"You know when I sent the message about meeting up I wasn't expecting you to answer so fast and agreeing for today."

"I want to get it over with. Lucy suggested the quicker the better."

Ridley's bar was mostly calm this evening. Besides the regulars which consisted of Shadow, Zhang Liao, Samus and Jak at the bar itself, at one table there was Blue and Elie sitting together, whilst at another there was Scott, Ruth, Lucy and one unhappy Dr Richard. He was staring Scott down whilst the lad was trying to busy himself with the menu Ridley had created for this place. The table was lit up by the gentle glowing orb light in the middle, gently switching between multiple colours as time went on.

"You know the flame licked rump steak sounds quite good. Comes with either chips or a baked potato." Scott glanced over, noticing that while the girls were looking at their menus, Richard was still staring him down.

"I'll eat later." The doc flatly responded with before getting a light kick from Lucy under the table. He looked to her for a moment seeing she was now giving a little glare herself. He sighed in annoyance and grabbed the blue cardboard menu before him, looking down it's list.

"I'll just go for the seafood mix. It's a little of everything." Ruth placed her menu down. "Get myself a lemonade too."

Lucy placed her menu down too. Not saying anything as she left her datapad alone for the moment, waiting for Ridley to come over before using it.

Speaking of. He seemed to have noticed at least one of them was ready and made his way over to their table. "So, just drinks or eating tonight?"

Each of them explained what they wanted and the dragon left them alone to sort it out. Soon enough he returned with their chosen drinks, placing them at the table whilst also placing a small decorative bucket with a collection of cutlery down as well for them to place out for themselves.

"So, how's the dimensional gateway going?" Scott idly asked whilst he grabbed his pint of cola and Dr Richard grabbed his mug of coffee. The girls picked up their drinks.

"Progressing." Was all he got for an answer.

It made Scott feel a little uneasy until Lucy helped out, after taking a sip of her drink and grabbing her datapad. "We've gotten raw materia coming from Gaia VII soon. Pre-carved into the shape we require for it to fit into the energy slot...at least one of them. Not entirely sure if it's the right energy source but it's all guesswork from here."

"Isn't there like, different types of materia? How can you know which one is the one you want?" Ruth asked them.

"Unrefined materia. We're not using refined. It's not developed enough to be used for magic yet." Richard explained to her.

"So, how's things for you Ruth?"

Ruth looked over to Lucy, smiling. "All good. Happy my first friend is back with us. Enjoying my time in the hologram rooms...kinda wishing to go out for real though. With people to places on this world. Explore a bit beside the forest around us."

Scott liked the idea. "Well, why don't all four of us? Help cement things a little more."

Richard frowned, before getting another small kick off Lucy. "What, exactly do you have in mind?"

"Well I know close by Den City has plenty of fun things to do. Arcades abound, swimming, bowling, baseball, that recent new sport Blitzball...we could go in pairs."

"Like a date?" Ruth raised her eyebrow a little towards him.

"Well I mean, should Lucy and Richard want to do their own thing for a bit, I guess but-"

Lucy kicked Richard a few times but despite the ever increasing force of the kicks it was clear the boy was getting mad. "Me and Lucy? So you mean to spend time alone with Ruth here?"

"Yeah, but that's because we like-"

Ridley was just about to come with the food, coming out from the back of his bar, cursing the robots the docs had provided him to help with his culinary venture. "Blasted useless things don't seem to get when I say let things ride for that more homely flavour. Following recipes is fine but we're for home cooking style…" when he heard the obscenities fly out of Richard's mouth making everyone look at the table of four this evening.

"Scott Oswald. Age 19. Born on Earth X. Mostly lived on Gaia III after his mother, Lisa Oswald transferred herself and her children over to the planet due to an incident with the father of the children. Barrel. Last name unknown thanks to the mother refusing to mention and is no longer around thanks to an outbreak of Life Viruses attacking the world."

"Scott is quite outspoken on his history. He explained to us on arrival what he could, his mother and his sister Anna and their rather difficult lives on that planet thanks to the political and financial state the world was in. They had managed to get by, but during the uprising of the Shinra Federation a small band of GF troops had attempted to fight back, leading to his sister Anna being caught in the crossfire."

"Scott has been welcomed into the base and is currently proving to be a rather active. His been monitored by a deity being known as Castiel who has been summoned to watch him by the gods due to a destiny that was perceived to be belonging to another member of the Oswald but has since been deceased. The Primus destiny."

That was the voice of Dr Light, who was now replaced by Dr Wily.

"They replaced you. Simple. The deities didn't want to wait for you to get back and decided to change everything to fit around Scott instead of you. We've had to comply with minimal fuss and so far, the guy is promising. Scott has combat ability, clearly from having two military parents. He currently carries your sword the Blade of Darkness. According to Zuo Ci that was one of the terms in exchange for the deities to avoid dragging you back into their mess."

"I suggest avoid any negative stance with the lad and focus on being able to assist him yourself. He might need assistance especially when it comes to my grandson, both the Dark Soul and original. The Dark Soul for obvious reasons, the original...It's clear the boy holds a major grudge against Scott. Petty reasons over lost times. The whole Ruth situation. As you know he holds her rather close to him after our conversations in the cyro room when you found out you were part-navi. I fear if she is harmed around Scott he may get violent and take measures that turn him against Scott. Against us. I don't want that."

The audio ended. Then after a few beeps from the datapad. Another one started.

"This is Dr Light. Lately there has been reports of strange noises coming from one of the private rooms. We want people to know it is simply a testing area for new battle chips. The strange noises are merely machinery in use and no further investigation is required."

Now is was Dr Wily. As he spoke, on the screen of the pad were images of Chad's old bedroom. In a major state, the computer damaged, all the drawers flung to the floor along with clothing and the bed stripped of the pillows and linen. A few pictures showed a shadow at the very corner of them. Clearly avoiding the cameras that had been placed in the room.

"Our simple cover-up. I don't think anyone buys it I think but it shows we're aware of the issue...Chad. I thought it was you. I got the cameras in the room to check and used an energy barrier around the room entirely to avoid the spirit leaving. But now, as of the night after you came out of cryo, I can confirm it is not. During that night the door handle was reported to rapidly move, inside the computer screen continuously flickered. The keyboard was thrown aside and the bed is ruined...We have audio but I am, not ready to share that. It confirms who it is though."

"I think it needs your company. It's all it wants. Perhaps before it, died, you were the last thing they knew of. But it's most confusing on it's origin. I have theories but need time to figure it out. When you're strong enough, let me know and you can go to that room of yours and answer their pleas. I don't think it wants to be aggressive. But it's afraid."

