Disclaimer: I don't own Xenosaga. Really...I don't...I wish...but no. A mere dream that lands so far away can never be reached! ...that didn't make any sense but that's what's good about me! I never make sense except for in my stories! So enjoy...and yes, I have decided that this will be more than just a one-shot. I was incredibly inspired to continue this last night, so I did. Thank the music people...not my brain. Have fun reading!

Ch. 2 - Arrival

MOMO watched silently as the E.S. Asher forced open the doors to the launch area. She clutched her chest with both hands as she tried to stop her tears. She looked down at the floor as it started to shake. This was it…he was really leaving. He might not even come back for all the little realian knew. She just hoped for the best and promised herself that she would wait for him to return, no matter how long it would be.

She looked back up out of the large open window and sighed. She didn't even get to say goodbye or wish him luck and tell him to come back. It was done and she couldn't do anything to bring him back, but she knew that. Jr. was just that type of person, always trying to take on everything on his own shoulders. If anyone tried to help him, he would only turn away and continue carrying burdens of not only himself, but of others he knew.

MOMO sighed and turned to face the long and empty halls. She heard the faint noise of the doors closing and relocking. Then all was silent, leaving her in a mind full of thoughts. She eventually put her arms down beside her and started to make her way to the Durandal once more. She didn't know what she was going to tell the others.

She finally reached the Durandal's bridge to see Shion, Mary, Shelley and the rest of the group with confused looks bestowed upon their faces.

"What does he think he's doing? He's going to get himself killed going alone like this!" Shion yelled like a worried mother. MOMO stayed silent in the background as she continued listening to comments from everyone as they panicked.

"MOMO…" MOMO turned around to see Ziggy standing next to her. She looked up at him and then looked away, trying not to make him concerned for her. "MOMO…He'll be all right. Just keep hoping for the best." MOMO was surprised at what the cyborg said. Her eyes widened as she looked up at him. Ziggy was now looking in the direction of the space time anomaly.

"Ziggy…He's…Jr.'s really…" She felt tears come to her eyes as she said his name. Eventually, she collapsed into the cyborg's arms, letting herself cry. Ziggy gladly accepted her into his arms and tried his best to comfort her.

"I guess…we'll have to keep waitin' until he comes back." Mary stated as she looked back sympathetically at the crying MOMO. She even gave off a few tears as well. "But…I know the Little Masta will make it back…" She turned back to the control boards, then turned to Shelley. Shelley stayed silent as she continued to analyze the situation and then sigh.

Shion also looked back at the realian, feeling as though she felt the same pain, but she knew it wasn't as nearly as hard. She looked around and noticed that chaos was no where in sight. 'I wonder…where chaos went?' She sighed and looked back at the pink webbing that seemed to be expanding and taking over space slowly and steadily.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jr. knew that he was heading towards his own fate. He knew that his move was reckless, but what choice did he have? If he didn't want anyone else involved, then he was going to have to do what he thought was right. Thoughts raced everywhere in the URTV's head, zooming every which way, making it hard to focus on just one.

He finally reached his destination and programmed the E.S. Asher's autopilot to go back to the Elsa. As soon as he jumped onto the fluffy, pink substance, his E.S. took off. He watched as it made it's way back to the ship he once knew. As soon as it was out of sight, Jr. looked toward his destination. Endless roads curved in tight knots and confusing intersections. Bright pink covered over the region of space, threatening to take it over just like a disease plaguing an animal.

Jr. took a few steps, trying to get used to the pillow feeling of U-DO under his feet. He took a deep breath and started walking down the never-ending path. He had only gone a few feet before an image of his brother appeared in front of him. No matter how young Albedo looked, Jr. knew that he was still the infected brother he knew to that very day.

"Well, well, well! Look who decided to come and pay his brother a visit. It's nice to see you again, Rubedo." The white haired URTV snickered as he watched Jr. cringe at his true name. He didn't like it when he was called Rubedo. Too many memories of the past were connected to it and he just wanted to leave it all behind, but Albedo wouldn't let that happen.

The younger vision of Albedo snickered and then sighed.

"It seems that your not even happy to see me anymore. Don't you remember me? I'm the one who reminds you of who you really are!" The high pitched voice of Albedo rang through the area as he laughed. "Ever since you aren't very fond of remembering past events, maybe I should help you remember!" Albedo began to laugh once more and soon disappeared in a tangled web of pink, his laughter still hanging around the air.

Jr. clenched his hands into tight fists of fury as he stared down the long path before him. He lightened up as his surrounding changed suddenly. It turned into someplace he recognized…the place where Albedo was infected by U-DO and where he almost lost Nigredo as well as his own life. He watched as the pentagonal shape appeared, the walls materialize and everything turn to life before his very own eyes. It was then that it all really came to life, as though he was reliving the event over again. Albedo, Nigredo and other URTV's encircled the middle as U-DO crept out from the middle.

Jr. slowly backed away as he saw the tower of U-DO form before his eyes. Just like it did 14 years ago, Albedo cried for help as he was slowly being dragged into U-DO. Jr.'s eyes widened in fear as he watched his brother swept away, along with many of his other brothers. He watched as Nigredo struggled to keep himself from being overcome by it.

