Roxas opened his eyes to the ceiling of his room, confused for a moment. The last thing he recalled was fighting Emblem heartless, then, everything was black. However, he didn't dwell on this, Dusks were known to perform errand tasks. Sitting on the edge of his bed, he rubbed his still tired eyes as he walked towards the door.

However, he was met with someone standing outside, his eyes widened in surprise as he said a tall man with long hair seemingly waiting for him. As he lifted his head, Roxas recognized the man, Vexen . His lips curled into a smile, his expression similar to that of Marluxia when he gazed at the keyblade; except that he didn't have his weapon summoned now.

"You're mine today, Roxas." Vexen said in a tone that sent made Roxas want to turn back into his room.

He wasn't sure how to properly respond, so he simply nodded, handing his head until Vexen walked away. "Report to Saïx when you're ready." his superior remarked walking down towards the Grey room.

Roxas waited a little while before following him. But as he did he noticed a few other members were sitting in the Grey room as well. He turned his head toward Larxene first, wondering if he should ask her what happened yesterday, but lost his nerve as she turned towards him with a disgusted frown, as though she were looking at an insect.

"What do you want? I'm busy. Go hit your head against the glass or something." She remarked as Roxas quickly turned his head away, picking up on Demyx speaking, he sat a good distance across the room playing his sitar.

"Man, why's Larxene gotta be such a witch all the time?" He sighed to himself as Roxas then noticed Vexen standing by himself looking out the window.

"Hee hee... It appears my conclusions were, once again, flawless." Roxas overhead as he quickened his walk directly towards Saïx.

Saïx's gaze lingered on Roxas for a moment, something he took note of as Saïx usually wasn't one to stare. But it only lasted for a moment before his superior informed him of his daily mission. "You will be working with Vexen today." he informed. "He will be showing you how to perform reconnaissance. However, you will not be allowed to hold your tongue today Roxas." Saïx said as Roxas looked up towards him in surprise. "Reconnaissance requires communication, as such you will be expected to convey your thoughts. Do you understand?"

Roxas hesitated, he hung his head for a moment in uncertainty before he lifted it towards his superior.

"...Yes." Roxas said as Saïx nodded, opening the void for him as Vexen walked in first. As Roxas followed, he glanced back at Saïx in uncertainty before the void closed behind him.

Roxas walked into the shopping district within Twilight town, looking down curiously as he saw that there were more people standing around.

"Now, listen carefully. Your mission today is to perform reconnaissance in this area." He remarked, "A few chosen Organization members specialize in such matters, gathering the needed intelligence for all of our benefit. However, everyone needs this training in order to write detailed reports. Fortunately, you are in good hands. I will be by your side today to help stimulate that insensate mind of yours." He said as Roxas placed his hood over his head feeling unsettled. "First, take a look around the immediate area, and report anything unusual you find. And don't go wandering too far until you've carefully examined the clues closest at hand." He ordered as Roxas nodded noticing that Vexen placed his hood on as well.

While Roxas jumped down towards the street, Vexen teleported, trailing his junior who was looking up at the shop windows.

"...I think they sell jewelry here." Roxas said as he glanced at Vexen who crossed his arms with an unamused expression on his face.

"Anyone can see that." He said as Roxas then walked before a clothing store near the center of the square.

"I guess this place sells clothes?" Roxas questioned as he saw clothes that were different from their own uniforms. He eyed a shirt with stars on the sleeves, tilted his head slightly towards it, but was snapped out of his thoughts.

"You guess? Are you daft? What else would it be?" Vexen chided as Roxas quickly moved on, looking towards a brick walkway.

"This spot's paved with different tiles. It's like a road..." He said pointing towards it.

"Fascinating... And?" Vexen prompted, but showed no encouragement as Roxas hung his head, unsure of what else to say as Vexen rested his head on his hands. "We'll never get anywhere with you simply stating the obvious." He remarked as Roxas towards another shop.

His eyes lit up as he saw many items that sparked within, he wasn't sure what exactly they were for, but they looked quite nice.

"Wow, what do they sell here?" He asked in awe before he hung his head again as Vexen boxed his ear.

"That's your job to find out, idiot. The point isn't to wander around gawking." He scolded as he directed Roxas towards the square. "Analyze what you see."

Roxas thought for a moment, "Umm... It's a pretty big town?" He said, but knew it was wrong as Vexen sighed.

"Is that all? You should have figured out that much when you got here."

