World of Advent Chapter Three

Back at the workhouse, everyone was in shock.

"Surely he was just sick," Charles muttered as the words 'Local Mechanic and Head of Family declared dead...' danced across the screen once more. "A little under the weather."

Cipher had neglected to tell his family that Tom had turned Maverick. Not wanting to disturb them, he let them believe that Tom had perished under some unknown sickness. How long the facade would last he didn't know, seeing as reploids rarely ever could get sick.

"What's gonna happen to us now, Cipher?" asked one of the younger family members. "What are we gonna do now?"

"We're going to continue shop as normal," Cipher said. "That's for certain. Tom wouldn't want us to let something like this stop the workhouse from running."

"He's dead, Ci" one of them said exasperatedly. "It doesn't matter what he would have wanted now."

"If respect for the dead doesn't catch your attention, then do it for me," Cipher said firmly. "Like always, we've needed the revenue to keep everybody fed. Without Tom's extra funds, however, I don't know if we can make ends meet this time."

There was a silence that stretched across the room. Even the gears, which normally squeaked when not oiled properly seemed to lay silent with the rest of them.

"What does that mean," Charles asked. "We're not going to have to split up, are we?"

Cipher nodded dumbly. "I'm afraid so. We'll keep up shop until everyone has the opportunity to take a blood test. Like it or not, we're going to find out who you guys really belong to."

It was not a decision Cipher liked to make. Had he any other option, he would have chosen it, but the only alternative would be to let his foster siblings become wardens of the state, which usually ended up with them being drafted into the army. And that, Cipher had already decided, was not going to happen.

"It seems like this is goodbye." Cipher's voice choked as he looked at the mixed array of faces looking at him. They had never truly been united by the bonds of blood, but they had called themselves a family, if for a short time.

There was a shuffling amidst them as they shared looks, not knowing if the person next to them would have to say good bye forever.

"So this is it then," Charles said hopelessly. "How can you expect us to keep up shop now? What's the point?"

"It's only for a few days," Cipher promised them.

"What if..." one of them quivered, "what if we're Umbrians?"

It was an Advent's worst nightmare to have their blood test only to find out that instead of belonging to loving parents, they were sired by a monster.

"Then I know someone who would be happy to have you," Cipher said confidently. "You'll have a new family, a larger one. That's all. There's nothing to be ashamed of if you are an Umbrian."

One of the youngest of Cipher's siblings, a little girl named Sophia tugged at his wrist. "If I am an Umbrian, will you still love me?"

Cipher picked her up. "Of course. Knowing you though," he said, poking at her chosen garb, a princess dress, "you'll probably end up being part of a Noble family."

"Really?" Sophia said, excited. Yay! Did you hear that everyone, I'm a princess! Now you have to do what In say."

Cipher shook his head as he set his foster sister down. Part of him really would miss his family's crazy antics. "Whatever you say, your highness. What do you say we find out who your real parents are?"

Sophia looked anxious for a second. "But... what if... what if they don't want me?"

"Nonsense," Charles said from the back. "It's us ugly lugs that don't stand a chance."

The crowd laughed. Cipher's tensions eased a little, knowing that his family was taking the separation well.

"That's it then," Cipher said. "Charles, you're in charge again. Call me if something happens."

Charles nodded in response. "I'll make sure everything runs smoothly."

"Thanks. I won't be long." Cipher made his way to the back of the workshop, where Tom's old office was. Buried at the bottom of half made paychecks and old bills lay the object of his search. Each Head of the family had record of each of their charges, including their blood tests. Taking each paper into his hands, Cipher made notice of the random pieces of data sprawled across the page, an algorithm of each person's DNA. Surprisingly, the data seemed to make sense to Cipher somehow, almost as if it was rearranging itself to a format that made sense to his mind.

This wasn't the first time it had had happened to him either. Almost as if by accident, Cipher could read exceedingly complex blueprints, something even Tom couldn't do.

Shaking it off, Cipher collected the blood tests before making his way to his C-Slider. There was a governmental branch not too far from here that specialized in decoding blood tests.

