Chapter 15: Connected (doubleux3 . youtube . com/watch?v=L0DaqBVdgjo)

Memo: Woot. Almost halfway done! I think this will start to get really good after some stuff happens here. But this chapter will be sooooo long, so stick with me! :D Thank you for reading~

Nexus' PoV

"Oh no! Hollow Bastion!" Chip squeaked at us the next morning. We had just gotten up and were preparing to leave. "It's all covered in darkness!"

"You're right, Chipper!" Dale exclaimed. "I wonder what's goin' on."

"Sora! We better hurry and check it out right away!" Chip cried, bouncing around.

"Okay, okay, don't worry!" Sora said, plopping into the pilot's seat hurriedly.

We were in town in no time flat, and there was a large group of Heartless there to greet us. Just as we prepped to fight them, though, they disappeared.

"Do you think..." Sora started, lowering his keyblade.

"Looks like there's more Heartless now," Goofy said nervously. What was he going to say?

Following the Heartless, a few Dusks flew in, ignoring us and floating right over the side of the wall.

"Uhhh...." Donald stared in amazement.

"Let's go check in with everyone," Sora said hesitantly, his keyblade disappearing.

"I think they're at Merlin's," Goofy said.

"We hope," I added. The last thing we needed was another missing friend.

But as we started off through the Marketplace, it seemed losing friends was far from the truth here. Sora pointed out a tall, blonde young man to me and jogged over to him, grinning.

"Oh, Cloud!" he said cheerfully.

Cloud didn't move except for his piercing ice-blue eyes, which fluttered in our direction briefly. A look of irritation washed over his face, and he flicked his eyes away, closing them again. What did he have against us?

"Whatcha doing?" Donald asked nosily.

"I'll get him," Cloud replied, his face darkening. "This time we settle it. Me, and the one who embodies all the darkness in me."

Sounds like Sune and me, I thought, smirking.

"I thought you looked kinda different, Cloud," Donald said, observing the blonde's dark clothing.

"If I do, it's his fault."

"Whose?" Sora prodded on.

"Sephiroth. Tell me if you see him."

"Okay." Sora shrugged off the request. God forbid he ever turn to darkness; his guillible nature would make him a great pawn. "What's he look like?"

"Silver hair. Carries a long sword," Cloud replied, actually making a little effort to make eye contact.

"Sure. Well, be seeing you, Cloud," Sora said just as cheerfully as before.

"Be careful." Cloud, who was leaning against the wall, stood straight up as if to leave. "He messes with your head, makes you think darkness is the only way."

"Is something wrong?"

We turned to see Aerith standing there. I don't know why I was surprised; I should've recognized her airy, sugary-sweet voice.

"Uhh..." I really was tempted to shout "AH-KWARD!" but I was good and stood there while Cloud turned to her.

"It's nothing," he mumbled, using similar coldness but more gently. I figured they must've had some sort of relationship.

Aerith wasn't buying his act and leaned close to him as if to ask for more.

"I don't want you involved," he stated.

"You mean you don't want me there when you go away again?" Suddenly I liked this girl.

"I just--" Cloud sighed. "Listen, even if I go far away, I'll come back."

"Do you mean it?" she asked.

"Yeah," he replied, breaking eye contact.

"See? You don't look so sure." Aerith straightened up, shrugging a little. "Well, okay, I understand. Go--get things settled."

"Huh?" Cloud wrinkled his nose; it made him look strangely childish.

"No matter how far away you are...once you find your light...I'm sure it will lead you back here again. Right?" She beamed up at him. I could see him melting.

"I suppose," he replied.

"So I'll stay here--and I'll cheer for you--" She nodded. "Okay, Cloud?"

"Okay."

She let him pass by at last.

"Wonder if he'll be okay," Aerith sighed when he was out of sight.

"He'll be fine," Sora assured her, right on cue. "I'm sure there's some light in him somewhere."

"You're right."

Sora smiled at her and motioned for us to move on.

"What did you do to that guy to make him hate you?" I asked, laughing. Sora grinned.

"It's a long, long story..."

*~*~*

"Hey, fellas--you're just in time," Cid said as the four entered Merlin's house. Yuffie was standing beside him as he typed at a large computer. "Got some good news for ya, so get yourselves over to Leon's."

I hate being referred to as a "fellow," Nexus thought, scowling.

"What kind of news?" Sora inquired.

"We found the computer Ansem was using!" Yuffie cheered, grinning broadly at their success.

"Oh boy!" Donald squawked.

