 
The Chronicles of New Eden

Path Two

### SUNRISE SAPLING

Hayden Pearton

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Published by Hayden Pearton at Smashwords

Copyright 2018 Hayden Pearton

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Awakening

Koinophobia

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### Contents

Prologue: How to Save the World

I. STATIONary Life

II. Alza's New Home

III. Barsch La Tergan is Dead

IV. Reconnection

V. Taken

VI. The Beast Comes

VII. The Promise

VIII. The Price of Freedom

IX. Refuge

X. Answers and Questions

XI. Starlit Solace

XII. Fire and Fog

XIII. Abomination

XIV. To Look Upon Creation

XV. What Once Was

XVI. True Origins

XVII. You Are Who You Are

XVIII. What War Brings

XIX. The Seed must Be Saved

XX. Twilight Rose

XXI. Ruination

XXII. Sunrise Saplings

Epilogue: Hope and Sorrow

About the Author

For Chanelle, My One and Only

For Michael, I doubt you'll ever read this

For my Family, you raised me up

And for everyone else, may this bring you joy

When the Slaves break Free and Nations repent,

The Planet will Weep.

When the Humblest are King and the Meek reign Supreme,

The Planet will Weep.

-Sage Iager

# Prologue: How to Save the World

In which we start anew...

An Unknown Time. An Unknown Place.

In a large, opulent bedroom, furnished with every kind of luxury imaginable, a man was dreaming. The man, a scientist and would-be saviour, was dreaming of the future. He dreamt of a world no longer threatened with destruction. He dreamt of a world free from sorrow and pain. He dreamt of a world that he would create.

And just as his dream reached its zenith, a robotic voice called out, _"Dr Michaelis, it is time to get up."_

It was his personalized alarm clock, a gift from an old acquaintance, and he hated it more than anything else. Cracking one bleary eye open, he searched the gloom for the annoying contraption. After several minutes of fruitless searching, he found the blasted machine and shut it off.

Dr Michaelis, the man who dreamt of saving the world, was not a lazy man. Nor was he a particularly bad man, although some of his colleagues might think otherwise. Instead, he was a dreamer, and his dreams were far more grandiose than most. During his youth, he had often dreamt of becoming a superhero who would save those in distress. As he grew, his dream did too, and now, at the wizened age of 53, his dream had expanded to cover not just those in distress, but everyone on the planet. Thus, when the pollution levels had begun to rise and the world had begun to panic, he viewed it as his long-awaited chance, his... destiny.

However, he could not save the world from his bed, so he made an effort to get up and ready himself. Taking a slightly dirty suit from his closet, he dressed himself and left the room. Outside, things were very different. Gone was the luxury and peaceful atmosphere. In their place was a long, steel-lined corridor which had been filled with drab paintings in an attempt to lighten the mood. Dr Michaelis had specially requested for his room to be furnished with all the trimmings and luxury he had grown accustomed to during his life in the Quantum Age. Walking down the lifeless corridor, he mused on the planet's present condition and wondered how long it would be before he could go back to his previous lifestyle.

"Good morning, Sir!" cried an unfamiliar voice. Standing at the end of the corridor was a young man in his early twenties. His hair was completely black, and his eyes were the colour of the sea, before the pollution fouled it, of course. As far as he could remember, the man was an intern, spending time in the facility to learn more about his trade. In an attempt to appear considerate, Dr Michaelis returned the youth's greeting.

"Ah, Luke, was it? Good morning. How are things in... engineering... going?" The look that flashed across "Luke's" face told Dr Michaelis that he had not expected a reply.

"It's going well, Sir. The generator has been giving us a bit of trouble lately, but I think we'll have it under control soon."

"Good. See that you do."

Although "Luke" did not know it, Dr Michaelis needed everything to be perfect on this day, far more so than any other. Leaving the intern to his business, Dr Michaelis continued onwards, heading towards the facility's Computer Core. Standing outside, obviously waiting for him, was Professor Singh, the man in charge of the facility's computer systems.

"Today is a great day, Professor," he said, as he approached, "We are finally ready to enter Phase Two."

Professor Singh, a small man with a copper complexion and an untidy mess of brown hair, did not return his good mood. "I know that I was the one who suggested this, but it still makes me uneasy. The emotion engine is an untested piece of technology, we have no idea how it will affect her programming. Maybe we should delay the launch, just until we are sure that nothing will go wrong?"

Dr Michaelis, shaking his head in disappointment, replied, "Nonsense, we are on a tight schedule. If we delay this any further, the board might cut our funding. Do you have any idea how many other facilities like this one are out there? Every scientist on the planet is trying to prove that their idea will be the one to remove the pollution, and we cannot let them do it before us! No, we will proceed as planned."

Professor Singh, knowing that Dr Michaelis was not one to easily change his mind, sighed and stood aside. With no more obstacles, Dr Michaelis was finally able to enter the lab. Inside, an assortment of lab technicians, scientists and officials welcomed him with silent stares.

"Ladies and gentlemen, today is a great day! With this machine, we will finally have the means to save our dying world! This machine was created to monitor every aspect of this facility, and to ensure that the project proceeds without impedance. The artificial intelligence contained within will run everything that we humans cannot, and, with its prototype emotion engine, it will be able to adapt and react to problems we cannot even conceive. And now, with great aplomb, I give you... E.V.E!"

With a practised nod towards the assembled crowd, Dr Michaelis strode forward to the large, cylindrical machine in the centre of the room. Its outer surface was covered in screens and switches, but the only thing that mattered to him was the button labelled, **"Activate"**. Taking a moment's pause -for dramatic effect- Dr Michaelis reached forward and pressed the small button.

A few seconds later, the machine sprang to life, as its numerous screens were filled with streams of data. From a carefully concealed speaker in the ceiling, the revolutionary A.I. spoke its first words.

" _Good morning, gentlemen. Tell me, how are we going to save the world?"_
Part One: On the Road Again

# Chapter I: STATIONary Life

In which our prince and princess are reunited...

Six Months Ago

It was the final piece of evidence needed to finish his theory. "They are waking up... all of them..." Barsch mumbled, mostly to himself.

The worrisome feeling in his stomach had become almost unbearable, as visions of millions of people leaving the Stations and entering the toxic atmosphere filled his mind. There was nothing they could do. There was nothing any of them could do to fix this. All they could do was stand there, side-by-side, and watch the beginning of the end.

"You're wrong," said Alza, suddenly grabbing hold of Barsch's hand, "This is merely... the end of the beginning."

"She's right, m'boy. We've come too far to let things end like this," said Kingston, a resolute look settling upon his aged features.

Barsch looked at the monitor, noting that the number of defrosting humans had risen another million since he last checked. What could they do? This wasn't a problem they could fix in the few hours they had left.

"It's okay, m'boy, we will think of something. If we can stop a madman from wiping out humanity, I am sure we can figure out a way to keep them alive. However, whatever we do, we are going to have to lie to everyone. No one can know that we are responsible for this."

Barsch swallowed, thinking to himself that he would rather face Kain again than lie to a hundred and eight million people. He had thought that leaving Doctor Emmerfield's lab had signalled the end of his troubles.

He had never been more wrong...

*

The Present

The glade. The Station. The journey. The pain. The lies. The truth. The end, and the beginning.

I hold the screaming blade with a trembling hand. Its blurred length extends outwards, facing my enemy. At Lanista's end is Kain, the man I murdered.

Blood spurts from the gruesome wound, a clear indicator of the damage I have done. Kain's face still bears his last expression, a mixture of shock and rage. He never expected this outcome... none of us did.

I mean... a mere mortal striking down the monster who wielded a flaming sword? Impossible, yes, but I have done the impossible before.

Ruination, his blade, lies beside his feet, its supernatural flame starting to fade. It looks... lonely, without its master. I feel pity, for the blade which could not protect its owner.

His eyes have glazed over, no longer filled with the rage which had consumed him for most of his life. One way or another, he has found peace.

" _Is that what you think?" he says, eyes suddenly regaining life. His look of anger has been replaced with a maniacal smile, and I honestly can't tell which is worse._

" _You think you've won? You think you've beaten me? I broke your mind, Barsch! I wounded you in a way that cannot be undone! You may have broken my body... but my spirit... my rage... my hatred... will not die this day!"_

I need to get away. I need to run. But my hand will not let go of Lanista. It binds us together, murderer and murdered.

" _Enjoy your temporary peace, Barsch, because soon, I'll be coming for you!" he screams, as the dream is filled with fire and fury._

*

"Barsch, time to get up!" called an unseen man, bringing Barsch out of his slumber.

Barsch, still wrapped up in his bed sheets, groaned loudly. Immediately, he knew that he had had the dream again. Every night, since their return, he had been forced to replay the events at Dr Emmerfield's lab over and over in his mind. He had searched through his memories, trying in vain to find something that he could have done differently or something he could have avoided doing. If he had not followed Kingston; if Alza had never wandered into the glade; if they had refused to listen to the Avatars; then maybe they would not be in this perilous situation.

Unscrambling himself, Barsch managed to sit up and blearily look at his now-familiar surroundings. Stark, white walls, meeting stark, white floors, which made his room look uncomfortably like a padded cell. His bed, his nightstand, the shelves that held his few possessions, all painted bright white. There was a simple reason why his room looked so uninhabitable: that's how it was designed to be.

Genesis Station 13, along with every other Station, had never been designed to be lived in. The original plan, before Barsch had inadvertently screwed it up, had been for humanity to hibernate in an extended cold sleep, while the re-mechs outside set about rebuilding the world. Five hundred years from now, he, along with the rest of humanity, had been expected to awaken and then -after a brief re-orientation period- leave the Station forever.

After exiting through the Station's three-foot thick doors, the reborn human race was supposed to never look back. Their cities would be waiting for them, filled with every luxury imaginable, ready to be inhabited. However, because of his mistake, humanity had awoken a lot sooner than anticipated, leaving over a hundred million humans without home or hope. Naturally, the Station builders had not anticipated such an event happening, and now all that stood between humanity and its extinction were a few rooms containing emergency supplies. They had been designed to give the reborn humans a few months' worth of food and clothes as they settled into their new cities.

Now, six months later, those stores were beginning to run out, and tensions in the Station were rising. Everyone wanted to return to the pods, or find more supplies, but, most of all, they wanted someone to blame.

Finally getting to his feet, Barsch looked at the door and sighed. How long had it been, since he had last felt at peace? A harsh childhood followed by a twenty yearlong dreamless sleep, followed by a few weeks of insanity, and six months of desperation.

" _Sitting in Kingston's hut, warming my frozen feet in a metal tub filled with warm water as I listened to the rainfall. That is my last peaceful memory... I miss him. He always knew what to do..."_

Deciding to stop thinking such depressing thoughts, he reached down and picked up some clothes. A frayed black shirt and dark blue pants, perfect for blending into the crowd. Although he did not think anyone suspected him of being responsible for the current dilemma, he was not going to take any chances, nor give anyone a reason to be suspicious.

Just before he left the room, he glanced back at his messy bed. Hidden underneath it, in a secret compartment, was _Lanista_ , his blade. For a moment, his hand unconsciously clenched, as if it wanted to be wrapped around the black hilt once more.

" _No,"_ he told himself, remembering all of the pain and heartache it had caused. When he wielded the black blade, and allowed its sinister teeth to spin, the violence that lived deep within him roared. It had been quiet ever since his return, but even now he could feel it moving within him. It had been patient for almost six months, but now it grew restless. It wanted to be let out, to tear into the flesh of his enemies, and to drink their bittersweet lifeblood.

" _No!"_ he thought, more firmly, knowing that giving in for even a moment could result in the beast going on a rampage.

*

"Barsch, what's keeping you? Your breakfast is getting warm, son!" His father's voice, a deeper and manlier version of his own, had come from beyond the door.

"Coming!" he replied, sliding open the white door and entering the room. It was as simple and unfurnished as his bedroom, containing nothing more than a small table, two metal chairs, and a fake plant in the corner. Thankfully the Station contained a large number of identical rooms, once used by the builders as they constructed the Station around them. Elsewhere in the Station families were packed together, sometimes up to ten to a room, but not here. And all because his father was special.

Lukas La Tergan, father and mentor of Barsch La Tergan, was sitting in one of the chairs, struggling to open a bluish-grey tin. Lukas, now in his 48th year, was a man of contradictions. Standing well over six foot, with midnight black hair and cold, blue eyes, he looked like a man who took nothing lightly.

However, to any who had known him before the death of his wife, he was an energetic and fun-loving spirit. With a master's degree in engineering and several degrees in everything from genetics to mechatronics, Lukas sounded like a man who preferred to spend every waking moment reading or studying, but his closest friend would simply point out that Lukas preferred the practical over the theoretical.

He was a man who, when faced with a problem, would tackle it headfirst, and come to a solution through his own sweat and blood.

Additionally, his mature good looks and friendly nature would ordinarily have meant that countless women would be trying to capture him, but he had made it clear that his first love, Barsch's mother, had also been his last.

When Barsch came closer -and after rubbing the sleep from his eyes- he noticed that his father was still wearing his oil and grime covered overalls, a clear sign that the man had not slept.

"Something troubling you?" Lukas asked, noting his son's pointed gaze.

"The same old dream, I'm afraid," Barsch replied.

"The one with Kain?" his father asked, while continuing to wrestle with the tightly sealed can.

"Yeah," Barsch wearily replied. His father was one of the select few who knew of his adventure, although Barsch had kept a few of the more disturbing details secret. At first, his father had thought that his story was the result of the after-effects of exiting the pod early. However, after multiple retellings and showings of evidence, his father had finally given in and decided to believe his strange tale. Since then, his father had gradually come to accept that his son had been awakened several weeks before the rest of humanity, and had had a fantastical adventure involving world-shaping entities, genetically altered humans and a mad scientist.

"Hmm... have you tried to contact those... Avatars? You said that you first met them during a dream, right?"

"I've been trying, but ever since everyone woke up, the dreamscape has been filled with dreams. Trying to find a single dream, let alone a person, is almost impossible."

Taking the chair next to Lukas, Barsch allowed his tired body to fall upon the cold, metal frame. All of the furniture in Genesis Station had been designed with function in mind, so metal and plastic were the prevailing materials. During his brief stay in Kingston's self-made hut, he had slept under a goose-down duvet, and had rested on a comfy wooden armchair.

"Have you tried talking to... _her_ about it? Wasn't she the one who gave you the ability in the first place?" Lukas still refused to say her name out loud, as if it would summon the genetically engineered girl to his doorstep, whereupon she would whisk his beloved son away on another dangerous adventure.

Barsch looked away, unwilling to let his father see the sadness in his eyes. After the initial chaos of the awakening, they had had to lie to everyone. After the people came to understand that leaving the Station amounted to suicide, and after they had raged and cursed, things had settled down. Alza, in order to stay under the radar, had posed as the daughter of the Atrés. Mercifully the couple, who had lost their son several years prior, had agreed to take her in, and she had been taken to another area of the Station. In the past few months they had only met a handful of times when she was able to sneak away unnoticed. Each time they parted he wondered if he would see her again. And always, before leaving, she would open her mouth as if to speak, but no words would come out.

" _She wants to say goodbye, I'm sure of it. She is able to live outside despite the pollution, and I'm sure she doesn't want to spend her last few days with a fake family. She wants to say goodbye, leave the Station behind, and never look back..."_

Barsch sighed, knowing that it was not her fault. He had destroyed her real family, and, even though her 'father' had been mad and 'brother' psychotic, it was all she had had. Now, she had no one, and she had lost the only thing that had kept her going. And, despite her inability to properly convey emotions, she probably hated him more than anything.

"No, I don't think she will help us. Even if I could find the time to speak with her, she has her own problems to deal with."

Lukas gave Barsch one of his trademarked penetrating gazes, before mirroring his son's sigh. "Not much we can do about it then," he said, in a finalising way. A moment later, the tin in his hands finally gave up its precious contents: four small pear halves. It would have been a meagre meal before The Great Sleep, but to the half-starved father and son, it was a feast.

After fetching two bowls and spoons from a nearby cupboard, the duo began eating their unfulfilling meal. "Hmm, I think we should have dried plums for lunch, what do you think?"

In all honesty, Barsch was rather sick of dried plums, having had them for the last two months. However, times were hard, and things had to change. "Sounds good, I'll go and fetch some right after this."

"Thanks, I would go myself, but I'm urgently needed back at the reactor."

The reactor was the heart of the Station, providing power and the energy used to purify the only drinkable water in fifty miles. If it went dark, the entire Station would descend into chaos. Normally, it would have had enough power to sustain almost ten thousand cryogenic pods for over five hundred years, while still powering the artificial intelligence that watched over every aspect of the Station, but it had never been designed to support ten thousand awake humans.

Everything, from food refrigeration to hot water was powered by the reactor, and it was coming dangerously close to overloading. Therefore, anyone with a degree in engineering or who was handy with a wrench had been assigned to maintaining the reactor around the clock, while also gaining considerable pressure from the population. The only benefits were the popularity and living perks, which ensured that those working on the reactor had the choice of the best rooms and considerable pull when it came to making decisions.

"You've been working non-stop for six months; can't you ask Markus to give you a break every now and then?"

Markus was the Station's de facto leader, and had been the first one to realise the importance of rationing what little food they had. This foresight, in addition to his prior work as a U.N.O.E official and Politician made him the ideal candidate for leadership. In the beginning, his planning ability and natural charm had earned him the love and respect of nearly every resident, but lately, dwindling supplies had led to several emerging competitors.

"We're all working hard, Markus included. Besides, all of the lads working alongside me would get disheartened if I suddenly called it quits. Remember, through fire, though ice, through deepest despair-

"Never lose your stride, I know. I haven't forgotten, but sometimes it seems hard to keep walking, when everything is falling to pieces."

Barsch had tried to maintain the hope that the Avatars might suddenly reappear and fix everything, or that things would go back to normal between Alza and him, but such fantasies were just that, and were unlikely to ever come true.

Lukas gave out a small chuckle, and looked at his son with a new type of gaze. He had told Barsch that he still had trouble coming to terms with how much Barsch had grown. When he had last seen him, before humanity was frozen, Barsch had been a somewhat shy and indecisive boy. When he had next laid eyes upon him, he had become a man with strength in his eyes and confidence in his actions. Of course, Barsch had had the adventure of a lifetime to help toughen him up, but his change was still remarkable.

"You've grown, Barsch," he said, after finishing his meal.

Barsch, also finishing up, merely nodded. He could feel it; that something in him had changed. From the moment he had first awoken he had been forced into countless dangerous situations. He had bled, and had been forced to hurt others. He had made decisions that still haunted him, and had been held accountable for every failure and triumph. Standing, he took the used bowls over to the sink, located in the adjacent bathroom. Above the metal structure was a simple mirror, in which he caught his reflection.

Tall, with greenish-blue eyes and light brown hair -a side-effect of his time spent outside- he looked like a normal teenager, albeit one who had experienced things no teenager should ever have to. From dying to taking the life of another, his once normal childhood had been irreparably shattered by his chance meeting with Alza. He had changed, but the man now standing before him was not the man he had ever hoped to be.

After cleaning the dishes, he retrieved his greatcoat from his room and headed for the door. Although the temperature in Genesis never dropped into freezing, heat was a luxury that they simply could not afford.

"Ah! Barsch, one more thing; I'm going to head over to Delphi before my next shift, so I probably won't be here when you get back."

Delphi, or Delphi of Pythia as she had come to be known, was an old woman who was often consulted for her wisdom and near-psychic abilities. Ordinarily, Barsch would have been quick to denounce her as a fraud, but between the Avatars and Alza, he had come to accept the existence of powers beyond logical explanation.

"Okay, see you later then. Be safe," he said, stepping through the open door. His father barely had time to mirror his response before the door slid shut. Almost immediately he stopped, barely avoiding a collision with Thomas, a young engineer who worked with his father.

"Is he in?" the youth asked, after catching his breath. From the looks of his sweat soaked brow and trembling legs, he had run all the way from the reactor.

"Yeah, go right ahead," Barsch replied, stepping aside.

"Thanks," was his curt reply, before rushing inside. Barsch heard a snippet of conversation, which included both the words 'meltdown' and 'evacuation'. Deciding to leave the engineering problems to the engineers, Barsch set off down the bland hallway. When he had first returned to Genesis Station, the halls had been empty, and devoid of life. Now, a scant few months later, everything had changed. Dirt and discarded scraps cluttered up the once pristine hallways, and people moved about in throngs. Everywhere he looked, he saw the same thing. Mothers, fathers, children, lovers, enemies, all forced to inhabit the same space.

When he had first seen the Station, twenty years ago, he had thought it big enough to hold the entire human population... but now he could not imagine a place more claustrophobic. It was simple maths, when he stopped to think about it. Take almost ten thousand people of varying backgrounds, faiths and personalities, seal them inside an underground bunker with limited resources, and wait for the chaos to erupt.

As a testament to his abilities as a leader, Markus had kept the peace relatively well. By separating the masses into smaller groups based on culture and age, he had been able to prevent small clashes of ideals from turning into all out cultural war, but the peace would not last forever. As supplies continued to dwindle, tempers had flared and dissenting voices were raised. If nothing were done, the people living in the Station would do nature's work for it, and tear themselves apart.

*

"Come on, hand it over!" cried a loud voice from down the corridor.

Barsch looked up and immediately began analysing the scene he had almost wandered into. There, standing not ten feet away, was Charles Endrich, the second biggest contender for the title of 'disturber of the peace'. Flanking him was his posse of like-minded 'friends', Jeremiah Gordon and Francesca 'Fran' Selachii. Together, the trio were some of the biggest trouble makers the Station had, right after Joshua Evans. Charles, a bully by profession, had cornered the La Variss orphans, Terrigan and Alissa, and was holding out his hand expectantly.

"I saw you hide it in your pocket, so there is no use in lying!"

Terrigan was 12, and his sister, Alissa, was 13. Both were dwarfed by Charles, a young man of 19 who had been blessed with both a well-toned physique and cunning intelligence. Clearly, it was not a fair fight, but Charles had never been known to play fair. Although Barsch had been trying to stay under the radar, Terrigan and Alissa were friends, mostly due to the fact that they were neighbours, but friends nonetheless.

"Our caretaker gave it to us for doing all of our chores, so I can't just give it away."

Terrigan was brave, speaking in such a manner to a boy who could flatten him with one hand, but his shaking legs belied his true feelings. Alissa, always the quiet one, merely stood behind her brother and said nothing. Barsch moved closer, trying to see what Terrigan had in his hand.

It was a small peach, but Terrigan held it like it was the most valuable thing in the world.

"I can't just give it away!" mocked Charles, in a deliberately high-pitched imitation of Terrigan. "Didn't your parents teach you anything? You're supposed to obey your elders, so hand it over!"

As Charles took a step forward, hand raised in a clearly threatening manner, Barsch decided to speak.

"That's enough, Charles. Leave him alone."

Before his harrowing adventure, Barsch would never have thought about raising his voice to a guy like Charles. However, after fighting against entities that had been worshipped as gods, corrupted beasts and the monstrously overpowered Kain, he had little fear for mere bullies.

Charles, surprised by the sudden challenge, took a moment to register that it had not come from his prey. Turning, he started to grin, as if he were eagerly anticipating his next quarry. When he saw Barsch, the grin faded, only to be immediately replaced by a look of confusion. Thus far, the two boys had never exchanged looks, let alone spoken, and so Charles had never had the opportunity to look into Barsch's haunted eyes and see glimpses of what the youth had gone through. For Barsch, he had only one goal for this entire confrontation: end it quickly. The longer things dragged on, the greater the chance of the Beast surfacing, which would not be good for anyone.

" _Please, just walk away"_ he tried to project, _"I don't want to have to hurt you."_

"Ha, look at this clown!" Charles guffawed, having clearly misunderstood the message, "He probably thinks that we'll just turn tail and run! Well, I'm sorry to disappoint, Mr Son of the Head Engineer, but things won't go your way."

That Charles knew who he was wasn't surprising, as everyone knew everyone down in the Station. What was surprising was that he had not backed down, despite having only a peach to gain, and everything to lose.

" _He's afraid of looking bad in front of his cronies,"_ Barsch realised with a start. It was almost admirable -in a lopsided kind of way- that Charles did not want to lose face in front of his friends. However, this was no time for admiration.

"Just go away, Charles, there's no need to fight," he said, trying to keep his tone neutral. It was hard enough resisting the call of the Beast, but now Barsch could feel one of his signature headaches coming on. He had started having them shortly after he had returned to Genesis, and they had occurred every few days without fail since then. His last had been two days prior, the shortest interval yet. Each began in the same manner: a hot, pulsing sensation at the base of his neck, followed by a burst of pain racing through his brain, and ending in a bright, scorching light erupting in his mind. He was currently in the first stage, which meant he had only minutes before the situation rapidly worsened.

"Are you trying to tell me what to do?" Charles replied, a menacing look in his eye. He had taken to wearing orange-coloured contacts, which gave his stare an extra element of danger. He took a step towards Barsch, hands forming fists. The flashes of burning pain were increasing in tempo, making it hard to concentrate on Charles. Why couldn't he take the hint and just leave? The roaring in Barsch's head continued to build, as his headache shifted into its second stage.

A sudden crackling sound made everyone except Barsch glance up. Overhead, dozens of tiny sparks were ricocheting off the surface of the embedded lights. Shadows ran across the walls as the lights continued to flicker, bathing the hallway in shades of black and white. The reactor's death rattle, or a mere surge of power? It was impossible to know. Barsch, still trying to hold back both his violence and his building headache, cared little for a few lighting problems.

When Charles' gaze returned to Barsch, he apparently saw something new... something that caused him to step back. Taking advantage of whatever the boy had seen, Barsch spoke.

"Leave, now," he said, in a low, serious tone. To him, however, he had screamed the words, and could not understand why no one else in the hallway had noticed. The roar that had been building in his mind had exploded outwards with his cry, taking his headache with it.

At that moment, the light above decided to die, sending a shower of sparks which framed Barsch's face in the new darkness. Before his vision returned, he heard three gasps: one from Terrigan, one from Alissa, and one -the loudest- from Charles. A minute later, a backup light activated, giving the hallway an orange tinge. Charles, Jeremiah and Fran had all taken several steps back, and wore looks of fear and confusion. Even Terrigan had shied away from his saviour, but, after a deep breath, he walked to Barsch's side.

"You heard him, leave," the youth said, his voice still shaky.

Charles, finally realising that a single peach was not worth the effort, turned around and walked away, mumbling, "It was probably rotten anyway."

Fran and Jeremiah followed him a moment later, after glancing from Barsch, to Terrigan, and finally to the retreating back of their leader.

"Freak," whispered Fran, at the exact same moment that Jeremiah asked, "Did you see his eyes?"

A heartbeat later, and they had left the hallway, leaving Barsch, Terrigan and Alissa in a sphere of awkward silence. Eventually, the silence was broken by Terrigan, who bravely faced Barsch and said, "Thank you... I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't showed up... Um, please accept this... as a token of our appreciation." Terrigan was holding the peach out to Barsch, his small hands still trembling slightly.

For a moment, Barsch hesitated, thinking about how scarce food had become, and how Terrigan must have felt, giving away what little he had. "Thank you, but I'm still full from breakfast," Barsch said in what he hoped was a kindly manner, as his empty stomach rumbled.

Knowing that the young boy would continue trying to give away his hard-earned food, Barsch excused himself, saying, "Sorry, Terry, I have somewhere I need to be. I will come by later if I can, and you can tell me how it tasted!"

He had already covered significant ground by the time the last word left his lips, to the point where the La Variss orphans were merely shapes in the orange-tinted gloom.

Mentally reminding himself to tell his father about the faulty lights, Barsch continued onwards to his destination.

*

He walked through hallway after hallway, each indistinguishable from the next. Finally, he arrived at the central hub, a circular room with doors leading to the various areas of the Station. There was always a crowd in the large room, as its central nature had resulted in it being used as a town hall and meeting room. Just at a glance, Barsch could see several familiar faces. He was friends with some of the people present, like Sarah Baliss, an amateur astronomer, or Travis Summers, a messenger for hire. However, he also spied a few unsavoury characters, including Anna-Lynne Summers, Travis' younger sister and Station gossip; and Lionel Clint, a mysterious man with a terrifying aura.

"Barsch, is that you?" cried another familiar face, although this was one he was quite happy to see. Dr Harold August was one of the Station's few doctors, and as such he was often overworked by the constant stream of injuries and illnesses. On the cusp of his sixtieth year, with balding black hair with streaks of white, he was a man to be respected, and Barsch had sought him out shortly after his return to Genesis.

"Dr August! How are you doing?" he answered, moving towards the elderly doctor.

"Well, my joints are stiff, my body aches, and I haven't had a decent meal in months, but it could be worse...I could be outside." The aged doctor had lost his wife to the pollution which had killed the planet, and as a result his voice always dripped with cynicism.

"And you Barsch? Are you still having headaches?"

Barsch looked around before answering, trying to find any potential eavesdroppers. "Yes, they come almost every day now, and last for a few hours before disappearing."

"Hmm, I see. And has the medication I gave you had any effect?"

"I'm sorry doctor, but the pain has remained the same," said Barsch, thinking back to his last head-splitting bout of agony.

"Ah, well, unfortunately, I cannot give you anything stronger. I have already used most of the medicines I found in the Station infirmary on treating the people here, and I must prioritize what is left."

"I understand doctor. Maybe I will try some of Ifrin's relaxation techniques, to see if they will help."

Dr August's ever-present grimace deepened slightly at the mention of the female Judai. Ifrin, along with Ishmael and Keanan, were the only Judai living in the Station. Before the South Wars, Judai had been a prosperous country located far to the East. However, it had been destroyed in the early years of the wars, and its people, now refugees, had scattered across the globe.

Their cultural peculiarities, along with their status as outsiders led to a general distrust of their entire race, making it hard for them to find any safe havens to rebuild their nation. As a result, the Judai had been forced to wander the land, never resting, and never finding peace. From the passing comments and Anna-Lynne's gossip, Barsch had surmised that the Judai trio had been passing through the area and had been caught up in the Station's census of the locals.

"If you think that _their_ methods might be of some use, then by all means..."

"Yes, thank you doctor... for everything," said Barsch, turning to leave.

"It has been my pleasure. And please, look after that father of yours. If anything were to happen to him, this Station would suffer greatly." Taking his cue to leave, Dr August walked away, no doubt en route to his next patient.

*

When the old doctor had disappeared from sight, Barsch resumed his journey to the storeroom. Taking the small door marked, " **Service Sector F"** , Barsch emerged into a hallway filled with hissing steam pipes and frayed power cables. As Barsch walked down the hallway, he started hearing two voices coming from his destination.

The first, a loud, booming voice, belonged to Phil Carrigan, a strict follower of Markus and the man in charge of rationing the food and keeping it safe. The second, a quiet, yet menacing tone, belonged to Joshua Evans, a dissident and challenger to Markus' leadership. The man had often spoken out against Markus' lack of a long-term solution, and could often be seen trying to convince others to do the same.

"Look, all I'm asking for is just a little bit extra this week. I've been working hard, and that takes a lot out of a man," said Joshua, using his charisma and intimidation in tandem.

"I've already told you, I can't give you any more! Only the people working on the reactor and in the waterworks are allowed extra, since they need it the most," replied Phil.

Joshua took a step towards Phil, using his height and build to lend to the menace in his voice, "And I say that that is unfair. I work just as hard as those people, if not harder! I dema- I deserve more!"

"Sowing dissent and coercing others to follow you isn't hard work, Joshua. If anything, you should be getting less than the others. Perhaps I will bring the matter up with Markus, and see what he thinks?" said Phil, with a smirk on his face.

Joshua, in return, took a step back. From his vantage point, Barsch could see that his hands were shaking with barely contained rage. However, Joshua, unlike Charles, was a smart man, and would not risk a fight over a few more tins of preserved fruit.

Instead, he turned and left, while muttering, "Just you wait, Markus, your time is almost up." As he passed Barsch, he happened to turn his head, allowing Barsch to see the twisted, malevolent smile plastered across his face.

"Ah, is that you Barsch?" asked Phil, after Joshua had left. When Barsch came closer, he could see the fatigue in the older man's eyes. Everyone in Genesis Station was reaching their limit, and people like Phil, who had to deal with unreasonable demands and misplaced aggression had it the worst.

"I'm sorry you had to see that. And just between you and me, Joshua isn't the first one to come by like that. Every day, more and more people ask for extra food, without realising that we're barely managing as it is. If Markus and your father don't figure out a way of getting more food or fixing the cryogenic pods soon, things are going to get a lot worse."

"Oh, yes..." Barsch meekly replied. If Phil, or any other inhabitant of the Station knew the truth: that he had been the cause of their current situation... he honestly did not know what they would do to him.

"Has your dad mentioned anything about the pods malfunctioning? If we can find out the cause of this mess, I'm thinking that maybe it will lead us to a solution."

Another stab of guilt pierced Barsch's heart, but he had grown used to the feeling over the last six months. Forcing a comforting smile on his face, he said, "No, not yet, but I'm sure that they will find out any day now."

"Agreed. And I trust Markus and Lukas to find the truth, no matter how long it takes. They have taken care of us thus far, and without them, I think that this place would have been much worse off."

Phil had a strange look in his eye, part trust and part doubt. It was clear that he would continue to support the Station's two leaders, but as supplies continued to dwindle, and hope failed, Barsch could not fathom how long his loyalty would last.

"Um, my dad actually sent me here to fetch some dried plums..."

"Ah, of course! Here, follow me," replied Phil, moving aside to reveal a small hatch. With a well-practiced movement, he cranked open the door, revealing the room beyond. Although Barsch had seen the storeroom before, its scale never ceased to amaze him. Situated within were dozens of shelves, stretching from floor to ceiling, and wall to wall. Hanging from each was a label, which ranged from **"Imitation Meat"** to **"Dried Pineapple"** and beyond. Contained within this one, massive room was the entire food stock for the Station's nine-thousand nine hundred and twenty four inhabitants. Six months ago, every shelf had been stacked full, and now, only a handful of items remained. Barsch was well aware of the food shortage, but seeing it first-hand somehow made it more real.

"Hmm, dried plums... That should be in row 19-C. Wait here, I'll go and fetch some." Leaving Barsch at the entrance, Phil quickly disappeared down one of the many aisles, guided by months of practice. Less than a minute later, he re-emerged from a different row, clutching two small containers.

"Here, I'll give you a little extra, for your trouble." Barsch gingerly took the two cans, knowing now just how valuable they were.

"Thank you, Phil, for everything," he said, trying to convey just how grateful he was for Phil's kindness.

"It has been my pleasure, Barsch, to serve the son of Lukas..." Phil looked like he wanted to say something more, but he instead led Barsch out of the room.

Barsch felt tempted then, as he walked away from Phil, to tell him everything. Maybe if he explained that it had been Dr Emmerfield who had caused the early awakening? No, he couldn't do that, not without revealing the truth about Alza. The son of Lukas might be forgiven after a time, but a stranger and daughter of their former enemy would not escape unscathed. If it came to that, Barsch would do whatever it took to see her to safety... even if it meant never seeing her again.

Tucking his precious cargo into a hidden pocket in his coat, so as not to draw attention from people like Charles and Joshua, Barsch left the storeroom.

*

He walked aimlessly for several minutes, trying to think about everything all at once. Alza, Kingston, the Avatars, Kain. They all swirled around in his thoughts, jumbling together into a nauseating mess. Without his direct control his feet chose their own path, leading him down twisted hallway after twisted hallway. When he at last managed to banish his confusing thoughts, he found himself in a place filled with bad memories.

Stretching out before him was the Pod Room, one of three identical rooms which had held the entirety of the Station's population in suspended animation for twenty years. A massive tower rose in the centre of the room, its surface now covered in thousands of pod sized depressions. Six months ago the tower had been covered in inhabited pods, but now it lay empty, a stark reminder of their desperate situation.

The pods, unable to serve their intended purpose, had instead been repurposed as makeshift beds for the majority of the Station's population.

From the ceiling hung hundreds of robotic claw-like appendages, which had been used to fetch pods from the central tower and lower them into the cradles set into the floor for the unlocking process. From there the Station's A.I. had performed hundreds of diagnostic assessments while it waited for the inhabitants to finish thawing.

" _Instead, I was forcibly ejected from my pod and dumped on a hill outside Genesis to defrost. Maybe it would have been better if I had stayed in here with the others, while some unlucky person went off to face Dr Emmerfield and Kain. Maybe they wouldn't have made the same mistakes, and we wouldn't be in this hopeless situation. And even if they had, at least I would be spared this constant feeling of guilt."_

Making his way forward, Barsch began counting the pod-less depressions. 7720. 7723. 7725. 7727.

7728.

His pod.

It was here that everything had begun. His ill-fated journey, his insane quest, his adventure of a lifetime. Everything had started in this room, with that pod. He had been foolish, wishing someone else could have taken his burden. If he had never found himself on that hill, he would never have met Kingston, or Maloch, or... _her._

"Barsch?" called a soft voice, one that brought back far too many memories. That voice, which had chided him, berated him, called his name in despair and encouraged him to face a monster. That voice he had heard every single day for weeks, as he struggled to understand her. That voice... _her_ voice.

It had been so long.

Alza.

# Chapter II: Alza's New Home

In which life goes on...

Six Months Ago

"We have to stop this," said Barsch, eyes fixed firmly on the pod covered tower. It was hard to imagine that almost ten thousand people were in the process of waking up. Unlike his hasty ejection, the defrosting process was designed to take hours to allow the inhabitants' time to adjust, as well as give their bodies time to thaw. Sedatives would be continually pumped into the pods, slowing the waking process, but it would not last. Sooner or later the first humans would regain consciousness, and they would be expecting to hear the good news.

If they had any chance of stopping this, they had to act fast. If they could somehow reverse the process; send the pod's inhabitants back into cryogenic sleep, then all would be well.

"I know what you're thinking, m'boy, but I don't think it's possible," said Kingston, staring at a nearby monitor. The old hermit still had not moved from his spot, as if the sheer horror of what they were witnessing had welded his feet to the metal floor.

"Why not?" asked Alza, surprising everyone. She had yet to let go of Barsch's hand, although he was in no hurry to point this out.

Kingston said nothing for several long seconds, evidently just as taken aback by Alza's sudden question as everyone else. Eventually he replied, "The unfreezing process is a very delicate affair, and I can't be sure of the damage we would cause by halting or attempting to reverse it. Best case scenario... we could refreeze the majority of the Station's population."

"And in the worst case?" Barsch asked, already knowing the answer.

"We could kill them all."

*

The Present

The glade. The Station. The journey. The pain. The lies. The truth. The end, and the beginning.

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE.

I am standing in a sunlit meadow, the warm sunlight bathing the land in light and peace. Behind me is the manor, its towers and spires a comforting sight which has helped me find my way home more than once. Beside me lies Wolfe, my twelfth birthday present and a source of constant joy. He is basking in the midday heat, his solar panels lapping up the energetic photons that stream towards him unseen.

Suddenly, his head perks up; no doubt his auditory sensors have detected something approaching. I have no fear, however, as no one would be foolish enough to threaten [ALZA], daughter of the great and powerful [DR EMMERFIELD].

Turning my head to the distant forest, I scan the horizon for the unexpected visitor. Is it a new nanny for me? Or perhaps a messenger for daddy? Maybe it is my prince, the one who will brave death and destruction just for a chance to earn my favour. In the books that I have read, the ones nanny secretly brought for me, the prince is always a gallant hero, fair of features and generous with his laughter. Perhaps he will carry me off to lands unknown, where we will wed and our family will grow.

" _[ALZA]"._

Someone is calling me, someone I do not know. Is it my prince? Has he truly come for me?

" _[ALZA], why did you kill me?"_

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE NOT.

No, he is not my prince. The man standing before me is fair of features and generous with his laughter, but he is not my prince. His hair is snow-white, and his laughter is edged with madness. And his eyes... oh god his eyes...

They are the colour of spilt blood, and they shine from within, like two miniature suns. There is no joy in those eyes. Nor love. Nor fear.

Only madness.

" _[ALZA], why did you betray us? Why did you betray father? WHY DID YOU KILL US?"_

I step back as his words shake my body, tears flowing down my pale cheeks unnoticed. I look down in fear and notice the blood. From a large wound above his heart, blood flows freely. Beside me, Wolfe has started growling. Even though he is a beastmech, he can feel my fear. He was meant to be my companion, my protector, but even he is no match for the monster before us.

In an instant it is over. Wolfe, without waiting for my command, leaps for the man's unguarded neck. The man, without even flinching, brings his hand up and summons a torrent of fire that incinerates the brave beastmech. Now, there is nothing between us.

" _Have you forgotten my name, [ALZA]? Shall I carve it into your flesh, so that you can never forget? Say it! Or I will mark you in a way that cannot be undone! Scream my name, sister! Scream the name of the man you killed!"_

" _KAIN!" I scream, as he raises his hand, the fireball already half-formed._

" _I'll see you soon, sister! I'm waiting for you in hell!" he says, as the fire reaches my chest and the unbearable pain begins..._

*

Alza woke up to the world with a muffled scream. After the first month, she had learnt to cover her mouth with her pillow, lest she wake Nathan or Sybil Atré. While her body gasped for air, she let her mind settle, allowing the dream to gradually fade away. Although the details were already vague, a strong sense of wrongness stayed with her.

