Ch.10

A.N.: So, remember how I said that this is set in an alternate universe? Well, this establishes that. Sorry, but this isn't a huge action chapter, but I am already started on the next chapter which is an action chapter so just be patient. I should have the next one posted by this weekend.

Disclaimer: F.E.A.R. 3 belongs to Warner Bros.

I was back in the amplifier. Something was wrong though. Subtle changes in the interior of the device informed me that a good deal of time had passed since Aristide had sealed the device. I was not strapped into the chair so I stood up and walked over to the curved edge of the chamber wall. I yelled, "Damn it Alma! We had a deal! Open the chamber right now!" I heard and felt nothing in response to my outburst. Irritated, I used our link to speak to her directly when I said, "Come on Alma, I am tired. I will play games with you later. Open the chamber." Confusion and panic set in as I not only did not receive a response, but I realized that our bond was extremely weak. Before I could try to think of a way out of my predicament, I became aware of another presence in the chamber. I wheeled around with my pistol drawn. What I saw disturbed me so severely that I wanted to terminate myself with my pistol right there on the spot. Seated in the amplifier chair was…me.

Nearly dropping my pistol onto the floor, I stammered, "Wh-what are yo-you?" My doppelganger did not respond to my question and seemed to not be aware of my existence. In the low light of the spherical prison, I studied him in an effort to grasp what was happening. At first glance, our armor appeared identical but when I scrutinized it further, I noticed that his was black while my armor was more of a brownish color. He raised his head and I again wanted to discharge my pistol into my head. His face was scarred from the brutal fights for survival during the course of the mission to destroy Alma in the exact same way as mine. His hair was darker than mine to the point of being black. I noticed another key difference in our appearances. His eyes were still grey while mine had changed to be identical to my coveter's glowing orange eyes.

Before I could notice anything else about him, he stood as he said to what I guessed was ATC watching him from the camera, "The bitch became obsessed with me…" His voice was alarmingly devoid of any energy or life. In addition, there was an edge to his words as he said them that indicated to me that this version of me was not mentally stable. The way he paced around reflected his voice in every regard. He might as well have been a dead man walking.

He continued his ranting, "…Don't you people understand?" I knew what he was about to do because I would have done the same thing if I was in this situation. I rushed forward to stop him from revealing the conception of the third child. However, as my left hand tried to grasp one of his shoulders, I passed straight through his body. Confused, I glanced down at my gloved hands and even went so far as to rotate them in an attempt to find an explanation for what had just occurred. I stopped and glanced back at him. He had not noticed anything and was continuing his rant. Further to my confusion, he did not even try to reveal the third child as a ploy to escape the chamber.

Instead, he said, "Why was she ever created? What good did they think would come from that…nightmare?!" The anger in his voice was the only recognizable sign of humanity. However, it was clear that this version of me had broken one of the cardinal rules of being a soldier: he had failed to uphold the one of the six articles of the all-important Code of Conduct.

I demanded, "What are you doing soldier? If we are captured, we do absolutely everything possible to try to escape! We learned that in basic training! It is the third article of our Code of Conduct!" I said it from memory, "If I am captured, I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape, and to aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy." I looked at him with disgust before I said, "You aren't even trying! I mean, how long have you been in here? I escaped within a week and most of that was spent in her dream world."

I stopped when I realized that time seemed to have skipped forward. He said, "Horrible. She raped me." He suddenly ran forward, got close to the camera, and then yelled, "Do you hear me, ARMACHAM? She's…fucking…PREGNANT!" I knew ATC's reaction would be immediate. Sure enough, two mercenaries rushed into the chamber. I had expected them to be quickly dispatched or at least neutralized. Instead, I watched in shock as he let them drag him from the chamber without even trying to defend himself. They were not even armed and I knew that our hand-to-hand training was likely far superior to their own. Yet, he did not fight back. I simply stared as they left the amplifier, presumably to locate Alma and extract our child from her. I was briefly disoriented, as my surroundings become a series of blurs.

However, I finally found myself at the exterior of the airport. At first, I thought I had entered Alma's nightmare world because the sky had been transformed as a massive trail of psychic energy, that seemed to be originating from a location either in the city itself or more likely somewhere in the nearby forests, towered above the city and lit the entire region in a shadow of red. Euphoria filled me as the energy trail pulsed with raw power. It was irresistibly intoxicating and as I struggled to keep control over of myself, I realized why it was affecting me with such intensity. It was Alma's signature. She was creating it somehow. Finally suppressing the euphoria, I was able to take in my surroundings more effectively.

