Chapter 39
Keres couldn't move. Needles pricked her skin, nestling inside her, injecting serums that sent ripples of discomfort through her entire body. She struggled to move and to scream, but her muscles remained stubbornly still. Even her eyes refused to part, shrouding her in darkness.
A haze of voices swirled around her. Keres' mind struggled to grasp their meaning, the words mixing into an indistinct murmur. Gloved hands groped her, poking and prodding; their touch was alien and invasive. All she could do was wonder what the Organization had in store for their failed creation—her.
Enchanted Dominion left her weakened, something she had intended, but she had not expected the Organization to take advantage of it. Another needle pierced her skin, this time her neck, eliciting a suppressed whimper and involuntary twitches from her trembling fingers.
Amidst the numbing fog, a fleeting warmth spread through her veins. Her breathing went shallow, and her thoughts slowed. It felt as if she were drifting on a sea between wakefulness and slumber.
Gradually, the sting of the needles faded, and the overwhelming weight on her limbs lifted away. With hesitance, Keres lifted her hand, but she felt nothing. The voices disappeared, replaced with a gentle whisper of a breeze, though she couldn't feel it against her skin.
Her eyes fluttered open, and everything made sense. She found herself within the tree, in the far-back reaches of her mind. Her only sanctuary. Black tendrils wrapped around her wrists, keeping her kneeling in the center of the hollowed trunk, but they were diminished, reduced to fraying strands.
Keres tested her newfound freedom, tugging at the strands that bound her to the tree's core. They trembled, stretching, and then, with a resounding snap, they yielded. Keres stumbled forward, her balance unsteady as she navigated the roots carpeting the chamber.
She reached the trunk, running her hands along it and searching for a way through its wall. It squished under her hand, with a flesh-like texture that pulsed as if it were alive. Keres threaded her hands between the strands and forced them apart. It complied with her wishes, revealing an opening to the outside.
Warm light poured in, and Keres winced. It burned her skin, but it also beckoned her to come out. Without looking back at the tree, she stepped through. Sunflowers sprouted into view, hundreds of them scattered as far as she could see under the warmth of the eternally setting sun.
She stepped forward, roots crumbling underfoot. Venturing further into the field, the earthy scent of the sunflowers enveloped her, mingling with the putrid tang of decay behind her. Looming in the distance, she saw the silhouettes of ancient trees. Their gnarled branches reached into the sky like skeletal fingers, disappearing into the clouds.
Amidst the tranquility, a specter lurked. Its form wavered and shifted. Its presence was palpable despite being weakened.
"You're killing us," it accused, its voice a hissing whisper.
Keres shook her head, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon. "I can't stop them."
"We would have been able to if you had not forced us out." Its form flickered like a dying flame. "Now there is nothing we can do."
"Then leave," Keres said. "Find a new pawn."
The darkness wisped away, reforming in front of her like a shadowy mist. "You will die."
Keres stopped, her eyes narrowing. "I don't care anymore."
"Why?" it demanded, but its voice was nothing more than a whisper, almost lost to the wind.
Her gaze drifted upwards, watching dark blue clouds roll over the sky. "I missed my chance."
The specter's form solidified into a grayed, distorted reflection of Keres. "She wasn't going to help you." Its voice echoed with hollow conviction.
Keres let out a bitter laugh. "Then you don't know her like I do." She continued walking. "But it doesn't matter now. The Organization won't keep me alive."
The darkness bristled; even without seeing it, Keres could feel the static itching of the hairs on the back of her neck. "We gave you everything," it seethed, tendrils of darkness writhing out of it like serpents. "Power beyond your feeble comprehension that you willingly toss aside. You understand nothing!"
"And I never will," Keres said. The tree line was becoming ever closer until the specter reformed inches in front of her. She stepped back with a sharp gasp.
"You are nothing without us," it growled.
Keres raised her brow. She looked out towards the forest. "I'm everything without you." Her eyes went back to the darkness, and she smiled. "But you? You're nothing without something to control. And you're not controlling me anymore. You're going down with me."
Its eyes glowered, glowing a brilliant unnerving gold amongst the nest of black hair. "Until we're used in another creation. A worthy Replica."
"You think Vexen would recycle old unwanted darkness?" she asked. "You're flawed, just as much as me."
"We are not—"
"Riku never acted like me," she cut it off. "He changed, but he never acted outside of his control until he was fully possessed. Axel, Saix — they know what they're doing. You? You aren't normal darkness."
The darkness fell silent, its form pulsating with a muted rage. Keres locked eyes with it, her gaze unwavering. "Are you…?" she pressed, her voice barely above a whisper.
It offered no reply but glowered back with such intensity, it caused Keres' skin to crawl with an unsettling chill. She hit a nerve.
"Vexen and Cavuk created you," she continued, her resolve strengthening with each word. "Didn't they?"
Still, it remained silent.
Thunder rolled through the clouds. Flashes of lightning lit up the shrouded sky, but the specter didn't move. Keres looked up, watching as shimmering raindrops began to fall. They speckled her cheek, cooling her arms. She held out her hands, allowing the drops to pool in her palms. The vibrant sunflowers shuddered under the storm, petals fell loose, spiraling wildly in the gusts of wind.
"I figured it out on Enchanted Dominion," Keres continued, knowing it could hear her despite the growing storm. "They made me to accept the darkness and follow orders, but what darkness did Hinata have?" She scoffed with a soft laugh, a hint of disbelief and amusement in her tone. "Not enough to create a monster. So they made you — a mixture of science and magic to drive me insane."
She waited for a response, but none came. It glared at her, its eyes illuminated beneath the forming storm. Shaking her head, she continued on towards the forest, though she was beginning to doubt the possibility of reaching it.
"What will you do about it?" the specter asked.
Keres kept walking, her feet squelching the muddied ground. "Nothing," she replied, blinking away the raindrops in her eyes "It doesn't matter now."
"If you survive, it is only a matter of time until we take you over again," it told her and by its tone Keres couldn't tell if it was trying to warn or threaten her.
"If I manage to survive this, I'll find a way to control you instead," she replied.
This time the specter laughed, its voice hollow and mocking as it wisped away. Right beside her ear, she heard multiple hissing voices, "You'll be begging for us."
"I'll take my chances," Keres said.
A thunderous crack ripped through the world. The darkness shrieked, but Keres continued walking, not caring as its presence disappeared. The ground rumbled with deep tones. In the distance, the horizon of trees dissolved away, disappearing into the storm. Then the sunflowers followed, entire rows wilting and decaying into ash, before becoming part of the wind.
Keres continued walking, a sense of inevitability driving her forward. This was where she began. Watching a world disappear piece by piece. It seemed ironic it would also be how it ended. With the next step, the ground beneath her cracked, caving in. Keres fell through, falling into an endless abyss. Wind whistled in her ears and she watched her dream world fade in the distance. She let out a strangled breath and shut her eyes. If this was the end, at least she was free.
Her back hit something hard, shoving the breath out of her lungs. She gasped and sat up in a rush, her eyes opening. Everything was blurry, cold. Her hands pressed up against a thick glass that encased her on all sides. She wasn't dead, but awake.
