Sora woke up.
It wasn't an instant waking up, it was a slow one. He slowly became more aware of things.
Like something around his neck. A rope? No, it was more like... a collar.
He didn't seem to be restrained at all, instead, he was laying on something hard and cold. A floor, maybe. Wood or stone. It was hard to tell without moving, and he didn't want to show he was awake just yet.
There was a scritching sound, like someone writing on paper. It was above and behind him. He listened more carefully, but couldn't tell any more, and decided to wait for now, listen and see – or hear – what happened.
There was the sound of a door opening, and footsteps approaching.
"Ah, Roxas," the writer said. It was a familiar voice, he just couldn't quite place it yet.
"You sent for me?"
"Yes. You're aware that Sora is missing?"
"Of course. The rumours suggest you're responsible."
"Yes, well, rumours can't always be believed, can they?" It was Sephiroth, Sora decided. There was little doubt in his mind, but he remained still, in case something was going on. Roxas apparently couldn't see him, which suggested as he was clearly there, Sephiroth was up to something.
"So what involvement did you have then?"
"Roxas, please," he protested. "While I admit to considering him a threat, I wouldn't want anything to happen to him. I'd rather he came around to my way of thinking through more peaceful means than last night's outbreak."
"Oh, really?" he replied skeptically.
"Of course... threat or not, he's a valuable person to have working for me. Now, have you considered my offer?"
"It's only temporary, right?"
"Until Sora is found, yes."
"And when that happens?"
"He'll take the position back, of course."
"Alright... but I don't like this."
"I've got my own people out looking for him, Roxas. If he's in my Arcology, you can guarantee he'll be found."
Roxas said nothing, and a few moments later, the door creaked again, Sora assumed it was his leaving.
The scritching of Sephiroth writing resumed.
Tentatively, Sora opened one eye, then the other, and looked around.
He was definitely on the floor, in the same room they'd met in shortly before the attack on Twilight Town. Sephiroth was seated at the desk, apparently engrossed in whatever he was writing. Sora couldn't see his face.
Hoping he was distracted enough not to notice, Sora then reached one hand up to his neck and felt, yes, a collar.
"You won't find a rank marking on your wrist or in your eyes either," Sephiroth told him, still writing. "I think that should confirm what you've no doubt already realised."
Sora realised alright. He'd gone from being a First, to a first rank. He remembered Dog when he'd first got here, and Dog's comment. Dog had agreed he wouldn't be good at this. Well now he'd get to find out.
"You'll also find your belonging are missing, returned to your room, and that you're instead wearing a shirt and shorts of my own choosing. You're forbidden to wear anything I haven't told you to. Oh, and also forbidden to summon your keyblade. Unless I say otherwise, of course."
He glanced down, noting he was right. A simple white shirt and matching shorts. There were no pockets on either.
As Sephiroth had obviously noticed he was awake, and had said nothing more to him, he sat up, rubbing at shoulders that now ached slightly, then turning to face him.
Sephiroth continued to write.
"You told Roxas-"
"What I told Roxas is of no concern to you. In time, he'll come to accept that he has just taken your position, and will hold it until he's promoted and another takes his place. Unlike you, he only aided in the rebellion last night. You were the cause for it. Which is why neither her or Seifer have received punishments. However, both of them, and each of the Firsts who sided with your cause will shortly receive reprimands, the last of which I'm writing now, but the only one receiving a punishment for it-"
"Is me."
"Don't interrupt me, and don't forget to show proper respect. You won't be warned again."
He wanted to object, but knew he couldn't. He wasn't allowed, and felt keenly the restrictions he already had on him from his rank, let alone anything else Sephiroth would forbid him from.
"What actually happened last night..." he paused, then forced himself to say it, "... master?"
"Better. What happened is that your Nobody stole a good amount of the rogues I permit to stay in the Arcology from me, keeping them even now I might add, and used them to foil all four attempts I'd set in motion that would have made things far easier on you. This in turn caused fighting in one part of the Arcology. Once Danny got involved, your friends Sand and Swordsman also weighed in. After that, it shot out of control as various Firsts started taking sides between you, and the forces who didn't appear to have any leader. Which of course they did, in me. About two hours after you were finally caught, the fighting was finally subdued by my forces apparent loss. The Firsts with them rapidly surrendered after that. Then I put word out that you were missing, not taken, and now while people are out searching for you, they will not find you. Not even if you go out among them. You will simply be another first rank to even the closest of your friends."
He couldn't bring himself to say anything. He could hardly believe it. He'd caused civil unrest throughout the Arcology, only to get caught. The very thing it was meant to prevent.
Sephiroth finished writing, folding the paper into an envelope, sealing it, then writing on the envelope breifly. It was then placed on top of a stack of similar envelopes.