"Yep. Should be able to get all kinds of info on the Heartless and the Organization," Cid told them.

"And maybe something on the dark realm, too?" Sora prodded. "It looks like that's where Riku and Kairi are."

"And the King," Donald added.

"Go see for yourselves!" Cid barked, his back already turned to them as he continued typing.

"It can't hurt!" Yuffie agreed.

"What do you mean?" Sora asked suspiciously.

"All you ever do is ask questions," Nexus complained. "Can't you trust your friends?"

"I agree with that lady friend of yours," Cid chuckled. "Just get to the computer room through the castle postern. Watch your step!"

Seeing that Sora was about to ask another stupid question, Nexus pulled on his arm and dragged him outside.

"C'mon, let's get going," she said quickly, starting off. She nervously bit her bottom lip. Ansem's computer... This could bring up even more questions that she was NOT going to have fun answering.

But now that Sora knew, Nexus wouldn't be able to hide her past connections much longer. It wouldn't be long before Sora would get the answers thrown in his face. Although, judging by his usual demeanor, there was the possibility that Sora wouldn't catch on right away. Nexus prayed for that and kept on into the bailey, her companions close behind. She liked knowing where everything in this world was.

"Excuse me, are you with the Restoration Committee?" a kind voice asked.

There wasn't anyone in front of them, so they turned around. Again, no one was there, until suddenly three little fairies floated down. They were strangely dressed, each of them different. The supposed leader had a blue eye and a green eye and short brown hair. Another had green eyes and blonde hair. The third had short silver hair and reddish-amber eyes that were startling.

"What's Leon's gang up to?" the leader asked, sweetly smiling up at Sora.

"They've got stuff to do over by the castle postern," Sora replied, confused.

"Scoop!" the blonde cried, pumping her fist in the air and twirling about.

"Huh?" Sora wrinkled his nose at them.

"Let's report," the silver-haired one declared.

"To who?" Donald asked.

"Our leader, of course!" the leader exclaimed.

"Yeah, you know, Malefi--"

The silver-haired one clamped her hand over the blonde's mouth quickly and swiftly. Sora couldn't decide whether he was more suspicious or confused.

"Don't mind her," the silver-haired fairy stated. "I assure you, we come in peace." The blonde nodded, her mouth still covered.

"You're kidding..." the leader said, turning to her friend.

"Problem?" the other said, shoving the blonde away. She crossed her arms, turning her head away. "Okay, fine. You do the talking."

In an instant, she disappeared. The brunette turned back to the four and bowed low. A long ponytail tumbled over her shoulder.

"So sorry about this!" she exclaimed, disappearing as well.

The blonde, now alone, glanced at the four, posed cheerily, and finally disappeared, too.

Donald and Goofy shot each other funny, confused looks and glanced at Sora, who shrugged.

"Ohhh..." Nexus murmured, grinning. The boys looked at her. "They were sooooo cute!" she cried. Sora scrunched his nose at her in disgust, but she ignored him. "I wish I was that adorable! Did you see their clothes? So strange, but cute!! Wonder who they were supposed to be?"

Sighing, Sora only shook his head and walked on.

Nexus' PoV

"Leon!" Sora shouted when we reached the castle's postern. This was all looking much too familiar for my taste...

"Over here!" Aerith shouted back. I raised an eyebrow as we jogged over to her. Didn't know she was capable of shouting that loud.

"You guys found Ansem's computer?" Sora asked when we reached her.

"Uh-huh," Aerith answered, nodding once. "The King is very interested in it."

"The King?" Donald cried.

"He's with Leon."

"We get to see the King!" Donald cheered, dancing about. Goofy joined him in exaltation.

"Hooray!" he shouted. I smirked. Maybe the King and I would actually get to talk.

Staring at his friends, Sora murmured, "Er... Is Riku with them?" When Aerith shook her head, Sora sighed. "Well, at least I can ask the King about him. And that computer might be able to tell us something."

"Good idea!" Aerith agreed. "They're right through there."

She pointed down a small set of stairs that led to an underground hallway. The hallway was built as a maze through the castle, leading to different points. And, of course, one of the points was the computer room. It was one of the most familiar places to me.

.........

After being creeped out several times upon hearing scuttling noises above us but finding nothing, and following multiple battles with Heartless, we finally reached Ansem's old study. It was still torn apart from that fated day. Nothing had been touched, including the portrait of Xehanort.

Sora noticed it right away, too, and he walked over to it, scowling.

"Ansem..." he muttered angrily. I was about to correct him when I remembered he didn't understand the difference yet. The real story.

