"Hey, what's going on? Why is everyone running?" Magolor frantically glanced around at the room he was in. "Can someone tell me what's going on?" He pounded on the walls of the case he was stuck in. No one seemed to notice him. "Someone! Please! What's happening?"

A voice rang out from somewhere. It was from someone who was running. "HEY! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING? DON'T TELL THAT ABOMINATION A THING!" Was she talking about me? Did I do something? "HEY! HEY! GET BACK HERE! THE PLACE IS GONNA BLOW IN SIX MINUTES! ARE YOU INSANE?" Oh no.

The person she was talking to approached him. "I could get in a lot of trouble for this, but I can't let you die like this." He opened the lid of the case and threw something in. He closed the lid and the case filled with white smoke.

"W-what is this?" Magolor panicked, and scrambled to get the lid back off. It wouldn't move.

"This is just so you won't have to be awake for this. But rest assured, I will do everything in my power to save you."

Magolor was only faintly aware of what happened after that. The case was moving, and very quickly at that. There was some echoed shouting that he couldn't quite understand, and then everything ground to a halt. "Where… are… we…?"

A voice came from behind them. "Are you really planning to die to save HIM?"

The person carrying the case responded. "I've lived a long life, and he is only a child. Is this not the fair way to go about it?" He opened the case again, and dropped a book in. "In case you forget me, I want you to at least have this with you. Please survive, Magolor."

After that, everything faded.

- ... . / . -. -.. / - ..-. / - ... . / .-. .-. - .-.. - -. ..- .

"I'm going back there." Magolor announced about an hour after waking up. "I want to know more."

"Are you sure? One photo seemed to deeply upset you."

"I'm sure. I've made peace with the revelation. I even saw a part of it in my dream last night. All I want now is to know the truth."

"Fine. Just make sure to listen to me if I'm telling you you've seen enough."

Magolor returned to the cave, now shrouded in a healthy density of mist. He went back to the bedroom. Opened the bottom drawer of the nightstand. Slid the picture into his cloak. Then… the bookcase. If that book the guy had given him was anywhere, it was most likely to be in this room. There was a white outline on the front of one of the planks. Magolor noted this, then began searching the shelf.

Anything that seemed familiar? Out of all the books on this shelf, only four of them were ones that Magolor had read before. He distinctly remembered finding each of them under the bed in the Lor Starcutter's Captain's quarters. I've only ever seen four of these books before, and they're the ones I found under the bed in the Lor, of all places? He'd read them multiple times before. He didn't especially need to do so again. He flipped through one, and a piece of paper fell out.

OL

There was part of some kind of barcode on the back. Interesting. He flipped through another one. A piece of paper fell out.

MA

"Hm. If this is what I think it is, that's gonna give me a lot to think about." A third piece.

G

"Uh huh. Annnnnd…"

OR

"Neat." He put the four pieces of paper into the white outline, arranged so that it spelled out MAGOLOR . The shelf descended into the floor.

Behind the shelf was a single book on a table, with an identical copy of Magolor's favourite chair facing it. He was sure that was the same book he saw in the dream. The cover said "R2-M LOG", with no author given. Well, that wasn't quite right. The part where it would name the author was torn out. Magolor read through the first entry.

I believe we may have struck gold with R2-M. He has shown excellent growth in the few days he's been alive, and is brimming with curiosity. As long as we are able to keep him out of trouble, I sincerely believe he may grow up to be the savior we've been waiting for. The future is bright.

Trying to ignore the pang of guilt he got from reading that, he read the next page.

His capacity for pattern recognition is far ahead of our expectations. I left a book out by accident a few hours ago, and he managed to get a hold of it. When I saw him with it, I was going to take it back, but he was just staring at the front. He pointed to the letter R in the title, and then to the same letter later in the title. Then he reached into a box of pencils, and arranged a few of them into the shape of an R! It's extraordinary for one so young to be able to see something like that. If he continues to be this impressive, maybe he'll be able to salvage Halcandra itself.

The rest of the book was more of the same. The author had nothing but glowing positivity toward Magolor. Anecdotes of various things he'd done that were impressive, funny, or interesting. He pocketed a few of the images that were pasted in the pages. Then, dated about five years after the beginning of the log, something changed.

Someone we have yet to identify broke in yesterday. They don't seem to have taken anything, but R2-M almost definitely saw them. He's developed enough to be more than capable of describing the criminal, but it's clear that they did something to him that was traumatizing. If I ever get my hands on the motherfucker who hurt him, they will spend the rest of eternity regretting it.

It took several weeks for the author to write again.

The attacker broke into the living quarters for both Restoration subjects, but did not go anywhere else in the facility. R2-M is the only one that saw the attacker, and yet whenever it comes to getting information about them, he will not respond. It's very obviously out of fear, but what he is afraid of in particular is unclear. He has been insistent that I stay near him at all times, and to provide physical reassurance when necessary. I admit I have become rather attached to him, but it concerns me all the more about his condition. Though, I do have some suspicions. Will update if my investigation bears fruit. I will be bringing R2-M along, as I'm sure he would like me to.

Magolor turned a page.

I ran a brain scan in private. I was concerned about what the results might yield, and my concerns were well-founded. R2-M has a fragment of the Halcandran Master Crown embedded in his brain, which may cause severe damage to his rational thinking if it remains for too long. I can't let anyone else find out about this. It will risk putting him in danger. His life is very important to the salvation of Halcandra, and to me. If they find that fragment, they may decide to kill him. The culprit of the break-in is clearly the one who put that fragment there, likely with the intention of compromising the project. I swore a year after he came into my care that I would protect him at all costs, and I intend to uphold that.

Magolor sat up straighter, and stared at the wall for a few moments. He went back to the book and kept reading.

He's gone.

The next few pages were empty.

I am not the original author of this log, as it has been confiscated from him. He has been placed in a holding cell, and R2-M will be terminated. At least, that's what it looks like will happen. A meeting is being held tomorrow to decide his fate, but I am almost positive it will end with euthanasia.

Knowing for a fact that the euthanasia didn't end up happening, he continued.

Original author is back. I have been held downstairs, but there is a bomb in the facility. There are plans for all staff to board a ship for evacuation, and everyone insists that R2-M be left behind as the facility explodes. There is no way to defuse the bomb. I really must figure out a way to save him. It must be horrifying, being stuck in a glass case as everything around you goes up in an explosion. Even if it's the last thing I do, I will rescue him. Even if he never remembers me. Even if he forgets everything, it will be worth it to me if he lives.

Feeling tears prick at the corners of his eyes, Magolor turned to the final page. It was handwritten, dated only three weeks before the current date.

Unbeknownst to them, there was also a bomb on the escape ship. Other than you and I, there were no survivors. If you did end up reading this, know that I consider you an unbelievable disappointment.

-The break in culprit

Underneath that, there was a barcode. Magolor held it up to his earring, and heard the Lor scanning it. "It's an mp3 file. I will play it for you."

—

"I just finished putting R2-M to sleep. He's been really impressing me, you know."

"That's good to hear. My idea has been less successful. R1-G is prone to violent outbursts, and doesn't seem to respond well to any directions."

"I hope things improve for him. I was thinking that maybe we could let the two interact, but R2-M is… delicate. I am not comfortable with the idea of letting him near something that might hurt him."

"You've become rather fond of Magolor, haven't you?

"I suppose I have, yes."

—

"Thanks, Lor. I think I'll come back now. I'll mull over all this soon. For now, I have a question for one person." He climbed out of the cave and entered the ship. "Let's go to Castle Dedede."