat beside her.
"He's, still the same. I'm trying to keep his body okay but it's showing more and more signs of failing."
"He'll come back one day. I know he will." Darkmega assured her, placing his hand on her shoulder. "With my love helping him, he'll make it."
She moved her shoulder away after a moment, dislodging his hand. "…"
"...Medi what's wrong?"
"It's us."
"Us?"
Medi got up from the bed. She didn't want to face it. Face that music. But the willpower that made her say 'wait for now, you have to focus on Chad' had worn itself down with the minimal sleep and stress of salvaging Chads remains. She clenched her hands, her arms and body shaking. "D-Darkmega...I need to...I have to tell you…"
Darkmega got up from his bed. "Medi? Sweetheart?"
She gulped, breathing in and out to calm down as she turned to face him.
Even looking at his face of deep concern for her made this much much harder then all the imagined scenarios she had formed over these days of work. She wanted him to not care. She wanted him to act like she was just a trophy or something not worthwhile but she knew he didn't.
"...I can feel. Feel for the loss of patients."
Darkmega was confused on that. "Medi? What do you mean?"
"I've...I've changed. I've finally been able to feel what I never did before. The suffering, the loss. Darkmega do you understand?"
"Medi I don't. What do you mean by being able to feel? You felt things before. You've felt sadness, you've cried, you've been happy, you've enjoyed things."
"Yes but...my program restricts me. I can't feel for those that die under my care...I couldn't." She gave him a feeble smile as tears ran down her face. "But I can now. I've broken the barrier that makes me just a Navi, and what makes you a human-navi."
"The barrier?"
She disabled the visor over her eyes, she wiped away the tears, even though more formed. "Y-yeah. I was forced to not feel anything for those that died...but, but now I can. And one in particular...she...she came back the most to me."
She fell silent.
Darkmega was quiet.
There was a faint wind outside, the moonlight was flowing into the room through Darkmega's window as the dark navi was looking at Medi, trying to figure it out, his eyes shaking a little and widening as he did indeed piece it together. "...Jasmine Chiba."
She nodded, forcing herself to look away from him and crying, a hand over her eyes as she could feel the emotions overtake her.
Darkmega just stared, he felt a tear escape as his throat went dry. "And you're dating her killer."
Medi just got louder as she fell to her knees.
She felt him hug her as he joined her once he was in front of her. Holding her close as he kept repeating like a mantra to her "I'm so sorry Medi. I'm so sorry."
She was shaking, she was seeing Jasmine in her mind for one moment, then her and Darkmega the next, the two most important things to her at this moment and one destroyed the other to lead to this moment. "I...I know you weren't like...like you are now but I can't stop it! I can't stop the pain!" She cried out to him.
He just let her continue, whilst he continued repeating to her. There was nothing else he could say. Nothing else to do.
He was sorry. He can't do anything more.
As time passed, her cries quietened down, he ended the mantra and just held her as she held him back. The pain had been dulled from the overload she had gotten from finally facing the cause of it.
"...Darkmega...I can't continue this…"
She felt him tighten his hug on hearing that, his arms now being the ones shaking a little. "M-Medi…"
She slowly let go of him, but he held on. "I can't...My heart is hurting so much but I can't do this knowing she...she was lost because...because of the old you…"
He slowly let his arms drop down. She moved away, watching him as he brought his hands up, looking at them. It was clear to her he could see it. See the moments he met Jasmine. His eyes shaking, his hands twitching. "I did this. I kept dismissing the thoughts about her. Ever since the hot pool on Earth V I just remembered her. The one human who tried to hide. Richard found her after destroying Auto and Beat. I wanted her dead right away but Richard said I should see her first. I had her brought to me and said to her…" He clenched his hands shut. "I said...'start running and you might see your friends if you get out of the base.'. As she ran, I chased her and although I hit her, even stabbed her she crawled outside the front door and I stopped. I...I laughed..."
