Tales of the Abyss

Fourth chapter!! Hehe

To: Kisho Myst: Really glad that you love the pics! Thx for your constant support! XD

Go on with the story!

"Yes…it seems like all the god-generals are being replicated."

Guy looks at Tear. "Even Van."

To Be With You Once Again

By kiralacusforever

Tear feels her legs wobble from the news, while Natalia rushes to support her at the back. "Tear!" The melodist looks down at the floor with her bangs covering her face, making the princess worry. "Tear, are you alright? Do you need some rest?"

Tear places her hand on top of Natalia's and smiles weakly at her. "I..I'm fine…I was just…shock…"

"No, you look pale, you should get some rest. Ladies, we let you take care of Tear." Guy looks at Natalia and Anise, who nod their heads. Tear tries to protest but Guy stops her. "I know that you want to learn more about the situation, we will tell you later. For now, get some rest."

With that, the ladies left the room as Asch stares at the remaining two, especially Guy. "They are gone now. So what is it that you want to say?"

Guy smiles sheepishly as he rubs the back of his head. "Looks like I can't hide anything from you, Asch. As you can see for yourself at the datas, they consist of Luke and your data. So…Jade and I presume that a replica had been created from those datas."

"It's true." They look at Asch, who is looking at the data of his and Luke's. "I have met that replica myself."

"Really? When was that?"

"Yesterday night. After we separated at St.Binah, I went to Tartaroo Valley and I saw him there."

Jade looks at him. "Hmm…Did he mention anything?"

"He only said that his name is Lexus. And it seems that he is not involved in the stolen case of the 'key'."

"What makes you think so?" Asch passes the data back to Guy as he folds his arms. "He didn't know that the 'key' is stolen until I mention it." All of them stay silent until Guy speaks up. "So…what's our plan now?"

Jade crosses his arm. "It seems that their objective is to capture the replicas."

"So, you mean any towns or city that the replicas were, are in danger?" Jade shrugs his shoulders. "Then what should we do?"

"Let's head to the Sheridan's Replica Refuge Area. Even though their targets are the replicas, I doubt they will take the risk to attack large city like Daath or Grand Chokmah. So most likely, that place should be their next destination."

They both nod while Guy goes to inform the ladies. Asch thinks back about the dream as Jade looks suspiciously at him.

Verse 4:

The God-Generals

Arriving at the Sheridan's Replica Refuge Area that was built a few distances from Sheridan itself, Asch and company heads to the main building in the center of the area. As they reach the building, the two soldiers guarding outside are shock to see Asch.

"M..Master Asch? But why are you here? Didn't you…?!"

Asch twitches his eyebrow. "What is it?"

The soldiers look at each other then to Asch. "We just saw you and Mister Aston coming out from here a few minutes ago, and headed towards where the replicas were…"

All of them gasp, while Asch turns and runs off to the area where the replicas lived. "Asch!!" The others follow him.

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"So…these are all the replicas around this area." Lexuk looks around him. The replicas were kept in a hidden underground area, where a replicated image of Sheridan is built for them to live in. "Hmph. Even though they said they were trying to let replicas live as normal human beings, what's the point when you keep them in a hidden replicated world like this? And totally ignorant to the world outside! It's disgusting!"

He looks over at Aston, who is held by his collar and dragged to the place. He smirks at the old technician, while pulling out a blade from his back. "Well then, since I have no more use of you and to prevent you from spitting out nonsense to others…" He raises his blade. "I shall eliminate you right now."

"No you don't!!"

Lexuk tosses Aston aside as he clashes his blade with Asch, who manages to arrive on time. Lexuk glares at him before he uses more strength to push Asch's blade off and leaps back. "It's you again!"

The others arrive at the spot and are shock to see Lexuk, who looks exactly like Luke. "Luke?" They are about to run forth when Asch stops them. "He's not Luke! Tear and Natalia, go check on Aston!" The two ladies hesitate a little before rushing to Aston to check for injuries.

Lexuk looks at them and back to Asch. "Well, well…if it's isn't the charred remains of the Sacred Flame, Asch, and his company. Shouldn't you all be investigating about the stolen 'Key of Lorelei', rather than roaming about?"

"Lexuk. Who told you to find me? And why are you here?"

"Hmph. I think that is none of your business, 'Master' Asch. And you sure do have a bad memory, I only told you yesterday and you have forgotten about it." Lexuk smirks and shrugs his shoulders.

"You said that Luke told you to find me. But Luke didn't meet you ever since a week after you are created."

Lexuk glares hard. "What the hell do you know about? You know nothing!"

"Of course I do. Luke told me himself."

"What?!"

Suddenly an explosion happens behind Lexuk as a few soldiers in black, run in from the smoke and dust. Some gathers around Lexuk while some head towards the replicated Sheridan.

"Lexuk! You are acting reckless again!"

The group gasps as the smoke starts to clear off and reveals Legretta, Arietta, Largo and Sync. Lexuk glares at Legretta. "Shut up! Like hell I care what you people were trying to do!! It's none of my business!"

"You…!"

"Let him be, Legretta."

Everyone halt in their steps especially Tear at the voice that stops Legretta. Behind the four God-General replicas, Van's replica steps in. Tear stands up from her spot as she stares at the replica model of her dead brother. "Van…"

"Yes and no, Mystearica." Van smiles at her before walking towards Lexuk, playing a hand on his shoulder. "Lexuk, where have you been all this while?"

Lexuk slaps the hand off. "That is none of your business!"

"Of course it is, you should be working with us. Since we are all created due to the help of…"

Lexuk cuts his words by placing his blade by Van's neck. Legretta points her gun at Lexuk but Van stops her. "Look, though it's true that 'she' is the reason we are created, that doesn't mean I must follow whatever the hell 'she' wanted us to do! And your idea of reviving 'her' is NONE of my business! I have my own goal!!"

