Chapter 23: A Rough Night

A/N: Well, I said I'd get this out sooner, and for once I delivered. When I say I'm gonna do something, I plan on doing it. It's just that sometimes life gets in the way.

But enough about that. It took a little while to figure out what to do here, hope you enjoy.

It took... longer than I'd like to admit to find them. Simply because they were constantly running around the whole town.

You know the saying, "like finding a needle in a haystack"? Now try a needle that moves.

Well, anyway, once I found them, just running around and having fun like little kids should, I just watched from a distance. There was no reason to ruin their fun, after all.

So, I watched them play and mess around, y'know, just watching to make sure nothing crazy happened, until suddenly...

"Alone, are we?"

I didn't need to turn around to know who'd be standing there. What was with Traveller and always sneaking up behind me like that?

"Eh," I replied simply, "Just supervising the girls."

"I see," He muttered, "I take it you saw the... event that transpired earlier?"

"The giant tear in the cosmos? Yeah," I deadpanned, "I'm going to assume that that was a false alarm for the Cross-Collapse?"

"Precisely. In fact, this series of events may cause the Cross Collapse to happen faster. You need to train. Fast," He ordered, "I can't afford to wait any longer."

"'I'?" I questioned, "Wouldn't it be 'we can't afford to wait'?"

"... Yes, apologies," He mused, "I suppose I am just starting to get a bit worried."

"I think we both are," I grumbled, "So many events in such a short period of time. And we have more coming our way! Ain't that fantastic? I don't even know where I'll find time to train my dimensional powers!"

"Remember, time works differently between dimensions, a few hours of training is a few seconds here," He reminded me.

"Right..." I muttered, "I have another question, though... you know how the tear in the Multiverse that happened today, that was caused by very powerful people fighting, right?"

"Correct. I would've prevented it if it wasn't willed by fate," He explained, "What about it?"

I scratched my head awkwardly.

"... You don't think there'll be anyone standing in our way, right? No crazy, wannabe destroyer of worlds that we'll need to fight?" I asked anxiously.

He was silent... for much longer than I'd have liked.

"I didn't think of that..." He admitted, "I would assume not?"

"Well, that's reassuring," I scoffed.

"Just another reason why you need to train," He dismissed, "I've seen you in action. Once you're able to start using your powers for combat purposes, you'll be unstoppable."

"We'll see how long that takes," I grumbled, "Wait, why couldn't you fight them? Aren't you the most powerful person in the Multiverse?"

He shook his head.

"Just because we haven't seen someone stronger doesn't mean there isn't," He denied, "And furthermore, if someone powerful enough to get in our way surfaces, I'd like support in taking them down. Don't be lazy, now."

"I'm not-!" I scoffed, then stopped and sighed. "Well, okay. I'm not trying to get out of training or anything, it's just that something seems really off about this."

"As it always does. It will make sense later," He assured me, "After all, have I failed you before when you felt 'off'?"

"... That's a really good point," I replied with a nod, "Well, the girls probably ran halfway across the town while we chatted, I should probably go find them... again."

I heard him chuckle.

"Very well. I'll be waiting for you, later."

I heard a woosh, and knew he'd left.

I looked around for any sign of Hailey and Marilyn... just as I thought, they were nowhere to be seen.

"For God's sake..." I grumbled, then ran off to find them again.

After a few minutes, I found myself hearing Mafia yelling, off in the distance.

A frown made its way onto my face, and I ran faster. I leave them out of my sight for thirty seconds and...

I heard giggling and stopped. The girls nearly ran into me.

Hailey stopped and looked up at me in surprise.

"Oh... hi!" She said with a twinge of anxiety.

I crossed my arms and narrowed my eyes, then looked directly at her.

"What are you two getting yourselves into now?" I interrogated.

"Nothing..." Marilyn replied.

I shook my head.

"You know I can see right through that, right?" I scoffed, "So, what did you two do?"

They looked at eachother with worried expressions, then looked back at me.

"We... uh... kicked a Mafia Goon off of a ledge," Marilyn admitted.

"You what?!"