"Darkmega…!"
His hands suddenly went over his face as he just caved into the pain within himself and cried out. Tears rushed down."I'M SORRY! I WISH I NEVER KILLED HER! I WISH I WASN'T A DARK SOUL! I DID IT TO HURT SOMEONE, ANYONE IN THIS PLACE AND IT WAS YOU! THE ONE I LOVE ABOVE ANYTHING IN THIS FUCKING UNIVERSE AND I HATE MYSELF FOR IT! AZRAEL WHAT HAVE I DONE!" He yelled out between his sobbing, unable to restrain his words or thoughts.
She wanted to leave. She wanted to stop this.
But instead she found herself holding him close to her like he did with her. She couldn't just leave.
A part of her wanted to stop the pain of breaking away, to try and fix this.
Another said she needed to let go. It couldn't be fixed.
The latter won out as she soothed Darkmega's anguish. "Darkmega, I forgive you okay? I forgive you. But I can't do this. I just, I just can't."
"Medi, please I-" He looked at her, the whites of his eyes having gone pink and sore.
"I forgive you. But I can't do this. Not when I...I look at you and I see...I see…"
Darkmega stared at her and she did to him.
He knew. He knew this was it. His eyes slowly lowered downwards, his arms never lifting to her. No more pleading.
She never found it so hard to stand before, but she eventually got her footing and turned away, heading to his door and opening it. "...I forgive you...Please remember that."
She looked back.
He hadn't moved.
"Goodbye, Darkmega."
She left and closed the door behind her. She could hear him crying again and had to move away as quick as she could. She didn't want to hear it anymore, the guilt was almost too great to carry, her feet and legs like lead as she felt fresh tears escape her.
Chad didn't know what to say as Medi went silent.
Neither of them knew to what say next. Medi felt tears slide down her cheeks as the breaking up still clearly hurt her.
...Eventually she got up, moved the chair around and sat back facing the desk, finishing typing up the message for Dr Wily.
"Sorry, for bringing it up." Chad said to her.
"It's fine. I'll be okay."
That's when they heard a knock on the bedroom door. Medi got up right away and walked over. Silk was heard.
"Head Nurse Medi, I have the medication Dr Wily has prepared."
"Thanks...um, he knows some of these taken together will have adverse effects right?"
That caught Chad's attention as he tried to listen in, unable to turn his wheelchair.
"Dr Wily is sure Chad Oswald will be capable in handling the side effects and is confident in your ability to keep a regular eye on spotting any severe ones. These are the best option for a rapid recovery."
"You know you can use just the first names of the patients."
"Oh. I shall continue to adjust Head Nurse Medi. Do you require instructions on how to provide the medication?"
"...There are none with the medicine?"
"Dr Wily was unsure if you were confident in your ability to recall. As an EV-Navi, your mind is not as perfectly organized as a standard Net-"
"Send me instructions directly. And I know you didn't mean that mockingly, but be careful with your wording."
"Sorry Head Nurse Medi. I shall send the instructions as soon as possible. Please excuse me."
The door was heard closing and a white paper bag with a collective sound of pills rattling was heard as Medi walked past Chad and placed them on the desk before him.
"She's uh, rather rigid and monotone in talking isn't she?" Chad said to her as she sat down on the purple bed that was in his view.
"She's still very new. Hasn't had much in the way of interaction with others yet."
"New is in a brand new Navi?"
Medi nodded. "Yep. Type IV Nurse Navi. Dr Wily bought her to help me around in the hospital since my, evolution has had some negative effects with my efficiency at work. She's got all the programming needed to be alive, just her standard state is that. Hard working loyal nurse. She'll probably come out of her shell in time like I did."
"Type IV?"
"Yeah. I'm a type II."
"So there are others of you in hospitals?"