Through the glass, she could see white pristine walls and thick wires attached to various computers. A lab. She'd been taken back to a lab, placed in a tube for observation and testing. Flashes of memories raced through her mind. So many people, trapped in the very same tubes, transforming into Heartless.
"No…" she gasped out, hitting the glass with her palm. "No, no, please." Her hands tightened into fists and she banged on the glass. "Not this!"
She shoved her entire body against the side of the tube. It didn't react. Pressing her hands flat against the glass, she focused, attempting to conjure up an ice spell. Nothing.
"What?" she held out her hands in front of her.
Her fingers craned, and she sucked in a full breath. Maybe she could summon a spark of lightning, a dagger, anything. But nothing happened.
"Your powers are useless," the darkness hissed in her thoughts.
"Are you doing this?" she asked quietly.
There was a pause. Then a growling no.
She looked down at herself. Tubes stuck out of her arms, her neck, one even in her wrist. Each one dripped a concoction of serum into her bloodstream. Gripping them one by one, she pulled them out, wincing from the stinging pain. Blood dripped down her arms as the tubes fell limp behind her, dripping their poison on the floor. Keres' chest heaved, her head swimming. She fell back against the glass, using it to prop herself up. Holding out her hands, she attempted another spell, but nothing happened.
"Shit," she whispered, slumping to the floor.
"Your powers won't return for some time," Saix's unmistakable voice lifted Keres' head, but she didn't see anyone around.
She tried to stand, but her legs wobbled and buckled beneath her. "Saix… is it really you or just a copy?"
"Just a copy?" he repeated, his voice seemed to be coming from behind, but all Keres saw were lines of more glass tubes. "I wouldn't expect you of all people to have a disdain for Replicas."
Keres scoffed. "As if you'd rather talk to me over the original."
He hummed and Keres recognized the smirk in his tone. Even after all these years, she could still hear it. He didn't say anything more.
"What did you mean… My powers won't return for a while?" she asked.
He didn't reply at first. Medical equipment beeped, the serums from the IVs pooled at Keres' feet, releasing a scent that burned itself into her nose. She rested her head against the glass, her arms wrapped around her bent up knees.
"Is it the injections?" she asked, pondering it over herself.
He hummed again, though it lacked the mirth it did before. "It is derived from the Underworld," he explained in a plain tone. "Vexen thought it wise to utilize, given your last escape."
"From the Underworld," she said quietly. "Where Hades is from."
"Yes."
She nodded. "Are you here to make sure I don't escape again?"
A plume of darkness swirled out of the ground, revealing Saix as it dissipated. Their eyes met. Saix stood tall, his expression plain and hardened. "I am here to check on your status."
Keres nodded again, looking towards the floor. He was cold, calculating, and the darkness in her mind wanted her to bite back, but she didn't. Saix walked over to a computer, his footsteps echoing through the lab. He worked in silence, his fingers clicking across the keyboard.
"Can Replicas be turned into Heartless…?" Keres asked eventually.
Saix's typing paused. "Why do you ask?"
"Isn't that what this is?" she asked.
He hummed once more. "You are referring to Ansem's lab."
She nodded rather than reply verbally.
"It has uses beyond Heartless transformation," he told her, returning to his typing. "In your case, I believe Vexen wanted something more secure."
It was her turn to hum and she shut her eyes. There was a semblance of relief inside her at the prospect of not being turned into a Heartless. Though, there was also the harsh truth that she was at their mercy.
"What do you want with me…?" she asked.
Saix paused once again and he glanced over his shoulder. His stare didn't stay long, it flitted away towards the floor. "Lord Xemnas wishes to regain control over you."
Keres sat up with a start and turned towards him. She hadn't been expecting an actual answer. "What…?" her voice shook. "C-Can you guys do that?"
"Vexen believes he is capable," Saix replied, going back to typing. "Despite being a flawed creation, you have been useful to the Organization."
Her stomach flipped. "What?"
"They needed you as a distraction," he explained. "You served your purpose."
Her eyes danced in every direction, trying to make sense of it. "Why… Why are you telling me?"
"You asked," he said simply.
"But…" she closed her eyes to keep them from darting and tightened her hands into fists. "If they're going to remake my mind, you didn't need to tell me anything. It wouldn't…" She stopped, her eyes opening with realization, "It wouldn't matter what you told me. I'd forget." Looking back at him, she asked, "Am I right?"
"If Vexen succeeds," he clarified. "Yes."
"Oh god…" she breathed out, covering her mouth with her hands. The darkness in her mind slithered around, reassuring and rejoicing. They wouldn't die. They'd get their second chance. But Keres swallowed thickly, tasting bile in the back of her throat. She idly spun the bead on James' bracelet, trying to ground herself. "You don't care, do you?"
He paused.
"Can…" Her voice trailed off and she swallowed. "Can you kill me…?"
Saix looked back at her, his brow raised with both curiosity and surprise. "You would rather perish—"
"I'm not losing my mind again," she cut him off. "After everything I've done, I… I don't want to imagine what they'd make me do."
Silence met her in reply. Saix turned and walked over, the sound of his footsteps drew Keres' attention and she pulled herself to stand and face him. He stopped in front of the glass, both of them silent, staring back at the other. A holographic keypad appeared before Saix and he typed in a code. With a hiss, the glass opened, lifting away from Keres. She didn't move her gaze from him, expecting his claymore to appear next.
Instead, Saix looked away. "The cameras are off. I suggest running."
Keres blinked, shaking her head. "What are you doing?"
"You don't have much time," he told her.
She stared at him a moment longer before stepping out of the tube, her legs shaking. "Why are you helping me?"
Just as the words left her mouth, an alarm blared to life. The lights bloomed to red, and thick metal walls began lowering to lock them in. Keres spun around, her chest heaving.
"Isa," she said his name in a panic. Without her magic, what chance did she stand?
She turned her widened eyes to him, seeing nothing but a swirling Corridor.
"Wait!" She ran into it, falling the moment she was through. The Corridor shut behind her and she took a moment to catch her breath, feeling the darkness wisping around her. She looked up and saw the glowing doorway on the opposite side of the Corridor, but Saix wasn't anywhere in sight.
She pushed herself to stand, her muscles straining. Everything was silent, safe. Her shoulders relaxed and one foot went in front of the other. The journey was slow, and she could feel the darkness in the Corridor pricking against her heart, but at that moment, a quiet reprieve seemed worth the uncomfortable sensation of the darkness.
The darkness in her mind whispered, "What if this is a trap?"
"The alternative was being brainwashed," Keres reminded it.
"Do you trust this Saix not to betray you?" it asked. "Was he not the reason you were created?"
Keres spun the bead in James's bracelet, but didn't reply.
"What if he tries to kill you?" it asked.
"I asked him to," she pointed out. "And he chose to let me go."
The darkness continued to whisper, but Keres ignored its prying. It was nothing more than a negative conscience to her now… At least, until it regained its strength. She was nearing the light on the other side of the Corridor. Its warmth spread over her, beckoning her into it. It was such a beautiful way to end the trek through darkness.