It was a longer ride than usual. For some reason, all routes leading to the pier had been blocked off and there was an air of excitement about. Seeing as he had no business at the Pier today, however, Cipher ignored it and strode through the traffic to make it the the Blood Testing Facility.

Cipher expected large lines and impatient workers. What he didn't expect was to see a familiar face.

"Hey Harley" Cipher greeted his friend. "What're you doing here?"

Harley smiled, but it was noticeably strained. "Nothing much," he said, the strain evident in his voice as well. "You?"

"I'm here to get my familiy's blood tests taken care of," Cipher said. "Hate to break it to you, but you may be getting some more siblings."

"Siblings I can handle" Harley said with a nervous laugh. His eyes darted to a point behind Cipher.

"Harley," Cipher whispered anxiously, "what's going on? This is the first time I've ever seen you nervous."

Harley pointed to a mirror, but all Cipher could see was a reflection of his own image... until it moved, without Cipher's accord. Cipher stared at the image before it shrouded itself in a brown cloak. It looked almost as if someone had painted a picture of him, with deliberate mistakes. The unknown specter was taller than Cipher and had a thin scar on his face that Cipher could not claim as his own. Before Cipher could get a closer look, the figure had disappeared amidst the crowd of incoming people.

"Move it," snarled one of the people in line, a reploid with gray armor. "What are you staring at?"

"N-Nothing," Cipher stuttered. "Sorry."

Harley leaned in towards Cipher, handing him a note. "Don't open it until it's safe," he muttered. "I'll see if I can handle things from here."

Cipher's mind was in such a whirl that he barely noticed when his number was called. As he made his way to the desk, a new thought entered his mind. Did he want to take his own blood test?

No, another thought answered. Some other day, maybe, but today just concerns his family. And so Cipher turned in all the blood tests minus his own, patiently waiting for the results.

"Here you go," the service reploid said cheerfully. "Have a nice day."

"You too," Cipher said automatically, shifting through the papers. With a groan, he noticed several Umbrians among the list. It looked as if Sophia wasn't getting a storybook ending after all.

With a heavy heart, Cipher made his way back to the workhouse to deliver the news. Some happy families were made that day, but the majority took a ride to Hotel Ruin. Cipher watched them go with a sad face, wishing things could have turned out better.

It wasn't until the end of the day that Cipher remembered the mysterious stranger and the note. Cipher unfolded it to notice a handwriting different than Harley's.

'Meet me at the Pier tonight. 10:00. Don't be late.' the note read. Cipher wondered what it was and why it resembled a ransom note. Who on Earth would go to such extremes just to deliver a letter? Who wanted to meet him so badly?

Cipher shook his head wearily, too lost in his own thoughts to see Neige enter the building.

"Sure looks different without everyone here, doesn't it?" Neige noted. "I liked it better before."

Cipher looked up sharply. "Neige! I didn't see you come in."

"Jumpy today, are we? You left the door open." Neige gave Cipher an appraising look. "So did you take your own blood test?"

Cipher shook his head. "You know how I feel about that."

"Why not? What's the worst that could happen?"

Cipher sighed. He had known the answer for a while, even if he refused to admit it to himself. "Who is my family then, if I'm not an Umbrian? If they're really who you think they are, why didn't they come find me? They had the resources. Why couldn't they keep looking?" Cipher's breath shook as if he were physically exhausted by this new revelation.

Neige's face fell. "Is that how you really feel?"

"Of course it is" Cipher exploded. "Me? The son of the two greatest heroes of our time and they couldn't be bothered to LOOK FOR ME? It's preposterous."

"They looked," Neige said desperately. "Believe me. I was there. You have no idea how heartbroken Ciel was when they learned of your fate. That was the first day I ever saw Zero cry."

"You mean their sons," Cipher corrected. "Their sons, not me."

"Cipher..." Neige reached forward. "Just trust me, okay?"

"I do trust you," Cipher said eventually. "I just don't trust myself to do it."

