Hey guys. One more chapter, as promised.
Someone asked if I was going to do a third installment, like a sequel to The Last Nobody. Truth is, I've been thinking about it, but I'm not sure. I reeaally like Bruixe as a character and I don't want to stop writing about her. But on the other hand, I haven't thought of a decent plot for a sequel. I'll keep thinking about it. I'm toying with the idea of doing something on Terra-Aqua-Ven, but I don't know yet. If anyone has a suggestion for plot, let me know.
And guess what happened this morning? TLN now has over 6,500 hits. You guys are amazing.
Ugh. It's like, 1,000 degrees in the computer room where I'm writing right now. I think I'm gonna die. Anyway, enjoy.
It wasn't until an hour later that Axel returned from his meeting with Xemnas. Bruixe had been lounging on Demyx's couch again; when the redhead came in, she bolted upright.
"Well?" she demanded.
Axel shrugged moodily, sinking into an armchair across the room. "They're sending out the Dusks to track down Roxas. Once they find him… they want me to be in charge of bringing him back. Either I persuade him to come back, or… I destroy him."
"You can't," Demyx objected.
"Don't you think I know that?" Axel yelled in frustration.
"So just… don't," Bruixe said. "We owe him that, Axel. He tried to leave without telling us. He tried to keep us out of trouble. Even when I saw him getting captured, he tried to protect me. He risked his life for it. You can't bring him back now! The Organization'll kill him!"
"What do you want me to do? Just let him go?" Axel argued. "I'm going to be watched the whole time. If I screw up, if I let him off, they'll kill me too, and send someone else after him."
"That can't be all," Bruixe whispered. "There's got to be another way."
Demyx shook his head. "I hate to say it, Bruixe… but Axel's right. Roxas knew the risks when he left. He must have been expecting this."
"What if the Dusks don't find him?" Bruixe pressed, grasping at straws.
"They will," Axel told her. "They've never been fooled before."
"But that doesn't mean it's impossible," she said stubbornly.
"We have to consider the third party here, too," Demyx pointed out. "Whoever captured Roxas, I mean. We've got to assume they know something about us – after all, they caught Roxas, and that's no easy task. If they know us, they know about the Dusks. They might have some security to prevent that."
"Yeah, and they'll do whatever they want to Roxas," Axel argued.
"It's better than us having to kill him," Bruixe said vehemently.
Axel dropped his face into his hands. "So he's dead or he's… we don't know. Either way we're trapped."
Bruixe stared at the floor. "This sucks."
"Understatement," Demyx agreed.
The Dusks found Roxas the next day. Xemnas called a meeting immediately.
"The situation is… delicate," he announced. "The Dusks have found our renegade. However, as things are, they are unable to get to him. And I believe we have discovered a little more about our mysterious enemy. Xigbar. Report."
"I'm the one that sent out the Dusks," the Freeshooter began. "They reported to me an hour ago. They found Roxas. But the little guy's got some serious security around him. He's in a virtual reality of sorts. A computer program. And whoever designed this thing has got some major firewalls in place. The Dusks can't quite break through yet."
"I am currently designing a program to transfer the Dusks into data," Xemnas told what was left of the Organization. "Once it is finished, the Dusks should be able to find Roxas."
Xemnas is working on it himself? Bruixe wondered. This has got to be big. But I guess he is the computer guy.
"Why not just transfer one of us into data?" Luxord asked. "No need to use the Dusks."
"I will explain," Xemnas replied. "The use of this type of reality simulation is far beyond what the vast majority of technology-users are capable of. There is only one person I know of in all the worlds that would be capable of such a thing."
A hush fell across the room as everyone realized what that meant.
"I believe it is my old 'master'," Xemnas continued, smirking. "Ansem the Wise. He would have taken Roxas to be used as a weapon against us."
"Roxas would never agree to that," Bruixe spat.
Xemnas smiled arrogantly. "Not willingly," he replied. "It is my belief that Ansem would have erased our former comrade's memories. And, due to the boy's true identity… he may be an even greater force than we previously knew. Axel, why don't you explain?"
The redhead looked up, startled. "What do you mean?" he asked warily.
"You were the only one of us that was there," Xemnas said. "In Castle Oblivion, of course. The heartwitch Namine tore apart Sora's memories, yes? And what happened to our dear little girl after that?"
Axel crossed his arms. "She disappeared. Along with everyone else that was there – Sora, Riku, the King and his minions, everyone."
"Is it possible there was another person in the castle?" Xemnas answered. "A person such as Ansem the Wise? He would have been in disguise, of course. Not that it matters now."
Axel considered, then relented. "I suppose it's… possible."
"So Ansem the Wise is using Namine and Roxas together to try to restore Sora's memories," Xemnas concluded. "No doubt he hopes to gain Sora as a tool. He cannot be allowed to do so."
"I have programmed the main computer terminal in the new laboratory to keep surveillance over the virtual reality," Saix told them. "Until the Dusks are able to access the program, we can only watch and wait."
"I want two overseers on the terminal at all times," Xemnas ordered. "Axel, Bruixe. Take the first shift. Demyx, Xigbar, you will relieve them. I shall continue to program the Dusks into the virtual reality. But to insert a sentient being into the data… the security around the VR is simply too strong. We will have to wait for an opening. Those of you on surveillance will alert me as soon as an opening makes itself known. Dismissed."
"Great," Bruixe grumbled to herself. "Sitting still. Watching. Waiting. I can do that."
Demyx looked at Axel. "She. Cannot. Do. That."
Axel smirked. "Probably not."