"Were. Not so much now." Medi wanted to change the subject, thankful as the computer screen flashed up a message. She walked over and opened a small compartment in the computer's tower that showed a white cable. She connected it to her hand and clicked on the message. It took a few seconds before she removed the cable, placing it back where it came from then focused on the medication bag, opening it up and removing different bottles of pills, liquid medication, nutrient shakes and a few injections. "Just got the instructions. So it looks like Dr Wily wants you back up on your feet fast."
Chad was thinking though. About her and her 'type'. "...So what happened to them? Your type?"
Medi paused for a moment, before continuing to spread out the medication on the desk. "Became obsolete. The Federations like the word 'Type' over 'Mark' for Navi's because it makes the older ones seem valid still when put that way. Type III's are the most dominant ones in hospitals now, with Type IV's beginning to overtake them."
"So, this change to you might only be, you?"
"Of my type? Possibly."
Chad chuckled weakly. "Wow, you're getting more and more unique."
Time passed between them.
Chad got his first doses. A dozen coloured pills that made him feel like a train wreck soon after. Medi had to help him near the bathroom in fear of vomiting but thankfully, he managed to keep it all down. Next up was the nutrient shake. A milkshake that was supposedly chocolate flavour that carried almost every kind of vitamin he needed as well as proteins and supplements.
It was barely close to the flavour it advertised, thick and hard to swallow down. To his annoyance he had to take them three times a day as well as any meals he could muster.
Next he had to take a bath. Get himself cleaned up from all this time being dead and frozen.
Medi kept the temperature to just barely hot to avoid causing him going into shock as his nerves wouldn't handle too much. He was red with embarrassment as she had to help him remove his pants, get him into the bath and even help him wash.
She had Removed her gloves and was gently rubbing her hands through his hair with shampoo.
"...I already hate this." He mumbled loud enough for her to hear.
"At least you're back Chad. That's the main thing." Medi assured him. "This won't last. With what Wily's provided and we keep to it, you should be able to do this yourself in half a week or so."
"This, this just reminds me of when you cut my hair and shaved me. Using that injection needle for a booster...Why can't you use that now?"
"You remember your reaction to that? Your body was in a moderate working condition at the time. Using that stuff on you now...I don't wanna think about what would happen to you."
Chad nodded in understand as he focused on using his arms to hold the sides of the bath. "Well...I suppose I need to get used to this. You're not going to wash, all of me, right?"
"If you can do any of it yourself, I will let you. But just recall I am a professional."
"I know Medi…"
She handed him a flannel in his right hand, his stronger one as she then put a small bit of liquid soap on it as he slowly placed it underwater. "...Thanks. I know you've seen all of me before and that but I still want to try and keep a little dignity."
"I know."
"I mean it would be like, if I washed you. I know I've seen all of you before but I'd-"
"Chad you don't have to explain it." She frowned a little. "And when did you see, me?"
She could just see his face going redder. "O-oh well the hot pool on Earth V didn't leave...too much to my imagination. And there was the time you were busy with yourself in the Zebes Base hospital room when Anna stopped you. That was...quite the...view…" His words went quieter and quieter by the end.
"I see." She simply responded with as she got up, grabbed the shower head that was above the bath and lowered it down, setting the temperature with the tap on the wall before washing his hair off.
"...Sorry."
"About what?" Medi asked as she soon stopped the water and now focused on washing his back whilst he placed the flannel she had provided him to the side of the bath, done cleaning himself further down.
"About saying that."
"The view?"
"…"
She continued to help wash him in silence as she eventually got rid of the water, dried him down with him sorting certain parts out with great effort, before getting him out of the bath back into the wheelchair in a grey bath robe and white towel on his shoulders as she wheeled him out.
"I sound like a pervert."
"I never thought about how you saw me in the past Chad." She stated as a matter of fact to him as she was now helping him stand once more next to his bed. "Come on. Up you go."
