Disclaimer: not mine

Anyone else hate the gummi ship route to the Keyblade graveyard in kh3? It's horrible! Such a pian to get through, even my second time doing it since I'm replaying on a higher difficulty. So why are the guys see through before the heatless takes their hearts when Sora is chasing after them?

Chapter 12

Riku hated having to watch what he said but he didn't know enough about the crew of Voyager, not to mention keeping World Order. He had seen and sensed no sign of magic which meant saying nothing, at least where they could be overheard. They were good, but he knew the people around them were listening in. It was good that the crew was protective of Sora. He could tell, all of the suspicion was aimed his way, Sora was accepted.

There was no more Darkness on board than he would expect from normal people either which was good. Well, people who had been through battle which they obviously had, he could see the signs and he knew why Sora hadn't slept in so long. He knew there was a chance that they were using Sora thanks to the fact he'd had no memory when found, would have been easy to manipulate, but that just didn't feel like what was happening.

The Captain had felt genuine when they met, wary of him sure after all he was a stranger and he'd been wearing armour, but not like she was out to use or manipulate anyone. That put her miles ahead of a lot of people, even Master Yen Sid. Oh he had done what he had to save the Worlds, but Riku knew he had used them, Sora especially. They'd had words after Sora's 'death' over how he'd treated the younger male and Riku didn't have much to do with him anymore. Just because he was old and powerful didn't mean he was always right. That was proven by his sending Sora off to 'find the Power of Waking' when according to Ventus, he'd already had it, he just needed the circumstances and desire to use it.

Sora hadn't asked about magic or Keyblades yet, did he not remember at all? Or did he remember enough to keep quiet in public? Could Sora still call on his Keyblade? If his emotions had been stunted by amnesia and mind control… He'd followed Sora's heart but now they were together, well, he felt even weaker than after their disastrous exam. This seemed to be a World of technology, with no other magic around and no memory then Sora probably didn't even know it was an option to try and use.

That was his other major concern, the technology fused with Sora's body and his need for Regeneration in that alcove. Even beyond keeping World Order, could Sora leave? If he needed the technology to live then the only way would be to bring it along? Or find something to mimic it somehow? Unless they could use a Replica body for Sora? If his Heart could be transferred to one then he'd be truly human again, right?

"Riku?" Sora asked, bringing him out of his thoughts. "Will you have the surgery?"

He glanced down at his arm. It would be nice to not be in pain all of the time. Did he trust these people enough to undergo surgery at their hands?

"I could stay with you while it is done," Sora offered, as if sensing his hesitation. "My duty roster has been cleared because of your arrival."

"Duty roster?" Riku asked, curious.

"I take shifts in engineering," Sora told him. "I've been trying to integrate Borg transwarp technology with the Starfleet warp drive in order for Voyager to return home quicker. So far, I have been unsuccessful. I enjoy the work."

"Engineering? That's, wow." Sora? Engineering? The lazybones who hated school?

"I was not interested before?" he tilted his head slightly, and Riku chuckled.

"Not a bit. You hated school, found it boring, but I'm glad you've found something you like doing now." if he had a job, then he really was part of the crew. Just how much knowledge did having been a 'Borg' give Sora that he could work in such a role? The more he learned the more questions he had. "I guess we could at least talk to that Doctor more about the surgery," he offered, and Sora nodded.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

The Doctor left his office where he'd been comparing his scans of Sora and Mr Riku. He had everything he needed for the surgery prepared since he had assumed Sora would convince his friend to have it done. And he had picked up something he hadn't on that first look at the results that he wanted to take a deeper look at, with his permission. "Sora, Mr Riku," he greeted.

"Just Riku," the silver haired young man corrected. "Doctor?"

"Just the Doctor. I am an EMH, Emergency Medical Hologram. However, Voyager's living medical staff were killed four years ago, leaving me to fulfil the role permanently. While I have considered several name options, I've never been able to decide on one," he explained. "I assume you are here about the surgery?"

"I was hoping you could tell me exactly what you'd be doing?"