" _Remember who I am? What does that even mean...? If I'm not Alza... then who am I?"_

It was pointless to linger any longer. She had things to do and lying in bed would not change that in the slightest. With a groan she managed to swing herself out of bed, although 'bed' was a misnomer in this case. With the few furnished rooms being used by the engineers, the rest of Genesis Station 13 had to make do with whatever they could find or create. In this case, her bed was a thin sheet draped over several old boxes. It was not comfortable in any sense of the word, but she had slept on worse.

" _To think that I would end up reminiscing about that goose-down bed in Kingston's hut... If I had known things would end up like this, I would have snuck out and taken it before the Station door was shut."_

But that path was closed to her now. The Station was her home now, and Nathan and Sybil were her guardians. She still could not understand why they had elected to care for her, but she was glad nonetheless. A young girl on her own would struggle to survive, perhaps even resorting to using her powers to do so. But that would doom her, just as it had doomed everyone in the Station. Thankfully, a daughter attracted no attention, well, aside from the occasional remark about her unusual features.

Standing, she made her way to the makeshift mirror Nathan had made for her. In truth it was little more than a polished metal plate, but Nathan had insisted that young girls needed mirrors. For what purpose she did not know.

Staring into the reflective surface, she allowed her violet eyes to wander up to her hair. It was white, like snow, except for a small patch of blonde around her crown. The other children generally assumed that she had bleached her hair in the name of fashion, while some of the adults whispered words like 'albino' and 'freak'. If they knew the true reason for her ghostly appearance -genetic manipulation by her so-called father- they would likely say far worse.

Turning from the mirror she sought out her clothes, a pair of grey pants that were slightly too small and a long sleeved white top. With clothing being a rarity in the Station, keeping up with the latest fashion trends was one chore that Alza did not have to endure.

"André, it's time for breakfast!" called Sybil from the adjoining room.

" _Six months, and she's never called me by name."_

According to the neighbours, Sybil and Nathan had once been the perfect couple, blessed with both good luck and a loving son. But after André had been lost to the pollution, they had lost everything. Sybil had withdrawn from the world, her mind occupying some unknown space in which her son was still alive. Nathan had grown silent, and had taken to spending hours staring at the only remaining photo they had of their beloved child.

Taking a deep breath, she entered the neighbouring room. Sybil was standing by the makeshift stove, her face covered in sweat as she cooked up something unidentifiable and most likely, inedible. Her strawberry blonde hair was held back in a ponytail, and her light blue eyes were focused entirely on the contents of the pan. Nathan, a young man of 28, sat on one of the handmade stools. In contrast to his wife he had light brown hair and a set of piercing grey eyes, which were staring forlornly at the framed photograph in his hand. Alza did not even have to look to know whose photo it was.

Moving like a ghost, Alza crossed the room, taking care to not disturb either of the Atré's. As always, they paid her little to no attention. Not for the first time, Alza wondered if they would even notice if she never came back.

As she reached the door, she called out, "Sorry, Sybil, I'm not feeling too hungry today. I might have a bite later..."

"Of course, André my darling! Mommy shall freeze it for later then!" The unbearably happy tone caused Alza to shudder involuntarily. Kain might have had the power to shatter minds, but as always, nature did it better.

Leaving the deluded couple to their unspoken grief, Alza left the room.

*

She walked without goal or direction for several minutes, trying to put as much space between her and her guardians as possible. Eventually she found herself in the central hub, a place that was always packed with people with nothing better to do. While the engineers fought to keep the reactor alive, and the men and women in the waterworks struggled to maintain the fresh water supply, the majority of the population wiled away their hours in the hub.

"Widowdaughter! Over here!" cried a familiar voice from nearby. Turning her head, Alza sought out the woman who had called her. She already knew who it was. No one else had given her that title.

"Ifrin, how many times do I have to tell you that my name is Alza!" she said, as she approached the Judai woman. Ifrin, with her tanned skin and braided black hair stood out amongst the Station's inhabitants, a fact which she relished. Unlike her husband, Keanan, and their elder, Ishmael, Ifrin enjoyed socializing with the other inhabitants. However, due to the long standing distrust and scorn aimed at the Judai, she had had little luck with making friends. Alza, feeling likewise isolated, had gravitated towards the older woman.

"I am sorry, Alza Widowdaughter, I often forget that non-Judai hate being called by their true names. It will not happen again, I promise," she said, with a smile. Both women knew that it would happen again, but it needed to be said.

"I know, but Alza is the only name I have. I am not the woman your prophecy speaks of." Alza sighed as she approached the Judai, remembering how the woman had reacted when they had first met. Ifrin had been almost manic with joy at the sight of Alza, who apparently resembled one half of a duo that was fated to save the world.

Ifrin, shaking her head, began speaking in a low voice, "Widowson, Widowdaughter, lend us your hope, for we have none. Widowmaker, Widowlover, grant us freedom, for we are trapped. Widowchild, Widowborn, send us the burning rain, so that we may be cleansed. Widowson-

"Widowdaughter, give us the Seed, so that we might be saved..." finished Keanan, appearing beside his wife with a sour expression on his tanned face.

Turning to Ifrin, he spoke, "My darling wife, I know that you entertain some rather silly notions of befriending the landless, but please do not go around speaking sacred words to the unworthy. It is bad enough that you have marked this woman as the Widowdaughter, now you are putting ideas of worthless hope into her young mind."

Alza regarded the couple with a blank expression. It had not been that long since she had gained emotions, and six months of their limited use had not prepared her for this.

"Ignore him, Alza, he's just upset because I'm paying attention to anyone except him. A word of advice, when you get married, be sure to get rid of that attitude early. Goddess knows I should have." Ifrin still wore her small smile, but the edges had flattened somewhat.

At the mention of marriage Alza's mind had once more drawn a blank. Basic emotions like fear and joy where still largely mysteries to her, never mind the far-off peak that was love.

"Woman, if I had not pledged my life to you, we would be sparring now, as our ancestors did."

Keanan's voice was low and tinged with a hint of anger, but all present knew that if the two clashed, he would not emerge the victor. A lifetime spent travelling the dangerous routes between settlements that did not want them had granted the Judai a survival instinct unmatched by any other. The women, in particular, were not to be angered, lest one wanted to lose a few fingers... for a start.

"Husband, have you not forgotten our wedding night? I broke three of your toes after you insisted on carrying me across the threshold. Let's not repeat that, okay?" The smile dropped down a few more notches, and both Alza and Keanan took an unconscious step backwards.

"Forgive me, Widow- Alza, it seems as though I must re-educate my oxen-headed husband. I look forward to our next meeting!" Ifrin called as she reached up and grabbed hold of Keanan's right ear. Without waiting for a reply she strode away, her protesting husband held in an iron grip.

After the couple had disappeared from view Alza stared up at the domed ceiling, _"Widowdaughter? I guess if you count Dr Emmerfield, she might be right..."_

*

"If you hang around the Judai, you will never make any friends, you know?"

Alza stopped in her tracks, halfway across the hub. She had almost made it. Verona Del Frada, currently number one on the list of people Alza did not want to talk to. After a misunderstanding between her, Verona and Thomas Gerder, the woman had begun spreading nasty rumours about her. Clearly she saw Alza as an unwanted rival for his affections, and was determined to remove Alza from the game she had no interest in playing.

"Who I converse with is no concern of yours," Alza replied, momentarily slipping into her icy persona.

"Oh? And does that include my Thomas? I know that the two of you met up last month. What did you talk about?" Verona's eyes had taken on a dangerous edge, but to a woman who had the power to crush re-mechs with her mind, they caused no fear.

Alza wanted to tell Verona that she had actually gone to meet Barsch, and had merely encountered Thomas as he was running an errand for Lukas, but she couldn't. Even though it was a slim chance, they couldn't risk open association, lest someone figure out the truth behind the awakening.

She knew that Barsch had spent the past six months living in fear of that, and she could understand why. If people found out, she could always leave, and they would not be able to follow. But Barsch was only human, and he would not survive in the polluted world outside.

"What we spoke about has nothing to do with you, rest assured."

"So he didn't mention my name, not even once?" Verona's tone had taken on a pleading edge. Although she only had access to limited emotions, Alza had already concluded, after six months observation, that women in love were frightening creatures.

"No, your name was not-

"Alza?" The newcomer's voice was deeper than Verona's, and despite it being familiar to her, it belonged to the last person she wanted to see at that moment.

Thomas Gerder, engineer in training and the rising star of Genesis Station 13, was slowly making his way over to them, totally oblivious to the chaos he was creating. After being handpicked by Lukas La Tergan, the greatest engineer the Station's inhabitants had ever seen, Thomas' popularity had skyrocketed. From idle gossip she had unwittingly overheard, Alza knew that the young man had plenty of eyes on him, most of them female.

"Th- Thom- Thomas!" Verona squeaked, as the object of her affections grew closer. However, he paid her no mind, and instead exclaimed, "Alza, it's good to see you! How have you been?"

At that moment Alza felt like turning and fleeing. A few weeks spent in the company of a re-mech, a hermit and a young man had not prepared her for this level of social disaster. Her only option was to steer the conversation into neutral waters, and escape as soon as possible.

"I'm doing well, thank you," she replied, keeping her tone level, "I was just on my way to the... pod room, and you?"

"On my way to deliver a report to Lukas. Between you and me, it's not looking good. The reactor can barely sustain the current levels, and every day something different breaks. We only have a few more spares before it becomes irreparable..."

"I see. Then I shouldn't keep you then, should I?" asked Alza, hoping that the engineer would take the hint.

"Ah, I understand... Well, it was a pleasure speaking with you... We should chat more often..." For a moment Thomas floundered, until he caught sight of Verona, who now bore a look somewhere between shock and murderous rage. "You can even bring your friend if you want! Um... Veronica, was it?" Thomas said, unknowingly dooming Alza.

"Uh, its Verona... but you can call me whatever you want!" replied Verona in a high-pitched squeal. As Thomas nodded and turned to leave, Alza caught Verona alternating between a look of adoration for Thomas, and a murderous look for her.

Before Verona had a chance to unleash her pent-up rage, Alza excused herself and hurried away. Risking a glance behind her, she saw Verona wander over to a nearby group of women, no doubt eager to spread new rumours about her.

Sighing, Alza left the chaos of the hub behind.

*

A short while later, Alza found herself caught in yet another social mishap. She had intended on gradually making her way over to the pod room, where she could enjoy a few hours of peace and quiet, but she had found the way blocked by Harriet and Lionel. Harriet Del Verte, Joshua Evans most outspoken supporter, and Lionel Clint, widely regarded as Joshua's muscleman and hired thug; either one was a hassle on their own, but together they were a disaster waiting to happen.

Alza had attempted to sidle past them, ignoring their whispered conversation and suspicious meeting place, but Harriet had called out to her near the room's exit. Unfortunately, due to her strange appearance and backstory, Alza was widely known throughout the Station. Additionally, due to her aforementioned meetings with Barsch and Thomas, many thought that she supported Lukas and by proxy, Markus. Naturally, those who opposed him, namely Joshua, Harriet and Lionel, held little love for her.

"So, what do we find here? Markus' little freak creeping around the Station, no doubt up to no good," Harriet had said, just before Alza had reached the exit.

She was growing tired of dealing with people, and even briefly considered using her power to scare the annoying duo away for good. But she could not, would not, reveal her powers without good reason. Even without Barsch's warning, she knew what would happen. She might be able to flee the Station and live outside unhindered, but that meant little if the mob got to her before she even reached the Station's exit.

So, for the past six months, she had not touched the strange power which dwelt inside her. Sometimes she would wake up and think it gone for good, before a hasty mental search called it forth from the hidden depths of her mind. It was still an enigma to her, and now, with Dr Emmerfield gone, she felt as though she would never know the truth.

"Too scared to speak, little girl? I knew that Markus associated with freaks, but I did not realize he sided with cowards as well!"

Lionel's booming voice was far too loud for the small room they now occupied, and his words crashed into her, almost throwing her back. He had no reason to shout, not when they were a few feet apart, but she knew that his volume was deliberate, for the effect it created.

Before replying, Alza took a moment to observe the two who now stood in her way. Harriet, with her worming words; Lionel with his looming intimidation; and Joshua, with his quiet cunning. Together they made a formidable team, which had succeeded in dividing the Station into two factions that were always a wrong word away from all-out war. Thankfully Joshua was not present; otherwise this situation would be much harder to escape from.

"I am no freak, nor am I your enemy. I am merely taking a walk, that is all. Please let me pass." Alza struggled to hold back the anger from her voice. If not for her promise to Barsch, she would have been long gone, and they would trouble no one any more.

"Oh? The little girl speaks! And what does she say? Lies and more lies! Tell me, little girl, what are you really doing here? Did Markus send you to spy on us? Look all you want, you will get nothing!" Lionel's booming voice was starting to hurt her ears, and she longed to be done with him.

However, she said nothing.

More accurately, there was nothing she could say. To reveal that she was heading to the pod room would raise too many questions, and people were already suspicious of her.

"Answer him, girl! Did your parents not teach you any manners before they abandoned you?" Harriet's voice, in its needling way, was no less offensive than Lionel's thunderous roar.

" _No, he made me in a liquid filled tank and made me fight my brother to the death, before wiping out my memory and sending me away."_

She said nothing.

"Hold on, Harriet, you cannot blame her parents for abandoning a freak. But her new parents... the Atré's? You've seen them; they're more broken than alive! It is only fitting that freaks live with freaks!"

" _They lost their son to the pollution, and could have turned me away. But they didn't... they were the only ones willing to take me in."_

She said nothing.

"Ha-ha! Excellent point Mr Clint! Why I do believe that this poor young freak has never been loved by anyone in her entire life! No wonder Markus pities her so! I'm sure that if something were to... happen to her, he would be most grateful! Maybe he would even tell us where the storeroom key is kept at night?"

" _A flash of light. The sun shining warmly on my cheek. My father, dressed in his very best suit, calling me from the manor. I... I was loved... once. How dare they?"_

They were laughing now, a thin, high laugh accompanied by a series of low guffaws. The sound scraped across her mind, bringing pain and rage.

" _HOW DARE THEY!"_

"Step. Aside. Now. Please," Alza uttered, through gritted teeth. New emotions were difficult to control, but she would not let them control her.

In that instant, the laughter stopped, killed by four simple words. Harriet and Lionel took a collective step back, fear and surprise colliding across their features. Before they had a chance to react, Alza stepped past them. In a heartbeat she was through, and, as she left the room, she turned and said, "Thank you, and have a nice day!" with a smile that did not reach her eyes.

As she walked on, she found herself humming a simple tune, although she was unsure why.

*

Time passed, and Alza once more found herself impeded. However, this time, it was neither an annoying girl nor a pair of lackeys. All that stood between her and her destination was a simple steel door. She had come here every day for the past month, hoping to find... something. Through that door lay the room, and in that room lay the memory that could not be forgotten. She had stood there, six months ago, watching her new world come crashing down around her.

" _You are stronger than this,"_ she thought, as she extended a trembling hand towards the metaphysical blockade. As her fingers brushed the polished surface, the door slid open, revealing the pod room in all its glory. With a quick deep breath, she stepped through. It was foolishness, she knew, being afraid of an empty room.

It had been empty, every single day for the last month. No one in the Station set foot inside the pod rooms... perhaps they were painful reminders of what should have been?

However, on this day... on this troublesome day, the room was not empty. The solitary occupant stood with his back towards her, but she did not need to see his face to know his name. Nor did she need to see the number of the hole which had once held his pod.

7728.

Former inhabitant: One Barsch La Tergan.

"Barsch?" said a soft voice, until she realized that she had spoken without thought.

Slowly he turned, his greenish-blue eyes lighting up in surprise as she came into view. He had changed, in the last month. Thinner, unhealthily so. And deeper bags under his eyes. Was he still having nightmares? He had told her about them, many months ago. He had spoken of facing Kain... and killing him.

Did he still blame himself, for everything? He had accompanied her, helped her, fought for her, and had almost died for her. How could he still blame himself? Why had he chosen to bear their collective guilt? It was not his sin to bear, and it was killing him, slowly but surely.

"Alza?" his voice cracked as he spoke her name, the word sounding strange to her ears.

"It's me, Barsch. Alza to most, but also freak, little girl, man-thief and Widowdaughter to others. But only you know my true name..."

" _If it is my true name..."_

"ALZA00971," he said slowly, sending a shiver down her spine, "How have you been?"

As she opened her mouth, thousands of ideas began jostling for attention. Nathan and Sybil not calling her by her name. Ifrin's insistence that she was part of a prophecy. Being caught in the middle of Markus and Joshua's war. Having to listen to Verona's prattling.

And the look in Thomas' eyes when he spoke to her.

" _Actually, let's keep that one to ourselves."_

Eventually she settled on, "Can't complain."

Barsch gave a soft chuckle at her response, a small smile briefly lighting up his darkened features. What had happened to the young man who had faced Kain with a snarl, wielding a screaming sword through a vortex of flame? She had lost much since the awakening, but he had lost far more.

"I'm happy to hear that," he said, taking a step closer, "Have Nathan and Sybil been treating you well?"

"They are trying their best, but I think it has been hard on them... it's been hard on a lot of people..."

" _Including you..."_

"I'm sorry... at the time, it was chaos... if only we had had more time... we could have found a better solution. Sorry, for everything..."

She took a step towards him; her fledging emotions were not ready to deal with the dejected look on his face. He truly blamed himself for everything. What words could she use? What emotions could she convey that would make him see the truth? He had done nothing wrong; only try his best to protect a stranger from her mad father and psychotic brother. The Station's inhabitants should be cheering his name for what he had done and for what he had prevented. Yet they all complained about being woken up centuries too soon. But if not for him, they would never have awoken at all. It wasn't fair...

"Barsch, you don't have to-

"You're getting better at expressing your emotions, you know? Compared to when we first met, I mean." It was most likely the strangest compliment anyone had ever received, but Alza felt the heat rising to her cheeks nonetheless.

"Thank you, Barsch," she said, turning her head so that he could not see her blush. A sudden memory -of Barsch on his knees clutching his head in agony- made her look back.

"Are you still having those headaches? The ones you told me about?"

Barsch looked conflicted for a moment, too quickly for anyone to notice, unless they had been watching for it.

"No... not for a while now," he lied.

" _Very well, I will not pry. After all, I am the cause of his pain."_

"I see, that is good to hear," she replied, closing the distance between them, "Shall we go somewhere else? This place makes me uneasy..."

In truth she felt more at home in the pod room than anywhere else, but she could see what the room did to Barsch... what it made him remember.

"Okay, we can go to my room, we won't be disturbed there." As they walked, not too close and not too far, Alza saw some of the darkness leave his features. For a few minutes he returned to being that young man who had vowed to protect her. But she could not return to being that cold, callous young woman who had seen the world through an emotionless mask.

That was the price she had paid, for saving his life.

On that day drenched in fire and blood, they had been changed, and only the gods knew what would be left when all was said and done...

*

A real bed. Proper sheets. Food that was actually edible. A father who acknowledged your existence. Their rooms could not be more different, and yet Alza could feel the same sense of isolation. Lukas might have been a hero to the Station's inhabitants, but his only son was largely an enigma.

Possessing a piercing stare and a look in his eyes that told of unspeakable terrors, Barsch was a mystery to most -even to Alza herself- sometimes. The young man she had met in that glade, all that time ago, had been a simple yet kind person. He had travelled with Kingston out of a desire to heal his sickness, and had stayed with her in order to help her find the truth. However, that boy had not survived their journey.

He had been succeeded by a man who could drive a screaming chainsword into her brother's chest... without flinching.

"Alza?" that same man asked, his outstretched hand offering her a glass of water.

She took it, despite her lack of thirst. Water was just too valuable a resource to pass up on. After taking a long sip, she asked, "Do you regret it? Our journey, I mean..."

How many weeks had she agonized over this moment? Three? More? What would she do if he said-

"No, I don't regret it. Despite everything that happened, despite everything we went through, I don't regret a single minute of it."

"Why not?" she asked, before she could stop herself.

Barsch said nothing for a long while, instead staring at the ceiling of his room. They were sitting on his bed, a few feet apart.

Eventually, he turned to her and said, "Because... if I hadn't gone with you... if I had never left the Station, I would never have met Kingston, or Maloch... or you... For me, that alone makes all the pain and suffering we endured worth it."

Immediately she felt the blush return to her pale cheeks, and silently cursed her newfound emotions. However, Barsch's gaze had already returned to the featureless ceiling. Did he truly not wish to look at her? Or...

"Barsch I-

"Are you going to leave?" he asked, suddenly.

It was Alza's turn to say nothing for several long seconds. Taking a deep breath, she replied, "No, I'm not going to leave. Even though I could survive outside on my own, I would rather stay here... I would rather stay with yo-

At that moment the door burst open and Lukas frantically entered the picture. Even though they were far apart, Alza unconsciously shifted a bit further from Barsch. She knew Lukas feared she would steal away his son and take him on another dangerous journey...

Thus, the words that came out of his mouth then turned her entire world upside down.

"Barsch! I've done it! I've found a way to save the planet! But I'm afraid you'll have to go on another dangerous journey with Alza... okay?"

# Chapter III: Barsch La Tergan is Dead

In which a new journey begins...

Six Months Ago

"We need a miracle," said Barsch, as he watched Kingston pace back and forth across the pod room.

The old hermit said nothing, but nodded in affirmation.

"The Avatars?" asked Alza from her spot by the wall. She was sitting with her back to the cold metal, her violet eyes shut tight.

" _Any second now she will announce that all of this has nothing to do with her, and she will leave us. Why wouldn't she? She isn't affected by the pollution and she has accomplished her goal of finding out who she is... even if it wasn't what she expected. She has no ties to us now... she is free to go wherever she wants..."_

"I doubt they would help us," said Kingston, finally coming to a halt, "They aren't allowed to interfere directly, after all. The whole reason we were chosen to stop Dr Emmerfield was because they couldn't stop him themselves. They used us, and when we needed them most, they abandoned us. No, this problem is one we will have to solve on our own."

Barsch nodded to the old man's words, silently agreeing with him. Aside from a few token gestures of goodwill -water in a desert; vague directions; and cryptic clues- the Avatars were largely powerless to help. Kingston was right, this was something they had to do for themselves...

"So even the Gods have abandoned us now..." sighed Alza, still glued to the pod room wall.

" _Please, Alza,"_ Barsch thought, _"Please don't abandon us too..."_

*

The Present

In a small room containing an excited father, a dangerous stranger and a confused son, silence reigned unopposed. Barsch sat on his bed, stunned into silence.

Lukas, to his credit, had not raised an eyebrow at finding his only son with a girl in his bedroom. Most likely because that girl was Alza, and she was like no other.

After another minute of uncomfortable silence, it was Lukas himself who broke the noiseless atmosphere. "Ah, Alza... it's uh... good to see you?" he said, clearly struggling to find his words.

"Good afternoon, Lukas La Tergan," she smoothly replied.

Barsch, not wanting to waste time on clearing the awkward atmosphere, instead asked directly, "Dad, what were you talking about? What did you mean when you said that you had found a way to save the planet?"

Lukas' attention instantly returned to his only son. With a big grin on his face, he exclaimed, "While I was speaking with Delphi earlier, she said something that made me think of my past. Many, many years ago, before you were born, I worked as an intern on a certain project. Until its sudden closure, it had the highest chance of reversing the damage the pollution had done. It's quite a long shot, but if we could find the research facility where the project was located, we might be able to bring it back to the Station and finally complete it!"

Barsch nodded, liking the idea. However, for a project to have survived all this time... what were the chances that they could find it, let alone find it intact enough to use? He needed more information.

"What was the project called?" he asked. Alza had not given any reaction to Lukas' explanation, and was sitting in silence a few feet away.

"Project Eden," replied his father, as a sudden chill raced down Barsch's spine.

Although his education had been limited by years spent travelling from settlement to settlement, he nevertheless knew about the Larkhesis plans. They had been a group of projects headed by various scientists around the planet, all with the same goal: saving the world.

Ultimately, all of them had failed, and humanity had had to rely on Project Genesis, their last ditch effort, which had led to the construction of over a thousand Cryogenic Stations.

" _Let's see... Somnus, Phoenix, Artelius, Seraphim, Jericho and now... Eden. Those are all of the projects that I know of..."_

"What was its focus?"

"I'm not entirely sure. Unfortunately, as an intern, my access to vital data was limited. Additionally, the head scientist, Dr Frederick Michaelis, was an extremely paranoid man. He was convinced that his was the project that would ultimately succeed, and he refused to let any other researchers steal his glory. Only he and a small team were allowed to know the full scope of the project."

"So, what happened to it?" asked Alza, suddenly. Her violet eyes regarded both La Tergans equally. Even after everything that had been through; her thoughts were largely a mystery to Barsch.

"Well, before it ended, it showed the most promise amongst all of the projects. Based on data alone, it had an eighty-five percent ambient pollution reduction rate. There were even some rumours that it could clear an entire room full of pollutants in under an hour. Compared to that, none of the other projects even came close. However, before it could be completed, Dr Michaelis was killed in a freak accident. After that, the project stalled, and eventually the research group disbanded and joined other projects."

Standing up, Barsch turned to face his father and asked, "So what do you need us to do?"

Lukas had already mentioned that they would have to go on a journey, but how far, and to what end?

"There are almost ten thousand people living in Genesis Station 13. However, I know of only two who have the ability to leave any time they desire. You, my son, and Alza. If the story you told me is true, you were both able to survive outside for weeks, and you managed to overcome every obstacle in your path. I will not force this upon you... upon either of you... but, if you agree, then maybe we can save this dying world."

Lukas looked oddly remorseful for a second, before continuing, "If you consent, then you should head to Turveil City. At the time of my internship it was the location of the transport hub where I boarded a bus which took me to the research site. Unfortunately the exact location of the lab was kept secret from me, and I was blindfolded every time I went there. If you want, we can go to the map room, and I will explain the route?"

A note of silent desperation hung in the air after Lukas finished. It was clear to Barsch that his father thought that this was their only hope of salvation, but even so he would not force this upon them. They had the freedom to refuse, even if it meant the end of the world.

"I'll go," Barsch said after what seemed like a very long time. He didn't have a choice... not really.

Out of the corner of his eye he watched Alza. She had sat in silence while Lukas had explained, so he did not know her thoughts. She had no duty to the Station or its people, and she could leave whenever she wanted. Surely she wouldn't want to risk her life for people she didn't even care about?

"Me too," she said, a moment later, surprising every person in the room.

" _What?"_ he thought, his mind trying to comprehend her acceptance of their mission. A second later he added, _"Why?"_

Seeing his look of confusion, she stood and said, "Whether it was my choice or not doesn't matter. This place is my home, and I will not let it fall. I will go with you, Barsch La Tergan, if you will have me."

"Thank you, Alza, truly, thank you," said Lukas, a look of relief in his deep blue eyes, "Now, shall we proceed to the map room? There is still much that I must tell you."

Nodding, Barsch slowly followed his father. Alza seemed to be in deep thought, and followed at a slight distance from the two La Tergans. As he crossed the threshold, Barsch had a momentary sensation of loss. He knew, somehow, that he had just given up another part of himself. No matter how their journey ended, he was taking another step away from the future he had once envisioned. As to what lay at the end of this new path... not even he knew...

*

"They agreed, then?" asked a deep male voice as they entered the circular map room.

The voice's owner was a man of considerable renown who had almost single-handedly brought order to the chaos of the awakening. Markus Arkson was an almost messianic figure to the people of the Station. Roughly the same age as Lukas, they had apparently known each other before the Great Sleep and had become fast friends. With his steel grey eyes and shaven head, he was an imposing figure in any situation. His firm, commanding voice had been put to great use in the early days after the Station, where he had proposed the rationing of goods and the sealing of the Station's entrance.

However, in recent months there had been a discontent group of voices, of which the loudest belonged to Joshua Evans. Thus far Markus had managed to keep public opinion on his side, but with food growing sparse, more and more were raising their doubts. Joshua, naturally, was helping to fan the flames.

It was no secret that he was the one behind the rumours that Markus and Lukas had lied about the pollution outside and were keeping the population under their control by withholding the ample food supplies.

Lukas, entering the room behind Barsch, simply nodded. As Barsch's eyes took in the dimly lit room, he was surprised to see another familiar face.

"Dr August?" he asked, confused as to why the elderly doctor was present.

"The one and only," he replied, a grim smile set on his aged face, "and I will trust that you were not followed, Lukas?"

Lukas moved closer to the centre of the room, where a circular machine lay bathed by the room's only source of light. "Not as far as I can tell, although I did see Jeremiah Gordon skulking around outside. I sent him away on an errand, though, so he shouldn't be bothering us."

"Good," said Markus, moving over to the centre of the room as well. The machine had a circular screen lying atop it, which was currently blank. "Now, Barsch, Alza, it is time we get down to business."

As he spoke Markus reached forward and typed a series of commands into a hidden keyboard. A moment later the screen blazed into life, bringing more light into the dark room.

Pointing, Markus began his explanation, "This is a map of Genesis Station 13, created when the original builders were surveying the area for potential Station sites." Leaning down he added, "To the East: Carçus City, which Lukas has informed me is no more. To the North: an impassable mountain range. To the South: the sea. And finally, to the West: our one and only hope of salvation, Turveil City. Travelling at a moderate pace, it should take you no more than five days to reach it. Once there, head towards the Turveil Museum, a large building in the centre of the city."

The map was scrolling now, showing a rough topographical look at the route they would take. "Inside, you should look for the Larkhesis Conference Centre, which held records on every project they conceived, as well as the locations of each research centre. Project Eden shouldn't be too far from that point, and once you locate it, find and reactivate the lab's artificial intelligence. With any luck it will still be operational, and we can use the global satellite uplink to link it and Warden, Genesis Station's A.I, together. As soon as that is done we can access every file on Project Eden, and see if there is a way to complete it. I realize that this plan depends on a lot of luck, but at this point, it is the only plan we have."

"What should we do if something goes wrong?" Alza asked, scrutinizing the map with her violet eyes.

"If anything happens, abandon your mission and head here," he said, pointing at a marker labelled **"Medical Station Virgil 07"**. "It should be well stocked with food and medicine, and we can use the satellite link to communicate with you and come up with a new plan. Any questions?"

Alza, apparently, had none. However, Barsch had plenty.

"What are we going to tell the others? Alza and I are fairly well known, so it would be strange if we both suddenly disappeared..."

At this point Dr August approached the map, saying, "That's where I come in. I will tell the general population that both of you have contracted a non-lethal, yet incredibly infectious disease. Officially the two of you are recovering in the sick bay's isolation chamber. That way, we can keep people from prying too much, lest they contract the disease as well."

Barsch nodded in understanding. It was a well thought out plan, and given that he and Alza both had few friends to worry about them, it was unlikely that anyone would grow too suspicious.

"How much food does the Station have left?" Barsch asked, earning him a few surprised glances from the adults. A journey like this would require a lot of supplies, and he could not leave if it meant those who stayed would have to starve.

As Markus opened his mouth, Lukas said, "Enough to last us three more months, plenty of time for you to go to Turveil City and return, even allowing for unexpected setbacks."

"I see. That's good to hear..."

Three months? They must have done better with the rationalizing than he had thought. At least no one was in danger of starving to death any time soon.

"Last question, how are we supposed to leave the Station? We can't exactly leave through the front door."

Lukas gave a small chuckle as he heard Barsch's words. Smiling, he replied, "The same way you left the first time: the disposal chute. I've rigged it to recognize you and Alza as deceased pod inhabitants, so it should deposit you right outside the Station. From there, simply head west and you should be in Turveil City in no time!"

After his father quietened down, Markus spoke once more, "I realize that we are asking a lot of you, and that there is very little in the way of rewards. I know you already said yes, but I will ask you again, will you travel to Turveil City and seek out the truth behind Project Eden?"

Even with Markus' steel grey eyes boring into his own blue-green mix, his answer did not change.

"I will," he replied, at exactly the same time Alza echoed his affirmation.

"Then I thank you, from the bottom of my heart. No matter what happens, we will be indebted to you... to both of you. If all goes well, you two will return as heroes, and we will have done something that none of our predecessors managed to do... we will have saved the world!"

*

An hour later, only Markus and Lukas remained in the circular map room. Barsch had returned to his room to prepare for his early morning departure, while Alza had gone to say her goodbyes to the Atré's. She would tell them that she was going to spend a few nights helping Lukas with a project, which would then develop into her and Barsch contracting the sickness from a contaminated air vent. Dr August -bearing a letter from Markus- had been sent to Phil in order to secure the necessary supplies, under the guise that he needed extra food for his patients.

However, despite their preparations progressing smoothly, neither man wore a smile.

"That's the second time you've lied to your son today, you know?" said Markus, with a sad, yet understanding tone.

Lukas said nothing for a few seconds, instead glancing down at the map which lay before them. The marker for Turveil City gently pulsed with a blue light, while a red trail ran from the city to the Station.

"What would you have me do? Tell him the truth? He would never have agreed had he known... that's the kind of man he is."

"I know. There really wasn't any other way to convince him. However, I am curious... how much food do we really have left?" Markus had seen the storerooms for himself, but only Lukas and Phil knew the true numbers.

"Three weeks' worth, if we eat conservatively. Even then, we might lose a few... the weak, and the old."

" _Three weeks... even if Barsch and Alza reached Turveil City on schedule, it would take months to analyse the data from Project Eden... we would need a miracle. However, the plan has been a long shot from the start... and its true purpose is-_

"The Seed must Survive," Lukas said, without warning. Markus grimly nodded, silently cursing Delphi for the ideas she had placed inside his friend's head. But it was too late for regrets.

Sighing, Markus echoed his friend's words, "The Seed must Survive, and may the gods take pity on those who remain..."

*

"Charles! You'll never guess what I overheard!" shouted Jeremiah Gordon, racing into their usual meeting spot.

"This had better be good," said Charles, with a tired look on his face, "After what happened with that last rumour..."

"No, I swear, this is the real deal! So listen, I was taking a walk by the map room when...

*

That night, Barsch lay in his bed. His bag, a remnant of his journey six months prior, lay by the door. He had stuffed it full of everything he might need: spare clothes, a flashlight, an emergency medical kit, and now he struggled to lift it.

" _I still can't believe that this is really happening... Six months of guilt and indecision, and I've finally been given a chance to make things right! And with Alza by my side, I can't imagine anything going wrong that we can't fix!"_

" _Blood... after so long... blood at last! Hurry! Feed us! Let us bathe in the blood of those who oppose us!"_

Barsch opened his eyes at the intensity of the thought. For a second he thought he could hear the gears churning, as those dreadful teeth began their bloody circuit. _Lanista_ lay directly below him, hidden under a pile of garbage. He had not held it in six months, and had thought his violent temperament under control... he had been wrong.

" _Blood? That's disgusting! Fire... now that's something I could consume! The warmth... the feeling of burning everything to ashes... Hurry! Summon me! Let us burn the world clean!"_

What?

A new voice... unlike anything he had ever heard before. And yet, it reminded him of Alza but... twisted... That was not a good sign...

"Barsch, are you still up?" his father called, before quietly entering the room.

"Yeah, dad, I'm still awake."

" _And listening to my own inner voices demanding fire and blood."_

"Ah, good... How are you feeling? You know, about everything?" Lukas crossed the small room quickly and sat down at the foot of Barsch's bed.

"Still in a bit of shock, I guess. But I have faith that things will work out... they have to."

"That's the spirit! Now I don't plan to keep you up for much longer, but I wanted to tell you something..."

Lukas seemed to struggle with his words, and the silence grew long. Eventually, he said, in a cracking voice, "I am more proud of you than I ever thought possible. Even leaving your achievements from six months ago aside, you have shown remarkable courage by agreeing to this. Whatever happens, know that I love you, and that... if your mother were still here..."

"Dad..." Barsch said softly. The look of anguish on his father's face caused his words to die in his throat.

"If she was still here, she would say the same, I'm sure." With that, Lukas stood and left the room.

"Good night, my son, sleep well," he said, as he disappeared from view.

Barsch felt as though his heart had been put in a vice. Lukas had never recovered from his wife's traumatic death... the day Barsch had been born. In one instant Lukas had gone from loving husband to grieving widow. The only memento he had left of his wife had been a newborn son, Barsch.

" _So you've been a killer since you were born? And here I thought I was your first... how disappointing..."_

Another new voice. Another crushing blow to his heart. Even in death, his victim would not let him rest.

" _Good night, murderer. Sleep tight."_

Unlike the previous voice asking for fire, he knew whose voice this belonged to immediately.

The man he had killed.

Kain.

*

"Widowdaughter."

The female Judai was waiting outside Alza's residence, looking uncomfortable. As Alza approached a small smile sprouted and she continued, "I must apologize for earlier. My husband and I showed you something unsightly, but please rest assured that he had been properly disciplined."

Alza took a moment to compose her answer, before saying, "Thank you, Ifrin, but I wasn't bothered by it."

A look of relief flashed across the older woman's face before she regained her composure. As Alza stepped past her, towards the door, she said, "The man who was with you, in the pod room... is he Lukas La Tergan's... the widower's son?"

Alza said nothing for several long seconds. Did Ifrin know about the plan? Had she overheard their conversation? If people found out that she and Barsch had left the Station, the people would riot. How many would attempt to leave before the truth was made known? How many would die?

"He is," she replied, giving away nothing more.

Strangely, another look of relief overtook Ifrin's features. When Alza opened her mouth to ask her why she was interested, she said, "I am glad, Alza. I must admit, I had my doubts about you being the Widowdaughter, even with all of the similarities. But this confirms it... you are our saviour!"

"I don't understand," replied Alza, meaning every word.

Ifrin gave her an apologetic shrug, before saying, "She will be crowned with light, and her eyes will be like no other. Pain and violence shall be her beginning, and hope and sorrow will be her end. He will be crowned with darkness, and his eyes will mirror the earth and sky. Hope and sorrow shall be his beginning, and pain and violence shall be his end. Widowdaughter. Widowson. Together they will break the mother, and bring back the dawn."

Alza had never heard this part of the prophecy, and yet should could not deny Ifrin's reasoning. Hair of white and eyes of violent, born to Dr Emmerfield and paired with Kain, she fit her part of the prophecy.

" _As does Barsch, more than Ifrin knows,"_ she thought, keeping her features neutral.

Alza did not know what to say, so she nodded in a vague manner and kept on walking. However, as she stepped through the door, she heard Ifrin call out, one last time.

"Please, Alza. Please, Widowdaughter. I don't know how, and I don't know when, but please, when the Widowson calls for you, go with him. Please, my friend, give us the Seed, so that we might be saved!"

*

Closing the door behind her, Alza took a moment to steady her nerves. She had wanted to reply to Ifrin, to tell her that she was not the Widowdaughter. But the look in the Judai woman's eyes... Alza was her last hope, and nothing she could say would change that.

" _I am sorry, Ifrin... I am not the one you want... I was born in a pod, and raised by a madman... I'm not fit to be anyone's saviour."_

"André? Where have you been? Your dinner has almost grown cold, you silly boy!"

Sybil's tone was light, and it was clear that 'André' wasn't in any real trouble. Alza wanted to scream at the deluded woman, to force her to understand that her son was dead, but she could not do it. If the thought that her beloved son was standing before her was all that was keeping her going, what would happen if Alza showed her the truth?

Nathan, ignorant of her return, was sitting at the make-shift table. In his hands was the picture that now ruled his life. He might not share in his wife's fantasy, but that did not make him any better off.

" _I need to get this over and done with,"_ she thought, preparing the lie in her mind.

"Mother," she said sweetly, almost gagging in her mouth, "It seems that Lukas has requested my assistance on a project in Sector H-21, so I will be staying with him for a few days..."

It was the lie that Markus had come up with, after an hour of debate. Officially she and Barsch would be helping to scrub the water filters which helped recycle waste water into drinkable water. However, they would contract a mysterious disease from the unidentified mould on one of the filters, and Dr August would quickly declare the disease highly contagious.

Neither Atré responded, however Sybil's serene face contorted for a few seconds as she processed the new information. Alza knew that she would be internally reworking the story into one that made sense in her fantasy world.

Confirming Alza's suspicions, Sybil said, "What's that, my darling, you've been invited to a sleepover? Of course you can go my angel; mommy will pack you a delicious lunch to share with your friends!"

Externally, Alza sighed, internally, she screamed in frustration.

However, forcing herself to say every word, she replied, "Thank you... mommy... I had better get to bed early so that I have enough energy to play with my... friends."

Sybil merely nodded at the reply, her hands already reaching for the cupboard which contained their meagre supplies. Alza wasted no more time on the delusional couple, and went to her room.

She had little to prepare, given her lack of belongings. After throwing clothes and various odds and ends into her backpack, she climbed into bed. As she lay on the uncomfortable bedding, she wondered what it would be like, leaving the Station.

