Authors Note: After many restless nights, I have finally completed the third chapter of "Shadows of the Fallen". This Chapter will explain the setting of the story and some of the confusing parts in chapter two. Please enjoy the chapter. If you have any questions after reading this, please post them in your review and I will answer them in chapter four.

An Explanation

In a flash, a man with silver-grey hair appeared on the projector screen. He was wearing a simple white lab coat and purple tie. "Date, May 17, 2011. Time 4:38 p.m." the man began, "For all those who are watching this tape, my name is Xehanort Artois. At 2:34 a.m. on May 6, 2011, my beloved wife, Alexandra Artois, passed away in her sleep. The cause of her death was a severe infection of geostigma. I helplessly watched as the virus destroyed my wife from the inside out."

"So far there is no known cure for this fatal disease that has claimed the lives of so many innocent people. The world still overlooks the geostigma virus, saying that in will on form rural and poverty stricken areas, but if the world do not do something to bring this virus to a standstill, than I fear that this problem might form into an epidemic."

"A team of scientist, myself included, have begun research to find ways to combat the virus maybe even eradicate it from the face of the Earth. We still do not have enough money in our budget to fund our entire research, but if we our able to get someone to fund towards our cause, than we still might have a chance. May God be with us all."

Xehanort stands up and appears to be reaching toward the camera he is using to film himself. The image of him blurs out, but a few moments later the image reappears. Xehanort looks exactly the same as he did before, except he appears a couple years older. "Date, September 8, 2016. Time 4:56 p.m. Over the past five years my colleagues and I have made a sufficient amount of progress in finding a cur for Geostgma. Performing countless experiments and doing continuous research, my fellow scientist and I have discovered that the geostigma is greatly weakened by large amounts of mana. As you know, mana is the impersonal force or quality that resides in people, animals, and inanimate objects."

"My colleagues and I hypothesize that if we can take mana in its purest form and are able to successfully fuse it with the geostigma virus, the mana infected geostigma virus will search for other geostigma viruses and annihilate them. In other words, the virus will basically destroy itself."

"Besides trying to bring to an end to geostigma, I was triumphant in finding someone who was willing to fund our research. Recently the owner of SHINRA Inc, Edgar Shinra, pasted away. The cause of his death was an infection of geostigma. His company and his entire fortune we left to his one and only heir, Rufus Shinra. Mr. Rufus was heartbroken by his father's death. After hearing what my colleagues and I were trying to accomplish, Mr. Rufus decided to be our sponsor in a heartbeat. He told us that as long as we were making progress with the cure for geostigma, we did not have to worry about the money in our budget. We are getting so close to the cure, that I can almost taste it."

Like the time before Xehanort reached towards the camera to shut it off. The screen went blurry once again and Xehanort appeared a few moments later. Unlike the times before, his lab coat was unbuttoned and wrinkled. His tie was unchained and carelessly around his neck. It was also apparent that he had not slept in days. Despite all of this he was wearing a warm smile on his lips.

"Date July 21, 2017. Time 4:07 a.m. After all of our hard work and diligence, we were final able to produce a cure for the Geostigma virus. Although it took many experiments to produce the final product, nine to be exact, we were final able to successfully fuse pure mana with the geostigma virus. Our diligence and hard work has rewarded us with the Omega Cure Nine vaccine, or the OC9 vaccine for short."

"The way the vaccine works is that once we had successfully fused pure mana and the geostigma virus together (OC9) and inject it into the blood stream, the geostigma part of the vaccine will locate and search for other geostigma viruses in the body, while the mana part of the vaccine will eradicate them. Allow me to show you a demonstration."

Xehanort walk away from in front of the camera, only to reappear a split second later. In his hand, Xehanort was holding a small iron bar cage containing a rat. The rat had many open sores on its body, it was lacking much of its pigment, and if you looked close enough, you could see its fur was gradually falling out. It was obvious that the rat was infected with geostigma.

"Now watch closely as I inject the rat with the OC9 vaccine. Its results should become apparent almost immediately." With that said Xehanort took out a syringe with a hypodermic needle attached to it. The syringe had a label on it that said "Omega Cure 9 vaccine". Inside the syringe was a pitch black liquid that appeared to illuminate its eerie color. Without so much as a second thought, Xehanort placed the cage down on the table, unlatched the door to it, and impaled the rat with the needle.

Just as he said earlier, the effects of the OC9 vaccine started to appear on the rat almost instantly. Were there had been once open sores before, there was now regenerating skin replacing it. The rat, which had once been a light grey color, was now turning back into its original shade of a dark brown color. The bald spots on the rat were being filled up with a new coat of fur. It was as if the rat was being reborn.