"Of course," the Doctor agreed. "Actually, I found a slight anomaly in your scans and would like to perform a more in depth one."

"Was it around his left hip area?" Sora asked.

"Well, yes, actually."

"Riku was injured there, badly."

"Oh?" he asked, gesturing to the biobed, and Riku sat on it, Sora standing by his side.

"I blocked an attack meant for Sora from a blade of…energy I guess you'd call it. After the fight I could barely use my leg. I had healing within a few hours but it does still bother me on occasion, especially if I have to run."

"I see. Well then, let's take a closer look. If you'd lie on your back please."

Riku nodded and lay down and the Doctor closed the bed over him, noticing him tense slightly.

"It's alright Riku, that is to use the diagnostic functions of the bed."

The Doctor blinked and looked at Sora. "You used a contraction," he observed.

"Why wouldn't he?" Riku asked in confusion.

"With no memory of his own, Sora's language skills come from the Collective itself. The Borg are very precise in their speech. While Sora has been learning to express himself more through speech, to use less formal language, he has not yet begun using contractions."

"He has…" Riku frowned. "Not many, not like he used to, but he has used a few since I've been here."

"Hmmm." He began his scans.

"I remember," Sora admitted, and the Doctor looked up at him.

"Remember what?" he asked.

"Riku, I remember Riku. The fight where he was injured, playing on the beach as children, fighting each other?"

"Well, friends do fight," he offered.

"With weapons?" Sora asked, and the Doctor looked at him and then Riku who flinched almost imperceptibly, to an organic being perhaps.

"Was I wearing baggy pants, a yellow shirt, and my hair was longer than now?" he asked and Sora nodded. Riku sighed, staring up at the ceiling. "Yeah, that was my fault," he admitted. "I did some really stupid things, but you beat some sense back into me in the end, literally," his lips twitched in a smirk. "You're good at that."

"Some man took over your body after."

"Xehanort, yeah, but you stopped him."

"I'm sorry, took over your body?" He couldn't help cutting into their discussion. He did wonder what kind of method was used, technology? Telepathy?

"He possessed me. I was so stupid and let it happen without realising that was what was happening exactly. Sora kept trying to make me see but…teenager," he shrugged slightly as he lay on the bed. "I barely managed to get enough control back to stop him killing Kairi after Sora beat my body the first time."

"I see…" he decided to run a deeper brain scan, just to be safe. The last thing they needed was someone who saw Sora as an enemy on the ship if there was anything of that person left within Riku. "What happened to him?"

"Dead, just before Sora vanished."

"Good," Sora stated, and the Doctor saw his hand lift partially towards Riku. It seemed having him there truly was helping Sora already.

"Ah, here is the problem." He tapped the controls to bring up what he had found on the screen where they could all see. "Whoever healed you did a good job, however they missed this." He indicated the damage. "Of course this is magnified many times, the damage is microscopic but when you run, the added stress to the area is putting pressure on it. Eventually, that pressure would have become too much."

"Is it fixable?"

"Of course, it won't even take replacing bone like your wrist. I can perform both procedures during the one surgery. You'll be able to use your wrist immediately, however I'd like to keep you here, lying down, for a few hours after just to ensure the internal work is stable if you agree to the second procedure." He explained both procedures to his newest patient without getting too technical since the young man didn't appear to have medical training of any kind.

Riku looked to Sora who nodded.

"I will stay with you."

He smothered a smile at the promise. "You can even assist if you like Sora, I trust your hands more than Mr Paris' with fine work. I know you have all the relevant physiological data. I do regret not seeing if you would be interested in training as my assistant before Lieutenant Torres snapped you up." He released the scanners, and Riku sat up.

"When can you do both?" Riku asked.

"Right now if you wish, I'll just need to inform the Captain I am in surgery."

"Alright, thank you Doctor."

"No thanks are necessary. Sora, you know where the medical gowns and bathroom are."

He left them to call the Captain.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Sora picked up a medical gown in what should be the right size and handed it to Riku before leading him to the bathroom to change and take care of any personal needs.