"I-it wasn't very high!" Hailey stammered, "Not high enough to seriously hurt them! Just to scare them!"

She then looked down.

"... And maybe knock them unconscious," She said quietly.

I began to rub my temples and shake my head.

This was going to be a rough night...

"I'm going to have grey hair before I'm thirty," I muttered under my breath, "Are you trying to make the Mafia turn evil again? Cause that's a fast way to do it. They're trying their best to make up for what they've done, please respect that."

They both nodded uncomfortably.

I then took a deep breath.

"Now, don't worry, I get it," I said, "Pranking people can be fun. I've done my fair share of it when I was a kid, too. Just... don't get too carried away. There's a fine line between what marks a harmless joke or prank, and what marks borderline assault."

"We'll be more careful, I promise!" Hailey shouted.

Marilyn promptly shouted a "yeah we will!"

I nodded with satisfaction.

"I believe it," I said, then decided to look around.

It was starting to get pretty late, wasn't sure how I didn't notice it earlier.

"We should probably head back," I told Hailey, then looked at Marilyn, "You probably should go home, too."

They both nodded and said goodbye to eachother, and as we teleported up to the ship I watched Marilyn run off.

Back in the ship, I took a deep breath.

"Well. That was quite an eventful day, hm?" I muttered.

"Yeah..." Hailey replied, "But we got to visit most of our friends again!"

That suddenly reminded me of something that made me want to scream.

We forgot about the Empress.

I mentally counted how many days it had been in my head.

... Somewhere between seven and nine...? Either way, it didn't matter.

We missed her debriefing. And she was already tempted to kill us.

SHIIIIIIIIIIIIT!

She knew where we were! She'd sent cats up to our spaceship before!

I quelled my panic. She hadn't done anything yet... maybe there was still time to make things right.

I sighed. I'd tuck Hailey in, then go down myself. No reason to put her in unnecessary danger, if she wanted us dead, we'd be dead, no matter how many of us there were.

And good thing Hailey didn't notice, or I'd have had to lie to her again.

"Well, I think it's time for bed," I said, picking her up and walking over to her bedroom.

I placed her down in her bed and tucked her in, and plopped her hat on her nightstand. She took a deep breath.

"I don't feel very tired..." She muttered, "I guess I'm just wondering what we're gonna do tomorrow."

"We'll see where the day takes us," I replied. It wasn't a lie, now was it?

"I know... but where is that?" She asked, "I'll be up all night thinking about it!"

I put my hand to my chin in thought.

... Then, a smile came to my face, as I remembered a certain something that used to get me to sleep.

"I think I know the answer to that," I said, "You asked me to do this before... it's time I finally deliver."

She looked up at me in anticipation and curiosity.

"I'll just warn you, though, this might be the worst thing you ever hear," I warned her.

A look of realization hit her, and she smiled.

"You worry too much," She muttered.

"Also, the song I'm thinking of singing is... kind of somber. But it used to make me very sleepy when I heard it," I explained, "So, you're okay with it being a little bit gloomy?"

She nodded.

"Sing whatever you're comfortable with," She said.

I chuckled.

"Well, I'll get started, then."

I took a deep breath and cleared my throat.

I'd never sung before... this was going to be an experience for both of us. But... I knew exactly what song to sing. If this didn't put her to sleep, nothing would.

I'd have to be careful not to get carried away with the volume of my voice, though.

Quick A/N: The song name is The Sound of Silence. Multiple versions of the song have been made, but the one I know is the cover by the band Disturbed. If you want an idea what the upcoming song will sound like, search it on Youtube. It's... amazing.

I closed my eyes.

"Hello darkness, my old friend

I've come to talk with you again.

Because a vision softly creeping,

Left its seeds while I was sleeping

And the visions that were planted in my brain

Still remains

WIthin the sound

Of silence.

In restless dreams I walked alone

Narrow streets of cobblestone

'Neath the halo of a street lamp

I turned my collar to the cold and damp

When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light

That split the night

And touched the sound

Of silence.

And in the naked light I saw

Ten thousand people, maybe more.

