Xejicka: I'm starting to realize some morbid observations. I think I'm a Xemnas fangirl in denial.

Thalkxene: She keeps having dreams where Xemnas glomps her periodically. They seem to get more graphic and are in places that could suggest certain things.

Xejicka: This is where fangirling goes horribly wrong! I dread dreaming for fear of meeting Abe Lincoln or having Xemnas glomp me like he loved me. -pukes in bag-

Thalkxene: Cheer up. You had that one dream that Lexaeus glomped you in.

Xejicka: True. That was a pretty sweet dream. That was induced by my writing of this chapter.

Disclaimer: Xejicka does not own the Kingdom Hearts series, the Final Fantasy series, luck, Amaterasu, good Axel, Marluxia and Larxene writing skills or any mercy for the character Jackie.

Thalkxene: You seriously need to show some mercy for that character. It's kinda getting old with the torture.

Xejicka: It's how I write it, if you don't like, well, I'm very sorry. I'll try to end the torture as soon as I get bored. No, I'll stop hurting Jackie when I stop torturing Reno.

Thalkxene: But you'll never stop torturing Reno! He and Jackie are going to injure you one day for your sins.

Xejicka: They probably will. But I like reading/writing experiment scenes and I wish there was more of that out there that wasn't generic or stupid. -deep crack starts forming within midsts of reality-

Thalkxene: There coming for you! -hides-

Xejicka: Dammit! They're breaking the fourth wall!

Reno: -breaks through fourth wall- What's this about me in the next chapter, yo?! -holds up outline of next chapter-

Jackie: Why the hell are you making me go through this crap?! Let me do something normal, you idiot! -pulls out guan dao-

Thalkxene: -looks at Xejicka- Heh heh. You're screwed.

Xejicka: Derh! -gets attacked by Reno and Jackie-

The Last Night Before Destiny pt. 2

Castle Oblivion

Jackie screamed in pain as she grasped her head. She writhed on the table she was on. The horror she witnessed was identical to the one her friend witnessed many worlds away. The only difference was that Jackie experienced this with the help of a machine that emitted waves next to her. The girl's mind could not fully comprehend a vision not of the current time. In other words, she didn't have any psychic abilities what so ever and she never would if she wanted a pinch of sanity left.

Vexen sat frantically writing the results he witnessed. His goal was to test if any kind of frequency could make one experience thought processes of another person. In fact, Lexaeus was with Jackie for he was the person that was intended to have the thought processes used. The Silent Hero grew worried, or as worried as a nobody could get. He merely thought of the manga he bought and various puzzles he sought to solve. Nothing that would horribly terrify the berserker. Something clearly went wrong.

Jackie continued writhing she she held her head. "Vexen, I think you should stop this!" Lexaeus shouted over the cries. Vexen was still writing, unable to hear the larger man. "Vexen!" Lexaeus shouted. The berserker was only loosely strapped down, the machine only set off waves so it didn't touch the girl, but Lexaeus didn't want to risk her going berserk on him until the machine was off. He finally grabbed the Chilly Academic who finally understood.

Vexen slammed the machine off. Jackie was still shaking, but not like before. Tears streamed down her face as she whimpered. Both nobodies took off the straps off the young woman. Jackie wrapped her arms around Lexaeus' neck and she clung on like a child to a mother. He held her with his arms as she cried. "Vexen, what happened?" he asked.

"She didn't hone in on your thoughts like I predicted. She seemed to have tapped into another person's mental process," the scientist explained.

"Do you have any idea how it might have actually happened?" Lexaeus asked. It was at this time that Zexion walked into the lab. He had already heard everything and took it upon himself to answer.

"Isn't it obvious? The machine was from our experiments when we studied the heart. Vexen didn't properly adjust it and affected the berserker's heart and not her mind. It touched another heart that reached out I was somehow unlucky enough to smell those traces," Zexion told the other nobodies. Vexen wrote the analysis in his notes and he closed his notebook. Jackie still held onto Lexaeus, no letting go. Her heart raced faster.

"If that's the case, perhaps I could do more heart related experiments. No risk now, Lexaeus," Vexen said as he prepared for another experiment. Jackie dug her face into the Silent Hero's chest.