"Very well," Neige said at last. "So you're not the long lost son of Ciel. Would you still be interested in joining the Resistance?"

"Of course," Cipher said. "It's always been my dream to join them and fight off the last of Weil's lieutenants."

"Well," Neige said with a grin. "you may be in luck. The Resistance is parading out on the Pier today. I'm surprised you haven't heard about it."

"So that's what everybody was so excited about," Cipher said. "I was wondering what they were up to."

"If you hurry, you may be able to catch a glimpse of the heroes themselves," Neige said with a wink. "Or I could do you a favor as a mutual friend and hook you up."

"I think I will," Cipher said as he mounted the C-Slider. "Thanks."

"Anytime," Neige said. "Maybe I can make a story out of it."

Cipher's ride to the Pier could not have been called a relaxing one. All around the sides of the roads, protesters lined together, poster to poster. What they were protesting, Cipher could not tell.

Finally, Cipher reached his destination amidst thousands of cheering Arcadians.

"My brothers," a voice boomed from behind them. Cipher's knuckles whitened as he realized what the signs said. "For too long we have allowed them to walk amongst us. For too long we have given them rights, as if their existence weren't enough. You know who I am talking about."

The Templars had arrived to crash the party. Cipher distinctly remembered them from a very young age for their brutal tactics against all Advent kind. Any family found with an Advent would often be at risk for being torched at the stake in the beginning of their reign. While they had grow out of support in time, they still managed to be a thorn in the side of any self respecting Advent's side. And due to the new free speech laws, there wasn't a thing Cipher could do about it. Legally.

Cipher had half a mind to silence them himself as the Templars continued their speech.

"I, Crux, will show you the righteous way, the sanctified path towards life. Live a life free of the abominations of metal and flesh, and join us."

Now they were passing out buckets for donations. Cipher's stomach clenched as he noticed quite a few of the crowd giving to the Templars.

"Don't mind them," someone said to Cipher. "They can't hurt us."

It was as if he were looking at a miniature version of himself. The Advent who had walked up to Cipher had bright blue eyes and blonde hair, a mischievous grin lighting up his features. "Besides, even if they tried, they couldn't. My Dad would stop them."

"Listen kid," Cipher said, "I don't know who you're father is, but I doubt he could take the entire group of Templars."

The kid ignored him. "So what are you doing here?"

"I've come to check out the parade," Cipher special. "I bet you'd want to see Zero, wouldn't you? The famous hero and all that."

But the kid merely shrugged, almost as if he wasn't interested. "Can you show me around?"

"Me? Sure," Cipher said, surprised. "Where do you want to go?"

"I don't know," the kid said. "Just somewhere away from the parade.

Cipher took him to the stands, wondering why everyone was giving him such odd looks. Was it really that odd to be escorting someone else around? Eventually, Cipher bought him an extra fattening sundae, something the kid insisted on because his mother wouldn't let him have one on most occasions. So they sat art a bench, each eating their own respective ice cream as the kid pulled out something.

"What are you working on?" Cipher asked. "A crossword?"

"Nope," the kid said, tilting the paper so Cipher could see.

Cipher sweat dropped. The kid was reading advanced quantum physics as if it were nothing. Even weirder, the complex formulas seemed to make sense to Cipher.

"Homework," the kid said in response to the look Cipher gave him. "I have to finish three pages before combat practice."

"Jeez," Cipher said. "And I thought I had it bad with my blueprints."

"Blueprints?" The kid seemed to take interest in the subject. "What're you working on?"

Cipher hesitated before pulling it out. "It's a design I've been working on for a while now. I call it the C-Slider 2.0."

"Wow," the kid said, going over the schematics. "This is really advanced."

"Really?" Cipher had never really given it much thought. He had just done what had come naturally to him.

"Can I keep it?" the kid asked. "This is really cool."

Cipher shrugged. It's not like he didn't have extras back at the workhouse. "Sure. Knock yourself out."