"Each of these is labelled with the name of the person it is to be delivered to," he said.
"You want me to deliver them for you, master?" It was still hard for him to add the 'master'. He inwardly cringed back from having to say it every time.
"See to it. Now."
Left with no choice after that, he scooped them up and left. There was no sense in wasting any time.
When he got to the door, Sephiroth called, "Oh, by the way. Don't get any ideas about trying to tell anyone. You can only talk about this with people who really know what's happened to you."

Sora was beginning to understand why Dog had disliked being at the bottom.
No one paid any attention to him at all. It was as if he didn't exist.
That is, unless he was in the way of someone, whether he realised it or not, then he'd just get roughly shoved aside, once even down some stairs. No one even bothered to see if he was alright. No one cared.
Then there was a time that groups of bored teens had decided to pick on him. He'd defended himself, until one of them ordered him to stop it. It didn't matter who they belonged to, he had to obey. He was grateful when he spotted a Second who broke it up, but that didn't last long after he was bluntly told to stop causing trouble. Not the teens – him.
After that, he chose to take the routes less likely to have other people on them, minimising the chances of it happening again.
The first envelope was addressed to Sand. Well, at least it would be someone familiar, even if they wouldn't recognise him.
True to his name, the areas Sand owned were coloured accordingly, and in places even looked like they had real sand on the floors.
He'd never been in this part of the Arcology though, so had no idea where to look. He'd only found here by consulting maps along the way.
Finally, he saw Rue, the only person he felt he could ask without risking something.
"Excuse me... I've got to deliver this to Sand... could you tell me where to find him?"
"He's with master Roxas at the moment. You'll have to look for him there."
"Thanks."
"You look a little roughed."
"I got into some trouble along the way."
Rue nodded sympathetically. "Take that corridor there," he pointed. "On the third left, there's another corridor that leads directly to Roxas' area. Safest way there."
"Thanks again."
"It's no problem to help a fellow first rank out," he replied, continuing on whatever task he'd been assigned to.
It was useful to know others like him would help each other out. He felt better for knowing it.
Sure enough, the familiar orange glow of what was until recently his area came into view. He had a fair idea of where Roxas would likely be. He'd likely try to keep thing the same way Sora had them unless it became inconvenient.
Dog was at the door to the gardens.
"What business do you have here?"
"I've been sent to deliver letters to both Sand and Roxas."
"Please show your markings." Sora did so, hoping Dog would see them and realise it was him, but his hopes fell when he said, "Wait here then Alex. I'll advise them you are here."
Alex. Not Sora. Alex. Sephiroth had done something that overruled the normal rules that said that markings couldn't be faked. He was at the top though, so presumably he had such power.
When Dog returned, he simply stood aside and gestured inwards without a word.
He knew the way, and found them exactly where he'd expected them. Both looked at him wordlessly.
Sora fumbled with the letters, picking out the two for them and handed them to each.
"The Grandmaster sent me to give these to each of you," he told them, turning to leave.
"Wait," Roxas called him back with a curious look. "What else have you been told to do?"
"Nothing more than to deliver them to you, and others, master Roxas," he replied.
"When you're done, come back here. I've got a task of my own for you."
"Unless I am ordered otherwise, I'll do so."
Roxas nodded, letting him leave.

Roxas watched him leave, curiosity and puzzlement clearly showing.
"You saw something in him, didn't you?"
"You mean you didn't?"
"He's just another first rank Roxas," Sand shrugged. "I have trouble telling them apart if I don't know them."
"No, he's not just another one... that was Sora."
"What?"
"I don't think he noticed, but I'm certain of it, that was him."
"But he didn't look anything like him."
"He did to me."
"Why, though?"
"I don't know. Sephiroth said Sora was missing, but I'm starting to get a strong smell of something fishy in the air."
"We should have checked his markings."
"Somehow, I think if he's doing something to stop us finding him, I don't think that would help much."
"So why did you call him back for later?"
"I'm still working on it, but I think Sephiroth kindly left me a loophole he doesn't know about."
"You're as bad as Sora was. You're going to get in trouble."
"Didn't we last night? Check your letter, I'll bet it says you're being officially reprimanded for bad conduct last night."
"Alright, more trouble then."
"Nothing new to me."
"Somehow I knew you'd say that."

Sora was starting to get to grips with his situation. First rankers would help each other out, provided it didn't put them in any danger of being punished, and it didn't contradict any orders they'd been given. There was a kind of agreement between them to help each other do well. Some few of them had lightened his workload slightly by taking the letters to their own First themselves, or agreed to pass it on to someone they knew was heading in the right direction.