"No more, please,"she pleaded softly and weakly. Vexen did not hear her, or chose not to at least. He had not heart, he felt no remorse when she was in pain. She was an experiment, nothing more.

"If you don't mind, I'll need it," Vexen said in reference to Jackie. She whimpered again as she clung onto the tall man even tighter.

"I'll get you out of this in the morning. Just bear through this night for me," he said softly in her ear.

"For you," she answered as she finally let go and he put her on the ground. She was shaking and looke rather sick. Lexaeus walked out of the lab, not looking back until he reached the door. Vexen had already grabbed the berserker and slammed her hard against an operation table that stood vertically. Why wasn't she resisting? Did her will disappear?

Lexaeus turned away and closed the door. Screams of the girl were heard. She was an experiment. That seemed to be her Fate as long as she stayed her. Yet, that was the only reason she was brought here. But still... No one could fathom those screams of an innocent that had never done anything heinous enough for a punishment such as that.

A few hours prior...

Jackie woke up, grasping the area where her left arm and shoulder connected with the rest of her body. She sat up wincing and feeling light headed. She pulled her right hand away and noticed it was covered in blood. She cursed under her breath as she realized that her the area she grasped was bloody.

"That didn't work out like I had hoped," Vexen said as he tossed a small vial to Jackie. She caught it and looked at the label to find it was a potion. "Drink up before you bleed anymore all over my table," the scientist said. Jackie ripped the cork out with her teeth. The cork got stuck on one of her fangs and she spit it out, then gratefully drank the healing nectar.

"What did you do this time?" the berserker asked bitterly. She rubbed the back of her neck, noticing her hair was shorter. Her right wrist stung.

"Just another test during your unconscious state. What a failure, trying to see if a vital body part would reconnect on a berserker. Even with the poison effect. You're lucky I bothered to reconnect at all," Vexen spoke bitterly. Jackie looked down at her right hand. The Latin prophecy glowed brightly, but there was something new under it. It caused her to gasp in horror. There was a tattoo shaped like the sheild the scientist weilded.

"What did you put on my wrist?!" the experiment asked.

"I had to brand what was mine sooner or later. Now that you're awake, you should help Lexaeus in the kitchen," Vexen stated. Jackie's shoulder was bloody and she was only in a short tube top and baggy pants. She was in no condition to go out like that.

"What about my-"

"Just go," Vexen ordered. Jackie grumbled and hopped off the table. The smooth floor was cold on her bare feet. She walked out of the miserable lab, ever fearful of what bad luck would befall her. Zexion was silently reading, his nose wriggled at the smell of blood, but he shrugged it off as the berserker drew into the kitchen.

The Silent Hero was frying some vegetables in a skillet. Jackie, learning from her mistake last time and clearly aware that if she tapped the man on the shoulder, she would end up being clubbed to death by a frying pan, decided to call for the man. "Lexaeus?"

"One minute," the man said as he turned off the burner and dumped the vegetables onto a dish. "What is it?" he asked.

"Vexen sent me here to help you in the kitchen," Jackie bluntly said.

"Are you aware that your shoulder is bleeding?" he asked.

"Yeah, that old man wouldn't let me clean it or even let me have something warm to put on," Jackie said shyly as she pressed her legs together.

"He clearly didn't seal that wound right either. Let me fix that," Lexaeus said as he quickly hoisted the berserker and sat her down next to the sink. He pulled out a white box labeled first aid and a rag. He wet the rag using water from the sink. Then he quickly wiped away most of the blood, the wound still bled a little.

Jackie stared at the tall man in awe. "Why are you doing this? I thought you hated me, or at least didn't care about me," she said as the Silent Hero pulled out a small set of scissors.

"I can't hate you. You do clean for us and we need you in decent condition," Lexaeus replied. "This will hurt," he said as he snipped the strings of the sealing job Vexen did. "Vexen should realize by now that a mere potion will not do as much as he expects. Especially when he made this cut with a knife that had been dipped in poison. It's no wonder it didn't heal without aid of unconventional means,"

"It's not hurting," Jackie bluntly pointed out.

"It will when I reseal it. Be grateful your arm was only tested at the skin," Lexaeus said as he started to reseal. Jackie looked away and winced in some pain. A few painful minutes passed and the process was finished. The tall man helped the berserker off the bar and patted her on the shoulder.