It was 10 in the morning now. Chad leaned back on the wall the head of his bed was next to. He had sat himself up on the bed to listen to the datapad whilst Medi had gone to get him a small bit of breakfast to have to help him take his next lot of medication. He lowered the datapad feeling confused on that last report.

'...It's her.' His conscious spoke.

'Her?'

'The guest I allowed in. Probably seeing me die upset her to no end because she knew what that meant for you and she fled back to safety.'

Chad frowned. 'My bedroom?'

'It's a good place as any.'

'She got a name?'

'...I think, like Wily, I would rather wait for a while.'

'So you know, but as a part of me, you won't say?'

'Sorry. But I know it's better you focus on the now. On you.'

Chad was no longer able to focus on his conscious as Medi had now come back in, carrying a bowl of porridge and a few slices of toast as well as a cup of coffee on a tray. "Hey Chad. Good to see you sitting up. Looking up what information Wily has for you?"

Chad focused on the datapad, starting to look through the planet files. "Yeah. Decided to start looking at it whilst waiting for you."

She placed the tray down next to him before sitting down on her bed. "Anything interesting?"

"Eh, only just started to Earth X. Not much besides water bills going up and several network faults over the time I've been out of it." He started skimming it. "New plant species discovered, earthquakes in Netopia, Wily Fortress has a prototype Dimensional Gateway—wait what?" He stopped skimming. "A what now?"

"Oh that. Dr Richard has been working on it for weeks. It's almost ready for use." Medi said to him.

"...What is it?"

She seemed to think about that for a moment. "It's like a teleporter? It can send you almost anywhere in the universe. So long as you have precise coordinates for it to use. It's going through the trial stages. Get a gist of what coordinates work. Promising so far but it eats power in one surge of it's use then we do in a day. According to Dr Richard in a meeting recently there are, alternate power sources we can use. His been sampling several. One his going to test soon is crystallized lifestream energy. Materia."

Chad looked confused. "But we have a teleporter. That sounds a lot less annoying to figure out then this, gateway. Plus wouldn't that ease the bills for it's energy use?"

"Might be useful for those who don't like the teleporter. Not everyone is comfortable with the idea of their flesh being defragmented and flung through the stars to another location entirely."

"And that's what transport ships are for Medi."

"Chad it's just another possible way okay? Plus his looking for specific power sources because it's meant to bring out more potential from the device. Perhaps unlocking 'ways to hidden treasures and wealth' as Dr Richard presented the idea to the docs as."

"…" Chad sighed. "Well if it makes the docs money, enough to finally let us have better looking rooms then sure, good luck with them on it."

Medi gave a small chuckle and sat back whilst Chad grabbed some toast and started eating it with one hand whilst continuing to look at the datapad in the other. Now looking at Gaia VII. "Not much about Gaia VII. Small town's been wiped out sometime back, Mako reactors are showing signs of decreasing output of energy from their source, I see Rufus is still the boss….though it says he has begun development of a new capital?"

"If you have Gaia VIII on there, it'll be under that planet's information." Medi told him.

Chad skimmed over Gaia VII and looked at Gaia VIII. "...Neo Midgar? Seriously?"

"Oh yeah. He wants a far cleaner looking capital to represent the Shinra Federation over his fathers grim-factory looking city as he expressed to Wily. We're helping via blueprint checking as well as contributing a small amount of resources. Mostly from our mining of Zebes materials."

"...We're mining?"

"Been going on about a month after you dragged Richard into quarantine. Basic expendable robots are being used. Originally Dr Hikari was overseeing it with a couple of Autobots but recently Dr Cossack has been placed in charge...his a new guy, you'll meet him sometime. Nice guy. Intelligent like Light and Wily."

Chad went back to reading. He looked at Mobius. Besides the vampires being hunted down and special thanks going to the Hero Base for aiding in the rooting out of until-recently-known vampire threat, not much else was noted. Mute seemed an unusual planet to have information about...till he saw the news story about the noted renovation of the scientific base in it's capital city of, Mute City. A once tightly sealed base belonging to SCI, it fell into disrepair near the end of their reign as well as the GF and is now set back up by- "We're fixing up a secret lab?"

"Hm?" Medi looked a little unsure on what he was talking about.

"Mute. The base there."

"Oh. Yeah that's been set up as our science-focused base of operations. It''s got sterile walls, a new clean look, plenty of rooms for people-"

"So like here but not grey? White?"

"With Blue lighting on the walls in the corridors. It's going to be our backup should anything go wrong for us here. Zebes was gonna be that but Keaton ruined that idea after he bombed it to hell and back."

Chad read on about Mute. "...It says about a few horror stories about that place."

"Horror stories? Okay that's news to me."

"Local stories about the haunting cries coming from it after being abandoned whilst when it was occupied there were possible leads to human experiments. Nothing came of it and security turrets have been laid around the place as well as within it's network allowing no one entry. Those rare few that managed to get inside...some spooky images attached here, grimy walls, no lights working and they're clearly using flashlights to show the desolate place, reports of strange cries coming from below them. Banging and vibrations on the floor often making them flee into the police waiting outside."

"Well Wily and Light seem happy with getting the place. I doubt they would keep it if they knew there was something dangerous about it. Probably just the people being concerned with all the mystery back then. SCI was big on that with it's science division. Always very hush hush about everything. The banging and all that?...Well I'm sure they've got it figured out already."

Chad then moved onto St'leean.

"...Wow the Hero Ministry has been cleaned out huh?"

"Most of it's members have gone quiet, joined small groups or gone back to their homeworlds. Others joined the Shinra Federation. It got attacked by a giant monster. The images we saw of it Sabek is 100% sure it was Trigon. But it was killed in the midst of the ministries retaliation. The damage to their primary location was so bad they had lost all the leading elements of their organization. So Rufus decided to move in and take what he could."

"What about the alien freak that was leading them? Back lo something?"

"Yeaahh...that got revealed his name was actually Black Doom, a Black Arms. Rufus dropped that information to make sure any support for the Hero Ministry dropped away. We've been at war with them before so that was a powerful enough piece of information to get Rufus plenty of backing to put the ministry down. The Villain Ministry is a likely target now too, since it was kind've a balance when both were in play. As for Black Doom? No one knows where he went. The assumption is he was killed with the likes of Tony Stark, Kevin Keene and Bruce Wayne in the attack."

Chad then went to Earth XI. It was mostly about it's change in political stance towards the Shinra Federation since the successful rise of a group called the Repliforce on the planet. Whilst it allows the species of the Federation to come to the planet, colonisation is now very limited and Reploids are advised to return to their homeworld to help it prosper. Net Navis are not allowed on the planet at all and all network connections have been disconnected. "...Huh. Wonder why?"

