It's getting dark, the last of the day's patients wander off, I see a green figure in the distance.

"Oh."

He lands at my feet and looks at the ground, Eidolon seems nervous.

"So, I'm back to my old self now."

He motions for me to follow him, and I do so.

"Keter..."

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry, it's just hard to think of my, um shard as being separate from me, as having a history. What was Eden like?"

"Cruel, controlling, manipulative, and not nearly as bright as she thought she was."

He blinked.

"She died doing the equivelent of human texting and driving, after that I considered her claims of superiority to be very suspect."

There was a light chuckle, as we walked side by side.

"NASA's using that juice you made, Sphere wasn't happy but the moonbase has been evacuated, the new anti gravity juice helps make him, well less enraged."

"The world governments?"

"We put out public warnings about the powers and tactics of all your family members, so any escapes?"

"I haven't sensed any but it will happen, we a very determined people."

I stared at him.

"It's not your fault you know, things are how they are."

He shrugged

"Yeah I... I've talked it over, so anyway, you think you could reason with them?"

"We are not a reasonable people, I'm sorry but we really do have a culture that only respects force. Culturally you left us in the dust thousands of years ago."

We continued to walk around.

"So what's Zion like?"

"Distant, uncommunicative, he loved Eden with all of his might but that was all there was to him. Our chains were obvious and worn, his were mental and almost a part of him. Without her, he is lost. I hope for all of our sakes he remains lost."

"A little bitter?"

"Yes... the fact that he's hailed as a hero is kind of... it bothers me, maybe he did turn a new leaf, but I'm not that optimistic."

"Why not?"

"I have the help of a support network to keep me on the straight and narrow, he only has himself."

We continued walking.

"So, you're having kids?"

"Yes... we have been reading books, gathering the required materials and taking classes. I am currently learning how to change a diaper on a small artficial human."

"Doll."

"Thank you... I think I will probably be in charge of that duty."

"Why?"

"I can shut off my olfactory senses, June can't."

Eidolon laughed...and then smiled.

"I'm thinking about having more of a balance, once this Endbringer stuff is over, after the Zion mess is over, find a good woman settle down, the whole american dream."

I leaned against a tree watching the ocean.

"Hopes and Dreams save the world."

"Yeah Woody, they do."

July 4th 2001

"Happy day of birth to you, happy day of birth to you."

It's June's birthday, she's showing now, I have given a warning to the chinese, three days until Leviathan attacks Shanghai.

"Should we have the baby shower?"

"Sure, I can invite all of my..."

She blinked.

"All of your...huh... I think I just made myself sad."

I hugged her.

"I'm here for you."

"I know."

I waited for the pick up, the knock on the door, she blew out the candles and it came I opened the door and a man in a suit walked in.

"Ironwood."

He had a chinese accent, but it was faint.

"I'm sorry, I don't know your name."

"I am a diplomat with the consulate, I have come to relay a message."

"We have cake and drinks, would you like to come in?"

He took in a breath and I cut him a slice of cake.

"Tea or Coffee?"

"Coffee, I'm a little picky about my tea."

"I understand, Mr?"

"Yang."

He took a bite of cake and stared at it.

"We have decided to handle your brothers attack by ourselves."

I stared at the man.

"Why?"

"We're going for the kill, and will be using...well there is a possibility of collateral damage, I'm here to thank you for the warning, The evacuation is underway as we speak."

"You don't want my help?"

"We are not against you healing the wounded after the fight is over, but this is something that we feel we have to do on our own. It's nothing personal."

He took another bite.

"Thank you for the cake, were you doing anything?"

"It's my wife's birthday."

June waved at him.

"Oh... I'm sorry for intruding."

"It's ok, this is important."

He nodded, and got up to leave.

"Thank you for the cake Mr. Ironwood, Mrs. Ironwood and for your time."

With that he left and I'm ashamed to say I was relieved.