He forced himself on his feet, turned and sat down on his bed, still looking away from her. "But we were just friends Medi...I...I'm just trying to explain myself…"
"Chad it's okay." She sat down beside him, sighing a little. "Before this I, didn't really care so much. I established that flirty personalty. It's not you taking advantage as it was me just, being myself. I just needed someone in my life to fulfil that urge to be loved and to feel good. All programming. Now that's behind me. I rarely flirt with people. The others have quickly noticed. I keep it more private."
"Are you...seeing anyone?" Chad looked at her.
She shook her head. "No. I proposed a date to a couple of people but no bites. I was trying to push myself to move away from my last relationship and I think they noticed that."
"Oh."
Medi gave a warm smile now as she glanced at him. "Why did you want to know?"
"Just incase, ya know, you needed private time with that person. You're stuck with me and I just don't wanna burden you. You've clearly got enough right now to deal with."
She gave a little sweet laugh. "You're not a burden Chad. I'm here for you."
"...Thanks Medi…"
"Now—" She got up and walked over to the computer. "—Hopefully Wily has allowed you access to the information, now I did tell him to include local news of several planets that might interest you—"
'Wow, awkward way of starting things huh?'
Chad winced and groaned a little, cursing a little as he thought to himself. 'Oh, I see you're here.'
'She's helped before so why act up?'
'We've both through a lot recently. Me with death, her with her, changes. I just feel bad for making her stay here with me.'
'Bonus; you can watch her strip for bed time. Might get lucky and share the bath with her or even find her willing to keep you warm at night.'
Chad frowned at his own conscious. 'Yeah no. I'm not thinking about that.'
'Suppose that's fair...we got problems we need to sort out. Not just your body. We've got issues in here. I'll see you later.'
'Uhhh...huh?...hello? Helllooo?' Chad looked a little surprised. 'Odd, I'm normally the one to end conversations.'
"Chad?"
He failed to notice Medi was now before him, having gotten a datapad out from the desk drawer and uploaded information sent by Wily to it for him as she showed. "Here. Something for you to read up this afternoon and evening. I'll go and grab some snacks and some drink for us. Anything you fancy?"
"Nothing too strong, and avoid veg please. I think those horrible shakes are gonna be enough vitamins for me for a long damn time." He answered feeling his stomach lurch on the idea of having another one of the drinks later down the line.
She left him alone. He put the datapad down close to his pillows and started pushing himself onto the bed more so to get his legs into a laying position so he could relax.
It took a good 10 minutes and some sweating, but he managed to push himself up the bed, leaning on the pillows and wall with the datapad in hand. "O-kay. Another victory for me…"
There were indeed several files of information on planets of interest, such as Earth XI, Earth X, St'leean, Mobius, Gaia VII and VIII, Hylian and Mute. Then there was a file labelled 'Paranormal-Hero Base', another labelled 'Scott Oswald' and lastly one called 'Dark Soul Incident'.
He went for the last one. He needed to know what the hell was going on there.
There was an audio file labelled 'Open this first Chad, make sure you are alone' that he hit play on;
"Chad. As you can tell this is Dr Wily. I must remind you that the information you listen to and read in this file as well as the Paranormal and Scott ones to be kept confidential to yourself unless you absolutely deem it necessary to let someone else know. I trust your judgement when you need to make that call, but just remember many of those in this base are not aware of the truth of the matters. There is even information here that I have not shared with my close allies. If anyone is within the bedroom, even Medi, terminate the message and wait until you are alone."
That was the end of it. He went to the program next to the audio file and activated it. It began showing pictures of the dark soul Richard in his quarantine as well as when he was once, long ago, able to roam freely. Thomas Light spoke through the datapad.
"Subject is a Dark Soul by the name of Richard Wily, grandson of Albert Wily. Created in 2039A.P. Established as a part of an unknown mission by a deity of unknown origins. Whilst my grandson Hub Light was seen as a potential, it fell on Richard being chosen as the deity noted a 'unique' blood in him. Albert eventually agreed to the process and the soul was created with success."