Jackie quickly wrapped her arms around the Silent Hero and hugged him the best she could. "Thank you," she said with a smile. Lexaeus looked at her odd but appreciated the hug to a small degree. "You've been kind to me,"

"It's nothing. We still have that lunch to serve,"

Hollow Bastion

It was night. The six members of the small army had already departed to their new home. Kathleen and Amaterasu were soundly asleep in a large bed they shared. No, it is not yuri you sick pervs that need to suffer lethal castration for thinking such a thing. Durus sat in a chair, watching and guarding the two girls. Outside, on the balcony, Reno was smoking a cigarette as he stared at the night sky. Jessica walked up onto the balcony and leaned against the rail next to the turk.

"Can I have one?" Jessica asked. Reno handed a cigarette and a lighter which she promptly put in her mouth and lit. "A lot has happened in such a short time,"

"Nothing much," Reno replied as he took a drag and exhaled smoke.

"For me it has. My world is destroyed. My family is gone. I want to other worlds. I'm now my sister's friend's bodyguard with you," she held the cigarette limply in her right hand as she looked up at the crescent moon.

"All I got was a new job assignment. Mission: Do whatever the Hell Fate says no matter what," Reno said.

"My mission, the same as yours. I've been wondering... Does that woman like you or something?" Jessica asked.

"She's been trying to have my ass since the day I've met her," Reno commented with some disgust. Jessica laughed. "I wasn't kidding," Reno said in serious and yet grave voice, very different from his casual expression.

"Sorry," Jessica said as she took another drag out of her cigarette. "You said you lost a sibling to darkness earlier,"

"Yeah," the turk said.

"When id it happen?" Jessica asked.

"A few years back. It was my brother, my twin. The details aren't important. Either way, we found ourselves surrounded by heartless. One of my partners came in on a helicopter. He threw a rope down. The heartless closed in my brother pushed me out of the way as they attacked. I grabbed the rope and tried to pull him with me. The damn heartless had a strong hold on him and the helicopter kept running The last thing I remember was the heartless covering him," Reno said so casually, but one could since a faint hint o sadness and anger in his voice.

Jessica looked at the turk. She edged closer without realizing it. "We have to protect what we have left," the dark haired woman looked back. "I'll let Durus sleep, we need to check up on Kathleen," she flicked her cigarette onto the ground and stepped on it as she walked back into the house. Reno still looked at the sky, he rarely discussed his past, yet he opened to this woman. Why?

Jessica stared down at Kathleen. Durus was already asleep in his chair despite the fact he spent the whole day asleep. It was peaceful. The soft sound of crickets chirping was the only noticeable sound. Kathleen. The only person Jessica liked that was left. But this peace wouldn't last any longer.

Out of nowhere a long sword found its way into Jessica's right shoulder. She let out a scream of pain that woke Durus and Amaterasu. Reno tried to run inside only to stop at the door. It was locked and he couldn't get in.

Durus looked up at the man that had pinned Jessica against the wall. "Sephiroth!" he shouted as he quickly shot up and jumped onto the one winged angel only to have his head grabbed.

"Do not meddle in my affairs, Durus," Sephiroth said coldly. He then threw Durus hard. The replica broke through the balcony door, crashing into Reno, both men fell hard onto the hard ground one level below. Amaterasu tried to shake Kathleen, but the boxer did not stir.

"Kathleen, get up!" the girl with the light brown skin shouted.

"Don't bother, Amaterasu," Sephiroth said. Jessica was still pinned against the wall. Amaterasu tried t odrag Kathleen only to have the one winged angel hit her so hard that she slammed against the wall next to the door. Jessica screamed as blood poured behind her. Sephiroth laughed coldly at her pain.

Amaterasu moaned in pain as small bits of plaster fell on her. Sephiroth let go of his sword that still stayed in place as he crept next to the bed. An evil smile showed on his lips as he stroked Kathleen's face. He then placed his palm on her forehead. "Perfect," he said as it appeared that something was seeping into the female's head.

"Damn you!" Durus shouted as he barged back into the room. He charged at Sephiroth with his souba as he screamed. The winged man suddenly disappeared into a dark portal and a small flurry of black feathers swirled about. "Damn him!" Durus roared. He looked over at Jessica.