Now he only had one left to deliver, addressed to Nighthawk. He remembered Seifer saying Nighthawk had been against them last night, and wondered why he – or she – would be getting one. He doubted he'd be told even if he'd asked.
Nighthawk's rooms were almost universally dark in colours, making it hard to see far. Since all of the people here wore similarly dark colours, it was hard to tell whether there was someone around or not.
To make matters worse, there didn't seem to be a single first rank around, nor a map, nor anyone willing to help.
"What are you doing here?" a femenine voice demanded of him harshly.
"I'm... lost."
"You picked a bad place to be lost, boy. Why are you here?"
"I have to deliver a letter."
"To who?"
"Nighthawk."
"I will deliver it. You will wait here for me to return. Hand it over."
He did so shakily, trying to conceal his nerves. She'd had a commanding tone that indicated she wouldn't tolerate any disobedience. While waiting, he tried to calm himself, wondering why she wanted him to wait.
Then she returned without the envelope. He could still only barely see her, or rather her outline, but he could tell it was her.
"You said you were lost."
"Yes, I need to get back to another First who told me to meet him."
"Which one?"
"Roxas."
"Very well. You'll come with me. Do not get left behind," she warned, striding off quickly. He almost had to run to keep up with her. He was half afraid she'd do something else to him, when she stopped and said, "That way will lead you directly to his area. Don't let me see you in this part of the Arcology again."
"What if I'm ordered to?"
"That is the exception. Now go, before I change my mind about leaving you unharmed."
The threat in that simple statement sent him on his way instantly.

Roxas watched as not only Sora, but Sephiroth came into the gardens. No one had told him Sephiroth was here. Then again, he could tell them not to.
"I see you've met my new first rank, Roxas," he said, joining them. "I found him a few days ago, and brought him in."
"I met him earlier, when he left me your letter."
"Yes, I know... little Alex here tells me you wanted to see him again?"
Roxas realised that Sephiroth didn't know he could see Sora for himself, rather than whatever illusion he'd crafted around Sora. He decided not to show it – it might be useful for helping Sora.
"It's nothing really. I've just got a few errands that need running, and all my people have better things to be doing."
"Ah, of course. The first rankers are useful for such things, aren't they? I'm afraid I'm going to have to steal him back from you though."
"Oh? What for?"
"There's a little... medical condition he's had since before I pulled him in a few days ago. Outside, there's no cure, so I developed one, and now he's here..."
"You can give it to him."
"Precisely. You're much quicker than Sora, I see." Sora's face flickered annoyance at this, but he said nothing.
Sephiroth turned to Sora, "Speaking of being quick, you need to take the next dose of it now, before your symptons return."
"Next dose? But you haven't given me the first." Sora protested.
"Memory troubles," Sephiroth explained to Roxas. "They crop up if he doesn't take it soon enough." He pulled out a glass and a jar, unsealing the jar and pouring some of the contents into the glass.
Roxas tried to hide his horror. The liquid from it was dark green. The same dark green that Miasma had been trying to create a cure for.
"Take it," Sephiroth told Sora, who sighed, then drunk it in one go, making a face at it.
"It tastes horrible," he said after.
"Oh, don't worry about that. It tastes better each time you take some, Alex. Run along up to my quarters and wait for me there."
"Yes, master," he replied, though this time his voice seemed slightly different, slightly softer.
"Are you alright Roxas?"
"What? Yes, I'm fine, sorry... I just had a... bad premonition." It was a bad excuse, but it'd have to do.
"I wasn't aware you got them at all."
"Maybe it's being here doing it to me," he answered.
"Anything I should know about?"
"No... I think I just need to check up on some projects of mine."
"I'll leave you to it then."
Roxas waited until he was certain Sephiroth had left, then summoned Danny.
"What is it with being summoned?" he asked crossly as he appeared. "It's always right when I'm trying to do something."
"It's important."
"Obviously."
"You remember what I told you about Sora earlier?"
"Of course."
"And the drug from the plot against him?"
"Yes, yes, of course I remember, where are you going with..." he broke off, realisation dawning, and his irritation vanishing. "Oh, no," he said in a small voice. "He's been forced to take some, hasn't he?"
"At least once dose that I know of. Just now."
"Miasma..."
"Hasn't finished either cure or antidote yet. Danny..."
"I know. We need it."
"Keep it quiet – but let her know what's happened. Sephiroth doesn't know we know about the drug, or that I can see through the illusion everyone else sees. We can't risk tipping him off, or the same could happen to me – or all of us."
"I'll tell her personally. Do you think...?" he left it hanging.
"We'll get him back, and we'll undo anything this drug does to him. You've got my word on that. I'll do everything I can."