"The soul has since become quite unstable and violent towards those of the Hero Base and deemed a major threat. It was successfully captured by Chad Oswald and imprisoned, with the goal of termination as we've found it to be quite resilient to many things. We've advised people besides Chad Oswald to not approach the subject for any reason unless sent by us to complete a test. An update has occurred recently where subject has been found deceased after an unknown power surge within the quarantine area on 20/11/2045 at 8:38 pm. The body has since been destroyed. No other incidents have occurred. We are to assume the end of the subject and to archive this file until further notice. Further detailed history can be found in sub-folders 1 to 4."
Then Dr Wily's voice spoke:
"Chad, as you can see we made this simple because as you just heard, the subject is dead. The project that he was set for was simply called 'Destiny' that was originally being commanded by the Deity Zuo Ci. He required the subject as he needed a 'counter balance' to the eventual arrival of a Primus Bloodline. You. During the attempted goal of terminating the subject I had completed several tests of my own, theories if it got out...I don't know what we're in for but the results were deeply disturbing. The subject was indeed found dead, but the body is currently contained in cryo."
An image appeared of it, a skeletal humanoid, surrounded by a pool of purple liquid, sharpened fingers with his rib cage like that of rows of fanged teeth, the one eye hole in the middle of it's head, no claws out of it's back. "It's right at the back of the room. Concealed. It's safe to say this body is dead, but it's clear in one of the files I have for you his simply escaped. One is an audio file is during the surge. The cameras failed to function but I managed to decrypt the audio despite the attempts made to keep it undetected. The other is video that was hard to decrypt, took me days. It concerns me but without one of the those in the file making any dangerous moves against us, I cannot act. Dr Light is also aware but again, our hands are currently tied. When asked the person in question claimed to have never gone near the subject. Listen for yourself."
Chad went and opened one of files that was a video.
A recording from the cameras in the quarantine area. It kept flickering, glitches showing on the screen. It was coloured, showing no one around but Richard sitting in the middle of his containment, crossed legged looking at the floor.
When the Light Clone of his walks in, looking at the computers and accessing them. He spoke. His voice mixed with static. "Father. I sensed you in my dreams. What are you trying to do?"
Richard answered as voice suffered the same effect, no doubt the after-effected of trying to salvage this data. "The clone who is made different...I like to watch all of you. Is that so wrong?"
"You called me here. Why?"
"I just want to know a few things, get some, inside information. You can provide it. Open the door."
"…" Light Rich typed into the computer and shut off the energy barrier as well as making the steel doors trapping Richard in open.
He walked over to the opening and waited as the doors fully opened, letting him look at his DNA-provider directly.
The video flips out, scrambled and static everywhere as the image struggles to come back, but one voice is heard, deep, menacing and clear.
You are mine, now.
The camera image returns. The Light clone continuing to stare at his father before shaking his head and going back over to the computer, re-activating the doors and the energy barrier. "Whatever it is you want, you'll have to find elsewhere."
Richard was heard chuckling as the light clone walked out of the area, and the video ends.
Chad felt himself shiver on hearing that voice, something about it...he knew it yet…
He forced himself to drop the feeling and focus to listen at the audio file that was next.
The audio was worse here, hard to figure out who the voices belonged to, but there was two of them.
"What happened?"
"He...He dared! Even when faced with oblivion itself he did all he could to hurt me!"
"The base was damaged. We felt the disruption. Are you okay?"
"Do I look it you worthless hollow shell!? I can sense we have Slur but what about the others?!"
"The damage he did to you...we do not know where they are."
"Damn him! I have no choice, I have to abandon some of the bodies. I have to rebuild. Restore myself."
"What is the plan?"
"Retreat from here. I must focus on my goal with Slur and Trigon. I have eyes here beyond these ones and a better body then this weakening worthless shell. The copies will have to disappear for a time. I don't know how long. I have forgotten this level of pain…"
"He is gone now."