The masamune had already disappeared with its master and the woman lied against the wall as she clenched her shoulder in pain. "Ugh, who the Hell was that?" she winced. Durus kneeled next to her. He ripped the bottom edge of her shirt and tried to stop the bleeding.

"The bastard's name is Sephiroth. He's a ruthless killer," Durus answered, he pressed the sound with the ripped fabric. "Apply pressure to stop the bleeding," Durus said as he tried to cast cure. It kept failing, it only brought more anger. He let out a scream of rage but Jessica glared at him.

"Check on Kathleen and Amaterasu. I'll live through this," Jessica ordered weakly. Durus did as told, he was taught to obey older women. Kathleen was alright, she was still asleep, but alright. Durus quickly ran over to Amaterasu.

She was breathing hard. Durus helped her up. "Are you alright?" he asked as he tried to lift her.

"Yeah, why did Sephiroth come here?" Amaterasu asked as she got on her feet and rubbed the back of her head that was now bruised.

"I don't know," the replica replied. Reno came charging into the room with his rod drawn only to trip and fall flat on his face when he realized the threat was gone. "What took you so long?" Durus asked bitterly.

"A ninja tried to rape me," the turk replied angrily as he got on his feet. Durus and Amaterasu just stared at him odd, he had said enough. Reno saw Jessica and immediately got down next to her. He pulled a small vial out of his pocket. "Drink this, yo," he said as he held the vial to Jessica's lips. She did not move. Reno then tilted the woman and poured the liquid down her throat.

"Is that an elixir?" Amaterasu asked, Reno nodded. "Where did you get that? We could have used it on Durus, he wouldn't have gotten any scars!"

"The ninja gave it to me before she groped me," Reno answered as she shivered. Jessica's shoulder healed completely, but her shirt and possibly pants were now ruined.

"You guys didn't need to heal me. I was already healed by someone else anyways and I like the scars," Durus pointed out. "Reno, was the ninja wearing purple?" the turk nodded. "Damn, it was Fate. You better lock your door tonight."

'Fate? She knew this was going to happen?" Jessica said weakly.

"What can we do about it?" Amaterasu asked.

"There's nothing we can do. I know Sephiroth won't attack again if Fate was involved. She doesn't work that way," Durus reminded.

"Thanl God, if that's all, then why don't we all get some more sleep," Jessica suggested as she struggled to get up. Reno quickly helped her up and led her to the other bedroom.

"I really hope she changes clothes," Durus said.

"I really hope she doesn't share a bed with Reno," Amaterasu added. She got back into bed. "I really hope Kathleen isn't in a coma,"

"She isn't. Can't you see? Fate knew every single bit of this would happen. Kathleen will get up in the morning, just let her dream," Durus said as he took off his shirt and pants and slid into the other bed in the room.

Castle Oblivion

Jackie walked nervously to three nobodies. The fear of various pointy objects finding their way into her gut kept her shaking. Her arms practically vibrated the tray she was holding. She and Lexaeus baked cookies earlier. It was fun for they got to know each other during that time and learned that tails of any form were very flammable. One thing led to another and the berserker ended up being sent to the highest level of Castle Oblivion with cookies in order to set up a peace deal with the upper members.

Jackie's burnt tail was twitching nervously, she shivered despite the fact she wore a shrunken cloak. "I-I brought cookies," she squeaked as she presented cookies to the nearest nobody that happened to be Marluxia. He stared at the tray then at the terrified berserker.

"Why did you do this?" he asked. Larxene and Axel slowly drew nearer to see what Marluxia was confronting the girl about.

"Vexen made me. Don't hurt me!" Jackie cried, she was rather paranoid about pain lately. Axel laughed as he grabbed a cookie.

"Who made these?" the pyro asked as he looked at the innocent cookie.

"Lexaeus and I did," Jackie replied. "They're not poisoned unless you're allergic to chocolate," she added she she held her feet tightly together. Larxene took a bite out of her cookie only to spit it out in disgust.

"Ugh!" she said as she pulled a very long hair out of her mouth. "That's disusting, learn to pull your hair back," the savage nymph complained.

