When he was a myelocyte, he had heard about dreams from a macrophage that had been passing through the school meant for white blood cells in training. Although she was dressed in the standard macrophage uniform, she was somewhat different from the rest. Her hair was remarkably darker than most and her stature was somewhat taller than the rest of her cell caste. When the young myelocyte first saw the macrophage, he didn't think much of her, but that was excusable considering he was busy in a group activity which had him and the rest of his squadmates trying to outmaneuver bacteria made out of leftover dummies.

He had been directing his teammates to try and flank the dummy, but at some point, he had been running after… Who had he been running after? Was it U-4989? Regardless, U-1146 found himself twisting his ankle and falling face first into the ground. Luckily, a flurry of skirts and one overly cheerful smile later, 1146 found himself getting patched up by that unique macrophage.

The myelocyte had thought that after getting healed, she would leave him to attend to other duties, but the macrophage surprised him. She had engaged him in conversation and had asked him about things that happened in the bone marrow. At his confusion, she had confessed that she was rarely stationed at the bone marrow, and as such, she didn't get to spend so much time with the young blood cells in training.

He had talked about his time training, paying with his friends, and other mundane everyday things that happened within the bone marrow. At first, he had been reticent, but at her encouraging smile, he managed to finish his sentences with a little more enthusiasm than what he had first started with. In thanks for his appreciation, she encouraged him to ask questions of his own.

He didn't know what to ask.

So she asked one more thing.

Or, rather, she said something that grabbed his attention.

"I've actually visited the neurons once or twice… They talked about dreams…" She happened to glance at him and when she saw that he was looking at her curiously, she asked, "Have you ever had dreams?"

He shook his head.

"What are those?"

She laughed and talked about wondrous things that the neurons would personally do for the body. They would create scenarios, wonderful little fantasies that the body could witness while in rest. It sounded so surreal, so amazing to think about. A part of 1146 wanted to experience the same thing as the body but the other part—

"But cells can't dream, right?"

The macrophage, kind as she was, merely nodded sadly.

Sometimes, 1146 would think about that incident and about that particular macrophage as he grew older. When he had officially become a neutrophil, she had faded from his mind and so, too, did the memories of that conversation about dreams.

He thought about them now.

He thought about the times when he was a child and thought about dreams, if he could even have the ability to dream.

But now…

He hoped that what was happening to him right now was actually a nightmare. To lose his best friend in a matter of a single cycle over a matter that had been gradually mounting since he had been making stupid decision after making stupid decision…

He should have….

If he could change the past…

SCRITCH.

Standing at attention, 1146 pressed his radio and answered, hoping that his voice wouldn't convey the crushed feelings that were currently inhabiting his body, "U-1146 of the Neutrophil Division."

"Yoohoo!" U-4989 called out. His voice, unmistakably his because of his inability to maintain a lower pitched voice whenever it was necessary. 1146 pinched the bridge of his nose, but on the inside, he was glad for the distraction. If he was lucky, he might just end up getting some advice from his friends concerning how to best address his current situation with 3803… and with NC.

"Careful, 4989, my ears might get—"

"Did you tell him that we're about to start the meeting soon? He's never this late!" Ah, that must have U-2048. "If he doesn't make it here on time, he's going to miss out on our next preventative measures tactics concerning upcoming bacterial attacks."

1146 intervened before any of his friends could speak up again.

Clearing his throat, he stated, "I apologize for being tardy. I'll be there as soon as I—"

Out of nowhere, 1146 heard the receptor on his hat begin to beep with urgency. At the same time, cells from different walks of life began screaming and running away from a certain direction. Nerves aflame with renewed vengeance, he ordered his squad for backup before pocketing his radio and then going off in the direction of the screams.

Almost immediately, he saw what the problem was.

In the midst of the chaos, there was a special bacterium of some sort that was surrounded by a plethora of lackeys. For once, 1146 was grateful for 4989's sudden intrusion. If it weren't for that, 1146 would not have had the time to call for backup. Knowing that his friends and probably other squads would be on the lookout for his position near the lungs, 1146 dug deep into the action.

Attack.

Parry.

Slash.

Stab.

Parry.

Defend.

Attack.

Again.

And again.

Breathe.

Remember to breathe.

Always breathe, U-1146!

This was the mantra that echoed through his nucleus as he fought against each bacterium with little to no regard for his own needs and safety. From the depths of his soul that still screamed in agony from the hurt that AE-3803 righteously bestowed upon him, he could feel his own vengeance and anger mounting within him. With every bacteria that he came across, he made sure to use up all of his strength in each strike.

He deserved to be shunned.

He deserved to be punished.

His actions, while seemingly kind and almost self-sacrificial on his part, were not seen the same way by his dear friend. Instead of asking for her help or letting her know of his admittedly kind (yet, dubious) intentions, he had unwittingly played the part of the antigen.

At the end of the day, he wasn't a good person.

He wasn't even a good cell.

He was no better than Cancer.

How could it have come to pass that NC-1998, that wretched, pale imitation of Cancer, had become a better cell than him?

It was no good to point fingers or to compare himself to others.

To atone for his sins, he would first have to save all of the cells under fire right now lest he lose his nerve and succumb to the guilt.


