Music Suggestion: Reborn - Thomas Bergersen. (Also: Corruption - Two Steps from Hell)
Also, I posted something in ASAS you'll want to read. There's ch151 from a couple of different POVs, and then this chapter from a few different POVs in ASASch47-49. But, you know, read this chapter first.
Chapter 154: Thirteen
They were standing outside the computer room, in a semi-circle, all with their weapons out and prepared to fight. Axel looked between all of them, his cocky attitude not faltering. He had his chakrams at his side, but he held them casually, as if trying to make it look he really wasn't intending to use them.
Riku held his blade in front of him, gripping it tightly. He tried to keep his breathing even. He silently and repetitively reassured himself.
You'll be fine.
Axel was protecting Roxas.
It doesn't make you weaker than him.
Xemnas caught you off guard.
It doesn't mean anything.
26 probably isn't terribly good at fighting. And, even if he is, he shouldn't be much of a challenge.
Roxas is all of a few minutes old. Even with memories from before, he probably won't quite have a hold on fighting just yet—I know I didn't this early on—so he won't be much of a threat either.
It's all okay.
"I don't see why you're doing this," Axel called, trying to make conversation. "If you were planning on stopping us, you're a little late. We're done here."
"Exactly," Amaryllis said.
"So, what? You were waiting for us to finish Roxas?" Axel laughed. "What for?"
"We're not here for Roxas," Alpha said. "We're here for the Program."
"Good luck getting that!"
"Can we attack him now?" Snapdragon asked, voice low.
"No. He's not harming us," Amaryllis hissed. "We don't need to waste our energy on him. We need to focus on 26. He'll most likely have the external."
"And what are we supposed to do about Axel?"
"Keep stalling him."
"You know, Axel," 7 said, raising his voice and taking a step forward. "You disgust me."
Axel just laughed, not fazed by the insult. "Oh I do, do I?"
7 stood his ground. "Yes. You had no right to bring Roxas back."
"No one said it couldn't be done."
"But just because you can do something doesn't necessarily mean you should. You can jump off a cliff. Does that mean you should?"
Axel thought for a moment. "Depends on the circumstances," he said.
7 shook his head. "That's not the point, Axel. The point is you can't just go bringing Replicas back from the dead willy-nilly."
"And why can't I?"
"Why would you?" 7 asked. His voice was cold. "Why would you, really? It makes their death meaningless. Yes, you may miss them—of course you miss them, if they were dear to you. You may want to bring them back—who wouldn't? You may want, more than anything, just to hold them in your arms again." He swallowed. "But that doesn't give you the right to bring them back from the dead."
Axel started to reply, but then the doors opened behind him. And the first to step out was—
Roxas.
There was a brief pause of silence. Riku stared, unsure of what to think. Actually seeing Roxas was like a punch to his stomach and knocked the wind out of him for a second. The idea of them rebuilding Roxas seemed so distant. Almost like it wasn't really happening. But he couldn't deny it now; Roxas was rebuilt, and it was all happening, and it was real.
Axel took one look at Roxas and grinned. Of course, then Snapdragon attacked him, so he had other things to worry about. Roxas glanced over at Axel probably confused and maybe a bit worried. But before he could worry too much, 26 pushed him forward.
He looks… kinda scared, Riku thought, as he watched Roxas take a few steps in their direction.
Poor kid.
He probably only hardly understands what's going on right now.
I wonder how good he is at fighting…
Riku almost wanted to find out. All he had to do was start forward, and—
"Hey, hotshot! How's it going?"
Riku turned and quickly blocked the bullets that were sent at him. Six. Six bullets. Like always. He was already tired of blocking bullets. Where had Xigbar even come from, anyway? He hadn't been here ten seconds ago.
Riku groaned.
I don't know what I'll do if he does nothing but shoot bullets at me, like last time.
Though…
I'll have an excuse not to fight.
There was only one problem.
Xigbar didn't focus his bullets only on Riku. He fired bullets at everyone else, too.
Crap.
Now we're dealing with Axel and Xemnas and Xigbar, along with 26—who admittedly probably isn't that good at fighting—and Roxas, who actually looks kind of confused. He probably won't be much of a threat.
Riku frowned at the next thought that crossed his mind.
No, I can't go after Roxas. Just because he's the smallest threat right now, doesn't mean I can just go over and attack him. I'll probably end up slaughtering him…
The thought was somewhat comforting. At least there was someone in this room who he wouldn't have trouble fighting.
Not that he'd have much trouble fighting most of these people. Everyone with the Rebellion—with the exception of maybe Snapdragon—wasn't much stronger than him. They never had been. He and Axel were pretty evenly matched, if he remembered correctly; provided Axel didn't have the unfair advantage of protecting Roxas. Xemnas… well… Riku didn't want to think too much about his inability to fight Xemnas. Or Xigbar. Because Xigbar was just as bad.
At least he doesn't have his clone this time.
Fighting one of them has to be easier than fighting two of them.
Maybe he should go after 26. Except—wait, no, Alpha already had that covered. Riku could hear him and Amaryllis discussing what they were going to do. Which meant he was useless.
Not useless, he corrected, firmly. They just don't need my help.
But what should I do?
Attacking Xemnas wasn't a good idea, and Riku wasn't even going to try. He could maybe attack Xigbar. Or Axel—but that was something he didn't want to do, either. His eyes settled back on Roxas.