Her thoughts went to Saix, much to the annoyance of the darkness. He'd created the Corridor for her, or at least she assumed that was his doing. As was his decision to free her and tell her the Organization's plan. Perhaps he was a Replica, or something about her plea for death touched his reforming heart— if his heart were truly reforming as Axel's was. There had been something in his eyes when he stared at her. It wasn't there before. Maybe it was pity, or perhaps understanding… Keres couldn't place it. Whatever it was, it told her he meant her no harm, and that didn't make any sense to her.
The light of the Corridor's end enveloped her, wiping all thoughts from her mind. It was time to see where Saix was leading her.
Her foot sunk into soft soil, the sensation cool and refreshing compared to the warm air. The air itself smelled sweet with a tinge of salt. Birds sang, bugs buzzed in her ear. Out in the distance, she could hear the faint sound of waves crashing against a shore. She blinked rapidly, adjusting her eyes to the sunlight beaming down and lifted her arm to shield the direct rays.
Lush plant life appeared before her as her vision cleared. Palm trees towered above, swaying in the warm, tropical breeze. Flowers speckled the bushes with large red petals and golden middles. Keres didn't recognize them. She turned in place, thick trees and bushes surrounded her.
"Saix…?" she called with a hushed tone. "Isa?"
Nothing but the birds replied.
"Where did he lead us?" the darkness asked.
"I don't know. I thought it might have been the island but… I don't recognize this." Keres said. She sat down on a large jutting out root, leaning back against the trunk. "He saved me."
"It's a trick."
Keres shook her head. "I don't think it is."
"Foolish girl," the darkness hissed and Keres just smirked, closing her eyes. "What are you doing? Get up."
"No," she replied plainly.
The darkness grumbled and her smirk grew.
The halls of the mansion were empty. Hinata wandered, her feet dragging and eyes still heavy. Her mind was trying to wrap around the fact she somehow slept for three days straight. Walking was easier for her than it had been when she arrived back from Enchanted Dominion, but her muscles ached and her head swam with clouded thoughts. She'd only been awake for a few minutes at most and climbed out of bed the moment she realized she was able. Riku was gone, everyone was. She wasn't sure where they were, and didn't want to go searching for them. Her mission was to find Velcia's pod.
A door hissed open, revealing the long hall of white pods. Hinata looked up at them as she went past. She'd always associated them with flowers, the kind that closed up at night, waiting for the warmth of the sun in the morning before unfurling their beauty to bask in its rays. In a way, that's what the pods were doing. Protecting the things inside, keeping everything locked in its petal embrace, until the day they're able to unfurl in a safe, nurturing environment.
Even with the poetic comparison, it didn't stop the sickening sensation in the pit of Hinata's stomach when she saw Velcia. She floated in the center of the pod, asleep, protected by the white, translucent petals. Despite being inside of it for three days, dark bruises still covered her skin, even a few on her face, covering her freckles and usual pale complexion.
Hinata placed her hand along the pod, then rested her head against it. "Please be ok," she whispered.
A puff of purple shimmering magic appeared by her feet and Hinata looked over to see Chirithy clasping its paws together.
"Good morning, Hinata," it greeted and Hinata smiled back. "We're so relieved you're finally awake."
"We?" she asked.
It nodded. "Ben's been monitoring your heart rate and knew the moment you woke up. He then promptly informed everyone."
"Of course," Hinata chuckled. "I'm sorry I worried everyone."
"We're just glad you're ok," Chirithy told her. "Is there anything I can get for you? I'm sure you must be hungry."
Hinata's eyes flitted away from Chirithy. Was she hungry? She hadn't given her personal needs much thought since she'd woken up. "I don't know," she admitted. Stepping back a step, she looked up at Velcia. "I came straight here."
Chirithy joined her in looking at Velcia. "We've all been checking in on her."
"Has there been any changes?" she asked.
Putting its paw to its chin, Chirithy shook its head. "Not that I know of. Ben says she's stable, but it will take some time."
Hinata nodded, rubbing her thumb along the pod. "What about Keres?"
"We've been working on a tracker for her, but…" Chirthy scratched its head. "We haven't had a lot of luck. It requires more magic than we thought. Lupe knows some spells, mostly from his medals, but none of them have been what we need."
"Ok…" She accepted the answer. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to help."
"It's alright," Chirithy said. "I think everyone needed time to recover."
Hinata glanced towards Chirithy, then back at Velcia. "I just… hope we're not too late."
"We'll find her," Chirithy replied.
There weren't any more words shared between them. Both of them watched Velcia bob up and down in the pod. After a few minutes, Chirithy excused itself and disappeared in another puff of smoke. Hinata stepped backwards until her back hit the wall and she sank to the floor, her knees bent up to her chest.
"Velcia…" she started to say, her voice trailing off. "I think… I've been taking you for granted." Her gaze drifted to Velcia's wrist, where the braided bracelet she made for her was fastened. "You sacrificed so much to be here. Helping someone you'd never even met before… And I've been so caught up in myself, in Keres… I haven't even bothered to ask how you're handling it all."
She released a trembling breath, resting her head against the wall. "And even now, after all the nightmares you went through for us. The things you saw… I never asked you about it, because I was scared to know. But that doesn't change how much I can tell they affected you, and I've just… ignored it. I couldn't bring myself to face the truth about Keres… or me."
Her gaze lifted up to Velcia's face. "If… when, you wake up, I'll make things right." She took in a breath, releasing it slowly. "I promise."
Getting the words out didn't help as much as she hoped it would. The sentiment permeated, heavy on Hinata's mind as Velcia slept peacefully in her pod. Hinata continued talking, airing out various thoughts, some of them disjointed and unrelated to anything in particular. There was no reason to believe Velcia could hear anything she said, but Hinata didn't mind either way. She just didn't want Velcia to be alone.
A door hissed open, followed by soft thudding footsteps. Hinata glanced over, seeing Lupe with Chirithy in tow. Lupe's hair was tied back, keeping its usual wild locks out of his face. He smiled when their eyes met. She feigned an attempt at a smile, but it didn't stay as she glanced away to the floor.
"Hey, Hina," he greeted. "Chirithy told me I could find you here."
She nodded but couldn't bring herself to reply.
Lupe stopped beside the pod, patting it with his hand. "Ah, the good ole pod, with good ole Velcia." An awkward silence followed and he cleared his throat. "I've been here a bit too."
"Are you…" Hinata tried to talk, but her words jumbled. "How…" She sighed, resting her head between her knees, giving up on trying.
She heard Lupe's footsteps move from the pod, then a warmth settled beside her. Turning her head, she peeked over, seeing Lupe sitting, his gaze fixed on the pod. Chirithy sat in his lap.
Eventually, Hinata drew her gaze back to Velcia, joining Lupe and Chirithy in watching over her. A mechanical hum grew from the pod. Valves hissed and clicked, switching into different positions. Medication plumed inside the pod, mixing with the liquid that surrounded Velcia, healing her. Hinata watched the blue medication disappear, it integrated itself into the fluid so seamlessly. She found herself amazed at the intricacies of it. A device that could heal any injury with the use of magic and science. Watching it helped ease the tension she felt inside her chest.
"Sam and I started training Avan," Lupe broke the silence and Hinata startled, almost having forgotten he was even there.