Cipher watched the kid in amusement as he became engrossed in the plans, not noticing as the sun began to set. As the sun began to set, the moon rose, and with it, it appeared, the Templars.

"You shouldn't be out here at this time of night," one of the Templars spoke. "It's dangerous for Advents like yourselves."

"The kid pulled the blueprints shut, stuffing them in a file in his pocket. "I wouldn't give us any trouble if I were you. I now how to use my oversol."

"So the little abomination knows how to use his reploid half, does he? Good, this'll make it all the more fun."

"Back off," Cipher said in response, shielding the kid from view. "You'll have to get through me first."

"Jack," one of them said, a definite quaver in his voice. "Maybe we should just leave them alone."

"I'm sure Crux wouldn't mind if we roughed up a few kids," Jack said. "What are you so scared of?" He turned to the kid, a wicked smile on his face as he pulled out a gun. "I bet you wished your daddy were here to save you, huh?"

"He doesn't have to," a cold voice came from behind them. "He's already here."

"Dad!" the kid turned to face his father.

Zero gave his son a glare. "Cero, I thought I told you not to stray too far? Your mother's been worried sick. Are you hurt," he asked in a softer voice.

"Z-Z-Zero," the one named Jack stuttered. "Your son? We didn't, I mean, we didn't really mean it, did we guys?" But the rest of his gang had already fled.

"I'll give you three seconds," Zero stated, a cold fury etched upon his face. "Run."
Zero turned to face Cipher. "Thank you for taking care of my son."

"No problem," Cipher said. "Anytime."

"Oh yeah," Cero said. "I haven't asked you what your name is."

"It's Cipher."

Zero blinked in surprise. "Cipher? Who are your parents? They must be worried about you as well."

"I don't have any," Cipher admitted. "I've grown up in the Lower families all my life."

Zero appeared noticeably troubled by this information. "Cipher?" he muttered, barely audible under his breath. "But it can't be." Zero gave Cipher his full attention once more. "Well, Cipher, we would be happy to have you in the Resistance. It seems that my son has taken a definite liking to you."

"Me? Join? Join the Resistance?" Cipher couldn't believe the words. "I'd love to! It's always been my dream-" Cipher cut himself off before he said too much.

"I see," Zero said, the slightest of smiles on his stern face. "You looked troubled. Is there something on your mind?"

Cipher's face darkened as he remembered the news he had received just the other day. "Sir, I was wondering if I could ask you something?"

"Yes?"

"Is the Maverick Virus really alive once more? What does this mean for the world?"

Zero looked taken aback. "I see. You know about that." Zero gave a weary sigh, looking out against the sky. "I've spent my whole life fighting Mavericks. I've developed a kind of sense for these things. Yes, Cipher, I believe the Virus to be active once more."

"So why does Harpuia insist on hiding it from the rest of Arcadia," Cipher asked. "Isn't it better to prepare for something than let it hit you without warning?"

"There are many things he and I disagree on," Zero said. "But since the fall of Weil, he has done well in ruling the city. I dare not contradict him now, in this time of peace."

"I see," Cipher said.

"Don't worry," Cero said. "Dad'll take care of it. He always does."

Zero nodded. "Don't concern yourself with the matter. If you wish to join us, however, and help us against this new- and old- threat, meet us at the nearest outpost. I'll be waiting."

Zero and his son walked outside, doubtless to return to the Resistance. Cipher watched them leave, an odd feeling in his heart as he imagined Cero with the rest of his family. But there were more important things on his mind now, like finding out who had sent the message, and who wanted to meet him so badly.

It was 9:45. Cipher decided to make it to the edge of the pier as requested. Barely a minute passed the tenth hour before he could make out three shapes walking towards him.

"Lay off, will you," Harley's voice could be heard. "I've lead you to him, now uphold your end of the deal."

"Harley?" Cipher asked. "What's going on?"

"Ask them," Harley said, jabbing his thumb at the two robed figures. "They were going to blow up the Blood Testing Facility unless I showed you to them.

Cipher immediately switched to a battle stance. "Is this true?"