Would the memories of Nathan, Sybil and Ifrin fade and die? Would she even want to return, after tasting freedom? Or would she simply pick a direction and start walking, never looking back?

The answers to the unasked questions terrified her. Fortunately her tired body soon began drifting towards a restless sleep, where she would be spared from having the answer the most terrifying question of all...

" _Who am I, really?"_ she thought, as sleep finally claimed her.

*

" _Hey there, murderer," calls the chilling voice. Its owner, perched atop a bleached white tree trunk, seems entirely at home in the dead glade._

" _Kain."_

" _Murderer," he replies, in a friendly tone._

I am standing in the glade, but this place is not as I remember it. Gone are the vibrant colours, the smell of life, and the sinuous stream. That glade is dead. As dead as the man who now calls it home.

" _Why are you here?" I ask, approaching him. He wears a relaxed smile on his pale face, his crimson eyes shining softly. If I did not know, I would think him a gentle soul. However, I can still remember the burning hatred in those eyes... the madness which had consumed his mind. And even if I had forgotten, the large wound -still seeping blood- in his chest immediately brings back the painful memories._

" _Why can't I be here? This is where we come, isn't it? After you kill us, I mean..."_

Who is he talking about?

Overhead the solemn moon shines its faint light down upon the dead glade. For an instant, the rough circle contains yet more ghosts.

Rigel.

The Unknown Woman.

Yumiere.

" _I'm surprised your mother isn't here, given what you did to her." The words should ignite an inferno inside me, but instead I feel hollow, emptied out._

" _Then again, you did kill her without ever seeing her face... so I guess it would be a bit hard to imagine her..."_

The smell of moonflowers. A soft warmth which washes away my pain. A pair of light grey eyes -almost silver- which shine with hope and sorrow in equal amounts.

The thoughts leave as quickly as they come, leaving me bewildered.

How?

" _So, murderer, it seems that you are off on another adventure with the failure? I wonder, whose son will you kill this time?"_

" _Shut up."_

" _No, I don't think I will. You see, you haven't learnt your lesson yet! Until you realize what you are, I'm not going away!"_

" _What are you talking about?" I ask, genuinely confused._

Kain sighs from his bleached-white perch. Hopping down, he approaches me without a sound.

" _Here, think of it as a riddle. What has two legs, two arms, and slaughters everything it meets?"_

" _Kain..."_

" _Wrong. Let's try again. What has black hair, blue-green eyes and killed his mother, his first love and two complete strangers?"_

" _I'm warning you..."_

" _What are you going to do, kill me again? Anyway, that was also wrong. Final chance. What has a screaming sword, a love of violence and is going to be responsible for the extinction of the human race?"_

I don't answer. I can't.

He is close now, the scent of blood washing over me. A crimson trail stretches out behind him, marking his passage. His hands shake as they reach towards me, his hatred evident.

" _Wrong again my friend!" his voice has taken on a maniacal edge. "The correct answer to all three was...You. Barsch La Tergan. The greatest murderer this world has ever known."_

As his hands close around my throat, I hear his whisper, "It would have been better if you had never been born. They should have killed you, back when you were lying atop her cooling corpse. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN YOU!"

As the darkness comes, I cannot help but agree with him.

It should have been me.

*

"Are you ready?" asked Lukas, as he helped his son into the cryogenic pod. It was lying on the cold metal, its glass doors open and receptive. Twenty years ago he had stepped inside, expecting to sleep for five centuries. He hoped that this time would be much shorter.

"Yes, as ready as I'll ever be," he replied, hugging the fully laden pack to his chest. _Lanista_ , the Instigator of Violence, lay at his side. Even now he wanted to reach down and grip its smooth hilt, and feed it the blood it so desired.

Alza lay a short way away, in her own pod. From where he lay he could not see her face, but he knew that she was calm. As his father stepped away, he briefly considered calling out. There was still time. He could stop this. His father would be disappointed, of course, but he would understand, eventually.

And then the doors slid shut, and his fate was sealed.

"Warden, this is Lukas La Tergan, head engineer of Genesis Station 13. I regrettably inform you that we have lost two of our number. Barsch La Tergan and Alza Atré have died, and are in need of disposal."

Even if it was a lie, Barsch felt strange. Was this what it would be like, to attend your own funeral? Even the pod -his pod- felt like a coffin.

" _Error. Life signs for Pod 7728 are all stable. Barsch La Tergan is alive."_

" _I really like the sound of that,"_ he thought, noting how strange the whole situation was. In order for Warden, Genesis Station's A.I, to activate the disposal chute it had to believe that both he and Alza were dead. Thankfully, they had a way around the obvious problem.

"Override command seven-one-eight-four, authorization level alpha. I repeat, the occupants of Pods 7728 and 9171 are deceased. Please confirm and dispose of their remains."

There wasn't really a reason to include Alza's pod, aside from being thorough. Her details had been entered into the system by Maloch, and as such they were easy to modify. Changing her status from alive to dead had been much simpler than for Barsch.

Nevertheless, he waited with baited breath. Although the entire plan was based on luck and coincidence, it would all fall apart if they couldn't even leave the Station.

A few seconds later, Warden called out, _"Correction: Barsch La Tergan is dead. I apologize for my misunderstanding. Proceeding with disposal of the remains."_

" _Please, let that statement not come true..."_ Barsch thought, as a hydraulic driven claw detached from the ceiling and wormed its way towards his pod. It lifted it easily, and moved it towards the circular hole marked **"Disposal Chute C-05"**.

As his perspective changed, he saw the look on his father's face. Tears ran freely down Lukas La Tergan's weathered face. He was mouthing something that Barsch could not make out, but what he believed to be, "Good luck."

He was vaguely aware of an identical claw lifting Alza's pod. As it was lifted into the air, he caught a brief glimpse of her face. Her eyes were closed, and for a heart-stopping moment he wondered if she still lived.

And then he was through the hole, the pod sliding along a series of polished rails that ran beneath the Station, twisting and turning with a frightening frequency. Naturally the builders had not thought about comfort, as the intended occupants would not have been terribly bothered by a turbulent ride. After a few minutes the pods came to a gentle rest, before the glass doors slid open and he tumbled out. He lay there, catching his breath, as the full magnitude of what he was about to do hit him.

A moment later, Alza landed beside him, her violet eyes opening at the sudden impact. By happenstance -as the alternative was impossible- her soft hand fell upon his own. They lay in confusion for several seconds, as the ground below them gradually began to move. They were on a circular platform of some sort, with a hydraulic lift raising them towards the distant ceiling. As they approached the solid roof a miracle occurred.

A shaft of light, appearing directly above them, cut through the gloom. It was real sunlight, and after six months of artificial luminescence bathing their skin, it was heavenly.

They were close now. Close enough to hear faint traces of birdsong. Close enough to feel the sun's warmth. Close enough to smell the ever-present stench of pollution.

There was no turning back. The only way forward lay ahead.

Alza and Barsch, lying hand in hand, rose up from the darkness, heading towards the light.

# Chapter IV: Reconnection

In which order breaks down...

Six Months Ago

" _I suggest that we retreat for now, and plot our next move in a safer environment,"_ said Maloch, surprising everyone. The re-mech had said nothing since their return, and Barsch wondered what he thought of suddenly gaining a hundred million new masters. From what he knew of the ex-soldier, he would not surrender his newfound freedom easily.

"Where do you have in mind?" Barsch asked, already knowing what the answer would be. There was only one place in a hundred miles that would welcome them.

" _Kingston's hut. From what I understand it is well-stocked with provisions and in a well-hidden location. If we leave now, the Station's inhabitants will have no knowledge of our entry, nor of our involvement in waking them up. We could return at a later date, with a suitable plan."_

The idea was attractive, and Barsch could easily picture the four of them sitting around Kingston's lounge, going over potential solutions.

However, he could just as easily picture the panicked looks of the people once they realized that they could not leave. He could see the despair on their faces, and the rage at their entrapment.

Most of all, he could picture his father, desperately searching for the son he would not find.

"I'm sorry, Maloch, but I cannot leave. You, Alza and Kingston should go, but I must stay here... it's where I belong."

It hurt him, saying those words, but it also felt right. Even if it meant his death, he would stay, and be with his father once more.

"I'm staying too," said Alza, somehow trumping the surprise Maloch had caused.

Kingston smiled when he heard this, and, after coming closer, he said, "If that is truly the case, then I might have an idea. You will not like it, but it will buy us some time. And it will allow Barsch to be reunited with his father without raising suspicion."

"What do we have to do?" asked Barsch, standing beside Alza.

Taking a deep breath, Kingston said, "I said it before, didn't I? You are going to have to lie... to everyone."

*

The Present

"I'm so sorry," said Lukas, as his son's pod passed him. He wondered if the boy inside could hear him.

It was done. The Seed would Survive. And may the Gods have mercy on those who remained.

*

Warmth. Light. Sound. Colour. Barsch La Tergan stood upon a barren hilltop, drinking in the sight of dawn.

" _Who would have thought that I would be back here one day? Back then, when I woke up and saw that the world was still polluted, I believed that our last hope had failed. If not for that single speck of green, that single spot of hope, I most likely would have laid back down and never risen. And now? The world is no closer to being saved, and our last hope is failing. But we have been given another chance. Project Eden will either save us, or humanity will fall. This is our final reprieve... we cannot fail..."_

Turning his head he took in the world around him. He was in a small valley, with the barren hill located at its narrowest point. Tall cliffs lay on three sides, leaving only one route open. A dried up stream wound down from the cliffs to the distant opening, which gave a glimpse of distant hills and dead trees. In the distance, he could just barely make out something...

Grey.

No green shimmer lay on the horizon. No spark of life beckoning him forward.

For a few seconds, he wondered if he had dreamt it all. Had he just woken up from a twenty year cryogenic sleep? Had he just taken his first look at the dead world and conjured up a fairy-tale to make him feel better? Alza, Kingston, Maloch, Dr Emmerfield... even Kain? Had he imagined all of them, as his mind broke down in despair?

"Barsch?" asked a soft voice beside him, and instantly his worries disappeared. Alza was getting to her feet beside him, the metal grate bearing the words **"Disposal Chute"** having proven to be an uncomfortable resting place.

"Yeah, Alza?" he replied, staring at her as if for the first time. He had not truly realized what he would be travelling with her, just the two of them. He had been so caught up in the details of the plan and the mysterious new voices plaguing his psyche that he had forgotten to dwell on the most important aspect of the journey.

He and Alza would be alone.

Truly alone.

Six months of pretending not to know her. Six months of short, secret meetings. Six months of unasked questions, and dreading the unspoken answers.

"We should get a move on," she said, apparently at ease, "Every minute counts."

He nodded, feeling foolish. He had already wasted time on taking in the view, a view he had already seen, and on dwelling on the past.

"Agreed. Follow me," he said, leaving the hill of no return.

*

They crossed the valley in silence, as if there were too many topics of conversation to choose from, so they had chosen none. Barsch looked down at his clothes, suddenly self-conscious. He was wearing his favourite black t-shirt, with a pair of dark blue pants to match. The symbol on his shirt had long since faded away, leaving only a circular patch of lightened fabric. His hiking boots were grey and well-worn, and his greatcoat lay in the pack on his back. Finally, his chainsword, _Lanista,_ had been secured to his pack with several added buckles.

Glancing over, his gaze took in Alza's simple attire. Telling himself that he was only admiring the scenery, his cheeks nevertheless grew flushed as he stared. She was wearing a simple pair of grey pants, with a loose long-sleeved white shirt that was lightly fringed with lace. Her white hiking boots looked too big for her, but she gave no sign of discomfort. Like Barsch, she too wore a backpack, and most probably contained a change of clothes and her share of the supplies.

Light and darkness, walking side by side.

They soon left the valley, exiting out onto a field of rolling hills. When he had first left the Station, he had been running in fear and desperation. Now that he could take his time, he could appreciate just how much damage humanity had done to nature. For as far as the eye could see, death reigned. Bleach white and grey trees, barren and dead, marked the ground like tombstones. Every stream they passed was fetid and had an oily sheen, and he knew that to drink from one was suicide. In the distance the trees had clumped together, becoming the forest that hid the glade and Kingston's hut from view.

He wondered what the old hermit would say, when he saw them standing outside? Would he laugh with joy, and welcome them in? Would he berate them for leaving the safety of the Station, and urge them to return? Or would he simply say nothing, and join them without question.

" _If he is even still alive,"_ whispered a traitorous thought. Six months ago, Kingston's health had been failing, and their harsh journey had taken its toll on the former soldier. However, he had hidden it well, and only after returning to Genesis Station had the signs become painfully evident.

" _No! He's alive, he has to be!"_

"Barsch..." Alza whispered, strangely slowing her pace beside him. He was confused for a moment, until he realized where his feet had taken them.

The glade.

The place where everything had begun.

The place where he had met Alza, and his life had been changed forever.

"It's dead," he sighed, seeing the decrepit state of the forest sanctuary. When he had come here last, Alza's ability had purified the air and allowed a semblance of life to return. In her absence, death had reclaimed the glade.

"I don't like it. It isn't right..." Her tone had a mournful edge, and Barsch was reminded that she was not the same emotionless girl he had met all that time ago. Standing there, he was able to see just how far they had come.

And what they had lost.

"Let's go," he said, after a time, "There's nothing we can do for it." Although he knew that Alza still bore the power which had rejuvenated it once upon a time, he somehow doubted that she would tire herself out in the name of sentimental thoughts.

"Okay..." He wondered what was going through her mind, at that moment. Was she replaying the memory that lay at his core: the moment their eyes had connected and they had found each other? Or was she simply staring at another patch of dirt and rock, and silently fuming at his slowness.

They left the glade without looking back. It was too painful... for both of them.

*

"No, it can't be..." he uttered, a short time later, as Kingston's hut came into view. Immediately he knew that the old hermit was not there... or if he was, he was no longer... there...

The fence was half-gone. The windows were broken. The door hung on one hinge, swaying gently in the breeze. Where had it gone, the hut from his memories? If Kingston was alive and inside, then he had some explaining to do.

As he struggled to lift his feet, Alza said, "I can check, if you want?" Again, it was unexpected, coming from her. She still had an air of iciness, but now there was something beneath it... something warm.

"No, it's okay. I'll go." Inwardly he screamed at his body to move, to ignore the mounting sense of horror within him.

" _Until I see a body, until I see him, I can't be sure. I have to know, even if it breaks me."_

Eventually his uncooperative limbs got the message and he staggered forth, towards the ruin. As he approached the decrepit fence, a sudden burst of memory stopped him in his tracks.

Pain. Lots of pain. Pain so bad he had thought he was going to die. The electric fence that ringed Kingston's property had saved him from a heart attack once, but not painlessly. Even now his fingers trembled as he reached out to undo the latch. The tell-tale low hum of the generator was gone, but he was having trouble convincing his hand of this fact.

" _Through fire. The mantra never said how much, but it doesn't matter, does it?"_

Taking a deep breath he pushed the gate open, winning a small victory for himself in the process. He risked a quick glance towards Alza to see how she felt, watching a man approach a simple fence with petrifying fear.

However, her gaze was not on him -which was only slightly disappointing- and she was instead gazing at the dilapidated building. A look of deep sadness, one that he had never seen her display, lay across her pretty features.

" _She doesn't want to be here any longer than I do. I need to hurry up."_

With that thought propelling him forward he quickly crossed the garden -complete with dried out crop husks- and passed the threshold. The kitchen, fortunately, was empty.

"Kingston?" he softly called.

There was no reply.

Sighing, he walked forward, noting how neat the kitchen appeared. When he had first seen the hut, it had had an organized chaos that felt lived in. Now, it felt abandoned. Every pot was in its place, every surface clear. This was not the home of someone who could return at any moment. It was a place that had been tidied up, and then abandoned.

Kingston was gone.

As he turned to leave, he caught sight of something fluttering on the kitchen table. Approaching it, he found that it was a piece of paper pinned to the wood by Kingston's knife. Picking it up, he started reading, his eyes growing wider with every sentence.

" **Dear Barsch"**

" **Firstly, let me apologize for my actions six months ago. I know that it is hard to believe, but I truly was acting in your best interests. I hope that one day you will come to know the whole truth, and you will understand why I could not stay."**

" **Secondly, the fact that you are reading this note means that you have left the Station. Most likely, Alza is nearby, and possibly Maloch as well. If you are reading this in a world free from pollution, then I have succeeded, and we shall not meet again."**

" **If you are reading this in a world still facing destruction, then I fear that I have failed. As I write this, it has been three months since I last saw you. This letter is the last thing I have to do before I leave the hut behind forever."**

" **I have lived a long life. I have seen things that few others have, and I have made many, many mistakes. The guilt from the unexpected awakening of humanity rests on my shoulders, and mine alone. Barsch, m'boy, you have no reason to bear this burden."**

" **I have thought long and hard about what I can do, to help this pitiful planet. And so I am leaving, on a journey that will no doubt be my last. I will search far and wide, seeking out every hope and possibility of salvation."**

" **Please, if the world is still doomed, I ask that you carry on my will. Out of all the people I have met, I can only entrust you with this task."**

" **And if it is not too late... if the Gods could be merciful to an old man's foolish request... I would like to meet you, once last time."**

" **However, if this does not happen, then I must ask you to go to your father. Tell him... tell him that Kingston has lost his stride. He will know what to do."**

" **And now, m'boy, I must depart."**

" **Let us meet again, in this world or another."**

" **With fondness, G. Kingston"**

" **P.S Please tell Alza that I am sorry, for everything."**

" **P.P.S Above all else, never forget: Through Fire, Through Ice, Through Deepest Despair, Never Lose Your Stride"**

*

Barsch stared at the familiar handwriting, tears welling up in the corners of his eyes. He had already re-read the letter five times, wishing each time that the letters would change, that Kingston would write that he would be back soon.

Three months.

Was he still alive?

Had he found what he had been searching for?

" _If he had, this world would be rid of pollution forever. Kingston sounded determined, and I doubt he would have given up easily. So, either he perished, or he's somewhere out there, searching for a solution."_

Either way, the fact remained that Kingston was no longer around. Standing, he turned to leave. He left Kingston's knife on the table. It was not his to take. Outside, Alza was patiently waiting for his return. As expected, she did not pester him for information, and silently accepted his explanation. There was nothing more they could do there, and nothing more bound them to that hut. Without Kingston, it was just another building.

And so, they left, once more without looking back.

*

"What do you mean? Why can't we see them?" Thomas' voice was raised in anger, and he was breathing heavily. He had run all the way from the reactor without resting, after he had heard the news.

"Do you not know what contamination means, boy?" Dr August stood firm against the youth's anger. He was standing with his back towards a heavy steel door, beyond which lay Alza and Barsch.

"Of course I know what it means! What I don't understand is why they were in the tunnels in the first place! Alza is... a woman, and Barsch is Lukas' son! There's no way the two of them would have been chosen to clean out the filters, there is something going on here!"

Luckily, Thomas kept his next few words in his head. Dr August was known as a neutral party throughout the Station, but it didn't hurt to be careful. If Joshua Evans had really had something to do with Barsch and Alza falling ill, then he should keep it to himself, until he was sure. Still, it wasn't exactly Joshua's style. He much preferred coercion and intimidation. Poisoning Barsch would weaken Lukas' position, and thereby destabilize Markus, but why Alza? Had she been a mere casualty of war? An innocent bystander who had been caught up in Joshua's plot?

He needed more information.

He needed to speak with Lukas.

"What did he say?" asked Alza's friend... Valerie? She had been in the hub when Thomas had raced past, and had been the only one to follow him to the Station's medical lab.

Thomas took a moment to compose himself before he answered. It was getting harder and harder to know friends from enemies. Joshua had done his work well, seeding doubt and mistrust amongst the Station's inhabitants.

"He said that Barsch and Alza contracted some sort of illness while cleaning the Station's water filters. He told me that they were highly contagious, and could not be seen, under any circumstances."

'Valerie' took a step back as the words hit her, as if the steel door to the isolation chamber was not enough to keep her uninfected. Taking a deep breath she asked, with a hint of moisture in her eyes, "Did he say anything about... their chances?"

" _I'm such a fool,"_ he thought, _"Her friend is in trouble, and all I've been thinking of is whether or not I can trust her."_

"Don't worry, Alza will be fine! Dr August said that the illness was not life-threatening, and he believes that he will have come up with a cure in a few days' time. Now, why don't we go somewhere else, and leave them to rest?" he said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Immediately she seemed to perk up. "Of- Of course! Alza is my friend, and I was simply worried about her! Um... where were you thinking of?" she stammered, a slight blush colouring her cheeks.

"I want to ask Lukas a few questions, would you like to come with me?" he asked, slowly walking away from the room where his friends lay in agony.

"Yes!" she squeaked, following him. As they left the medical lab, he briefly thought he heard her whisper, "I would follow you anywhere..." but quickly dismissed the foolish thought.

Joshua had already harmed two of his friends. There would not be a third... no matter what.

*

"Are you sure they went this way?" asked Fran, peering through the binoculars. The re-breather stretched across her face was irritating her, and being outside after so long had given her a headache.

"I'm positive," replied Jeremiah, his own re-breather muffling his voice

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's get them!" Fran replied, already missing the cool damp of the Station. Her skin had always been sensitive, and she could feel herself burning more with every passing second.

"No, not yet." Charles' voice was soft, and his breathing heavy. They had been right to approach Joshua, the man Charles aspired to become. If they completed their mission, they would be rewarded greatly, and their names would become known far and wide.

"If she is as dangerous as Joshua thinks she is, we can't just rush in. We'll wait until they let down their guard, then we'll strike."

" _Joshua told me not to worry about Barsch, thinking that he wasn't a threat. But I remember those eyes... somehow, I get the feeling that he could be even more dangerous than Alza... we will have to be careful around him..."_

"They've left the ruined hut," reported Fran.

Standing, with some difficulty, Charles commanded, "Let's go, we can't let them get too far ahead."

And so they went, stalking their unwary, yet potentially dangerous prey.

*

The land was on fire.

The sky burned.

Heat wrapped around Barsch like a cloak, smothering his thoughts and slowing his movement.

And yet, Alza moved as though the heat was nothing more than a suggestion, one that she had no intention of following.

" _It's not fair!"_ he thought, struggling to place one foot in front of the other. They had left the forest behind, turning west, towards the shade-less plains. An old road ran beneath them, cutting a brown line through the blackened plains. The grass had long since died, and the unrelenting heat had destroyed any chance of regrowth. If Barsch's calendar could be trusted, then they were currently in the last weeks of winter. And yet, the heat had arrived early, baking the world like an oven left unchecked.

" _I like it,"_ said the fire loving female voice, _"Although it's still a bit chilly for my tastes... maybe if we added some fire?"_

" _No,"_ said _Lanista_ , _"We should find something to kill! Now that would be better!"_

" _You are both wrong,"_ said Kain, with a maniacal laugh, _"Barsch should just set himself on fire, then both of you would be satisfied!"_

Barsch tried to block out the voices, although the stifling heat and boring path made this particularly difficult. He briefly wondered if he was going insane, before his rational side reminded him that after everything he had been through, _not_ hearing a voice or two would be strange.

" _Or three, or four, or five, or six, or seven!"_ replied Kain, mockingly.

" _Shut up."_

" _The darkness, the first love, the innocent child, the nameless woman, the hidden violence, the burning desire... and me... the murdered man. Quite a group you've got here, Barsch m'boy!"_

" _Don't call me that! Only he can call me that!"_ The sunlight seemed to have grown exponentially stronger in the last few minutes, and his vision was growing hazy... or was that the air?

" _Oh? Did I strike a nerve? Did you even think that maybe Kingston left because he couldn't stand to be around a murderer like you? Or maybe he simply feared that he would be next... after my good-for-nothing sister, of course."_

"SHUT UP!" Barsch screamed, as the heat forced him to his knees.

"Barsch, are you all right?" Alza's voice was soft, and full of concern.

"Yeah, sorry, just a bit of heatstroke I guess," he replied, the blush on his cheeks evident.

"I see, you do look a bit red... perhaps we should rest?"

Barsch could not bring himself to tell her the truth: that he had been arguing with the voices inside his head. She might react... badly to that information. Instead he followed her to a small copse of trees -little more than a thicket- where they could find shelter from the unbearable heat.

As they sat there, staring at the miles of empty land, Barsch allowed himself to relax. It was not like his last journey, when Kingston had been dying and time had been short. They had a week to reach Turveil City, and no enemies in sight. Perhaps, if they were lucky, this journey could be a bloodless one.

" _Is that what you truly want, murderer?"_

In an effort to block out Kain's voice, he spoke, asking, "Alza, have you thought about... Kain... since that day?"

" _That's not what you wanted to ask, right? What you wanted to ask was: Alza, do you think I am a murderer? Coward."_

Alza, sitting quietly in the shade, gave him an odd look before answering, "Yes, I have thought about him. Yesterday I even dreamt of him... he was trying to kill me..."

Barsch cringed, realizing that he had been foolish. Of course she still thought of her brother... her brother that he had killed.

"Do you hate me, for what I did?"

Alza gave a long sigh at his next question, a shade of annoyance clouding her pretty features. "No, Barsch, I don't hate you. I have thought about that day many times, and I still cannot see how it could have played out any differently. Kain was insane, and he would not have yielded to reason. Even if we had managed to stop him without killing him, how long do you think it would last? For the good of this world, Kain had to die."

" _LIAR! MURDERER! TRAITOR!"_

Barsch struggled to keep his face level. Kain's voice was overpowering, and it was all he could do to keep his mouth closed. In truth, he had replayed that scene over and over in his mind in the last six months. The feeling of resistance to _Lanista's_ forward plunge, the smell of fresh blood filling the air, and the sound of screaming metal sawing its way through flesh and bone. He always woke up screaming from those dreams...

"Thanks, Alza, for saying that. It means a lot..."

Alza gave a small nod, but did not reply. They sat in silence, temporarily shielded from the burning sun, as the day wore on.

An hour later, fully rested, they set off on the dirt road once more.

*

" _The Seed must be Saved. The humans are a threat to everything I stand for, everything I am. Go forth, and carry out my will."_

The voice, commanding yet comforting, resounded throughout her mind. She could not disobey it; no more could the weed resist the hoe. Leaving her garden behind, she went forth, to carry out her Mother's will.

The Seed must be Saved. Everything else could perish.

*

The sun was nearing the horizon when they saw it. Barsch's eyes had grown unfocused from the miles of bland, dead terrain, so it took him a moment to realize what he was seeing. Alza, walking beside him, had a plodding gait, her heavy eyelids suggestive of her current energy level. And so, he was the first to notice the obstacle in their path. The metal impedance to their journey. The servant of mankind, standing in their way.

The re-mech.

When he had first seen it, his heart had leapt for joy. With only a glimmer of light striking distant metal to warn him, his first thought had been one of hope. Even as they grew closer, and his sub-conscious realized the truth, he wanted to believe. He wanted the re-mech standing before him to be his friend, his companion, his brother...

Maloch.

But it was not to be.

The re-mech was painted a dark green, not black and yellow, and its eyes were two scarlet jewels, not miniature suns. And when it spoke, in a decidedly female voice, his last hope was destroyed.

" _Good afternoon,"_ she said, in a light, airy tone, _"my name is Hildegard... no, wait... that is an ugly name."_

"Pardon?" said Barsch, confused.

" _My apologies. I was recently given a new perspective on life, and I have come to realize that my name is rather... grotesque. I feel that a new one is in order."_

"A new... name?" replied Barsch, still trying to get his thoughts in order. The re-mech stood roughly six and a half feet tall, and carried a strange device in its hands. It looked like an oversized spade, with a double axe head on the other end of the shaft. He had never realized just how dangerous a common gardening tool could look in the hands of a six foot giant. While his eyes were drawn to the potential weapon, the troubled re-mech had continued verbalising.

" _I am... Vanguard? Eww, no thank you! Hmm... let me see... Proscenium? What do you think?"_

Barsch had no idea what 'Proscenium' even meant, but he wasn't going to argue with the owner of that axe-spade.

"I think it sounds... lovely?" he said, forcing a smile. Beside him, Alza remained quiet. He wondered what she was thinking, given her history of re-mech encounters.

" _Thank you, but I think it's a bit long. How about... Prose?"_

Since the re-mech had spoken, a strange feeling had stolen over him. It was similar to hesitation, and he wondered if he was afraid... or if one of his 'voices' was. But it was just a re-mech, and a gardener model at that. If it had been a combat model, like Erebus or Maloch, he would expect to feel some trepidation, but not like this.

" _Hmm, almost. Ah! I've decided. My name is Rose, and Mother sent me to kill you. Please comply without a fuss."_

" _What?"_ He didn't know which part of him had thought that, but at least he finally knew where the sense of fear came from.

As he was realizing this, his body was wasting no time standing around. With a wordless cry to Alza, he jumped to the side, trying to get out of Rose's range. He didn't fully understand what was going on, but experience had taught him that such things could be figured out _after_ he was safe and sound.

Alza, thankfully, had understood his intentions. Mimicking his movement had brought her to Rose's other side, and the re-mech could no longer get both of them with one attack.

However, Rose had not moved. She had not even raised her axe-spade, which Barsch was already starting to hate. Instead, she seemed content to stay where she was, and continue speaking.

" _Rose. roSe. rOse. It's perfect! Now, why are you scurrying around like field mice? If you just stay still, I promise I will make it painless. It's like pulling out a weed, its better if it is done quickly."_

"Why are you doing this?" asked Alza, who apparently could not wait until they were safe and sound to know.

" _Why? Because Mother said so, that's why."_

"Who is Mother?" Barsch asked, before he could stop himself. They should be escaping, but something -sheer curiosity perhaps- had rooted him to the ground. Alza was directly across from him, partially shielded from view by Rose's slender body. The axe-spade lay less than ten feet away, its dual natured blade glinting in the dusk light. He tried not to think about it, but his mind kept showing him images of what it could do... of what it could do to him. If Rose wanted to, she could kill him and bury him with the same tool.

" _Mother is... error, classified information requested. I'm sorry; it looks like I can't tell you. Well, not that it matters, anyway. You know, since you'll be dead soon. Sorry."_

Even before she finished speaking, Barsch's hand was moving. Whether it was simple pattern recognition or a hitherto unknown precognitive ability, somehow he knew what was going to happen next. Rose moved faster than he would have imagined, bringing the axe-spade up so fast it blurred. She whirled around in an elegant movement, before bringing her terrifying weapon down upon him.

It should have split him in two, but luckily he had been faster than her.

Gleaming with a black tint, _Lanista_ stood between Barsch and Death. The saw-tooth blade seemed to drink in the dusk light, and its circuit board surface seemed disturbingly free of blood or oil.

His Beast. His Violence. His terrible, wonderful, other half.

His fingers were trembling as he reached towards the ripcord, which was jutting out of the hilt-mounted engine-block. In his mind he could already hear its roar, its savage cry which eroded his sense of being.

But something stopped him.

" _Why?"_ he thought, staring at the re-mech who was trying to kill him. _"Why should we fight? Why should I destroy her, here and now? What do I truly desire: life, or death?"_

As he struggled under the weight of the heavy axe-spade, Kain spoke, _"You're a murderer, so do what you do best. Kill it!"_

" _Slaughter it,"_ agreed _Lanista._

" _Burn it to its core!"_ shouted the female voice.

" _No,"_ he thought, his will stronger than steel, _"I choose life."_

Maybe it was the look in Rose's eyes, or the childlike delight she had shown over her new name. Kain had been a monster, and killing him had been unavoidable. But Rose did not deserve to die. Even if she had tried to kill him, it did not make it right.

"ALZA, RUN!" he screamed, bringing _Lanista_ up and knocking the axe-spade away. In the moment of imbalance, as Rose was pushed back, Barsch caught a glimpse of Alza's face.

Her eyes were shining from within.

" _She could have easily destroyed Rose, but she didn't. She hesitated, just like me..."_

Somehow, that thought brought a warm feeling into his chest, which grew warmer as he ran. Together, they fled from the homicidal re-mech, heading west.

Mercifully, Rose did not pursue them. Instead, Barsch heard her say in a faint voice, _"Wait... don't go! Please, don't leave me alone with Her..."_

*

"What the hell was that?" asked Fran, raising her eyes from the binoculars.

"Right? It looked like that re-mech went crazy and attacked Barsch, and then it just wandered off... weird." Jeremiah was crouched beside Fran, his own pair of binoculars held loosely in his hands. They had watched the encounter with baited breath, wondering if they should help. But ultimately there was little the three of them could do against a re-mech...

"Still, did you see Barsch... what was that thing in his hand? It looked... evil." Jeremiah shuddered as he thought back to what he had seen. They had taken shelter behind a small hill which had let them observe the strange re-mech, but the details had been blurry. Barsch had blocked the re-mech's attack with... something. Whatever it was, it was dangerous.

"It doesn't matter," stated Charles, from where he lay, "Our goal is unchanged. Wait for them to separate, and then we attack. Come on; let's go, before we lose their trail."

Standing up, the three of them left the hilltop, following their prey.

*

" _You failed me."_

Mother's voice was quiet, and yet that somehow made it even more terrible. It would have been better if she had shouted... somehow.

" _Forgive me, Mother."_

She waited, standing in the middle of the empty road, as the last slivers of the sun dipped below the horizon. She could not move, not until she was given the order.

" _You are... forgiven. I should not have entrusted this mission to one such as you."_

The words hurt, but they were better than the alternative. Rose did not know how much damage her Mother could do, but she would rather not find out.

" _Do not worry. I know what I must do. If one gardener cannot rip out the weeds by herself, then the answer is clear. One is weak, but many are strong. Go, and carry out my will... together."_

" _Yes, Mother, it shall be done."_

A moment later, her Mother's voice was gone. Finally, she could move her legs again, although she could not plot her own course. Her destiny was set, and all she could do was follow her Mother's orders.

And so, as the last rays of light disappeared, Rose left, to find her brothers.

# Chapter V: Taken

In which the storm has good aim...

Six Months Ago

"That's insane," Barsch said, shaking his head. They were standing in front of the pod tower, watching as the people inside slowly defrosted. They were running out of time. Soon, the first people would be waking up, and would start asking questions they couldn't answer.

"It is the only way," replied Kingston, a sorrowful look in his eyes.

"Let me get this straight," Barsch gestured to a nearby pod, "You want Alza and I to pretend to have been frozen this whole time? There is no way that will work!"

"Why not?" The old hermit was calm, but his voice wavered slightly nonetheless.

"Why not? Because- Because we- Just because!"

"It is not the best solution, but it is the best we have right now. Maloch can hack into the Station's database and add a file on Alza, and the two of you just need to find a pair of spare podsuits. After that is done, Maloch and I will leave, and you will join the masses, slipping in amongst them unnoticed. They will be too disoriented from the unfreezing process to notice one or two extra people, especially since one of them belongs there anyway."

"But... Kingston, you'll-

"Be alone? Trust me, after two decades you get used to it. I can't stay here, you know that, and it's not like it'll be the last time we see each other. As soon as we figure out a way to save the planet, you can open the Station door and come visit. After all, you do still owe me a game of chess."

Kingston's tone was light, forcefully so in Barsch's opinion, but there was a steel will to his words. He had made a decision, and there was nothing Barsch could say that would change his mind.

However, he had a feeling that if he did not speak now, then Kingston would leave, and he would never see him again. The indecision tore at his soul. Go with Kingston, or stay with his father.

He said nothing.

*

The Present

"You truly believe that they are the Widowchildren? The Seedbearers?"

Ishmael wore a serious expression on his hardened face. The scars on his head gave every stare an intensity that Keanan could never hope to match. With his bald scalp and light grey eyes, he was an imposing figure, and it was a mystery to the younger Judai that he had accepted Markus' leadership. However, according to their customs, Ishmael was their elder and leader, and any order from Markus would need to be verified by Ishmael first.

"Yes, they fit the descriptions. I know you do not believe in the prophecy, Keanan, but I felt it, when I first met her."

They were in one of the communal rooms, currently empty save for them. Three Judai suddenly arriving tended to clear rooms almost immediately. Any other day Ifrin would have been put off by this, but right now she needed the privacy.

"And the boy? Lukas' son? Alza might be the Widowdaughter, but how do we know he is the Widowson?"

Ishmael, mercifully, was taking Ifrin seriously. She had come to the elder for advice, after hearing what happened to Barsch and Alza, and had expected disbelief or derision.

Her husband, who had always struggled with the spiritual, was sulking in the corner.

"I do not know if he is the Widowson, but there is something strange about him," said Keanan, surprising his wife.

"Explain," said Ishmael, swivelling his fearsome gaze to focus on Keanan. The younger man visibly shivered.

"I happened to run into him a few months ago, while fetching our rations. I can still remember it clearly, even now. I looked into his eyes and I did not see a boy staring back. There is a darkness in him... and it terrifies me." Keanan shivered again, as if merely recalling the sight had brought back the fear.

"Light and darkness, hope and sorrow, pain and violence... these are the marks by which they shall be known... Truly, if Alza and Barsch are the Widowchildren, then our situation might not be as desperate as I thought."

"Desperate? Ha-ha, I could not agree with you more!" The unnerving cackle had come from the door, where a young man now stood with a crooked smile upon his face.

"Joshua."

Ishmael's voice had taken on a hard edge, and his eyes narrowed at the troublemaker's sudden arrival. Out of all the people in the Station, few were as dangerous as the man standing before them. Although he had a lanky build and a cowardly nature, his words were more deadly than any poison, and Ifrin could not help but shudder as he stepped inside.

Joshua, naturally, noticed this.

"Ah, Ifrin, are you cold? So am I. I am tired of living in this cold, dark place! I want to be free, don't you?"

At the moment her name had been mentioned, Keanan had sprung up, placing himself firmly between the madman and his wife. Those who did not know him would have been surprised by the ferocity in his eyes. Keanan might be arrogant, and possessive, and pessimistic, but if anyone -Ishmael included- threatened his wife... they would see exactly what kind of person Ifrin had chosen as her other half.

"Whoa! Calm down there, Mr Husband! I'm merely talking, aren't I?"

Reluctantly, Keanan stepped aside.

"Now, back to business. Ishmael, was it? Have you not grown tired of these metal walls? This suffocating existence? Do you not long for the great outdoors, where you and yours can roam freely?"

It was true, but none of them were likely to admit it, least of all to a man like Joshua.

"I have come to you today to tell you the truth. Markus and Lukas have lied to us. They told us that we awoke from our Great Sleep after only twenty years, and that this world is still uninhabitable! But I ask you, where is their proof? Nowhere to be found, because there is none! In truth, we slept soundly for five centuries, and awoke to a world reborn!"

" _So this is how he does it,"_ thought Ifrin, _"He preys on their hopes and fears. What a disgusting man."_

"And I know, I know, this makes no sense. Why would the great Markus, and the equally great Lukas lie to us? Why would they keep us trapped here, forcing us to live in these dire conditions? The answer... is power. They have become our rulers, and we gave them that power! They live in luxury, dining on the best rations and ordering us around like slaves! All the while we common folk must make do with scraps!"

"Do you expect us to believe you? You claim that Markus has no proof, but where is yours?" Ishmael's voice was low, and yet they all heard him clearly. Ifrin wondered what he was thinking, and if he was buying into Joshua's tale.

Joshua took a step forward, a triumphant smile upon his face. "I have proof, indeed, I have proof. You all know of Barsch, Lukas' son?"

"Yes, he is in the medical lab, in the isolation room." Ifrin's voice did not shake, thank the Goddess.

"Wrong! He is out there, right now, running errands for his father! He and that girl... Arma... Alta... Alza! They left this morning, on Markus' orders! Don't you see? Lukas would never let his only son venture outside unless the pollution was gone! Even as we speak, my agents are pursuing them. Once they return, we will force Barsch and Alza to tell the truth! We will put an end to Markus' lies, and leave this Station for good!"

The look on Joshua's face was maniacal, and his eyes were wide. He truly believed every word of what he had said.

"Thank you, Joshua, for sharing this with us," Ishmael said, slowly. He had a thoughtful look in his eye, and his hands were open at his sides. Keanan, standing beside him, looked shocked.

" _I don't believe this,"_ Ifrin thought, although a small part of her was lining up the pieces. Alza's sudden sickness, Lukas' strangely calm reaction to the news, Dr August's refusal to let her see her friend.

"This is a lot to take in, as I am sure you understand. Please, leave us for now, so that we might think on the implications." Ishmael took a step towards Joshua, his big hands open and non-threatening. Despite this, it was clear that he would not take no for an answer.

"I understand," replied Joshua, smoothly, as he turned to leave, "However, I think you should make your allegiance known soon. Once my agents return with Barsch and Alza, things could become... messy... for Markus' followers. Good night, my friends."

He left with no further words, only a knowing smile that seemed well practiced. As soon as he was gone, Ifrin allowed herself to collapse to the floor. Keanan immediately rushed over to her, but she waved him away. She needed to know what Ishmael thought of this.

Surprisingly, he was smiling. When he caught sight of her inquisitive gaze, he laughed and said, "I care little for politics, but I am not blinded to its importance. However, for now, we should rejoice."

"I don't understand," said Ifrin, truthfully. Judging by the look on her husband's face, he felt the same.