The city was unrecognizable and the bridge was gone. The growling of some kind of beasts filled the air. The airport was still intact and when I walked a short distance towards the building, I noticed another one of those weird containment cells. As I moved closer, I saw that a soldier occupied it. It was not until I got close to the cell that I recognized the occupant as the other version of myself. He was leaning against the far corner as he clutched his left bicep with his right hand. I felt two individuals approaching from behind us and turned to see a large, built, unshaven man holding an assault rifle that I had never seen before. The other I immediately recognized as Paxton Fettel or more accurately, Foxtrot 813 under the possession of Paxton Fettel's spirit. If that was Paxton, then the list of possible identities for the other man had been drastically cut short.

I had never met the man personally but I had heard the Replicas offhandedly mention some rather unpleasant behaviors that the older, now deactivated Replicas had witnessed. From what I had heard, Fettel was not one to tolerate a stranger's presence for any extended length of time, let alone fight beside him. "My babies." I cried out in shock as I heard her whisper beside me to my left. I looked down at her and more or less poked her to see if she was the Alma that I knew. My finger did not pass through her and she gave me a puzzled look.

I explained, "Long story. Alma, what the fuck is this?"

She must not have taken a closer look at her surroundings because she asked in a confused tone, "This isn't a dream?" I shook my head and pointed at the other Becket. She gasped and remarked, "Michael that is…you. Why are they…?" The two Origin Prototypes surrounded him while he simply requested to be left alone. However, when Point Man tried to use the control panel, he quickly lost patience and punched the clear wall in front of him hard enough to crack the material. Alerted by the behavior, Becket lifted his head to get a better look at the oldest brother.

He moved off the wall that he had been leaning against as he said, "You're not Armacham…" He pressed up against the wall separating them as he inquired, more to himself than Point Man, "…who are you?" He placed both hands against the clear barrier as he repeated, "Who are you?" After a moment, he suddenly retreated in fright as he stated, "It's you." He pressed his back against the corner that was furthest away from Point Man as he said, "What do you want?" As long as he was inside the cell, he would be okay.

Thinking that I had the time, I asked Alma, "I thought you said that you can't look into Point Man's mind. I…well…he just did. How…?" I was interrupted by Point Man shooting the lock and thus opening the cell. I yelled, "No!" as I rushed forward in a useless attempt to help the lone unarmed Becket. Of course, my attempt only resulted in passing straight through the brothers, Becket, and the cell.

I turned around to see Fettel stop his brother before he said, "Allow me."

Alma materialized next to me and I said desperately, "Do something."

She looked at me apologetically as she explained, "Michael, there is nothing we can do. We have no influence here." By that time, it was already too late. Fettel had possessed Becket.

He was saying, "This man is a shell brother." He continued as he explained to his brother the concept of Project Harbinger before saying, "He is like us brother. Or, at least manufactured to be like us." Becket suddenly turned and smashed his head three times against various parts of the walls.

The red aura around his body noticeably diminished and as he turned to face Point Man, Becket's voice said, "These butchers turned us into monsters…"

I felt a ray of hope and even though I knew it was pointless to do so, I said, "That's it, focus. You aren't an empty shell. Fight soldier!" Becket rushed forward and grabbed Point Man with both hands.

He said bitterly, "I know who you are…you're her bastard SON!" Point Man roughly shoved Becket onto the ground against the back wall of the cell." As he laid there, Becket accused, "I am here because of you." Just as he finished his statement, his body started shaking violently and the red aura returned.

I uselessly commented, "No, don't lose focus. Fettel is only interested in what we know about the child. Once he gets that, they don't need you anymore."

My heart sank as I heard Fettel's voice say, "Mother chose him." Becket's body vomited violently and I knew that his body was not going to last much longer under the strain. As he returned to sitting against the wall, Fettel said, "It is true brother…conception." It was over now. This Becket had outlived his usefulness now that the only thing that he had that the brothers did not was revealed. Suddenly, the red aura once again faded and Becket suddenly stood.

I nodded sadly as I quietly remarked, "Don't make it easy for them. Die fighting."

Becket snarled at Point Man as he walked up to him, "You have to kill the filthy maggot that grows inside her!" Becket remained unmoved even as the oldest brother aimed his pistol at the dying soldier's head. His skin started to discolor as the strain began to tear his body apart. Remaining defiant, Becket walked close enough for the end of Point Man's pistol to press against his head. He said, "She's no longer your mother! The child…it must…" His body sagged and he moved back into the center of the cell as his body started to swell. Despite the obvious pain, he finished, "it…it cannot be allowed... to...agh…Live!"

Just as he finished, his body exploded with a sick bang. The walls of the cell were covered with his remains and Fettel was left standing where the Delta Force Operative had made his final stand.

The homicidal psychic chuckled before he remarked, "Say hello to mother."

Enraged, I rushed forward to grab the psychopath by his scrawny throat but the impulsive action only resulted in me being temporarily blinded as a white light overtook the area as Fettel's maniacal laughter rang in my ears.