"I would if someone would give me a hair tie, ya bitch," Jackie shot back. Bad mistake for the next thing the berserker knew as being kicked in the chest and hitting the ground, cookies flew every where.

"Learn to respect for superiors," Larxene said coldly. Jackie sighed at her idiocy. Why did she smart off at a time like this? She never smarted off before, or not that often, especially in situations where she would get beaten.

"Great, now you ruined the cookies," Axel complained angrily. Jackie scattered and started to pick up the tray and ruined sweets.

"That's pitiful," Marluxia said.

"What am I going to do?" Jackie asked quietly to herself as she finally got back on her feet. Axel somehow heard her bent down down behind her.

"Give them to Namine," he whispered as he caught Jackie's tail on fire. She started to frantically stomp on her tail to extinguish the flames as she made several small grunts of pain. Once the fire died she looked at the corner and noticed a small blond drawing at a table not far away. Jackie walked over to the table, the floor was cold on her bare feet.

"Hey, Namine, I've got cookies," the berserker said in the most cheerful voice she could muster. Namine looked up shyly from her drawing pad. This dark haired girl acted like she knew her.

"Huh?" the small blond asked.

"Cookies. They fell on the floor, but they might be good still," Jackie said as she took a bite out of one of the cookies. It tasted alright, the berserker didn't really see why Larxene would complain aside from the hair.

Namine smiled weakly and politely grabbed a cookie. Why did this girl act like she knew her? According to the nobody, they had never met before. "Thank you," Namine said.

"Larxene is mean. That kick hurt. How can a woman do stuff like that in high heels?" Jackie asked. Namine shrugged.

"It's called practice," Larxene answered out of nowhere.

"I think high heels are stupid and painful. They could be a woman's downfall," Jackie said. She got smacked on the head by the savage nymph.

"You still get hurt," Larxene said with a smirk as she walked away.

"Those high heels are going to be her downfall," the berserker spoke as soon as she was sure Larxene was away. Namine reluctantly giggled. "So how have things been since I last saw you?" Jackie asked only to receive a confused look.

"Have we met?" the small nobody finally asked.

"What? Namine, do you not remember helping me after Xemnas smashed me into the wall like a pancake? You helped me out in the World That Never Was," Jackie questioned, quite shocked.

"I've never left this castle," Namine said silently. The berserker's eyes widened.

"But I saw you there. Axel saw you. Who else would have helped me?" Jackie went on. She hurried over to Axel. "Axel, didn't Namine help me after Xemnas threw me against the wall? You know, you saw her in the room with me," Axel also gave Jacke a confused expression.

"Are you high? That was a dusk that was with you. Namine was born here and she hasn't even left," the flurry of dancing flames said. Jackie was confused now. Yet it was Namine she saw, she knew it.

"Are you sure? I could've bet my life it was Namine," Jackie spoke as she looked down. Who was it that she saw? If Namine didn't help her and Axel saw a dusk, then who was the impostor? Marluxia crept behind the experiment.

"I think it would be best if you left right now," he whispered in her ear. Jackie felt chills run down her spine as the graceful assassin spoke. His words had a hypnotic effect in them and the berserker suddenly found herself exiting the room.

Out of these boundaries, she made her long journey to the basements. She she finally reached the lower levels, she was greeted by Vexen. The scientist guided her to the lab quietly, it was within that the experiment with Lexaeus occurred.

Would there be a sanctuary for the experiment hand picked by Fate? Deep in Jackie's heart, she hoped so. All she desperately wanted was to be back at her home, safe. It was quite obvious, if things continued as they were, she would be lucky to see the dear sunlight again. Earth was gone and her friends abandoned her, there was no such thing as a hero for her. At least that's what she thought. What will happen that night will never be undone.

Thalkxene: Wow, they just aren't stopping!

Xejicka: -still getting beaten to death- Don't watch and get me out of here!

Thalkxene: But I don't want to hurt Reno.

Reno: Thanks, yo!

Jackie; -shocking Xejicka with a hot shot AKA pig zapper- This is fun.

Xejicka: My organs!

Jackie: Review, I've gone through enough hell for your sick pleasures that is of reading this.

Reno: Same here! -hits Xejicka in had with electro rod-