"Yes...but I wonder what has he done. What has he said to this Chad."
"...You sound concerned. Worried."
"If you ever assume that again I'll erase you and you'll never see home. Now come, let them have this body. I'll return here someday. The deities can have some of their game play out."
With that the audio ended.
Chad was now confused. What the hell were they talking about? He could guess one was Richard but the other? The damage to the audio was too much to make a solid guess.
He was about to open the next lot of files about Scott Oswald when he heard the door open, quickly making sure to focus instead on one of the planetary lot of files to avoid Medi getting a glimpse, he looked over and saw her walk in carrying a metal tray with several pieces of meat, ribs and chicken legs, with an assortment of herbs and spices rubbed on some of them whilst the others were clearly plain, a few packets of snacks such as crisps and a few bottles of juices as well as a piece of paper on the tray. "Hey. Ridley sorted some nice stuff out for us and made you this note."
She walked over and very carefully grabbed the paper handing it to Chad, before placing the tray on the two bedside drawers next to their beds that were close enough to balance it between them.
Chad looked at the note, which was roughly written in galactic basic, most likely due to his size making it a little harder too:
Hey Chad!
Glad to see you can cheat death like me! So I'm assuming you need to eat plenty to restore your body and Medi said you didn't want plants, good on you! These are samples of my cooking free of charge as well as some snacks and drinks she requested!
...Next time I'll give you a 50% discount but then it's normal payment onwards. I can get the docs to process the pay through your account so don't worry about having to pay me directly. Just think of me next time the food hall gets boring and you want something adventurous!
- Ridley, Ridley's Bar Manager
As he finished reading it, Medi had put the telly on, sitting down on her bed. "We have two hours before your next lot of medication. You got three days to rest but as Wily has instructed me it'll be time to focus on muscle rebuilding afterwards."
Chad put the paper down beside his bed and looked over at the selection. "Well, at least I can just, stop for a while. Haven't had much a chance lately." He picked up a plain rib, chewing on the meat with momentary hesitation before being thankful his stomach seemed fine to keep it down.
"Scott is required on the world of Hylian. Diamas must join him as must of the interests. Others are of your discretion."
"You know you should learn to talk in a more pleasant manner rather then straight forward. Zuo Ci had that down to a tee."
"Sorry. I haven't interacted with mortals for a few hundred thousand years. My services have not been needed lately."
Dr Wily and Light were sitting in the labs with Castiel close by as well as Laserman, who was idle in a corner simply watching.
Both docs seemed a little annoyed with Castiel's presence. Mostly because for the past three weeks his been pushing every day for Scott to head through the mysterious nebula that covers Hylian and several other once heavily populated worlds that reappeared just after the battle of Jie Ting on Earth V.
Apparently getting used to the base was not on the deities to do list. Or if it was, nowhere near the top of his or deities in general priorities.
Dr Light had his arms folded, sighing in frustration whilst Dr Wily seemed to be getting bored, looking over at the computer screen to see if anything came up.
"Well like every other time Castiel. We will consider your suggestion. But we want Scott to find his feet."
Castiel looked confused on that. "He has settled in. He has interacted with those needed. The higher ones want things to continue."
"Understood but we have to disagree." Dr Light stood up. "He needs more time. We've given you the data of the Life Soul and he has the Blade of Darkness but his still trying to adjust. Plus, you want him to establish a relationship with…" He sighed. "A willing partner, but Ruth and Lucy are his friends. You need to give them a longer time. Can I make a suggestion? Treat it like Chad."
"...How do you mean?"
Dr Wily turned towards the computer typing on the keyboard near to him. "How about two years? Anna and Chad needed a good long time plus an extra two years time jump for Chad to get Anna to open up with her feelings. You can probably get a villain to do that to Scott can't you?"
"That isn't acceptable." Castiel plainly answered with.