"For those of you who have your doubts about the new vaccine," began Xehanort, "do not worry. The vaccine has also been successfully tested on human beings. Professor Norman Hojo, one of the scientists on our research team, was severely infected with Geostigma. Ever since July 2, 2017, the date when we injected the OC9 vaccine into Professor Hojo's blood stream, he has been healthier than ever. The only side effect that the vaccine may have caused is that Professor Hojo's skin appears to be just a tad more sensitive to sunlight, but compared to the slow and painful death of Geostigma, this is a very small price to pay."

"Rufus Shinra was so impressed with the results of all of our hard work, that he has offered all of us who worked on the finding of the cure a job position at SHINRA labs, with me being the head researcher. Rufus said that once we start to mass produce the vaccine, he will do all that he can to ensure that it is shipped to every corner of the world so that we can finally wake up from this nightmare that we call Geostigma. As a scientist this is hard for me to say but even when it seemed that God abandoned us, he was actually with us the whole time."

With that, Xehanort stood up for the final time to turn off the camera.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

After the movie was over, the lights turned back on. Roxas was wearing a blank expression on. After a couple moments of silence, Roxas was the first one to speak, "Wow. I never knew that the one thing that intended to save the world played a part in destroying it."

"The surprising thing about it Roxas," Ansem began, "is that not many people do. Most people believe that the OC9 virus was an evil spell cast by a rouge Mage. The thing that surprises me Roxas is that you don't know many of the simplest thing about the Earth around you. Care to elaborate?"

"Yeah," said Larxene, "I'm also wondering why you keep asking so many stupid questions."

Roxas' expression dropped and he looked away from Ansem. After a few moments of complete silence, Roxas finally said, "Well, back up on the surface world, for most of my life I grew up by myself. The only things I knew about the world were the rumors that I could pick up from the other stranded. Stranded, you know, the people who still live on the surface world that were able to survive the OC9 virus," Roxas explained after he received a confused look from Axel.

"I know what they are Roxas," Axel said "I just don't see what the problem in just calling them survivors."

"Anyway," Ansem interrupted, "please continue Roxas."

"As I was saying," Roxas began once again, "Most of the stranded only look out for themselves. One of the only people who ever really did watch out for me was my …. my father." Roxas struggled to finish the rest of his sentence. "I spent the first five years of my life growing up with only my father. He told me that my mother had been taken by the OC9 virus. We lived in an abandoned city called Midgar. It was like a safe home for the stranded because there was very little or no activity of the OC9 virus. When I lived with my father he told me that it was better not to ask questions than to receive answers that you do not like. Because of what he said, I grew up most of my life in ignorance of what was going on around me."

"Well that explains why you ask so many questions," Axel blurted out.

"Around the time I turned five," Roxas said, continuing with his story, "My father received a telegram from a mysterious person. The next day he told me that he had to leave Midgar and it was too dangerous to take me with him. He never told me why he had to leave, but he did leave me with a good friend of his named Zack Uchi."

"Even though I know my father was probably right about leaving me behind, I have never been able to forgive him for what he put me through." Roxas finished with a depressed expression.

"Hey Roxas," Namine said, "I know this may sound strange and all, but did your father's name happen to be Cloud Strife?"

"Yeah," Roxas said in a surprised voice. "What made you ask though? And better yet, how did you even know my father's name?"

"Well," Namine said shyly "From the pictures I had seen of him in the CORE's computer archives, you look almost exactly like him. You both have spiky blonde hair and you both have the same blue eyes. I guest I am just a lucky guesser."

"Wait just a minute here," Roxas said, now more confused than ever, "Why is my father even in your computer archives? As far as I know my dad has been a stranded for all of his life."

"That's not quite accurate Roxas," Ansem said, "Before your father became a stranded, he use to live in the CORE. In fact he was one of the three captains of the Elites before he left, making him a little well known throughout the city."

"A little well known," Larxene blurted out, "That guy was as popular as a celebrity down here, being one of the strongest Elite captain and what not."

"Once again," Roxas said, "I still have some other questions that I want to ask you."

"Before, you do ask me those questions," Ansem said as he interrupted Roxas, "I want you to watch the second part of Xehanort's documentary." He turned to Namine and said, "Namine, if you would be so kind to again set up the archive."