"Thanks," Riku said but then hesitated. "Are you sure you're okay with staying? After everything you've gone through…"

Sora smiled. "The Doctor has only ever helped me and Sickbay is very different to a Cube. I will stay for you. Are you comfortable with me assisting?"

"I trust you." With that he moved into the room.

Sora shook his head. He didn't understand how Riku could just trust him the way he did. Trusting the person he had been was one thing, trusting what he had become? He knew not all of the crew trusted him or Seven and he thought them smart to be wary. He was wary about coming into contact with the Collective again and he knew that eventually they would. Seven could still hear them, that was how she had found him, his damaged connection.

Riku soon re-emerged, dressed for surgery and they went to the surgical bay where Riku lay on the biobed and the Doctor activated the sterile field, not that either of them really carried anything, Sora's nanoprobes would not allow his body to collect anything harmful and the doctor was a hologram, solid or not.

"Ready?" the Doctor asked, lifting a hypospray.

Riku glanced at him, fingers twitching, and Sora realised what he wasn't willing to ask for under the circumstances. He reached out and took Riku's hand, squeezing gently.

"Ready," Riku agreed and the hypo was pressed to his throat, his eyes falling closed, hand going limp.

"Let's get started."

"Which procedure is being done first?"

"We'll leave his arm to last as it is the simpler."

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Riku blinked slowly up at a ceiling, trying to work out where he was.

"Welcome back," a male voice said, and then Riku remembered.

He turned his head to find the Doctor beside the bed and there was a hand holding his, a hand he knew, Sora.

"How do you feel?"

"Groggy," he answered.

"That will pass in a minute or two. Surgery was a complete success. Can you lift your arm?"

Riku lifted the hand Sora wasn't holding, staring at his wrist. The bump he was used to seeing was gone and there was no scars that he could see from the surgery. It looked perfectly normal and healthy. He wriggled his fingers and then slowly turned his hand only to find no pain at all. It felt strange to be able to move it freely.

"Any pain?" the Doctor asked.

"No, there's nothing."

"Good. Artificial bone can take a lot more damage than the original, and is even capable of repairing itself, to a point. If the damage is too severe, such as being completely shattered, then you will need it replaced again," he warned, and Riku nodded. "You just lay there and relax for a few hours to ensure your hip and the associated areas will remain stable. I ended up replacing the joint there as well as repairing the cellular damage that wasn't healing, better safe than sorry. You should find that you can run and do all activity as if you were never injured. Although, after so long, you may experience phantom pain since your body is so used to it. If you need anything, I'm sure Sora can get it for you, otherwise I shall be in my office."

"Thank you," Riku told him again as he left them alone. He turned his head to look at Sora, finding him watching him. "Hey, you okay?" he asked, and Sora nodded. "Sure?"

"Affirmative."

Riku shifted his hand in Sora's running his thumb over the younger male's knuckles. He saw him look down, almost confused, and Riku figured it was because it was his metallic hand. Hadn't he realised which hand he was using? He felt the hand tense slightly but didn't let go or stop what he was doing, and slowly Sora relaxed again. "It doesn't bother me at all Sora," he told him.

Sora just shook his head, looking a little exasperated. "Do you have any sense of self-preservation?"

"Of course I do," Riku grinned. "I just know you aren't a threat."

"Riku…"

He tugged at Sora's hand, getting him to move even closer, reaching up with his now painless hand and Sora watched before leaning down a bit, letting his fingers trace over the metal above his eye and then down his cheek. "I trust you Sora."

"I'm not the same person you knew," Sora denied, and Riku let his hand move to rest over Sora's heart.

"Your Heart is the same, Sora. And your memories aren't gone, otherwise you wouldn't remember me at all. You've been my best friend since before I can remember, I know you. What you did, saving the crew and half killing yourself to do it with no sleep or food, that's classic Sora," he smirked slightly.

"Do you know how I saved them?" Sora asked.

"No," Riku admitted.

"I altered the transporters and used them to beam all of the Hirogen into space where they died."

"And?" Riku asked, staring at him. "Sora, we've been fighting since you were fourteen. You did what you had to in order to save your people. How many would have died if they'd had to fight to take back the ship?"

