In Life and Death
Chapter 5: Planning Stages

Randiam Apartment Complex on Main Land, right after the appointment

First floor… second floor… third floor… apartment 11… apartment 12… apartment 13…

Apartment 14…

The apartment that they shared on the main land was small. It easily housed the two of them, but it was small nonetheless and felt nothing like home to Veera. Although, being who and what she was, Veera had never really known what a home felt like. But this impersonalized, tiny apartment surely could not be a home with its vacant white walls and stained faded gray carpet.

The front door tore open and Veera burst in, letting it slam perhaps too loudly behind her. She stood just in front of the blank door, fuming as she tried to calm herself. She had just returned from the hospital and still donned her white coat. "Zing?" She called out to the empty living room. "Zing, where the hell are you? ZING?"

A door opened deeper into the apartment. Zing appeared in the hallway, clad in his usual black attire. "Veera! Stop that screaming this instant."

"Tell me, Zing. Tell me your big plan." She closed the distance between them and lifted a finger to wag it in his direction. "What are you going to do with the babies?"

He smiled and let out a sharp laugh.

Flustered, Veera shoved him slightly and raised her voice. "I'm serious Zing. Tell me now or I'll leave and go straight to Sora."

Zing stumbled back against the wall. "You won't do that Veera." He side stepped around her and moved into the room that doubled as the living room and dining room.

"Oh yeah? And why not?" She turned, her eyes on his back as he moved.

"Because."

He spoke it so calm and certain that Veera feared that was where he was going to stop. She was about to speak when he suddenly turned.

"If you do, you won't get your heart back." With a faked, sympathetic smile, Zing stepped closer to her. His voice was softer as he continued. "Remember, he was the one who took it from you. He destroys your kind."

"But... he's a nice kid..." She stumbled on the words.

"Nice?" He spat, turning away from her in disgust and throwing up his arms. "Organization XIII. What were they looking for? Their hearts. To be whole once again. And what did your nice kid do?" He spun around and pointed towards her. They were now standing nearly five feet apart. "He destroyed them all. He will do the same to you. You're just like them. Your only option is to help me get the keyblade." There was desperation in his voice as he lifted his arms out in front of him, emphasizing. "Once I have control of it, I can get your heart back."

Veera dropped her gaze and her eyes seemed to glaze over. "Veronica Verse..." She hated to be reminded. The fact that she wasn't real, that she wasn't supposed to exist at all.

"She's dead, Veera. Killed by Sora after she was turned into a heartless and you were created."

His voice was doing things to her mind. She closed her eyes and listened to the speech that he'd given so many times before. She could recite each word perfectly herself but there was something about the tone in his voice that seemed to captivate her.

"You won't become her. She'll become you. And you'll be whole. Remember that Veera. That's why you're here."

Slowly, Veera opened her eyes. Shaking her head, she crossed her arms. "I've heard this all before Zing." Her voice had no authority now. She could feel herself slightly giving in.

Zing stepped closer to her and gripped her shoulders. "We are so close, Veera. I can feel it! Give me a year and I will have control of a keyblade!"

"A keyblade?" She pulled away from his grasp and stepped away. "How Zing? I've been patient; I've done what you've asked. All the crazy, stupid, idiotic things that go against my morals, I've done!"

Zing smirked. "Nobody's don't have morals, Veera. Nor original thoughts or feelings."

She turned back towards him, glaring daggers.

"Ah. See?" He smiled victoriously and crossed his arms about his chest. "That's Veronica's heart calling out to you, making you think and act as she would." He paused a moment. "And it leaves you empty." The last came out as a sneer.

Tears threatened her eyes and she turned away. "Please, Zing! Just tell me what you're planning! I want to understand!" She was practically begging.

Zing nodded, smiling. "I will." He stepped around her, forcing her to face him. "Right after you tell me how the appointment went."

Veera eyed him a moment before raising her arms, relenting. She took a step away and sat down on the faded couch. It sagged slightly under her weight and again when Zing joined her. "Sora showed up and asked a few questions."

"Like what?"

Veera shrugged her shoulders. "Just basic questions. How it got there, can I remove it, did I make a mistake, is it a threat, how's it going to come out... was it actually his..."

Zing smirked slightly, clearly enjoying the whole operation. "And you answered how?"

"Truthfully... to an extent." She said slowly. "I didn't know how it got there, removing it would be killing it, no mistake, I didn't think it was a threat, it couldn't be delivered, and that I could do a DNA test."