When I regained my eyesight, the brothers had disappeared and only Alma and I were left to try to make sense of what we had witnessed. I zoned out as I stared at the bloodied interior of the cell for several minutes. For once, Alma seemed to be at loss for words as she tried to think of something to say. I shook my head to inform her that there was nothing she could say or do that would somehow make what just happened even remotely acceptable. I finally said, "That is no way for a soldier to die." I sighed before I asked, "Okay, so…?"

Alma looked at me and started to say something but stopped when a deafening scream of a woman filled the air as a massive pulse of psychic energy, in the form of a red shock wave, overtook the last remnants of reality. The concrete around us cracked as sinkholes began shifting the very ground we stood on. When the scream finally ceased, the airport was unrecognizable. Strange dog-like creatures that looked like walking bodies of lava traveled in enormous packs looking for victims.

The area itself looked like Alma's nightmare world. I recalled the premonition that I had when my old squad had first entered the city and I realized with horror that it had finally been fulfilled. She remarked, "It makes sense now. In this world, I am in labor. The pain is causing me to do all of this. My influence is taking over this world." She was unnervingly excited about the last statement. She continued, "That would also explain why I did not intervene here. The birth must be close because I definitely would have stopped them from hurting you."

I blurted out, "Hurt me?! Your bastard sons just fucking killed me!"

She shook her head before she explained, "No…you aren't dead but…I can't sense exactly what I did to you. Michael, I love you and you know how I get when I am attached to someone. Do you really think I would let you leave me because of something as simple as being physically killed? You are with me right now just I don't know if you are like me or in one of my worlds."

I shivered as I imagined that fate. Sensing my thought, my coveter smiled ominously and remarked, "I told you before my love. There is nowhere you can go that will protect you from me. I will find you."

Trying to hide my fear, I said with a forced humorous tone, "Lucky me. What did I ever do to deserve that honor?" Her eyes lit up with amusement and I sensed that she was hiding something from me.

She said, "Another time. For now, just know that you have always been special to me." Dread filled me, but I focused on what was happening.

I asked, "Okay, seriously Alma, what the Hell is this and where are we?"

She gave me a wispy smile and replied, "The question is not where but which."

Confused and irritated, I begged her, "Alma, I just watched myself explode from the inside out. No more games. Just tell me. Please?" Her smile faded and I felt the barest traces of guilt in her mind.

She explained calmly, "Michael, this is what is going on in another universe that exists on a parallel plane with our own. Didn't you notice that Becket's appearance and personality were slightly different? It was you but it was this universe's Sgt. Becket. I bet I look and act differently here too. Sometimes it is as simple as wearing a short sleeve dress instead of a long sleeve dress but sometimes, it can be very drastic."

My mind struggled to grasp what seemed like common knowledge to her. I said, "But, I agreed to work for you. We left the amplifier together. I…we…killed Aristide…and…and…Morales…Alpha 1…I killed all those people with the submarine…I don't understand…"

A sharp pain erupted inside my head and I fell to my knees. I cried out in agony, "What is this? I can feel it in my head. Wait…I remember now…I…I stopped thinking like a soldier so I didn't ask you for help. I was just so angry about what happened…I was in the amplifier for months…oh God…they hunted down Morales and they killed him. They were taunting me about it…"

Alma gently reached out and wrapped her arms around my neck. As I continued to rant incoherently, she drew me in closer and let me rest my head on her chest. She said soothingly, "No, that was not you. Michael, come back to me. You work for me. We left the amplifier together. The Replicas fight with us. Please, come back to me Michael. I need you."

My memories of the past week returned to me and I simply repeated, "The mission is all that matters. My personal feelings are not part of that mission." She held me there for a moment and I admit that it was very comfortable to be so close to her now that I was not in danger of dying every time she touched me.

Finally, I whispered, "Alma, we need to…" She sighed in disappointment but let me retract from her. As I stood, I smiled at her and said, "Thanks." She smiled back and nodded. I looked around us but realized that everything had changed. It was years in the future but something was wrong. There was nothing. No signs of life, no creatures, not even any sound save the lone breeze. Fairport was still in Alma's nightmare world, but now I saw that her influence had extended far beyond the city and surrounding forests. I tried to sense a living being but I realized with immense shock that not only was Fairport devoid of any life but the entire world. I asked, "Damn…this is the fate of this universe? What happened?"

"Daughter…" I turned to see a very tired and worn out looking young Alma in a dusty short sleeve red dress. She had to lean against a nearby burnt out hulk that was once a sedan in order to stand. She suddenly coughed weakly and her voice was very raspy as she tried to say, "Daughter…she…did this." Her strength gave out and she was about to fall forward but I rushed forward. I caught her and held her in my arms. She was unusually lightweight, her hair had turned silver, and her once vibrant eyes now resembled two dying pieces of charcoal.

