I had been surveying the battle from the tower when I saw Russel pop out of the water. I was surprised at first by his size but I quickly got over it as he opened his mouth and a slight little figure with a mask stepped out. I stopped breathing, it was Noodle.

I rushed down to the elevator and pressed the bottom floor button a million times, the wait was more than I could bear. When they finally clicked open I ran right into none other than 2D. The force at which I was moving was sufficient to knock both of us over and I clutched my nose, swearing loudly.

"What the 'ell're you doing outside your room?" I wheezed.

"The whale attacked me an' Russ saved me, he grabbed it an' frew it out of the wat'r." he gasped back, clutching his chest. "'Ave yew seen Russel? 'E's 'uge!" My eyes were watering and I managed to get up, leaning from side to side. I stumbled forward, giving Ache-Face a good kick in the ribs for getting in my way and moved quickly outside.

The cyborg had blown my front doors to smithereens and I just picked my way through the wreckage. There she was, so close, my Noodle, the real one. I couldn't contain it any longer, I broke into a sprint to get to her as quickly as possible. My lungs protested immediately, thirty years of smoking had blackened them within an inch of their lives, but I just took more gulps of air as I ran, my inverted cross swinging wildly.

"Noodle!" I cried out, I saw two identical sets of eyes turn and look at me, one awaiting orders, the other responding to her name being called.

"M-Murdoc-san?" she called back, her face was still masked. I saw a long, delicate hand go to it and slide the white slab of plastic back. Her left eye was bruised, but it was the most beautiful face I had ever seen. I drank it in like I was dying of thirst, I let loose a wheeze but doubled my speed.

I slowed my pace so I wouldn't run into her and looked at her, she was thin, bruised, and bloody. Her emerald eyes seemed dimmer but they still held the fire in them that had helped her stay sane all these broken years.

"Murdoc-san, it is you!" she said, tears pooling and spilling over as she touched my cheek. I quivered slightly at her touch, but relished the feel, no synthetic skin, it was all real. Her hands were dry and cracked, but that just made it all the more real.

I raised a calloused finger to her face. "Hello luv." I murmured, fighting back tears of joy. She opened her mouth to say something but was cut off my another shout.

"NOODLE!" Dullard screamed, pushing me out of the way to hug her. She fell over from the impact and I winced as her bruised little frame hit the ground but Ache-Face picked her back up and embraced her. Tears were pouring from his blank holes. "Oh little luv, I missed yew so much, I fought yew were gone forev'r." he murmured into her musty purple hair.

"I-I am here 2D-san." She said, wrapping her arms around his waist. "I am not dead, I am well, and so is Russel-san." She motioned to the giant, overlooking the scene. She pulled away from 2D and looked to me again, my heart beat faster at the feel of her eyes on mine.

But she didn't look happy to see me, in fact, she looked quite upset. Her arms were folded and her green orbs were narrowed.

"What's wrong luv?" I asked. She shook her head.

"Murdoc-san? What is this?" she responded, moving so I came face to face with the cyborg.