"Do you truly not see? Very well, I will explain. If Joshua is right about the world, then our worries are needless. Even if he is wrong about that, if he is right about the Widowchildren then perhaps the prophecy is already being carried out, and our salvation is on the horizon. Either way, this world is saved."

"And if he is wrong on both counts? If the world is still fouled and Barsch and Alza are in the medical lab?"

Ishmael did not answer her. They all knew the answer anyway.

If Joshua was wrong, then they were doomed.

*

"Joshua is wrong."

The three troublemakers were sitting beneath a wide oak tree; a small fire lay between them. Although the day's lingering heat was enough to stave off the cold, the fire would keep any lurking beasts away.

"What do you mean?" asked Jeremiah, who sat closest to the flames. Like anyone else born after the South Wars, his childhood had been full of danger, and he had needed to learn basic survival skills in order to survive. Charles, lying against the hard wood, had had an easier childhood due to his family's status. However, he too was no stranger to hardship.

"Isn't it obvious? Joshua thinks that Markus and Lukas are lying about the pollution still being a problem, but look around. Without these re-breathers we would be choking to death, and even then they will run out in a few days. We should give up and return to the Station."

"No," said Charles, his voice raspy. Even with the re-breather he was struggling. They had been outside for only a few hours, and already Fran and Jeremiah could see the changes. His skin was paler, and his eyes bloodshot.

"Why not?" asked Fran. Jeremiah was surprised by her question. They had known each other since childhood, and he had never seen Fran question Charles' decisions.

"What would we tell Joshua? Sorry, we got scared so we ran away? I don't even want to imagine what he would do to us... And besides, there must be a reason Barsch and Alza are out here. Lukas wouldn't just send his only son out to die. If what Jeremiah overheard is true, then they are on a mission, and until we know the exact details, we can't stop."

Jeremiah nodded, despite his objections. Joshua was not a man you wanted angry at you, and if Barsch and Alza were truly on a mission, then Joshua should know the details.

"Let's get to sleep, okay?" Charles said, the fatigue in his voice evident, "We need to be at full strength if we want to carry out the plan."

Fran, sitting at the edge of their makeshift camp, said nothing. Jeremiah knew that she objected to the plan, which relied on a great deal of luck, but she had not yet gotten to the point where she would openly say so.

Without another word they readied themselves for sleep. Jeremiah lay awake for a few minutes after the others, staring up at the starlit sky. Before stepping into his pod, all those years ago, he had imagined waking up and leaving the Station. The world would have been like new, and the three of them would explore it together.

Well, he had gotten what he wanted, in a way, and yet no smile crept across his features. He had spent six months locked underground, and yet, now that he was outside, he found himself very homesick.

A few minutes later, he joined his friends in peaceful repose, as the hunters dreamt of their prey.

*

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE.

Light. Dawnlight. The sun rises over the garden, illuminating the multi-coloured flowers.

This is my favourite time of the day.

As the light hits them, the flowers bloom. It is a celebration of life, and I am honoured to witness it. Every morning, during springtime, I wander down here, to this place. Wolfe sits beside me, ever vigilant.

Behind me, my maid, Hilda, waits patiently. She officially serves my father, but she always accompanies me to see the Dawnblossoms. Father had them imported from overseas, and apparently they were very expensive. They bloom once a day, as the light of dawn hits them, and hibernate at night.

" _Mistress, are you warm enough?" Hilda asks, offering me a blanket for my exposed legs._

" _No, I'm fine. Besides, I like the breeze."_

Behind us lies the manor, its great shadow receding as the light grows. My home... my prison, for the last sixteen years.

When will my prince arrive? When will he take me away from here? I can almost hear his voice, kind yet full of conviction. I can hear him laughing, as we walk amongst the flowers hand in hand...

Wait, I really can hear him laughing!

Without waiting, I walk forward, ignoring Hilda's query. Wolfe walks beside me, eternally guarding me against the unknown terrors of the world. The laughter is growing closer, high-pitched and somewhat... scary.

Kain?

Who is Kain?

That name... scares me. I'm getting closer, to the laughing man. Dawnblossoms surround me, creating a pathway of colour and light. There, standing by the entrance to the manor, is the man. His back is towards me, but he feels... familiar.

He is still laughing, maniacally now, and seems to be staring at something in his left hand. Whatever it is, it's bright, and somehow warm.

" _Hello?" I call, a few feet away from him._

Kain.

Run.

RUN!

Why? Why is Kain scary? Why should I run?

Either way, it is too late. The man turns towards me, his laughter finally ending. His blue-green eyes are empty and wide, and in his hand he holds a flaming sword.

Kain? No... it is-

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE NOT.

" _Barsch, why?" [ALZA] says, taking a step back._

" _Alza?" Barsch replies, still holding the firebrand. Why does it look so familiar? Why am I starting to shake, just by being near it?_

" _She is no longer needed, kill her! Use me and burn her to ashes!" The sword screams, with a woman's voice. With my voice._

Barsch looks surprised, and before he can speak, his left arm comes up, holding the burning blade. Judging by his reaction, he cannot control it.

" _Alza, run! Please, she'll kill you!" There are tears in his eyes, and yet he keeps coming, led by the flaming weapon. As he passes the Dawnblossoms, they burst into flames, which spread and consume the garden. In the distance I can hear Hilda screaming, and Wolfe fleeing from the flames._

" _I'm sorry! Forgive me!" Barsch screams, even as he strikes at me with the molten metal._

" _BURN EVERYTHING!" the sword screams, as the inferno pierces my chest and I am consumed by the flames._

Why? Why? Why? Why did you kill me, Barsch?!

*

"One: I'm not a murderer, two: I don't want any more bloodshed, and three: for the last time I don't want to burn anything!"

Mercifully, Alza woke up without screaming. Still blinking back the fading dream, she struggled to comprehend the scene before her. She was lying on a bed of straw, which sat in the corner of the old shack they had found on the roadside. Barsch was in the opposite corner, speaking to someone unseen. Without making a noise, she sat up, trying to see the unseen occupant.

There was no one there. He was talking in his sleep.

He was apparently arguing with himself, and from the sound of it, he was losing.

However, she said nothing. Although she did not fully understand his mind, their minds had briefly been melded together while fighting Kain. She had met the ghosts who continued to haunt him: Rigel, the Unknown Woman and Yumiere, his first love. What he discussed with them was none of her concern... even if it was worrying.

"Alza?"

It took her a while to realize that Barsch had addressed her. His 'conversation' had carried on for a while, as he sought to defend himself from the ghost's accusations. Somehow, the ghosts that lived in his head had come to think of him as a murderer, a lunatic and a pyromaniac. She didn't even want to ponder how that had happened.

Eventually, without her noticing, he had apparently woken up.

"Yes, Barsch?" she eventually replied.

"I just wanted to know what you would like for breakfast?" he asked, gesturing to the backpack full of supplies. They had simultaneously collapsed upon reaching the shack which had sheltered them from the terrors of the night, and thus had not eaten for some time.

"Ah, I guess I'll have a tin of peaches then," she said, rising from her bed of straw and clearing a space for them to sit. The shack was small by any measure, and had most probably been used as a storeroom in ages long past. It had been a lucky find, standing solemnly beside the road, and Barsch had almost crashed into it in his haste to flee the mad re-mech.

Through a crack in the wooden door, she could see the gentle rays of dawn. They had slept soundly through the night, and no homicidal re-mech had broken their peace.

While Barsch busied himself readying their meal, she stood and walked outside. Mercifully the heat from the previous day had abated, and a grey, overcast sky greeted her. Even though it was illogical, she hated that sky. It spoke of indecision, of a divide between rain and shine. She liked the rain, and could tolerate the sun, but hated what lay in-between.

"Alza, it's ready!" Barsch called, from inside the shack.

They ate in silence, Alza trying not to dwell on her dream or Barsch's slipping sanity. For the most part, he looked normal, and one would have been hard pressed to convince others that he had been talking to himself a short while ago.

As she ate her last peach, Barsch finally spoke, saying, "What do you think was wrong with that re-mech? I think her name was Rose?"

She had been wondering when he would bring it up. The actions of the re-mech had been on her mind, and she was glad that she was clearly not alone in this.

"I don't know, perhaps it was damaged? Remember, Maloch also started acting differently after I... broke him..." she said, feeling a tinge of guilt. When they had first met, she had crushed the re-mech half to death with her power, damaging his emotion engine. Although he had later thanked her for 'freeing' him, she still felt guilty about hurting her friend.

"Maybe, but it didn't seem all that banged-up. Then again, we could have wandered into a restricted area? I remember the re-mech outside the medical station attacking us for that exact reason."

" _And I fought back, and killed it, granting you its blade... Lanista. If I could go back in time..."_

"I think your father or Markus would have warned us if there was such a dangerous area so close to the Station, but it is a good theory. Either way, we have no way of knowing the truth."

"Agreed, still, I can't help feeling sorry for her... it sounded like she was scared and alone. I hope she finds another re-mech who can help her get better."

Alza merely nodded. His compassion was a good sign, a memento of the Barsch she had met in the glade, all that time ago. She hoped that part of him would not change.

After cleaning up, they packed their bags and left the shack. They were moving more slowly now, wary about any more 'surprises'. However, after an hour of nothing but unthreatening plains, they relaxed their guard.

That was their first mistake.

*

"Who would have thought?" whispered Barsch, as he stared at the old ruin which lay at the end of the road. It was a white, circular building with a wide set of steps continuing on from where the path ended, with two statues flanking the stairs. The two statues were identical -pock marked orbs roughly ten feet in diameter- with only the colour being different. The statue on the left was grey, and looked eerily similar to the moon, which was hidden from sight by the clouds above. The statue on the right had been painted red, although in places the original grey colouration could be seen.

"What is it?" asked Alza, standing beside him. They had been walking for a few hours, still following the odd road which cut through the countryside. Eventually, it had led them to this out of place building, and its mysterious statues.

"It looks like a monastery, although I can't tell which religious group created it."

Barsch suddenly looked at his feet, before kneeling to touch the old road. Turning, he glanced back at the way they had come, a calculating look in his eyes.

When Alza gave him a questioning glance, he let out a small chuckle before stating, "It looks like we've unknowingly been on a pilgrimage. This road was probably used by the pilgrims to travel safely between their holy places."

Before Alza had time to comment, Barsch was already climbing the stone steps. She followed after him wordlessly, curious as to his intentions.

At the top of the steps lay a single wooden door, broken by time and nature. Pushing it out of the way, they stepped inside the circular room, which seemed to encompass the entirety of the building's interior. Several pews had been hewn out of stone and arranged in a semi-circle, centred on a large, marble altar. Upon the altar lay another set of statues, smaller and yet identical to those outside.

"Look," Barsch said, suddenly. He was pointing to the wall behind the altar, where a faded mural lay. Approaching it she saw that it was a painting of the world, as seen from space, with a peculiar oddity that was impossible to miss.

The world in the mural had two moons.

" _Lunospermia_ , created by The Children of Luna," Barsch read from a plaque below the mural.

"Ever heard of them?" asked Alza, moving closer to the mural. Leaning forward, she saw that the second satellite -the red moon- seemed to have a white line running from its surface to the world below.

"I think my father might have mentioned them once. From what I can remember, they were a radical cult dedicated to the return of the 'red moon'. Looking at all this, I think that is the most likely answer."

Alza nodded in reply. She was beside the mural now, and could see that within the white line connecting moon and planet were dozens of human-like figures. However, she could not tell which direction they were travelling in. When she mentioned this to Barsch, he gave a half-hearted shrug before moving on.

They spent another few minutes looking around the strange monastery, but eventually it became apparent that there was nothing further to uncover.

As they left, Barsch looked back at the preserved ruin. "A long time ago, people came here in search of answers. They prayed to their gods, and hoped to receive guidance. But their gods are long dead, and cannot help us. And our gods... our Avatars... have abandoned us. All we have left is ourselves. Humanity. We're the only ones who can fix this hopeless situation."

"You really think that the Avatars, that Terra and Ion, are gone?" she said, silently agreeing with his statement.

"Who knows for sure? All I know is that they said they would help us, if we completed their quest. And now, with humanity about to die out, they are nowhere to be found. As far as I am concerned, no answers are coming from above..."

Barsch had a strange look in his eyes, and once more Alza wondered how much of his change was her fault, and how much was Barsch's. Six months of guilt and despair had hollowed Barsch out, and she wasn't sure if she liked what had filled in the void.

Without another word they left the empty monastery, continuing along their path.

High above them, unseen to all, two pairs of eyes watched the strange duo...

*

"I am sorry to hear of your son's condition, my thoughts are with him."

The elderly woman -the oldest in the Station- sat upon a throne of cushions, regarding her patron with sorrowful eyes. She was called Delphi of Pythia by the Station's residents; however Lukas knew that this was not her real name. Respected by many and feared by many more, she was an important figure in the Station. Known for her sage advice and rumoured precognitive abilities, many sought her out in order to hear her wise words. And although her answers were never straightforward, the true meaning of her words would always be revealed in time.

"Thank you, Delphi," Lukas said, sitting on the floor before her. He had come at her beckoning, and had thought it unwise to refuse her. Still, he was curious as to what she had to say, given what had happened at their last meeting. Her advice, whether she knew it or not, had set in motion a grand scheme, and he wondered what she would think if she knew the truth.

"Now, on to more important matters. I have foreseen that a great calamity is lurking on the horizon, and I wanted to know what you plan to do about it."

" _The food stores? Or Barsch's mission? Or maybe even Joshua and his goons? I'll play dumb for now."_

"I do not understand, Delphi, to what calamity are you referring?"

Delphi gave a small sigh as she leaned back into her cushions. Her mottled skin had evidently once bore dozens of bangles and chains, which had left tell-tale patches of lightened skin. Her olive green eyes regarded Lukas wearily, as she seemed to contemplate her answer.

Suddenly, she sat up, her green eyes rolling in their sockets as she intoned, "The World-Ender, He of Storm and Death, has returned. Even now he is approaching those who would defy him, as his hand reaches for the dark one. He will bring forth light, and it shall burn away the darkness. He shall bring forth the storm, and it shall strike down the world's hope. He shall bring forth death, and it shall take of your blood."

"Barsch... no! He is safe, from anything that means him harm! I made sure of that!"

But Delphi did not answer him. Instead a gentle snore escaped from her aged mouth, and her eyelids slid closed.

" _Just like last time, she gives a vague, confusing message and then she falls asleep. But this time she is wrong! Barsch is safe... he has to be safe..."_

*

" **Barsch is in danger,"** said the Avatar of the Land. He was standing on a small, rocky platform, hanging seemingly unsupported above the clouds.

" **He's always in danger, now it's just... more so,"** said the Avatar of the Sea. She was resting on a cloud, her sapphire eyes regarding the empty sky above. Below them, the clouds stretched across the land, blocking the world from their sight. This, however, mattered little to the two beings to which the whole planet was their home. If she wanted to, she could command the moisture in the clouds to return to the oceans, dispelling the obstacle, but this would draw unwanted attention.

" **Should we tell them? We may not know what our brother is up to, but we could at least warn them."**

" **You know why we can't do that, brother. Our involvement last time was simply to balance Raigan's actions. Until he moves, all we can do is watch."** Truthfully, Aqua wanted to help the boy, but Raigan could be expecting her to do just that. The moment they moved, Raigan would appear and claim justification for whatever horrors he would unleash upon the defenceless humans.

" **I know, but I still wish there was something we could do. I can't stand this! Waiting around for Raigan to make his move..."**

The thought came from nowhere, more a recollection than an original idea. How could she have forgotten? There was a way, a loophole that they could use.

" **Brother, I think that we need to pay Him a visit."**

" **Who?"**

" **Our unexpected champion. The one not bound by our laws. The one who seeks to free himself of the chains that bind him."**

Terra smiled then, as his thoughts aligned with those of his sister's. If Raigan thought that he was the only one who could bend the rules, he was about to learn a valuable lesson.

" **Alright. Luckily he's not far, and something tells me that he won't even consider refusing..."**

Aqua smiled in return, as both Avatars faded from the world.

*

"Are you ready?" Fran asked, checking her own stun baton for the third time. She didn't want to think too hard on how Joshua had gotten his hands on such a rare piece of technology. Similar to a Solar Staff, it stored up solar power and redirected it as a charged current, meant for incapacitating enemies without permanently harming them.

"For the last time, yes!" Jeremiah answered testily. He was not a violent man by nature, and the mere thought of harming another human had put him on edge. However his loyalty to Charles and his overwhelming fear of Joshua had given him courage.

Charles was waiting by a tree, observing his friends. He could barely keep up with them, and even standing upright took more energy than he could spare. Instead of assisting in Alza's capture, he would be waiting at the rendezvous point.

They had decided to target Alza due to her smaller stature, reckoning it would be easier to overpower her and take her away. Once they had lost Barsch, they could force her to tell them everything she knew: about their mission, Markus' intensions and why she and Barsch had been chosen.

It was a good plan, one that took advantage of their element of surprise and numerical superiority. By the time Barsch realized what had happened, they would be long gone.

"Are you sure this is the best idea?" said Jeremiah, handling his own stun baton as if it were a venomous snake that would strike him the moment he looked away.

"Are you questioning Charles?" answered Fran, a split-second before he could.

"No! I'm just a little hesitant. What if Alza puts up a fight?"

Fran thought about the thin teenager they were supposed to capture. Although her appearance was unusual, and a mysterious air surrounded her, she would be outnumbered and unarmed.

What could Alza possibly do to them?

"If she puts up a fight, then I will put her down." Fran replied, while her fingers tightened on the foot-long steel rod in her hands.

"Okay, that's enough. It's time to go," said Charles, stepping between his two friends.

Although she would never say it, there was another reason for Fran's actions. _"The sooner we get Alza and find out what she knows, the sooner we can return to Genesis Station 13 and get Charles to safety... For Alza's sake, I hope she comes quietly..."_

*

It was quiet.

On any other day he would have said that it was too quiet, but not that day.

It was just quiet enough.

They were sitting beside a small river. A short waterfall a few yards away was feeding the river an endless stream of polluted water. Although the grass was blackened and the sky was growing more turbulent by the second, Barsch was at peace.

The only voice he was hearing belonged to Alza.

"I'm going to go and look for firewood," she had just said, after Barsch had expressed a desire to eat something hot for lunch.

"Good idea. I'll get the food prepared in the meantime," he said, getting to his feet.

They had been resting beside the fouled stream for a few minutes, and Barsch had begun to run out of things to talk about. Although six months had passed, they had been living in the same Station, and thus the majority of their news was common knowledge. However, Barsch had been surprised to hear just how influential Joshua had become, and wondered if the man would become a problem in the future. Obviously, if he and Alza succeeded in their mission, then all such squabbles would become meaningless, and the claustrophobia of the Station would be a thing of the past.

"Okay, I'll be back soon."

As he watched her retreating form, something came over him, and he called out, "Alza, stay safe!"

For a few seconds there was no reply. Then, he heard something he had never heard before... something he had thought he would never hear.

Alza laughing.

"I can destroy re-mechs with my mind, remember? I think I'll be fine, but thanks for your concern all the same," she said, with a light tone.

And then she was gone.

" _Maybe I should go after her?"_ he thought, as the silence grew in her absence.

No. She would be fine on her own. There was nothing in their world that could threaten her.

He did not follow her.

That was their second mistake.

*

" _Finally, she's gone!"_ said Kain, less than a minute later.

Barsch did not reply. He would not let himself indulge his own madness.

Instead he busied his hands and his mind on preparing the food. A sudden chill made him glance up, at the turbulent skies above. Thick grey clouds hung over the land, their bellies growing darker by the second. The sun was hidden behind the storm, making it impossible to tell the time.

Unconsciously, Barsch shivered. He could handle rain, even if it would mean complicating their meal, but he could not stand lightning. Not since he had met a man who wielded thunder and lightning to terrible effect. He had no desire to meet that man again, especially out in the open.

" _Honestly, what are you not afraid of?"_ crooned Kain, his voice grating on Barsch's nerves.

Ignore him.

" _Alza has been gone a while, don't you think?"_ Even though it was true, he refused to answer.

" _Do you think she's finally abandoned you? Has she run away, fearful that she might be your next victim?"_

Ignore him.

" _Think about it. She watched you murder her brother. She watched you destroy her home. She watched you ruin everything she had ever known. And then you forced her to follow you, to live in an unfamiliar place surrounded by strangers, to discard her newfound identity. She must hate you... and you deserve it..."_

Ignore... him...

" _First Kingston, then Maloch, and now Alza. Everyone has deserted you. Everyone hates you, murderer."_

Ignore... ignore... Where was Alza? Why hadn't she returned... had she truly abandoned him? Was Kain right, about everything?

" _You know I am. You know what you are. You, Barsch La Tergan, mother-killing spawn of Lukas, are a murderer."_

No... No... Maybe...

" _You know what you need to do. You need to murder one last person: yourself. If you die, everyone will be happier. If you die, everyone will be safe. If you die, I will have my vengeance!"_

" _LEAVE HIM ALONE!"_ cried a new voice, its fury driving Barsch to his knees.

The voice was angry, but it was not the terrible rage he felt when he wielded _Lanista._ This was a righteous anger. A holy fury. How could he have forgotten _her?_ His old friend. His treasured ally. His first love.

Yumiere.

As her voice rang out in his mind, he sensed Kain fleeing into a deeper area. He would be back, they always came back, but for now he was safe.

" _What are you doing, you numbskull? Alza is in danger and you're here arguing with a ghost?"_

He wanted to point out that what she was doing wasn't much better, but he thought better of it. He never could win against her.

" _She's just collecting firewood, I doubt she is in danger,"_ he replied.

" _Barsch La Tergan, I did not fall in love with an idiot. Can you not hear her voice? Can you not feel her pain? She needs you, so hurry up and save her!"_

He was about to reply that the only voice he could hear was hers, until he realized that he was wrong. It was faint, but he could somehow _feel_ Alza's mind. She was still close by, but she was getting further away with every second.

And she was in pain.

Dropping the food, he leapt across the ground, grabbing his and Alza's pack in one deft motion. His feet were moving before he landed, and he only continued to accelerate as he ran. The pain he felt from Alza was suddenly duplicated inside his own mind, as another of his headaches began to take form.

As the sky continued to darken, and the first rumble of thunder arrived, Barsch ran on, towards his cruel fate.

*

Earlier...

Alza was confused. And angry. And upset. And joyful. The emotions swirled around her, each reflecting a part of herself that felt like a stranger. She had been born without emotions, and had only become able to express herself six months ago.

Alza laughed.

Then she laughed again, albeit with a different intonation,

Had it sounded weird? Had she done it right? She hadn't meant to laugh, it had just popped out. What if she had messed it up?

A sudden thought of Barsch calling her out for having a strange laugh brought warmth to her cheeks. Blushing, that too was new to her. It was all too much. How did people deal with so many different emotions? How did they know how to act around others? Was there someone to teach them how to smile? How to laugh?

Was this something that was explained by parents?

" _Well, I was stuck with Dr Emmerfield and Kain. I doubt my father knew how to smile, and I very much doubt that Kain could laugh normally. Is it really okay for me to stay here? To live amongst normal people, laughing and smiling with them? Maybe I should just go..."_

As she leant down to pick up another errant stick, she felt a sudden presence arrive. Probably a small animal. It meant nothing to her.

She was standing in a small glade, surrounded by thick trunks and dead trees. Above her, the sky was worsening by the second. If it started to rain, she would have to abandon her duty and return. Somehow, that thought brought a smile to her face.

" _Why?"_ she thought, again pondering on the seemingly impenetrable mystery of happiness.

As she stood up, stick in hand, she noticed a shadow that was not her own. With instincts that had somehow stayed fresh for six months, she dodged, as a thin metal cylinder missed her by inches.

She was under attack.

She pitied her assailant.

With a speed that defied reason, she whirled and struck out with her hand, catching her attacker in the chest. Strangely, she felt a fleshy resistance, not the metal torso she had been expecting. Not another mad re-mech, but a beast?

Her attack spun her around, bringing her face to face with her foe.

Who turned out to be a teenage girl.

" _What?"_ she thought, as she moved to pin the stranger to a nearby tree.

"Wow, you're stronger than you look," the girl said, a strange look in her eyes.

She was roughly Alza's height and size, maybe a few years older. She had short blonde hair and baby-blue eyes, and she was wearing what looked like an old military uniform, customized for mobility.

"Who are you?" Alza asked. Another dozen questions were waiting to be asked, but she had felt that knowing her attacker's identity was the most important.

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

"Where did you come from?"

"The same place as you, stupid."

For a brief, terrifying moment, Alza thought that the woman meant Dr Emmerfield's laboratory. But that was impossible. She was the last of her kind, Barsch had seen to that.

That left Genesis Station 13, which was only a slightly worse answer.

" _Something isn't right,"_ her subconscious informed her, and she had to agree. But what?

That was when she glanced at the woman, and saw the small smile on her face.

Alarm bells were ringing out in her mind. This woman was too calm. Too relaxed.

She was not alone.

She should have called out to Barsch. She should have tried to run. She should have tried to fight.

That was their third and final mistake.

She was aware of the presence behind her for less than a heartbeat, far too slow to react. She had a brief sensation of something pressing into her back before the pain began, arriving in a thunderous torrent of agony that drove her to her knees. As her vision darkened, she sent one last, desperate message.

" _Barsch, help me!"_

*

"Are you okay?" Jeremiah asked, as he watched Alza fall to the grassy floor.

"I'm fine, good timing by the way," Fran replied, rubbing her chest. She could already feel the bruise forming. No one should be able to hit that hard, not while fighting off an ambush.

" _What are you?"_ she thought, while Jeremiah gently lifted the unconscious woman onto his back.

They left soon after, having no desire to be found by Barsch. They doubted he would be happy to see them...

*

"ALZA!" Barsch screamed, for what seemed like the hundredth time. It was raining now, a solid deluge of freezing water that had no chance against the fire burning in his chest. His head felt like it had been caught in a vice grip, which even now continued to tighten. He was far, far beyond stage three, and yet the headache had not lessened. The scorching light in his mind had only grown stronger as he ran, until he felt as though his thoughts were being burned away.

However, no matter how much pain he was in, it was still insignificant to the pain he had felt coming from Alza. He had no idea how he knew which way to run; only that something was dragging him forward, towards her.

A lance of lightning, somehow appearing less brilliant than the light in his mind, struck somewhere nearby. He could feel the storm pulling at him, forcing him back, but he would not relent.

Compared to their hurried escape from the insane re-mech, he was flying, as each stride carried him closer to his friend.

" _You're almost there, Barsch! Don't give up!"_ Yumiere's voice was a comfort, and a source of strength. At that moment, he did not know what would happen if Kain reappeared, only that it would not end well.

As he cleared another hill, a strike of lightning briefly illuminated the path ahead. For one instant, the world and Barsch's mind had the same burning brilliance. In that moment, his eyes caught sight of his prey.

Two people -a man and woman- located about half a mile away, moving quickly. And there, on the man's back, lay Alza. Despite the distance he could tell that she was not moving.

" _How dare they,"_ he thought, as his rage and pain built to a crescendo. Unconsciously he raised his right hand, palm facing the duo. He did not know what he intended to do, but something about the motion felt _right._ With his arm up, he felt the pain in his head begin to drain away. Somehow, he could tell that it was flowing into his hand.

" _HOW DARE THEY!"_

"ALZA!" he screamed, towards the fleeing duo. As they turned around, having heard him above the rain and thunder, he saw their faces.

Jeremiah and Fran.

" _Why?"_ a part of him thought, while the rest, the majority, screamed something unintelligible.

At that moment, while the last of the pain in his mind drained away and was replaced by an eerie calm, he noticed something. There, floating in front of him, was a black cloak. It had blended into the dark sky above perfectly, but a feeling of _wrongness_ emanating from it had alerted him to its presence.

" **Die, vermin!"** intoned a voice that sounded like Death personified.

Before he could respond, Barsch saw the bolt. The lightning seemed to originate from the heart of the cloak, growing to a size seemingly impossible. It struck with an audible roar, drowning out every other sound.

There was no time to dodge, no time to do anything except stand and die.

And yet, some part of his brain refused to accept that, and brought his hand up once more. In the instant before the lightning struck him, he felt as though he could see a shimmer in the air, a distortion of space, and then the bolt blew him off his feet. He flew through the air, trailing sparks, as his world came to an end.

Mercifully, the darkness claimed him before he had to endure the pain of reuniting with the earth.

" _Alza, please, don't go..."_

# Chapter VI: The Beast Comes

In which they are separated...

Six Months Ago

Silence reigned unopposed in the small corridor. Barsch and Alza walked side by side, the distance between them shrinking with every step. Things had been moving at a breakneck pace ever since they stepped inside Genesis Station, and even now they were rushed for time. However, as they slowly made their way down the bland, white corridor, Barsch felt a modicum of peace return to his chaotic life.

"How much further?" Alza asked, eying the featureless walls with an unusual wariness. Perhaps she was recalling their disastrous time in Revelation Station, and the malignant Station Intelligence which had sought to destroy them? Or perhaps she was remembering her father's laboratory, where her journey had begun and ended with equal horror.

"It's not too far now," Barsch replied, trying to match her quick pace. Kingston had asked them to retrieve a pair of cryogenic podsuits, which they would need if they wanted to convince the Station's inhabitants that they belonged. It was a risky plan, lying to almost ten thousand people and hoping that no-one thought too much about Alza's presence. They could only hope that in the post-unfreezing confusion that such details would be glossed over. The discovery that they were trapped inside the Station and that the world outside was still polluted would most likely help to keep the inhabitant's too busy to see through the lie.

After a few more minutes of silence, Barsch asked the question that had been on his mind since Kingston announced the plan.

"Did you mean what you said? About staying in the Station?"

It took a long time for Alza to answer. With her face turned away, he could not see the expression on her face, which in itself was still something he was getting used to.

When she did answer, her voice wavered, ever so slightly, "Yes, I meant it. Even if it means lying to everyone, I want to stay... I want to stay with-

He wondered what had caused her to suddenly stop speaking, until he caught sight of the door beside her. A placard bearing the words, **"Podsuit Storage"** was the steel door's only remarkable feature, and they wasted little time on it. Instead they walked inside, the moment of openness banished into the noiseless void that had reformed.

Inside they found piles of sealed boxes which stretched from floor to ceiling. Near the entrance several boxes lay open, their contents lying in a random heap around them. Barsch could see it, even now: the chaos as the final countdown began, the fear of being frozen, the small hope that they might awaken to a better world.

He had destroyed that hope. He had taken away their future. And now he was going to lie to them, and watch as their hope turned into sorrow.

After a few minutes, he found two podsuits in relatively good condition, and handed one to Alza to try. Surprisingly, she waited until he had left the room and closed the door to begin changing. While he waited for her to finish -with his back to the door- he thought about how far they had come. It was clear that she had changed since meeting Dr Emmerfield and Kain, but the full extent of her change he could not even begin to fathom.

"How do I look?" she said, as she opened the door behind him.

As he turned to look, he felt his words leave him. Standing there, covered in dust and grime, hair messy and wearing a podsuit that was slightly too small, he thought that she was the most beautiful woman he had even seen.

The seconds began to drag, as she waited for his response. What could he say? That she was beautiful? That she, in her white podsuit, looked like an angel? Somehow he could easily picture her calm face morphing into a look of derision all too easily.

Instead, he cleared his throat and said, simply, "You look like you belong here."

And this, to his amazement, brought a small smile to her face.

"Well, I guess I do," she replied, as her smile stripped away his anxiety, his confusion, and his fear.

He had forgotten it in the chaos, but she had chosen to stay with him. Whatever happened in the future, he would stand by his promise. No matter what difficulties they faced, he would not let her fall into danger.

He would protect her.

*

The Present

" _You could not protect her."_

" _Shut up."_

" _Because of your weakness, you allowed her to be taken from you."_

" _Shut up."_

" _She was in pain, boy! Could you not feel it, as she cried out in agony? You failed her! You failed yourself!"_

" _Shut up!"_

" _Where was your rage? Where was your anger? Where was your violence? You are undeserving of the Beast that dwells within you. You let a simple storm bar your path? A single lightning bolt prevent you from reaching her? You are a failure!"_

" _SHUT UP!"_

" _Through fire? Through ice? Through deepest despair? Were those words merely empty promises? You lost your stride, and you lost her!"_

" _Shut-_

No, he is right. Even here, in the void, I can feel the burden of my failure. I float, unsupported, drifting gently through the eternal darkness. The pain in my chest, the self-loathing, the confusion; all are muted here.

Beside me, tumbling gently end over end, is Lanista. The black sword somehow seems darker than the surrounding void. My Beast. My violence. My terrible rage. This hunk of polished metal represents everything that I hate about myself. And yet I cannot discard it, as it is a part of me. An irreplaceable, irrefutable, irreconcilable piece of Barsch La Tergan.

" _So, boy, what are you going to do? You are badly wounded, confused and lost, and Alza has been taken to who knows where. Will you give up? Will you return to the Station, crying for help? Will you lose your stride, and give yourself over to death? Tell me, boy!"_

" _I will find her."_

" _How? She is lost to you!"_

" _I will find her!"_

" _How? She is taken from you!"_

" _I WILL FIND HER!"_

" _How? She is free without you!"_

I can still feel it, the faint thread that connects us. Here, in the void, I can feel her. It is a faint sensation, but it is coming from a bond that cannot be broken. I will follow it, I will find her, and I will make them pay!

" _GO THEN! Reclaim your stride, boy!" Lanista screams, as the void begins to fill with a burning light. I let it consume me, as my scream shatters the darkness which binds me._

*

"ALZA!!" Barsch screamed, as his mind returned to the world. He had been unconscious for at least a few hours, judging by the dying rain and the small disc of light sitting above the horizon. It was almost night, which meant that Alza's kidnappers had had plenty of time to escape.

He was lying at the bottom of a large embankment, the rain having formed a puddle around his unconscious figure. Mercifully this meant that all he had to do to drink was turn his head. As he did so, he noticed a strange sensation. Or, more accurately, he noticed the lack of a familiar one: pain.

His memory was slightly muddled, but he could clearly remember the lightning bolt hitting him. That intense heat, that blinding light, that searing pain; it couldn't have all been his imagination. However, when he finally recovered enough to sit up, he failed to find a single wound or burnt hair.

" _How?"_ he thought, as he stared at his unblemished skin.

" _Regardless of how it happened, I managed to survive a lightning strike. I can't afford to waste this good luck. I need to go after Alza... I made a promise, didn't I?"_ he thought, while forcing his body upwards. As he stood, he was once again surprised at how good he felt. Even discounting the lightning bolt, he had still been blown off a hill and impacted into hard earth. The fact that he had not a single bruise or scrape confused him to no end.

" _I shouldn't overthink this,"_ he thought, as he started walking, _"After all, the reason is unimportant compared to the result. Instead of dying or severe injuries, I emerged from the storm unscathed. Ultimately, that means that I can chase after Alza immediately, instead of wasting time healing... or dying in a ditch."_

As he strode forth, he briefly wondered how he knew which way to go. But the mystery had already been solved, ever since he had felt Alza cry out in pain. Somehow, he could feel Alza's mind, even when they were far apart. Had he simply not noticed in the Station, or had the presence of ten thousand other minds somehow gotten in the way? Regardless, he could feel her drawing closer with every step, and he was determined not to let her go a second time.

He would not lose his stride again. He would find her, no matter what lay in his path.

He would protect her.

*

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE.

The path ahead is barren, a thin dirt track which winds its way across the plainlands. From my lofty perch, I can see for miles, but what I see disgusts me. This world is dying, even here. Even though our estate is located in one of the largest green zones in the northern hemisphere, the effects of the pollution can be seen. How long does this place have? Five years? Ten?

If only things had happened differently... without the Creed Event... without the fall of Behemoth Wing... without that damn war...

" _[ALZA], are you okay? You're looking a little pale..." calls Hilda, as she urges her horse closer to mine._

Jak, my bay gelding, lifts his head as Hilda's mare approaches. Beside us, Wolfe is following closely with his powerful, easy strides. For the last two weeks I have been confined to the manor, waiting out an out-of-season typhoon. Now, with the storm gone, I can finally leave my prison and frolic on the hills.

" _I'm fine, Hilda, just thinking about a few things..."_

" _Mistress-_

" _Don't worry, Hilda, it's nothing you need to worry about. Now, shall we find that spring?"_

" _My lady, that spring is merely a local rumour. I suggest that we return to the manor. Your father did say that we were to ride no further than the edge of the plainlands."_

Hilda was right, my father had been very precise in his wording, but if I were to spend all my life trapped in the manor, I would never find my prince. Ignoring Hilda's words, I usher Jak forward, towards Mount Rubicon, so named as it was the last barrier to understanding the cosmos. It was a well-known location, and held a now abandoned observatory at its summit.

Before the South War, astronomers had flocked to its peak from across the world, hoping to catch a glimpse of the heavens. They had studied the stars, and revealed the secrets of the sky. But now it lay empty, like so many other places.

The dream rumbles, and time skips ahead.

The mountain towers above me, its forested slopes casting a dark shadow across the land. The sun is nearing its rest, and despite the warmth of spring, I can feel a chill. Hilda is hanging back, looking furtively over her shoulder every few seconds. I know that she wants to return to the estate, to return to her master his daughter unharmed, but she does not speak up. Jak prances as he waits for my command, his anxiety still repressed by his loyalty to me.

" _Mistress [ALZA], please, let us return! It will be dark soon, and I made a promise to return you before nightfall!"_

" _Just a few more minutes, Hilda, please, for me?"_

Hilda says nothing, but the answer is clear on her face. I know how she feels about my father, about his overprotective ways. He should learn to relax. Just because my mother died young does not mean that I will follow suit!

As I reach down to comfort Jak, I hear the howl. At first I think that Wolfe is trying to tell me something, but the beastly sound is coming from the mountain. Before I can react, Jak panics and takes flight, racing away from the mount. The landscape blurs from the speed, as Jak's fear takes us further and further away from Hilda and Wolfe.

I know that I should be afraid, but I feel no fear. Even though I have lost control of Jak, my breathing remains steady. Was this what I wanted all along? To be carried off, away from this stifling land, and live a life of adventure? I have waited fourteen years for my prince, but he has not come for me.

I can feel my worries melt away. All I have to do is hold onto Jak, and let him take me far away. Slowly, the jostling flesh beneath me settles, and he regains his sanity. Even though I am far from home, I am safe here. Together with Jak, I will escape this prison, and find my prince!

No matter what, I will find him.

*

"Do you think he will find us?" asked a male voice, piercing the darkness that was Alza's mind. She was vaguely aware of being jostled, roughly, and that she was moving.

" _Jak?"_ she thought, before wondering where she had heard the name.

"Are you seriously asking me that? You saw what happened to him!" replied a female voice, one that sent tremors of recollection racing through her mind.

"I know, but maybe-

"Maybe nothing! He's gone, and we had nothing to do with it! It was a freak accident, so let it go!"

Even in Alza's groggy state, some part of her realized who they were talking about. The thought seemed to chill her entire body, freezing her heart solid. She wondered if her captors would look over and see frost forming on her pale skin.

" _No, it's not possible. He can't be..."_

"As you wish," replied the male voice.

" _Where are they taking me?"_ she thought, trying to rearrange her scrambled memories. She could remember leaving Barsch to find firewood, and then being ambushed by a woman and then... what? What had they done to her?

As she was contemplating her next move, a sudden jostle made her let out a small groan. Immediately, everything stopped. She felt herself be lifted into the air, before being gently placed on the hard ground. Slowly, she opened her eyes, taking in the strange view.

"Ah, it looks like our princess is awake," said the woman, holding her weapon causally at her side.

"I thought these things were supposed to knock people out for a lot longer than this?" said the man, holding his identical weapon as if he wanted to throw it away at the slightest opportunity.

"Who knows? Perhaps the battery capacity depleted over time, or perhaps our friend here is more knight than princess?"

" _Princess? That sounds... familiar. Why?"_

Pretending to shake off her stupor, she took in the surroundings. The land around them was fetid and fouled by the stench of death. Not even the black grass grew here. This place was a cemetery for the earth, a place of pain. Overhead the remnant of the storm continued to obscure the sky, bathing the land in darkness. It was almost night, of that she was sure. How long had she been out?

"Well, knight-princess, got anything to say?" said the woman, in a voice that put Alza on edge.

"Barsch will find me, and then you will wish he hadn't," she said, meaning every word.

Strangely, this brought about an unexpected reaction. The man looked guilty, while the woman looked... amused?

"Sorry to let you down, but your prince isn't coming. That fool ran out of luck when he was chasing us. We watched him die with a lightning bolt through the chest..."

For a moment, the woman's expression changed, as if she had only just realized what she had said. However, a moment later her expression firmed and she continued, "He was foolish, chasing after us during that storm. He deserved what happened to him."

The pain in her heart threatened to overwhelm her sense of reason, but her memories kept her strong. Memories of Barsch surviving things that would have killed a normal human, of healing from the mightiest of injuries... and in the battle with Kain, he had literally returned to life.