"About what?" Medi asked whilst now getting a datapad out from the bedside drawer to look at it.

"Earth XI."

"The Net Navi business right? Well rumours are...you know the Maverick Virus outbreak right?"

Chad nodded.

"Well they claim to have found hints of Navi data within the virus recently and that pushed the anti-navi agenda to the front."

"How? That thing was caused by Sigma. Heck it even got dubbed the Sigma Virus for a time before it continued on after his death and got put back to Maverick Virus."

"That was a strand of it Chad. He got infected and he infected others. As for the connection to Navis...beats me. Personally, I just think it's the Reploids way of keeping unknowns off their world. Their network system was known for being easy to access for us so I guess they want safety."

Then finally, there was Hylian. "...That planet is back? How?"

"Oh right. You were probably distracted with Roll and Ruth so much you never bothered to read about it. Yeah it's back as well as other planets from Unicrons reign."

Chad continued reading. "It says that the state of the planet is unknown?"

"Not...entirely true. We know there's signs of life, but there's a powerful nebula around it and the other worlds that were once consumed by Unicron and that has made it hard to get a proper reading. Dr Wily is sure we'll be able to go there at somepoint to find out what truly is going on."

Chad now put the datapad down, focused on his coffee and toast. The porridge was clearly not appealing to him. But as he finished his toast and was halfway through his coffee, he saw Medi stare at him. "...Alright alright...You did at least put some sugar in it right?" He put the coffee and lifted the bowl up.

…

Chad was soon doing exercises on his bed. Using small weights Medi had stored in the cupboard for him. They were a struggle to work with. His arms were really so fragile right now. Each lift hurt them.

Medi encouraged him. She kept count, kept a list of exercise he had to do. Praising him each time he completed a task. Her praises helped keep him going, but at the same time he felt they were slightly a bit much for things he should be able to just do. Like when he managed to stand by himself at one point for a few seconds.

Now he had the weights balanced on his feet, pushing them up and down. A part of him wanted a big break. It wanted him to stop yet another part, a powerful feeling that he HAD to get back on his feet. Soon. He had a purpose.

He had to keep fighting.

Those words entered his head each time he wanted to slow down. When his muscles wanted to give up on him. He was sure something inside was pushing him on...his conscious maybe? If it was...why did the feeling to push come from the heart?

It seemed to only ease and stop egging him on when he tried to stand again and almost collapsed to the floor with Medi catching him and helping him land on the bed instead. "Time for a break."

"I got this Medi. Just-"

"No. Time out." Medi pushed his legs onto the bed making him lay there. "You need to halt and let the muscles have a recharge. You can take one of the vitamin shakes in a minute, then have a wash to take the sweat off."

"Alright alright." Chad stayed where he was, letting his body ease off the adrenaline he had pumping.

"You're making great progress Chad. Don't overdo it." Medi assured just to help get it into his mind his doing things the right way.

"But I can use recovery chips if I get hurt."

"Yeah, then you'll be a little too high off your socks to focus on the exercise with the amount you would use."

"I would only use one!...maybe two. A full recovery? Come on I can handle them."

"No Chad." With that she left him alone and headed to the bathroom. "I'll get a towel and flannel ready. Then we change your clothes too."

"Oh I'm not that...well…" He look at his wet shirt from his sweat. "Okay so I am that bad."

He heard Medi chuckle, which he smiled on hearing. "Hey Medi. With those vitamin shakes, can we avoid the forest fruit flavour? That doesn't taste like what it claims to be at all."

"You gotta take what Wily gives you."

Chad groaned. "Oh but come on I'm the wounded one here. I should have the right to pick the flavour."

Medi soon returned from the bathroom, grabbing one of the small bottles of milkshakes and walking over to Chad before handing it over. Banana flavour. "There. Don't say I don't do anything nice for you. But you'll have to take them sooner or later."

Soon he had four visitors come and see him.

Medi answered the door, looking a little surprised. "Oh. Hi guys."

Chad had just sat down on the bed again in his clothing, a new replica set with the jeans a little more loose for his legs to relax with. He had a wash with Medi's help to get the sweat off.

"Hey, is he in?"

Ruth. Chad felt himself smile.

"Of course. Please come in." Medi moved aside.

Entering in was indeed Ruth in her new clothing, with Dr Richard, Blue Light and Lucy Valentine. Ruth was carrying a red and brown striped box of chocolates with a clear plastic lid letting Chad see inside.

Chad welcomed them all. "Hey guys. Nice to see you all...I guess…?" He understood Ruth being here but the others…

Blue explained his reason as Ruth handed Chad the sweets. "Elie sent me when we saw Ruth and she said about visiting you. She...wants to know how you are. Sends her best wishes."

"She's here then?"

"Yeah...didn't come without a price mind. Turns out her sister's killer decided to hurt her to take the mark away. That mark of Trigon?"

"...That would explain how he attacked the Hero Ministry. I did wonder a little…I'm sorry."

"Don't be. Sounds like you had it no better. I mean you were chucked in a freezer."

Chad looked down to the chocolates for a moment. "So, how is she?"

"Coping. Dr Wily showed her where he put a gravestone for Anna. Showed her into her room and all that...It's helped a lot. She's keeping herself busy. Mobian-human relationships to attend to. She's decided to stay, for now. I think meeting the others here has helped things. When you're better, I think she'd want to talk to you again."

Chad looked to Blue and smiled a little. "Good. That's, good." He then looked to Lucy. "...I've met you before right?"

Lucy nodded and typed on her datapad. "I am Lucy Valentine. I'm the girl you pushed over when you found Sephiroth dead once and the one you saw in the hospital picking out an outfit. I just wanted to finally introduce myself as Dr Richard decided to come with Ruth."

Chad stared at her as she looked up from the datapad. She was visibly confused and concerned slightly.

"...Lucy, Valentine?"

"...Yes? Have...we met?"

"I, honestly am not sure right now. You look like someone I know. But…"

Richard looked to Lucy who looked to him. "Well? Do you know him?"

"...I can't say."

The doctor sighed in annoyance. "Alright well, if you remember let me know."

"And now to the one that surprises me the most. What brings you here?" Chad asked him.

"Honestly? Ruth. I just wanted to make sure she was okay…and maybe I'm not so against seeing you."

Chad chuckled bitterly. "Really? If I recall you put your back up the moment I got nominated as someone's guardian."

"Things have changed ex-dead man. You ain't that no more so it's not so bad."

"And you expect me to forget the fact you said I'm not someone you should trust. A cannon waiting to go off?"

Lucy quickly typed out something on her datapad. "I'm sure it's just due to the work being about a unique individual."