"Well there isn't anything else we can do for you." Dr Light spoke again.
"We're losing patience."
Wily glanced over to Laserman who he noticed was looking at him. "...Tomorrow we'll begin planning the expedition."
Dr Light looked a little surprised at the sudden decision, whilst Castiel seemed to just accept that walked out of the labs. "Why?"
Dr Wily turned to his friend, glancing over at Laserman. "We're running on limited time aren't we?"
Laserman finally moved from the corner to the docs. "The power core is breaking down. Someone is interfering with it and I believe it's them, the deities. I think they would've have pushed either way at this point. With us planning we have an opening to prepare."
"A handful of days? Maybe a week more?" Thomas rubbed his forehead. "But now we have to let things go ahead."
"We need answers." Laserman looked to Wily. "Zuo Ci might have them. If it is the deities. All the coding and repairs we've done for the core is not working. He might be able to assist us."
"His focus is Chad and Chad alone. I've already warned him not to pester the boy for some time." Wily said to them. "And I doubt he has much connection to whatever they're trying to do to us. It's strange that at the same time we've had too many power issues on Gaia X for any chance of moving people there, yet Mute is perfectly fine."
"Mute...I assuming they do not understand what's in the depths of that place." Light thought on it.
"No. But we do, and we need to be ready." Dr Wily looked back to the computer screen, pressing enter on the keyboard which then showed up images of news articles on the screen with titles such as:
Hero Ministry suffers critical attack!
Unknown giant beast strikes on planet St'leean! End of Hero Ministry?
Silence across channels related to Hero Ministry.
Villain Ministry deny attack. SF continues investigation.
"The news three weeks ago. What of it?" Thomas walked over to the computer with Laserman.
Dr Wily fully turned to the computer and using the mouse, opened another window on the screen.
A news article from today from Gaia VII:
Villain Ministry disbanded! A step to total unification?
Our emperor Rufus Shinra forces absorption of resources of one of the older standing factions that once worked the Galactic Federation as the Hero Ministry remains non-functional, with the confirmed deaths of many of it's high-ranking members and the still currently missing leader remaining at large. Assuming the rival faction had made the move against the Heroes, Rufus had chosen to challenge the leader of the Villains, Maleficent, to either dissolve her faction entirely into the Shinra Federation or to be expelled and treated as a hostile force. Knowing the might and bravery of our forces, Maleficent wisely chose the former and-
Wily then spoke to the two. "If we reveal that mess to the public, we'll be heading down this path too."
Sleep had finally come.
Chad found himself out of the bed Medi had helped him into before getting herself in bed. He didn't even manage to stay awake to see her get changed. The moment his head hit the pillow he was out. But now he was laying in a larger bed. A golden linen one at that. The room, the ceiling was a beautiful silver with the floor a white marble, the ceiling held a chandelier that held light bulbs, but it was clearly off making the room he was in slightly dark and feeling a little unwelcoming.
He sat himself up. Nearby was a balcony, golden rails that were tinted a darkened green showed that beyond, was that green number coding sky letting him know where he was. The red hedgehog mobian standing at the balcony looking out to the sky confirmed it.
"My mind." Chad mumbled, as he got himself to the side of the bed looking to the floor, rubbing his face with his hands. "So you wanted to talk."
"You don't recognize the room?"
Chad moved his hands away, noticing the mobian was now sitting beside him as he looked around. "Not sure. Looks familiar in ways."
"...You were gone for some time. I didn't want to take control." The mobian sounded...angry?
"You okay?" Chad focused on him as the mobian got up off the bed, walking around for a little bit in a frustrated manner.
"I saw what you went through. Wasn't any better then that brief time I got handling your mess. The Life Soul decided to try and find out what you did wrong, then the girl wanted in and that made it worse and now our entire system is fucked with so much damage and loss of power-"
"Whoa slow down. Whaddya talking about?"