Concerned, I asked, "Alma, what happened to her?" My Alma placed her right hand on her doppelganger's forehead.

She looked up at me with sad eyes as she said, "She does not have long. She must be using the last of her energy to do this."

The Alma in my arms stated weakly, "Daughter…blamed me for daddy rejecting us. Killed Point Man…I tried to stop her but she was stronger and she stole most of my psychic power. She only left me enough to barely stay alive. I…only had enough left to bring you both here so you could see what she is capable of doing." She suddenly grabbed onto my vest and pulled herself up to look me in the eyes when she said, "Michael, you have to stop her from doing this. If you don't, your world will share the fate of mine. Just be there for her…"

She lost her grip and fell back into my arms. She suffered through another coughing fit and started crying quietly in pain. She looked up at me with agonized eyes and desperately requested me between sobs, "Please…I just want…my family…happy." The world around us started to fall apart and a distant demonic female scream rocked the air. The dying Alma laughed sadly and remarked, "Sorry baby, but Mommy has to punish you. We are going to sleep now. Don't worry, I made it quick."

A white dress clad raven-haired little girl appeared before us. It was her, or at least she had once been the little girl I knew. Her grey eyes were replaced by jet black eyes and she had a twisted cruel smile on her face as she studied us. She remarked menacing, "Hello…mother and if I am not mistaken, the other you." She looked at me with a softer expression for a brief moment but soon her cruel smile returned as she mocked me, "Tell me daddy dearest, do you enjoy being mother's little bitch play thing? Fucking man up, fuck the shit out of her however you please, and then move on. Damn, you are so pathetic. Letting her use you so much…you worthless old man. Then again, maybe you like it that way. Is that it daddy? Are you a pain slut that gets off by being treated like crap?"

I replied, "Sorry, I don't understand cunt."

She was taken aback by my response and was about to say something else but the Alma in my arms said, "There is nothing you can do to stop it. I'm sorry sweetie, mommy never wanted to hurt you." The world started dissolving and the demonic version of our daughter screeched in agony like a wounded animal. As she collapsed to the ground, she looked back up at me and I saw that her eyes had changed back to grey.

As her body disintegrated, she raised her left arm and held her hand out towards me as she pleaded, "Daddy, help me please! I don't want to die! Please, help me…I…love…you." She dissolved completely and the world around us joined her. All around us was endless darkness. I looked down at the Alma in my arms and saw that she too was slowly dissolving into a cloud of ash.

She smiled as best she could before she said, "Please, don't put your world through this. I never meant to hurt you." Her body turned into ash and I felt myself fall through the darkness.

I opened my eyes and looked around quickly. I was in the APC like always. I turned my head to the left and saw that Alma was sitting in the seat next to me. She looked like she was asleep and resting up against my torso with my left arm draped over her. I asked quietly, "Hey, are you there?" She nodded before she raised her head to look at me. I asked, "That was real wasn't it?" She nodded with a sad expression. I sighed and leaned back in the seat. I said, "Wow…so either I lose most of my sanity by staying with you two or the world ends. Yeah, that sounds about right. I don't know why I didn't see that coming. Damn it…well, I guess I am all yours then."

She huffed before she remarked, "How charming."

I replied bitterly, "You're welcome. Because of you, I can't go back."

She pouted briefly but then smirked before she whispered, "I will make it up to you." She sent suggestive images into my mind through our bond.

Agonizingly enticed, I said in an irritated tone, "You better make good on your teasing. Not now though because, call me weird but seeing myself die like that is a really big mood killer."

She nodded and said, "I just watched you and our daughter die. How do you think I feel?" I was about to respond but I was interrupted by a knock on the hatch.

I called out, "Enter."

Alpha 1 entered the APC and said, "Sir, our squads are reporting that eighty percent of the city has been liberated from ATC control. The remaining ATC forces have pulled back to the harbor and are trying to hold out long enough for reinforcements to arrive. We have them surrounded and have started a siege. Also, Sgt. Morales has requested your presence."

I replied, "Outstanding, send my praise to the commanders. Tell Morales I am busy."

Alpha 1 laughed with repeated grunts before he said, "Yeah, he said you would say that and has informed me to tell you to get over yourself and just come look."

My eyes widened briefly in shock at the sound of his laughter and I replied, "Thank you Alpha 1." He saluted and walked out of the vehicle. I looked at Alma who was retracting from my body. After retrieving my assault rifle, I stood and walked out of the APC. I shook my head as I thought that if I was not crazy before, I definitely was on my way now.

A.N.: So now, Becket realizes that he cannot leave Alma's side…ever. Anyway, I know that this chapter fails but I felt like I needed to do it.