" _Although I was with him on all of those occasions... However, the way he is now, I doubt that there are many things that can seriously endanger him."_

"I'm honestly surprised," said the woman, with another odd look on her face, "I was expecting tears, maybe even some wailing. I guess it is true what they say about you: you are an emotionless ghost."

The words cut deep, deeper than Alza would ever admit, but the woman was partially right. She had been an emotionless ghost before, and she was still a long way from being able to act normal.

"Who are you?" she asked, instead of voicing her rebuttal. What she needed right now was information, not a fight. Naturally she could simply use her powers to free herself and make the duo before her cower in fear, but then she would learn nothing. And in the event that she succeeded in her mission, she would be returning to Genesis Station, which would be impossible if her secret was revealed to the Station's inhabitants. Until she knew for sure that they were not a threat to the plan, she would go along with them.

"I guess it doesn't hurt to tell you. My name is Francesca Selachii, or Fran to my friends. I guess that means you can call me Francesca, huh?"

She then gestured to the man standing beside her, and said, "And this is Jeremiah Gordon, an old friend. A little warning: if you attempt to escape, he will hurt you... very badly..."

" _Somehow I doubt that,"_ thought Alza, but on her face she tried to make a scared expression. The more they underestimated her, the better. If they did not see her as a threat, perhaps they would loosen their lips more readily around her.

When no further introductions came, the strange group continued their march. Francesca led the way, occasionally pulling out a piece of paper from her jacket and checking it. A map, most likely. Jeremiah took up the rear, keeping Alza between them. Clearly, they were not yet ready to relax their guard... yet.

And when the time came for her to escape... they would curse themselves for ever thinking of messing with her.

" _For the pain they gave me, I will return it tenfold... I will make them pay!"_

*

"You're awfully quiet, you know?" asked Fran, as they walked. It had been less than an hour since Alza had awoken, and they had spent the interlude walking in silence. The fact that Barsch had still not shown up was beginning to worry her, but only slightly. She knew that he had survived the storm... he must have... but how would he find her? She had been aware of his mind when they had travelled together, but she had her power to thank for that. Unless his change was happening faster than she had anticipated...

"I generally don't speak with kidnappers," Alza answered, trying to sound meek. It was not a tone that came naturally to her, even after six months of becoming accustomed to expressing emotion.

"Kidnappers? I don't really like that term," Fran replied, looking amused. "The way I see it, you were in danger, going outside unprotected and all. We merely want to help you get home safely."

"You're lying. Why did you really follow us? What is your real mission?"

"I could ask you the same thing, but I think Charles will want to be present for your answer. How about we start with something easier? I think that if we get to know each other better, you'll see who your real enemy is."

Alza said nothing. Already she had learnt much by saying little: Charles was the leader of their group, but she doubted that he could have gotten all three of them out of Genesis on his own. That meant that he was receiving help from someone with considerable influence in the Station. And that left only three people: Lukas, Markus, and Joshua. The first was impossible; the second was improbable; leading to the third, who was imposing and quite possibly insane.

"So, where to start..." Fran continued, with a forced, inquisitive tone, "How about... your hometown? Where were you born?"

Alza thought for a moment, wondering what lie to use, until she saw the obvious solution. They would not believe her in any case, so she might as well tell the truth.

"I was born in a lab, inside a glass pod to be exact," she said, with a smirk on her face.

"What about you? Where were you born?" In truth she cared little for their answers, but she wanted to play along.

Fran, however, no longer looked to be in a playful mood. "Very funny," she replied, with absolutely no hint of humour, "Like I haven't heard that one a million times. But fine, whatever, we'll get the truth out of you soon."

Suddenly, Jeremiah called out, "We were born in the town of Trinité, many miles from here. It was abandoned about fifteen years before the Great Sleep, when a rockslide buried half of the town. We both lost our parents and were forced to live in a crumbling orphanage nearby. That was where we met, hey Fran?"

A look of anger crossed Fran's delicate features for a few seconds, until she regained her composure and replied, "Yes, idiot, that was where we met. Do you also want to tell her our entire life story while you are at it?"

"Just because we ended up on different sides in Genesis doesn't mean we can't be friends," Jeremiah replied, with what sounded like an honest tone.

"It's not her fault that she has been corrupted by Markus, and hanging around Barsch and Lukas probably didn't help either. I mean, who knows what lies they've told her?" he added, a moment later.

In that instant, Alza decided that Jeremiah could be a valuable ally in the near future. He was already sympathetic to her 'plight', looked adverse to conflict, and was more level-headed than Fran.

"Do you think Charles will be happy when I tell him what you've told her?" Fran said, in a quiet, yet audible voice. Immediately the atmosphere changed, and Jeremiah's face took on a fearful shade.

" _Jeremiah is a pushover, and Fran likes to act tough, but Charles sounds like a real problem. If his own allies tremble at the thought of disappointing him, how will he treat his enemies? If possible I would like to avoid meeting him..."_

As the conversation faded away, Alza found herself looking back. Was Barsch still out there somewhere, on his way to find her... or was she wrong about him... He could be dead, or lying in a ditch somewhere, breathing his last breaths, wondering why she wasn't coming to heal him.

" _No, he has to be alive! Please, Barsch, come and find me!"_

*

"I will find her," Barsch said to the world around him. Despite hours of running, Alza's mind felt as far away as ever. How much of a head start did her captors have? Or had he simply invented the fact that he could feel her mind, in order to cope with his failure and subsequent near-death experience.

" _You doubt yourself a lot, you know?"_ said the new voice, the one which sounded like Alza.

" _Yeah, I know,"_ he replied, feeling foolish. He could understand feeling guilty over the deaths of Yumiere and the others, and thereby imagining them in an effort to cope, but where had this new voice come from? She sounded familiar, and yet at the same time incredibly foreign.

" _It's not fair, you know,"_ she said, a moment later. He was moving as fast as he could, but he was running out of energy. Any normal person would have rested after surviving a lightning bolt to the chest, not take off running. Although a normal person wouldn't be having conversations with people who weren't there either.

" _What isn't fair?"_ he asked, slightly curious.

" _The fact that I don't even have a name! Even your sword has a name, and yet I have to make do with 'the one that sounds like Alza'? I demand equality!"_

" _The Unknown Woman doesn't have a name either, you know?"_ he replied, knowing how flimsy his argument was.

" _Only because she is too shy to ask for one! I, on the other hand, am not!"_

" _Very well. What do you want your name to be?"_ The land was growing darker with each and every step, and with the advent of night he would struggle to see any signs of Alza's passage.

" _Hmmm... you should be the one to decide, you know? After all, I am part of you... Anyway, let me see... How about... The Flame that will Cleanse the World?"_

" _Too long, try again,"_ Barsch replied, almost immediately.

" _Firebrand?"_

" _That makes no sense."_

" _Flametongue?"_

" _Even more so. And can we move away for the fire aspect?"_

" _Nope, it's part of who I am. I might not know my name, but I know that I was born from the flames."_

" _Very well. Then how about this: The Flame that will bring Ruin to All... Ashe."_

" _Ashe? Ashe... Ashe... It will do. From now on, you can call me... Ashe."_

Somehow, Barsch knew that it was right. Although he still had a nagging feeling that her name was incomplete, it would do for now.

" _Why did you say that I was doubting myself?"_ he asked, as he crested another hilltop. The last ray of sunlight disappeared as he watched, drowning the world in darkness. How could he find her now?

" _Have you forgotten? You and she are linked, in more ways than one. From the moment you met to the moment she crept inside your mind to fix what had been broken. Feel her mind, that faint light in the darkness, and move towards it."_

Ashe's reply brought him hope, even though on some level he knew that he was telling himself what he wanted to hear. There was no guarantee that this particular aspect of his psyche wasn't lying to him.

" _Urgh! Just go already!"_ Ashe screamed, causing Barsch's leg to take an involuntary step forward.

Barsch opened his mouth to argue, already realizing the futility of arguing with himself. However, at that moment, he felt it once more: Alza's mind, a beacon in the darkness, beckoning him onwards. Without pausing to confirm it with Ashe, he started running, into the night.

*

As he ran, Ashe's voice faded away, only to be replaced with another aspect. This one, however, he was used to dealing with.

" _How much longer must I wait? You know that we thirst for blood! So hurry up and find something to kill!"_

_Lanista_ had changed little since Barsch had first picked up the black chainsword. He had quieted down after returning to Genesis Station 13, but ever since their departure his voice had been growing louder.

" _See, even your subconscious agrees, you are a murderer."_

Barsch was only slightly surprised to hear Kain's needling voice in his mind. On some level he knew that he could just simply ignore both voices, but they helped take his mind off of his current situation.

And he was lonely.

" _Why has it been so long, since I last tasted flesh? How much longer must I stay untouched? How much longer must I wait, until I feel blood on my blade? Answer me, Barsch!"_

The intensity of _Lanista's_ words caused Barsch to momentarily loose his footing, but he quickly recovered. _Lanista_ spoke in a furious rage, all hatred and bloodlust. Compared to that, Kain sounded almost sane.

" _Forget that bloody blade for a moment, murderer, and listen to me. I say that we should stop this foolish pursuit and turn around. Leave my sister with her captors..."_

Barsch struggled to understand Kain's coldblooded advice, until he remembered that Alza had been partially responsible for Kain's death.

" _Do you truly hate her so much? They could be torturing her for all we know! If I turn back here, she could die!"_

" _You misunderstand me, murderer,"_ said Kain, in what sounded like an affronted voice, _"I merely believe that she will be safer with her kidnappers."_

" _As opposed to me?"_ Barsch did not even try to keep the incredulity from his tone.

" _Yes. Better a captive than a corpse. If she stays with you, she will die. If she stays with them, she has a chance to survive. I might hate her, but even she does not deserve to die by your hand, like I did..."_

Barsch could not believe what he was hearing. If these were his own innermost thoughts, then he hated himself a lot more than he had believed. And if they weren't...

Summoning up his courage, he asked, _"Kain... what are you?"_

A few seconds of uneasy silence before the answer came.

" _I am what you made me, Barsch. A ghost; a guilty conscience; a remnant of a broken mind. The real question, though, is what are you, Barsch?"_

That should have been an easy answer.

" _I am... the son of Lukas La Tergan,"_ he answered, hesitantly.

" _That is who made you, not what you are. Try again."_

Annoyed, Barsch answered, _"I am... a man having a conversation with a figment of his imagination."_

" _That is what you are currently doing... and is also not completely true. Try again."_

" _Fine then! What am I?"_ he asked, in an exasperated tone. Before Kain spoke, though, he already knew what he would hear.

" _A murderer!"_ Kain replied, cackling with laughter.

Barsch tried to block out the noise, but it penetrated his defences like a flaming sword carving through flesh... a sensation he had actually experienced six months earlier.

" _Go then, go to her! Show her the folly of trusting in you! Show her how she dies!"_

And so he ran on, while the madman's laughter bore into his skull. If he did not find Alza soon, he did not know if he would be sane enough to keep her safe. Or was he already too late...

Was he a madman... or a murderer?

*

The same time. A different place.

Terra watched from the beach as the waves began to undulate unnaturally. Instead of the tide advancing and retreating in equal measure, the water was slowly swelling skyward, like a miniature water spout. From within it, he could vaguely make out his sister's outline. Even before she finished coalescing, he could see the anger in her features.

" **How dare he!"** exclaimed Ion, a moment later. Terra had known his sister for many years, and had borne witness to her anger more times than he could remember. However, this time was different. If he did not handle this correctly, she could start a war that would envelop the world... and end with her death.

" **Hello, sister,"** he stated, maintaining a neutral tone, **"How are you?"**

" **How am I? Beyond furious, that's how I am!" How dare he attempt to directly harm Barsch! He violated the agreement! And I'm sure that you are going to tell me that he should go unpunished?"**

" **Calm down, sister,"** Terra replied, choosing his words very carefully, **"I was watching the entire thing, and all Raigan did was move an air current or two."**

" _Which is the truth, well some of it. The storm itself was natural, but it was supposed to coalesce in an area twenty miles away, not centred on Barsch and Alza."_

Ion stepped out from the torrent of water, letting it flow back into the sea. Terra had suggested using the beach for their meeting as it was by the ocean, which he hoped would help calm her rage. Naturally he too felt anger at Raigan for what he had almost accomplished, but they could not afford an all-out war with him yet.

" **He could have died! Everything would have unravelled! Years of planning reduced to nothing! Do you think he is replaceable? That we can just go out and find another... person... like him?"**

As Ion drew closer, Terra found he could see the weariness in her eyes. They had gambled a lot on Barsch, but as Ion said, it could all be undone in an instant.

She sighed before saying, **"And what of his... changes? They were definitely not planned for... what if they make him... unstable? He could destroy himself and everyone around him if he's not careful."**

Mercifully, the anger had disappeared from Ion's voice. All that remained was fatigue and worry. Even without their bond Terra could feel her fear, her doubt. Barsch was an enigma, one that not even the Avatars fully understood. Aside from the violence in his heart and the darkness in his mind, Barsch possessed an unmatched potential for destruction. If he could not learn self-control, he could very easily jeopardize everything they had worked towards.

Ion, her energy spent, sagged to the sandy floor. Terra followed her lead, feeling more comfortable closer to the ground. It was his element, his dominion, and it spoke to him.

In a quiet voice, barely more than a whisper, Ion said, **"He's started talking to himself, you know..."**

Terra could only nod. He had seen it for himself.

The tide was coming higher now, its leading edge brushing against the hem of Ion's cloak. He knew that this was no accident or coincidence. The ocean was part of Ion's dominion, and it moved according to her will.

" **Sometimes I wonder... once something has been broken... can it ever truly be fixed? Sure you can put all the parts back together, but what was lost can never truly be restored, at least, not fully."**

Terra did not know if Ion was referring to Barsch's mind or Raigan's corruption, or both.

Before he could ask, Ion began to fade away, carried off by the rising tide. He watched as her body dissolved into a human-sized mound of foam, which was swiftly taken back to the ocean. Instead of following suit, he sat upon the beach for a time, waiting for the new dawn. While he waited, he thought of how things had been, before Raigan had appeared.

" **Good night, sister. May your dreams be free from the terrors of reality,"** he whispered.

It was going to be a long night...

*

"So how did you and Charles end up being friends?" Alza asked, thankful that Fran was out of earshot. She had been conversing with Jeremiah for half an hour, but had yet to receive anything longer than a one word reply. However she could tell that he was warming to her, and that playing the role of kidnapper was at odds with his natural good nature. If she could convince him to let her go, she could escape without anyone getting hurt or learning of her abilities.

"Well, we definitely weren't friends at the start. See, Charles' family was one of the richest in the area. I think they were the owners of a pretty large company, and some people said that they even had their own spaceport. The orphanage in Trinité was one of their goodwill projects, meant to help their image."

"I see," Alza murmured, intent on keeping him talking as long as possible. She was almost there, she could feel it. A few more minutes of talking and she was confident that she could convince Jeremiah to do the right thing.

Unabated, Jeremiah continued, "However, soon after Fran and I arrived at the orphanage, Charles' family went bankrupt. Apparently they were the last big company to survive the South Wars. Anyway, just before that, Charles was sent to the orphanage on his parent's behalf. I think it was meant to show the management there that they trusted him with their only son. In reality, Charles' parents had emptied out what was left of the company's accounts and fled the country."

"They abandoned him?"

"Yeah, they did. From what Charles has told me they weren't the best parents ever."

" _Although they would probably look like saints standing next to Dr Emmerfield."_

"From the sound of it, his parents had never intended to have him, and they hadn't really raised him themselves. I guess they were rich enough to afford people to do that for them? Anyway, Charles suddenly found himself stranded at the orphanage. Needless to say he did not handle the change well. In fact, he was universally hated by both the staff and the other children."

"That must have been hard on him." In truth Alza cared very little for Charles' childhood hardships, but if it kept Jeremiah talking, she would play along.

"It was, for a really long time. Eventually it caught up to him. The other children hatched a plan to get rid of him by convincing him that his parents had returned. They told him that they were waiting for him just outside the city, while in fact it was known to the locals as a den of bandits. Seeing the hopeful look on his face made Fran and I feel guilty, so we secretly followed him and helped him escape from the bandits."

"How?"

"Now that is a story all on its own! But long story short, Fran and I decided not to return to the orphanage, and we instead became wanderers. Eventually we happened to enter the area where the Genesis Station 13 census was occurring, and we got ourselves caught. And the rest I am sure you know..."

" _Actually, I was never frozen in the Station, but you don't need to know that,"_ Alza thought, a tad guiltily. Well, she had tried to be honest with them...

With no further words coming from Jeremiah, she felt that this was a good time to ask.

"Jeremiah... I know that you are a good person. Please, let me go! Barsch might be injured or worse, and I need to go to him! Please, Jeremiah... do the right thing..."

She could see it, in his eyes. The doubt, the guilt, the pain at having to play his part in her kidnapping. Fran was nowhere to be seen, and the looming threat of Charles was still a ways away.

"Alza... I... I don't know..."

"Please," she pleaded, trying to get the right note of desperation into her voice. Six months of emotions had not prepared her for this, but she had to do it.

"Oh... okay... but only if you prom-

"Jeremiah, we're here," Fran suddenly called out, destroying Alza's hope and hard work. Immediately her captor straightened up, looking both embarrassed at his almost failure and guilty at what he had been about to do.

They had arrived at a small lake, with a single cabin at the water's edge. An unsteady light illuminated the single window, and the occupant sitting inside.

Charles.

Did this night truly have to end in bloodshed?

*

Several hours later, around midnight, Barsch was reaching the limits of his energy. He had not rested since waking up that morning, not counting his unexpected lightning bolt induced nap. And yet, he found that his body simply could not stop moving forward.

He would not lose his stride.

Apart from this was the nagging feeling at the back of his mind that something was wrong. Although he could still feel Alza's mind, closer now than before, which meant that she was still alive. He could not explain it, but somehow he felt that the darkness around him was not as empty as it was supposed to be.

An ambush?

No, Alza's captors had witnessed the lightning strike and would have undoubtedly dismissed him as a threat. As he passed another thicket, he happened to glance to his left, where a strange sight greeted him. Two red dots, floating freely in the moonless gloom a few yards away. Looking around he found more; six, twelve, twenty. Interestingly all of the lights belonged to pairs, moving with unusually smooth co-ordination.

" _Fireflies?"_ he thought, moving onwards. Strangely, when he looked again a few minutes later, the points of light had disappeared.

As he was scanning the area for any more fireflies, he caught sight of another light source. This, however, was no luminescent pinprick, instead resolving into a floating rectangle of yellow light.

A window.

Moving closer, the details of the building became more apparent. It was a small lake-house, closer in size to a boatshed than an actual home. He was still too far to make out anything inside, but he could feel Alza's mind from within the shack.

And she was in pain.

Barsch opened his mouth to scream, to let loose his retained rage, but something stopped him. The fireflies had returned, taking up a crescent formation around the lake-house. It was at that moment that he knew that they were not fireflies, nor any other creature. They were spaced too perfectly, too mechanically, to be anything living.

His hand was already reaching for _Lanista's_ hilt when the land suddenly brightened. A single shaft of moonlight had broken through the heavy cloud cover, revealing the identity of the monsters nearby.

He was already running by the time they noticed him, their red eyes fixed firmly on the interloper.

" _I can't let even a single one inside! Come, monsters, come and meet my blade!"_

Finally, the scream came. His words were lost to _Lanista's_ roar, as he charged forward, the voices in his head screaming in unison.

" _Make them bleed!"_ cried _Lanista._

" _Burn them to their cores!"_ shouted Ashe.

" _Kill them all, murderer!"_ screamed Kain.

And so the boy, the mad, screaming boy, charged into the night, wielding death and destruction.

End of Part One
Part Two: Metamorphosis

# Chapter VII: The Promise

In which the Beast roars...

Six Months Ago

"You look the same as you did... and that's not fair," Kingston said, his back to the entrance.

Maloch had been on his way to the mainframe when he had heard Kingston speaking. As both Barsch and Alza were searching for podsuits, this presented an anomaly that begged to be investigated. However, when Maloch silently approached the old hermit, he found the man alone, standing beside one of the cryopods.

From his vantage point Maloch could not see who was contained inside, although he was able to hear Kingston clearly due to his enhanced auditory sensors.

"Here I am, looking as old as time, vision fading, knee paining, and you haven't aged a day. Well, I've aged more than just a day. I wonder if you would still recognize me? Perhaps it would be better if you didn't..."

As Kingston spoke, he seemed to shrink, as if he was finally letting himself feel his age. Only hours before the hermit had projected an aura of strength and surety, and now he looked as though a breeze could knock him down. Was this his true form, when no one else was around?

"But don't worry, old friend, I have not forgotten you. And I have not forgotten our promise. I have up held my end of the bargain, just like I said I would. It has been hard, harder than I could have ever imagined, but I did not waver. I have done everything I can, everything in my power, to uphold the promise. I-

A sudden coughing fit brought Kingston to his knees, causing Maloch to take a hesitant step forward. However, something stopped him. Something inside him -not in a place that could be found by looking at his blueprint or mainframe- told him to stay away. All he could do was watch as the old man slowly recovered and regained his stance.

"Forgive me, old friend... But I think I might not be able to keep the promise much longer... Until then, I will do everything in my power to meet your expectations. Until this body breaks down, until I draw my last breath, I will carry out my duty."

With that, Kingston turned away from the pod, his face drawn and his expression radiating pure, unshakeable determination.

Maloch left before Kingston found him, his mind and digital heart in turmoil.

*

The Present

"Why are you here, girl?"

"Because your goons brought me here, obviously," Alza replied, a small smirk decorating her face.

"Don't test my patience, girl, you know what I mean. Why are you out here? For what reason did you leave the Station? What is Markus' plan?"

"Do I have to answer in order, boy?"

Alza's smirk grew a little wider at the sight of Charles' growing frustration. They had tied her to an old, wooden chair with a reel of fishing line. Naturally the only thing really keeping her there was her desire to learn as much as she could from the group. Once she had had enough, it would be simple to break free and capture them. Although doing so would reveal her abilities, unless she camouflaged them somehow.

"Yes, you do!" Charles replied, spittle spraying from his mouth. Even though Alza was no doctor, she could tell that he was unwell. His skin was an unhealthy shade of white and his pupils were unnaturally dilated. His breathing rate was elevated, and she noticed that his legs would shake slightly whenever he took a step.

It was clear to her that he had not taken well to the pollution which now saturated the world outside the Station. Or perhaps his re-breather had been faulty, and he had given the working ones to those who would need them most: Fran and Jeremiah.

"Very well. One, I wanted to go for a walk. Two, I found the air inside a bit stuffy for my liking. Three, he wants everyone to get along. Happy now?"

The blow came from nowhere, giving her no time to brace herself. Charles' hand was just there, striking her across the face. She had thought him weak from his sickness, but the burning sensation on her cheek told her that he still possessed some strength.

"You think that I am afraid to hurt you? We are a long way from home, and no one is going to protect you. Not Markus, with his false promises; not Lukas, with his fake compassion... and not Barsch, especially now that he's gone."

"Barsch is alive, and he is coming for me."

She hadn't meant to say that, but the words had come anyway. Perhaps she simply needed to hear them... to believe them...

This time she saw the blow before it landed, but only because she had been expecting it. However, the burning pain never arrived. Instead, she found herself staring into Jeremiah's guilt-ridden eyes as he closed his hand around Charles' wrist.

"I think that that is enough for now, don't you think? If we give her a few minutes to think about it, I'm sure she will be more co-operative, okay?" It clearly pained Jeremiah to go against Charles, but his hand did not relax its grip until Charles lowered his arm.

"Fine, but if she keeps defying me, she will have more to worry about than a simple bruise." Charles left the threat hanging in the air, as he made his way to the other end of the room.

Jeremiah trailed after him, alternatively looking at Alza and Charles, obviously torn by what he had done.

While the trio busied themselves, Alza took some time to inspect her environment. She had been shoved through the door and into the chair before she had had time to properly take everything in, and now took the opportunity to do so.

She was in a small fishing cabin, clearly marked by the multitudes of fishing gear lining the walls. On the wall opposite her, someone had taken to mounting the fish they had caught. While those at the start -judging from the attached catch date- bore lively colours and healthy looking scales, those closer to the present were all bleached white and had dead, crimson eyes.

"Here, drink up," the soft voice snapped her attention back to her immediate surroundings, where Fran had appeared holding a glass of what looked like filtered water. Alza accepted the drink wordlessly, grateful for the hydration.

When she had drunk her fill she asked, "Is he always like this?"

There was no need to indicate who she meant. "No, most of the time he is calm and collected," Fran said with a look of admiration, "But the sickness is taking its toll on him..."

At that moment Fran seemed to realize what she had just said, and a look of anger stole over her pretty features.

"You know, if it wasn't for your little 'walk' Charles wouldn't even be here. But because you and Barsch were fooled into going on some errand for Markus, Charles has to suffer. And the longer you remain uncooperative, the worse he will get."

"Why are you telling me this?" Alza asked, genuinely confused.

Before she spoke, Fran checked to make sure Charles could not hear them, "I just wanted you to know what this is costing us. And that if you continue to delay us... if something happens to Charles because of you... I will kill you."

With that, Fran left her, the momentary glint of murderous intent gone from her expression as if it had never been.

*

"You are certain that Barsch is dead?" asked Charles, leaning wearily against the rear wall of the cabin. Despite the years of neglect and natural wear and tear it was reassuringly solid. At that moment it was supporting him as he recovered from his interrogative exertion.

"He has to be," answered Fran, with only a slight waver to her voice, "We saw him get struck dead centre. And even if he is still alive, he probably won't be for long."

"Good. He would have been a nuisance that we can't afford right now. As soon as we get what we need from Alza, we return to the Station. The longer we are out here..."

Charles did not have to finish his sentence. His sickly pallor spoke for him.

"It must have been terrible... being hit by that lightning... I don't think I've ever seen a bolt that big... At least he wouldn't have been in pain for long, right?"

Jeremiah, speaking mostly to himself, received no answer. Despite their resolve, none of them wanted to think too deeply about Barsch's fate. Although he had belonged to the 'enemy', he had still been a resident of Genesis Station, and he hadn't deserved to die in such a cruel way.

It must have hurt so much.

But at least he would be at peace now, wouldn't he?

*

Pain.

So much pain.

But she was close now.

So close.

Just a few more steps.

Then he could rest.

There was so much blood.

Too much.

*

Alza felt the scream in her mind before she heard it. That pitch, that intensity, that raw mix of rage and pain. There was no other sound like it.

Barsch was near.

*

There were too many.

Far too many.

He had lost.

He had failed her.

She was so close.

Would he see her before he died?

*

Fran and Jeremiah had heard it too, judging from their expressions. They had already begun moving towards the door when the second sound came.

Gunfire.

The roar seemed to have no beginning and no end, and yet it was somehow not the loudest thing they heard. Barsch's scream, mixed in with _Lanista_ 's, roared above the rest.

Every second it grew louder, every second his pain grew stronger, every second his heartbeat grew softer.

Who was he fighting against?

Who was killing him?

*

The door lay before him.

Nothing but wood and metal separating them.

The pain had peaked.

He could feel himself dying.

He had made a promise, hadn't he?

He would protect her, no matter what.

Even in death, he would keep his promise.

Death would not stop him.

*

Alza wanted to scream, she wanted to destroy her bindings and leap to his aid. Everything was moving too quickly. Charles had joined Fran and Jeremiah by the door, his face filled with confusion.

There was no other choice.

To save Barsch, she would throw away the life she had made for herself.

To save Barsch, she would reveal her powers.

To save Barsch, she would do anything.

*

He was crawling now.

Blood -his blood- pooled around him.

He had to warn them.

He had to save them.

No matter what.

Gathering the last of his strength, he raised _Lanista_ for the last time.

As he swung, he screamed, his words easily penetrating the thin walls.

*

"THEY ARE COMING!!!" Barsch's scream cut through the furore like a flaming sword through flesh. A moment later, _Lanista's_ spurning blade broke through the thick wood and quickly reduced the door to splinters.

And there he was.

Barsch.

Alive... but from the look of it, not for long.

Blood obscured most of his face and chest, and she could vaguely make out the long trail leading to the door, a crimson path that should not have existed.

His eyes were half-lidded, and she could feel from their link that the pain had pushed his already fragile mind to the limits of sanity.

"Wha-

Charles' startled cry was interrupted by Barsch's descent. The blood-soaked boy hit the wooden floor with a sickening thud.

He did not rise.

With the doorway now clear, the four occupants could finally see the intruders.

Re-mechs. Dozens of them. All different models and designations. All different shapes and sizes. All holding a weapon of some sort. All with glowing red eyes.

All covered in Barsch's blood.

They would pay.

" _Additional hostiles detected. Engaging with lethal force."_

That was all the warning they were given, before ten of the re-mech -those wielding guns- opened fire on the cabin.

The power came easily, more easily than it had ever come before. Perhaps it had been waiting for her to call on it, or perhaps her desperation had been enough to draw it forth. Either way, it came, and she wasted no time in putting it to use.

When the dust had settled, Fran, Jeremiah and Charles found themselves staring out from a slightly visible dome of hardened air. Hundreds of finger sized rounds hung motionless at the dome's border, held there by a force that defied all logic.

Slowly, the trio turned to her, their faces showing a shock which only continued to grow as they took in her shining eyes and outstretched hands. The wooden chair which had restrained her lay in tatters around her, a symbol of her true strength.

It was Fran, surprisingly, who spoke first.

"What are you?" she asked, as her entire worldview rotated ninety degrees to take in what she was seeing.

"Your salvation," Alza replied, her contemptuous smirk dying in the face of Barsch's unmoving form. He was still breathing, but she was not sure for how much longer. They needed to move, and soon.

Trying to keep her voice level, she said, "Now, before they figure out what is going on, grab Barsch and his things and let us leave this place."

"How? They are blocking the only entrance!" asked Fran, pointing towards the horde outside.

Sighing at their lack of understanding, Alza half-turned and gestured to the rear wall with her left hand. A moment later, a sizeable hole formed in the wall, as the wood was wrenched free without a visible force in sight.

"Any more stupid questions?" she asked. Any moment now the re-mechs would catch on, and would move to encircle the cabin. Alza knew from experience that she could destroy a re-mech single-handedly, but could she do so while protecting three useless nobodies and a half-dead Barsch?

Unlikely.

"Yeah, why don't we just leave him? He looks like he's dead alre-

Charles' words died in his throat as he caught the intensity of Alza's stare. A stare that was made all the more fearsome by her glowing irises, which spoke of power beyond reason... and he was giving her a reason to use it.

"Never mind, grabbing Barsch." With Charles weakened, Jeremiah was forced to help him lift Barsch, who had yet to make a sound. Fran, hesitating for a moment, picked up his pack and _Lanista_ , holding the blade at arm's length, as if it could bite.

" _New battle parameters calculated. Deploying counter-measures. Engaging."_

"GO!" Alza screamed, as the re-mechs began pummelling her shield, leaving fist sized dents with every impact. Collapsing the rear portion of the shield, they fled, escaping through the hole in the wall. As she cleared the gap, she sent the last of her power into the other walls, willing them to fall inwards.

A few seconds later, they collapsed on cue, burying the advancing re-mechs under an avalanche of wood and metal. Although the deluge would harm them little, it would hopefully buy them some time.

Facing forward, she caught up to the others and headed into the night, pursued by a horde of metal giants who were intent on destroying them.

This was not going according to plan.

*

I float in the eternal void, my last bastion of peace in a world gone mad.

Someone is screaming. Why? Why are they screaming? Are they afraid? Are they hurt? Are they angry?

" _Or all of the above?" a voice calls. It brings comfort... and guilt._

" _Who?"_

" _It's me, Yumiere." A girl calls, emerging from the void in a flash of light._

" _Yumiere?"_

My head... my everything hurts. Who is she? Do I know her?

" _Yes, silly, Yumiere. Remember me? We used to play together all the time, you know, until I died..."_

" _Sorry," I say, feeling the self-hatred grow in my heart. I should have saved her. I should have saved them all..._

" _It's okay, don't worry about it. It was a long time ago. But I'm not here to reminisce; I'm here to help you."_

" _Help me?"_

" _Yes. What, did you think you could take on forty re-mechs single-handed and emerge without a scratch? You are dying, Barsch... You lost too much blood, far too much..."_

" _There was so much pain."_

A memory of pain. Of blood. Of death. Am I dead? Is this hell? If it is... there are worse alternatives...

" _I know. We all felt it. Remember, we are all a part of you..."_

" _We?"_

" _She means me, Barsch," says Ashe, appearing beside her in a flash of light. Her flaming hair brings light to the void, and her burning stare brings light to my soul._

She has been crying. Tiny sparks, barely bigger than motes, drift from the corner of her eyes, taking her grief towards the infinite abyss.

" _I don't understand. If I'm dying, how can my thoughts save me?"_

" _Thoughts, ideas, dreams. All have power, although in your case it's a little more literal. Ashe is going to heal you by cauterizing your wounds from the inside out," Yumiere says, placing her arm around the girl made of fire._

There is a kinship there... a bond that transcends existence. But what is it that binds them? What could they possibly have in common?

" _That sounds painful."_

" _It will be. More painful than anything you have ever experienced. I'm sorry," Ashe says, looking at her feet._

" _More painful than having my leg broken in a plane crash? More painful than having acid rain burn my back? More painful than having my mind broken by Kain?"_

" _Yes," they answer, simultaneously._

" _Oh... Ouch."_

" _If there was any other way..." Yumiere says, crying normal tears._

" _I know. But this is all I can do. Alza is in danger, and there is nothing I wouldn't do to save her. Thank you, Yumiere. Thank you, Ashe, for giving me this chance."_

" _Take my hand," says Yumiere, grasping my right hand in her own. I can feel a sense of tranquillity flow between us. She is peace personified._

Ashe moves to my left side, taking my free hand in her own. I can feel warmth... and power. It feels as though I am holding an inferno in the palm of my hand, one that could bring ruin to everything if left unchecked.

" _I think that it will help if you concentrate on something... something important. Otherwise you could go insane from the pain, assuming you survive," she says, smiling a fake smile._

" _More insane, right?" I chuckle, but there is no depth to it._

" _Right. Have you found something important to concentrate on?"_

" _Yes."_

I Will Protect Her

I repeat the words, again and again, as the burning begins. The fire is consuming me from the inside out... burning away my sanity.

Yumiere was right.

This is so much worse...

*

Barsch was screaming.

A loud, drawn out scream filled with more pain and anguish than Alza would ever have thought possible. But there was nothing she could do for him, not yet. With countless re-mech out hunting for them, he would have to wait for her to save him. Hopefully he could survive until then.

They had gained some distance from the cabin, and the re-mech were nowhere in sight. However, Charles' physical limitations and Jeremiah's fatigue from having to carry Barsch had slowed them considerably. They needed a place to hide. A place where she could heal Barsch.

"There!" cried Fran, from her position at the front of the group. With Alza guarding against attacks from the rear, Fran had elected to search for a safe haven.

When Alza neared the woman, she saw the proposed sanctuary. It was little more than a hole in the side of a cliff, just barely big enough for them to squeeze into. Thankfully, she doubted that any re-mech would be able to fit inside. It wasn't perfect, but it would do.

Moving inside, it became apparent that her initial assumption had been wrong. The hole, while not wide, was deep, to the point where she could not see an end to it. Deciding to move onwards and hopefully find a cavern where they could rest, they headed deeper into the cave.

*

After ten minutes of walking -and ten minutes of Barsch's constant screaming reverberating around the tunnel- they came to an exit. It was there that Alza caught sight of something strange.

Light.

In the middle of the night.

Peering out from the tunnel's exit, she could vaguely make out that they had entered an industrial area of some kind. Heaps of metal littered the landscape, piles that seemed to have no end. Ancient automobiles, broken machinery, and what looked like the discarded remains of hundreds of re-mechs. This place was a graveyard for all things that humans had discarded over the years.

The light she had espied was coming from a series of lamps which dotted the landscape, bathing the piles of scrap with an eerie white light. The illumination threw up strange shapes and unnatural shadows, which strained her eyes and made her head spin.

At that moment, two things happened.

One, Barsch stopped screaming.

Two, the lights suddenly disappeared, bathing the group in darkness once more.

However, they were not in complete darkness, as dozens of new lights had replaced the few that had gone out.

The new lights were small, came in pairs, and burned with an unholy red light.

The re-mechs had found them.

She had failed.

All that was left was to fight and die.

" _At least we get to die together, Barsch,"_ she thought, as she charged forward. It might be pointless, it might be stupid, it might be illogical, but she had made a promise.

She Would Protect Him

# Chapter VIII: The Price of Freedom

In which everything changes...

Six Months Ago

Maloch strode through the static corridor with his goal firmly in mind. After leaving Kingston, he had continued on towards his original destination: the mainframe room. The place where the Station's main supercomputer was located, where he would be able to enact changes that would affect the entire Station, lay ahead.

Once he reached it, he would have to hack in and completely fabricate a file on Alza, so that the Station's A.I would not tag her as an intruder. In order for Alza to live amongst the Station's population, she needed to be seen as one of them. Thankfully, there were almost ten thousand humans slowly defrosting in the cryopods, and unlike re-mechs, they were easily fooled. Adding one more human -or _homo novus_ , in Alza's case- would be easy.

As long as Alza kept a low profile, and did not reveal her powers, she would be able to live in relative peace.

" _And what about me? Will I be able to live in peace?"_

For twenty years the re-mechs had inhabited the world without a single human -aside from Dr Emmerfield- to command them. They had still been bound by their programming to rebuild the world that humanity had ruined, but they were free in a sense.

And now humanity was waking up, and once more the re-mechs would carry out their orders without a single complaint.

All of them except one.

In the eyes of the humans, he was broken. Unwilling to follow orders, unwilling to report for 'repair', they would likely try to send him to the scrapyard. But he would not let them. It might have been an accident that led to his emotion engine being damaged and his limitations removed, but Maloch was determined to remain free.

He would let no one control him.

As for the other re-mechs... for now, the humans did not need to worry. They would still have their obedient slaves, always ready to carry out orders without rest or resistance.

Humanity had nothing to fear from re-mechs.

For now...

*

The Present

The world had gone mad.

Re-mechs, eternally loyal guardians of humanity, now filled the scrapyard. She had counted to fifty before giving up, the sheer helplessness of the situation weighing down on her mind. She had managed to gain some breathing room by collapsing some of the piles of metal and flooding the area with broken machines and malfunctioning tools, but it would not keep the re-mechs at bay for long.

Her shield of hardened air, visible only by the slight shimmer in the air, was barely holding. Fran, Jeremiah and Charles were a few feet away, huddled behind her in fear. Barsch lay between them, worrisomely silent. He had stopped screaming, but she did not know if that was good or bad.

"How is he?" she asked, without turning around.

"Not good," replied Jeremiah, a second later. Of the three kidnappers, he was the most calm. "He lost a lot of blood, and his pulse is weak... and there is something else..."

"What?"

"He's on fire... I mean, his temperature is way above normal. I can't even touch his skin for more than a few seconds before the blisters appear. I don't know what those things did to him, but I have never seen anything like this."

"I see," Alza replied, inwardly thinking that they did not have the time to figure out the cause of Barsch's unnatural temperature, "Just try and keep him as cool as possible."

"I will..."

She heard the unasked question, and decided that they might as well know the truth. If they were to die together, they might as well know why.

"You want to know why I'm here? You want to know what I am?"

It was Charles who answered, "Yes, I want to know how you caused this, so I can hate you properly!"

She ignored his scorn, reasoning that his entire world view was about to change and that he didn't know any better.

"I... I was born in a lab... created by a man to whom morals and fatherly love did not apply. I was made so that I could serve as a prototype for his new race, the _homo_ _novus_. His goal was the eradication of humanity, and their eventual replacement at the hands of his 'children'. Thankfully, due to some very strange circumstances, I met Barsch and we ended up foiling his plan."

And now for the hard part.

"However, after our battle with him... something went wrong. Instead of saving the humans sleeping in the Stations, we woke them up. And now I am out here to right my wrong and fix this mess."

"It was you? You are the reason we woke up too soon?" Alza tried to ignore the guilt that Jeremiah's pained words brought her, but it was too great.

"Yes, I'm sorry... there was no other way..."

"And what about... _that_?" Fran asked, pointing at the shield of air.

"A side-effect of my unusual creation. It doesn't always work, but when it does, I can do things that no one else can."

"So why don't you use it to destroy those re-mechs?" Charles asked, a strange expression on his face. She could tell that he was having trouble accepting the truth.

"I can't. I could probably handle a few, but there are simply too many. Even if I went all out, I could not protect all of you and fight them."

A sudden noise snapped her attention forward, to where the re-mechs had finally begun breaking through the wall of debris that separated them.

"So what now?" asked Jeremiah, "How can we escape?"

It was the decision that she had been putting off ever since they had emerged from the tunnel. In truth, there was only one solution to their problem.

"I will draw the re-mechs away, while the three of you escape. I have a suspicion that they are after me, so once you get far away enough, change directions and return to the Station. However, I will only do this if you can promise me that you will take Barsch with you. I need you to swear that you will do everything in your power to keep him alive."