Lexuk sheathes his blade and takes a last glance at Asch, as he walks off through the hole created from the explosion. Van sighs as a soldier runs up to him. "Sir! We have gathered all the replicas."

"Very well. Retreat."

"Yes Sir!"

The group is shock when they glance at the replicated Sheridan. All the replicas are gone! Asch glares at the retreating God-Generals. "STOP! What the hell are you people planning to do?!"

Van halts and glances at Asch. "You will see, Asch." He smirks and walks off. Asch rushes forth to outside, only to find the whole brunch of people are gone. How did they make such a large group of people disappear within a few seconds?

The others catch up to him while Asch turns to them. "How's Aston?"

"He's unconscious but he's alright." Natalia replies while supporting Tear who is still in a dilemma of Van's replica. "And Asch, you have a lot of explanation to do!"

Asch sighs. "Yeah, I know. Let's go back to the manor."

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On the other hand, Lexuk appears in a flash at Eldrant. He looks down at his hands. "It seems that teleporting by using hyperresonance too much is starting to drain a bit of the fonons from my body. Who cares…as long as I free Luke…I don't care what will happen to me."

Lexuk.

Lexuk smiles as he closes his eyes as he enters his inter mind.

Inside Lexuk's mind

Lexuk looks around him in the dark dimension and smiles widely, when he notices the figure standing a few distances from him. He runs towards the person. "Luke! You called?"

The figure appears to be Luke, with his usual short hair and outfit. "Yes. I was worried about you." Lexuk blushes as he grins. "It looks like you have met Asch."

Lexuk folds his arms and looks away. "Yeah…But he is worthless. He even let the 'key' get stolen!"

"What?!" The sudden outburst from Luke startles Lexuk. "I'm sorry…I was surprise at the news. Did they know who stole it?"

"No, they don't."

Luke strokes Lexuk's cheek with his fingers, making the other blushes at the touch. "You must find the 'key', Lexuk. It is an important item to free me."

"I will. I will do anything to free you Luke. By the way! What story do you have for me today?"

"I'm sorry. I don't have much time, I just came down here to check on your progress. Next time, Lexus."

Lexus frowns but smiles down at his origin. "It's okay! After I freed you, you can tell me as much as I want! I'll see you next time then!" He bends down and places a light kiss on Luke's cheek, as he disappears from the dimension.

Luke traces his fingers across the place where Lexuk kissed him, as he smirks. "Foolish child…"

Back at reality

Lexuk sighs as he sits on the collapsed brick walls of Eldrant. He met Luke the day he was created. Luke is always gentle and kind to him. He gave him his name and told him story of his adventures and about Auldrant. Luke teaches him almost everything, Lexuk always looks forward to see Luke in his dream.

But after a week, Luke did not visit him. Only until recently, he came to him, telling him to find Asch. Lexuk hugs his legs to his chest. "Why is he so different from those times? He didn't talk much to me anymore, only about finding Asch or finding methods to free him…"

"Of course I do. Luke told me himself."

Lexuk remembers Asch's words as he jumps off the bricks. 'What did he meant by that? Is it true that Luke did not come and find me after that week? Then who is that Luke who is talking to me just now? Maybe…that guy will know something.'

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Asch sneezes suddenly that startles the group, as he blushes and stares at them. After arriving back at the manor, Asch explains to them about the dream he had about Luke.

"So…Lexuk is Luke's replica. And Lexuk is trying to find a way to save Luke?"

"I'm not sure. Lexuk said that himself."

Guy crosses his arm. "Hmm…this is getting confusing…More and more things start to pop out all of a sudden."

"Sorry, people. I need some rest…" Tear says as she rises from her chair and walks out from the drawing room. "I'll go with her." Natalia too, walks out.

"Poor Tear…she must be so sad…" Anise pats at Mieu and looks at Jade. "Colonel, do you think…that the replicated God-Generals have memories of their origins?"

"I can't confirm it just yet. Right now, I must make a trip to Belkend to check out more information about the data. Guy, accompany me if you would."

"Alright, see you guys later." The two left the room as Anise stands up from her chair, with Mieu in her arms. "Well then, I need to head back to Daath for a while as well. See you, Asch."

Asch nods as the Fon Master leave the room. The Fabre sighs as he is about to head towards his room, when he hears the high pitch sound again and headache occurs. "AH! What…What is this?!"

"Hey! Can you hear me?!"

"This voice…Lexus?!"

"Come to Tartaroo Valley tonight. There's something I want to ask you."

"What..?! Wait!" The link is cut off as Asch rubs his temple. "Is this how Luke felt last time when I contacted him? It sure is unpleasant…

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Night fells as Asch arrives at the flower field of Tartaroo Valley. He moves towards the large rock which Lexuk is sitting on. The teen senses his arrival as he turns around.

"What is it that you want to ask?"

Lexuk leaps from the rock and lands in front of him. "What do you meant when you said Luke told you about me?" Asch sighs as he explains the dream to the other. "Is that so…Alright, that's all I want to ask." He is about to leave when Asch stops him. "What?"

"What are the God-Generals trying to do and why did they take the replicas? I came down all this way to let you ask me questions, so you should at least return me a favour."

Lexuk frowns as he places a hand on his hip. "They are planning to use the life force of the replicas to revive a person."

Asch gasps. "Revive a person by sacrificing with that large amount of replicas? Who the heck are they trying to revive?!" Lexuk sighs and looks at him. "Yulia Jue."

The End

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lolx!! Ok, Guys!!

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