"And did you?"

"A DNA test?" She repeated and shook her head slowly. "I took the samples but no. I had anticipated that he might ask that, so I produced a fake copy yesterday. A real test would have taken too long."

"A fake?" Zing snapped suddenly. "What if he questions it? It could be proved that it was a fake."

Veera smiled and nodded. "I know that Zing. I sent the samples in before I left. It'll take a day or two, but I'll get the results back. You and I both know that it will name Sora as the father... uh... mother..." She shook her head slowly.

"Fine. What else?"

Veera leaned back against the cushions and stretched out her arms before she continued. "Not much happened. I did an ultrasound and spotted the second baby. Both are fine though it's still too early to say for sure. Then I called you. And I told Sora."

"How did he take it?"

Veera tilted her head to the side and gave him a slight glare. "How do you think?"

Zing lifted his arms slightly, relenting. "Continue."

"He believed me." She shook her head slowly. "I still don't believe it. He just seemed so... understanding..."

"Understanding?" Zing asked, perplexed.

Veera nodded. "After I gave him my explanation. He seemed to take it pretty well."

"And what explanation was that?"

Veera shifted slightly and hesitated before she met his gaze. "Don't laugh, okay?"

Zing scofted. "Am I going to like this?"

"It was the only thing I could come up with to explain it." She said in a convincing tone. "I told him he had a genetic mutation called Femortalia that allowed for him to get pregnant. Basically I told him he was born with a small, underdeveloped ovary..."

Zing's eyes widened and his mouth hung open as he gaped at her. "A what?"

Veera sighed and clasped her hands together in her lap. "It's not true, of course. In fact, it's not even possible. And even if a male was born with an ovary, there would be no way it could be functional and actually produce eggs."

"You told the kid he was part girl?"

"Yeah..."

"And you blame me for messing him up." He laughed loudly.

Veera rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I only did it to explain what you... I... what you made me do!"

Zing beamed. "This is going even better than I had thought! He isn't going to tell anyone! He'd be way too embarrassed to!" He stood up quickly and stepped around the small coffee table. "So did he ask about the other parent?"

"Well... no actually..." Veera answered. "And that's a good thing. Because I didn't have an answer for that one."

Zing turned around slowly and cocked his head to the side. "He didn't ask? And you didn't offer an answer?"

Veera shook her head.

"But... that doesn't make any sense..." Zing said, talking more to himself than to her. "Why wouldn't he ask? He asked if it was his..."

"And I convinced him it was."

Zing nodded. "And you basically called him a girl... and there's only one way a girl gets pregnant... so the next question should be who the other parent is."

Veera nodded slowly. "Yeah... but you yourself said he was naive."

Zing shook his head quickly and waved her comment off. "No. He didn't ask because it didn't occur to him..." Zing stopped his train of thought as the answer to why occurred to him. He shook his head as a wave of nausea washed over him. "Awe... that's disgusting..."

Veera eyed him for a moment. "What is?"

Zing turned his gaze back to her and let out a grunt. "He didn't ask because he knows who the other father is."

Veera's eyes widened. "He does? But how? I didn't say anything... I swear..."

Zing lifted his hand to silence her. "What I meant was he has an idea of who it is."

Veera opened her mouth to comment and then shut it, slightly confused.

Zing sighed. "The little queer slept with a guy."

"Oh!" Veera breathed out, taken aback as she thought about it.

"It doesn't matter." Zing said turning. "He doesn't question it, which means it's all going okay." He paused a moment and sighed. "This will be a bit harder now. I hadn't anticpated on two babies."

"You could let him keep one..." Veera said hopefully.

"Keep one?" He snapped. "No! Two babies mean double the chances of me keeping one of the keyblades."

"Keyblades? As in plural? There is only one keyblade master Zing. Sora."

"No, Veera. You are wrong. There are many masters and many blades. Sora simply is the most powerful."

Veera rose from her seat to interject.

Zing closed the distance between them and pushed her back on the couch. "Just let me talk for once, okay?"

She crossed her arms and gave him a glare, but nodded. "Fine. But your explanation had better be worth it."

