So! many thanks to Milo DREH Savior again, and those reading this should thank Milo as well, because this chapter is up because of the, what, four reviews posted? Anyway, I feel honorbound now that I have 5 more reviews, to put another chapter on. Some quick backstory about me: I have a very serious mental disorder that most people laugh at in misunderstanding. This causes me to be depressed, anxious, and overall not in a very great mood a good part of the time. I feel a lot better when I see that "Review" post from Fanfiction on gmail. I don't think you realize how important reviews are to me, or any writer really. They are what keep us going. They give us inspiration and hope when we feel down and underappreciated. So think of us writers whenever you read a story. It wasn't grown on the fabled "fanfic tree." To those who have reviewed- on any story- thank you.
World of Advent Chapter Fourteen
Team three made their way to their assigned living quarters in silence, each reflecting on what was about to be said. For Cipher, it meant an explanation. For Sorra and Skie, it meant answering for their previous behavior. Both parties were, in some sense, both dreading and relieved to find themselves in the situation at hand.
Skie opened the second to last door in a long, winding hallway marked with the occasional painting against brown wallpaper. Soon, all members of the party were nestled against the wall opposite the door, waiting for someone to speak first.
"Alright," Cipher broke the silence. "We're here. Now talk."
"Alright," Sorra sighed heavily. "Are you familiar with the Namesake Revolution?"
"Of course," Cipher said. "I doubt there isn't a person alive with my name who hasn't." The Namesake Revolution, Cipher recalled, referred to the massive influx of people naming their children after Zero and Ciel's lost children in hopes they would be mistaken for them.
"Most of them were easily dispelled," Sorra said, "but some seemed genuine. The hair was natural, as well as the blue eyes expected of an Advent Zero. For those individuals, the Resistance had hope that they had at last found the lost children of Ciel and Zero. Every time, however, when the bloodwork came in, we were to be disappointed. Ciel and Zero were crushed. But they kept at it. For years, they would hold these mockeries of a search, until a reasonable chance came up that the real ones were identified. Well, one day, they received a call coming from within the Resistance itself. It reported to have found someone matching the signs of Cipher, down to the name. We all believed that we had found Zero's youngest at the time, and dispatched a recon team to recover it."
"Unfortunately," Skie continued, "Our enemies thought the source was credible as well. The search team was small, unprepared for what met them at the orphanage. Only two people, a man and his wife. Mom and Dad."
"They rescued the child," Sorra spoke when Skie no longer seemed capable. "But lost their lives in the process. All because of some hotshot rookie who blew the whistle too soon. It would have been almost worth it, had the child been Ciel's. But it wasn't. The orphanage in question was poor, and in need of publicity. So they falsified the young "Cipher" so that he seemed genuine. I think that was the final straw. From what I've been told, Ciel shut herself in her room. Zero wouldn't stop training for days on end. They kept apologizing to us, young as we were at the time. They thought it was their fault that our parents had died. No longer would they send Resistance forces out to search for their lost children. Looking for them themselves was out of the question, given the violent instability within the world, even the Resistance, concerning Advents themselves. Templar was at the height of its power, and would stop at nothing to see the brief existence of Adventkind snuffed out. They had to be opposed, and Ciel seemed to be the only one brave enough to do it among the humans."
"The loss of our mother and father hit us hard," Skie remembered. "We were too young to understand what Templar really stood for at the time, but the memory of our parents was still fresh. We came to resent those who joined the Resistance for fame, for glory. Just like the one who had inadvertently sent our Mom and Dad to their deaths. In time, I came to forgive them. But for Sorra, Mother was everything. Her tutor and her mentor, she was going to be taught to be a field medic."
"But no one was there to heal Mom," Sorra said bitterly. "I learned that if you want to protect a life, you have to do it yourself."
"It's nothing personal," Skie concluded. "Really. It's just that your name, who you reminded her of- it was like losing them all over again. To be put on the same team? That was the ultimate insult. But we see now, that you aren't like the soldier who called for a recon team. You never asked to be named Cipher."
"I'm s-s-sory," Sorra hiccupped, tears streaming down her face. "I just want to see my Mom again. I wish the Namesake Revolution never happened. I just want my parents back."
Skie's face was scrunched up in sorrow, but held back his tears. "Families shouldn't be kept apart. If at all possible, they should be kept together."