"Right away father." Namine said as she said the words that Roxas didn't understand again and waved her hands. Like before the lights turned out and a projector screen appeared behind Ansem's desk

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Like the other times before, Xehanort appeared on the projector screen. Instead of wearing his usually lab coat and purple tie, Xehanort was dressed in an elegant blue business suit. "Date February 23, 2020. Time 5:35 p.m. It has been three years since my colleagues and I discovered and produced a cure for the Geostigma epidemic. Since then Rufus Shinra has mass produced the OC9 vaccine and shipped to all of the corners of the world."

Xehanort took a deep sigh and then continued. "Even though everything seems to be picture perfect, there was a fatal flaw in my magnificent plan. I did not comprehend the long term effects of the OC9 virus. We though the only side effect of OC9 was that it caused skin to become slightly irritated to U.V rays and I foolishly overlooked any other effects that the vaccine may have caused. Professor Hojo appeared to be fine for the next year after we injected the OC9 vaccine into his blood stream, but as time passed on, he began to present many strange attributes."

"The first odd trait that he began to show was that he did not say outside in the sun for more than an hour or so. One day when he did stay out in the sun too long, he fainted and acquired a serious sunburn. He was hospitalized in critical condition for over an entire month. Ever since that incident, he only goes out of his house so that he can buy groceries and go to work."

"The second trait that he shows is that he has become emotional unstable. When he arrived at work one morning, he was acting pretty peculiar. Vexen Rudolf, one of my colleagues and close friend to Hojo, noticed that he was acting strange and asked if the was anything bothering him. Almost instantly, Hojo began to lash out at Vexen, with a series of fatal blow towards his face. It took about five men, including myself, to get Hojo off of Vexen. As if he had woken up dream, I saw the expression that Hojo gave as he final realized what he had done to his dear friend. Hojo started to uncontrollably cry. Hojo started to blabber about something eating away at him on the inside. Before any of us could react, Hojo ran outside of the building, never to be seen at SHINRA labs again."

"The final trait that Hojo displayed was he isolated himself from human contact. Many of the scientist tried to go to his house and try to help him, but every time he would just lock his door and began to say how something was eating him from the inside. He continued to act like this for two weeks until I thought that this behavior had gone on long enough. The next time I went to Hojo's house, I just kicked down his door. As I looked in his house, I wore a complete expression of horror upon my face. It had looked as though someone had release a pack of savage dogs inside Hojo's house. The carpet was completely ripped of the floor, the wallpaper had appeared to have been clawed off in many places, and all of the furniture was either overturned or damaged in someway."

"I called out Hojo's name to see if he was there and to my disappointment I did not receive an answer. It appeared as though he had not been in his house for at least three days. Since that dreadful day I walked into his house only to find it ransacked and empty, I have not seen or heard of Professor Hojo. Back then I simply thought that Hojo had become insane due to something that he wasn't telling us. I have not looked into this matter any further, until recently."

"For the past month, the citizens of Midgar have report that there had been strange sighting of a bizarre creature running amuck in the city. The eeriest part of it is that it is said that the creature is the same color as the OC9 vaccine. The creature was said to have been captured by SHINRA labs and they want me as head researcher to run test and experiment on it. In the name of all that is holy, I hope whatever this thing is has nothing to do with the OC9 vaccine."

Xehanort reached for the camera and turned it off. A few moments later Xehanort reappeared on the screen. He was wearing his old lab coat and purple tie. On his face was and expression of panic and as he spoke his voice began to shake. "Date, March 14, 2020. Time 11:47 p.m. Today I come to you baring horrible news so I will not even bother to beat around the bush this time. After weeks of performing countless test and experiments with the creature that SHINRA had recently captured, I have grimly concluded that this happens to be the final side effect of the OC9 vaccine. Until now I have not been able to show what the creature looks like because it was classified information, but at this point I don't think it really matters anymore."

Xehanort picks up the camera and starts walking towards a door that says "Xehanort's private lab. DO NOT ENTER." When he opens the door, he reaches for a light to illuminate the room. The lab looks like ordinary lab; it has test tubes, chemicals in beakers, computer monitors, Bunsen burners, and much more. In a dark corner however, there is a wooden door that has a lock and chain around it. Xehanort makes his way towards the peculiar door, unlocks it, and enters with a slight hesitation.

In the mysterious room, the lights had been dimmed so much that you could barely make out what was in front of you. The only things inside the poorly lit room are a large metal table in the center of the room and what appears to be a box with a white cloth over it in the corner of the room. There appears to be something moving under the box. Xehanort places the camera down and makes his way towards the mysterious box. Careful he places the box on the table and says, "I give you the monstrosity that the OC9 virus has created." Xehanort pulled off the cloth to reveal what lay under it.