She waited for him to continue, but he didn't. He was testing the waters between them. Swallowing, Hinata asked, "O-Oh yeah?"
"Yeah," he chuckled. "We've gotten Avan to come to us. Sam even managed to get him to fly a bit."
Hinata smiled, the motion not quite reaching her eyes. "That's amazing. Sam must be excited."
"She's more annoyed by all the bites and scratches he's given her," Chirithy said.
A soft breath exhaled through her nose, her smile growing. "I can imagine."
"I can tell you more about it, if you'd like," Lupe offered. He smiled when Hinata looked over at him, a softness to it that matched his eyes.
She nodded and Lupe wasted no time in getting into everything he and Sam had been doing over the last day and a half. He recalled how Sam called him out of the blue about Bedivere's journal. How that led them to exploring Twilight Town and even Sunset Terrace for the perfect whistle to train Avan, and how they nearly lost Avan in town because he scuttered off. Hinata listened, silent, but intrigued. Everything he said had such life and excitement to it, but he kept his voice soft and level, matching the tranquility in the hall.
Hinata laughed at hearing about Avan flying, landing right on Sam's face. Lupe snickered along with her, the story reaching its end.
"So needless to say," Lupe told her between his amusement, "Avan's been keeping us busy."
"It sounds like it," Hinata agreed. "He's a handful."
"I think he'll be worth it though." Lupe said it with such wistful confidence, Hinata looked up at him. "He's rough around the edges now, but he'll learn." He glanced over at her with a lopsided smile.
She smiled back. "You're right."
"It will be nice to not have to chase him around anymore," Chirithy said and Lupe snickered.
"Have…" Hinata started to say, looking towards the floor. "Have either of you been able to take some time for yourselves since I've been…"
Chirithy and Lupe shifted their attention to her. "What do you mean?" Chirithy asked, tilting its head.
"I'm just… wanting to make sure you're not giving too much of yourself to us," Hinata said, her voice getting quieter with each passing word. "You don't owe us anything."
Lupe's hand went to Hinata's arm, giving her a squeeze. She strained a smile, but it fell. "We're not doing anything we don't want to, Hinata."
"He's right, you know," Chirithy agreed with a little hop, leaning over Lupe's leg. "Things in Twilight Town aren't very exciting. I'd much rather be spending my time here with all of you. It doesn't matter what we're doing."
"Plus, we're a team," Lupe held out his arm in front of her, showing the bracelet she made him. "Right?"
Hinata looked at the bracelet, then over at them. A shimmer of emotion coated her eyes. "I'm sorry I dragged both of you into this."
Lupe's grin faltered, but only for a moment before he ruffled his hand on Hinata's head. "What are you talking about? You didn't drag us into anything."
"I…" she sucked in a sharp breath. "I know I messed up." She moved his hand away, wiping at her eyes. "It's ok to be mad. I—I can take it."
Lupe looked at her, unsure what to do. "Hina…"
She shook her head, her hair sticking to her face. Warmth filled her cheeks. It didn't take a genius to know Lupe had been upset with her. Rightfully so, in Hinata's eyes. She'd abandoned the team, put all of them in danger and then sacrificed herself without a second thought. Lupe looked at her like she was an injured animal and it wasn't helping. She wanted the anger and the yelling, not someone finding pity on her. It didn't help she sat there dejected, holding back hiccuping sobs. No wonder they pitied her.
"I'm not angry with you," Lupe said. His voice came out soft and soothing. He lifted his hand as if he wanted to touch her, then thought better of it and set it back in his lap. "But I was. Earlier."
There it was. Hinata's tongue darted out to lick her lips and she nodded. She kept her gaze settled on the floor, unable to meet his gaze. Whatever he had to say, she wanted to hear it.
"Nothing went right on that mission." He ran his hand through his hair and sighed. "We weren't prepared for it. And even if we were the perfect, well oiled machine dream team, it wouldn't have gone the way we expected."
He was trying to smooth it over. Hinata's hands tightened.
"Don't," she said shortly. "I need to hear how I messed up."
Lupe squinted. He leaned back on his hands and tilted his head. "Why do you think you need that?"
It was a good question. Hinata wasn't sure of it herself. Velcia's pod beeped and whirred, filling the silence while Hinata tried to gather her thoughts. She wanted to get everything out in the open. No more secrets or holding things back. In the manner of a few hours, their lives were turned upside down. It was a continual cycle for Hinata. She should have been used to it by now, but she wasn't. Each time she stepped forward, another wave of life came crashing in, swiping her feet out from under her. To say she was tired of it was a novel understatement.
"I want to change," she said with such quiet words that she was surprised Lupe heard her at all.
"OK…" Lupe considered her answer. He looked to the pod, then towards the rest of them lined down the hall. He nibbled on his lip piercing, the black gauge going forward and back between his teeth. Hinata thought it would only be a matter of time before it snapped from all the worrying it got. "What makes you think you need to change?"
Those words hit her harder than they needed to. They formed an invisible key, unlocking the gates holding everything in and it all came tumbling out in a mess of jumbled weeping words.
She sucked in a sharp breath, shoving away a tear. "Because since James died, I haven't stopped. I keep running, dragging everyone else down with me. Everyone's here to help, and I don't listen, I don't thank them, I just… pinned everything on her. My grief, my anger, it was all her fault. Then Velcia saw the human side of her and even you noticed it, but I wanted to pretend it didn't exist." She wiped the corner of her eye, taking a strained breath. "I got so lost in it, I almost lost everything. Our team didn't even get the chance to start."
Heaving breaths went through her entire body. Chirithy crawled into her lap, hugging her even though its arms couldn't reach around her.
"I won't be that person anymore," Hinata said, placing a shaking hand on Chirithy's head. "But, I would understand if you don't believe me. I didn't listen and I put everyone at risk. And I'm… I'm sorry. I know that doesn't make up for it, but…" She looked up at Lupe, meeting her reddened eyes with him. "When I went after Keres… I found that conviction you talked about."
Tears were welling up in Lupe's eyes. He sniffled, averting his gaze and wiping his nose. "I know you found it."
Hinata blinked. "How…?"
"Your earpiece," he said, pointing to his ear. "Even though you had it in your pocket—"
"You could hear me," Hinata said and Lupe nodded.
His hand went to her knee. "Look… Things for the mission went south. But everything with Keres? That went as well as it did because of you. If Luxord hadn't shown up, we'd have her here. You managed that on your own, Hina."
She smiled shortly, then shook her head. "I should have recognized it sooner."
"You did when it mattered most," Chirithy told her.
Her fingers ran through Chirithy's plush fur. It was so soft, so comforting. Even with everything she did and confessed, they remained there offering support. But she still didn't have her answer. "What changed?"
"Hmm?" Lupe tilted his head.
"You said you were upset with me before," she said, toying with the braided band around her wrist. "What changed?"
His mouth scrunched. He didn't want to answer her about it, but she'd keep insisting until he said it. Ruffling his hair, he sighed. "I was really upset until you got out of the card spell."
She nodded, her gaze settled on the floor, listening as Lupe continued.
"One of the first things you said to me was that you were sorry. That told me everything I needed."