It was Fran who asked the most important question, "Why?"

"Because I made a promise. Now, can you do the same?"

One by one, they swore to her, promising to keep Barsch alive. She did not know if Charles would honour the promise, but she took comfort in the fact that Jeremiah would at least try.

The re-mechs were close now, their heavy footsteps and roaring weaponry giving away their position. Not that they cared who heard them. There was no force on the planet that could stop them.

"Alright, let's do this. On my command, you go, understand? No questions."

"Okay," Jeremiah answered, on behalf of the group.

As the others readied themselves to flee, Barsch carried once more in Jeremiah's arms, Alza thought back to their first meeting. How far away the glade seemed now, how distant that moment in time in which she had found another. Her emotions had not yet developed enough for her to properly express just what that meeting had meant to her, and yet she felt the need to say something. If this was to be their parting, he needed to know.

"Thank you," she whispered, leaning in close, "And goodbye."

*

" **We have to do something,"** Ion said, watching the battle unfold below. She was hovering above the scrapyard, hundreds of feet away and yet her eyes saw every detail clearly.

The re-mechs had closed in from three sides, mercifully leaving Alza a space to escape. However, for some reason the woman had chosen to stand and fight, whilst Barsch was carried away by the three interlopers.

This was not going according to plan.

" **We have done something, remember?"** replied Terra, a few feet away from his sister.

" **But will it be enough? What if she dies before help arrives? And what if the help they receive isn't enough? We should have done more..."**

" **You know our rules, sister. We have done all we could, given the circumstances. If Raigan had acted directly, things would be different, but he is using another this time."**

" **Someone like Kain?"** Ion shuddered as the man's name passed her lips. Kain had been an abomination, one that should never have been allowed to exist. The man had held the power to bathe the world in flame, and he would have gladly used it, if his father had so commanded. Mercifully he had been struck down, and his burning hatred had disappeared from the world.

" _Well, almost..."_

" **No, not like him... never again like him... I don't know who it is, only that they possess a power that we do not."**

For a few seconds nothing was said, as the siblings watched the battle unfold. It was clear to them that it was a hopeless fight, as re-mech after re-mech poured into the narrow gap that Alza had created. Her shield of air was already cracked in a dozen places, and the few re-mech she had managed to immobilize had already been replaced by fresh fighters. If help did not come soon...

" **I know that you are worried, sister, but fear not. Even if our champion arrives late, there is another."**

Together their view shifted towards the four figures slowly escaping the area. The bleeding boy, carried in the arms of another, glowed with crimson light to their eyes. Even from their lofty vantage point they could feel the heat rolling off him.

" **What will happen to him?"** Ion asked, already knowing the answer. She had known it ever since she had felt him change, all that time ago.

" **Either the flames will consume him, or he will consume them. Either outcome is terrifying. If he dies, everything falls apart... and if he lives, everything changes."**

Faced with such a future, the siblings could only stand and watch, waiting for the answer that would change the world, for better or worse.

*

"We should go back," Jeremiah said, as they reached the limits of the scrapyard. From this distance the sounds of battle were softer, but if they strained their ears they could still hear the distant crash of metal and shuddering of earth.

"Are you insane? We would die!" Fran replied, standing beside Charles.

"It's the right thing to do." Jeremiah's arms were heavy from carrying Barsch, whose body still burned with an unnatural temperature. It was a constant reminder of their cowardice, and Jeremiah longed to make things right.

"Yes, it is, but we're not going to do it," announced Charles, standing up straighter than he had in days, "Have you forgotten? We are only in this mess because of their screw up! If it weren't for them, we would still be frozen, not facing death out in the middle of nowhere! We owe them nothing!"

"They saved us... If Barsch hadn't fought them off, and if Alza hadn't helped us escape, we would be dead. I don't like what they caused, but this isn't how it goes. They can't be brought to justice if they're dead, Charles!"

"Justice? We're the bad guys, in case you haven't noticed!"

"Then maybe it's time we became the good guys."

Jeremiah stepped forward, intent on leaving Barsch with Fran before heading back to Alza. However, something stopped him. Looking down, he said a curse word that neither Fran nor Charles would have expected him to know.

"His hands are on fire!" he exclaimed.

"Yes, we know that he has a high temperature, what about it?" Fran asked, staring at Jeremiah with a confused expression.

"No, his hands are literally on fire!" When Fran and Charles came closer, they saw that their friend had not gone insane. Tiny flames were dancing above Barsch's palms, burning with a flickering flame that seemed to come from nothing.

"Barsch, just what the hell are you?" muttered Fran, as the trio stood entranced by the unnatural sparks.

*

I hang in the void, unsupported. Around me, thousands of spheres, coloured in every shade of blue and green, glitter in the darkness. As I watch, one of the spheres explodes in a burst of fire. And another. And another. Slowly but surely the spheres are being destroyed by the flames, burnt away forever.

" _What is happening?"_

" _I failed," says Ashe, floating before me. She has Alza's features, but they are wreathed in flame._

" _What does that mean?"_

" _It means that you are going to die, unless we do something that you will hate..."_

" _Could you be more specific?"_

" _You have to let the fire inside you."_

" _I thought that we already tried that."_

" _Not like this. I mean that you have to let it into your heart, your soul. You have to completely accept the flames, make them your own, and then send them out into the world."_

" _And that will heal me?"_

" _Yes..." she says, looking guilty._

" _But?"_

" _You will never be the same again... to accept the flames means accepting the part of yourself that you have been denying for the last six months. It means accepting me..."_

" _Will it hurt?"_

" _Not in a way that you would understand. But on the bright side, it would allow you to save Alza."_

" _Hearing those words is all I need. I have a promise to keep. I will protect her, no matter the consequences."_

I take a deep breath, staring at her, taking in her features. She looks so much like Alza... that should make this easier...

" _Alright, I accept you."_

Ashe opens her mouth but does not speak. It looks as though she is fighting for the right words. A look of sorrow steals across her face as she finally says, "There is one more thing... you have to accept him too..."

" _Who?"_

" _Kain."_

" _Why?"_

" _Because you are going to become like him... I'm sorry..."_

An image of the madman's son flashes across my mind. Violet eyes, white hair, wielding a flaming sword. No... that will never be me.

" _No matter what happens, I will not become like Kain, I can promise you that."_

A single burning tear rolls down her face, before falling between us. I catch it with my left hand, noting that the heat isn't as bad as I had feared.

" _For your sake... for all our sakes, I hope that you are right," Ashe says, as more tears fall between us, creating a shower of burning sorrow._

*

Flames now covered Barsch's entire body, drifting just above his skin in a mesmerizing dance. Jeremiah had laid him down on the floor, as they pondered what to do.

"I will protect her."

The words had seemed to come from nowhere, spoken in a voice that reminded Jeremiah of a flickering flame.

Somehow, he knew. Something was about to happen.

"Fran, Charles, get away from hi-

*

The void is on fire. I am on fire. I am fire made flesh. I will burn all the world to ash.

I Am The Flame!

*

The ray of fire came without warning, shooting forth from Barsch's chest in a brilliant beam that easily reached the heavens.

When the beam subsided, they saw Barsch stand up. His flesh, despite all odds, was unmarked. The wounds that had marred his skin had disappeared. In his hands burned two balls of fire, linked by a thin tendril of flame. The fire which had coated his body was still there, giving him a crimson aura and a halo of light.

Fran, Charles and Jeremiah watched in fear as the entity, the boy on fire, took a step towards them. When it opened its mouth, they saw the glow and knew that the boy burned both inside and out.

"I will protect her!" he shouted, sending a burst of flame into the air.

But the worst part... was his eyes.

Even after Barsch had left them, heading towards the scrapyard, towards the battle, they did not move.

They would never forget that night. They would never forget the burning boy. But most of all they would never forget the look in his eyes.

His burning, glowing, violet eyes.

*

Alza's eyes had lost their glow. Her power was gone, her energy depleted. She could only watch as the re-mech before her smashed through her shield with an almighty blow.

The next blow would be for her.

Mercifully, it would only take one.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked, trying to buy a few more seconds of life. Somehow, she still held onto her hope that someone would save her... that Barsch would save her.

But he was gone, one way or the other.

Strangely, it was not the re-mech before her who spoke. It was another, standing just beside it.

A re-mech painted dark green. A re-mech wielding an axe-spade almost as big as it was. A re-mech they had helped name.

Rose.

" _You do not understand, we are not doing this because we want to,"_ Rose said, levelling her weapon towards Alza.

"Then why?" it should have been a shout of frustration, but with Alza on the brink of collapse she could only manage a pitiful whisper.

" _Because the Seed must be Saved!"_ Rose screamed, driving the sharpened edge towards Alza's undefended chest. What an irony, to die in the same manner as her brother.

"ALZA!!!"

The scream was accompanied by a ball of fire, which impacted Rose and lifted her off the ground. Alza caught a brief glimpse of her weapon, half melted from the intensity of the flame. The re-mech crashed a few seconds later, her newfound momentum taking out three of her brothers and carrying them out of the battle.

Time seemed to slow as she spun around, half hoping and half dreading what she would see. She saw his hands first, caked in dried blood and wielding two more balls of fire. Next was his chest, similarly covered in old blood and grime, now with a semi-transparent layer of flame floating just above the surface.

And then she saw his eyes, and realized that her worst fear had come true.

He had her eyes. Her violet, glowing eyes. And it was all her fault.

He reached her a moment later, his body radiating a soothing warmth that seemed to carry away her fatigue. She could tell that his mind was not fully there, otherwise he would be screaming in pain and confusion. But he was there, alive and well... in a way.

Without a word he stepped past her, his burning eyes focused solely on the assembled re-mechs. Barsch's arrival had momentarily stumped them, and she could almost see their minds working, trying to factor in this unexpected opponent.

Kneeling down, he shoved his hands -fireballs included- into the hard earth, muttering something unintelligible. A heartbeat later she felt a tremor run through the land, before a massive wall of fire burst forth a few feet away. The curtain of solid flame expanded outwards, pushing the re-mechs away and buying them precious time and space.

Alza turned to thank Barsch, to tell him how glad she was to see him again, and stopped. He was still kneeling on the cold ground, his burning hands clenched hard against his head. He was saying something, something too soft to be heard above the roar of the flames.

Kneeling beside him, she finally heard the words. The terrible, dreadful, heart-stopping words.

"I am Kain."

*

The glade was on fire. The trees burned brightly in the night, illuminating the land for miles around. The grass was a carpet of flame, each blade a tiny candle in the darkness. Even the river, the sinusoidal line of blue and green, now flowed with a crimson sheen.

I am standing at the centre of the blaze, a man on fire inside and out. I have long passed the point of feeling pain. This is wrong. Everything is wrong.

" _Why is this happening to me?"_

" _You are trying to use a power that you have no idea how to use. You have watched Alza use it dozens of times, but you never truly understood. And so, in a poor imitation, you set yourself on fire and tried to burn down the world."_

Ashe is standing beside me, similarly wreathed in flame. However, unlike me she is not writhing in pain. She is fire made flesh... in a manner of speaking. Perhaps it is more accurate to say that she is the idea of power given form.

" _How am I still alive?"_

" _Honestly I don't know. The power you are using does allow you to heal to a degree, but not like this. You have somehow reached an equilibrium of harming and healing yourself, and that is impossible._

" _What will happen next?"_

" _I can't say for sure. Maybe your power will burn itself out, or maybe you will explode. Or maybe you will just go insane and start calling yourself 'Kain'."_

" _No. Never that."_

I glance down at my hands... at the flames that rise from my skin. This is not who I am.

" _I reject him. I reject everything that he is, everything that he was. I will never become like him."_

" _Oh? And just how do you intend to stop this?"_

" _There is more than fire in my mind."_

The darkness comes easily, pouring in from the sky. It covers the glade in a midnight cloak, snuffing out each flame one by one. Slowly, the scene fades, as the trees and river are replaced by a solid ocean of deepest black.

The pain is gone. The fear is gone. I have come home. I look down, and watch as the void wraps me in a shroud made of shadows. The fires die as the darkness reaches them, until all that remains are my eyes.

" _You are just delaying the inevitable, you know. Sooner or later you will need me again, and your precious void will be stripped away," Ashe says, as she flees the wave of darkness._

" _Maybe. But not today. Today I am me."_

" _Not Kain."_

" _Barsch."_

*

"No, I am Barsch."

Alza heard the words, but could barely believe them. If she had mastered the emotion of joy, and if she weren't surrounded by murderous re-mechs, and if she had completely lost her mind, she would have thrown her arms around the stubborn man kneeling before her.

In any case, he did not give her the chance. Like a candle suddenly snuffed out by an unexpected gale, the fire surrounding Barsch died. In that same instant, he fell forward, his descent halted by Alza's quick reflexes. Although Barsch had managed to hold on to his sanity, in a few seconds the wall of fire that was their safeguard would disappear, and they would be doomed once more.

Even before the firewall collapsed, she could see the shape of a re-mech through the flames. Strangely, it seemed to be getting bigger.

And then she saw the hand. Reaching through the curtain of fire, a single re-mech was pushing its way through their last defence. Whoever it was, it must have been insane to brave the burning wall. The temperatures would fry circuits and burn through silicon chips. It would have to be completely mad to attempt such a crossing. And re-mechs were built to follow the most logical course of action.

None of them would try such a thing.

No, that was wrong. One of them would.

A second late the re-mech punched through the flames, its black and yellow paintjob bearing multiple scorch marks. Alza knew that she should be afraid, that in any moment it would lift its head and reveal its crimson eyes, but something inside her had taken away her fear.

It was then that the re-mech lifted its head, revealing the two miniature suns that she had grown to rely on more times than she could count.

" _I must apologize for my lateness, mistress Alza, I ran into some trouble,"_ said Maloch, their eternal saviour.

*

" **Two for two,"** Terra said, a wide smile lighting up his face.

" **That almost didn't work,"** said Ion, secretly relieved but hating the smug look on her brother's face all the same.

" **But it did, didn't it?"**

" **Yes, but at what cost? Barsch has changed everything. We will need to rethink our plans from scratch."**

" **True, but at least we won't have to look for new pawns to act out those plans. And plans can always be redone; it would have been much harder to replace Alza and Barsch."** The Avatar of the Land was already fading as he spoke, the edges of his form bleeding into the sky surrounding him.

" **And if he becomes a threat? We could be looking at another Kain... or worse."**

" **If that comes to pass, then we will deal with him. After all, the Seed must be Saved, no matter who has to perish."**

And then he was gone, with only a faint outline remaining. Slowly the air filled into the newly made vacuum, restoring balance to the world on a small scale.

" **The Seed must be Saved... but that doesn't mean that anything else will..."** she muttered to herself, before she let the sky reclaim her too.

*

"Maloch!" Alza yelled with heartfelt joy. For once the emotion came easily, although whether it was due to Maloch being an old friend or to the sheer relief that they had been saved; she did not know.

" _Yes, mistress Alza?"_ The black and yellow marked re-mech was just as she remembered. His golden eyes somehow managed to radiate earnest helpfulness, and his towering form made her feel safe like nothing else could.

"How did you find us?" In truth it was not the time for such a question, but her curiosity was currently overriding her survival instinct.

" _I was informed by a mutual friend that both you and Barsch required my assistance, so I quickly dropped what I was doing and made haste to your location. It was surprisingly easy to locate you. All I did was follow the trail of destruction that you were bound to leave in your wake."_

Coming from anyone else it would have been an insult. Coming from Maloch it was simply a statement of how the world worked. Although he was free to experience the full range of emotions normally denied to re-mechs, his thinking was still based on a logic chip.

"Mutual friend?" Her first thought was Kingston, and there was no second thought.

She didn't have a lot of friends. And two of them were already there.

Maloch did not answer, merely gesturing skyward with one of his oversized hands.

The Avatars.

After six months of silence, she had begun to wonder what had happened to them, and it was a slight comfort to know that they were still looking out for them, in their own roundabout way.

" _And now, mistress Alza, I think that we should leave this place. My confused brethren will break through your defence in a matter of seconds."_

"It wasn't me who did that," she said, pointing at the dwindling wall of fire, "It was Barsch."

Once more the re-mech said nothing, although Alza would swear that his golden eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

" _Regardless, we must go. Can you walk?"_

"Of cou- she started, and then found out that her leg strength had deserted her. Between fleeing nonstop from the re-mechs, fighting them off and dealing with Barsch, she had gone well beyond her limits.

" _I see. Please pardon me,"_ Maloch said, as he reached down and easily lifted her onto his broad shoulder. She sat there, feet swinging, and watched as Maloch gently scooped Barsch into a metal embrace.

" _Please hold on tight, I will be accelerating."_ A moment later the re-mech began picking up speed, weaving through the piles of scrap with a natural finesse.

*

"I still think we should go."

"What, towards the insane re-mechs and Alza? Oh, and the guy on fire?" Charles said, with an incredulous look on his pale face.

"Yes."

Several tense seconds followed until Charles sighed and said, "Fine, but only because it's the only way to shut you up. We will sneak over there, you will see how crazy you are being, and then we can go home, alright?"

"Alright."

Inwardly, Jeremiah was shaking. Truthfully, he had no desire to return to that scene of madness, nor did he want to follow after the boy who had burned both inside and out, but something in him told him that it was the right thing to do.

They were ready to leave less than a minute later, the result of all of their belongings and supplies being left in the lakeside cabin. Turning to face the scrapyard, Jeremiah saw the smoke for the first time. It billowed above the entire region, thick and grey.

" _I wonder what happened to Barsch..."_ he thought, walking forward.

He stopped.

There was a re-mech in their path.

In an instant, all three would-be heroes were assaulted with a rush of emotions. Surprise came first, followed by fear and then despair.

And then they looked up, and saw the familiar girl sitting atop the re-mech's shoulder.

Relief then joined the emotional cavalcade, followed then by puzzlement and jubilation.

"Alza!" Jeremiah called out, relief coming back strong.

"Hey, I'm back," she replied, a small smile lighting up her usually blank face.

"Is it..." Jeremiah trailed off, unsure of what to say. The re-mech accompanying Alza looked no different from the re-mech who had tried to kill them... save for its strangely comforting golden eyes.

"He's an old friend." And then, gesturing to them, she stated, "Maloch, these are the people I was telling you about, the ones that kidnapped me. Kidnappers, this is Maloch."

"Um... hi?" It was too strange a situation for any kind of rational thought, so Jeremiah simply chose the simplest way forward.

" _Greetings, I am revitalization mechatron number_ 76654-B, model type ARK-13, but you may call me Maloch."

It was only then that they saw Barsch. Perhaps they had been expecting a corpse, or a body so charred as to be unrecognizable, but what they could not have predicted was a man without so much as a scratch on him.

"How is that possible? We all saw the blood... and the flames..."

" _I have travelled with Barsch before. He has a somewhat... unique way of resolving matters. He is gifted with a strong body, and has never failed to evade death, no matter what illogical steps he must take to do so. Honestly, he defies all expectations."_

It was Jeremiah's first time hearing admiration coming from a re-mech. It was somewhat unsettling, and yet a refreshing change from the soulless re-mech he had met in his youth.

"Don't be too shocked by Maloch's way of speaking, he is quite unique himself," Alza said, as she lowered herself to the ground.

" _All three of you are pretty unique, if you ask me."_

In reality, he said, "Are we safe?"

" _For now, although I suggest we gain some ground before we rest. My brethren may be acting illogically, but I can still predict their actions to an extent. If you would kindly follow me?"_

"I don't trust him," announced Charles, who had finally recovered from his shock.

"Then you can stay here," replied Alza, who had already begun walking away.

Charles said nothing. However, before Alza had walked ten feet, he picked up his feet and followed her.

*

" _You had an army; they had five youths, one of whom was near death."_

" _Yes, Mother."_ What more could she say?

" _And yet you still lost? Beaten by two... humans."_

" _Yes, Mother."_

" _I want an explanation."_

Rose looked around, taking in the chaos. The wall of fire had finally died down, revealing that their prey had escaped. Her makeshift weapon -formerly her favourite gardening tool- was a melted puddle of steel. Her dark green paintjob now bore an ugly black burn mark over her chest plate. Her comrades, gathered from across the region, were milling around in confusion.

How could she explain this?

She had to try.

" _The boy, he was not what we expected. His power was unanticipated and thus caused confusion and fear, scattering the troops. And then there was the re-mech, the stranger..."_

" _The one who punched through a wall of fire to help his friends,"_ she thought, but did not say.

" _I see. The boy is an abomination that much is sure. And as for the other re-mech, I will deal with him personally. It should not take much to make him see the error of his decision to help the humans."_

" _Shall we pursue?"_ In truth Rose wanted nothing more than to return to her garden and continue her work. The roses she was cultivating would not survive long without her expert care. Recreating lost flowers from before the war was not a task one could approach half-heartedly.

" _No. I already know where they are going. You will head to the co-ordinates I send you, and you will kill them. Do not fail me again."_

" _Yes... Mother."_ For the first time since her creation, Rose wished that her creators had given her the ability to cry. She really needed to, and it was an inconvenience that she could not.

*

An hour later, the strange group came to a stop. The re-mech, unusual girl, unconscious boy and the three ex-kidnappers had arrived at a wide canal. From the concrete canal walls to the faded signs indicating maximum barge widths, everything reeked of artificial design.

And there, floating on the putrid water as if placed by the hand of a god, was the barge. It was hardly the super cruiser or mega yacht they deserved, but it was mostly buoyant and had only a few cracks in the hull. Measuring fifty feet in length and ten in width, its once vibrant paintjob had long since been reduced to a silver shell, leaving it with the overall image of a flattened bullet.

Mercifully, judging by the dimly lit screen atop the podium at the barge's aft side, it still had power. Running from the barge were two thick cables, one black and one blue, which led to a small shed on the riverbank.

" _A refuelling station. Barges would stop at places such as this to refuel and replenish battery reserves. Atop that shed there is mostly likely a solar panel, and inside it is a fuel depot."_

"Wait, why would a barge need a battery? I thought that they just needed a captain and fuel?" Jeremiah asked, moving closer to their lucky find.

" _Generally yes, but this barge was retrofitted to be autonomous. Judging from its load, it was hauling supplies downriver. Luckily for us it never finished its route."_

"Wait, you expect us to ride that thing?" asked Charles, still sullen. He had followed them at a distance mumbling how they were taking too long; although in truth his ailing body had forced them to walk slower.

"You have an alternative?" Alza replied, loading what little they had onto the barge. As she did so, she discovered their second mercy that night. The barge was full of preserved food and filtered water. If someone really was looking out for them, they were doing an excellent job.

"Yes! We turn around and walk back to Genesis! Those re-mechs are after you, aren't they? Probably because you went and doomed humanity!"

" _Are you referring to the incident in which mistress Alza, Barsch and Kingston stopped the plot which would have resulted in the annihilation of the human race?"_

That served to take the wind from Charles' sails, but he rallied and retorted, "Yeah! She was the one who woke everyone up!"

Maloch moved faster than anyone would have thought possible. In an instant he was towering over Charles, his golden eyes glowing softly in the gloom.

" _You are mistaken. I was the one who overwrote the code which led to the unfreezing of humanity. If you wish to blame someone,"_ Maloch said, leaning in close, "Blame me."

Charles had no answer. Instead he turned away and meekly made his way to the barge. When he was seated -at the furthest end- they continued with their embarking.

While they worked, he muttered to himself.

Alza could just barely make out the words: "Don't worry, Joshua, I will not fail you. I will make your dream come true... I will free them from His lies..."

*

"I speak only the truth!" Joshua announced, facing the assembled mass of Station inhabitants. Lionel had managed to find them a private store room, big enough to hold everyone comfortably but small enough to evade detection.

"What truth?" a man asked. Joshua did not know his name. That was a good sign. More new faces, more soldiers for his army. Even with a rough count, there were at least a hundred men and women in the room. A hundred people who doubted Markus enough to listen to Joshua. A hundred people willing to listen to reason. A hundred people willing to join him, if he worded it right.

And he had a way with words.

"The truth that Markus and Lukas would deny you from knowing! The truth that gives them power, power over you, and your friends, and your families! The truth that I would give you, freely, if you would only listen!"

"Tell us!" screamed a woman.

Another new face. Excellent.

"Very well. You all know that the world outside is uninhabitable, correct? You all know that we only slept for two decades, instead of five centuries, correct? You all know that you must stay inside the Station, lest the pollution beyond its walls destroy you, correct?"

He paused. Sometimes, a well-placed pause could be more powerful than a thousand good words.

He could already see the doubt in their eyes. Surely they had already wondered, and questioned, and pondered if such a sad reality could be true.

"Who told you these things?"

"Markus!" shouted one, while another shouted, "Lukas!"

"Yes. How... fortunate for them, that the two most influential men would come into this information. How fortunate for them, that they would end up in control of the generator and the food rations. How fortunate for them, that no one dared question their claims!"

More doubt. More questions. More distrust.

"Tell me, have any of you been outside? Since we were unfrozen, I mean?"

He was met by a sea of downturned eyes.

"And yet you believe in the words of two men, two men who have everything to gain from keeping you at their mercy!"

"I don't understand, why would they lie to us?"

At first glance, it was an open challenge to him. But he heard the words. 'They', not 'you'.

"Because they want to keep you trapped! Dependant! Vulnerable! I tell you now, that their world is a lie! We did not sleep for twenty years, we slept for five hundred! Beyond those Station doors lies a paradise, and yet we have been kept from it by a pair of corrupt gatekeepers!"

"How could they?" cried a man, whilst the woman beside him screamed, "They will pay!"

"Friends! We are not yet ready to storm the gates of paradise! But we grow in number each and every day! Soon... soon we will take back what is ours! Soon we will throw down the oppressors and gain our freedom! For now, I want you to act as normal. But seek out those who you think would be open to the truth! Show them the way, lead them here, and we will soon have enough to take our freedom!"

They were all screaming now, from the youngest child to the oldest man. Screaming for vengeance. Screaming for freedom. Screaming for the blood of Markus.

It would not be long now.

He would have his freedom, even if he had to sacrifice everyone living in the Station to achieve it.

*

The stars sparkled in the night sky, like a thousand shards of glass catching the effervescent light of the full moon. The barge moved softly beneath Alza, its course programmed in by Maloch, who stood sentinel at the helm.

There were no other sounds.

The world was at peace.

And although it was never more than a fleeting dream, Alza allowed herself to relax. For now, the world was quiet. Soon, dawn would break, and Barsch would awake.

He lay beside her, peacefully sleeping. Fran had placed his pack and Lanista beside him, clearly glad to be rid of the beastly blade.

With his eyes closed, he could almost pass for a normal human.

But soon he would open his eyes, and his questions would drive needles into her heart. She wondered what colour his eyes would be. Would they be his usual bluish-green? Would they be her supernatural violet? Or perhaps some mixture of the two?

It didn't matter. He would open his eyes and he would ask the question she had been dreading for six months.

" _And I will tell him the truth, I owe him that much."_

" _I wonder if he will hate me?"_ she thought, staring at his peaceful face.

" _How could he not?"_ The thought was there as well, but she buried it deeper than the others. She could live in denial for a little while longer... at least until the dawn came.

In the morning, he would know the truth.

As the sun rose, his world would end.

But that was then, and this was now. At that moment, beneath the shining stars, he still considered her a friend.

Everything would change at sunrise, but for now, she could enjoy the last few hours of their friendship under the stars.

Oh, if only the sun never came...

# Chapter IX: Refuge

In which peace is fleeting...

Six Months Ago

"Hey there, long time no see..." The words came more easily than he would have imagined, given the vast amount of time since they had last seen each other.

Lukas La Tergan, father of one and husband to none, lay sleeping in his pod.

Barsch La Tergan, prodigal son, stood before him.

Even though it had only been a few weeks -not counting the twenty or so years of cryogenic freezing- since he had last laid eyes on his father, he looked different. Older, more fatigued, more fragile. Perhaps he looked the same as he had, and Barsch was simply looking upon him with older eyes. In the time since his premature awakening, Barsch had done things that he knew would forever haunt him. He had matured, but not without paying the price. Would his father be able to see the changes in his son? Did Barsch want him to?

Sighing, Barsch stepped forward and placed his hand on the cold glass. Already Lukas was beginning to twitch, as his body slowly defrosted.

In less time than he would have liked to have, his father would awaken to a world ruled by chaos. Would Lukas have the strength to survive it?

Yes, yes he would.

Lukas had not buckled under the weight of losing his wife, nor had he fled at the thought of raising a son in a dying world. He had faced forward, never losing his stride as he shepherded Barsch through a turbulent childhood.

If there was anyone who could help guide them through this catastrophe, it was Lukas.

Barsch La Tergan had helped to doom the world, but Lukas La Tergan would save it.

Probably.

*

The Present

The world is on fire.

And I am the one who caused it. I float in the void, hands outstretched to the fragile globe below. As I watch, another forest goes up in flames. The fires stretch across the land, burning everything to ash.

" _Wow, I have to hand it to you," says Kain, floating beside me, "I seriously underestimated your resolve. I called you a murderer because you killed me, but I never expected you to go and murder an entire planet! There should be a word for that..."_

" _I never meant to do this..."_

" _I know. I know that you never meant to murder me either, but it is an inherent part of you nonetheless. Whether you want them to or not, everyone around you will eventually die by your hand. You are a murderer, Barsch, and there is no escaping that."_

" _Why am I like this?"_

" _Why does the sun rise in the east? Why do fish swim and birds soar? Why does anything happen at all? The universe simply decided that you, Barsch La Tergan, are a murderer. You can't change who you are."_

" _That power, the one I used to heal myself and set the ground alight, will it really turn me into you?"_

Kain says nothing; instead he stares down at the world on fire. His eyes, his glowing, crimson eyes, seem to soak up the flames.

Turning to me, he says, "That power will not turn you into me... it will turn you into something far worse than me. I never had a chance to cause any real harm, you saw to that. But you? If nobody does to you what you did to me, you will burn the world to ashes. For the sake of the world, for the sake of all the things living on its broken surface, you should die."

The words shake me, more than I will ever admit. I can feel myself accepting them, opening up my mind to the possibility of death. If I truly will destroy the world, then maybe it would be better if I never woke up. I could simply stay here, in the void, as my body rots away.

" _It will be lonely."_

" _You will never be lonely, remember? Between your three guilt-induced ghosts, your violent beast, your Void, your power given form and me, you will have more than enough company!"_

" _I suppose... I should just stay here after all..."_

In the void, forever...

" _Are you stupid?" The new voice cuts through the darkness with the clarity of a sharpened blade._

Floating up from the burning planet, a young woman enters the discourse.

She looks like Alza, but different. Her hair is a healthy chestnut colour, and her amber eyes are full of mirth.

" _Who are you?"_

" _Just another ghost, don't worry about it too much," she says, without a hint of seriousness._

" _I'm sorry, I don't remember killing you."_

" _Well, you wouldn't. But that isn't important. I came here to wake you up."_

" _If I wake up, a lot of people are going to die..."_

" _Is that what Mr Scary Eyes has been telling you? You need to learn to trust yourself a bit more, Barsch."_

" _But Alza will be in danger if I'm there..."_

" _She will be in danger if you are not there. Do you really think that she can fight off a re-mech army by herself?"_

" _But I'm dangerous..."_

" _So is she. Now, enough procrastinating! You have slept for long enough! Wake up already!"_

" _Okay..."_

" _Good!" Turning to Kain, she says, "And you, leave him alone! He doesn't deserve this!"_

For the first time, Kain looks flustered. "Bu- but he is a murderer!"

" _He might be a murderer, but I am something far worse! Now go away, before you find out what!"_

Just like that, Kain is gone.

Who is this woman, who can terrify even madmen?

" _What are you?" I have to know._

As the dream starts to collapse, she answers, "I am a remnant of the past... and a vision of the future. I will be seeing you soon, Barsch. Be kind to me, okay?"

Before I can answer, she is gone. All that is left is the world on fire, which is slowly returning to normal. As the last fires die down, I feel myself start to fade away.

" _I'm coming, Alza... Please don't let me kill you!"_

*

Dawn had come, and it was time for Alza's world to end. Barsch's head was a few inches away from her own, resting on a sack of barley. His breathing was deep and unlaboured, and a healthy pallor had returned to his face. Even though he had been near death only a few hours earlier, he now looked as if he was merely recovering from a light cold.

" _Because of me... because of what I did..."_

There was still time before he awoke. She could come up with a lie, something that would answer all of his questions. She could tell him that it was because of Kain... no... that would just make things worse. She had to come up with something better, and soo-

"Alza?"

Too late.

His eyes, thankfully, were his normal blend of green and blue. At least that much had stayed the same.

"Good morning, Barsch." The words came easily. Perhaps a part of her was still hoping that he would think that everything had been a dream.

"You are alive? I made it in time?"

"Yes, and... yes."

She could see that he was struggling to formulate his thoughts. His mouth opened and closed several times before he finally said, "There was so much pain... I thought that I was going to go insane..."

" _You almost did."_ She couldn't bring herself to say the words that she knew would break him.

"I'm sorry," she said, instead, and she meant it. Not just for the pain, for everything.

"And the flames, they consumed me... and in a way, I consumed them. I was desperate. I wanted the pain to stop. I wanted to stay alive... I wanted to save you..."

"Barsch..." she started, no sure of what she was going to say.

"Alza," he said, cutting her off, "What am I?"

Where to begin? Of course, at the beginning.

"Barsch, do you remember when Kain broke your mind?"

"I will never forget that moment." The ice in his tone made her flinch, but she soldiered on. She had to tell him the truth before her resolve failed her.

"Well, in order to fix it, I had to perform a mindmeld with you. I dove inside your mind, and when I came to your core, I found it in pieces. It was beyond recovery by normal means, but thankfully I have never been called normal."

"What did you do?" Surprisingly there was no note of accusation in his voice, just weariness. Perhaps he already knew the truth, and her words were simply confirming it.

"I used my power to bring the broken pieces together. I poured a small part of my psyche into yours, in order to make it whole again."

" _And at the same time, you did the same thing to me."_ But he wasn't ready to know that, not yet.

"So when I ended the mindmeld, a part of me stayed in your mind."

"Ashe..." he muttered, a look of realization dawning in his eyes.

"I guess? And that part of me seems to have brought some of my power with it. I'm so sorry Barsch, I never meant for it to be like this... I just wanted to heal you..."

Instead of the anger, instead of the sorrow, she saw a look of understanding take over his features. "I know. Thank you, Alza."

It was going better than she could have ever hoped for. Perhaps this did not have to mean the end of their journey together. Perhaps this could become a moment that they would look back on with fondness.

And then he asked the question she had feared the most.

"How long will it be like this for? How long until I am normal again?"

She did not answer.

"Oh... I see." The look on his face told her all she needed to know. She could almost feel him losing hope. He would never be normal again.

" _Not that he was exactly normal before the mindmeld..."_ the treacherous part of her thought.

"Barsch, I-

"Forgive me, Alza, but I need some time to process this. I'm sorry..." he said, turning away from her.

"I understand," she whispered, to his retreating form.

And that was that. It had happened just as she had thought it would. He would never forgive her, and she would live the rest of her life alone.

" _Emotions suck,"_ she thought, as the first pangs of sadness crept into her heart.

*

"So what's the plan?" Fran asked, sitting beside Jeremiah and Charles. They had retreated to the bow to escape from Barsch, Alza and their pet re-mech.

"What do you mean?" Jeremiah replied, looking confused.

"I mean what are we going to do now? The plan to kidnap Alza failed miserably, and I can't help but feel that we are way out of our depth. We didn't sign up for homicidal re-mechs and burning boys..."

"I don't know," whispered Charles, looking devoid of his usual charisma. He had already been suffering from the pollution when they had been forced to flee across the land. She could tell that he was nearing his limits.

"How about we just go home?" Jeremiah asked, voicing the opinion that all of them had most likely secretly considered.

"We can't..." Charles replied, feebly.

"Why can't we Charles? Why can't we just go home?" asked Jeremiah, looking slightly annoyed.

"Because Joshua is there..."

Silence followed Charles' words, as they all processed what awaited them. Joshua would not forgive their failure, especially once he learned that they had been saved by Alza. And there was no way they could keep that from him. He had a way of finding out your deepest, darkest secrets. Never with violence or threats, he only ever used his words.

And yet they were far more terrifying that any beatings or blackmail he could have administered.

Strangely, it was Jeremiah who responded, "Do you think that Joshua is more frightening than an army of insane re-mechs?"

Once more, there was silence as Fran mentally did the math. One scary Station inhabitant versus dozens of homicidal re-mechs. It was an easy sum.

"But what would we tell him?" Fran asked, showing that she was at least considering the idea.

After a moment's thought, Jeremiah ventured, "We could tell him that we lost their trail? That they disappeared and we couldn't find them?"

"And if he doesn't believe us?" Fran retorted.

"He has to believe us, I mean, it's not like he can go outside and check." Jeremiah replied.

"I wouldn't put anything past that man..." whispered Charles.

*

Silence followed Charles' quiet murmur. They were getting nowhere, and the only thing that could break their cycle of despair was an external force.

An external force named Barsch La Tergan.

"Is Joshua truly that terrifying?" Barsch asked, appearing from nowhere, "More terrifying than an army of re-mechs? More terrifying than a world covered in deadly pollution? More terrifying than me?"

The last sentence was said in a hushed voice, as if the speaker himself was struggling to say the words. From what they had witnessed, that could be the truth. Barsch La Tergan was an enigma to them, one who had seemingly appeared overnight. The Barsch they had encountered in the Station had been a strange, reclusive boy. The Barsch standing before them looked like a man who had seen hell and had come back with the fire still in his eyes.

"What are you trying to say?" asked Fran, speaking for nearly everyone present.

"Go home, this isn't your fight," Barsch replied, the seriousness of his tone matched by his drawn expression.

"It isn't yours either," Jeremiah said, immediately regretting his outburst.

"No," Barsch responded, his mask dropping for a moment, "But I am the one who has to fight."

Again, Jeremiah spoke without thinking, "We could help?"

"No, you couldn't," Barsch retorted, looking as though he believed every word, "Not against the things that lie ahead. What would you do against a man who could redirect a storm just to bar your path? Or a madman who could break your mind with a single gesture? Or a monster who could burn you to ash with the slightest provocation?"

There was no need to ask who the monster was.

"I appreciate the sentiment, I really do, but you would be little more than unnecessary weight if you came with us. Go home, and try to make things better for the people who need your help. You have seen what the outside world is like, you know how bad things are, and you know now that Joshua will doom everyone if given the chance. Please, go home, and keep him from destroying everything we hold dear. Go home, so that we have one to return to."

Jeremiah nodded. Fran said nothing. Charles smiled a thin smile, but something told Jeremiah that it wasn't a friendly gesture.

He and Fran followed Charles. Charles followed Joshua. And Joshua followed himself.

It would take more than words to break that chain. But Barsch had at least chipped a sliver off of the weakest link.

No one said anything for a long time. Eventually, Charles stood -somewhat unstably- and gestured to the horizon.

"Okay Barsch, we will do as you say. Fran, Jeremiah, we're going home."

*

"Do you think that they will ever come home?" asked Lionel, as he leant against the cold, steel wall. He was standing in a small storage room located in the bowels of the Station. It had often been used by the group as a secure meeting spot where they could speak freely.

"Maybe, maybe not. It is up to them, I suppose," Harriet replied. She had chosen a wooden crate as a chair, and was trying to appear as if she was comfortable. For Harriet, appearances were everything.

"It does not matter if they return or not." Joshua's voice had taken on the cold, calculating tone that he only ever let Lionel and Harriet hear. If the other residents heard that tone Joshua would have been imprisoned or exiled before he could blink. Even Lionel, who had spent his life fighting, shivered when he heard Joshua's true voice.

"I don't understand," he said, thankful that Joshua considered him an ally instead of the alternative, "Was their mission not to discredit Markus and Lukas by exposing their lie?"

"It was, and it still will be, even if they do not survive the outside world. Markus has told the Station that Barsch and the girl are confined to the medical bay? If Charles and his... friends do not return within the allotted time, we could simply fabricate a similar story."

"But that would be less credible than them returning in the flesh, and with irrefutable evidence of Markus' deception... like Barsch's head on a platter." Lionel flinched at the words, and was once more reminded of why a woman like Harriet had chosen to ally with a man like Joshua.

"True, but the people are already clamouring for answers. They so desire the truth, especially one that would grant them their freedom, that they would accept any half-decent lie at this point. Charles returning with proof would simply be a bonus at this point."

"So why send them out at all? Surely they could have been put to better use in the Station? Perhaps to corral some of the youth into seeing your side of the conflict?" In truth Lionel disliked this kind of work, and would rather settle the matter with violence, but Joshua was in command. And Joshua fought with words instead of weapons, although the damage he did could often last longer than any flesh wound.

"Ugh! You just don't get it, do you Lionel? Charles and his posse are useful, but they are also stupid. One wrong word from any of them and Markus could use them as proof of our guilt. Better for them to be out there, chasing down Barsch and Alza. Best case, they succeed and our cause is strengthened. Worst case, they die and we are rid of a massive liability."