Minutes passed and although he was no longer alone in the fight, 1146 still found that the plethora of bacteria had not decreased as of yet. Instead, it seemed that there must have been an abrasion in the body or perhaps the pathogens have been stockpiling their forces somewhere hidden, but 1146 didn't have the necessary intel to make a proper deduction.

What mattered was that he finished his duty.

His duty.

What he had done before was definitely in his own self-interests and nobody else's… and for that, he was probably no better than the scum that was getting repeatedly impaled on one of his many knives.

"Hey! U-1146!" A gloved hand grasped his shoulder and 1146 found himself shaking himself out of his thoughts. To his surprise, he found himself getting yanked off the prone form of a dead bacterium while a very concerned U-2626 looked down at him. "We're just about finished here! Maybe you should get back to a marginating pool and rest, yeah?"

"What do you mean?" His voice dull, 1146 could barely recognize the expression of fear and concern filled his friend's features (bangs notwithstanding). "I could still continue."

"Yup. Because watching you stab an already dead bacterium to pieces means that you're okay." 2626 sighed before letting go of 1146's body.

As 1146 looked around their surroundings, he noticed that there was still evidence of bacteria prowling around the premises. A little surprised at that, he turned to 2626 who looked a little bit sheepish, but determined all the same. When 1146's receptor went off, 2626 held him fast before pointing at a nearby alleyway that surely housed a transmigrating vent.

1146 knew what his colleague was asking him to do, but a part of his mind refused to listen.

Tired of everything, he tried begging 2626. "I can still fight! Why are you sending me away?"

Fighting was all he had left now. He could still show his loyalty to his duty, he could still somehow make it up for his unfairness to not only AE-3803, but also to NC-1998 for his inability to express what he was feeling. If fighting was taken away from him, then what was he?

Worse than useless.

Worse than an abomination.

Worse than… worse than Cancer.

To be still alive and still have the capability to serve, but to have that option taken away from you? It was ironic that it was happening to 1146 of all cells.

"Go back to the barracks or to a marginating pool." 1146 made as if to move, but 2626 held him fast for a moment. His grip was so intense, 1146 blinked before glancing back at his colleague. 2626 was never forceful, unless… "Promise me, 1146. I don't want to find you fighting bacteria when you're in this mental state."

1146's lips curled.

His mental state was quite fine, thank you very much.

Still, he tipped the brim of his hat in a conciliatory gesture before heading off to the transmigrating vent. Jogging, he slipped in through the alleyway and inhaled slightly before fully exhaling so that he could fit in through the snug gap. However, just as he was about to enter through the vent, his receptor went off.

Going against instinct, he was about to fully step inside when a familiar sound pierced through the air.

It was high pitched.

Fearful.

Yet determined all the same.

Cursing both 2626 and his inability to stay away, 1146 moved away from the vent and cleared the way out of the alleyway. He offered silent apologies to both 3803 and 2626 as he looked askance in both directions before he began to follow the pull that his receptor was providing him.

Within seconds, he was back in the thick of it. Around him, it seemed that while the bacteria had decreased in number, it appeared that whoever remained were better fighters and strategists than their predecessors. Was this their main strategy, 1146 couldn't help but think?

Send in those who were the weak, the young, and the restless, and then wait until the immune system was already weakened before sending in the much stronger reinforcements? If 1146 felt any inclination, he would have tipped his hat to them. That was actually a strategy that could actually work given the state of the immune system.

As 1146's boots pounded the pavement, he could catch glimpses of his fellow neutrophils do battle against the newer, stronger bacteria while flanked by a mixture of macrophages and Killer T cells. Smiling a little to himself—and finding himself not as guilty as before—he took a slight detour to where he knew the scream had come from.

Even though their relationship was strained as of this moment, 1146 owed it to 3803 and to the body that he kept her safe. She could punish him later, but for now, he would do his utmost to make the bacteria pay for going after the weak in his absence.

Finally, he came across a building that was looking worse for wear. Bits of the foundation looked like a parasite had chewed through the endothelial cells. Bits of debris were scattered around the area while a few of the civilian cells were hurriedly moving out of the area. Once they saw 1146 approaching, they began pointing behind them.

One of them exclaimed, "Hurry! We tried to help them, but we were too late!"

1146's mouth, already set in a grim line, became even more set into a hard line.

He nodded in affirmation before he forced his legs to pound faster. Once the building came into full view, he found his knives falling easily into his palms.

There, in the midst of the ruins of the building that looked like it should have no business standing in the condition as it was now, he found 3803 standing, arms outstretched in front of a lying, bleeding figure.

1146 felt his breathing shudder and hesitate as he realized who 3803 was protecting.

"My, my!"

1146's hairs on the back of his neck stood at an end as he turned around. There, in front of him, the largest bacteria he had ever seen loomed above him, fangs and tentacles dripping with substances that 1146 would rather not think about.

"Looks like the immune system isn't as incompetent as I thought you were!" The bacteria winked slyly at him. "Care to dance, Mr. White Blood Cell?"

1146's eyes turned back to 3803 who had been looking at him in a mixture of shock and… something else.

Whatever the case…

For AE-3803, he would gladly do anything.

U-1146 sprang forward and began his assault.