"That's all it took?" she asked. It didn't seem right or fair she'd get off that easy.
"You know how you messed up, and then you owned up to it." He reached over and pinched her cheek. "Of course that's all it took."
She wacked him away, but not without a subtle snicker, which caused the corner of his eyes to crinkle with a satisfied smile.
"And for the record," he leaned forward to be in her line of sight, "I totally believe in you."
"We all do," Chirithy added.
Her cheek stung from the pinch and she rubbed it, but not out of irritation. It was similar to the sensation of smiling for too long and it brought a familiar warmth with it. She smiled, and this time it reached her eyes.
"If you really wanna make it up to me though, how bout we train together when you're feeling up for it?" Lupe suggested. "It'd be a good way for both of us to work out our frustration."
Training. Her smile grew. "Like, sparring?"
"Yeah! Exactly." He held his arms out towards her. "And maybe you can help out with training Avan. He doesn't bite too hard."
"It doesn't sound like much of a punishment." She lifted her hands to allow Chirithy to climb out of her lap.
"It's a way to help prepare." He shrugged. "And get you hanging out with the rest of us again."
"Ah," she said with a chuckle. "So not really a punishment at all."
"But I still expect it as payback for running off on the mission," he said with as much seriousness he could muster, but one look from Hinata and he was grinning. He couldn't keep that grin off for long and Hinata couldn't help but smile back.
"It's a deal," she said and then shook Lupe's hand when he held it out for her.
With that settled, Lupe filled the silence with all sorts of chatter and ideas. Whatever tension had been there between them vanished from his mind. Hinata listened, thankful someone else led the conversation besides herself. All her thoughts lingered on Keres and the mission, she needed the distraction.
Except, she wasn't worried about Keres, which was strange to her. She had been when she returned from the mission. The nightmares that plagued her were about Keres' whereabouts and it kept her tossing and turning for hours. Now though, a certain calm settled over her whenever she wondered where Keres was. She didn't know what it meant exactly, but she wanted to believe it meant that Keres was safe. Or maybe that was all wishful thinking.
"Did you know that?" Lupe asked and Hinata realized all at once she'd drifted into her own ruminations.
Hinata looked over at him and strained a smile. "Could you, um, say that again?"
Lupe snickered. It was as if he expected her to be lost in thoughts and only half hearing him. He didn't mind and explained it again: "Did you know I have more than one Keyblade?"
That grabbed her attention. "You do?"
He held out his hands and his Keyblade flashed into existence. It floated above his hands before falling with a slow descent into his palms. "This is Fenrir," he said, running his hand over it. "It's sturdy and has a good balance."
She nodded. Something about it made her queasy. The Keyblade in her nightmare flashed through her mind along with echoes of Master Yen Sid's premonition. She looked away.
"It seems reliable," she mustered a response.
Lupe tilted his head. "Hey," he grabbed her shoulder, "you ok?"
"Yeah." She looked up at him. "Yeah, I'm… I'm alright. Um, how did you —Or I guess, do you remember how you became a Wielder?"
He leaned back on his palms, Fenrir resting in his lap and Chirithy hanging over his leg. "A little bit," he said. "You know, ever since the mission, I've been getting bits and pieces of memory back."
"Really?" she asked.
"Nothing super concrete yet," Lupe explained. "More like weird flashes. But anyway, I remember getting the power from a higher up in town. That's how most of the Wielders got it. Wasn't really anything special."
She looked at him. It sounded mundane, different from the way she perceived the bequeathing of a Keyblade. "Are you sure?" she asked.
He laughed, ruffling his hair and causing bits of it to fall out of the band. "Well, like I said, I don't remember much. But I think that's all it was. There were a lot of Wielders where I grew up."
It didn't seem right. Or maybe her perception of Keyblades was the one that wasn't right.
"I remember standing in a line with my friends," he continued. He looked up towards the ceiling as he talked. "We'd get to the front and see this girl that had her own Keyblade and she gave us the power. I think I knew the girl." He shrugged. "But, I don't even remember what she looked like. It's just this familiar sort of feeling. Same with my friends. There's like moments I can remember of them. Random things they said or a laugh, but I couldn't tell you their names."
A noncommittal hum was all she gave in reply. She couldn't imagine a place like Lupe described. From his words, she imagined there would be dozens if not hundreds of Keyblade Wielders in a single place. All of them received the power of the Keyblade by standing in a line like school children, which was what she was starting to surmise they were. Children being trained as Wielders from a young, impressionable age as if it were as common as learning how to ride a bike.
"Hina?" Chirithy placed its paws on her leg.
She looked between them, then to Fenrir in Lupe's lap. "Sorry." Shaking her head, she sat up straighter and hugged her knees to her chest. "I…"
Her voice trailed off, the sentence never finding its ground. Moments ago, she'd poured everything out for them. She was tired of secrets. All they'd done for her was wear her down, yet there she was about to cover up her real thoughts with another lie that she was fine.
"I was…" she tried to talk, the words fading again. Lupe and Chirithy remained silent, watching her, waiting for her to get her thoughts together. Her tongue felt like it swelled in her mouth, making it difficult to even swallow. "I was passed down the power, too."
"Really?!" Lupe exclaimed, leaning forward. Hinata winced and Lupe cleared his throat, flipping his hair. "I mean, that's nice. Really, super, nice."
Hinata scoffed out a laugh, a breathless, hoarse laugh that didn't hold any amount of joy in it. "Yeah… super nice."
"You're not happy about it?" Chirithy asked.
She spun the glass bead in her braided band. It glided over her wrist, the glass cool and reassuring. "My bequeathing was a bit different from Lupe's."
"That's why you don't fight with a Keyblade," Lupe said, putting it together.
Even though she opened the can of worms, she wished to shove it back shut and bury it in the throes of the ocean. The hall felt like it was beginning to spin. She leaned her head back against the wall and shut her eyes. "I, um, didn't know about it until recently. I'm still… figuring out what to do about it."
She couldn't bring herself to open her eyes, even as the silence stretched. Lupe let out a breath and Hinata picked up the scent of smoke hidden behind a hint of cherry. It wasn't the usual scent found in a pristine medical lab, but it gave her something to focus on as she tried to figure out where the cherry on his breath could have come from. Seemed like such a silly challenge, it was likely he'd simply eaten a cherry candy, but it was so integrated with the smoke…
"If there's anything I've figured out from wielding," Lupe started to reply and Hinata's rabbit hole of thoughts puttered away, "it doesn't matter how you got the power. It's what you do with the power that counts."
"You used that line in your book, didn't you?" Chirithy muttered and Lupe shushed it.
"I know that you'd never misuse a power like this, Hina," Lupe continued. "You'd make an amazing Wielder."
He didn't understand, and it wasn't like she could blame him. She was the one keeping the details hidden. It all sounded so simple coming from him and his enthusiastic, blind encouragement. The whole discussion gave her a lot to think about, but most of all it told her she wasn't ready to openly discuss everything. She also knew that Lupe likely anticipated her reply, so she settled with a simple: "Thank you."
"Yeah," Lupe ruffled his hair, loosening the last few bits still tied back. "So, did you want to talk more about it?"