"Relax," the one on the right said, taking out a pulsating device, tossing it up in the air, only to have it bounce harmlessly against the ground. It's a dud. No one was ever in any real danger."

"So why did you go to such lengths just to meet up," Harley asked. "Odd time for a date."

"Oh you'll see soon enough," the one on the left said. "We've come here to duel you."

"Two on one," Harley bristled. "He won't be alone."

"Very well," the one on the right said. "Don't blame us if you get caught up in this."

The two robed figures made the first move, rushing at Harley and Cipher, only to be stopped by tendrils of shadow that seemed to be emanating from the ground, the air, even Harley himself.

"An Umbrian, I see." The one on the right stopped before being impaled upon one of the tendrils whirling around Harley.

"Don;t look down on me!" Harley shouted pushing the tendrils further.

"Not to worry," the one facing Harley stated as he erected a wall of violet energy, causing the tendrils to disperse. "I've faced my fair share of prejudice in my lifetime."

"So you're one of them, huh? I thought Harpuia banned your kind from the city limits."

"One of who," Cipher shouted to Harley. "Just who are we facing?"

"I wouldn't worry about that, right now," the other robed figure said, at Cipher's side in a flash. In an instant, he had whirlwind kicked Cipher to the ground. "You have other things to be worrying about now. Like me."

Cipher gritted his teeth, wishing he could activate his oversol like Harley. But try as he might, no glow of energy appeared, no miraculous new power showed itself. It looked as if Cipher was on his own.

Cipher dug into his pocket, digging something out that he had hoped he would never have to use. Throwing the flash bang into the air, Cipher grabbed a nearby pipe, swinging at his new enemy.

To his dissapointment, however, the robed figure just stood there, catching the pipe wioth his bare hand.

"Better. You'll have to do better than that," the robed figure growled.

Cipher jumped back, avoiding the next set of blows that rained down upon him. From a distance, he could see Harley emanating a black orb, a swirling mass of razor sharp tendrils, only to have them be blown away by a blast.

"Keep your eyes on your own opponent," a voice said from behind Cipher. A split second later, cipher could feel crippling pain emanating from his back.

"Gah!" Cipher spat out blood. "What do you want?"

"... You may not be the one after all. A pity." Te robed figure allowed Cipher to stand up, and tossed him the pipe. "Now come at me with everything you've got!"

Cipher rushed towards his opponent, swinging the pipe as hard as he could, hearing the air bend around it. But in an instant, his enemy had brought his hand down, this time, an energy blade protruding from his wrist. The pipe, now in two, clattered to the floor.

"Now do you see," Cipher's enemy taunted him, "it's hopeless, an unrealized Advent going against one who has awoken his reploid half."

Cipher gritted his teeth in frustration. In the corner of his mind, he knew why he couldn't let loose his oversol. He was too afraid of anything that could tell hi who he really was. Cipher stood up, a hard glare in his eyes now. The time for childish fears was over.

Cipher's enemy took notice of the look in his eyes. "So you've finally risen to the challenge, huh? Time to see what you can do."

And with the same energy saber that had cleaved the metal pipe in two, Cipher's enemy swung at Cipher.

Expecting the end to come, Cipher was surprised to see a blood red sheen slowly spreading across his arm, an identical sword to the one his enemy had blocking it.

"Chaos!" Cipher's enemy called across to his friend. "We're done here."

"You think he's the one?" Chaos had detached himself from his fight with Harley. "And here I was, having fun getting warmed up."

Cipher glared at the two. "You come here, threaten us, damn near kill us, and leave now that

I can fight? What kind of cowards are you?"

"Cowards?" Chaos gave a laugh. "Light and I could have destroyed you in an instant. We only came here because Light wanted to check something out."

"And that would be?"

"This" Light said simply, tossing his cloak to the side. A mirror image of Cipher stared back, a mocking smile on his lips.

"Who are you," Cipher demanded.

"Don't you see," Light laughed before flickering away. "I'm your brother."