Cipher nodded slowly. "I see. I'm sorry, for any pain I may have caused you. But I didn't ask for this either. When I was young, people were always nice to me. They saw my name, my looks and saw only opportunity. They showered me with gifts, praise, affection. And then, when I was old enough, I was asked to take the Blood Test. But I never did. It wasn't long after that the gifts stopped coming. I was no longer the perfect child, worthy of admiration. Their attention turned elsewhere. Not long after that, large men in black suits came to tell me that I was no longer suited to be part of the family anymore. This was the first in a series of events that always led to the same event: my being told I was no longer part of my adopted family. When I was fourteen, I decided to escape the cycle. I found a reploid, Tom, who would take me in and let me work for him. He adopted me, not because I looked like the lost son of two heroes, but because of my smarts, my willingness to work. Soon, I was part of a family of misfits like myself. I was home. But then, Tom was taken by the Virus, and I was alone again. Neige introduced me to the Resistance, and I thought I had found a home again."
"We were wrong," they said. "We didn't know."
Cipher closed his eyes in acceptance. "I forgive you. Let's start all over then, shall we? Hi, my name's Cipher."
"Sorra," she hiccupped with a small smile.
"Skie."
Cipher smiled. "There. No reason to hold on to any grudges. We'll complete this mission in no time. As a team."
"As a team," they agreed. And that, it would appear, settled the matter.
Night fell, bringing stars and moonlight, but this sight was lost to the three sleeping figures dreaming below, who thought nothing of it. When they woke, Cipher was shaking them from their stupor.
"Ready for part two?" Cipher grinned, glad to be on good terms with his teammates at last.
"You bet," Skie said.
"It's too early," Sorra moaned.
"Tough," the two boys said.
Sorra groaned, but crawled out of her blankets nonetheless.
Outside their corridor, they were met with the sight of Theta and Gamma, their backs turned to each other. They appeared to have been fighting.
"What's wrong," Skie called out. "Trouble in paradise?"
"None of your business," Theta said irritably.
Skie shrugged. "So what's the plan? Where to now?"
Theta sighed. "I really don't see the point in it, but orders are orders. We are to babysit – ahem- protect a local who apparently knows about the location of a high density Maverick nest."
"I see," Cipher said. "Who is it?"
Theta and Gamma shared a look together. "It's Cipher," they said reluctantly. "Cipher Unclaimed."
"Huh?" Cipher looked at them in confusion.
"One of the Namesake Revolution," Gamma clarified. "Not you."
"Ah," Cipher said. "Continue."
"I really don't see the point in it," Theta said, throwing down the report. "I know his kind. He just wants to use this to get closer to the Resistance."
"Why's that?" Skie asked suspiciously.
"Apparently, he believes he truly is Zero's lost son. He's convinced, but refuses to take the Blood Test. I guess that would ruin the mystery, his greatest appeal. He's really only interested in getting attention. Rather pathetic if you ask me."
"Granted," Gamma said, "His oversol is red, but not the crimson Zero possesses. Still, it's close enough to give this idiot reason enough to be a pain in all our necks."
"Let's just get this over with," Sorra said. It was a mark of their newfound friendship that she didn't say anything about Cipher's own name.
"Agreed," Skie said. "Fill us in on the details on the way there."
"Fine by me," Theta said. "The sooner I'm done with this backwater mission, the better."
Theta assumed the seat of the cockpit, revving the engine of their hovercraft as soon as all parties were safely inside. "So, for the sake of clarity, we're gonna call this new Cipher "Cy." Got it?"
"Fine by me," Cipher said, pleased that he wasn't the one getting his name abridged.
The question of another bearing his name was a pervasive one, to Cipher. Knowing now that he was the original, the true child of Zero, the progeny of Ciel, what did he think of these Advents masquerading in his name?
It's not their fault, Cipher reasoned. No more than it had been his for being named as he was. If anyone, the parents were to blame. Still, those looking for fame by jumping on the title of his parents' lost son was irksome. So many people, groomed from the moment they were born to be someone they could never be. Odd, Cipher thought, that they tried so desperately to be one as unremarkable as he was.
And still, a contrary voice responded, they hurt Zero and Ciel. Your parents. Your family. And most perverse of it all, they had tried to take his place. They wanted to cast him aside, so that they could play House.
Cipher closed his eyes. Such thinking was unlike him.
"Are you alright," Skie asked him. "You seem kind of tense."
"Yeah," Cipher responded. "I just have a lot on my mind."
"You're not like him, you know," Skie said. "Cy's a different breed."
"Believe me," Cipher said dryly. "I know."
