Chapter 43: The First Mission

Thankfully, sneaking through the World that Never Was wasn't actually as hard as it had sounded. No one noticed a few random dark corridors opening and a completely random assortment of Replicas walk out of them. Though, only a few people were around at that time.

They ran into absolutely no problems using the directions Joseph had given them, the most they got were a few glances from random Replicas that were just hanging about. No one said anything, though, and all went according to plan.

Until they hit the door.

The door that would only open if you sang a song to it apparently had a taste in what sort of music it wanted to hear, and would only open if you sang what it was in the mood for at that particular time. And, since the door couldn't seem to make up its mind about it wanted to hear, they just went to the other door.

However, on the other side of that door was a pair of Larxene Replicas, chatting aimlessly. Riku bit his tongue to prevent himself from saying anything, and focused incredibly hard on not summoning his blade right there. Said attempts were almost pointless though, as the Larxene Replicas noticed them.

"Ooh! Five random Replicas wandering the halls? And two of them are hooded! That's got to have something behind it!" one of them (Larxene G) sneered, walking over.

The Lexaeus Replica tensed.

"That's her…" he whispered. "She's the one that told Saix."

Riku started forward, but Alpha grabbed him, stopping him.

"Don't you dare," Alpha hissed. "You are not endangering the mission because of this. And if anyone finds out you're here, there will be chaos. Keep your hood up and don't say anything!"

Riku grimaced, but kept his mouth shut.

19 started the prepared explanation, which had something to do with escorting a set of rogue Replicas that they had found to Saix so he could deal with them. Riku wasn't sure what else there was, he hadn't been paying attention then. And he wasn't really paying attention now, either.

"And they're just keeping their hoods up out of spite?" the other Larxene (Larxene N) asked. "Haven't you tried to figure out who they are, at least?" She walked over to Riku, and started to pull his hood down.

"I wouldn't get near him!" Amaryllis warned.

Hardly even thinking, Riku grabbed her by the wrist. She gasped.

"Let go of me!" she shrieked.

"He's… touchy…" Amaryllis finished.

Riku let her go. Larxene N immediately began rubbing her wrist, as if it hurt, and he smirked at that.

"We should get going," 19 said quickly, and everyone started moving.

Larxene G rolled her eyes, and Larxene N glared at them, but before long, they had started their conversation again. Apparently, the explanation had passed as good enough, or at least the Larxene Replicas didn't care to press it further.

"I still don't see why Saix won't let us go after Namine," Larxene G said, irritably. "Apparently it's because Riku'd kill us the moment he saw us."

"Got that right…" Riku muttered.

"But if you get the timing just right," Larxene G continued. "Maybe during one of her memory meltdowns…"

"But isn't Riku always with her during those?" Larxene N asked. "Since he just can't stand being away from his precious Namine." There was laughter in her voice as she said this, and Riku tensed, slowly coming to a halt.

"Ooh, good point," Larxene G laughed. "I guess it would just have to be when there was a raid going on, and then he'd to be too busy fighting that off to be with her! Perfect!"

Riku stopped himself from drawing his blade right there.

The mission… he reminded himself. Can't endanger the mission…

But I can't keep listening to this!

"Riku…" Alpha hissed warningly.

"I wonder if we could trigger a meltdown…" Larxene N said, excitement in her voice. "What are they caused by, anyways?"

"They aren't!" Riku gasped, turning. Amaryllis caught him this time.

"The mission!" he hissed.

Riku stood there, shaking with anger.

"Just keep walking!" 19 said. "We'll be out of earshot soon."

Riku didn't move.

"I have no clue…" Larxene G replied slowly. "If there actually is a cause. I thought it was just because she's defective."

Alpha winced, Amaryllis groaned, and 19 sighed.

"We've lost him now…" he muttered.

Riku threw open a dark corridor around himself.

"Don't let Riku hear you say that," Larxene N laughed.

"Too late," Riku sneered as he appeared behind Larxene G and drove his blade through her.

"Riku!" she screamed, sounding furious. "How dare-"

"No one calls Namine defective," he said, trying to keep his voice level. "No one."

"Quick!" Alpha hissed. "Someone get the other one before she informs Saix!"

Amaryllis sighed and formed a dark corridor around himself, reappearing behind Larxene N, who he took out with one swift slash of his Scythe.

Both of the Larxene Replicas faded.

Riku swallowed, and banished his blade.

"They were the only ones around, right?" he asked as everyone else came over.

"Yes," Alpha replied with a sigh. "And we were lucky for that, too."

"Let's get moving," the Lexaeus Replica said simply, and everyone started walking again.

"That might not have been the best idea, sir," 19 whispered, falling in step with Riku. "But… I have to admit… I might have just gotten rid of one of them myself. They were getting a bit annoying."

Riku was silent for a moment.

"19," he said finally, voice extremely quiet. "You were there when Namine was created, right?"

"Well, yes," 19 replied slowly.

"She's not actually… defective… is she?" Riku asked.

19 frowned. "No, not that I know of, sir," he said.

"And you're not just saying that to keep me from killing you, right?" Riku asked, his voice catching slightly.

19 couldn't help but laugh slightly. "Of course not sir," he replied.

Riku let out a small sigh of relief.

There was silence for a moment, allowing their footsteps to echo eerily.

"But then why are the meltdowns happening…?" Riku muttered.

19 swallowed, not sure if that question had actually been directed at him. He decided he should respond anyways: "Like I said before, sir, memories are tricky things." He paused, getting an idea. "If it makes you feel better, I think I know where Master Vexen kept all his research concerning memories. Would you like me to see if I can find it?"

Riku nodded.

"Thanks," he whispered.

19 would have replied, but they had reached their destination. Alpha quickly darted over to the door and pulled his hood down, pressing an ear to the door to listen. After a moment, he motioned 19 to come over.

Riku, Amaryllis, and the Lexaeus Replica all stood guard at different entrances to this area.

"The keys!" Alpha hissed.

Riku rolled his eyes and dug the ring of keys Joseph had given him out of his pocket and tossing them to Alpha. Hopefully, the key to this door would be among them, though they had no way of telling.

"If only Sora were still here…" Amaryllis muttered. "We could use his Keyblade about now."

"I'll say," Alpha replied, as he tried yet another key. It didn't work.

Riku let out a sudden gasp, as a wave of pain exploded in his head. He clutched his head and did his best not to scream. It was just like last time, but the pain was much worse. His vision blurred, and he sunk to his knees.

"Really?" he whispered.

"Are you okay?" the Lexaeus Replica asked roughly, glancing over at him.

"I'm… fine…" Riku managed to reply, but a scream escaped his lips after that as another wave of pain hit him.

The sound of footsteps caught Alpha's attention. He muttered something under his breath and then pocketed the keys. "Mission abort!" he hissed. "Mission abort!"

Everyone quickly formed a dark corridor and left, except 19 and Riku.

19 sighed and grabbed Riku by the arm, and then formed a dark corridor.