"Well...there are a lot of shops."

"And?" Vexen prompted.

Roxas looked down at the ground for a moment, "Uhh... This could be the center of town?"

"Could be?" Vexen asked as Roxas's stomach sank, "Are you asking me or telling me?"

"..."

Vexen sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as his brow furrowed. "Roxas, you are looking but not seeing. Here's what I see: This whole town was built along a mountain. That's why the road's slope." He said pointing out the slopping hills. "Houses have been built along the terrace. And at the top is a station. The trains there are the town's primary system of transit. Up there, see that clock tower? That's the station building. Based on it's location, we know the tracks are probably elevated. And this must be downtown. All these shops in one place... Now, what about this path you pointed out? Trams must run here. See, look closer. There are marks."

Roxas looked at his superior in surprise, perhaps in slight awe. "You figured all that out just now?" He asked as Vexen sighed.

"But that's just it!" Vexen snapped suddenly as Roxas noticed a few people turned their way, looking around curiously towards a sound with seemingly no source. "I only stated what I saw. There was no "figuring" involved. That's the next step: analyzing the data you find. The clothing and jewelry shops tell us how these people live. This whole town is a blueprint of their lives." Vexen explained but noticed that Roxas went silent again.

"Distressing. Very distressing." The scientist remarked, "Your mind wasn't made for this, was it? Well, you're not off the hook yet, boy. If I let you quit with these results, I'll be the laughingstock of the castle." He said then grabbed Roxas's hood, dragging him towards the start of a path that led through the town. "Follow this path and investigate the remainder of the area. And stay on the path, if you please! Everything you need to know about this plaza lies along it-provided you are capable of connecting the dots." He said condescendingly.

"We've been through the whole area." Roxas said looking up towards Vexen whose annoyance hadn't faded.

" All right, then, what have you learned?"

"Well, umm...let's see. The town has a lot of overpasses and underpasses. And the tram seems to circle the plaza..." Roxas said trying to think through what he has seen. "Oh, and there was that entrance that looked like it led underground, but it was shuttered."

"Anything else?" Vexen asked, looking down at his junior with some expectation, but was met with silence. "Never mind." He grumbled to himself. "Wouldn't want you to hurt yourself. You're showing some improvement, at least, even if your natural talents do fall woefully short of my own." He remarked summoning a portal before them out of sight from the public eye using some magic. "You're done, boy. Go ahead and RTC." He said as Roxas looked towards the ground.

His frustration grew as he suddenly spoke up. "I could've figured it out if I had more time." He said as Vexen stopped, turning his head slightly.

"Oh? Is that so?" He said condescendingly. "Then take all the time you like. But don't hold yourself up to my standards. Little steps for little minds."

Roxas wasn't entirely sure what he was implying, but the tone of his voice made him want to wack his keyblade against his superior's head.

Vexen hummed to himself as Roxas had spent more time identifying certain aspects of the town. "Hmm, not bad. You're finally starting to see the bigger picture. But while I applaud your effort, you need to be able to see these things at first glance." He said, placing his hand on Roxas's shoulder as he teleported him atop the town. "Your goal should be to gather the maximum amount of data in the minimum amount of time. Spend too much time dallying, and you risk being seen. Sometimes the locals will be wary. You need to be warier."

Roxas simply nodded but recalled Vexen yelling earlier, seemingly contradicting what he had just said. However, he didn't want to start an argument as Vexen opened a corridor before them. "Roxas, whenever the Organization needs to know more about a world, naturally. Every world is unique, with its own terrain, values, Heartless population-any number of variables that could be turned to our advantage in the missions ahead."

Roxas's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, "every world"? You mean there's more than one?" He asked curiously.

"Yes, boy. You didn't think you'd be mulling about here forever, did you? You will visit many worlds for many reasons...but our ultimate goal remains the same." He said, as Roxas recalled the other members mentioning something similar. "Today's mission was just an exercise. I am satisfied. Let's return." He said walking into the corridor first.

Roxas glanced towards Vexen as he turned back for a moment, looking up at the setting sun as he walked into the darkness, returning to the world of night.

Later on, I discovered the job was more than just a commute between the castle and that town. The walls between worlds are steep, so we create our own ways: dark corridors which lead to every place imaginable. Even though it took me a while, eventually I was able to traverse worlds without any assistance from my seniors. What was harder, was learning the rules of each new world I traveled to.

Notes:

- Roxas needs an adult, a better adult.