"Say," Skie said a little awkwardly. "Did you ever take the blood test?"
"Yes," Cipher said. "I took it a few weeks ago."
"Oh. Who are they? Your parents, I mean."
"It doesn't matter," Cipher said, an edge of frustration to his voice. "They don't know who I am anyway."
"Don't ever think like that," Sorra reprimanded him. "Somewhere out there, they're still probably looking for you, wondering where their child had gone."
Cipher looked down, processing these words. "If I were to show up, do you think they would accept me?"
"Of course!" Skie said. "If there's anything I learned at the Resistance, it's that they're like a big family. Even when we weren't related, Zero and Ciel were quick to make sure we were well taken care of."
"... I see." Cipher exhaled a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. Maybe, just maybe, there was hope. Perhaps he could have a family once more… His family, one that couldn't be taken from him by the likes of the Virus.
"We're here," Gamma said from the front. "Prepare for landing."
There was a soft 'thump' as the hovercraft touched ground. Not a second passed before the door swung open and a blonde haired teen swaggered inside.
"What took you so long," the person said. "Don't you know who I am? I'm a very important person you know."
"Spare us," Gamma said grumpily.
"Well," Cy said, continuing as if he hadn't heard Gamma, "I'll be quite famous soon enough. I'm probably Zero's son you know."
"No." Cipher fixed Cy with a steely glare.
"Excuse me?"
"There's no way you can be Zero's son," Cipher said.
"And who might you be?" Cy asked. "Let me guess," he said with a malicious grin. "You're the one they also call Cipher. I bet you just took the Blood Test and am jealous that someone like I, who has every chance at being the true one, is here." He put his arm around Cipher shoulders. "I'm destined for greatness. I can feel it."
"We are not born into greatness," Cipher spat, extracting Cy's arm from his shoulder much as one might an extremely large and disgusting slug. "Greatness is accomplished, not a title you are given."
"Just like something someone who has no chance of having my pedigree would say," Cy sniffed. "Well, don't be too jealous. Maybe I'll be kind enough to share some of my fame with your friends here. Say," he said, waggling his eyebrows at Sorra. "Care to share some of the glory? I could use a… companion until then."
"I'd rather kiss a maverick," Sorra said stoically.
"Hmph," Cy said. "Your loss."
Cipher smiled as he saw Sorra stopping Skie from firing a nearby tranquilizer, which he had been slowly edging towards Cy ever since he started to hit on his sister.
"Enough with the chit chat," Theta said from the cockpit. "Intel says you know where the mavericks are. Spill.
"Very well," Cy said. "There's an abandoned factory that some of the more advanced mavericks use to repair themselves. They've started to rule over the lesser mavericks. I wouldn't enter that place without some serious firepower."
"We've got that," Theta assured him. "What do you have to make assure us of your words' validity?"
"Simple," Cy said proudly. "I brought pictures. What do you say to that, eh sweet cheeks? Brave and clever."
"More like stupid and dense," Sorra muttered under her breath.
"Agreed," Theta said quietly. At last, something they could agree on.
Cy soon distributed a package of photos, of which they soon scrutinized for structural flaws or a way inside.
"The doors are swarming with mavericks," Skie said, cursing under his breath. "Looks like knocking isn't an option."
"Like it ever was," Gamma said. "Look here," he pointed out, referring to a small patch of light in the pictures of the second floor. "Light. There must be a window on the opposite side."
"Take us to the second floor," Gamma told Theta. "Cloak and Dagger."
"Roger that," Theta said, turning on the cloaking and the soft hum the machine emitted. "We'll be there in no time. Might as well get ready. Gamma, who's going with you?"
"I'd prefer Cipher- our Cipher, that is. Anyone else would just get in the way."
"Watch it," Skie growled. "We can take care of ourselves."
"Very well," Gamma said. "I'll take you, Sorra, and Cipher. Cy is to remain inside."
"Roger," they said in unison as Cy said nothing.
Soon, Theta flew the hovercraft inches away from the railing of the factory, where a small window, rusted shut by centuries of negligence, lay. Gamma hopped outside, summoning two plasma kunai, which he used to dissect the window from its hinges with surgical precision. Passing it to Skie, Skie passed it to Sorra, who in turn placed it inside the hovercraft, as opposed to letting it clang to the floors below.
The hovercraft began to inch away, but not before a loud clang was heard, Cy having jumped out from the vehicle.
"What the hell," Skie hissed in outrage. "What are you doing?"