Under the cloth, there was a large fiber glass box. Inside the box was pitch black figure that seem to give off the same eerie glow that the OC9 vaccine gave. The figure was no bigger than a large dog and had crooked antennae at the top of its head. Its small claws appeared to have done a number on the cage that was containing it. The most intimidating thing about the creature was that it had glowing yellow eyes that seemed to precise your soul as they stared back at you. When the creature noticed that Xehanort had taken off the cloth, it started to bare its sharp fangs at him.

"Once a person has injected the OC9 vaccine inside their blood stream, this is what the ultimate result will be. I don't completely understand why the vaccine does this, but my hypothesis is that once the vaccine has located and destroyed all of the geostigma viruses; it will travel until it reaches the heart of the host. I believe that once in the heart, (the mana-producing organ of the body) it will corrupt the mana and the result is this," Xehanort said as he pointed toward the creature.

Taking a deep sigh, Xehanort continued, "Test show that once a person has completely submitted to the OC9 virus, they degenerate into an animal like state, driven by huger and blind rage. Their original skeletal structure collapses, so they revert to a dog like size. They also appear to have lost all of their ability to communicate with human beings. The creature appears to become greatly weakened from exposure to Ultra Violet rays. Besides finding out all of this information, I have also made a horrific discovery. After testing the DNA of this creature, I found out that it has the exact same genetic codes as Norman Hojo. This abomination here before me use to be the once brilliant Professor Hojo."

"It will not belong until everyone who was administered the OC9 vaccine, transforms into these creatures. The scary thing about this whole thing is that according to SHINRA statistics, every three out of four people have taken the vaccine. That is about three fourths of the Earths population. The only other person I have revealed this horrific truth to is my trusted apprentice, Ansem Wise. I must gather my team of scientist to try to find a way to put a stop to the OC9 vaccine before it is too late. If we don't do something soon, the world faces an apocalyptic future."

With that Xehanort reached for the camera once again to turn it off. As always the screen went blurry and Xehanort reappear an instant later. His lab coat was in shreds, he has many slash marks all over his body, and there was a gaping hole in his chest where his heart should have been. As he spoke, his voice was rough and course. "Date December 23, 2027. Time, 12:35 p.m. I don't have much time so I must talk quickly. I dread that this is my last documentary entry."

"Over the past seven years the world has plunged into complete and utter chaos. Everyone that took the OC9 vaccine has turn in to one of those creatures, or better known as the Fallen now. My colleagues and I were too late in trying to find a way to stop the effects of the vaccine. Over three fourth of the Earth's population, that's almost five billion people, were transformed in to these heartless beings. Besides their fangs and their claws, the Fallen are dangerous for another reason. They consume the mana in the heart until there is nothing left. Because of this, some people refer to the Fallen as Heartless.

"Being attacked by a heartless is just as bad, if not worse, as taking a full dose of the OC9 vaccine. Once the heartless have consumed all of the mana inside of a prey's heart, their prey will slowly transform into a heartless. As you can see, I was attacked by one of the heartless moments ago and I will eventually turn into one."

"To all survivors watching this tape, there is still hope. My partner, Ansem Wise, has spent the last three years building a safe house for people who did not get infected with the vaccine. It is a city located eight miles beneath the Earth's surface that he has named CORE. He has estimated it to be about three hundred square miles, so there may be enough room for Earth's remaining population.Thanks to all of SHINRA's resources, he was able to build the CORE in only three short years. "

Xehanort began to cough furiously for a couple of moments. When he finally calmed himself down, he looked at the camera with a sad expression and said, "It looks like my time is coming to an end. It won't belong to before I turn into a heartless. To those of you watching, here are my final words to you. My God be with you all."

With that, Xehanort turned off the camera for the very final time.

……………………………………………………………………………………………...

Like before, once the movie had ended, the lights turned back on inside the office. The projector screen rose back into the ceiling and then Ansem turned around to look back at Roxas. "I thank you Roxas for silently sitting through the whole movie." Ansem began, "Even though I have probably seen this film countless times, I can never get over what happen to this poor fellow. Here was a man, trying to make the world a better place, but in the end, he does more harm than good." Ansem reflects for a few moments as he stares off in to space. He looks back at Roxas and says, "Sorry about that. Anyway, are there anymore subjects that you are still confused about?"

Roxas thinks for a moment before he says, "Actually there is something that I wanted to ask you about. Earlier today, when I was still at the medical ward, Larxene showed me that she was able to project her mana in the real world and she told me that she was able to do that because she was a Druid. I am still not completely sure that I full understand what a druid is or how mana works."