Ruth looked a little frustrated as she walked over near Chad and spoke to Lucy and Dr Richard. "You can say it's me alright? I know Dr Richard has some, special thing going for me that I'm not sure what. If he likes me he should just say then do this protective act that he pulled last night!"

"Uhhh…?" Chad looked to her, then that Dr Richard and Lucy.

Lucy explained it. "Yesterday we had a meet up. Myself, Richard, Ruth and Scott. Scott suggested a...Well he said to help things over he thought we should go out. Maybe pair up and play games. But while it was clear he didn't mean a date, Dr Richard got, defensive, when Scott said it should be himself and Ruth, whilst me and Richard pair up."

"How bad?"

Blue spoke up. "Me and Elie were at the bar. I heard the doc here yelling about pulling someone's intestines out to measure up if he so much as touches someone else."

"Look...I just don't like the guy. End of." Dr Richard was trying to play this off. "He's a new face. Plus his an Oswald. A Primus blood holder. History has shown…" He saw Chad staring at him, darkly. "...Okay look this is getting worse. Point is I don't trust Scott right now and you're not in a position to make trouble so I want to try and bury the issue a little okay? And Ruth I don't like you like that. I just care for everyone in this base."

...She and Chad were both clearly not convinced.

"Fine. I can tell this is going nowhere. I'll go then. Sorry for coming." Dr Richard turned to leave.

But Chad spoke up. "Wait. Don't."

As Dr Richard looked back at him, Chad recalled what Dr Wily said about Scott, about Dr Richard's current position in all this...If he needed to help keep the peace… "Look. I accept your, weak attempt at apologizing alright? I'm glad you came to see me. Means a lot. Sorry for, being hostile over it."

"…"

Ruth now talked. "It's just you shouldn't act like you can control things around me and act like Oswalds are just gonna be bad people. Scott's a nice guy. So was Chad before things went south for him. Please just, leave me to handle myself and stop being agitated towards them."

Dr Richard found himself being nudged by Lucy, who glanced between him Chad and Ruth. He sighed and turned back to them. "We'll talk another time. I, know I'm being over-protective. I'm sorry to you both...Get better soon Chad, okay?" With that he walked out of the room.

"I should go too. Keep an eye on him. Nice to finally actually meet you, Chad." With that, Lucy was gone too.

"...We've met before here. I know we have…" Chad could feel it. Not just the Lucy who helped in Unicron's head and made Angelus leave his body, but, another.

Soon he found Blue and Ruth sitting with him. The former wanted to introduce himself moreso and also wanted to know more about Chad to get a better view about him then the jaded one he got from Elie, whilst the latter was just happy to here.

Chad enjoyed the company. It passed the time as Blue talked about his appearance, why the cyborg looking arm and eye.

"I was part of a failed project years back. Dr Light and my father, Yuichiro, both know about it well enough. Enhancing kids for the future. I was a failure but dad wanted to save my life when I was dying thanks to said project. It led to me having this bio-mechanical stuff on me."

Chad looked a little confused. "Bio-mechanical? So like, it's machinery made from...plants?"

Blue gave a small chuckle. "Living metal. It's a result of the elements used in the project combined with robotics. I just got a major upgrade while most only got tiny parts of this stuff put in them."

"Does it hurt?"

Blue looked to his strange arm. The small light blue vents in it. "...No. But it's never cold. Always hot. Like an endless fever."

"What's causing that, steam to come out?"

"Traces of Phazon." Blue said in a simple matter-of-fact manner.

Chad looked worried as all hell on hearing that on the other hand. "Isn't that crap extremely radioactive and dangerous to be around?"

"Unrefined and not in a controlled it is. But this has been mixed with Chaos energy. From what I gather with just a small amount of that stuff it, weakens Phazons negative effects on the body? Plus dad has done checks before and noted no radiation coming out of me"

"Oh cool. So the steam is-"

"Plasma. From my blood. It doesn't smell thankfully but I have to drink plenty of fluids each day as I get dry real fast."

Eventually Blue excused himself and left the room whilst Medi decided to go down to the hospital to see how things were as Ruth was here for now. Ruth didn't mind taking over helping Chad with exercise duties.

In an hour Chad was exhausted and was laying on his bed resting whilst Ruth sat at the end of it watching the tv. Unlike Medi she wasn't the best at motivating him to get better.

Chad just looked at her as the news was saying about the continued war between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance, how the United Federation of Planets was provided aid through Shinra Federation territory to the civilians caught in the middle.

At the moment, A high ranked individual named Wilhuff Tarkin was on the screen announcing that, whilst Starfleet's efforts to aid civilians is a benevolent ideal, the truth was that any of those civilians could be part of the Rebels, so in effect they are aiding one side of this war despite the UFP declaring otherwise.

"We will closely monitor their actions and movements whilst within disputed territory. We would also press the Shinra Federation to place security checks close to the border, to ensure that the United Federation of Planets does not attempt to bring items that will directly aid the Rebels in their war against the Empire and it's people. We seek to end this quickly, the Rebels are nothing but-"

Chad let the words drown out. "Hey Ruth?"

She turned a little to the side and look back at him. "Hm?"

"...This Scott guy who's joined us. Is he cool?"

She looked a little baffled. "What?"

"I mean like, is he alright? A nice guy?"

Ruth seemed to think about it. Turning around on the bed entirely, crossing her legs now as she sat opposite of him. "He's alright. Gets himself in trouble a bit. Likes meeting others. Quickly gaining people's trust around here. Also getting on some people's nerves as you noticed with Richard there. He also annoyed Yuan Shao a couple of times when he visited, got on Keira's nerves when he downloaded a few viruses in the lab computer when using it for family history checking. I think you'd like him. Oh and his an Oswald, like you."

"Yeah I don't know any family with Scott in the name. I'm sure there's plenty of Oswalds out there I don't know of. Probably have normal healthy lives."

"I dunno if there is such thing as normal in our universe."

Chad gave a small laugh, leaning back a little. "Yeah but being dead and frozen just to come back to life is well beyond anything that could be normal."

"So...What was it like?"

"Being, dead?"

"Yeah."

Chad thought about it for a moment. "Well...it was dull looking, misty...Death was there. Actual grim reaper himself." He looked at Ruth directly in the eyes. "Then...Then…"

For a moment. He saw Roll. He saw her body, slashed, cut and lifeless covered in blood. A cave.

His sword. Blood.

A purple glinting eye.

The wide open smiling mouth, the dark violet slime dripping out of it.

"Chad? Chad?"

He felt himself come back. He noticed Ruth was much closer, looking at him carefully and holding his shoulder.

She noticed his eyes were now looking at him again, a little relieved. "Thank goodness. You just paled a little and just, looked terrified about something whilst phased out. You okay?"

