A/N: For Warning and Disclaimer, redirect back to PROLOGUE

Chapter 3: Doubts

"Why did you help us?" Gale asked skeptically. Jenna's eyes moved from the Embryon group to Gale's and grinned.

"I haven't lost my hope for humanity just yet. I want to help restore humanity. I want to give them their Liberation."

"Liberation?" Gale asked, confused.

"Yes. You all are aware of the Cuvier Syndrome correct? With that syndrome, no human being can live in the sun…and so, what will happen to the rest of the human race? That is why I have created the Demon Virus…in order to help humans adapt to this hostile environment. But, as a side effect…the demon-turned humans lose their humanity in the process. But you didn't…you were a successful experiment after all. Of course…there is still the question of the Darwinian Theory of Natural Selection…"

Gale scowled as Jenna trailed off, "Natural Selection? Don't you mean that people devouring other people in order to survive? Natural Selection you say…it's just another term for annihilation."

Jenna smiled bitterly, "My motives are not in question at the moment. I helped you because you and I have the same objective. I want to help humanity."

The discussion was cut short as a guard burst in the room in a frantic pace, "Director! Madame's forces have broken through! You need to evacuate!"

Jenna's eyes hardened and turned her gaze to the Embryon group, "Hurry and take this. You should escape and head over to the EGG complex. Sera is being held there!"

Serph nodded in agreement and took the cardkey from Jenna. The group hastened their retreat and headed for the helipad.

xxxxx

Argilla felt her heart-rate climb up as she ran through the stairs towards the helipad. Her thoughts wandered to Sera, 'I hope she'd be alright!' As the plane got in view, the group quickened their pace still and got on it, with Serph and Gale at the controls.

"Let's go brudda! I don't wanna get blown ta kingdom-come man!" Cielo shouted frantically.

Gale grinned, "Don't worry, they won't get you little baby!" Cielo stuck his tongue out, "At least I'm a cute baby ja Argilla?"

Argilla was about to reply when they took to the air and the turbulence from the sudden takeoff almost took her breath away. She let out a gasp to which Serph turned his head to see what had caused her to gasp. Argilla involuntarily blushed under his gaze, "I'm fine Serph! Let's just get out of here!"

Serph grinned and nodded. But no sooner that they had gotten on the plane were its tail shot down by Madame's forces.

Argilla felt her heart burn as they began to crash. Gale turned his head towards his passengers, "As you can probably tell, we're crashing! So, strap yourselves in and prepare for impact!"

Serph took the seat beside Argilla and strapped himself in. He then quickly took her body close to his and enveloped it in his own as he braced for the impact.

A loud crash was heard, but miraculously, Gale had managed to stabilize the plane long enough as to prevent an all out explosion. The plane undoubtedly crashed but the damage wasn't of a high scale. Serph loosened his grip on Argilla's torso and got to his feet, extending a hand for her to take. Argilla smiled gratefully. Cielo saw the interaction between the two and grinned, "Yo leader! I know you guys want to get a room, but now's not de time for dat! We gotta move ja?"

"I think I just lost my lunch back there…" Roland muttered as he limped out of the plane. Gale sauntered over to the pair, "Come on. We've got to keep moving." Serph nodded and led Argilla out of the plane and into the plains before them. Argilla surveyed the surroundings; an endless dessert. Truly, it was a very depressing and discouraging sight. They had gotten quite a few meters away from the plane when Cielo complained, "Ey brudda, we gotta rest a while ja? I'm exhausted!"

Roland nodded his head, "I quite agree. Their priorities are to protect EGG and arrest Angel; they won't have enough manpower to pursue us. At least, not for a couple of hours."

Argilla grinned at him, "Hmph…I can't believe that you actually used your brains Roland." It was Roland's turn to grin as he walked closer to where Argilla sat, "Well…that's because you don't know me enough…There are a lot of things you don't know about me. I could show you sometime…if you like."

Serph's ears heard every word that Roland had muttered to Argilla and felt an unpleasant feeling boil up in his chest. He'd never felt that way before and before he could contemplate it any further, Argilla came up to him blocking his view of Roland, "Careful now! We need Roland. If you stare at him any more, he'll melt!"

Serph blinked in surprise. Had he been looking at Roland in an ill way? He didn't think so. He was just thinking of how he saw the two of them having a conversation…a very suggestive conversation. Conversation? It wasn't even a conversation! Roland was the one who initiated the suggestiveness! And because of their proximity, he felt his chest tightened. That was all. He did not look at Roland in an ill manner. Did he?

Serph's brows furrowed in confusion and self-doubt and Argilla chuckled. "Come on Serph. We gotta find shelter! It's gonna start feeling cold soon…"

As Serph looked, he noted that the sun had already begun to set. Serph looked over to the horizon and saw that the plane crash had gotten them off course. His gaze wondered over to Gale who was limping slightly. Serph turned back to Argilla and motioned for her to look over Cielo and, much to his dismay, Roland. Argilla nodded and walked over to the two. Serph, on the other hand, walked over to Gale and saw that he was clutching the left side of his torso. Serph's lips were set in a grim line and muttered slowly, "Are you alright?"

It was Gale's turn to smile, "You should talk more Leader!", however, his smile fell short as a stinging sensation pricked his torso, "Well, I'm fine. It's just a scratch." Serph's eyes saw the trail of blood that oozed from the wound to Gale's hands. Argilla noticed it too and ran to support Gale, "Serph, we need to find a hospital!" Gale's eyes closed and Serph nodded.

Cielo and Roland walked over to the two with hard expressions on their faces, "We're bordering the Karma suburbs and the underground City; come on! It's not far off!"