No. Not Roxas.
I could always help Snapdragon with Axel. Together we should have a shot. Maybe I'll try and rope 7 into it, too.
Riku turned, hearing the shuffling of feet. It sounded like someone was about to attack him. Next his ears registered that Roxas let out a battle cry, and Riku brought up his blade to block Roxas's Keyblade before it smashed into his face. He grunted slightly, taking a step back to keep his balance.
Whoo. He's pretty strong after all.
He can at least pack quite a punch, anyway.
He looked up at Roxas's face. Their eyes met. Riku frowned slightly. Something was off. There was… he didn't know. He couldn't place it.
His eyes darted down to Roxas's Keyblade. It drew his attention because it looked just like Sora's. Exactly like Sora's. Except… Roxas's was perfect—unbroken, unmarred.
Blank, Riku couldn't help but think.
Sure, it was the exact same as Sora's, and that made sense, with Roxas being a Replica of Sora and all, regardless of how little he actually looked like Sora. But that Keyblade, in Roxas's hands, didn't look right. It didn't look like it belonged to him, and, in a sense, it didn't.
To be honest, it looks like it's waiting to be filled with a different shape. Like it's a blank template, or something.
Roxas backed off, distancing himself from Riku. Riku automatically fell into his battle stance, out of habit more than anything else.
A bit… like its wielder.
Riku couldn't deny Roxas's almost robotic actions. Sure, Roxas seemed uncertain, and maybe a bit hesitant, but otherwise his movements were calculated, perfect—they lacked soul.
Just like Roxas's eyes, Riku realized.
There was no emotion in Roxas's face. None at all. Riku figured that it had something to do with the fact that Roxas had been up and moving for about five minutes. The thought still unnerved him, though.
I had more emotions, at that time, didn't I?
He wasn't sure.
How long was it after I was created before I fought Real Thing?
Roxas prepared to attack again, and Riku readied himself to dodge out of the way, as it seemed the best way to respond to the attack that Roxas was about to pull. Before Roxas could move, though, Axel grabbed him by the shoulder, holding him back. Axel had gotten away from Snapdragon, somehow.
Xigbar probably distracted him, Riku figured.
"Careful there!" Axel said. "Maybe not the best idea to be attacking Riku. Don't want to get yourself killed, do you? C'mon."
Roxas just nodded, and Axel led him off without a problem.
Riku watched them go, deciding not to attack them.
Axel thinks that… I'm strong enough to take Roxas. And kill him.
The thought surprised him a bit.
I mean, I know I was thinking those same thoughts myself, but that's because Roxas looked weak. Which certainly isn't true.
But…
Axel thinks I'm a threat.
Riku felt a bit better, honestly. The thought made him… kind of… happy. Someone actually saw him as a threat. He wasn't a total weakling.
"Well it's too late now; he's gone!" Alpha shouted, suddenly. Riku looked over in his direction, surprised. Amaryllis and Thistle had 26 restrained, and Alpha did not look happy. Riku started in that direction.
"26 didn't have the external," Vexen explained, stopping Riku.
Riku frowned.
"Then who does?"
And no wonder why Alpha's upset.
"I'm not sure," Vexen said.
26 pulled himself away from Amaryllis and Thistle, and stalked out of the room, his head high, as if flaunting that his pride—though damaged—was still intact.
"So what do we do now?" Riku asked. He tried to hide the smugness in his voice. Alpha's plan had failed.
"We-"
"Looking for this?" Xigbar called, drawing everyone's attention to him. He held the external.
It took all of two seconds for Amaryllis and Thistle to start in his direction. They didn't get far before Xigbar warped away.
"Over here!" He was not far from the Lexaeus Replica, now, but he warped before the Lexaeus Replica could do anything. He appeared not far from Riku. Riku glanced over at him, his grip on his blade tightening.
"You aren't even trying!" Xigbar laughed.
Wanna bet?
Riku leapt at Xigbar, but Xigbar warped out of the way again. Riku hit the ground, hard, but retained his balance. He'd been half-expecting that to happen, honestly. He quickly located Xigbar again, and found that Xigbar was now upside down right above Alpha, dangling the external in front of Alpha's face.
"Here, have it," he said.
Alpha didn't move.
"I'm serious, take it."
Alpha still didn't move.
Riku wanted to shout at him.
You've got to be kidding me, Alpha! It's right in front of you! Just grab it before—
Xigbar warped again, so that he was standing (right side up again) about five feet away from Alpha. "Here," he said, tossing the external.
Alpha dove to catch it. It disappeared before he could grab it, though.
Riku swore.
Xigbar'd just manipulated the space around the external, so that it landed in his hand instead. He grinned. "I could do this all day!"
"Xigbar," Xemnas said, sternly.
Xigbar looked over at Xemnas, then dramatically rolled his eyes. "Or we could leave now, you know. Doesn't matter much to me." He was trying too hard to sound casual. Nevertheless, he vanished. Warped away.
All eyes shifted to Xemnas.
Xemnas surveyed the room, slowly, considering them each in turn.
What's he going to do? Riku thought.
He's not going to just kill us, is he?
Not liking that thought, Riku readied his blade, just in case.
Xemnas's eyes fell on him.
"Pitiful," he said.
And then he, too, vanished.