With a smile, Zing turned and stepped away, moving towards the glass door that lead out to the small enclosed patio. "To my knowledge, there are currently five keyblades in existence. Each key has a master and each master can call them up at will. Even interesting still is the fact that only these masters can use their given keyblades. Sora, Riku, King Mickey, and Roxas all possess their own unique blades. Sora's is called the Kingdom Key, Riku's is the Way to the Dawn, and King Mickey's is the Reverse Kingdom Key. But what really gets me is Roxas. He's a nobody and while he was in the organization, he controlled two keyblades; the Oathkeeper and the Oblivion. And then when he left, he had control of the Kingdom Key."

Veera had been intently listening the entire time, waiting for Zing to make a connection. "Wait a minute. The Kingdom Key? But you said that was Sora's. And that nobody else could use it."

Zing turned to face her and nodded. "Yes. And who is Roxas?"

"Sora's nobody."

Zing nodded again, his eyes seemingly to dance as he continued. "While Sora was 'asleep', Roxas was able to use the Kingdom Key. He is Sora's alternate half after all."

Veera rose from her seat on the couch again and sidestepped around the small coffee table. "I do agree that that is all fascinating Zing, but I fail to see the connection it all has with you getting control of the Kingdom Key keyblade."

Zing shook his head slowly. "Yes, you do fail to see it. I just stated that only the keyblade master can use their key."

Veera gasped and threw up her arms in anger. "You said you could get it! You promised me! That's why I..."

"I never said Sora's key." Zing interrupted, gaining silence. "I said I would get a keyblade, but I never said which one. And I never said I personally would be using it, only that I would, in a way, have power over it."

Veera opened her mouth to say something, then closed it and tilted her head to the side, thinking. After a moment, she shook her head. "You've completely lost me now."

Zing sighed. "This is why I didn't tell you in the first place. You don't understand. This is useless." He turned his back towards her.

"Wait! Please Zing! Make me understand!" She pleaded.

With painstakingly slow steps, Zing turned back around and lifted his gaze to meet Veera's, his eyes dark. "Tell me."

Veera nodded and swallowed hard. "Well... you said there are five keys, but only their keyblade masters can use them. Only in extreme circumstances, as in Roxas's case, can another keyblade master use another key." She turned to the side, thinking. "You said you could control a keyblade but not use it. And you said Sora's was out of the question, so I'm assuming the other four are as well." She glanced at Zing.

"Correct."

"So that means you plan on getting another keyblade, an entirely different one." She crossed her arms and tilted her head to the side. "You think there are other keyblades out there."

"Exactly!" Zing stepped forward and gripped her arms. "Don't you see? The five keyblades didn't pop up at once! They appeared at different times, different places, and different ways!" His grip increased as his eyes danced with apparent excitement. "Who knows just how many keys there actually are! And what powers they hold!"

Veera winced slightly under his gaze. "Zing... you're hurting me..."

With clear reluctance, Zing released her and stepped back.

Veera rubbed at the red marks on her pale arms. "I understand you're logic there. But what does that have to do with the baby?" She paused a moment and then corrected herself. "Babies."

"Ah! Another theory!" He lifted his finger in the air. "This one is simple enough. Genetics."

"Genetics?" She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "That's your big plan? There is no evidence anywhere to support that. Everyone knows the keyblade chooses its master."

Zing nodded. "Exactly, Veera. There is no evidence because no one has toyed with the idea as much as I have." He clasped his hands together behind his back and began to pace back and forth. "You are correct that it is said the keyblade chooses its master. But it can also be proved that the master chosen has to be a very strong person at heart. To be able to use and call the blade takes a lot and the blades are demanding on the master's mind and body. Sora was chosen and he was able to beat the darkness of the heartless. Roxas is the alternate Sora, so it's a given that he's got power. Riku was able to control and manipulate the darkness, which is an amazing feat in itself. As for Mickey, that damned mouse has more power than is good for him." Zing sneered slightly. "So my question is does the keyblade actually choose its master? Or, instead, does the master's heart and will power create the keyblade and therefore the master actually chooses the keyblade?"

Slowly, Veera nodded and turned towards the glass door. She stepped closer towards it and placed her left hand on the cold pane. A slight fog began to form around her hand as the heat of it mixed with the coldness of the pane. "You make a valid argument Zing." Her voice was soft and almost wistful.

Zing stopped his pacing and raised his gaze to stare at her back. He would be lying if he said her reaction didn't surprise him. In fact, he was completely thrown. He shook the thought from his head and cleared his throat. "Veera..."

"Continue Zing. What's your theory on genetics? I assume there's more." She didn't turn, her gaze still locked on her hand against the window.