"No! Nigredo!" The name rolled right out of his mouth as though it came naturally. His instincts took over as he ran to his brother's side. He reached for his arm to help him, but he passed through the image before him. His eyes filled with tears as he watched Nigredo getting pulled in, just like Albedo. "Nooooo!" His voice rang out as he closed his eyes tightly. He went to open them again and the scene was different. His heart was beating wildly and felt like it would jump out of his chest. His breathing became heavier as he slowly examined his surroundings cautiously. He now found himself in a quite room with a small window on the opposite side of where he stood. A bed with a purple and white checkered pattern comforter sat to his right and a small dresser sat to his left. "This is…"

"That's right Rubedo! I'm glad you remembered this pitiful place." Albedo's voice echoed. Jr. frantically looked around trying to find his twin. While he was busy looking around for his brother, another entity materialized in the same room. Feeling the presence, he turned around to see a brown haired girl with a white dress and emerald green eyes. She seemed to be in a trance.

"S…Sakura!" The girl didn't respond, but only took a few steps toward him. Jr. gulped as he watched her walk almost zombie like. She was only a few feet away from him when she started whispering words that were just under hearing range. Jr. watched her lips, trying to figure out what she was saying. He never was good at lip reading, but he tried his hardest.

"So Rubedo, do you like her? She's my newest puppet!" Albedo's voice echoed once more. Jr. gasped as the Sakura he was staring at disappeared and instead a Kirshwasser stood in front of him, whispering words that he still couldn't understand. Jr. was infuriated and clenched his fists once more. He watched as the Kirshwasser also disappeared and soon, young Albedo was there. "Am I getting on your nerves? I'm sorry; I thought I was just doing my fellow brother a favor!" He broke out into his infamous laugh.

"Shut up Albedo!"

"Oh, but taunting you is fun! Aren't you having any fun yet? Because I'm having tons!" Albedo began laughing again before fading again. Suddenly and unknown force came from behind Jr. and wrapped around his neck. He put his hands up to where he would at least get enough room to breathe. When he pulled the force, he noticed that it was a soft touch, a touch only belonging to one person.

"Sakura…!" He managed to choke out. The dazed girl behind him was none other than Sakura. He was being strangled by the one he loved in his past days, manipulated by his brother and being tortured with disturbing images of the past. It all finally pushed him to his limits. Everything stopped as if put on pause. Jr. felt all his fear, anger, and hate come in a furious blast of energy. It happened…his Red Dragon mode was triggered and his surroundings blew into a fiery rage. Sakura was blown back and then vanished. Jr. kneeled on the ground, trying his best to suppress his anti-UDO shift, his whole body shaking in rage as he held himself. After what seemed like forever, his Red Dragon mode began to disappear, leaving him exhausted. He watched as the floor below him disappeared and turned into the fluffy pink U-DO. This wasn't over yet…he had more to go through, he knew he did. This wasn't even the start…

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The group knew that they could only wait and hope Jr. would come back. MOMO had calmed down a little bit, though she was still sniffling. Ziggy stayed by her side to give her comfort if she started bursting out into tears again. Shion was standing next to KOS-MOS, staying silent for lack of conversation. chaos still wasn't found, Jin also stayed quite like his sister and Mary was biting her fingernails for lack of a more amusing thing to do. Shelley sat at the control board, clicking away as she tried to figure out what was happening.

"I…I'm going to walk around for a little while. Maybe…visit the park." MOMO informed as she walked from Ziggy's side to the Durandal's elevator. Everyone turned to her and watched her depart.

"…I hope she'll be all right…" Shion said after the realian disappeared. Mary nodded in agreement.

"It's all the Little Mastah's fault for making us all worry like this…especially her…" Mary referred to MOMO and then sighed. She looked back out to the space being swallowed by U-DO. Her eyes widened and smile crept across her face as she saw something flying towards them in the distance. "Look! He came back after all!" Mary pointed out. "Shelley, try to make contact with him!"

Shelley nodded, but when she tried to get through nothing happened. "I'll try putting a picture transmission." She typed a few things in the keyboard and the picture of the cockpit of the E.S. was empty. Everyone had confused looks on their faces once the picture showed up.

"He must've put it on auto pilot and flew it back here." Ziggy alleged. 'What does he think he's doing? He's only getting himself stranded out there…' Ziggy thought as the E.S. Asher flew by the Durandal.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

chaos watched the E.S. Asher dock in the Elsa before going into the launching area himself. The machine locked into position and then docked successfully. The silver haired boy watched as the cockpit opened. He jumped in and then prepared to launch as well.

"Don't worry Jr. I'll be there on time…"

III II I III II I III II I III II I III II I III II I III II I III II I III II I III II I III II I III II I III II I III II I III II I III II I III II I III II I III II I III II I III II I

Yup! I have decided that I am going to make this story into a multi-chapter adventure! I liked tha way this chapter turned out. Yes, it's kind of like the ending, but I altered it...a lot. So now I have to tell people that there is a spoiler warning for Episode II. Maybe it's not too much like it, but maybe it is. In some ways. Yeah, so I'm going to go type up some more of this. -Jr. The Red Dragon-