People talking without speaking

People hearing without listening

People writing songs

That voices never shared

And no one dared

Disturb the sound

Of silence.

'Fools,' said I, 'You do not know

Silence, like a cancer, grows

Hear my words that I might teach you

Take my arms that I might reach you'

But my words

Like silent raindrops fell

And echoed in the wells

Of silence.

And the people bowed and prayed

To the neon god they made

And the sign flashed out its warning

In the words that it was forming

And the sign said,

'The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls

And tenement halls'

And whispered

In the sound

Of silence.'

...

I opened my eyes and looked at Hailey, who seemed to be in an utterly entranced state.

"That was..." She muttered, "That was the most beautiful thing I've ever heard."

"... Did it work?" I asked quietly.

She nodded slowly, then yawned.

I smiled. I knew that song would make her sleep.

I put my hand through her hair.

"I'll see you tomorrow, alright?" I said.

She nodded.

I stood up and walked over to the door.

I hoped I was right.

"Good night, dad," She wished.

I smiled a bittersweet smile.

"Good night, daughter."

I exited the room.

Back in the main hub, I clutched my head and cringed.

Why'd it have to be tonight that I had to go?

Why'd I have to put my life in danger now?

What if I didn't make it out?

Who'd tell her that she'd never see her father figure again? So soon after adoption, too?

I sighed.

If I didn't go now, it'd be putting us both in more danger in the long run. There was no other options.

So, I steeled my nerves, and walked over to the door to the engine room.

I then stopped.

Maybe it'd be best to leave a note in case I didn't make it back.

I sighed and turned around, going up to the attic. I then grabbed a piece of paper and a pen, and sat down.

I began to write.

"Hey, Hailey. If you're reading this, I'm guessing you woke up and found that I was gone. You're probably panicking and wondering where I am.

Well...

I remembered something horrible last night. Remember how Empress told us to meet her in a week to debrief for our first mission?

... It's been noticeably over a week since that moment.

So... I know I've done this before, and promised that I wouldn't ever do it again... but... I went down to attempt to reason with her myself. Knowing full well I likely won't ever come back.

You probably want to come help me. No, I know you do.

But...

You know how narrowly we escaped when we incurred her wrath the first time. If she wants us dead while we're in her turf, we're dead. End of story. We can only cheat death so much, after all. So, I would've brought you along, but it would've put you in unnecessary danger.

... If I never see you again as a result of this... as long as it ensures that she'll never hunt you down, it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.

So, PLEASE, if you are reading this, DO NOT come after me. This is a fight you cannot win.

I put the note down, and prayed that she wouldn't ever have to see it.

And with that, I strengthened my resolve, ran down to the lab, removed the manhole cover, jumped down, and took a deep breath before peering through the telescope.

Hopefully I could cheat death one more time.

A/N: So. I completely forgot about the Empress ordeal. Well, I didn't forget it, per se, but I lost track of the passage of time in this story. Cause I usually keep track of how many days have passed since the start of the story.

She said, on the first day, to be back in a week. And this is... the end of day nine, I think? Day eight or nine? Either way, too little, too late.

And, about that singing thing... I feel like I could've maybe just gone with a simple lullaby, but I didn't because; 1: That's cliche, 2: That's not Markus' style, 3: The song I chose is a song I still listen to in this day and age to relax so I thought it'd be nice, and 4: There's absolutely no way I'm making a song myself for a single moment in a single chapter in a single story. It's not even open for debate. I do enough work for this story as is.

Onto some quick reviews:

Phantaum: Yes, my thoughts exactly. Also, hm, okay, I'll check out Nyakuza Drift later then... if it's on YouTube, cause I don't use level mods cause they make my game extremely unstable.

XStarInTheSkyX: Sounds funny... although a final battle is no place for humour. But for before a final battle? Maybe. It makes me think of that one SpongeBob episode, though. You know, the one with the explosive pies?

Thanks for the reviews again.

Well... as for the next chapter... I think you already know where this is going.

Nowhere good, that's for damn sure.

See you then.