The next day, Wash was surprised to not see North around the war room or the Situation Room as it was called now since the war was over and they all thought that it was better to change the name of it since they didn't want to jinx something.
Anyways, when they had gathered that morning and North wasn't around, Wash couldn't help but ask about the other man. North being missing wasn't lost on the other people there either. Tucker had already shot him a curious glance, as did the others, but he couldn't tell them what was up except by asking Kimball for the necessary information first.
"He requested to stay by Mac's side, since he doesn't want to go too far away from her. He wasn't able to give me many details, but it seems that Theta is up to something." Kimball informed Wash, "Since they're connected, he has to stay close to give Theta every minute he needs to do what he needs to."
This caused the others to look at her even more curiously.
The leader of Armonia and Chorus closed her eyes, massaging the bridge of her nose. She looked tired, Wash noticed. Had she slept during the last few days or had she been so consumed in her work that she had again forgot to do so?
"I can't tell you more than that since Theta also didn't inform North about what he was going to do. As far as I heard, Theta is up to something but didn't give out too much information since it could go wrong just as likely as it could work out." Kimball concluded her statement, rubbing a hand over her eyes.
For once, it was Tucker who spoke up, although he did so quietly. He hadn't spoken much since Ala had fallen into a coma. He was not himself, but that was understandable given that it was his adopted sister who was lying in a coma.
"I don't know what you think of this whole situation, but we've been working our asses off. Besides, it doesn't feel right to talk about reconstruction when Ala isn't around but lying in a coma and fighting for survival." He swallowed dryly, taking a step towards Wash in an attempt to seek comfort from him, "On top of that, North isn't around too, so how about we all get some rest. You too, Kimball. You can barely stand on your feet. When did you sleep last?"
She opened her mouth, but closed it after some moments of not having said anything, looking at the tablet in front of her with a caught expression.
Tucker smiled, although this smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "See? So, I suggest we take some time off. Maybe a day or two to recover. We shouldn't work our asses off and break down after everything is done. We need to watch out for our health too."
Kimball looked ready to protest, but then she looked around into the faces of each person in the Situation Room, and saw every one of them nod.
She sighed, deeply and heavily, "As I see that you are outnumbering me on that, I will comply for once. Two days, make sure you get some rest. And I will do the same." Kimball added when she saw Tucker's stern glance, "I will take it easier too and get a good night's rest today."
Five minutes later, the guys were out of the Situation Room. Many of them went back to their rooms directly, lying back down on their cots and trying to get some more sleep.
Tucker, Wash, and Junior dropped by the infirmary, informing North about what was going on and keeping Ala company for awhile.
After another two hours where North wasn't talking much, the three of them left again with two of them trying to fight their insomnia. The shadows under Tucker's eyes were visible by now, despite his rather dark complexion.
Wash didn't look any better and even Junior had kind of a slouch in his posture giving away his tiredness.
When the door closed, North sighed. He was caught once more with his own thoughts, having nobody to talk with.
Even Theta was gone to try whatever he was thinking could help and the silence settling in was deafeningly loud to his ears.
Lying back down, the Freelancer decided to try to get some more sleep, as he had dark shadows under his eyes just like Tucker and Wash did, although his were more visible given his light complexion.
Closing his eyes and willing his mind and body into a dark and dreamless sleep, he only hoped that Theta was doing okay and that he was able to help Ala, no matter what he had to do to do so. His biggest hope was to get both of his precious ones back safe and sound, more or less, and that he would be able to live together with them after that.
When a young man dressed in violet opened his pale blue eyes, he could see nothing but darkness.
It was pitch black around him, so dark that he couldn't even see his hand before his eyes.
He closed his eyes again, letting his eyes adjust to the darkness. He had never had a body, but he just knew that he had to do that in order to see more.
Indeed, when he opened his eyes again, he could see the faint outlines of a house in front of him. It was a better-off suburban region from the America of Old Earth that he knew of from his and North's memories.
The only difference between the memories and the actual situation was the fact that there was only one of the houses that was really visible. The others were somewhat fuzzy, which the young male suspected meant that they weren't of interest.
There was one house however, with a nice garden in front of it. The house was white and nicely kept in shape. Just like there was a mom keeping the house in shape, a father going to work every day, and kids being around them to make the picture complete.
Following his instincts, he walked up the driveway to the clearly visible house and entered it without knocking. He suspected that there was only one person around. And he doubted said person would open the door given her situation.