"Y-yeah. I just...thinking about the scythe he carries kinda just, made me think back to how I felt at that moment. That's all." He lied. He couldn't say about what he was seeing...It was already rapidly fading from his memory. A blur that just made him feel, scared.

She sat beside him, sighing a little in relief and without thinking, making him move over a little in order for her to sit next to him. "At least it's not you going into shock. I was afraid I was going to have to call Medina to come back as quick as possible."

"Just bad memories…" Chad looked ahead for a moment, not looking at the tv as Ruth thought, just staring ahead and trying to piece it together.

They sat together for another half an hour before Medi got back. Who wasn't impressed by Ruth and Chad just sitting there on the bed and not doing any exercise. Explaining it was Chad who was complaining about needing a break made Medi be lenient on her eventually.

She waved Chad bye and left, leaving it just him and Medi again. Food, tablets, exercise. He was already accepting the routine he would have to stick to for some time. After the evening meal he was feeling just...done.

He didn't get changed, he just fell back and the moment his head hit the pillow he was out.

Medi went over to his bed and sat down close to him, stroking his hair a little. Greasy from the workout, wet a little. "Time is a healer Chad...You're on the right track."

He gave a little grumble, but there on his lips was a small smile on hearing her. She left him alone and went into the bathroom to get herself ready for bed.

Roll, was an illusion.

Chad's eyes shot open. He knew that voice.

The room was darker, the lights on the ceiling barely seemed to give out much. Medi's bed was empty, the sheets once purple, now pink with black pillows...and stains of blood.

He had strength now. He got himself sat up to the side of his bed. The air felt cold around him. The colours looked...dull.

I can't do this.

He looked around. That sounded like him this time.

TV was off, the windows showing outside were just...showing a void of nothing...as he got himself up on his feet and glanced to the bathroom, that was the same.

Trapped.

Alone.

This felt real familiar and it was quickly making a rising feeling of anxiety kick in as he moved away from his bed, his eyes darting around.

This one is mine. And you broke it instead of hers. Why?

"A-Anna!?" He whispered her name in shaken fear as his eyes now locked to his door. He quickly moved over to it and opened it.

The corridor was covered a dull red light, flickering. Looking down both ways, he saw someone walk around the corner one way. The brief glance of hair, of clothing...

"A...Anna?" He stepped out of his bedroom following as his breathing got faster.

As he reached the end of the corridor, at the point where it curved to another the next one had dulled grey lighting instead of red...yet it felt worse.

As he could see the main room in the distance, the lights off within, but the corridor light barely showing there was a humanoid figure standing within it.

He couldn't make out exactly who, and he pushed himself to walk towards it. Getting through the corridor, that seemed to have it's residential room doors seem to briefly open, then slam shut, making him jump a little as he got closer to the figure that certainly wasn't Anna, clearly male and taller then him.

As he reached the end of the corridor stepping over the border between it and the main room the figure lunged forward grabbing his shoulder. The Dark Wolf impaled into his stomach.

Chaos. Lacking his glasses, blood running down from his eyes. Whilst one hand was on Chad's shoulder keeping him frozen in place, the other grabbed the handle of the wolf, pulling it out of his stomach leaving a gaping wound.

I hope someday we can meet again. Goodbye...my son.

Chaos stabbed the weapon into Chad as his last words echoed out of his mouth through Chad's mind.

He felt his body weaken, blood flooding out of the wound made as he fell to his knees. His father walked out of his sight and seemingly vanished. Leaving Chad to look at the weapon within him, before looking ahead once more, at Death now standing over him slowly rising his scythe.

FORGET

Chad felt the tip of the weapon of Death's rip into his neck as he jolted upright awake in bed, completely soaked in sweat and panting like crazy. One hand on his neck and the other on his stomach, feeling for the damage.

Nothing. A dream.

That's all it was. Chad had to rationalise that in his mind glancing at the clock on the wall showing it was two minutes to midnight.

'W...What the fuck was that about? Why, why am I thinking about the reaper and, Anna? Those words I heard. From Death and Richard. About Roll at the start of it…' He was thinking to himself.

His conscious spoke. 'Ignore it. Just ignore it.'

'Excuse you!?'

'You have to. I won't explain any further. But the...nightmares, in your time between death and coming back...you can't focus on them. We have to focus and recover.'

'What was it about?'

'It's just a nightmare. It means nothing. Stop digging further.'

Chad tried to lay back down...but the bed was wet, it was cold. His sweat had soaked through into the sheets. He didn't want to wake Medi. But he couldn't sleep like this.

It had taken a good twenty minutes, but Chad was in the bath. Having a quick one to get the sweat off entirely, Medi washing his back looking concerned about his well-being. She had changed the bed and got him a pair of boxers ready to sleep in. "...You know you can talk to me about anything. Even dreams."

"Medi...I can't. Please just, help me for now. Please."

Eventually he was back in his bed. It felt much better, and the bath helped his muscles relax again.

Sleep took him. Morning came as no other dreams manifested as strongly as that nightmare to make them memorable to him upon waking.

He got up with Medi's help. Dressed and sorted out ready for breakfast.

He sat alone as Medi went to get it. He had the tv off. The base felt...quiet.

Chad looked to her bed. Purple. As it should be. The pink and black he saw in the dream...The blood on it...

Focusing ahead again he mumbled to himself. "Don't think about it, don't think about it, don't think about it."

Then a new noise came about. Sand. Pouring from somewhere. Trickling like that in an hourglass.

His eyes darted around to try and find the source of it, but he didn't spot anything.

'Put the tv on. It'll make it go away.' his conscious firmly said to him.

'What's going on? What's wrong with me?'

'Long term damage haunting us. We're weak remember? You need to focus away as it's leading you to look back on what's happened.'

Claw clicks, like that of the Zerg. He quickly glanced around the room.

He grabbed the remote, choosing to take the advice of his mind and put the telly on.

The noise faded, the quiz-show on the tv helped take his mind off things. Long enough for him to close his eyes, lowering his head a little.

The noise of the tv faded away. He heard the door of the bedroom open making him look.

Anna was there, staring emotionless at him before everything suddenly changed.

The colours drained from everything around him, the sunlight that came in through the windows was replaced by pure darkness.

He dared not move as the only light he had now was the tv, which now was showing white static, the horrible noise being all he heard for a time in his room. The door that led out to his room no longer had Anna there, instead, it showed a pitch black void.

Before his cupboard started moving, one of the door open slightly then closing, over and over.

He forced himself to his feet, shaken and struggling to keep himself up as he steadily walked over to it, holding the steel handle on it as he tried to ready himself was whatever was about to happen before flinging the door open.