Ansem stared an amused expression on his face. "Well Roxas, as you know mana is the magical energy that resides in all things that exist. In this world, there are certain people that have the ability to master control of their mana so that they can project it in to reality. These people fall into three different categories. Druids, Mages and Chasers."

"Druids, such as Larxene and Axel, are able to manifest there mana in the real world by sheer will power alone. Druids, however, are limited to have only one mana type. As you already know, Larxene's mana type is electricity, while Axel's mana type is fire. Also, using certain metals and forging them into weapons, Druids are able to amplify the power mana as well as using it as a medium. Larxene uses throwing knives or kunai as her medium, while Axel uses chakram as his."

'The next class you need to be familiar with are Mages, such as myself and Namine. Mages, unlike Druids, are not limited to one specific type of mana. Also unlike Druids, Mages can't manifest their mana in the real world just by willing it. Mages must recite certain incantations to summon their mana. Mages will usually wands or staffs to summon more advanced mana incantations."

"The final class you need to know are Chasers. Chasers, a probably the most unique among the three classes. Like Druids, Chasers are able to summon their mana into the real world will just will power. Their mana, however, is not in elemental from as usual. Instead that mana will take the form of a certain type of weapon. The weapons Chasers usually summon will increase a certain attribute of their wielder, such as increased speed or strength. The effects of the weapon and the shape of the weapon will depend on the Chaser's personality."

"Now that I have answered you question about Druids and what not, do you have anymore questions that you want to present me with."

"Just two," Roxas said. "Question number one, what are these 'Elites' I keep hearing about? Question two is there anyway you can make my body stop hurting like hell?" At this Ansem let out a warm chuckle. "To answer your first question Roxas," Ansem began with a smile on his lips, "Elites and like public soldiers around here. Most of the Elite is compose of Mages, Druids, and Chasers. If there is a disturbance of too many heartless in one place on the surface world, I will send a couple of Elites up there to take care of the problem. They also act like the local law enforcement here at CORE."

"To answer your second question, yes Roxas, I do happen to have a way to make your body stop hurting. Since I am an Archmage, I have mastered every type of mana incantation there is and that include healing incantations. Now, if you don't have anymore questions, lets heal that body of yours."

Ansem started to stand up from his chair but was quickly pushed back down by his daughter. "Father," Namine said, "let me try to heal him. I've been practicing my healing magic and I have almost perfected it. I want you to see how far I have come."

Ansem looked thoughtful at his daughter before he said, "Sure, why not. I have to say I am a little intrigued on how much you have mastered your healing mana."

Namine smiled as wide as she could as she made her way towards Roxas' wheelchair. "You ready for this?" Namine sounded like an excited school girl. "As ready as I'll ever be," Roxas said, a little less enthusiastic than Namine. Namine pulled a wand from out of her robe pocket and pointed at Roxas. Roxas could feel Namine began to build up the mana inside of her.

When Namine had built up enough mana, she quickly shouted "CURE." Green mana leaked out of Namine's wand, into Roxas' body. Roxas feel could feel the mana repairing his damaged nerves and muscles. When Namine concluded that Roxas was completely healed, she stopped the flow of healing mana. "You should be completely healed now Roxas," Namine said, "Why don't you try getting out of that wheelchair now."

Even though Roxas was a little nervous, he did as he was told to. Roxas closed his eyes as he stood up, half expecting there to be pain when he rose. When the pain did not come, he turned to Namine and said, " Thanks a million Namine, you did a pretty good job of fixing me up."

"Oh, there's no need to thank me," Namine said with a blush on her face, "I was just doing the right thing. Anyway, how did you end up in the medical ward in the first place?"

Roxas' smile was replaced with a frown as he dropped his head and said, " I don't really feel like talking about it." As the room filled with an awkward silence Ansem said, "Namine, why don't you show Roxas around the city for awhile. I have to do some official business with Larxene and Axel."

"Aw man," Axel complained, " and here I thought that I was going to get the day off."

"Oh shut the hell up Axel,' Larxene irately said, " You always think that you are going to get a day off, you lazy bum."

"Come Roxas," Namine cheerfully said, "I'll show you the ropes around the city."

"Oh boy," Roxas said sarcastically, as him and Namine exited the office, " This should be interesting."

Authors Note: Next chapter should be up next Tuesday, and I don't mean the Tuesday that Christmas is. In the Next chapter Namine shows Roxas around the city and he meets some very interesting people. HAPPY HOLIDAYS.