"Gawrsh, I guess this must be his room," Goofy said, looking around.

"Where's the King?" Donald asked impatiently.

"Hello?" Sora called out into the empty room.

"Hey, you!"

Turning, we saw a girl about my age with my build and almost my hair style. She was taller than me, though, and her eyes were fiery.

"I'm looking for somebody," she said without introducing herself. She looked around the room as she spoke. "Have any of you seen a guy with spiky hair?"

Sora pulled on one of his own spikes, and the girl laughed.

"Spikier."

We shook our heads and Sora shrugged helplessly.

"I'll just take a look around," she decided, starting her way around the room. She threw aside a few books; I couldn't help but smile.

"Need help?" I offered.

"Gladly," she replied with an amused smirk.

Together the two of us tore up the room. While she might've been looking for a way around, I was just tearing everything up as release. It was working.

Suddenly Tifa--as I found out her name was--stopped in front of a suspicious, blank wall. She backed up and kicked it. Some cobwebs came down, but no doors revealed themselves. She shrugged modestly.

"Sorry to bother you," she said, walking back toward the door.

"No bother, ma'am!" Sora, Donald, and Goofy said in unison, straightening up.

Before she left, she shot me a grin.

"See ya 'round, Nexus." And she slammed the door behind her.

"So you made it."

Now, as if by magic, Leon was leaning against the wall Tifa had just kicked.

"Leon!" Sora gasped, and the brunette nodded back with a content smile. "Isn't the King with you?"

Leon's smile disappeared as he quickly shushed Sora with a finger to his lips.

"You'll see him soon enough," he answered.

"Hey!" Donald quacked impatiently. Leon smirked.

"Here, this ought to tide you over," he said, pressing his hand to a panel on the wall.

How can he access that? I wondered, sticking out my lower lip in thought. He must've altered the password, or maybe it was lost in the old data...Ansem will NOT be happy about this...

The wall disappeared, just like it used to. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest.

"Ansem's computer room," Leon said.

If he can access this...then--!

*~*~*

The party followed Leon into the computer room, all of them eager except Nexus, who was nervously biting her lip. She was pretty worried that if the password into Ansem's computer room had been corrupted, Leon and the others could access files about her and all of those experiments. That would bring up some painful discussions she was trying to avoid.

"This is it!" Sora cried when he saw the giant keyboard. Without hesitation, he bolted over, pressing keys at random. "Where's Kairi? Where's Riku?"

When the computer didn't answer back, Sora pounded on the keys in frustration. Nexus sighed, glancing at the solid metal door. Behind that door was her entire past. It was shut, but for how much longer?

"Easy..." Leon said to Sora, irritated. "You wanna break it?"

"Oh, sorry," Sora said, smiling goofily. "Guess I got a little carried away."

Hearing a scuffling noise from above, Goofy--who was watching Sora intently just moments before--glanced up at the ceiling to see a small, furry, blue creature above them.

"Whoa!" he cried, pointing. The creature seemed to be caught off-guard, too.

"Hmm?" it grumbled, looking down at the group. As it did so, it lost its footing on the ceiling. "Whoa!"

The little monster plopped right onto the keyboard, right in front of the four.

"Get offa there!" Donald yelled, jumping on top of the keyboard as well to chase it off.

"Aw, but it's cute!" Nexus exclaimed, and the creature jumped into her arms. She cradled it.

"Stitch," it said, nuzzling itself into her arms.

"Your name?" When it nodded, she smiled. Donald turned around to say something to Nexus, but suddenly an alarm sounded through the computer room.

"Attention current user. This is a warning," a low, computerized voice declared. "Further misuse of this terminal will result in immediate defensive action."

"Who's there?" Sora shouted into the air.

"I am the Master Control Program. I oversee this system."

"Where are you?" Sora wrinkled his nose in confusion. Donald, trying to be sneaky, lifted his foot to step off the keyboard, but the alarm only sounded again.

"Donald!" everyone shouted angrily.

"I'm sorry..." he quacked desperately.

"Decision gate reached. You are now under arrest," the voice stated.

"Arrest!?" Sora gasped as Goofy plucked Donald from the keyboard.

Leon, watching this all go on, suddenly realized the computer power system behind the group was starting to glow brightly.

"Run!" he shouted. Nexus, not giving it a second thought, bolted away. But Sora, Donald, and Goofy, who hesitated, were soon locked into place. Slowly, the computer turned their bodies into cubes of processable data. Leon choked on his breath; there was nothing he could do.