"I... uh..." Zing shook his head a second time and nodded. "Yes. Genetics. Right." He rubbed at his eye for a moment. "So... yeah... genetics... well... it's a proven fact that you get DNA from your parents. And you are who you are because of the DNA given to you by said parents. The color of your eyes, your hair, your height, your gender... everything is hereditary and handed down by your parents. Even talents and special abilities and skills. Like in sports for example." Zing didn't pause for even a breath as he spoke. "A kid born from two athletic parents is three times are likely to excel in athletic events than a kid born to two lazy, fat slobs." He had begun to pace back and forth in front of the table. "Granted, there is the special case where the kid's drive to be better than it's parents over comes genetics and can overthrow the odds... but that kid will have to work harder." He stopped in his pacing and looked to Veera. "Does that make sense?"

Veera nodded slowly. "I... well... Veronica was a doctor. I have some understands of that subject. I'm not a complete idiot, Zing." There was resentment in her voice.

Zing nodded. "No! Of course not! That wasn't what I was implying." He turned and began pacing again. "I explained that to further back up my theory. Heredity plays a big part in how a child will develop. So, a child born from the most powerful keyblade wielder there is should, in turn, be quite strong and possibly be able to handle a keyblade. So consider Sora as the father and the child would be a perfect candidate. But... then there's Riku. Just as equally strong and was able to control the dark forces, bending them to his will. What if he was used? Another perfect candidate." He smiled at his brilliance. "So consider, instead, using DNA and chromosomes from each to make a child so perfect that there is no way it can fail!" He spotted pacing and turned towards her.

Veera eyed him a moment suspiciously. "You've been plotting this for a long time, haven't you?"

The question caught him off guard and he waved it off. "The timeline does not matter. What matters is that I am close to proving my point!"

"But why have Sora carry the baby?" Veera questioned. "Wouldn't it have been better to use the girl? There would have been no threat to the baby or the carrier."

Zing shook his head. "No. By using Sora as the mother, I will accomplish two goals."

"And those are..."

"The baby is connected to the mother." Zing said simply. "A special bond is formed as the mother's body must care and protect the baby. It is made stronger because of the mother."

"So you think if Sora carries it, he'll pass on something to the baby?" She shook her head slowly in disbelief.

Zing nodded. "The idea isn't completely far fetched, Veera."

"Fine." She said after a moment. "What is the other goal?"

Zing's vile smile only seemed to worsen. He was clearly taking too much joy in this. "Your little ectopic pregnancy speech was perfect! You've told him it's a complicated pregnancy. You even told him the odds are bad. So when the babies die, he'll be sad of course, but he won't question it because you told him it could happen."

"But they are healthy now." Veera said quickly, leaning forward on the couch. "Why would they die? And I know you don't want that."

Zing shook his head. "No, they aren't going to die Veera! I told you before that we would be taking care of them. Sora will be told they died." He smiled as he saw the look of disgust wash over her face. "Come on Veera! What did you think I had planned? I told you I would have control over the baby. You didn't possibly think I'd do that while Sora had the baby, did you?"

Veera leaned back and was silent a moment as she thought about it. The truth was… she hadn't thought that far ahead. She hadn't thought past the birth. "I didn't think about it Zing..." She said softly.

Zing rolled his eyes and turned away. "Clearly not..."

Veera held up her hand, silencing him as her head pounded. "I'm sorry Zing, but I can't listen anymore. This is all very interesting, I'm sure, but my head is pounding and I need to go to sleep, okay?" She lifted herself off of the couch, not waiting for an answer. "I will see you in the morning. If you feel like continuing this, I wouldn't mind it."

Zing had crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly. He gave a slight snort and waved her off. "Yeah, go ahead."

She heard the disappointment in his voice, but she turned towards her bedroom and disappeared quickly inside.

Zing allowed for his gaze to follow her. A sad smile formed on his lips as he sighed deeply and sunk down on the couch. "Sora can't destroy you Veera. Nobodies aren't real. They can't die..." He mused aloud. "They are just reborn. You don't know my extent of knowledge on this subject... how much I've studied nobodies... the relationship they have with their other halfs..." He cast a glance back towards the hallway. "It's a good thing you don't remember what really happened, Veera. And getting your heart back will only return those horrible memories. You will never get your heart back. I'll see to it."

End of Chapter 5. Stay turned for Chapter 6: Home Again, Home Again, Jiggidy Jig