My breath was ragged, and I could feel my mind getting cloudy from time to time. The edges of my vision getting blurry, but Malkuth was always clear in my view... the wonders of a single-minded purpose...

Malkuth thankfully didn't twist the black appendage in my stomach, but still gave me an analytic stare before glancing once at Rober and then back at me, "This is for everyone, I won't say I'm not involved... but this is just too much for us, too big." I didn't move my eyes from her.

Alright, I need more information... I glanced at my stomach and saw the bleeding.

And I needed it fast, "You speak as if he wasn't new to this, but the Manager seems as lost as I am." He may know about the Time bullshit, but he clearly didn't know what Malkuth was talking about.

Malkuth's attention went back to the Manager, "I guess it isn't your fault too... better said the one you are right now can't be blamed." I blinked at that and shelved this information for later... I need to reason with Malkuth before everything else.

"Have you talked about this with anyone else? Or did you just decide what was best for everyone?" Malkuth's eye went back to me and I felt the tentacle spin slightly, and I had to grit my teeth to avoid flinching.

Malkuth's body distorted again slowly, looking more like a pile of goo with machinery sticking here and there, "I don't know what's best for everyone, but I know that this whole operation isn't what she would have wanted." Who is she talking about? Maybe the woman Tiphereth M talked about...

Shit, I'm getting side tracked again, "So... let's say you go through with this, you bring down the facility down and then what?" More context is needed here.

"Nothing, we stop... as we should have a long time ago." Malkuth had given up on L Corp for some reason or another, and even if I'm missing so much context, there are still weapons to be used here.

"You are talking big game here, but you haven't changed at all... you are just trying to take control of things out of self-righteous anger." I pointed out at the same time I finished, the tentacle went out of my body, making me grunt and fall to my knees.

Jesus fuck... that's a lot of blood, "Trigger... you only saw a glimpse of this hell and have the audacity to talk as if you know anything?" Again with the self-righteous stuff...

I slowly got up and stared at her with a stern frown, "I don't know anything about your pain, but guess what? It isn't about only you anymore. You first said this was about someone else, and then went back to YOUR pain." Malkuth didn't respond for a moment, and then I continued.

Pointing at Malkuth, while giving her a glare and spoke, "You have what you wanted Malkuth, you have CONTROL. What am I gonna do with a hole in my stomach? What can Rober do with his current gear? The Manager is built like spaghetti... yet here you are, listening to me while you could have continued your so called 'plan' at anytime." Malkuth trembled, and I saw a black tentacle snap in my direction and passing right besides my head.

But I didn't give myself the luxury of flinching, "This is just a big show for people to finally praise you for something, a salvation of a pain... that only you have while no one else has complained about." Malkuth single eye flickered while narrowing in my direction.

"But they do! Every single day is hell in this place, and they all have constantly voiced out their need to leave! I'm just giving them what they wanted!" She sounded angry, but that means I must have hit a sore point... hope she doesn't skewer me in an emotional reaction.

I shook my head, "That's stupid, they want to leave because they are afraid of dying here. Why would they just accept your terms and... just give up here with you?" Putting aside that, outside of the facility was The City, which is just as dangerous if not more... if Dakota said the truth.

"Malkuth... let's be realistic, you want people to look up to you because you need their words to stand up, but only a complete idiot will try to stand on empty praise." Malkuth flinched back, and I took my chance to walk forward, seeing as how her body was slowly returning to her box form.

I was right in front of her and I tried to stare into her very soul, "Then let me help you get that foothold, so you can proudly say 'I stand for what I believe' and never regret it." I offered my hand, and could only...

Hope.

There was a tense moment of silence. While I ignored the incredulous stares of both Rober and the Manager... Malkuth glanced once at the Manager.

And let him down slowly, her body returning to her old self, "I... I remembered so many things that hurt me, I only wanted to prove myself and get back what I felt I deserved by my efforts." Her words were like that of an old lady, remembering the old times with nostalgia.

"Tried my hardest, to prove to others that I could... be relied on, and at my dying moments, I brought up my own desperation to be acknowledge... I got one look from him, and he never looked back. So I... tried to impress him... by copying him." She sounded unsure of these words, I wonder why...

She took my hand carefully and shook it, "Even now, I just wanted some form of approval, but maybe I never needed it to begin with." I smiled at her... feeling something leave her body.

A warm light...

I got the feeling Malkuth would be smiling right now, "Maybe I only needed the Will to stand up Straight by myself." Heh... guess being enough of a sap can save li-

My vision blurred, and I felt the world tilt backwards... oh yeah, I was bleeding out...

Is someone shouting my name...?

"Young Saint, you have finally begun to ring the bells... that will toll the end of this tale"

"Change is the greatest tool at your disposal, do not squander the freedom you have been given"

"Lest you face the dire consequences that come with failure"

"Do not disappoint our father"