"Ah, shit," Nexus muttered, still holding Stitch. "Those idiots don't listen to anybody! They're gonna get themselves killed! Ahhh! What are they going to do without me there?!"

She began to pace the room frantically.

"He's gonna kill me if something happens to him!" she gasped, her eyes widening.

As Nexus muttered to herself, Leon watched her closely. She was weird.

Nexus' PoV

I jumped over to the keyboard, pounding in as many codes as I knew--which wasn't very many, by the way. Surely something would work and allow my boys to return to Hollow Bastion, but nothing did, and I sighed in defeat, stepping away from the computer.

"You seem to know all this well," Leon said suddenly. I jumped, having forgotten he was there.

"Um, not really," I replied nervously.

"No, I mean this town in general." He nodded out the door. "Hollow Bastion."

"Oh, well..." I grimaced a smile, knowing I couldn't lie my way through this easily. "I grew up here, is why."

"Really?" He seemed genuinely surprised. "I've never seen you around before, though. How old are you?"

"Twenty and some odd months."

"So, you'd be a little older than Yuffie, so you would've been in school with us," he stated. I gulped. I probably should've lied my way through this...

"Well, I was...very, very sheltered," I said. "But I was educated, just like you guys. Only in private. I never got to go to a public school."

"Who taught you? Your parents?"

I huffed a sigh. This guy asked too many questions, and I couldn't talk around them!

"Ohhhh, fine," I finally groaned, putting Stitch down. Frowning, I wagged my finger in his face. "Don't you dare tell Sora this, though!" When Leon nodded, I explained, "I actually lived with Ansem the Wise. He schooled me and I lived here--but I don't know much about this lab since I was never around it."

"Were you one of his assistants?" Leon asked. I shook my head.

"Far from it. I was one of his experiments."

I guess I must've scared him, because he looked at me with a queer expression and his eyes narrowed in confusion.

"I lived in that room down there," I told him, pointing out the window, "past that big machine. Only two...three people in the world can access that room. But that door to our right...well, I don't know how it opens."

"Maybe Sora should smash on some keys again," Leon suggested with a wry smile.

"Hardly. I'd rather not go down there." I shuddered. "Bad memories."

*~*~*

Nexus sighed quietly, staring out past the machine.

"Although," she suddenly began again, "I wouldn't mind seeing what's left of it someday."

"Was the room destroyed or something?" Leon asked.

"...Sort of. I mean, not destroyed by when the assistants did their whole thing."

"Who destroyed it?"

"...Me."

"Ah."

Nexus lowered her head, smirking a little, as if amused by the fact that she had torn up some place.

"Anyway, I'd like to see it, but not now," she repeated. "Right now we need to get the boys back."

But how? Leon thought, staring at the computer screen.

As if in response, a bright beam of light appeared behind the two. In just a moment, Sora, Donald, and Goofy had materialized before them once more.

"We did it!" Donald cheered.

"You idiots!" Nexus shouted, hugging Sora.

"Where have you been?" Leon demanded, shocked.

"Well, uh..." Sora stepped away from Nexus, thinking. "There's a...world inside this computer, where these, um...programs live, and..."

He continued to stumble over his words, not making any sense.

"...And there's a password, but we don't know it, but then this guy--"

"Okay, you're done," Nexus said, shoving him aside.

Nexus' PoV

"Translation, please?" I then asked Leon, who still looked a little dazed.

"So in other words..." he began. "...Ansem's research data is off-limits unless we know the password."

"I think that's right," Sora said.

"But you've already defeated Ansem..."

"Gawrsh, maybe we'll never find the password," Goofy declared.

"Not true. Just 'cause he's dead doesn't mean there isn't still stuff about him," I said quickly. They couldn't give up. After all, Ansem--the real Ansem--was still alive.

"That means...this is all a wild goose chase," Leon said, frustrated.

"You're chasing what, now?"

We all whipped around to see Tifa standing there, hands on her hips. She smirked at me and said, "Well, well! A hidden room! Guess I'd better take another look around."

Tossing her hair around with her head, she walked out of the lab with great, purposeful strides.

"Let's follow her," I said, trotting after her. Sora, Donald, and Goofy didn't respond, but I could tell by their footsteps that they listened.

"She just won't give up..." Sora murmured when we entered Ansem's study. I didn't know that it could be this messy, but somehow Tifa made it even worse.

"And neither will we!" Donald insisted.

"C'mon, we've gotta look for that password!" Goofy exclaimed.

"Right," Sora agreed, nodding. "We made a promise to Tron."