"Chad, can't you feel it? The Life Soul is gone man. She's been taken away."
Chad quickly got off the bed. "What!? I've lost that!? How?!"
"I was DEAD. I have no clue! But she's gone and so is our guest!"
"'Our guest'? What the hell are you talking about?"
The mobian walked over to the balcony, clearly still angry. "She was someone we knew and I saved her without your permission! She was scared, alone!...For that time I understood it...but she's gone too so it doesn't matter."
Chad stormed over. "You let something into my body without a warning!?"
"You agreed on a sub-level! If she were here you'd thank me." The mobian gave a disgruntled sigh. "Doesn't matter now. I have no idea where she is. The fact is you need to do whatever Medi needs you to do for the next week or so. This place is on it's last legs and we need all the fixing we can get."
"...How bad is it?" Chad asked.
"You try firing a Chaos beam and you'll just get a little sparkle. Try running and you'll never get off the staring grid. Battlechips will just not work. You can't even damage a wet cardboard box. We've got nothing in reserve. Hell I can't feel our link to the Blade of Darkness so we can count that as a loss too."
Chad shrugged. "We're the Primus bloodline. Zuo Ci's gonna have that covered."
"You heard him in the hospital. Sounds like his been demoted. Not good for us." The mobian looked to Chad. "Want what your gut instinct now says?"
"Go on."
"We're done for. We've been put out of the way since we died and Zuo Ci got put out of the way. That name in the datapad. Scott Oswald...I don't like the sound of it."
Chad leaned on the railing. "Good news though, Richard...no...I know the name but-"
"I'm not letting you access the memories. Struggle enough for me to check on them while you were out in the hospital. Horror stories. You remember them now and you'll never recover. I'm sure things will jolt the memories back when you got some strength."
"Well...at least that thing is out of commission. For now."
"If it wasn't we wouldn't be here...but we've been torn all the way down to next to nothing. The only saving grace right now is that girl in the room. Darkmega's Ex."
"...You seemed happy with the idea."
The mobian gave a bitter chuckle. "Yeah well, based on our past memories I thought you'd be too. Guess we're not on the same page...but then we're messed up bad aren't we?"
"Well, we just gotta get back up. We gotta do it...because it's the only way to make sure we remember them." Chad seemed to blink, looking confused for a moment. "Wait, wait wait where did that come-"
The mobian sighed. "Relax. I know who. We gotta make sure they're not forgotten. You just...go back to bed. I'm gonna go into a more standby mode for a time. Let the system focus on repairs, for what good they'll do. Eat plenty, drink plenty, take those meds she gives you, got it?"
Chad nodded, heading back to the golden linen bed, slowly laying himself back down on it. "Tell me one thing though. Just one."
He heard the mobian from the balcony. "What?"
"Why do I feel like we brushed with the very edge of death?"
He saw the mobian walk up to the edge of his vision as it started to darken. "Because we did...now the only way to go is back to living again. It's what he wanted for you. To keep fighting."
Chad's world darkened...before he suddenly sat up eyes open.
He was in his single red cover bed.
But all around him was darkness, the metal floor of the room barely visible.
Something was watching him, somewhere. He could feel it. There was no sound, no noise but his quick breathing.
Then, there was the faintest ghostly howling sound to catch his ears, coming from dead ahead at the bottom of his bed.
There was the slightest shape in the darkness, a floating figure. He focused his eyes as much as he could, and recognized it as the ghostly figure of Roll he had in a dream before, when Richard warned him time was up.
It wasn't getting closer. It remained in the distance.
Then, the figure faded, as did the howling.
The momentary dream seemed to mix into a swirl of colours, and Chad was soon in the true deeper realms of sleep.
1. This is of course, set after Chapter 11 of Multiverse: The Other Stories as well as the previous chapter.
2. Yeah the start is supposed to be very familiar to those who followed through the Unicron Saga.
-dragonridley