"I know this place better than anyone," Cy said. "Face it- you need me."
"Well, it's not like we have a choice now," Gamma said frustratedly. "Just don't make any loud noises.
"Yessir," Cy said with a mock salute.
Gamma just groaned, pinching the bridge of his eyes.
Inside, a large quantity of mavericks lay, sleeping in large piles scattered across the enormous steel floor. The air was stale and dusty, and smelled of neglect.
"Careful," Gamma said in barely a whisper. "Arms out." It was at that moment, Cy decided to trip on a steel bar, coming in direct contact with a large, bladed maverick, who in turn, woke up several more bladed mavericks.
"Shit." The collective curse sounded by all members of the party.
"Is there anything you can't screw up," Sorra could be heard asking Cy as she dragged him away from the maverick's claws.
Cipher felt his saber slide out instinctively, cutting maverick after maverick down with precision. Months of practice at the Resistance had done his aim good.
The battle was vicious, but brief. In the end, the bodies of fallen reploids lay scattered at their feet, an assortment of bullet wounds, well placed kunai, or sword strokes seen in their corpses.
"They'll be back," Gamma said grimly, "In greater numbers. Let's just hope there isn't a Hive Queen."
They all shivered at the thought of meeting the wicked progeny of the Maverick Virus. Forged from the bodies of dead mavericks, the queens slowly developed self awareness, and sought to gain greater power. Fearsome in ability and stature, they were the bane of even the most experienced Hunters.
"I think it's best we split up," Cy said.
"Are. You. Crazy?" Gamma marched up to Cy. "You sure are a bundle of bright ideas, you know that? The moment we split our fighting capability, we become easier targets for the Mavericks.
"Well, I know the way out," Cy said. "So why not let the weak ones outside while such strong Advents as yourself can help us all get out?"
"Not a chance," Gamma said flatly. "We get out together or not at all."
"Very well," Cy said with the barest hint of a smile.
Cy stepped forward purposefully, his foot crunching against a pile of steel, which gave way to an enormous hole, swallowing Sorra, Cipher, and Cy.
The darkness was overwhelming to Cipher. It wasn't until Sorra brought out a pack of flares that he caught a sense of their bearings. They were inside an abandoned section of the factory, where no sign of mavericks were seen yet, luckily enough.
"Well at least we're not dead yet," Cipher said. "Not that Cy here has anything to do with it."
"Big words coming from someone scared of the dark," Cy said calmly. "Anyway, you won't be making it out of here alive anyway. Neither of you will."
With a wicked grin, Cipher cracked a vial of blood, splashing it across his overshirt, tossing it aside, then producing a small whistle.
"No," Cipher whispered, recognizing the item. "Don't do it."
"That's a maverick caller," Sorra gasped. "Do you have a death wish?"
"I swear," Cipher told Cy, "If we ever make it out here, I'm going to cut you. And from that blood, I will show you who you really belong to."
"Careful," Cy said, backing away from them. "Don't come closer or I'll blow it."
"What's your plan," Cipher growled. "You're up to something; what is it?"
"Well, my dear Cipher," Cy said, "That blood I just spilled was none other than Cero's, who I collected during a blood drive not too long ago. They'll find my discarded shirt with Ciel and Zero's collective DNA in it, the very shirt of one rumored to be Cipher himself! I will be remembered as a tragedy, the long lost son no one ever gave enough credit. The news networks will be ablaze upon learning of my demise. All I need to do is remove the witnesses." And at that, he blew the whistle.
It produced a sound barely audible, but one that seemed to cause the mavericks in the area great pain.
"Soon, all that will be left of us is my glorious legacy," Cy laughed, a crazed look in his eye. "The world will soon see me for what they should have all along! Beside my mangled body, they will mourn Cipher's death."
Cipher clenched his fist, images of those like Cy, causing Ciel and Zero pain, Sorra and Skie's parents needless deaths, that hope he had harbored since birth, to belong somewhere. To someone. It was time; the world no longer had any need for lies and deception.
"There are two flaws in that plan," Cipher said with an air of one cradling a bombshell. "First of all, when the mavericks come to savage you, your true DNA would cover that small bit of Cero's. Second, the son of Zero already took his blood test."
"Oh?" Cy said, an air of unhinged curiosity tinting his words. "And what makes you say that?"
"Because," Cipher growled, his oversol spreading across his body, crimson armor replacing soft skin, "That blood test is sitting in my safe. I am the son of Zero."