His clothing. Torn and shredded, barely holding together on the hangers.

He glanced to the mirror that was placed on the inside of the cupboard door.

It was him looking back to him. But as he lowered his arm off the door in relief...his reflection didn't. It looked baffled at him, glancing around...behind him? Beside him? Like it had never seen his room before.

Then it spoke. It's voice sounded so echoey, so distant from him. Like coming from the end of a tunnel. "What in the hell is this dream?"

"Dream?" Chad answered his reflection. Then he noticed things behind the reflection.

It's room was entirely different to what he stood in. It was his old room. Neat, tidy looking, the clothes intact in the cupboard as he could barely see, the bathroom was visible, but the light inside coming from it's ceiling was an eerie red, flickering. The bedroom itself though still had a functioning light. The tv was off.

His reflection stared at him, surprised he answered before it seemed to realize something. "The state you're in...that tired look...You're from the alternate…"

"Alternate? Alternate what?"

His reflection pressed his hand to the glass. "...You can hear me too."

"…" Chad placed his hand on the mirror, in the same spot...It felt warm where the hand was making them both pull their hands back in surprise. "You're...real?"

His reflection look to his hand. "Warm. I felt your warmth the moment you made contact. This is the most strangest dream yet about this alternate. I've had glances of the life but now-"

"Wait, you're the one I've seen moments of. Talking to Darkmega about me. Of my life...why are you here?"

The light in the reflections bathroom went out, leaving darkness in it's place. "Ditto question to you. I woke up in this...state when I heard Richard say Roll was an illusion. Confusing words coming from a dream since I know Roll's doing alright with my Richard. The dark soul not your...other one."

Chad tried to ignore the bathroom. "I woke up to the same words last night. Look just, what are you? A parallel universe? A fake dream world I'm making up to get out of my ever-sucking life?"

His reflection, as he now noticed seemed healthier to himself and less tired sounding, certainly more curious then his wary state, seem to think on it's answer. "Hmm. So it's all real on your end. My life hasn't been perfect either. Darkmega, then Unicron, Trigon, Diamas then Chaos, it's been aggravating. Keeping some time for Anna is proving difficult too heh."

"Your Anna is...Alive?"

His reflection seemed to recall something now. "Oh. Right. Condolences to your loss man. I lost her once for a short time. Zuo Ci got her back. I take it your Zuo Ci can't-"

Chad felt his heart sink on recalling Zuo Ci saying about her being unable to be revived. "Stop talking about her. Please."

His reflection did indeed stop...before it shook it's head in surprise. "Hold on. This is a dream why am I feeling bad for a dream me?"

"Why is it I feel angry and annoyed towards a dream me for saying that?" Chad answered with a whiff of agitation. "It's clear this isn't just a dream if we're aware."

"Then what is-...Uh…" The reflection seemed to back away a little, looking over the shoulder of Chad. "Yours...yours is alive so why...why is she…"

The wailing.

The howling.

It sounded far away and yet, there was a cold feeling right behind him.

That's when Chad noticed behind his reflection, from it's bathroom, He saw the singular purple eye, slowly emerging from the dark were twelve claws.

He felt two icy cold hands hold his shoulders.

The mirror cracked severely. It showed nothing now. Complete silence bar the static noise of the tv returned as he looked away from the cupboard.

Over to Medi's bed.

Anna was there, lifeless with blood dripping out of her open eyes and mouth, pale in the reflection of the image of the tv's light. The bed soaked and stained crimson with the sheets slashed and cut by a weapon.

He felt a hilt of a blade in one hand, whilst cold glass was in the other. Looking down there was a broken hourglass he was holding, the sand seeping out of it down his wounded blooded hand, whilst in the other hand he held the Blade of Darkness...dripping with fresh blood.

He knew from who. He could hear her calling out to him. He heard his weapon swing through the air, slashing and cutting at flesh as her voice failed from the killing blow.

The wailing of that one haunting figure once again quickly took over all sound as he quickly looked up from his hands and saw the body of Anna had moved out of Medi's bed and was flying towards him, her lifeless eyes looking right at him with black blood flowing out of them and her mouth as it hung open, arms out with blooded hands reaching towards him.

He screamed as he woke up, heaving as his body wanted him to vomit and struggling to get his breath back with his eyes darting around and cold sweat covering him. He was on his bed again, Medi was before him holding his shoulders after having to shake him a little to wake up after returning from getting breakfast. "Chad! Chad I'm here!"

Between his struggling intake for air, he managed to respond. "The hourglass it, it's BROKEN! MY SWORD HAS HER BLOOD!"

"Chad you fell asleep. It's okay now."

Chad stared at his hands, shaking and open. His eyes unfocused and wide. His mind completely out of it from suddenly being made to remember that moment in this time of weakness. Oblivion. "She died because of me! I killed her! Again and again I killed her! Me!"

Medi kept to a calm, soothing voice in order to get him to listen as she remained close, placing her hand on his arm now. "Chad. You've killed no one. It was a dream. You're here in the base. I'm here with you."

"M-Medi?" Chad finally seemed to hear her, his eyes looking to her as he seemed to begin to slip out the memories latched in his mind. One rapidly turning foggy and fading out.

She gave him a smile. "It's okay Chad."

But that made him reel away from her, falling out of the bed opposite and sliding himself away with his hands until his back was up against the metal wall, panting, crying with tears running down his face as he kept his eyes locked on Medi's now very clear concerned expression at his reaction on realizing she was there. "What did I say? WHAT DID I SAY!? I NEVER SAID HER NAME DID I MEDI!?"

Medi got off the bed, never letting up on the worry showing on her face. He didn't stop staring at her as she soon was beside him again, her arms open. "Chad..."

He dived into them, holding her as she wrapped them around him.

"I'm here Chad. Take your time. You're safe here."

An hour passed by.

Chad eventually got back on the bed. He needed help of course and Medi was happy to provide. He was holding a steel mug halfway filled with water right now. Medi was beside him, waiting. Once she was sure he was gonna be okay she was planning to get him a fresh meal since it all had gone stone cold now.

"...Did I say a name?" Chad weakly asked her.

"No Chad. You just screamed and claimed you killed someone."

Chad stared at his sad reflection in the water within the mug. "Medi. I have killed someone. Someone close to me. I loved her."

"Who?"

"…"

"Are you talking about Roll?"

Chad looked to her. He wanted to say 'No of course not! I never loved her! I watched her brain die by Richard's hands whilst the docs killed the rest! I fucking murdered the one I loved Medi! There was only one!' but, another part decided what she was giving him was a safe option to use right now, accepting it's Roll. Admitting to...choosing, was not gonna happen. He wanted to recall why he had the blade of darkness covered in blood, Anna's blood, but it was just a blur of colours when he tried to think to that one moment where it was oh so clear, when he could recall Richard's voice perfectly, about the illusion.

