Chapter 47

"Hey... th-"

I opened my eyes and whoever was speaking widened their eyes for a brief moment.

"How are you feeling?" spoke the... wait a second...

"Where am I?" I spoke, grunting as I sat upright. "Ow..."

"I would not recommend you try and stand just yet. Breaking several parts of your spine, shattering your ribs, dozens of cuts causing bleeding at an extremely accelerated rate, downright decimating half the bones in your left arm as well as most of the muscles in your body either tearing, ripping or downright separating... it's a miracle that you survived to and through surgery."

I winced at the dull pain, shifting the blankets to see the new scars all over my body.

"Ugh... it's... kinda hard... to feel my left arm, actually," I mumbled, looking at it.

"The decimated bones in it were so heavily damaged that they had to be replaced with metal." The Machina woman looked me over.

"Thanks for saving me," I told her as I stood. "And for the surgery and stuff. May I ask for your name?"

"My name is Linada," she replied. "And you are welcome. You aren't a Homs, however, correct?"

"Well... wait, what?!" I stared at her. "How do you know that?!"

"Miqol was able to identify you," she replied. "Ah... you wouldn't know who he is. Miqol is-"

"Leader of the Machina." I paused. "I should probably talk to him... by the way, where's my sword and that awesome red jacket I was wearing?"

Linada shook her head with a brief sigh. "Your blade is currently being inspected by some of the craftsmen in town. It's very unique. And..." She reached out a hand, with four distinct rings in her palm. "These were on your body as well."

"Thanks." I took the rings and once again adjusted them to my body. "And my clothing...?"

"Torn to shreds from the fall." Linada grabbed a nearby bundle of fabric. "These should do just as nicely. They're made of a material that absorbs blood to repair any damage done to it."

"Wow... that's awesome for a fight," I mused, getting the nice sky blue jacket on. "Eh. Blue works."

"I do recommend you see Miqol as quickly as you can," spoke Linada, turning away to look at... doctor stuff, I guess. "He expressed a desire to speak with you."

"Alright. Thanks again for healing me," I spoke. At her nod, I walked out.

"Let's see," I muttered, sensing for Miqol's presence. I closed my eyes and grunted as I sensed an olden, almost ancient being. "Probably him..."

I opened my eyes and started to move towards him when there was...

I felt a slight cut start to bleed on my right cheek.

What was that?

I swallowed and took off in a run towards the old Machina.

...

"Hello...?"

The massive Machina in front of me shifted, though didn't open his eyes. "Andrew... I am Miqol."

"Leader of the Machina." I tilted my head out of respect. "Nice to meet you."

"Mm... you are... let me see... the third human I have ever met."

I frowned. "Wait... I have questions. A lot of questions, actually. To start with, uh... you know I'm human?"

"Your presence is different then a Homs," replied Miqol. "And though it is not written in any history books I know of... humans lived here on Bionis, a long time ago."

I stared. "Wow..." I swallowed and blinked. "Humans... lived here...?"

"Mostly on the Mechonis," replied Miqol, those maybe eyes next to what actually be his eyes flickering back and forth. "Though later on... they grew too large and left for the Bionis as well."

I felt myself frown. "Wait... if humans lived here... why's there Homs instead of humans?"

Miqol shifted in place and sighed. "I do not know."

I sat down, sensing the long conversation to follow. "Huh...?"

"Well..." Miqol leaned back. "Humans didn't interact too much with us Machina. Afraid, perhaps... though..."

"Yes?" I spoke, hearing him trail off.

Miqol shook his head. "Another time. For now, young one... there was just one day when all human vanished from both the Mechonis and the Bionis. And after that day, I have seen only two others... until today."

I narrowed my eyes in sudden concentration. "Hm... who were those humans be?"

"Well... if you wish to know..." Miqol sat with a slight grunt. "Heh... it's been a long time indeed..."

I tilted my head.

"Their names were Cross and Rex."

I felt myself frown. "Huh... the first sounds kinda similar, but... Rex...?"

"I would doubt you know of either." Miqol grunted. "They were scarcely known, admittedly."

With a sigh, I cracked my fingers, still looking at him. "But what do you know?"

"Cross was alone... a great swordsman, vague tales would say, though he was very versatile with all weapons. He preferred twin swords, however.

"He claimed that he was from... the planet Mira, after... escaping Earth for some reason, I believe." Miqol frowned. "It's been far too long."

"Cross..." I breathed the name, and closed my own eyes, thoughts dashing wild in my mind. "Where have I... damn, that sounds familiar... way too familiar, but... argh!" I groaned. "I can't put my finger on it!"

"Rex... well... he wasn't quite alone," mused Miqol. "He had someone with him... her name... hm... Py..." He paused, forehead creases forming. "Her name... Pyra...? I am sure... it was Pyra.

"There was something off about her. Not quite human like Rex was, special in some way... hm..."

"Cross..." I gasped. "That..." Wait... if he's from Earth or Mira or whatever... then I should be able to go home using the reverse way he came, right?

"Miqol... last question. Well, uh... for now, anyways," I spoke, scratching my head. "Did Cross mention how he got here on Mechonis?"

"Hm... well... he mentioned... yes," recalled the old Machina. "Cross didn't wish to say, but he did tell me just before he ventured off that he had to sacrifice something great to do something."

"Sacrifice...?" What, like, a ritual or some crap? I thought. Eh. If it is, I ain't doing it. Don't know how, and I ain't religious anyway. Probably another way, but...

"Thanks for telling me this stuff," I spoke, standing. "Ow..." I winced at the slight pain stiffness brought, before managing to stand up straight through the many aches in my body. I took a slight dip of my head towards him.

"Don't mention it, young one," replied Miqol. "Are you going?"

"Who knows?" I spoke, starting towards the entrance/exit. "I have no idea what I'll do.

"What I do know is that there isn't no way I won't be back home at the end of it."

With that, I walked out and let the sunlight wash over my entire being, feeling my spirits lift.