Albeit never having been in such a house himself, he knew from memory that the bedroom of the kids usually was located in the upper story of the house.
Walking up the stairs, he could see two doors to different dorms with the names Kristina and Alaska written on tablets hanging up on the doors. A typical suburban family having two kids.
Since he was looking for Ala, he opened her door and indeed soon saw her sitting on her bed, her knees drawn up to her chest.
It was awkward, to say the least. It was strange standing here and seeing the inside of Ala's head, but now he was here and he had a mission. Which is why he had to stay focused.
Walking over to the bed, he stopped in front of it and looked down on the female sitting there, "Ala?"
He could see how she curled up into herself even more.
"It's quite dark in here, huh?" he started awkwardly.
When no response came, he sighed. Difficult task.
"I'm going to… turn the lights on, okay?" He asked, not waiting for an answer and walking over to the light switch.
Turning it on, he could see the room in all its detail. There were some posters of old terrestrial boy bands, a desk for homework, a wardrobe, a box spring bed and some things standing around—although not much. Ala never had been one for much decoration, he suspected.
Sighing, he walked back over to the bed standing beside the door, with only a small bedside table in between the door and the bed. Sitting down on it, he regarded the girl sitting on the bed. She had long black hair and porcelain-like skin.
"You're afraid of the dark, so I guess you're feeling better?" the young male asked.
It took her a moment, but eventually she nodded, though she did not open up her posture.
In want of other opportunities, he sat there, waiting for Ala to say a word.
It took her what felt like an eternity to him, but eventually she started talking, "Why are you here?"
For once, the young male restrained himself from taking offense to that question and instead smiled. It looked strange given how one only saw him with his armor and helmet on normally.
"I came because we're all missing you. Simmons, Grif, Sarge, Donut, Caboose, Wash, Carolina, York, Kimball, Tucker, Junior, North, me, and all of the other people of Chorus you saved or taught how to snipe." He explained, looking over to her.
She had lifted her head and looked at him with big, round eyes.
He laughed lowly, "Really. They're all visiting you at least once per day and hoping you will wake up again." He scratched the back of his head, "They're all waiting for you to wake up because you left a huge hole in our midst when you fell into a coma."
It was silent for a moment, but Theta took it as a good sign that she stretched her legs and looked at him while leaning against the wall behind the bed.
"You're an important part of the group and of our family. We're all family to each other. And a family member falling into a coma without knowing if she'll wake up makes us all anxious and nervous. Because all of them want you back. I mean," With that he combed his hand through his messy black hair, "I know you don't have the possibility to do so, but if you could see Tucker and the others lately you would be so surprised." At that he shot her a slightly derailed smile.
"Their eye rings reach almost down to the ground! They aren't really sleeping anymore since you fell into a coma. Besides, Tucker wanted to try to get Kimball to postpone the discussions about the reconstruction of Armonia until you're back. He thinks it's only going to work with you, since you fought with them and your opinion is important."
It was silent again, only for Theta to get to his feet when he suddenly had an idea, "Come with me."
With that, he grabbed her hand and pulled Ala to her feet and down the hall outside the house. It was still dark, but he felt like the world had started to light up the moment that Ala put a foot on the patio outside the house.
It seemed like… The sun was about to start to rise. And with the environment starting to lighten up, there also was a low mumble that could be heard which Theta deciphered as North's voice. He seemed to be telling something about their shared past. Some funny anecdote since he could feel some kind of sad happiness wash over him.
Ala seemed to notice the voice floating from somewhere too, since she lifted her head and looked around curiously. The other houses were still fuzzy, but Theta supposed it was because Ala's memory was fuzzy in and of itself.
"North." He explained matter-of-factly, looking up.
Ala looked up into the direction the voice came from as well.
"He's waiting for you to wake up too. We all are." He explained, smiling over to her.
"You are?" She asked, sounding insecure, which made Theta do a double take. He had never heard her sound so insecure before.
"Yes, we all are." He repeated, "We're waiting for you to wake up and become a part of our family again."
Looking down to her feet, Theta could see how she was kicking an imaginary stone away.
"I am caught here somehow." She admitted at length, "I am afraid of the dark around me. I'm afraid of returning and being left alone. I am afraid of waking up and realizing I'm not needed anymore."
It was silent for a long time before Theta breathed out long and slowly.
"I can see that." He said at length, "But look around you. Is it dark now?"
At that, as if noticing it for the first time, she looked around and he could see her posture relax a little.
"No, it's bright and warm." She replied, looking relieved and leaning her head up to let the sun shine on her face.
