Author's Note (forevermagik13): So apparently, I've gotten on this kick where I upload a burst of chapters every few days. Right. Cool. For those of you who are reading my "Before the Epilogue," I just updated there. For those of you reading my old drafts, I updated there. Rarmaster updated "Dead Inside" yesterday and that is why I am updating "Can't Escape" because they're running parallel. This is what is going on not in Hollow Bastion lol.

Anywho, I wrote these snippets of scenes, I hope you enjoy them. Joseph's always fun to write. So is Alpha when he's protective over his computer. =P

Oh! And just a note, the stuff in italics down in the scene with Kairi... I'll let you guess who that is.

EDIT: It isn't so much as Tulip CAN'T kill Joseph. It's more of a WON'T. There is something about Joseph that even Tulip can't kill. Granted, that's not stopping the Larxene Replicas. But, they are, Larxene, in a way...

"That was more corridor action," Alpha said, shoving Vexen out of the way as the computer bleeped again. After a moment he concluded: "Never mind, it was just 6. He decided it would be a great idea to corridor into his room rather than use the door."

"Most of us do that," Amaryllis said.

"6 was already standing in front of his door," 2 said with a sigh.

"Was that a star shard that just went off?" Lexaeus said, casually looking over at the still-bleeping computer.

"Joseph just went somewhere," Vexen said. "Nothing out of the ordinary."

Amaryllis laughed. "Does 29 know?"

"I'm going to kill 37 myself," 19 said, finally waking up. "After I Reprogram Tulip."

"You do realize that we're locked out of the Rewriting Program, right?" Alpha said, raising an eyebrow.

"I'll figure something out," 19 muttered. "Where's 22?"

"7's taking care of him," 2 said. "If you want…"

19 was already out the door.

"I'm going to write that off as him getting hit on the head," Alpha said. "For he knows that we can't Rewrite anyone."

xx

Joseph had wanted to go immediately somewhere in search of a replacement sword. However, his nose convinced him to use the Repair Program first. He sat down across from Lotus, making a face as he did so.

"Keep doing that and I'll fix it so your face stays that way permanently," Lotus said, not entirely teasing.

Joseph sighed and relaxed his face. Lotus ran the Repair Program on Joseph's nose.

29 came and sat down next to Joseph, holding his shoulder as he did so.

"See! Aweas I oo…"

"Use the Repair Program?" 29 finished for Joseph, so that Joseph would stop talking while Lotus fixed his face.

Joseph would have nodded, but that would defeat the purpose.

29 shifted and winced. Tulip may have been Reprogrammed into a killing machine, but he still had a thing for shoulders. At this rate, he'd start looking like Riku…

"Up!" Lotus said. "You're done."

Joseph moved out of the way so that 29 could get Repaired.

"I'm very proud of what you did today, Joseph," 29 said quietly.

Joseph stopped dead in his tracks. "Really?" he asked.

29 nodded. "You were very helpful today."

"Does that mean…?"

29 grimaced. Though, it was unclear whether this was from the Repair or Joseph's question.

"I'd still prefer if you stayed out of the fray. I don't want it to be something more than your nose that gets broken next time."

Joseph sighed.

"But, we are still grateful," 29 said.

A smile began to form at the corners of Joseph's mouth.

"Hey," he said. "Do you think I could go to Twilight Town or something?"

29 nodded.

"Really?" Joseph asked, his eyes wide.

29 reached into his pocket and pulled out some munny.

"I still have WINNER sticks," Joseph said.

"I know, but Namine said you were running low. Have one on me today."

Joseph nodded and took the munny.

"Thanks," he said.

29 nodded.

Joseph activated the star shard.

xx

Except, he didn't appear in Twilight Town. Rather, he was in a town that appeared to be on an Island of sorts.

"What the…?" he began. Then he smacked his forehead in realization.

He hadn't really been thinking about Twilight Town when he'd activated the star shard, rather, he'd been thinking about places that he could get a new sword. Apparently, he could get one here.

He thought about places he could be and was instantly presented with where he was. Sora had talked about it a bit, though Namine had talked about it more: Destiny Islands. Sora had grown up here, and had gotten the sword here. Therefore, Joseph should be able to get a replacement here.

"Cool, now I just need to find a place that sells wooden swords. And, maybe, I'll actually have some munny left for some ice-cream."

He casually began walking through the little town. No one seemed to pay him any notice. He was about to go into a woodworking shop to see if they had any swords when he spotted someone oddly familiar.

He had seen her before, but not this her. Not unless he was randomly in that parallel universe again.

She looked different, younger. Her hair was shorter and she wore a school uniform. The other Kairi had worn an Organization cloak of all things. This Kairi was in a group of people, but even Joseph could tell that she looked detached. She replied to every statement made to her, but didn't seem to be really participating in the conversation.

There was another girl and two boys with her. One of the boys carried a giant ball. The other girl seemed to be bouncing as she just stood there. The other boy merely looked bored.

"I think Sora would want me to say hello at least," Joseph said to himself. "If not, Namine would."

With a determined nod, Joseph walked up to the group.

"Hello, do I know you?" the girl that wasn't Kairi asked.

"'Fraid not," Joseph said. He looked at Kairi. "Can I speak with you for a bit please, miss?"

Kairi seemed a bit shocked that this kid wanted to talk to her exclusively, but she wasn't too freaked out. After all, she talked to someone she couldn't even see just because he seemed to understand her in a way that Selphie, Tidus and Wakka didn't.

You called?

"You guys go on without me," she said. "I'll catch up with you later."

The three of them were about to protest, but thought better of it. Kairi had been acting weird ever since Sora left. And, they suppose they couldn't really blame her. They all gathered up their things and walked away.

Joseph watched them go with an interested expression on his face.

Who the hell is this kid?

"So what were you guys talking about, if you don't mind me asking?" he said. "You didn't seem too thrilled about it."

"School dances," Kairi said, making a face. "The three of them are trying to get me to go with someone. But the person I want to go with…"

"Isn't here," Joseph finished for her.

But I am, dammit! Granted, I'm not exactly sure HOW that would work… since NO ONE can see me and she's the only one that seems to be able to hear me on a consistent basis besides Sora. Oh, and Cloud… and Aerith… oh nevermind. Regardless, no one could see me and I'm not even sure how we could hold hands or do all those other things that you do at dances…

Damn, how I wish I could just hold her hand…

"Wait, how did you know?"

"Do you want to go get ice cream or something?" Joseph asked. "I think I have enough munny for two…"

Oh, it's this friggin kid. I remember him. What the HELL is he doing HERE? He's taking up my time with her…

"If you want ice cream, I'll buy," Kairi said. "Worlds know I'm not spending my munny on anything else. Especially not that dress that Selphie says would look wonderful on me…"

Well, of COURSE it would look wonderful on you…

"You don't have to," Joseph said.

"I insist," Kairi said, pulling munny out of her purse. "You save yours for something that you want. Now, please tell me how you know him and how you know he's not here."

"Well, for starters, my name's Joseph," Joseph said, saluting.

Kairi giggled. It was probably the most organic laugh she'd laughed in a long time.

DAMN! I'm supposed to be the one who makes her laugh...