She shook her head, opening her eyes. "Honestly, I think I'd like to see the other Keyblades you mentioned having."
He didn't miss a beat and beamed. "I can do that!"
In a literal flash, another Keyblade replaced Fenrir. It looked identical to Velcia's, with red roses wrapped around the blade and leaves as sharp as knives protruding from the hilt.
"It's the same as Velcia's," she said the obvious, running her hand along the metal vine twisting around the blade.
"Right?" Lupe asked with rich excitement. His passion shined through every word he said. "It's called Divine Rose. I don't use it a lot, but I have been dying to show it to Velcia. She'd flip!"
"How do you have one that looks the same?" she asked. "Velcia got hers from her ancestors."
"Well, I don't know about Velcia, but I remember lots of kids having the same Keyblades. There were like a specific set of them we all got. Maybe Velcia's ancestor had something to do with the place I grew up at," Lupe guessed. "I think the girl that I got the power from used the Divine Rose, too."
"We don't know how long ago our memories are from," Chirithy said. "Or how long we were strings of code."
Lupe's excitement stuttered. It wasn't very noticeable. His grin faltered for a singular, fleeting moment. His eyes twitched and he swallowed. Then he was right back to his excited self, flashing Divine Rose into yet another keyblade. Before the light even dissipated, Lupe held out the Keyblade right in front of Hinata's face. She jumped with a gasp that bubbled into a laugh.
"Counterpoint!" Lupe said with pride. "The prettiest in the collection."
He wasn't wrong. Counterpoint was made up with a rainbow of colors that all blended together like a colorful symphony. In fact, that seemed to be the entire point as shimmering music notes climbed the flat of the blade in an offset pattern, leading to a sharp and intricate treble clef. Then at its tip sat a familiar magician's hat. Its cone was dotted with stars and moons, just like…
"Wait… Isn't that… Master Yen Sid's hat?" she asked.
Lupe looked at it, then shrugged. "Who knows… but it's pretty right?"
Hinata laughed, the sound becoming fuller. "Yes, it's beautiful."
"And then there's—"
The door to the hallway hissed open, cutting him off. They didn't even need to look over to see who it was, Ben's cheery voice filled the hall and the wonderful, savory scent of food followed. Hinata's stomach rumbled, loud enough that her, Lupe, and Chirithy all looked at her stomach.
"Sounds like we got here just in time!" Ben exclaimed.
Him and Sam turned the corner with Jack and Avan in tow. Ben leaned one way, then the other, a large plush blanket bulged out between his fingers. He ushered the others to scoot over and then whipped out the blanket, pillowing it full of air. The fabric spread out and Hinata recognized it as the same blanket Riku bought during their last escapade in Twilight Town.
Hinata watched him spread out the blanket. She was well used to Ben's random antics —they'd provided her with much entertainment during her time marooned on Bentopia— but she couldn't place why he'd bring a blanket to a sterile lab. Sam waited until the blanket was placed just right. Bags of food hung from her forearm, filling the lab with tantalizing scents. She settled the bags on the blanket, and then knelt down on one knee beside it.
"What's all this?" Hinata asked. She looked back at Lupe and he shrugged with a big, knowing grin. He knew exactly what was going on.
"Well we figured you were pretty hungry after sleeping three days straight," Ben said while grabbing Hinata's arm and dragging her over to sit. "So Sam and I got the food while Lupe and Chiri kept you company!"
"And knowing you, there was no way you'd leave Velcia." Sam sat crossed legged, leaning back on her palms. The corner of her mouth did an uptick when Hinata looked at her. "How you holding up?"
Hinata drew in a breath and blew it out, her shoulders relaxing in tandem. She didn't quite know how to reply, but managed a nod and a soft smile. The others all settled in, the blanket having enough space for each of them. Sam handled the food, setting it out and giving everyone their orders. She handed Hinata a bowl of creamy potato soup, with the comment that she always liked soup when she was feeling down. Those weren't the exact words she used, but Hinata appreciated it regardless.
The soup did help. With hints of pepper and basil that coated her mouth and warmed her chest after she swallowed. She glanced up towards Velcia while the others ate and talked amongst themselves. It should have felt strange to have a picnic in such a place. The lab wasn't the usual choice for a group lunch, but it was the perfect place for Hinata at that moment. All of them together, eating, relaxing, just being in the same space, supporting each other.
She reached the bottom of her bowl before she was ready for it to end. Grabbing a piece of crusty bread, she used it to sop up the remaining broth. Avan's pointy nose sniffed the edge of her bowl. A rumbling growl emitted from his chest.
"Oye," Sam said with a warning voice, then whistled shortly. Avan slinked back and went to his own remaining scraps of food, curling up around it as if he were a petulant child.
Hinata snickered, scritching the top of Avan's head. He seemed like he was about to nip at her finger, but a growl from Jack stopped him and he nibbled on his food instead. Ben used the moment as a springboard to tell Hinata all about the training. Much of it she'd heard from Lupe just moments before, but she didn't mind. Sam joined in with stories and comments, as did Lupe and Chirithy. It seemed they'd all kept themselves busy while Hinata slept away.
She nodded and smiled, listening to them. Then Sam had the sudden idea to bring Avan along on their next mission. It seemed to be something both her and Ben were keen on. They looked at Hinata for her thoughts and she swallowed the last bits of bread, where it lodged in her throat.
"I—" she coughed, forcing the heavy lump down, "I mean, I…" her voice trailed off. Even after the talk with Lupe, it didn't seem right to be making those sorts of calls, as if she didn't deserve the authority.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lupe shaking his head at Sam and mouthing something she couldn't quite understand.
"What do you mean, not ready, Lupe?" Ben asked. "Avan's not ready?"
Lupe cleared his throat, running his hand over his face. Then he laughed. "Ben, that's not what I meant."
"You don't have to figure it out right now, Hinata," Sam corrected herself in a rush. "It's just an idea."
"OH! You meant Hina isn't ready!" Ben blurted, pointing at Lupe. A silence washed over all of them and Ben rubbed the back of his head. "Ah… Yeah that makes more sense now."
No one talked and Hinata shifted how she sat. All of them treated her with such a cautious gentleness, as if concerned she would break at any moment. She wished to assure them their worries were unwarranted, but after being blindsided by the question and overwhelmed right after… Perhaps there was merit to their concerns.
So she turned the Avan idea around in the head. The others started muttering back and forth, trying to work past the awkward tension in the air. She didn't register much of their words, instead she watched Avan. He finished his given meal and cleaned his claws with his forked tongue. It was the calmest she'd ever seen him, granted she only ever saw him whenever he finished a disastrous rampage somewhere new in the mansion. This time, he laid there, curled up in the center of them all, listening.
"Yes," she said.
Everyone looked at her, whatever discussion they were having forgotten. She winced, she hadn't even considered waiting to interrupt, but they didn't seem to mind. Sam asked what she was saying yes to and everyone nodded, agreeing with her confusion.
"To Avan coming along," Hinata clarified. She stiffened her posture, grasping whatever confidence she could. "We need to start taking his training seriously. Coming along on missions will help that sort of thing."