"The casualties would have been high," he admitted.

"Then you did what you had to. Did you want to hurt them or save your crew?" he asked, because motives mattered. He didn't feel any more Darkness in Sora than he ever had.

"I wanted to save the crew," Sora's answer didn't surprise Riku at all.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Kairi sat on the windowsill, looking out over the Land of Departure. She was worried about Riku, Terra had said he'd called him, but why hadn't he called her yet? He was with Sora so why hadn't they come back yet? She just wanted to see Sora for herself, to have proof he was alive.

She looked up at a knock on her door and smiled at Aqua.

"Feel up to a good fight?" Aqua asked.

"Where?" she stood and grabbed her shoes.

"A place called Deep Jungle?"

Kairi smiled. "I've never been there before," she admitted before hesitating. "It sounds familiar though…I think Sora's been."

"Well now you can see it for yourself and you'll be able to swap stories."

"Yeah." She grabbed her jacket and headed out.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Sora watched closely as they walked through the corridors, making sure Riku was fine. He trusted the Doctor, had helped the surgery, but for some reason he was still worried. They went to the guest quarters Riku had been given, Riku sinking down into the couch. "Are you alright?" he asked in concern.

"I'm fine Sora, promise." He patted the couch beside him, and it took a second for Sora to realise what he wanted, sitting down beside him. Riku offered his hand and Sora looked at it. it was strange how quickly touching Riku had come to feel normal, his skin no longer crawling at the sensation. He moved his hand to rest on Riku's, letting him interlace their fingers. "Is this alright?" Riku asked, and he nodded. "Sora…do you remember what a Keyblade is?" he asked.

Keyblade? He tried to remember but there was nothing. "No," he admitted.

Riku looked at him and then held his hand out in front of him, Sora starting as a blade appeared in his hand. "Does it look familiar?"

"Yes," he whispered, staring at it. "In the fights, you had this and a different one?"

"Braveheart was the Keyblade I had during the battle against the real Organisation XIII," Riku told him.

Sora reached out to touch it but then stopped, looking up at Riku, who nodded. He touched the blade and for some odd reason, while it felt like metal, it wasn't cold. It felt strange….

"Sora!" Riku yelled.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

She glanced over the report from the Doctor on the surgeries he had performed on their guest, he'd been more injured than first detected. She agreed with his decision to offer the treatment and it wasn't like it had been a massive drain on their resources, even with the ship damaged. All of the crew had already been treated for their injuries and were either recovering in quarters or back to work. And it made sense from a diplomatic standpoint as well. They had never seen a method of travel like the one he had arrived using, perhaps there would be a possibility of trade with a people who would be genuinely grateful due to their saving Sora and not looking to stab them in the back.

Getting Sora removed from duty for a few days to try and reconnect with his old friend was the least she could do for the boy they all looked out for, B'Elanna had agreed despite the fact that she could use his help with repairs. They all wanted Sora to regain his old self if that was possible.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Riku released Braveheart, catching Sora who slumped. What had happened? Sora had touched his Keyblade before, he'd even used Way to Dawn when fighting Xemnas, and they'd had their combined Keyblade. "Sora? Can you hear me?" he checked his pulse and it was steady, but Sora was limp in his arms. He shifted to cradle him close, sending a Cure spell through him to be safe.

Sora suddenly shuddered and gasped, then he was clinging to Riku, much to his relief.

"Easy, you're okay, I've got you," he whispered.

"Riku," Sora whispered, burrowing close to his surprise and delight.

Riku tightened his hold, his hand rubbing up and down Sora's back. "I'm here," he promised.

Sora slowly raised his head, staring at him, and Riku held his breath. Just what had touching Braveheart done? "Kingdom Key," Sora whispered, eyes wide.

Riku nodded, heart pounding, he remembered? "The Kingdom Key went to you when I…"

"When you gave in to Darkness," Sora finished for him. "You took it back at Hollow Bastion but then I took it from you."

"Yeah, you were always more suited to it than me," Riku assured him, not wanting him to doubt his suitability as the blades wielder. "You remember."