Danny said nothing, and left.

Sora was waiting. His mind seemed to be playing tricks on him, making him question things he shouldn't have had reason to question.
Was he Sora? Stupid question, of course he was, why else would he have memories of everyone calling him that?
But he'd been called Alex. Why would someone call him that if he was Sora?
No, of course he wasn't Alex. He'd never heard the name until he'd been called it. It couldn't be his name.
It'd taste better, he'd been told. And oddly, he seemed to remember it not tasting as bad as he thought. But that was ridiculous, if it hadn't tasted bad, why would he have mentioned it?
Sephiroth returned at that point, pausing as he passed to lift Sora's head, looking into his eyes, then continuing to sit down.
"Good. It looks like your medication is starting to take effect. Tell me your name."
"I think-"
"No, not what you think. Tell me what your name is."
"Alex." It was the one that came first to him.
"Excellent."
"But I remember another name..."
"Don't worry about it. You've got memories in there that don't belong to you, Alex."
"Why are they there?"
"Someone put them there to make you think you were someone other than yourself."
"They seem... like mine though."
"They're not. I'm working on a little cure for you that will remove them, so you can be yourself again."
"I don't remember being anyone else."
"Of course not. Those memories you have are blocking it out."
Sora thought for a few minutes, taking this in, then asked, "How will you cure this?"
"I found the one they really belong to. The real Sora. He doesn't have any memories at all, because they're all locked up with you."
"You're going to give them back."
"That's right."
"Do I need to do anything?"
"Just take the medicine whenever his memories feel like they're trying to make you believe them."
"I think I need another dose then," he replied uncertainly. Sephiroth poured one out for him. It really did taste better than the last one, but it still felt like it burned at his throat as he swallowed.
"You're taking this rather well, Alex. Finding out you're not who you thought you were."
"I... trust you."
"Oh? Why?"
"You... I... I don't... know. I just... do."
"Interesting. Don't worry then. I'll take care of everything."
Sora nodded. This seemed right to him. He'd have his own memories back before long.
Sephiroth watched him for a few minutes, then got up again, beckoning for him to follow. He was lead out into the room with the lines on the floor, this time following the red lines to the door that still looked completely unremarkable.
Sora had no idea what he was expecting to see on the other side, but it still seemed to be disappointing when it was a short corridor with seven other doors, three in recesses on either side, and one directly opposite. Each one had a guard attending it, unmoving, unemotional, just guarding.
Sephiroth ignored them all, heading to the one opposite. With a curt gesture, the guard saluted, opened the door, and stood inside, holding it open for the two of them to enter. Once they were inside, he closed the door again, returning to his post on the other side to them.
This room was different. Computers and other such equipment lined the walls, wheelie chairs scattered around everywhere, and monitors showing strange things all over the place. No one was around but them.
In the centre of the room stood two pods, each filled with a light green, but clear liquid that bubbled gently. Tubes and pipes connected them to the ceiling, and cables ran over the floor to the computers.
"This is where I will put Sora, when the time comes to give him his memories back."
"And I'll be in the other one?"
"No, Alex. You won't need to use these yourself."
"Then what is the other one for?"
"Someone else who also has the same problem as you."
"Why are we here, then?"
"In order to make it work correctly, the computer has to recognise your DNA. Come over here."
They went to the other side of the pods. There was a small panel of something silver.
"All I need from you," Sephiroth told him. "Is to put your hand in there. The computer will handle the rest."
"That's all?"
"That's all."
Somewhat hesitantly, he pushed against it. It felt more like a liquid than a solid.
He buried his hand up to the wrist in the strange silver substance. A few moments later, there was a beep, and Sephiroth nodded, letting him remove his hand again.
"Now all that remains is short wait while I finish making the preparations. I want you to go down to the jobs board, and have them put you available for work. I'll send for you when I need you."
"Yes master," he replied, leaving again.

Sephiroth watched Sora leave. The drug was more potent than he thought, working quicker. That was good though, it meant less delays. Sora would believe him, and go along with whatever he wanted.
He turned back to the pod, setting a pre-set list of commands in progress.
Before long, they'd be well on their way, not to 'fixing' the situation he'd told Sora existed, but in fact creating it. Creating a false Sora, that had all of Sora's memories, while the real one believed he was someone else.
Of course, he wouldn't be able to just transfer the memories... some editing would be needed so the new one would be loyal to him. If he could edit them, that was. He'd have to do something, otherwise he'd just duplicate the original problem.
More research was required. Fortunately, he had all the time he needed. Sora would keep himself busy until he sent for him. No one was allowed in here without him also being present, the guards would see to that. They were loyal to whoever held the position of Grandmaster, regardless of what the Grandmaster did.