None of them seemed to know how to take that. They all looked between each other, though Ben's hands crept to his mouth, holding his words back.
"You sure?" Lupe asked, his hand going to her shoulder. "You don't have to rush back into making decisions like this."
Hinata nodded. There wasn't any worth in moping anymore. She'd gotten her worries laid out, now she needed to move them forward. "I'm sure."
Sam smirked with a shrug. "Works for me." She whistled shortly and Avan lifted his head. "Think you're ready?"
Avan's tail flicked and he nodded; with a stretch, he got up and snuggled into Sam's lap. The moment Avan laid down, Ben's excitement burst and he talked incessantly about Avan and their upcoming missions. That got him and Sam talking about all the things they wanted to try with Avan on different worlds.
While they talked, Lupe nudged Hinata with his shoulder. She looked over and they shared a smile. With everything that happened, at least it helped her and Lupe find an understanding. They didn't know where they'd go next, but she found herself looking forward to it.
"Where are we going next?" Ben asked, and for a moment, Hinata wondered if she aired her thoughts out loud.
"We don't have to figure that out right now," Lupe said.
"If we can get the tracker working, we'd be able to head after Keres," Hinata said right after.
"You feeling ready for that?" Sam asked, seeming just as surprised as Lupe.
Hinata inhaled deeply, glancing up towards Velcia. "I want to be. Keres needs our help."
Everyone except Sam seemed to understand her sudden transformation towards Keres. "Right… We're helping her now?"
Before Hinata could even reply, Ben went into the explanation of everything that happened on Enchanted Dominion, well, at least everything Hinata told him. Hinata was surprised Ben hadn't told her earlier. Hearing him so excited to talk about it helped in its own way. Sam's questions were interjected every so often and Hinata took the time to explain things Ben couldn't. The more they discussed, the more comfortable the air became, as if the unnamed tension had finally been released.
"So… the Organization got her," Sam said, putting the pieces together. She nibbled her bottom lip as she mulled it over. "Which means they can make more copies of her, right?"
Hinata didn't like the sound of that, but the thought had crossed her mind. It didn't seem like Sam had much of an opinion on Hinata's change of opinion on Keres. Which to Hinata, meant that Sam didn't agree with it. She put the thought in the back of her mind that she'd discuss it with her later, in private. For the moment, they needed to decide their next course of action.
"I don't know what they want to do with her," Hinata replied. "I don't know if they can make more from her, or if they'd need me for that sort of thing. Or if they consider her a failed Replica and…" Her voice trailed off.
"At least we wouldn't have to worry about her anymore," Sam said with a shrug and she put up her hands when both Lupe and Ben sent her a look. "What?"
And there was how she truly felt about it. Hinata spun the bead in her bracelet, recalling Keres doing the same with James' stolen band. She hadn't shared that detail with any of them, and likely wouldn't for some time. Ben came to Keres' defense and that started a bout of bickering over the merits of her humanity.
"Regardless," Hinata talked over them after allowing them to air their thoughts for a minute, "we're going after her until we're sure." She looked directly at Sam, seeing the fire in her eyes. "I know how you're feeling." She placed her hand over hers. "I do. And I don't want to ask you to do something you're not comfortable with. But I also don't know who else can make the tracker."
Sam's brow furrowed and her gaze diverted away.
"What do you mean, Hina?" Ben asked. "Sam's been working on—"
"No," Sam said, cutting Ben off with the curt word. "I haven't."
She kept her gaze down, a warmth creeping up her neck. Hinata squeezed her hand.
"It's ok," Hinata said with a soft, whispering voice. "I get it."
Sam put down her bowl of soup with a rush. "It's not…" She stopped and closed her eyes, inhaling through her nose. "I can't work on anything in my shop right now. I haven't even been in there that much since I finished fixing my arm. I've glanced at the schematics DiZ made for the tracker, so I've got a bit of an idea about how to make it, but…" She huffed out a breath, running her fingers through her hair. "God, after that bird, thing —whatever the hell it was— grabbed me, I can't even look at my tools without flipping out."
Hinata didn't know what to say. She understood the sensation of rising panic. Each of them did. Since James' passing, it seemed like her and Sam were scrambling to keep their heads above the water. There were days she wondered if pulling Sam away from Montressor was the wisest decision. Were either of them given the chance to truly grieve? Maybe that was the root of it all.
"Before DiZ found me and Chirithy…" Lupe started talking. His entire demeanor shifted. The beads of his bracelet spun between his fingers. "We… I. Was a mess. One day I just woke up in the middle of this town I'd never seen before. None of it felt right. Like I was some piece of a puzzle that wasn't fitting with the rest." His gaze drifted towards Sam before flitting back to the blanket. "Remember those sticky notes you saw back in my apartment?" Sam nodded as he continued, "Those were the only things that kept me and Chirithy going for a while. Ride the trolley, talk to people," he huffed a breath that seemed akin to a bitter laugh, "they were kinda ridiculous, but they helped me function. It gave me something to focus on, otherwise, I would have been stuck in fear from the mess in my head."
As the words left, he looked up toward the ceiling and pushed back his hair, taking a deep breath. Sighing, he looked back to the others and shrugged with a shy smile curving his mouth. Hinata patted her hand along his knee. That small touch turned his smile genuine.
"DiZ scares me…" Chirithy admitted with a small voice.
Lupe swept Chirithy up into his lap. "Awww, buddy. Really?"
Chirithy's round head bobbed up and down, its paws circling each other. "I never liked how much he ordered you around. And I could tell he wasn't helping us out of the kindness of his heart. It's all very shady." Chirithy paused, then looked at Hinata. "Oh, I don't mean—"
"It's fine." Hinata put up her hand, stifling a laugh. "He is pretty shady."
"There was this one time—" Ben rubbed the back of his neck, then tapped his chin. He fidgeted under everyone's attention, which was wildly unlike him. "I helped Captain Flint make a map that let him go anywhere he wanted in the star system. It made it easier to go from place to place and steal anything he wanted."
"Holy shit," Sam said under her breath.
"Yeeeah," Ben laughed with a loud and awkward voice. "You'd think a robot wouldn't feel bad about things. But I sure do! One of those things I was kinda glad to forget about when Captain Flint took my mind out. Then I got it back and well," he laughed again, forcing it out, "I remembered."
Ben's words echoed down the hall. Then everyone went quiet, unsure what to say in response to any of the confessions.
"So basically, we're all messed up," Sam said after a long while.
Snickering, Lupe pointed towards her. "Yup."
Hinata huffed a short laugh as well.
"But at least we're all messed up together!" Ben exclaimed with his arms up.
That got all of them laughing, though the mirth was muted.
"I hadn't meant to take away from what you were saying, though, Sam," Lupe said. He leaned his arm over his knee. "If you need to talk more about it, we're all here to listen. I was trying to say I know where you're coming from."
"I think all of you get it," Sam said with a sigh. "And it's fine. It helped. Everyone's stuff did." She chewed her lip and leaned back on her palms. "Do you think…" Her voice trailed off as her mouth scrunched.
Chirithy tilted its head side to side, curious about the rest of her idea. "Do we think, what?" it asked with an innocent tone.