"See?" The Fragment replied, mimicking her expression to enjoy having the sensation of the sun on his skin, "I already told you that people are waiting for you to wake up. You are needed. Hell," he put his hands over his face, "North's sleeping on the cot beside your bed. I have to literally kick him out of it to get him to take a shower or participate in the meetings." He laughed lowly at that.
"The others are waiting for you to return because they need you." He continued explaining, "They need you as a friend, as a partner, and as a sister." He lifted a finger for each of the points he just listed.
"I mean, who gave Tucker and Wash a shoe to their butts to get them to become a couple? Who was fighting, trying to buy the others enough time to flee even if you did not succeed in defeating Felix? Who saved Junior? Who gathered South and North up on a stormy night and gave them shelter? Who—"
"Okay! Okay! Okay!" Alaska lifted her hands up in defense, laughing for the first time since Theta had found her.
"Okay!" She repeated after a while, again turning her head to hear from where the voice came.
His voice was clearer this time and they both could hear that North was talking about how they were banging their heads together constantly during the time when North was living together with Ala.
She smiled fondly at that and Theta could hear her laugh lowly.
"You really are sure that the guys are still waiting? That they still want me?" She asked again, as if to make sure Theta wasn't shitting with her, "You know, I've lost so many people, I…" she trailed off, looking away from Theta and the voice drifting from somewhere.
At that, Theta snorted, "Come on! I mean, how long have you been with the guys by now? And how many times have they saved your ass and you saved theirs? If they didn't want you, they would have left you to die on Sidewinder, but they took you with them and gave you a cybernetic arm." He threw his hands up in the air.
"I mean, even Sarge misses you! Even if he's not really able to show it." He laughed at that, shaking his head, "He hates the Blues but he's missing you too. And with every day passing that you're not awake and with them, they all are getting more and more desperate." He explained.
"Come back, Ala, we all need you back safe and sound." He finished, looking down at his feet while rubbing the back of his head.
It was silent for a long while, the voice of North still drifting through her mind. Almost absentmindedly, she lifted her right hand and looked at it, looking slightly puzzled.
"You know…" Theta said, not looking at her, "North has never let go of your hand while he's been sitting beside your bed and waiting for you to wake up."
A smile spread over Theta's face when he could see Ala's face splitting into a fond smile too when she realized that the feeling on her right hand was the warmth of North's hand on hers.
"I… would love to come back. But I don't know if I am able to really find my way back." She muttered, clenching her hand into a fist and letting it sink back again.
"It doesn't matter if you manage it. The most important thing is to just try it." Theta replied, taking another step forward. He felt like he had to return soon since this here wasn't only draining for him but for North also. He was threatening to fall asleep again. Theta suspected he had been up for a while now and was tired.
"Try it, and you're going to be fine. You'll find your way back eventually." He said, feeling his form flicker. Sighing, he turned to Ala, "I have to go now. I feel my energy getting drained. I can't stay with you all the time since my chip's not implanted in your neural system. It's draining for North too and, besides that, you have to find your way back to the real world on your own."
It was silent once more, but then Ala looked up and Theta felt relieved to see that the old sparkle was back in her eyes again. Theta felt like this was easier than he thought, but he knew very well that she had a lot of shit to sort out with the others after she had woken up again.
"I will try then." She replied, a grin appearing on her face.
"Do that. I'll go back to rest to be back online when you're back." Theta's figure started disappearing.
"Yeah. Thanks, Theta." She replied.
However, before Theta could disappear, she grasped his arm.
"Could you do me a favor?" She asked sheepishly.
Theta nodded at that, waiting for her to continue, "Could you ask North to keep on talking? I feel like he's going to be able to show me the way out of here."
The young male blinked at her for some moments before starting to grin, "Sure can. See you soon." He replied before vanishing completely.
The sun had risen completely by now and Ala could see a wide plain starting to spread out at the end of the street with the houses.
Listening, she could hear North telling her about his fuck up in the bar back in New Bangkok, but suddenly he stopped. It was silent for a moment, before she heard him laugh.
"Okay, so what else can I tell you… Oh, have I ever told you about my childhood together with South?"
She couldn't help but laugh.
Starting to walk down the road towards the plain, she muttered, "You're such a dork."
By the time North was in the introduction of their family structures, Ala had broken out into a full-fledged run. She was running down the road and over the plain as fast as she could.
After her talk with Theta, she wanted nothing more than to wake up again as soon as possible.