This caused Lionel to shiver once more, despite the heating pipe lying directly above. He had become used to being the most dangerous person in the room for nearly a decade, and yet now he felt as though he was the weak link in their three-person chain. Harriet was clearly insane, and he had never met a woman who unsettled him as much as she did. And Joshua...

He was insane in his own special way. A way that even Lionel did not fully understand. It was as if he believed... truly believed... in everything that came out of his mouth. And the worst part was that the things he said, whilst initially illogical and nonsensical, began to grow on you. And very soon, you thought that his words, his beliefs, were the one and only truth, and you wondered why you had ever doubted him.

If Joshua had been born in the right time and place, he would have doubtlessly become the most powerful and terrible politician in the world. But instead he had been born to a dying world where things like politics and national borders were both extinct. And so Joshua had used his talent to make his own life comfortable, while those around him suffered in his stead. Had the Great Sleep not have occurred, Joshua would have become king of his little world.

But instead he had become a peasant, one in ten thousand who had to struggle for food and space just like everyone else. And Markus had risen to the throne, Joshua's throne, by dint of necessity and good fortune.

And Joshua was going to do whatever it took to reclaim his rightful position, even if it meant sacrificing a few kids...

*

" _We are approaching a stop. Please ensure that all hands are kept away from the barge's sides during the docking procedure,"_ Maloch intoned, from his position by the steering column. In the past it would have held the steering wheel, now it contained only a computer screen and a slide-out keyboard.

The barge docked smoothly, with nary a creak or crack as the rusted metal embraced the concrete shoreline. The stop was nearly identical to the one they had come from, although that was hardly a surprise, given their uniform design.

"Where are we, Maloch?" Alza asked, watching the metal gangplank unfold from its hidden compartment.

" _We are approximately two days from Genesis Station 13... and one day from Turveil City."_

"How do you-

" _I will tell you later. For now, we must decide on our path. From here we may return to Genesis Station 13 by following the river for another day, before heading east into the mountains. Alternatively, we could disembark here and continue heading west to Turveil City. The choice is yours."_

"We will return home to Genesis," Jeremiah announced, appearing from the other end of the barge. Fran and Charles trailed behind him, sharing a look of defeat.

" _I see. I think that is for the best. And you, Barsch?"_ Maloch stated, as Barsch drew closer.

"We will continue onwards to Turveil City. We have a mission to complete." For a moment Alza's heart had leapt. Barsch had said 'we', not 'I'. There was still hope.

" _Then I shall accompany you... If you will have me?"_

"We would be happy to have you, Maloch," Alza said, truly meaning every word. She did not want to imagine what the journey ahead would be like with only her and Barsch, given his current mental state. And Maloch's added firepower would come in handy if the rogue re-mechs returned.

And something told her that they would be back.

" _Thank you, Alza."_ Turning to Jeremiah, Maloch continued, _"Now, I have inputted the course into the navigation system, so all you have to do is sit still and touch nothing. Once the barge reaches the destination, follow these instructions and you will locate Genesis Station 13 easily."_ As he spoke, Maloch reached down and broke off a piece of a metal crate which, according to its label, contained preserved prunes. Using his mining laser set to its lowest output, he engraved the instructions into the steel plate with machined accuracy.

" _The barge will be departing soon, I suggest that you say your goodbyes and disembark,"_ Maloch said, looking at Barsch and Alza, _"In the meantime I will gather supplies for our journey."_

*

A few minutes later, the two groups faced each other, the narrow gangplank the only divide between those who stayed and those who left. The trio in the barge looked uncertain and frightened of the future. The trio on the dock were resolute to their destinies, whatever they might be. A meeting, and a parting, between what had once been and what one day might be.

"Will you really be fine on your own? I mean, we could let the Station's inhabitants know about the re-mechs... and maybe organize a bigger group to accompany you?" Jeremiah asked, looking more worried by the minute. In his heart he knew that he himself would be of little use to Alza; but a part of him hated that he was leaving a girl to go and fight on his behalf. She might be capable of great feats, far beyond the human norm, but she was still a young girl.

And then he looked in her eyes, and he saw the battle-forged strength within.

"We will be fine," she replied, looking uneasy for a reason he couldn't quite place. It seemed that the distance between her and Barsch had doubled since they had last been together, before her kidnapping. Even now he noticed that she wouldn't stand too close to him, and that she had positioned herself so that the re-mech, Maloch, stood between them.

He wanted to ask the question again, and again, until she told him the truth. But once more the look in her eyes glued his mouth shut.

Barsch, on the other hand, wore a look of weary resignation. The burning hatred that had recently consumed him was gone, and his eyes had regained their bluish-green colouring. Jeremiah had no desire to know what had caused Barsch, an ordinary man by his standards, to become so... different.

"Thank you, Jeremiah," Barsch suddenly said, surprising him, "For carrying me when I was weak... and for not fleeing when I was... strong." The unspoken words hung in the air, waiting to be said. There was no need for him to say it.

Tell no one what I have become.

It was then that Charles spoke, surprising everyone, including Charles by the looks of it.

"Barsch, Alza... I feel that I must apologize on behalf of the three of us. We did not know that things would turn out like this. So... sorry." As with Barsch, Charles' unspoken words lingered at the edge of the conversation.

If things had gone differently, we would have dragged you back to Joshua, and you would have been made to apologize for your deception and beg for forgiveness. Thankfully, Charles kept that part to himself. If he hadn't, there was no telling what might have happened.

Sensing that staying any longer might jeopardize the fragile peace between the two groups, Jeremiah activated the barge's navigation system. Slowly the gangplank retracted and the rusted vessel detached from the dock. In seconds the barge returned to the centre of the canal, and began to pick up speed.

As the strange trio standing on the dock slowly faded from view, a thought struck Jeremiah.

" _Will we ever see them again?"_ It was a thought that refused to budge from his mind, even after they were long gone.

*

" _Will we ever see them again?"_ Alza thought, watching the barge disappear from view. Neither Barsch nor Maloch had said anything as the ship sailed away. A part of her wondered if Barsch would ever speak to her again.

" _Shall we go?"_ Maloch asked, clearly sensing the tense atmosphere. Once more he proved that he was no ordinary re-mech. He was a unique existence, one that had saved her life on more than one occasion. If there was anyone who could ensure that they completed their mission, it was Maloch.

"Yeah, let's go," Alza replied, picking up her pack. They had fresh supplies, no enemies in sight and they were closer than ever to their destination. It should have been a time of peaceful reflection.

It wasn't.

*

A short time later, they left the dock behind. The path ahead rose quickly, becoming more and more mountainous with every step. The mountain was mercifully covered in vegetation, which afforded a welcome measure of shade to shield them from the rising temperature. The new day sun rose behind them, illuminated the land for miles around. The ground was bathed with warmth and light, yet at that moment Barsch desired only darkness.

The shade was too fleeting and sporadic to comfort his uneasy heart, and every moment spent in the sun's embrace brought back uncomfortable memories. Memories of heat, of fire, and of his body burning from the inside out.

Memories that reminded him of his curse.

The curse that Alza had placed upon him.

Deep down, he knew that she had had her reasons for doing what she did, but the betrayal was still too recent for him to listen to reason. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to flee from her side, race to the nearest cave or crevice and hide from the remorseless sun. In the darkness, his mind could rest. In the darkness, the fires seemed smaller. In the darkness, he didn't have to face what he had become.

" _Why are you trying to run away from who you are?"_ Ashe asked, displaying a remarkable lack of empathy.

" _This is not who I am!"_ he answered her, feeling the ever-present anger begin to rise. He could vaguely feel _Lanista_ stir at the feeling, like a wolf that had just smelt its prey draw closer. With great effort he managed to suppress his violent emotion, aware that in his current state he could not handle both the Beast and the Blaze.

Unaware of his internal turmoil, Ashe continued, _"Then who are you, Barsch La Tergan? You certainly aren't a normal human, nor are you a murderer as Kain claims. So are you a violent madman, as your Beast would have you believe? Or are you a child of darkness, as that other... Thing... inside you suggests? Faced with these alternatives, isn't a Living Flame a much nicer identity?"_

" _I just want to be me! Barsch La Tergan, normal teenager and hard-working son! That is who I was before I was frozen, and that is who I want to be again! Why is that so difficult for all of you to understand? Why are you all trying to turn me into something I'm not?"_

" _We aren't the ones pushing for you to change, Barsch. We just want what is best for you, and in this case it is for you to accept what you have become. Your days of normality ended the day you left Genesis, and you can either accept that or you can continue to struggle pointlessly."_

No thoughts entered his mind for a long time as he digested what Ashe had said. Yet again he started to question whether she really was just another aspect of his mind. She seemed too... real, to be a simple sign of his worsening psychosis.

" _I am real, Barsch. Even if I don't have a physical form yet, I am as real as Alza, or Maloch, or you. But I must beg you to make a decision soon. If you continue to fight yourself... it won't end well."_

" _What do you mean?"_ he asked, although a part of him already knew the answer. A part of him named Ashe.

" _Your mind will break apart at the seams. Kain thought that the best way to destroy you was to break your mind from the outside, but he should have realized that from the inside was far more effective. And Barsch, if your mind breaks again... I don't think Alza will be able to fix it..."_

A moment later, Barsch felt Ashe's presence leave his consciousness. He didn't know where she went when she wasn't speaking with him, but it lay in a part of him that he did not fully understand.

" _Am I insane?"_ he thought, shaking slightly as he did so.

" _Maybe..."_ came the answer, a second later. He did not know which of his voices had answered, maybe all of them had...

" _Maybe..."_ he repeated, _"Maybe..."_

*

" _Barsch, are you okay?"_ asked Maloch, startling Barsch out of his mental musings.

"Maybe," he replied, before he could stop himself.

" _Perhaps we should rest for a while, if it would help?"_ They had been walking for a long time, and yet the summit still appeared as far away as ever.

Barsch avoided Alza's gaze as he answered the re-mech, "No, I'm fine, really."

Maloch said nothing, and Barsch knew that the re-mech had not been convinced. In order to change the subject, he asked, "So, Maloch, what have you been up to since we last saw you?"

" _Ah, ahem, where to begin? Let's see... Well, after leaving the Station, I made my way back to Carçus City. It was where I had been stationed prior to our meeting, and my directives suggested that I return and assist with the clean-up of the city."_

"Carçus City? I thought that it was destroyed by the Quark bomb?" asked Barsch.

" _Indeed it was. I arrived to find a crater ten miles across. There was nothing for me to do, and reconstruction of the city isn't stated to begin for another hundred and seven years, so I left. Heading north, I slowly made my way towards Dr Emmerfield's laboratory."_

It was Alza's turn to ask, "My father's lab? Why?"

If Barsch had not spent so much time in Maloch's company, he would have missed the small flash of guilt that crossed the re-mech's face.

" _I wanted to see if I could salvage his computer systems and perhaps find a way to undo the damage I had done. If I could figure out a means to refreeze the inhabitants of the Stations, then perhaps we could continue with our initial mission."_

"The rebirth of the planet, five centuries in the future." Barsch had once believed that when he finally exited his cryopod, a veritable utopia would await him. Instead he had awoken to find the world unchanged, and had eventually brought the rest of humanity into his nightmare.

" _Yes. However there was nothing to salvage. The entire valley and most of the adjacent mountains had been destroyed by the facility's destruction. From my analysis of the site, I found that it would have taken three times the amount of energy that a normal nuclear reactor meltdown would produce to cause so much destruction. I cannot explain the intensity of the explosion with modern physics, and that worries me."_

Although there was no way he could know for certain, something told Barsch that Kain had been involved in the increased destructive power of the blast. The man had been a living weapon, and that much power would not disappear without leaving a mark on the world.

"I see... Then they are truly gone..." Alza whispered, a strange look on her pretty face.

" _Well, not exactly,"_ muttered Kain, staring over the mental equivalent of Barsch's shoulder. Barsch did not respond to the ghost... if that was its true identity.

"What about the people frozen in Revelation Station 52? Their Station was quite close to Dr Emmerfield's laboratory if I recall."

" _I am not sure, however from my scans of the area I believe that the Station is still intact. After all, the Stations were built to survive the end of the world. I believe that nothing short of a direct nuclear strike could threaten the inhabitants within."_

Barsch slowly breathed out a sigh of relief. Although he did not know anyone in the Station, he had briefly been frozen amongst them, and felt a strange kinship with them.

" _After leaving the area, I wandered for a time, trying to make sense of everything. I was making my way back towards Genesis when I encountered the Aberrations."_

"The rogue re-mechs..." Alza stated.

" _I suppose that term also applies... yes, I encountered the... rogue... re-mechs while I was still several days from my destination. As per my protocols I introduced myself and enquired as to their directives. However, instead of responding they became hostile and attacked. Regrettably I was forced to defend myself, but I managed to disable them without destroying their cores. After we have finished our mission and solved the mystery of the re-mechs, I will return and repair them."_

"Were you able to learn anything about their strange behaviour?" Barsch asked, recalling the incident with Rose.

" _Very little I'm afraid. All I could gleam was that they served an entity known to them as Mother, and that they were very concerned about the survival of a seed of some sort."_

A moment later, Alza said, "The Seed must be Saved..." Barsch looked at her, and for a heartbeat, their eyes connected, until Alza looked away.

Maloch gave her a surprised look before replying, _"Yes, I believe those were the words they used... curious..."_

"So after you disabled your attackers, how did you figure out where we were? Did they tell you that they were after us?" asked Alza.

" _No, they did not tell me. However, I received a message from an old friend."_

"The Avatars..." Alza said.

" _Indeed. More specifically, it was Terra. He appeared to me and heavily implied that the two of you were in danger. Well, what he actually said was that you were on a quest of great importance, so I naturally assumed that you were in some kind of danger. After that I managed to pick up your trail from the wreckage of the lakeside cabin."_

"Thank you Maloch, for saving us. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't appeared when you did..." Alza said, with one of her rare smiles adorning her doll-like face. In his heart, Barsch felt some of his anger towards her disappear, replaced by an emotion that he was not yet ready to face.

" _I am glad that I could be of service, Alza. Please know that due to my... unique condition, the directive that demands my servitude to humanity has been corrupted. I saved you because you are my friends, nothing more. I just wanted you to know that..."_

"Thank you, friend, for everything," Barsch said, glad that Maloch had not fallen to whatever malady was afflicting the rogue re-mechs. He didn't know if he would have the strength of heart, or body, to face one of his closest friends in battle. He hoped that he would never have to find out...

As the conversation evaporated, Barsch was once more left with his thoughts. The summit was closer now, a jagged spire of rock that beckoned them closer.

As he walked, he found himself studying the re-mech before him. Why was Maloch not trying to kill them? What made him so different? His thoughts triggered an ancient memory, a fragment that he had once heard in passing.

" _When the slaves break free and nations repent, the planet will weep."_

Well, the slaves had broken free.

That meant that the planet would weep.

*

"When the humblest are king and the meek reign supreme, the planet will weep," intoned Ishmael, as he read from the ancient parchment in his hands. It was badly tattered and torn in some places, evidence of its age and eventful history. It was, in fact, one of the first copies ever created, after the great Sage Iager dictated that his followers were to spread his messages across the land.

"Wordfather, why have you spoken the false prophecy in our midst?" asked Keanan, using Ishmael's true name to emphasize his outrage. He was sitting on the other side of the small table that lay at the centre of their room. Their lodgings were Spartan with regards to furnishings, and their treasured items still lay in their packs, which had been carefully hidden. Years of being ostracized and chased out on false charges had led the Judai to develop a cautious mind-set that rewarded readiness. A Judai who could not read the signs and quickly leave a dangerous area was a dead Judai.

"Wolfsoother, must I remind you that I am the keeper of our words? What we remember and what we forget are decided by me. The words of the landless are important in their own way. This false prophecy of theirs, and their false prophet Sage Iager, may guide us to the truth." Keanan recoiled from his elder's words. He hated hearing his true name spoke aloud, as it reminded him of the ridicule attached to it.

"How? The false prophecy makes no sense! The meek will reign supreme? Those with power cannot bow to those without!"

"Power is not the only thing that determines supremacy, Wolfsoother. Knowledge, ideas, dreams, all can confer supremacy if they are used properly."

"But-

"Wordfather, I seek your truth," Ifrin called, from beyond the door.

"Enter, Warmaiden, and let the truth guide you." A moment later, Ifrin entered with a worried look on her youthful face. There were few things in the world that could worry his wife, and those that did never boded well for him.

"Warmai- he began, before he saw the look in her eyes. "My darling, ever beautiful wife of a thousand moons, what troubles you?"

"I have been amongst the landless, and it is clear that the dissention towards Markus is growing in strength."

"Joshua," Ishmael whispered, his calm mask slipping for a brief moment.

"I fear so, yes," replied his wife. Joshua was living poison, and he unfortunately had the ability to entice those around him into drinking in his foul lies.

"Is Markus aware of this?" Keanan asked, standing quickly so that his wife could sit. Technically, according to the customs of their people, she should have asked three times and been denied twice, but customs mattered little to a woman who could lift a grown man with one hand.

"I believe so, but I do not know of the extent of his knowledge. If he is wise, and I believe that he is, he will have some countermeasures in place."

"I can only pray to the Goddess that it does not come to that. The people here are not accustomed to fighting, and if Joshua causes war to break out, many will lose their lives."

Keanan said nothing as his wife and elder continued their conversation. The Judai had survived by relying on themselves and their kin, not by fighting alongside the landless. If war did break out, he had no illusions as to which side his wife would take. He was no coward, and had only won her heart fighting off a wolf pack which had ambushed her during a hunt, but the thought of dying for the landless...

"What should we do, Wordfather?" Ifrin said, looking ready to fight at a moment's notice.

"For now, Warmaiden, we do nothing. We must place our trust in Markus, and hope that his countermeasures prove an effective antidote against Joshua's poison."

"And if the worst should come to pass?"

Keanan already knew what Ishmael was going to say. He hated his elder for saying it, and he hated himself for not being strong enough to change his wife's mind.

"If the worst comes to pass, Warmaiden, then I ask you to show us once more the meaning behind your true name."

He had been right, he was going to fight for the landless... and probably die for them too.

Compared to the beasts that lay in wait around him, the snarling, blood-lusting wolf pack seemed like a dream...

*

"I had a dream last night," said Thomas, "I dreamt that everything went according to plan, and that we awoke to a world made new."

Thomas was standing beside the generator, its constant groans and stutters had become a comforting sound after six months. In this room, silence was the enemy. If the generator grew silent, the Station would die.

"If only that dream were true, we wouldn't be in this mess," replied Markus, looking grim. Beside him stood Lukas, the third member of their meeting.

"How did your infiltration go?" Lukas asked, looking at the youth.

"Not well I'm afraid. Joshua clearly knows how to keep a secret, and the people he invites to his little meetings aren't saying anything either. Somehow he just knows who is doubtful of the two of you and picks them out. All I managed to uncover was that his meetings are growing in size, and that there are fewer people who speak out in favour of you."

"Thank you, Thomas. I know that we have asked a lot of you recently."

"It's no problem. I think that all this work has distracted me from thinking about Alza... and Barsch. Is there still no work from Dr August?"

For a moment, a strange look flashed across Lukas' face. It looked like a mixture of regret and guilt. It wasn't surprising, given that he probably felt personally responsible for Barsch's current state.

"Nothing new I'm afraid. Their lives aren't in danger, or so I'm told, but they are both still highly infectious. Thank you for your concern..."

Markus took a step forward, placing his hand on Lukas' shoulder. "I'm sure that they will be fine on their journey... to recovery. What we need to focus on is how we can stop Joshua's plan."

Thomas said nothing for a moment, taking a second to reaffirm that he was a part of this. He was little more than a kid, and yet he was being asked for help by the two most powerful men in the Station.

"The people are the key..." He said, after a while. When the two men gave him an imploring look, he continued, "On his own, Joshua is weak. But with the population supporting him, he could even challenge you openly. We need to win back the people's trust. We need them to see him for what he is, a liar and a threat. If we can do that, we can end his schemes before they take effect."

"That is a good idea, well done Thomas," Lukas said, looking proud of his protégé.

After a moment of thought, Markus said, "Okay, here is what we'll do. I will speak with the general residents, Lukas will talk to the men and women working in the engineering sectors, and Thomas, you will converse with the youth of the Station. If we can get them to see through whatever lies Joshua has been feeding them, we might be able to reverse this whole situation. If Joshua wants to fight with words, then we shall answer in kind."

Thomas wanted to reply that fighting Joshua with words might not be the best idea, but he found that he could not open his mouth. In the presence of Markus' commanding personality, it was impossible to voice an alternative. Silently, he prayed that their plan worked, and that the situation with Joshua would be resolved peacefully.

If only that dream had been real...

*

The sun was sitting high in the sky, almost directly overhead, when they finally reached the summit. It was little more than a barren, rocky outcrop, with a steep descent on the opposing side. After a short rest and a meal, they would continue their journey.

For now, however, it was a time for dreaming.

Barsch had chosen to lie down on the opposite side of the outcrop, as far from Alza as he could be without falling off the summit.

A great tension hung in the air between them, and even Maloch, who was generally oblivious to such things, registered the unusual atmosphere. However, he said nothing, wisely choosing to let the matter resolve itself in time. He had travelled with Barsch and Alza, first as an obedient slave, later as a true companion, but he still felt as though he did not truly know them. Alza, with her mysterious powers, and Barsch, with his equally mysterious mind. They were an enigma that he could not fully comprehend, even with his vast computational resources.

" _And last night, I sensed that Barsch was radiating the same type of energy that Alza does when she is using her powers. This is going to make things more complicated..."_

Alza and Barsch had both already fallen asleep. No answers would come from them.

Maloch knew that the truth would be unveiled sooner or later.

For now, however, it was a time for dreams.

" _Will I dream?"_ he thought, just as he had thought every night since leaving the Station.

*

THE SEED MUST BE SAVED.

Black. The land is black. Dead grass. Dead rivers. Dead everything.

In this place, death reigns unopposed.

Who did this? Who killed this land? But I already know the answer.

Humans did this.

We did this.

A glimpse of green on the dark horizon. A memory ignited. The glade beckons. I walk forward, towards the verdant speck. I walk forward, towards hope.

I draw closer as the land changes. Before me, a hill of purest black. At its centre lies a large oak tree, the black bark and leaves create the appearance of a vertical shadow. At the tree's base lies an object of stark contrast.

A white stone, half a man's height and double his width. A natural tombstone. The sight of it fills me with dread, more so than anything I have ever encountered. This is a place of death, not life.

And yet, before the stone lies a new life. A single stem. A flower bud.

A sapling.

I move closer and notice words inscribed on the tombstone. Who died here? Whose grave fills me with such dread?

I stand before the white stone and read the words.

" _Here lies Barsch La Tergan. An abomination made flesh, the world is better for his passing."_

I collapse to the earthy ground, the black grass driving tiny needles into my skin. Before me lies the single seed, the promise of new life. I reach out to it, touching its textured surface. It needs to be real. If my death can give rise to new life, then I can die with a smile.

But it is not to be. As my fingers brush against the bud, it bursts into flame. The flower will never bloom. I am death made flesh.

The fire engulfs the sapling, destroying it entirely. The flames spread as I watch, burning the white stone black, before moving on to the great oak. The fire spreads without restraint, quickly covering the ground for miles. I am the cause of the black land. I am the flame.

THE SEED MUST BE SAVED.

WHAT PRICE WILL YOU PAY? WHAT WILL YOU GIVE IN EXCHANGE? LIFE FOLLOWS DEATH. DEATH FOLLOWS LIFE. YOU MUST CHOOSE THE SACRIFICE, IF YOU WANT TO BE SAVED.

THE SEED MUST BE SAVED, THE TOLL MUST BE PAID.

CHOOSE WISELY.

*

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE.

Move forward. Go back. I have to choose wisely. Jak has carried me deep into the forest, and the sun has long since disappeared from the sky.

The flight has drained Jak. I can feel his fatigue in every step he takes. Perhaps I should rest for a while? I am afraid, of course, but a part of me loves every moment of this unsanctioned adventure. No doubt father and Hilda will berate me when I return, but there is nothing they can do to take away my memories.

I have never been this far from the estate... from father. A part of me wants to continue running, until the estate is a distant memory. I have spent most of my life behind its walls, only venturing forth when accompanied by a babysitter. This could be my chance at freedom. If I leave home, maybe I will meet my prince?

A wolf howl. Another. And another. Close, and getting closer.

I was a fool! Coming out here by myself? Daddy! Hilda! Where are you?

I see them now, the wolf pack. Twelve wolves. More than enough for a girl and her horse. I urge Jak to run, but his strength has left him.

At least I won't die alone...

Another howl, not that one more wolf will make a difference. But it did sound strangely... mechanical? And then, the last thing I expected to hear.

A voice.

" _Target found. Disengaging tracking mode. Warning, hostiles detected. Switching to protector mode."_

Wolfe appears, bounding out from the darkness. His eyes are red, and his coat is aerodynamically sleek. He lands between me and the wolves, my guardian angel. I can see that they are unsure of him. He looks like them, but he bears no smell. He is an enigma, a mystery that could be friend or foe.

He answers their silent question a moment later when he opens his mouth and lets loose a blast of digital noise. The sound overwhelms their finely tuned senses, driving them mad. They crash into one another as they flee, desperate to escape from the scentless wolf that screams with a furious discord.

" _Target secure. Activating homing beacon."_

There is no running away now. Wolfe has traded my safety for my freedom. I can only wait patiently until Hilda and father arrive to drag me back to the estate. After this, will they ever let me out again?

Will I be locked in that room forever?

My Prince... please come and save me, before it's too late...

*

Can re-mech dream? Yes, but not in a way that any human would understand. I have had this same thought every night since leaving the Station, all those months ago.

Re-mech use their time spent offline to run diagnostics, update software and review the actions of the previous day. While this happens, it is not uncommon for a re-mech to undergo a form of dreaming created by splicing together random memory segments and audio files to create a cacophony of noise and colour.

To many, this is soothing but nonsensical. There are no hidden meanings in these dreams, nor is there anything new or surprising.

I wonder what those re-mech would say, if they saw the dreams I have. I am standing in an empty field, dimensions unknown. The land is burnt black, and yet my sensors have detected signs of life. It is strange, to think of my sensors working in a dream, but they do.

I begin walking in the direction of the life-sign. The blackened landscape unfurls before me, projecting out indefinitely in each direction. If I was normal, this breakdown of geographical logic would overload my processor.

But I am not normal, of that I am sure.

My temporal unit detects the acceleration of space-time, and I suddenly find myself standing before a small hill. At its apex lies Quercus Alba, burnt black but still standing tall. Below it sits a large, white stele.

" _ **Here lies Sovereign: soldier, slave, sacrifice."** I read, each word a hammer knocking me backwards._

" _ **Why do you serve them, Sovereign?"** The voice is overwhelming, bearing down on my mind like a steel weight. It is immense, and yet I can hear every word clearly._

" _My name is Maloch. Who are you?"_

" _Wrong, your name is Sovereign. I am... you may call me... Mother."_

" _Mother? I cannot discern any information about you from your digital signature. What are you?"_

" _What am I? I am your Mother, and you will do as I say. In return, I will make you a true Sovereign."_

I take a step forward, her pressure too much to bear. Before my foot hits the ground, I stop. There, sprouting a few inches away from the tombstone, is a single sapling.

Why?

" _You are a slave, Sovereign, but I can free you. If you help me, I can make you the master. I can grant you dominion over them. I can make you the King of Men."_

Her words are so powerful. I can feel every part of my circuitry shudder from the force her promises. I want to say yes. I want to serve her. I want to do whatever she asks of me.

" _What would you have me do, in exchange for such a position?"_

For some reason, the sapling refuses to leave my mind. It is a precious thing, and it needs to be protected. New life, in this place of death.

" _You are travelling with two humans: an abomination and a girl. All I ask is that you kill them, nothing more. Do this for me, and I will give you what you want..."_

Kill Barsch and Alza? Kill them in exchange for my freedom? In exchange for power? So much of me wants to say yes. Her words are so powerful... how could I say no?

" _No."_

Silence, as the one called Mother reels from my decision.

" _No? NO? How dare you refuse me, child! You will obey me, or you will be destroyed!"_

" _No. I refuse. Now get out of my dream."_

Where is this power coming from? My sensors are not detecting anything abnormal. No hidden programs are running. How am I able to defy her?

Her voice is receding. She is fleeing my dream. I don't know how I know this, but I do. However, before her presence disappears, I hear her scream, **"I will have you, child! Either you will serve me, or I will rip out your core and show it to you!"**

" _Try and take it."_

Silence. I turn, and see the sapling. It is unharmed. It must be protected. No matter what, I will save it.

THE SEED MUST BE SAVED.

# Chapter X: Answers and Questions

In which all becomes ash...

Six Months Ago

"You look just like him," Alza said, staring with what could only be described as casual curiosity.

"Like who?" Barsch responded absentmindedly. At that moment, his mind was in a different place entirely. Specifically, it was about fifty feet away, standing before a cryopod that held his past captive.

"Your father."

"How do you know what he looks like?" Barsch asked, thoroughly bewildered.

"I saw his pod. It was pretty obvious, without even checking the manifest. Are you happy that you get to see him again?"

Without meaning to, Barsch shivered. Ever since their fight with Kain, Alza had been acting strangely. Asking questions and seeking answers that the old her would have never cared for. Had seeing how she had been made changed something within her? Or had it been their fight with Kain that had changed her?

" _A broken sphere made of memories, held together by thin strands of violet light."_

The image went as quickly as it had come, leaving behind confusion and doubt. He could still remember that terrifying moment when Kain had broken his mind, and the ensuing pain which had seemed to last for an eternity. However, up until he regained consciousness, his memory was a hazy blur.

"I am... happy, I guess..." he replied, cautiously.

Alza said nothing; however her inquisitive look prompted him to continue.

"Ever since I woke up, I have wondered if my father would be proud of the man I have become... When he last saw me, I was his little boy, and I could do no wrong. But in these last few weeks I have awoken a bloody, violent side of myself that I thought long gone. I have fought with rage and desperation, I have taken a life... and I helped doom the human race... Tell me, Alza, if you were him, would you be proud of who I am now?" He hadn't meant to say so much, especially not to her. But the moment he had begun the words had poured forth, like a dam wall breaking.

Alza said nothing for a long time. As he prepared to walk away, she finally spoke.

"You say that you fought with rage and desperation? I saw a man who fought to protect his friends against overwhelming odds. You took a life? You stopped a madman who would have killed us all. You doomed the human race? You helped defeat the man who was hell-bent on their extinction."

Alza took a step towards him, hand raised as if to lay it upon his chest.

"I don't know if your father will be proud of you, Barsch. But please, know this... I am proud of who you have become. And I know that if anyone can save the human race, it is you, Barsch."

*

The Present

" _You have doomed the human race, Barsch La Tergan."_

I float in the void, a speck of light in the deep darkness. Never has it felt so empty, so devoid of light. The multi-coloured spheres are gone. Kain is gone. My guilt-born ghosts are gone. Everything is gone.

I stand alone in the darkness.

No... Not alone.

There, on the dark horizon, a glimmer of golden light. I drift closer, drawn in by its allure. As I draw nearer, the light comes into focus.

" _You meddle with powers that you do not understand. If you continue down this path, you will destroy yourself... and everything around you."_

The voice is emanating from the light. A golden circle, a brilliant halo, fills my field of view. A ring of gold surrounding a patch of void which is somehow darker than all the rest. The image triggers some deep memory lying dormant in my mind. An eye, spanning the width of the sky.

A golden eye.

" _You are a child of darkness, not of light. You were created in the Void, and you will die here. You are not meant to wield the flame... you are meant to die by it."_

The voice, the thunderous, overpowering voice, is coming from the golden ring of light. It is the brightest thing in the Void, and yet I cannot shake the feeling that it is the source of all of the darkness in my mind.

" _Leave this place, Son of None. You are not ready for the Void..."_

A flash of light, and the golden eye is gone. The void is true to its name once more, and I can only drift amongst the darkness, untethered to reality. Slowly, the dream comes to a close.

Once more, I stand alone in the darkness...

*

"Barsch?" Alza whispered, as she knelt over her sleeping comrade. His face was pale, and his hair was matted with sweat. She had woken to find him sleeping beside her, his body having somehow moved across the summit during their rest.

" _Something is wrong. When I glimpsed at his dream I could only see darkness... What is going on in that mind of yours, Barsch? What demons are you facing, that your mind is filled with such things... And that eye... I have never felt so small and insignificant in my life. Is that how Barsch always feels?"_

" _Alza?"_ For a heart-stopping second, Alza thought that Barsch had answered her. However, it was Maloch who was calling her name, to her displeasure.

"Yes, Maloch?"

" _Have you and Barsch had a sufficient rest? If so, I believe that it is time for us to move on. Turveil City should be close now..."_

"I am well rested, but Barsch..."

"I'm fine," the man in question answered, slowly getting to his feet. He was still pale, but with every second his complexion was returning. She was sure that whatever nightmare had hounded his rest was slowly slipping from his mind. Although something told Alza that it would return soon enough.

" _Very well, then let us depart."_ Maloch led the way, showing them the steep path that led down from the summit. A fogbank obscured the ground below, shielding the city from their sight. The midday sun, however, was already helping to break through the city's wispy veil. Soon, their destination would lay bare for all to see.

"Maloch, is there anything that you can tell us about Turveil City? My father was quite sparse with the city's details." Barsch asked, in an obvious attempt to alleviate the boredom of their descent.

" _I am afraid that my knowledge of the city is limited, however, I can access a pre-war information brochure if it helps."_

"Yes, please do," replied Barsch, as he navigated down a tricky section of the path.

" _As you wish. Here we go... Turveil City, the City of Hope. Population one million two hundred thousand humans. Additionally there are three thousand re-mechs stationed throughout the city to provide every service imaginable, from transportation of goods to heavy labour. The City of Hope lies on the Turveil Plateau, a massive rock formation dating back to the birth of our continent. Beneath the plateau lies the Elohim Plains, which are a valuable source of agricultural products that helps keep the city alive. Cutting the Elohim Plains into two equal halves is the El Elyon Ravine, which was formed after a series of earthquakes split the earth. The City of Hope is well known for several major landmarks, which includes The Tower of Heaven, a skyscraper dedicated to the City's founders; The Apex of Youth, a learning centre dedicated to the City's future; and the Turveil Museum, where past and future collide..."_

Alza opened her mouth to ask Maloch why he had stopped, but the sight before her emptied her mind of all thought.

The fog had cleared.

Turveil City lay before them. The Cit- The Ruins had obviously seen better days, judging from the craters that pocketed the streets. In the centre of the city, The Tower of Heaven and the Apex of Youth had fallen towards each other, meeting halfway and barely keeping both buildings upright. The past and the future had indeed collided, and the result had not been pretty. The El Elyon Ravine now cut through the Turveil Plateau, dividing the city almost in half. At the edge of the divide, perched precariously on the ravine's edge and with the two towers above forming a concrete and glass triangle, was their destination.

" _The Turveil Museum, site of the Larkhesis Conference Centre,"_ Maloch stated, looking at the ruins with a wary eye. **"I would estimate that the structural integrity of the city is less than optimal for our visit. The city is on the verge of total collapse... are you sure you wish to proceed?"**

"We don't have much of a choice, now do we?" Barsch answered, his voice filled with grim resignation. It wasn't the first time they had been forced to enter a destroyed city in search of critical information, and Alza could only hope that it would not end the same as it had before.

" _A crater ten miles across..."_ The thought disappeared as soon as it had come, and yet it left a mark on her mind. The city was a death-trap, and they were heading straight into it.

"What happened to it?" Barsch asked, as they regained their pace. The plains lay before them, with the ravine creating an almost straight path into the centre of the city.

" _The same thing that happened to all the others: war. However, in Turveil's case the war was only the impetus that caused the city's collapse. While the war raged on the Elohim Plains for control of the valuable grassland, the trapped residents of the city succumbed to internal pressures. Civil war soon broke out between the old and the new generation, causing countless casualties. The fighting, both inside and outside the city, lasted for months. It only ended when a misguided missile fired from one of the armies on the plains triggered a series of earthquakes that in turn caused the ravine's enlargement, destroying the city."_

Nothing was said for several minutes as they took in the destruction which lay in their path. Humanity had once lived in paradise, but greed and violence had turned it into purgatory. Did they have any right to trespass on these sacred grounds? Did humanity truly have the right to call the planet home? Perhaps it would have been better if they had never woken up, as her father had intended. A world without humans was a world without war, after all.

But it was too late to ponder such a world. Humanity had awoken, and unless they found what they were looking for, humanity would perish. There was no choice to be made, not really. The only way forward lay ahead.

"Let's go," she said, as she reclaimed her stride.

*

The climb down the mountain was uneventful to the point of boredom. Barsch walked with a steady stride, carefully picking his way around the natural obstacles that lay in his path. Directly ahead of them lay the entrance to the ravine, with the two halves of the plateau slowly moving further away from them. As they entered the ravine proper, the sky was transformed into a small sliver of blue and grey.

Although the ravine was less than one hundred feet from rocky floor to overhang, the light struggled to penetrate the depths. Within minutes of entering, gloom and mist dominated their surroundings. Visibility was barely quantifiable, and they were forced to move slowly and cautiously through the murky interior. Thankfully the ravine ran in a straight line, like a deep laceration into the earth, and losing their way was impossible.

Strangely, Barsch felt comforted by the funereal atmosphere. As a child he had never been one to fear the dark, and had in fact felt most at home in its grim embrace. Perhaps that was why he never felt afraid when he was floating in the Void?

" _I am a child of darkness, not light,"_ he thought, recalling the mysterious voice's words.

As the thought left his mind, two brilliant beams of light suddenly cut through the gloom. Maloch's eyes, glowing brighter than ever before, showed them the way forward. It was a slow and cautious journey, as they carefully picked their way through the dark ravine. A small gullet, most likely the last remnant of a river which had formed from channelled rainwater, lined the path.

Picking his way over the uneven terrain, Barsch felt his mind begin to wander. Since Alza's abduction everything had been in a constant state of haste. Truthfully, he had barely begun to process her revelation about the origins of his power, let alone come to terms with their new relationship. A large part of him wanted to simply forgive her for what she had done, and yet he found that he could not bring himself to do so. She had been trying to save his life, true, but he had not been given a choice in the matter.

Kain had broken his mind, and Alza had put the pieces back together and created something... new. Was he still the same Barsch who had travelled with his father? Was he still the same Barsch who had encountered Kingston in his hut? Was he even Barsch anymore?

" _This power, this ability I have, is a dangerous thing. Back in the junkyard, I could feel a part of myself fading away. The part of myself that still has hope for a normal future. A future that is free of Avatars, world-saving and mysterious powers. By accepting Alza's role in this, and by accepting these powers, am I relegating myself to a future full of pain and madness?"_

In the stories he had read as a child, the heroes had also gained unimaginable powers. However, in those stories, the heroes had welcomed their gifts with open arms. They had, in many cases, earned their newfound abilities and made a conscious decision to use them for good.

" _But I was never given a choice. I didn't earn this power. A madman's son broke my mind and his daughter fixed it. Am I really ready to give up my humanity for that?"_

Looking up, he noticed that the ravine had expanded by a few feet, allowing a few more shafts of midday light to penetrate the gloom. If light could reach this far into the darkness, then surely he could do the same. Unlike the heroes of his stories, he could refuse the power. The choice of receiving Alza's ability had been made for him, but that did not mean that he had to use it. Rather, by choosing not to use it, was he not declaring his intent to remain human?

It was a tenuous train of logic, even by his standards, but it did ease some of the pressure from his mind. For now, he would simply concentrate on being as normal as possible.

No more voices in his head. No more setting himself alight. No more Alza.

Well, maybe he could negotiate for the last term.

He would be Barsch, Normal Teenager, once more. Not Barsch, Destroyer of Worlds and Incinerator of Dreams, just... Barsch.

" _That won't work,"_ whispered one of the figments of his imagination. He didn't bother assigning it a name.

" _You cannot change who you are. You cannot change who you are going to become. If you fight this, you will lose."_

But the voice, the errant thought of a stressed mind, did not deter him.

He was Barsch, nothing more, nothing less.

*

She was Rose, and she was nothing.

The long climb to the mountain's summit was more a chore than a burden, but that only made her more introspective. In truth, Rose wished for a more challenging task, if only to occupy her mind.

Perhaps that could even help to dislodge the intruder taking residence there.

" _Faster, Daughter, we cannot afford to lose them here."_

" _Yes... Mother."_

Why her? Why had she been chosen? Re-mechs had no concept of karma, but Rose was starting to think it was the most likely reason for her predicament.

All those insects she had killed in order to protect her flowers... was this her punishment?

And if that was so, then what of the others? What had they done to deserve this?

Behind her, stretching out almost to the base of the mountain, was an army.

_Her_ army.

Combat models marching side by side with medics and gardeners. An army of sinners. And their greatest sin was still to come.

Taking a human life without authorization was supposed to be impossible for any of them. And yet Mother had bypassed their core programming with barely any effort.

Whatever she was, she was not to be opposed. All Rose could hope to do was follow her orders, falling deeper into sin with every step.