Sora shook his head. "I can't…I do not remember people, names…"

"Shh, it'll come Sora, I know it will. And I'm sure Naminé would be willing to help."

"Naminé?" he sounded puzzled. "I…I think I…" but then he shook his head again. "It feels like I should know her?"

"Well you remember some about Kairi, and Naminé is connected to her," Riku offered, not sure Sora was ready to hear about Nobodies yet. Although…. "Sora, do the names Roxas, Xion, or Ventus seem familiar? Surely if he was going to remember anyone else, it would be those who had once dwelled within his own heart?

"Maybe?"

Riku was beginning to see what the Doctor had commented on, Sora's speech was shifting, even since he'd arrived. That was good, right? Being so stiff and formal just didn't suit him.

"I cannot go home," Sora suddenly said, and Riku frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"I cannot survive without my implants and they need to be maintained, I also have to Regenerate. The Islands…"

"Do you remember what maintaining World Order means?" he asked, but Sora shook his head. So he explained about it and Sora listened.

"Starfleet has the Prime Directive. It prohibits Starfleet personnel and spacecraft from interfering in the normal development of any society, and mandates that any Starfleet vessel or crew member is expendable to prevent violation of this rule. Also, as the right of each sentient species to live in accordance with its normal cultural evolution is considered sacred, no Starfleet personnel may interfere with the normal and healthy development of alien life and culture. Such interference includes introducing superior knowledge, strength, or technology to a world whose society is incapable of handling such advantages wisely. Starfleet personnel may not violate this Prime Directive, even to save their lives and/or their ship, unless they are acting to right an earlier violation or an accidental contamination of said culture. This directive takes precedence over any and all other considerations, and carries with it the highest moral obligation," Sora obviously quoted from somewhere.

"Hm, they are similar. Though you do have a tendency to ignore it. Then again, we all do in various ways. We to go Worlds with no Knowledge of Keyblades or our abilities and we use them to fight in front of the locals," he shrugged slightly, happy that Sora hadn't pulled away from his hold. He shifted them slightly and Sora tensed briefly but then made himself relax, and Riku went back to rubbing his back, ignoring when he felt something out of place under the bodysuit Sora was wearing.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

He couldn't help tensing when Riku shifted, but he didn't seem like he wanted Sora to get off of him, if anything…he wanted him close. He could remember them touching a lot as children, holding hands, playing, racing, everything. And then after Riku came back they had hugged, even slept together in the same bed because of nightmares. So for Riku it was normal, right? Having him rubbing his back felt nice, Riku not flinching or hesitating no matter what his hand ran over under his clothes.

His head hurt a bit, his implants, but he ignored it, carefully leaning in against Riku. He should not but Riku was determined to see him as someone good so maybe he could let him close? Maybe Riku really good accept everything he had done, like the crew had. Did it really matter? Riku would go home at some point and Sora would remain with Voyager, go to Earth one day. That was the only way things could end, with them separated again. Unless, Riku could travel and find him again? And what about the others, Kairi and the ones Riku mentioned, the others he could vaguely see in his memory but did not truly remember.

"Seven to Sora."

He shifted away from Riku and tapped his combadge. "Sora here," he responded.

"I wished to enquire as to your condition."

"I'm alright, thank you Seven. And yes, I have eaten since Regenerating."

"Good. I understand your duty roster has been cleared for the next several ship days. I am sure the Doctor would tell you to use the time to relax."

He saw Riku smiling at her words. "Understood, you should as well. Sora out."

"That's a handy method of communication," Riku commented.

"Affirmative. We…had something? I took pictures with it?"

"Gummiphones," Riku answered, reaching into his pocket to pull out the device Sora vaguely recognised.

He had had one, did the Borg have it now or had his arrival destroyed it? Riku held it out to him and Sora took it, looking it over. It was rather large and bulky, perhaps he could streamline the design for him. He looked at it and then pressed a button, the screen lighting up to show several icons and he touched one, pictures appearing. Riku leant over and began telling him about the images and especially the people in them….his friends.

TBC…