Chapter 148: Seven
"Can he do that, though?" Riku asked. "Bring Roxas back?"
"Riku, they created Namine purely from your memories," Vexen said. "I don't think there is anything this Program can't do."
"That's not true," Alpha said. He leaned against the desk and folded his arms across his chest. There was no reason to keep staring at the computer screen; the likeliness of there being a major change in what 26 was doing was slim. "There are plenty of things this Program is incapable of. However… bringing Roxas back isn't one of those things—Axel is certainly capable of doing that."
"How, though?" Riku said. "I actually meant to ask that to begin with."
Alpha shrugged slightly. "They have his original file—I assume, anyway; it's probably on the Database. There's no reason it shouldn't be. His original file is all they need." He paused for a second, considering how to explain the process itself. "All they have to do is create a new Replica using that file, and… well, it will be Roxas."
"It's that easy?" Vexen seemed a bit surprised. "You can rebuild a Replica just like that?"
"Mm… yes." Alpha shifted uneasily. It was a bit uncomfortable to discuss this subject; it was arguably one of the most difficult things to explain about the Program—if not for the morals regarding rebuilding a Replica alone. "But there are complications. If the Replica's file hasn't been updated recently… Well, they'd be lacking memories, at best." He swallowed. At least the technicalities of this weren't terribly difficult to explain.
"At worst?" Riku asked, slowly.
Alpha just shook his head.
"It's bad, then?" Riku said.
"We can only theorize," Alpha admitted. "We've never actually rebuilt a Replica before. But, in theory, things can get bad."
"Everything can get bad in theory," Riku muttered, chuckling slightly.
"You've never rebuilt a Replica before?" Vexen asked.
"We've never needed to," Alpha replied.
"I'm sure you haven't," Vexen said. "But wouldn't your Vexen want to try it—as an experiment. I'm sure the thought would've crossed my mind at least once. Then again-" He frowned. "Me and your Vexen think absolutely nothing alike, it seems."
"An experiment like that, though…" Riku paused as he rethought what he was about to say. "I don't think you can rebuild a Replica purely for experimental purposes. It… uh…"
"Isn't right," Alpha said under his breath.
"I suppose an experiment like that might stand on shaky morals," Vexen said. His voice dropped a considerable amount before he continued. "But… I can't deny the fact that I've done a few experiments that weren't quite…" He cleared his throat.
Alpha rolled his eyes in disgust.
Riku cast an amused look at him. "I thought you were used to arguing with Vexen," he said. "Or are you only used to arguing over the Computer?"
Alpha ignored Riku's comments and teasing. "You can't tell me you're not upset," he said, simply.
"About what?"
"The idea of rebuilding a Replica."
Riku raised his eyebrows. "Should I be?"
"Hmph." Alpha turned his attention to Riku. "You can't tell me that it doesn't upset you; bringing back Replicas from the dead all willy-nilly. It makes us seem like we're nothing more than objects." He threw a half glare at Vexen before turning back to Riku. "We obviously aren't people if we can be replaced. We obviously aren't people if our deaths mean absolutely nothing because: 'Oh, they can just be rebuilt!'" He let out an irritated breath and cast his gaze towards the ground, a bit ashamed—though he did feel better now that he had that out.
"Alpha," Vexen said. "I understand your frustration. I'm not- I'm not denying any of what you said. I was just curious as to—"
"Oh shut up," Riku interrupted. "There's no need for you to over explain yourself. Now," he turned to Alpha, "if Axel playing god up there bugs you so much-"
"-then why don't we go stop him?" Amaryllis finished. Alpha glanced up, a bit surprised—he hadn't noticed Amaryllis approach. Yet, sure enough, there he was, leaning casually against the doorframe.
"How much did you hear?" Riku said. He looked a bit annoyed—probably just because Amaryllis had stolen his thunder.
"Axel's planning to rebuild Roxas, right?" Amaryllis asked.
"Yes."
Amaryllis pushed away from the doorframe. "Then I'm caught up. What are we going to do to stop them?"
Yes, because we absolutely have to stop them, Alpha thought, sarcastically.
"Actually," Vexen said. "The better question is how long we have to stop them."
"Easy," Riku said. "How long does it take to build a Replica? Alpha?"
"Anywhere between a few hours and a few days, depending on how well things go."
Riku nodded. "Okay, so, that gives us at most an hour to strategize; I say we start working on our plan of action, and hopefully it'll only take fifteen minutes." He chuckled slightly. "The sooner we get rid of them, the better, after all. Suggestions?"
"We could… go up there and charge the room they're in and hope for the best?" Amaryllis said. There was a smirk on his face as he spoke.
Alpha sighed.
I mean… really… they're only bringing Roxas back. As much as I don't like the idea of them rebuilding Roxas—or any Replica, for that matter—I don't see a point in barging in and putting a stop to them.
"That's a terrible plan, not to mention a dangerous one!" Vexen protested. "I thought you were better at strategizing than this, Amaryllis."