He just nodded and looked back to the mug.

Of course she told him it isn't his fault. He didn't kill her. He let her words of comfort slip on by. For the wrong name, wrong person.

His grip tightened on the mug.

He wished he could say who. Tell someone what he did. He looked at Medi again after she stopped speaking. Giving her a little smile just to show some sort of response to her words.

She motioned to one of his hands, which he let go of the mug and placed near her. She put her hand over his. "It'll be alright. We'll get through this."

Soon he found himself laying down on his bed. Medi had left with the tray of cold food.

He looked to his right hand.

Chad could see the hourglass slip out of his hand as he moved his fingers off the side of it. How relaxed he was with the decision. To be so calm when the very element of death itself watched him...

He felt tears escape again.

"Darkmega, can I have a word with you about Chad?"

Darkmega had been chilling out in his room, playing a video game on his computer. Metal Warrior X. A run and gun shooting game that helped pass the time. He paused it as Medi opened his door and turned to her, a little surprised.

"Sure Medi. Come in."

She walked in and over to the side of the bed where his computer desk was close by, sitting down. "...Listen, has Chad said anything, personal to you?"

Darkmega looked a bit confused on that.

"Not since waking up obviously, but before. Like...about hurting someone he shouldn't. Doing something he regrets."

"Oh." Darkmega rubbed the back of his head, thinking about it. "Well he didn't share too much with me Medi. Just...mostly about Richard if anything. As for regrets, he has several I know, nothing that warrants too much worry. Why?"

"...He's been having nightmares. Last night he woke me up. He was covered in cold sweat and was very much shaken. I assumed he dreamed about his temporary death but this morning he must've just closed his eyes for a moment, had another nightmare. When he woke up, he said about...killing someone. An hourglass and his sword covered in blood."

Darkmega looked at her body language, it was clear she was quite concerned hearing that off Chad, rubbing her arm, looking unease. "Well, dreams are dreams Medi. They can be so real it's hard to separate from reality. You've probably had a few yourself more often now you've changed."

"But it's the way he was...he was so scared about saying the person's name. The person he killed. He was afraid I heard the name. That doesn't seem like something a person who was just having a dream would say afterwards."

Darkmega had to admit she was right on that. "Yeah that, that does sound concerning. Did you ask?"

"I suggested Roll's name, but his face. His face had a look of anger for a moment, before accepting what I said."

"...Like you were wrong, but he went along with it."

"Exactly."

"...Why me?"

Medi looked baffled. "Huh?"

"Why me? Why not talk to the doctors?"

"Because you and Chad are good friends. I just thought that if, perhaps, he had guilt and wanted to say about it to someone, it would either be you, or Roll."

Darkmega nodded. "And since Roll isn't around I'm the only one who might know. Well, there was something Shademan actually told me once. When you used to ask him to take the food to Chad when Roll was, disabled for a time. He mentioned Chad seemed to suffer nightmares. Briefly shouting on waking up, sweats at times...It's making me think it might have have to do with that time in Unicron, fighting against Richard. Since then his had nightmares. They seemed to ease away of course but now after dying...maybe his recalling whatever happened."

"Whatever happ—wait but you were in Unicron with him."

"Yeah. But there was a moment where I was knocked out for a brief time. When I woke up, Chad was fighting Richard and Chaos and Anna had been killed…" Something seemed to dawn on him on thinking about that. "Wait. Wait a moment."

"Darkmega?"

"Shademan. He mentioned that, sometimes, when he heard Chad mumble in his sleep. He kept mentioning a 'her'. 'I didn't want her to', 'I never wanted her to'. Things like that."

Medi looked quite worried now. "Oddly enough. He mentioned about 'her' blood being on his sword. I have no idea about the hourglass though."

"You got me there. But the fact it's female, and it's not Roll...It's odd. He mentioned Richard killed them both. Chaos and Anna. Yet all these nightmares have come since Anna passed..."

"…" Medi stared at him.

As he did to her. "...I'd rather not go any further on this matter. Let's just leave it."

"Darkmega you don't think-"

"No. Not on purpose. Accidental maybe." Darkmega sat back in his chair, sighing. "I'd rather not think the possible chance he would. He's...not me."

Medi knew exactly what he meant on that. She sat there for a moment more, before getting up and heading to the door. "Like you, I would forgive him."

"But she's got a relative here Medi. She might not if it turns out…"

They spoke no more. Medi opened the door and left, heading to the bar to see Ridley about if the food was ready for Chad.

Her own conscious on the other hand. 'Murder is quite the heavy guilt to carry.'

'Chad is not a murderer.' Medi waved at Zhang He as she went by him.

'Don't allow feelings to cloud your required actions. You should inform the doctors of the unusual behavioural pattern of Chad and see what they come up with.'

'No. Not now.'

'What are you expecting? Him to say it to you?'

'In time he'll explain it. I'm there for him.'

'Possible. Very well. But if you wait for him to say then inform the docs, you'll betray his trust in you. Right now you are his nurse, his support. You want more. If you have that, then tell them, he won't want to open any further.'

'I'll take the risk.'

She was distracted by her conversation in her mind she nearly bumped into Dr Regal. "Oh! I'm sorry!"

He seemed to give her a pleasant smile in response, thankful all he had on him was a datapad. "It's fine Medina. Never known you before your change to be lost in thought, how's it going?"

"Still adjusting to things. Adapting. Been busy doctor?"

"Oh yes. Hojo has been keeping me updated on potential samples of Zerg-Hybrids we can work with in order to look into dealing with any future creatures like that dark soul of my son." Regal looked to the datapad. "The samples are actually from a clone of his they have captive. He'll send them in a few days."

"A clone?"

"According to them, goes by the name of Zasz."

'Yeah we lost everything!'

'We had to pay the price!'

He was drumming his fingers as the song played. The guitar, the drumbeat ringing in his ears. A song he hasn't heard in such a long time.

Around him the world seemed to come into focus.

A pub. Smoke filled. The chimes of arcades, gambling machines in the background, their glittering lights breaking through the haze around him. The smell of gin and vermouth entered his nose and it's taste along with the sweet hint of glacé cherries lingered in his mouth. He could feel the stalk of the cherry trapped in his lips as he moved away from the dark brown wooden bar. The small glass that held his drink left behind as the human and alien figures around him were blurry as he walked over to neon blue and green dartboard.

Dirty red carpeting, the walls a dark dull green, tanned lights shining down from the ceiling.

He felt the metal orange darts in his hand as he threw them, each one that landed caused a holographic screen nearby to add his points together.