"Hang in there Gale ja?" Cielo encouraged slightly. Serph noticed his tone of voice. It wasn't skippy like the way it normally was. It was laced with worry and concern. Gale would be alright. He promised himself and the rest of the group that everything was going to be alright. He already lost Heat and with Sera still missing, he didn't plan on losing anyone else.

The group marched on with Roland on the lead and Serph closely trailing behind. As they walked, silence reigned. Not that Roland was complaining. Serph had always been silent. But for some reason, Roland couldn't shake the feeling that something was off; way off with leader. He could feel the tension emanating from the man and Roland wasn't sure if he wanted to absorb any of it. The feeling was so real, that Roland could have sworn that evil death rays were probably being shot from Serph's eyes and directed at his back.

'Probably because of Gale…' he thought positively. Serph caught up with him and Roland knew that he was surveying the land around them. But Roland also knew that from the corner of his eye, Serph was watching him; albeit very intently.

'What'd I do now?' he thought agitatedly, 'Oh right…' he remembered wistfully. Argilla. Roland liked Argilla. Serph liked Argilla. Argilla liked Serph. 'Where do I fit in?' Roland thought. He knew that he shouldn't cross Serph but Serph wasn't his friend; at least not his close friend. He followed Serph not due to faithfulness or loyalty, but because he wanted to find answers to his own questions. 'So, I don't owe him anything. Besides, he hasn't officially claimed her yet. And last I checked, Argilla didn't seem to mind what I was doing anyway…'

xxxxx

'I do not think ill of Roland…I do not think ill of Roland…' Serph shook his head, 'If I repeat that statement any more, it'll become a mantra.'

Serph looked around him; there was nothing but vast earth; a vast wasteland. Glancing behind, he saw Argilla having a 'conversation' with Cielo. Stopping for a moment, he looked at Argilla's flustered face, 'Cielo probably said something to annoy her.' he smiled. She was one of the most precious people that he had…he shall never lose her. Serph balled his hands into fists and continued on. But still, even if he loved her, and she him, there might come a time wherein she might prefer someone else. He scowled, 'Huh…I bet he'll be more than willing to fill in the position.' Serph thought with much bitterness than he first anticipated he was incapable of expressing.

He still wasn't able to identify that unpleasant feeling he felt whenever he would co-relate the name Roland with the name Argilla. Was it hate? 'I don't think so…if I did, I probably would have devoured him by now…' Was it anger? 'No…anger is too powerful…this feeling is much subtler but still…it stings…'

It was then that he found the perfect word. Threatened. He felt threatened by Roland. He knew that Roland had the capacity to make Argilla change her mind about him. But he knew her way before than Roland did. He knew everything there was to know about Argilla, 'Well…except for the fact that she had been in love with me for the past year or so…hmm.' Serph frowned as doubt reared its ugly head, 'Perhaps I do not know her as much as I want myself to believe.' he thought bitterly.

'But…I'm the one she wants and she's the one that I want…Whatever shortcomings we have for each other, we'll compensate for them.'

As the positive thought crossed his mind, another pessimistic thought crossed his mind, 'I…can't talk…he can and does…' he frowned. It wasn't his fault that he was deprived of an optimally-performing voice box. He knew that he couldn't use words to convey his emotions, but, his actions had always shown them…hadn't they?

Serph sighed a heavy sigh. Who could have ever thought that relationships and feelings were this complicated? Wanting to give his mind a break from the Argilla-Roland conundrum, his thoughts wandered to Sera and Gale. 'I miss Sera so much…I'll do everything in my power to protect her and make her happy…' as soon as he internally said those words, 'That's what I would do for Argilla too…but…Sera…no I don't love her like that.' He shook his head dismissively. But Gale; he was like a brother to Serph and right now, he needed help. With that thought, Serph hastened his walking pace and had overtaken Roland as he saw the underground city in the near distance.

xxxxx

Cielo walked over to Argilla, "You go on ahead wid Serph and Roland. I'll carry Gale." Argilla's eyes met his, "It's okay. I'll manage."

Cielo smiled at her, "Come on Argi! I'm old and strong enough to carry Gale! Besides, you might want to reduce de tension between Serph and Roland ja?"

Argilla blushed, "Wh-what are you talking about Cielo? Stop talking nonsense otherwise I'm gonna kick your ass!

Cielo flailed his arms and hands in defense, "Ey, ey now! I just jus saying it as I see it ja?"

Argilla gritted her teeth in irritation, "What do you mean by that?"

Cielo took this as an opportunity to grab the unconscious Gale from Argilla's grasp, "Wat I mean is dat Mr. Sauvé over dere tinks dat he could get lucky wid you ja? And dat Serph knows it too and doesn't like it."

Argilla stopped in her tracks, "Wh-…I mean, Serph is…jealous of Roland?"

Cielo grinned, "You got it sista!"

Argilla raised an eyebrow, "Well, if you put it that way Cielo, I suppose you're right and carry Gale. All by yourself. And if you slow down and get attacked, no one will come to your aid and you'll be worm feast. How does that sound?"

"Ey! I'm one of de good guys ja?"

"Good! Then you'll let me stay and I'll help you with Gale!"

"Feh…fine sista! But don't get shocked wen you see Roland dead ja?"

Argilla laughed, "Serph can pretty much crush Roland, but I doubt he'll do it, even if Roland is that annoying. Serph is Serph after all…he couldn't hurt a fly…"

As soon as she spoke those words, Argilla's head began to spin. Her vision blurred and she saw something that she never thought she'd see. Her eyes widened for but a second and darkness enveloped her.

"Argilla!" Cielo yelled.