Exactly. There's no sense in fighting them—we'll just get hurt, or killed, or worse. With the full Program, it's certainly easier to Rewrite us all.
"Give him a break," Riku said. He was grinning. "It's what we'd probably end up doing, anyway. Also, I'm for this plan."
You would be, Alpha thought.
"Riku it's dangerous!" Vexen scolded.
Riku wasn't deterred in the slightest. "I can take Axel! No problem."
"And then what do you do about Xemnas? Hmm?"
Riku shrugged, still grinning—he obviously didn't care to give the matter much thought. "We worry about him once Axel's out of the way!"
"Or we could just not worry about either of them…" Alpha said, quietly.
"Pardon?" Amaryllis said.
"Really, do we have to do something to stop them?" Alpha asked, raising his voice slightly. He didn't keep the annoyance out of his tone—that was two outbursts in only a matter of minutes; he was getting as bad as Riku. But- "Honestly, why should we bother? Why can't we just let them have their Keyblade wielder and be on their way? Won't they leave us alone after that?"
He was only being logical.
Riku's grin immediately fell; he obviously wasn't pleased. Amaryllis chewed his lip, something he commonly did while thinking. Vexen lowered his head; he appeared to be considering the matter, too.
"He… has a point," Vexen said after a moment, looking up. "Once Xemnas has his Keyblade wielder, I don't see why he'd bother with anything else. He'll be content, and that means he won't hurt us unnecessarily. None of us have to get hurt."
"But don't they have the Database?" Riku argued. "And the full program? Isn't that what we've been trying to prevent, all this time? Isn't that what this stupid Rebellion thing was about? Keeping them away from the Program?"
"It's… more of what it descended into," Amaryllis confessed. "To be honest, I think most of us were just trying to stay away from Saix, at the beginning. Then we started fighting him, and it's been a mixture of survival and keeping him away from the Program since then."
"You've got to be kidding me!" Riku shouted; it was funny how quickly his mood could go from humorous and confident to angry and irrational—or maybe it was scary. "You all sound like you've given up—and on something that you roped me into! That's right. I didn't choose to be a part of this. You forced me to help you!" He glared at all of them in turn. "What was the point of that if you're just going to give up now!?"
"Riku-" Vexen began.
"No. I'm talking to Alpha. Why'd you rope me into this if you're just going to give up?"
Alpha took a deep breath. Riku's gaze on him was firm, and, he wouldn't deny it, it was intimidating. There was no telling what Riku might do when he was angry—though a fair bet would be on him drawing his blade, regardless of who it was he'd be attacking.
"I never said we were giving up on the Rebellion," Alpha said. He held Riku's gaze and kept his voice level. "I just think it's best if we cut our losses this time and let Xemnas have his Keyblade wielder—and yes, they'll take the Program, too. But what else can we do? Xemnas will kill us if we intervene, and what's the point of stopping him when, once he's finished, he'll leave us alone?"
Riku was silent. Finally he looked away.
Alpha couldn't help but be relieved. That hadn't taken as much arguing as he'd anticipated, and Riku's anger seemed to have calmed. Or it calmed, at least, to a point where he wasn't quite as likely to draw his blade.
"You don't think I can take him, do you?" Riku muttered. He laughed, bitterly, and shook his head. "I get it. You don't think I can take Xemnas."
"Alpha never said-" Amaryllis began.
"Well what if I can take him!?" Riku demanded. "Hmm?"
"Riku, he's-" Vexen started.
"Dangerous. And?" Riku just shook his head again. "You all think Saix is dangerous. And you believe I can take him—don't deny it! That's what you roped me into this for. To get rid of Saix for you."
Alpha kept his face very still. His eyes darted over to Amaryllis, who grimaced back at him. They'd hoped Riku would never figure that out. Thankfully, Vexen kept talking, saving either of them from having to admit to Riku's face that he was right.
"Saix isn't like Xemnas," Vexen said, sternly. "Xemnas is a lot more powerful, and he can and will kill you if you get in his way!"
"What if I'm strong enough to take him?" Riku said. "What if it's not as hard as you say it is? What if I want to try?!"
"It's dangerous," Vexen repeated.
"So?" Riku was shouting again. "I'm not going to do nothing just because—especially not just because—you told me to!"
"But you'll—" Vexen stopped. It wasn't any use. Riku had shoved past Amaryllis and headed out the door. He was going after Xemnas, and nothing was going to stop him.
Vexen swore and started muttering things under his breath about Programing and "if only he had…"
Alpha just rubbed his head, weighing their options. Going after Xemnas was a bad idea. There wasn't any way to discourage Riku. Riku was going to get killed—and a dead Riku was certainly not a good thing. There went their upper hand; Alpha regretted to admit that the Rebellion had been using him as such, but...
"I'll go after him," Amaryllis said. "Make sure he doesn't get himself killed, because, let's be honest, I think Namine'd have our heads if he got hurt." Amaryllis smiled at his little joke, and then followed after Riku.
I suppose it could be worse, Alpha thought, turning his attention back to the computer screen.