'A thing of beauty, I know! Will never fade away!'

'What you did to me, I know! Said what you had to say!'

'But a thing of beauty!'

"You know I do gotta wander if you're using that Hokuotwo-crap or whatever you call it to rig the game. I mean another win? Five drinks in? Triples too? My buddy Terry, he couldn't handle this after just two."

He looked to where the voice came from. The face was faded, hard to get the details. Human though. Slightly obese, hairy on the arms, white sleeveless top, baggy blue jogging trousers and green sandals with a gold necklace around his neck.

"Sure." Was all he said as he went back to the bar, sat down as he motioned to the faceless bartender, a woman, to get him another of his now common beverage.

The man that was with him sat down on the stool beside him. "You're normally more upbeat on the meetups. Want me to call fryman to come talk to ya? I know you seem to like talking to those freaks made by whasissname."

"I'm expecting someone." He dully said back.

"Your wife? You said she hates these places. The smell and all that."

"No."

"Your gramps? Oh wait he's dead ain't he? Sorry." The man seemed to look away. "Ohhh crap we got trouble."

"Exactly who I expected." He answered as his got his drink, mumbling thanks to the woman before hearing footsteps come up close to him, motioning his friend aside and sitting down next to him. Two lots of other footsteps had followed, military, power armoured.

She had long green, red eyes, wearing a suit he hadn't seen her in for some time, the black office uniform attire. He looked over to the arrival. "Pandora."

"Of all the cesspits to find you in. Followed your signal. What do you want?" She didn't sound happy to meet him.

"I need the gateway. I need to find a Sigil Stone."

"Excuse me?"

"That a problem?"

"The former, no. The latter very much so. You know most have been purged since the war ended. Only a handful are left and if more do get created, they're being collected and stored away by the Angels. Worse still why would you of all people even want one?"

"How much would I have to pay to hand me the location of one?"

"You can't possibly afford it." She sat up in the seat, looking annoyed. "Which means you'll just try to give me any number that you can till I relent and listen, keep on calling me away from Earth...Fine then."

"Where would I find one?"

"Neo Arcadia. Vault 20. Heavily guarded. One of the very few factions allowed to keep one should the need for it ever arise. The gods trust them."

"Shame that the trust is gonna prove to be a mistake. Can you get the plans for the vault?"

Pandora nodded. "I can get you a copy. But I'm staying out of it. You're on your own when you steal it."

He gulped his drink down, swallowing the cherry whole this time before placing the glass back on the counter.

"And I'll do my duty! I know!"

"Somehow I'll find a way! But a thing of beauty!"

He saw his reflection.

Blue shirt.

Black Jacket.

Red machine monocle.

Twelve claws sticking out of his back.

As he blinked, they vanished.

"Will never fade away!"

He spun around on his chair with the glass in hand, throwing it at one of the Galactic Federation power armoured wearing troopers. The sound of it smashing made everything go black.

The alarms had died.

The flickering lights, washed with blood were using what little power remained in the isolated labs.

They were a section of underground network of Midgar. It had housed over several dozen scientists, guards aplenty, an expanding wave of experiments of both questionable nature and of the past, left in stasis until they could be looked to again.

Now it was a place of death. Sealed from the rest of Deepground.

Bodies torn to shreds over the computers, chairs smashed apart with corpses close to them. Guns and sword laid scattered on the metal flooring.

There was still some sort of life here, despite the carnage though.

A scientist stumbled into a bloody corridor, several of her coworkers were in her view, their lives long since expired.

Her mutated claw appendage scratched along the wall, her jaw long since gone, teeth sharpened, her eyes glowed dimly in the dying lights, her clothing drenched in a mix of bile and blood.

She sensed the one who gave her this life walk up behind her.

She felt him place his chitin coated hands on the sides of her head.

She felt relief, the first time since she was infected as he spoke to her. "I release you."

He crushed her head, a last splash of flesh and liquids falling to the ground before her body did.

Standing there as his hands return to his sides, was Zasz.

Once female, the weeks of modification had done what he had requested, changing him into a male. The two zerg claws on his back were smaller then before, his face, body was more that of a human now. The face bearing a strong resemblance to Richard Wily. But while it held the appearance, there were major differences such as the scaly skin from his elbow down to claw-like hands and from his knee downwards leading to hardened chitin. His eyes were a faintly glowing yellow colour, his hair a dark red and there were reddish veins on his neck and face. He was wearing a destroyed a once-white long sleeve shirt and trousers, shredded and damaged by his hardened skin as well as damage caused by combat, as the gunshot holes, blood and slashes in the outfit were anything to go by.

He walked over the body, heading down the corridor. He spoke as he went. His voice was now like the one he was cloned from, ever so slightly reverberating. "She didn't hold the override code. There is only two more that could possibly have it. If not we won't be leaving until someone comes."

Another voice spoke to him. "Why the fuck are you killing them?! We need people to use once we get out of here!"

Zasz stopped in the middle of this corridor. There were automated doors to the left and right of him, both open, One fully, the other trying to close itself, if the corpse of a Shinra guard didn't lay in the way. "Because I don't want them to suffer. I know it hurts, it's torture being controlled by the Zerg gene without being an Overmind."

"We can't trust the original hive when we go back there. We've changed and they won't like it."

"They'll obey. I still have some control left. You always had control over your hives despite all the mutations you went through."

Zasz glanced to the right of him, as walking into view, was Richard the dark soul. Twelve claws, purple eyes, and tinted purple hair. His skin pale. He looked angry. "But that was then. This is now and we don't have our powers. I can't promise they'll listen once you've ripped out the human genes from them. You can't even teleport away like I always could!"

The zerg-hybrid snarled at his other self. "I'll find a way."

"You better. I've got no choice but to tag along. Should've let me continue being in control. I enjoyed killing these useless vermin."

"These 'useless vermin' were trying to steal our DNA. To make more potential hosts. Ones we don't need to deal with right now. That's why I let you out."

"Took you long enough. I've been yelling at you for ages to let me have the reins but you were afraid I would do something stupid."

Zasz started to walk on. "Like attack Chad and the others."

"Don't act like he doesn't deserve it. If it wasn't for that other asshole, you would've been fine with me slaughtering that idiot." The hybrid heard behind him.

"...In time. Maybe. But for now, we have to focus on the greater enemy." The Zerg looked at one of his clawed hands...The feeling of the small glass before he threw it at the one Galactic Federation trooper who he could tell was not on Pandora's side still could be felt, like a ghostly reminder of his dream.

"I can only look ahead now…"

1. Extra shifts at work are a pain in the ass.

2. Pandora is based off Pandora from Megaman ZX.