"A change of pace," Sam finished the disjointed thought. "Like going somewhere for a day or something to let ourselves breathe and figure things out."
Ben gasped with a high pitched intensity, getting up on his knees. "Like Montressor!"
Sam scoffed, loud and unimpressed. "No. More like Prydain, or even Hinata's island. Or just somewhere that isn't here."
"Why not Montressor?" Ben insisted.
There were numerous reasons why not to go to Montressor, at least from Sam's point of view. Hinata leaned back against the wall and looked up at Velcia. Her fingers traced the stitching in the blanket while Ben and Sam bickered about where to go. Montressor used to be a cage for Hinata, and it was for Sam, too. Locked away from the world, unable to roam and spread their wings. But it didn't stay that way for Hinata.
She recalled the Benbo Inn, Doctor Doppler and Amelia. The mechanic shop where she spent a majority of her time at while Sam pieced together the Highwind. She wondered what it must be like now, under Clarisse's management. The shy girl seemed confident in her ability to run it, though Hinata had her doubts. She hadn't heard anything about the shop since James' passing. Sam was ready to cut everything off, spare for Jim. He was her last remaining link back home.
"Montressor was your homeworld, right Sam?" Lupe asked.
Sam sighed, releasing the rising irritation in her voice. "Yeah. I grew up there. Wouldn't really call it home."
"But Jim and your mom—" Ben started to say, then went silent when Sam glared.
"Jim's at the Academy," she replied with short terse words. "I don't want to go back there. How 'bout Prydain? Let Bedivere see Avan or something."
Hinata pursed her lips, she noticed Sam glazing over Ben mentioning her mom. She'd never met the woman, despite being in the shop every day and even once or twice in the house itself. According to them, she never left her room. Not since their dad went missing. She understood part of it. Their mother must have been lost in despair and in immense pain after he went away, but she still had two children depending on her. Two children that were forced to grow up much faster than the world intended.
It wasn't as if Sam didn't manage well enough on her own. She pushed forward and kept going, despite the odds. Her father would be proud, Hinata was certain of it. The few stories about him she gleaned from Sam and James told her enough about him. He was the sort that would have been right there with Sam in the thick of it, both on Montressor and on missions. Perhaps, finding him was just what they needed. It provided the change of pace and something personal for Sam to focus on. Something she'd pushed aside for one reason or another. But that didn't change the fact that Keres needed to be found and the tracker was their only lead on finding her.
"I know where you're coming from Sam," Hinata said, cutting in between the discussion. Ben and Sam fell silent and looked over. "And I think you're right about needing a change of pace, but," she looked back at Sam, her features soft, "I need to know we're making progress on the tracker, too."
Sam's eyes didn't know where to look. They flitted in various directions like a child being scolded by their mother, even though that was far from Hinata's intention. "Yeah, I get it."
"Maybe my dad could help make it," Hinata suggested. "I know where you're coming from with it and I don't want to be pushing you—"
"It's fine," Sam said with a rush. "I get it. I don't want to shove it off on DiZ. He started the thing, then tossed it."
"What about setting some time aside every day?" Lupe asked. "Grab some tools, go somewhere else that's not your workshop and work on it. Even if it's just staring at the schematics for ten minutes, at least you're doing something with it."
Hinata nodded with a growing excitement, her hands open towards Lupe. "We could even be there with you when you do, so you aren't alone."
She didn't seem convinced by their suggestions. Her shoulders heightened with a breath, then slumped with a release. "It's worth a shot."
That's all the assurance Hinata needed. Promised progress. She placed her hand along Sam's arm, giving her a squeeze. They'd find Keres, even if the wait made every part of her itch with an antsy sensation. Keeping busy would be the best solution for all of them.
"Where do we look in the meantime?" Ben asked.
They were back to that incessant question. The same question that plagued them at the end of every mission. With the tracker progress sorted, Hinata could suggest finding Sam's dad. Though, going on a separate adventure while Keres' future hung in the balance didn't seem right. The last few months were filled with the hunt for her. Every world, every spar, even the conversations were centrally focused on finding and capturing her. They'd gotten so close, and now they were discussing doing something else for the sake of sanity.
"You don't have to decide right now," Lupe said, his hand plopping on top of Hinata's head.
The sensation shook her out of her thoughts and she saw all of them watching with varying degrees of concern and understanding. "I have an idea of where to go," she admitted, moving Lupe's hand before he could ruffle her hair. "I'm just… figuring out how I feel about it."
"Well, get it out and we'll figure it out with you," Sam suggested with a fling of her hand.
"Fair enough," Hinata said with a breathy laugh. "What about finding your dad?"
There, she'd said it.
Sam blinked, startled. "W-what?"
Hinata shifted to face her. "You said you needed a change of pace. That's a loose end we've talked about tying up for a long time. It might help you get working on things again, it gives us something to do while Velcia recovers here, and… It gives us the chance to try being an actual team."
"What about Keres?" Chirithy asked while Sam tried to grapple with the idea. "Shouldn't we be looking for her?"
"I want to find her," Hinata admitted. She twirled the beads in her bracelet, attached to it ever since she saw Keres do it. "But I don't know where to look. And it's going to take time to make the tracker, if it will even end up working."
"You can't give up on her!" Ben said, leaning forward.
"I'm not." Hinata looked up at him. "She's got the habit of turning up on her own. I think we have to trust she will this time, too."
"Even though the Organization got her?" Chirithy asked.
"She got away from them once," Hinata said with a soft uptick to her lips. It fell the longer she waited for a reply. "It's all we have right now. I know it seems like I'm giving up—"
"It doesn't," Lupe cut in. "We know you, Hina. If there's nothing we can do for Keres right now, there's nothing we can do. Going after something else in the meantime is a good call."
Having his support meant more than she thought it would. A step forward in the right direction. She gave him a small thanks before Ben piped up.
"Well alright," he accepted Hinata's explanation and jumped on board with the plan. "Where do we start looking?"
Sam sighed with her entire body, slouching forward with her face in her hands. "Clarisse…" she muttered into her hands. Moving her hands to her head, she explained, "You mentioned seeing those robots on Bane's ship, right?"
Hinata nodded.
"Clarisse knows about Bane. They're from the same galaxy." Sam sighed again. "So let's start there."
"That would mean going to Montressor," Lupe said. He leaned forward and looked directly at her, but his features were soft and genuine. "Are you sure you're alright with that?"
"No." Sam laughed short and stiff. "But, if it means finding dad… I'm ready for anything."
**Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading! We're reaching a new Act in the story. From here on, at least for a while, part of the chapter will follow Keres. The other part will follow Hinata. Both of them have journeys to go on and ways to grow.
I am SO excited to finally be getting to find Sam's dad! It's been on my outline and living rent free in my head for YEARS. This is really exciting and I hope you're enjoying the ride.
Also, a huge thank you to AmyHayaNora for the two incredible 'sketches' for this chapter. Both of them capture the emotion of the setting so beautifully. You can find them on Archive and my Tumblr.
Anyway, thank you again for taking the time to read. If you enjoyed it, please don't forget to leave a comment! Don't usually ask, but I'm so curious how all of you are enjoying the turn of events.
Have a wonderful week!**