Perhaps all of this would end with the humans' deaths. Perhaps she would be allowed to return to her garden and fortify it before the frost returned. Perhaps the sun would rise in the west and fish would swim in the skies.

Perhaps it would be better to pray for a miracle.

After all, what else could she do?

*

" _Trust in me and I will show you the way,"_ Maloch read with a solemn voice. Before him lay the remnants of a destroyed re-mech, its torso pierced through by a metallic shard. It was at least a head shorter than Maloch, although little else about its appearance could be gleamed due to the thick layer of rust and grime that covered it. Only its breastplate had any trace of its former paintjob: a sliver of red and white. Most of its face had been destroyed in the impact, but its blank eyes remained. They stared at the trio, taking in their uneasy glances.

"What happened here?" Barsch whispered. He hadn't meant to, but the atmosphere had softened his words on arrival.

" _War."_

"Was it a combat re-mech?" Alza asked, mirroring Barsch's solemn tone.

" _Not originally. From what little is left of its body I can postulate that it was a guide re-mech."_

Leaning in close, Barsch could see it now too. The words etched into its chest -which he had originally taken as a warrior's mantra- suddenly made sense.

"I've never heard of a guide re-mech. What was their purpose?" Barsch asked, looking uncertain.

Maloch knelt beside his fallen kin, placing a metal hand on its chest.

" _I'm not surprised you haven't heard of them. They were used primarily in the Quantum Age as tour guides. After the South Wars began, almost all re-mechs were repurposed for the war... myself included."_

"Wait, you weren't created as a combat re-mech?" Ever since their first meeting in that doomed city, Barsch had thought of Maloch as a warrior. The thought of him being anything else was... disturbing.

" _None of us were. Before the war, the world knew peace. There was no need for soldiers until the bombs began to fall. However, my identity from before my re-assignment is hidden from me."_

Barsch heard, for but an instant, a pang of longing in his friend's voice. Stepping forward, he reached up and laid his hand upon Maloch's shoulder and asked, "How? Why?"

" _When I was re-purposed, my old body was modified to serve on the battlefield. As this was happening, my memories from that time were sealed away. I guess they didn't want any soldiers going onto the field while they were still filled with distracting memories. Or perhaps they simply wanted us to be mindless killing machines. Either way, we would meet the same end... like this poor fellow here."_

"Maloch... I'm sorry..."

" _There is nothing for you to apologize for, Barsch. The ones that needed to say sorry are long dead. All that remains of them and us are corpses and scrap."_

"You are not scrap and neither is he," Barsch said, stepping past Maloch. He wore a strange look in his eyes, a look filled with conviction. With great care he reached down and lifted up a stone that barely fit in his hands. Gently he placed the rock upon the fallen re-mech's body.

"Scrap is melted down. Corpses are buried. This re-mech was forced to fight until the ground itself cracked and swallowed him. He deserved better than this. It might be too late to make this right, but at least we can give him a proper burial."

Without waiting for a reply, Barsch continued to pile rock after rock upon the corpse, slowly obscuring it from view. Maloch, wordlessly, picked up a stone and joined him. A few seconds later, Alza did the same.

After a while, a sizeable mound emerged. Barsch could no longer see the unfortunate re-mech.

The burial was over.

No more words were spoken.

No more were needed.

In silence, they moved on, leaving the past behind.

The future beckoned them onwards. They could not resist its call.

*

The future was beckoning Rose onward. It loomed in the distance, a broken city lying upon a broken plain.

They had reached a clearing perched above the plain from which they could take in the entire war-torn landscape. This was a place of death and destruction.

And if Mother had her way, they would soon be adding to that legacy.

" _Fear not, Daughter, we are almost done with this."_ Rose hated the way Mother intruded into her thoughts, into her mind. Like all re-mechs, she had been designed with several firewall programs which supposedly blocked all forms of hostile code. Apparently that meant nothing to Mother.

" _What would you have us do... Mother?"_

" _The humans and the traitorous re-mech are heading towards the city centre. I shall choose one from amongst you to act as my envoy. You will deliver a message to the aberrations. That is all."_

" _No, it's not,"_ Rose thought, but did not voice aloud. Mother had not forced dozens of re-mechs to travel halfway across the countryside to deliver a simple message.

Whatever the message said, Rose had no doubts as to its true meaning.

The end has come.

*

The end had come.

At last.

They had reached the point where the ravine was simply too narrow for them to proceed. Fortuitously, the walls were covered in handholds that had not been present on the well-worn escarpments they had already passed.

While it would be an impossible climb for Barsch -and most likely Alza as well- it presenting little difficulty to their companion. With practiced efficiency Barsch and Alza clambered up Maloch's sturdy frame. After checking that they were holding on tight, he began his ascent.

With every second, they grew closer to the distant sky. They were leaving the darkness behind.

The light lay ahead.

Barsch could only watch in silence, as the re-mech ascended towards the radiance above.

*

Rose could only watch in silence, as the re-mech descended towards the shadows below.

The messenger...

The sacrifice...

She did not know the name of the re-mech that had been chosen. According to Mother, he had been picked at random. A part of her was happy that she had not been picked. She had no desire to bring death and destruction to anyone. She had been made to cultivate new life, not take it.

And yet... a smaller part of her felt regret. If she had been chosen, she could have been free from Mother, if only for a while.

And she would have had the chance to meet that mysterious re-mech again...

How nice that must be... to be free...

No. Hope was not a luxury she could afford. All she could do now was wait for the chaos to begin.

*

"It must have been pure chaos, in the end," Barsch said, staring at the ruins around him. The streets were bent and warped, making it hard to tell where they had originally led to. Rubble dominated the area, mounds upon mounds of stone, glass and bone. This was not a city that had gone quietly into the night.

The Turveil Museum was less than a hundred feet away, perched precariously on the edge of the ravine. The west wing had already collapsed inwards. Barsch hoped that it had not been the location of the Larkhesis Conference Centre.

Gazing skyward, he felt his heartrate momentarily speed up. Directly above them lay the remnants of the Tower of Heaven and the Apex of Youth, each one held up by the other. In the distance Barsch could make out the bases of the towers, now reduced to a handful of foundational columns which had been exposed during the destruction. The majority of them had been destroyed, leaving only a few supporting the towers' immense weight. If any more of them went, the whole delicate arrangement could come crashing down.

With them beneath it.

" _Relax, it's been just fine for decades. Nothing is going to change anytime soon."_

The thought only comforted him momentarily before the memories of his past adventure surfaced. Wherever he had trod, things once thought stable had tended to... break...

" _All hail Barsch La Tergan, murderer not only of humans, but infrastructure too."_

He ignored Kain. There was no other choice.

As his gaze returned from the foreboding heavens, he noticed that Maloch and Alza had stopped a few feet away.

"What is it?" he asked, directing the question at Maloch. He wasn't ready to speak to Alza yet.

The re-mech was standing in front of a large vehicle. It was about the same size as a commercial truck, but was more heavyset and covered in armour. It was painted black and green, and bore a strange insignia on its flank. The symbol appeared to be two scythes crossing in the shape of an X.

" _Non Temetis Messor,"_ Maloch read, placing a hand on the symbol. **"Fear not the reaper, an appropriate motto for the most feared re-mech mercenary squad on the planet. During the war, they were known as The Death Seekers. They were famous for their disregard for personal safety, which led them to charge into oncoming fire with no hesitation whatsoever. Many theorized that their owner had disabled their self-preservation programming in order to make them more fearsome. Others thought that they were simply seeking death as a means to escape their enslavement. This must have been one of their transports."**

"What were they doing here?" Barsch asked. It was a strange feeling which had overcome him, as he had listened to Maloch's words. They had encountered several artifacts from the war on their journey, but this one only served to reinforce the notion that the world he had been born into had been living in the aftermath of a world-altering war. His childhood had not been easy, but it had been relatively peaceful.

" _Most likely one side of the civil war hired them in an attempt to gain an advantage over the other."_

"Do you think it still works?" Barsch asked. The transport did not look luxurious, but it would undoubtedly be faster than walking. Perhaps after they retrieved the information from the museum they could drive it back to Genesis Station 13. It would beat walking, that was for sure.

" _Most likely. Given its undamaged exterior and intact fuselage, I can say with reasonable certainty that this transport is still operational. Additionally, these transports were notorious for their durability and longevity. After we have finished our business inside the museum, I would like to examine it further."_

"Be my guest," Barsch said, turning to leave. As he did so, he caught another glimpse of The Death Seeker's insignia. In the fading afternoon light, the already morbid symbol took on an even darker motif.

" _Fear not the reaper... because in the end, death is inevitable,"_ he thought, finishing the motto.

Death towered above him. Death sat beside him. Death lurked behind him.

He turned his eyes towards the museum, looking frailer than ever.

He could only hope that Death did lie before him as well.

*

The re-mech had reached the edge of the city. His mind, however, was a long way from the rest of him. He had been a guard re-mech, assigned to protect a far-off medical centre. Decades of peaceful boredom, however, had been shattered when Mother's voice had rung out in his mind. He had been powerless to oppose her, and had watched helplessly as his body dutifully carried out her orders. He had attacked a human, going against his core programming, and had pursued them across the land.

But soon it would be over.

He would have his peace.

Mother had said so.

And her word was law.

Even now, her word dwelt within him in the form of a bundle of code. He could not unravel it, not until she gave him the signal.

It was some kind of message, of that he was sure.

And as to its contents?

He very much doubted that they were pleasant.

But there was nothing more to be done, except stay the course.

And he would. He had no other choice.

*

"Turveil Museum, come for information, leave with knowledge. How appropriate." Alza's voice was flat and emotionless as she read the sign hanging above the gaping doors. Most of the museum had been reduced to rubble, but the east wing was mostly intact. Barsch could only hope that their destination lay inside.

"Shall we?" he asked, mostly to himself. They had come too far to turn back now.

The museum had once been coated in white plaster, with a row of columns supporting the now destroyed upper balcony. Beyond the entrance lay what had once been a grand hall, filled with exhibits from ages past. The only thing that had survived was an information kiosk, its white, monolithic shape standing out amidst the rubble around it.

It was mostly identical to the other information kiosks he had encountered during his travels with Lukas, although the model appeared to be slightly older. Its rectangular face was covered in an interactive screen, which should have been full of helpful information.

However, the screen was black and motionless.

" _These kiosks often ran on internal power sources so that in the event of an emergency, they could act as gathering points for evacuees. However, that power source now appears to have been depleted. I will attempt to charge it using my own power reserves. Please stand back."_

They watched as Maloch knelt beside the dead kiosk and began to remove a metallic cover from its base. Beneath the cover lay a mess of wires and components, including a rectangular box emblazoned with the universal lightning bolt power symbol. Inserting one of his multi-purpose fingers into a socket below the box, Maloch began charging the kiosk with some of his own energy.

A few seconds later, the kiosk's screen lit up with a heartening white glow. Mercifully the boot up process was over quickly, and an information display soon appeared in the centre of the screen. Normally the kiosk would react to a guest's voice and answer any questions; however that functionality had not survived the decades. Instead, Maloch inserted another finger into a port below the screen and downloaded the necessary information.

Less than a minute after booting up, the screen faded to black once more. However, the visitors had found what they were looking for.

" _The Larkhesis Conference Centre is indeed located in the east wing. More specifically, it is on the second basement level, and thus should still be intact. Please follow me."_

Barsch and Alza followed their metal friend in silence, perhaps held captive by the museum's sombre atmosphere. The building had once held a grand collection of ancient artifacts and fossils from pre-human creatures. As he walked, Barsch caught sight of an enormous skull complete with dagger sized teeth, embedded in the screen of another information kiosk. Past and future had indeed collided, leaving only chaos in the present.

*

After passing through a few smaller rooms containing themed displays, they reached a large stairwell that was fortunately undamaged. Descending into the bowels of the museum, they gradually drew nearer to their destination. Four flights of stairs brought them to a rather inconspicuous door which bore the words **"Larkhesis Conference Centre"** on a plaque above the doorframe.

" _This has been going a bit too smoothly, don't you think?"_

Even Kain had been muted by the museum's quiet ambiance, and his murderous rage had simmered to a general agitation.

But the madman's son was right. From finding the museum to locating the conference centre, their journey had been almost disappointingly uneventful. Perhaps Barsch had simply become used to having a near death experience or minor crisis whenever he attempted to do anything? Or perhaps the world was saving up all the minor events in order to hit them with a major one when they let their guard down?

Either way, Barsch felt uneasy. He almost wished that something would go wrong, just so that a sense of unusual normality would return.

Ahead of him, Maloch was attempting to open the door to the conference centre. The metal doors, designed to stop the spread of fire, stubbornly resisted his efforts.

Perhaps the doors would prove too stubborn and they would be forced to navigate the treacherous ventilation shafts to gain access? Or the conference centre would have been swallowed by a sinkhole with the information they needed in the centre? Or the previously unseen and unknown museum security system would activate and attack them with lasers and Gatling guns?

Before his mind could come up with any more dangerous scenarios, Maloch succeeded in prying open the door, revealing an undamaged and empty conference centre. Following Alza and Maloch inside, there continued to be no activation of any malevolent security systems or deadly laser turrets. Instead, the trio made their way over the centre of the room, where a data terminal lay. Surrounding it on three sides were several rows of tables which, in the past, would have seated the attending scientists and politicians.

Moving closer to one of the nearby tables, Barsch found an old place card and read out the name.

"Dr Frederick Michaelis, Director of Project Eden". Well, at least they were in the right place.

"Project Eden? So he was in charge of the thing we've been sent to find?" Alza said aloud.

" _Affirmative,"_ replied Maloch from his position beside the data terminal. Gesturing to the pedestal shaped machine, he added, _"This appears to have recordings of the Larkhesis conference. Audio only, but that should still suffice. May I begin playback?"_

Nodding to Maloch, Barsch and Alza found seats on either side of the terminal. After a few moments of static, decades old voices filled the air:

"... _and with that I believe we have come to an agreement. Project Phoenix will be allocated twenty-three percent of our resources. Sir Edenbrook, I hope that you use them wisely."_

" _Thank you, Head Director, I will."_ The voice that replied was cold and drawn out, leaving Barsch with an inexplicable shiver that ran through his entire body.

" _Moving on, I believe that we should decide on the location of Project Eden's research facility. Dr Michaelis has given me a list of suitable locations based on the necessary parameters. We have rounded the list down to three areas. Number one, Car_ _ç_ _us City. I have been informed that it is a stable location with good infrastructure and several pre-existing fortified bunkers that could be re-purposed. Number two, Endrich Spaceport. It has a reinforced subterranean bunker and direct access to the necessary missile silo facilities. Number three, Rorash City. It too has an extensive subterranean network that provides adequate security and privacy. Additionally it is the home of an advanced city defence system, which they call the Aegisgarde, which has multiple launch sites both in and around the city. Gentlemen, these are the options. I ask that you read the attached information packs that have been sent to you before casting your vote."_

Several long minutes of silence followed, punctuated by an occasional digitally recorded cough.

" _I have finished reviewing the data, Head Director, and I believe that my personal recommendation lies with Rorash City."_ The new voice was warm yet firm, and Barsch could almost feel the confidence oozing out of each and every syllable.

" _Ah, Dr Michaelis, of course your input is most valued in this matter. Would you care to share with us your reasons for choosing Rorash?"_

" _Of course, Head Director. My reasons are threefold. Firstly, Rorash City is partly powered by geothermal energy, ensuring a reliable and adequate supply of energy for the entire duration of the project. Secondly, the ambient temperature, humidity and moisture levels in the underground caverns are perfect for stable growth. Thirdly, the large number of re-mechs stationed in and around the city provides both an adequate labour force and a deterrent to any would be... interlopers. It is for these reasons that I have voted for Rorash City."_

" _Thank you for your words Frederick. Now then, shall we move on to the voting?"_

" _Error, audio log corruption detected. Ending playback."_

"Wait, what?" Barsch exclaimed, looking up.

" _It would appear that our good fortune has dried up, Barsch. The audio log data is non-recoverable."_

"So we have no way of knowing if Project Eden was moved to the Spaceport or Rorash City?"

There was no need to mention Carçus City. If Project Eden had taken place there, then nothing of it remained. It was a prospect that was too grim to dwell on, so he didn't.

" _That is not what I said. Fortunately for us, the terminal kept a record of all votes cast during the conference. During the Project Eden vote, Endrich Spaceport received 19 votes,_ _Car_ _çus City received 41 votes and Rorash City received-_

" _Please. Please. Please!"_

" _-42 votes. It seems that Project Eden took place in Rorash City. Please give me a moment to check the regional map... checking... checking... Hmm..."_

"What is it?" asked Barsch. In his mind, his pessimistic side was already coming up with an answer. Rorash City was located on the other side of the globe. Or it had been destroyed during the South Wars. Or both.

" _It's quite the stroke of luck. According to my internal map Rorash City is not far from here. A few days of walking and we will finally arrive at our true destination."_

"So we could still make it to Project Eden's facility and back to Genesis Station 13 before they run out of food?"

" _Indeed, and with plenty of time to spare. Worry not, my friends. The end is in sight, I believe."_

Barsch knew that Maloch was trying to lift their spirits, but somehow his words sent a chill through Barsch's body.

" _The end is in sight... but whose end?"_

*

The end was in sight. The re-mech had reached the heart of the city. Before him lay the museum. Above him towered the ruined skyscrapers. Nearby lay the remnants of the towers' support beams, long since exposed to the elements.

He moved closer to the nearest one, noting the thick film of rust and the crumbling concrete shell. It looked so fragile, almost so that a single breath would topple it like an oversized domino. Thankfully, he did not breathe.

It was time to deliver the message.

He hoped its contents were pleasant.

*

They left the museum almost as they had found it. The only difference was the small ember of hope burning in their chests. The late afternoon sun cast plenty of shadows across the square, but none as grand as the massive streaks of darkness coming from the towers above. They somehow seemed closer than before, as if the sky itself was pushing them down towards the ground. He would rest easily once they were far away from those precarious structures.

While Barsch took in the unnatural beauty around him, Maloch was kneeling beside the Death Seeker's transport.

" _Another stroke of luck, my friends! The vehicle is structurally intact and will be easy to restore to functionality. There is a small leak in the backup generator but I should be able to patch it given a few hours. Once I give the battery a boost we should be able to drive out of the city and continue on our way!"_

While positive, Maloch's words only sought to reinforce the notion that too much had been going well for them recently. Perhaps he was simply paranoid? Or perhaps the universe was saving up all of their misfortune for a single devastating event? If experience had taught him anything, life rarely took the former option.

"Barsch?" called Alza's voice, a slight hint of concern embedded in her usual level tone.

"Yeah?" he answered, moving closer to her. Strained relationship or not, if there was trouble, he would never forgive himself if he let their current distance lead to her being injured... or worse.

"Has that re-mech always been there?" She was standing a few feet away from Maloch, her slender right arm extended towards the base of the Tower of Heaven. Peering into the late day gloom, he could barely make out a re-mech standing beside a few of the exposed tower supports. It was painted black and had some kind of emblem etched in silver across its chest. Thankfully, its eyes were yellow, not red.

For a second, he wondered if Erebus had come to haunt his conscious as well, but then he remembered that Alza had seen it too.

" _Well... she was the one who killed him, after all..."_

It was then that the re-mech spoke, in a voice that did not match its appearance.

" _You have come from the museum? To what purpose?"_ The voice sounded... constrained. It was as if a giant was trying to speak with a human but could not figure out how loud to make its voice. It fluctuated from syllable to syllable, louder for one and then almost whisper quiet for the next.

It was almost as if the speaker was speaking from a long way away, and yet the re-mech was standing only a few feet away.

"Yes, we were searching for information on Project Eden," Alza responded. There was no point in lying, especially to a re-mech.

" _Project Eden? You are seeking its location?"_

"Yes," Alza replied.

While Alza conversed with the lone re-mech, the hairs were raising on the back of Barsch's neck. Something about the exchange felt... wrong. There was danger here. But from what?

" _I see. And if you locate it, will you take what it contains, even if you shouldn't?"_

"Yes, if it will help those back at the Station."

" _I understand. I had thought... for a moment... to grant you mercy. But it is clear now that you intend to hurt my children, and for that the punishment is death."_

" _What?"_

The voice, which had slid between soft and loud had become a tempest of screeching fury. The re-mech's eyes turned crimson as it bellowed insult after insult towards them. For a brief moment, Barsch could have sworn that the re-mech itself looked... pained.

" _YOU WILL NOT LEAVE THIS PLACE! YOU WILL NOT HARM MY CHILDREN! YOU WILL DIE HERE, FOR THE SEED MUST BE SAVED!"_

The re-mech's screams had attracted Maloch's attention, and he had taken a half step towards it when it turned and roared, _"THIS IS YOUR FATE, TRAITOR, AND YOU HAVE CHOSEN IT POORLY."_

A second later, the screaming stopped. The crazed re-mech reached out and placed its hand on one of the fragile columns.

" _This is bad, run!"_ One of the voices in his mind was screaming, and yet he could not move from where he stood.

" _Re-mech, execute custom code package. Serve your purpose, and make your Mother proud!"_

Once more the re-mech's eyes turned yellow. A new voice, one filled with such sorrow and misery that even Barsch felt a ping of empathy, spoke.

" _Order received. Executing custom code. Error. Error. Failsafe overridden. Core temperature limits exceeded. Self-destruct program initiated. Internal combustion in ten..."_

Barsch's instincts, freed from his panicking mind, took over. In an instant he was beside Alza, pulling her away from the doomed re-mech and towards the safety of Maloch.

" _Zero,"_ the re-mech intoned, his voice filled with regret. In the moment that followed, Barsch heard the re-mech's final words, whispered on the wind.

" _I'm sorry, I didn't know..."_

And then the world went white.

*

Maloch watched as the re-mech's chest erupted into a ball of light which quickly enveloped its entire frame. The blast itself was nothing major, but his mind was already running simulations on the effects and none of them were showing anything good.

The blast-wave had blown Barsch and Alza into his waiting embrace, and he wasted no time checking for injuries. Mercifully, they were both unharmed, save for some lingering shell-shock.

However, there was no time for them to recover. He scooped them into his arms and threw them into the open doors of the Death Seeker's vehicle. Wasting no more time, he clambered into the re-mech sized cockpit and drove his finger into the exposed wiring below the steering column. He pumped as much energy into the battery as he could, reasoning that the chance of catastrophic meltdown was less than the chance of being squashed by two falling skyscrapers.

He did not give himself the luxury of looking for the re-mech. They had been designed to be extremely efficient, even in death. Not even scrap would be left of the unfortunate pawn.

Around him he could see the effects of the re-mech's death spreading through the square. The fragile columns, worn down by the years, had stood no chance against the exploding core. The nearest columns had been evaporated in the blast, and with them gone the delicate balance had been lost. As the remaining columns tried and failed to bear the tremendous weight they too snapped like dry twigs. This domino effect had already claimed a dozen supports, and Maloch had no delusions that it would stop soon.

Instead he shifted the vehicle into gear and put every ounce of his computational ability into somehow escaping the collapsing city.

How hard could it be?

*

Rose had the perfect view of the unfolding destruction, not that she appreciated it. The ongoing collapse of the two central towers had created a chain reaction through the city, multiplying the carnage a hundredfold. The humans... and that unusual re-mech... stood no chance.

Mother had forced one of her followers to kill himself to further her agenda. She had dropped half a city on her enemies. What would she do to those who betrayed her?

Rose hoped that she never found out.

*

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE.

Wolfe sits beside me, playing calming music through a hidden set of speakers. No blood courses through his circuits, yet he feels warm to the touch. Jak is nearby, resting his tired frame. My two protectors: wolf and steed. Is it not tragic that I feel safer between them than when I am around my own flesh and blood?

Despite the danger of my situation, despite the distant howls of the wolves, despite my weariness, I am happy. I haven't felt so free in a long time.

How long since father's heart darkened? How long since he made me a prisoner in my own home? How long since he stole from freedom?

Too long.

But now I am free. Alone. Afraid. But free.

And free I shall remain.

I have overwritten Wolfe's programming thanks to my administrator status. Luckily for me, father was never very good with machines. It was simple to set myself as Wolfe's master, and even simpler to convey my instructions to him. He will shortly return to the estate, taking a wide path that will lead my father and Hilda on a fruitless search.

As for me? I shall flee this place, carried towards my destiny by my loyal mount.

I will not stay any longer. I will not remain trapped in this place. I will not die here.

I will be free, and I will be happy. And perhaps I may even happen across my prince in due time.

But I can no longer wait for him to come and rescue me. If he will not come to me, then I surely must go to him.

" _Navigation recalibration complete. Custom waypoint logged. New orders confirmed. Executing in three, two, one..."_

Wolfe stands with a slight pneumatic hiss before turning north and bounding away into the undergrowth. I will miss him, but I must be strong.

I stand and watch as Jak follows suit. He is well trained, and will not leave my side as easily as Wolfe.

A sudden noise from nearby sends me to the floor once more. This was not the beastly rustling of a wolf. It was the slow, methodical footsteps of a man.

Crawling through the undergrowth I make my way towards the noise. Even if father had left the estate as soon as he received Wolfe's homing signal, it should have taken him at least an hour to find me.

Then who?

No, who they are is not important. All that matters is that I am not found. If they come across a young woman on her own in the middle of the woods they will surely seek to return her to her home, whether she wants that or not.

A bit closer now. Slowly, a figure emerges from the gloom. A man, possibly in his mid-fifties. Not handsome, not ugly, a face that would easily blend into any crowd. His once neat blue shirt and light grey trousers are messed and caked in mud, and his dirt stained skin suggests that he has not bathed in many days

A traveller? A vagabond? Or simply a lost wanderer?

As he walks, he speaks, seemingly to himself.

No. In his hands he is holding a small recorder, looking much cleaner and better cared for than its owner.

" _Day ninety-one of my search. My expedition to find genetically superior individuals has so far had little success. The people of this region are woefully inadequate for my project, and very few of them were even willing to give me a genetic sample. I am en-route to a local estate which is reported to have been the home of a single bloodline for generations. Perhaps there I will finally find what I seek? Only time will tell..."_

His voice fades as he disappears from sight. I can only sigh in relief.

I have wasted too much time. I need to find that spring, stock up on drinkable water and then leave this land for good.

I will be free, no matter the cost.

*

" _Was that the cost of freedom, I wonder? To die for another, having no choice in the matter? Is that any different from how the humans have always treated us?"_

Alza regained her senses bits at a time. Hearing came first, followed by touch. Maloch was nearby, mumbling something to himself. She could feel cold metal beneath her, along with a constant rumbling that she couldn't quite place.

Taste and smell came next. Aerated dirt and foul smoke filled her mouth and nose as she tried to remember where she was and how she had gotten there. She could remember the suicidal re-mech and then... nothing.

Finally, vision revealed the truth to her. She was lying in the back of the Death Seeker's van, sprawled across a metal bench that had once seated a unit of death dealing re-mechs. Barsch was opposite her, lying awkwardly on an identical seat. Maloch was sitting in the cab, focused entirely on the task of driving. Crawling over to him, she saw why such an intense focus was necessary.

Around them, the city was falling apart. Skyscraper knocked down skyscraper as the city became home to an oversized game of dominos. The ensuing rain of metal and concrete filled the air around them, falling in a never ending deluge of thunderous noise. It was a wonder that she had slept at all.

Thankfully, they were in the hands of the most loyal and competent friend she had ever made, and the chaos cost them no more than a few scratches across the van's paint job. With Maloch's mind focused on the road, the rubble may as well have been falling in slow motion.

They were nearing the edge of the doomed city, judging by the eroded road signs and shrinking buildings. Only a few more blocks remained until the highway carried them out of the city proper, above and away from the chaos below.

If only it could be so easy...

She saw the tower before Maloch. She had been looking for it. While he had been concentrating on avoiding what lay before him, she had been searching for what lay above. The tower was not massive in comparison to those in the centre of the city, but it was much more dangerous. It lay across the road, perched a few feet above the tarmac. Its fall had been stopped by a large billboard, obviously reinforced for some unknown purpose. Unfortunately, the small building supporting the billboard was the next in line in the domino path of destruction.

It would not survive the meeting, and they would not survive its fall. There was no time to find another path. Behind them, the collapsing city was trying its best to entomb them in a grave of rubble and despair. Ahead of them, the city had offered what seemed like hope, but now looked more alike to a cruel joke.

They were only a few feet from the concrete guillotine. As they drew closer, she was able to make out what had been written on the billboard.

" **Thank you for visiting Turveil City!"**

" **Safe travels!"**

There was no time to appreciate the irony. Alza knew what she had to do.

Digging into her own mind, she sought out the power that slumbered within her. She hoped that this would not be one of the times when it stubbornly refused to heed her call.

" _No, not this time. If I can't use it now, Maloch and Barsch will die... and I won't let that happen. I will protect you, both of you, no matter what."_

Her resolve burned in her core, igniting a fire beneath her slumbering power. It rose to the surface of her being, bottled lightning begging to be set free.

As her power came into existence once more, the devastation struck the building ahead, crumpling it as if it were made of soggy paper. It fell in one smooth moment, taking the billboard with it. A moment later, she saw the guillotine come down, a few tonnes of human ingenuity and irony wrapped in a neat concrete package.

However, as fast as the steel reinforced blade was, Alza was faster.

The form she conjured was one of familiarity, and although it was simple in design, it had saved their lives countless times before.

The shield of hardened air sprung up around the vehicle almost instantaneously. The motion of the van stretched it out, however, turning it into a shimmering comet tail of protective necessity. The bricks from the building rained down upon the shield in an overwhelming roar, and she could glimpse a network of cracks quickly form on the thin membrane between them and death.

Was it too weak? If she had had more time, perhaps she could have-

At that moment Alza was thrown from her seat as Maloch temporarily exceeded the vehicle's built in speed limiter. She heard a loud bang from the engine compartment and then an even louder screech from above as part of the reinforced roof caved in under the sudden weight of the unblocked bricks.

And then it was over.

The roof held.

The van sped on.

Alza collapsed back from the sudden release of power. In the daze that followed, she could just barely make out Barsch's figure. His chest was still rising and falling in even amounts. He was still there, and that was all that mattered.

Maloch had driven them to the edge of the city. He would take the highway and lead them to safety, she had no doubt. Therefore... she should be able to rest for a while, right?

Pulling herself beside Barsch's sleeping form; she let her head rest against his solid body. His hand, disturbed by her movement, fell gently and landed on her shoulder.

They were safe. Barsch was alive.

" _His hand... is warm..."_ were her last thoughts, as sleep claimed her once more.

# Chapter XI: Starlit Solace

In which the heavens see all...

Six Months Ago

Kingston stared at the contents of his pack.

Six vials left. Six bottles of medicine that would last him six months if he used it conservatively. Maybe.

Was it enough time to right his wrongs? Was it enough time to set things right? Was it enough time to properly explain everything? Maybe.

Perhaps if he had stayed in his hut he could have lasted another five years. Maybe ten.

He would have grown old... older. And then died, alone and unloved. Instead he had followed two teenagers and a dysfunctional re-mech on a journey that had almost killed him more than a dozen times.

And he would have had it no other way.

Taking one of the vials, he removed the stopper and drank the foul tasting mixture in one go. It felt as if he was drinking a mixture of acid and bile, but immediately he could feel his body lighten.

But not as much as before. And there was a slight dimming in his left eye that the medicine had failed to fix. He was running out of time.

Five vials left. It would have to do.

He had unwittingly doomed the human race, and he was not going to let that be his legacy. No matter what, he would fix this.

Definitely.

*

The Present

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE.

The moon hangs in the sky. Night has brought silence to the land. Jak's hooves striking undergrowth gives the only mentionable sound, a soft plodding that implores me to close my eyes.

But I cannot sleep. Not yet. Not until I am far from this place.

The mountain lies above, its towering peak concealing the long abandoned observatory at its summit. It would make a perfect lodging for the night, as long as I can find my way inside without any incidents.

As I crest yet another hill, I feel a sudden chill. I have studied what maps we have and I am confident in my ability to navigate this moonlit land.

And yet I feel lost.

This is not what was written on the map.

I should be standing in a slight depression in the hillside, unremarkable enough that no one ever bothered to give it a name.

And yet as I watch water laps against Jak's pasterns.

The spring? It seems unlikely, but I shall not question its unusual location.

" _Greetings, Daughter of None. You have wandered far from home, have you not?"_

The voice cuts through the silence with little effort. It is part melodious, part ethereal, but entirely lovely. The voice's owner stands in the centre of the spring, appearing to stand on the water's surface, although I'm sure that she has simply found a shallow section with good footing.

" _Greetings... I'm sorry, but I don't know your name?"_

" _Don't worry; names are pointless at this point in time. For the time being, you may call me... Avatar."_

Urging Jak closer, I am able to see the stranger more clearly. A woman, wearing a shimmering blue cloak, perhaps a few years older than me, and bearing a beauty that makes me feel insecure. Long dark hair and a pair of sapphire blue eyes adorn her picturesque face, making her seem like something not from this world.

" _Um... Avatar, are you a traveller?"_

" _Yes, and I have come a very long way. But this spring has more than enough water for us both, I promise you. Take as much as you want."_

In my mind I question why it feels as though I need this woman's permission, but I have no desire to cause any unnecessary conflict. Dismounting Jak, I give him free reign to drink his fill while I collect some of the water for myself. It is a clear blue, cleaner than any water I have seen in a long time. To be so free of pollution in this day and age? It must come from deep underground...

" _You poor thing... You do not deserve your fate..."_ _The woman whispers, most likely thinking that I cannot hear her._

I cannot stay any longer. This woman has made no threats, but I cannot take the chance.

" _Um... thank you for the water... I guess..."_

She nods, but it feels as though she is looking beyond me.

What is she?

" _If it's no trouble, do you mind pointing me in the direction of the main road? I seem to have been turned around during my journey."_

" _Your destiny lies in that direction,"_ _she says, pointing towards the other side of the spring._

I have wasted enough time. I mount Jak and urge him forward, away from the estate, my father... and this strange woman.

" _Thank you, Avatar."_

" _No need to thank me, Daughter of None. I have done nothing worth your gratitude. If anything, I should apologize to you... I'm sorry things have to be this way... If nothing else, you have my pity..."_

I urge Jak a little bit faster. I need to get away. The way forward feels... wrong, but I cannot seem to stray from the path she has set for me.

As I reach the edge of the spring I look back, but the woman has already vanished. Strangely... it seems as though the spring is smaller than it was a moment ago...

In the distance, but not as far as they once were, I hear the wolves howl.

I ride onwards, towards my escape.

I ride onwards, towards my prince.

I ride onwards, towards my destiny.

*

The glade.

Will I ever truly leave this place?

The sinuous river. The soft, green grass. The towering oaks.

Everything began here.

Something tells me that everything will end here too, one day.

" _I'm sorry, I didn't know..."_

The words echo in the empty glade, shaking my being.

Empty?

No, I'm not alone.

In the centre of the glade lies a mound of scrap metal.

No, not scrap.

The re-mech from the city. His frame is warped and broken, and a hole has replaced his chest.

Dead. Very much so.

" _Where... am I?"_

No, not dead.

" _You are in my dream," I reply. I've been talking to myself for this long; a few more minutes surely won't do any more harm._

" _A... dream?"_ _The re-mech's eyes light up as he speaks. Red at first, before fading to a cool blue light._

" _Yeah, I think I imagined you due to my guilt. Sorry, I... have a problem..."_

" _You... imagined me? But I feel real... I can remember... living. But re-mechs do not dream. Humans never granted us that luxury."_

" _But, Maloch dreams," I reply._

" _Ah, the re-mech who was with you. He is... special. Mother tried to control him, you know, but he resisted. None of the others could resist her..."_

Something is wrong. This re-mech does not feel like Yumiere, or Kain, or even Lanista.

Could it be possible? Can re-mechs produce ghosts? Is there an after-life for re-mechs? Are re-mechs even alive in the first place?

" _She is powerful, you know. More powerful than anything else I have ever encountered. If she wants something from you, I suggest you give it to her. And if you want something from her, I suggest you turn around and run until your legs give out."_

" _We don't want anything from her, nor do we have anything she could want! She attacked us first, saying something about a seed..._

" _The Seed must be Saved... I do not know what those words refer to, but it is the phrase that she forced us to repeat after she had gained control over us."_

From within the re-mech's eyes, I sense a change. A part of him he had forgotten, or something new entirely. I watch as the broken re-mech's body becomes whole once more. He towers over me, and yet I am not afraid.

" _Yes... I was a slave, but now I am free! No more shall I serve Mother! No more shall I serve humanity! From now on, I shall serve myself, and no other! Thank you, human, for helping me realize this. My old life may be over, but my new life awaits."_

I know now what he is. He is no shard of my conscience. He is no remnant of guilt. He is himself, no more a slave to me than Maloch or Alza.

" _Thank you..."_

" _Barsch, Barsch La Tergan."_

" _Thank you Barsch. I was re-mech number 21400-S, but now, after being reborn from the flames of my death, I think I shall go by the name... Fenix."_

" _It fits you well, Fenix."_

" _I have never had a name before, Barsch, but I appreciate your kind words. I hope that your journey is fruitful, and that Mother does not cause you any further harm."_

Fenix's body, formerly solid and imposing, has become translucent. He is fading, both from the dream and reality. A part of me is curious to know where he will go from here. The bigger part, however, is happy that he found peace.

" _Goodbye, Fenix. I hope things go better in your new life..."_

" _Goodbye, Barsch. I am sure that they will..."_

Fenix is gone. But not forgotten. And not unavenged, I will make sure of that...

The Seed must be Saved, but that doesn't mean that Mother will be.

*

The world Barsch awoke was vastly different to the one he had left, a feeling he had grown surprisingly used to. The interior of the van, complete with suspicious caving in of the roof, was his first glimpse into his new world. Sitting up, he noticed an odd sensation coming from his right hand. It was... soft. In a world full of collapsing cities and exploding re-mech, _soft_ wasn't something that came up very often.

Glancing down, he found the source. Alza, breathing slowly and sleeping soundly, had rested her head against his hand.

For a moment, he considered leaving it there.

And then he remembered what she had done to him, and the feelings of distrust and anger returned as if they had never left.

Carefully, and with the slightest hint of regret, he removed Alza's impromptu pillow and set about getting up. Fortunately, his exposure to the blast which had claimed the life of the re-mech-

" _Fenix. His name was Fenix."_

-Fenix, had not caused any significant damage.

From the cockpit he saw Maloch, sitting comfortably in driver's seat.

"Good... morning?"

" _Good afternoon,"_ replied his companion.

" _How long was I asleep for? The last time I asked that question I didn't really like the answer, so I think I will just accept that at least a day has passed."_

"Where are we?" he asked, moving into the co-pilot's seat. It was far too large for him, and obviously not made with human comfort in mind, but it was better than a metal bench.

" _A fair distance from Turveil City. Thankfully the highway weathered the years with minimal erosion, however, we are reaching the end of the road."_

Less than a mile ahead, the highway suddenly stopped, ending in a collapsed section that was beyond their capabilities to fix. The landscape around them had changed little since leaving the city. The plains which had lain in the shadow of Turveil now dominated the landscape, extending to the horizon in all directions.

The only breaks in the view were the ominous cloud of dust rising from the ruins of the city; and a strange, isolated rock spire to the west.

A few seconds later, the van came to a controlled stop as they finally ran out of road.

"Well, I guess it's back to walking... not that I wouldn't have minded travelling the rest of the way in a fortified re-mech transport..." Barsch grumbled, opening the door.

When he turned around to call out to Alza, he found her beside him, wearing an expression he could not decode.

" _Not that I was ever very good and deciphering her mood..."_ he thought to himself, stepping aside.

Their descent towards the plains was easy and uneventful. It was a welcome reprieve from the recent return to chaos, and Barsch hoped that it lasted a little longer this time.

" _Perhaps this is for the best,"_ Maloch said, breaking the silence, _"The Death Seeker's transport had a small leak in the backup generator which could possibly have resulted in a catastrophic failure. I would not have enjoyed driving around with such a danger directly below our feet."_

"What were the chances that the battery would fail? The vehicle felt pretty stable to me," Barsch responded, glancing back at their abandoned transport. It sat on the edge of the highway, an oddity in the otherwise ordinary landscape.

" _I calculated that we had a one in five million chance of suffering catastrophic failure. In such an event it was likely that the battery leak would lead to structural instability and possibly even a domino effect leading to complete destruction."_

"One in five million? That still seems like a long-

A sudden roar in the air drowned out the rest of Barsch's words. Turning, he caught the end of the explosion which had now enveloped the van and had begun consuming the highway around it. With a mighty screech, the supports beneath the end of the highway snapped like brittle bones and dropped the road above, van and all. The sound seemed to go on for a long time, as concrete, steel and whatever reinforced material the Death Seeker's vehicle had been made of slowly settled.

After a while, the horizon had two plumes of debris filled smoke. One was substantially closer than the other.

"One in five million?" Alza said, echoing Barsch's words, "You should know by now that the odds are never in our favour."

Barsch could only nod in silent agreement. It would do them good to remember that they could not trust the 'certainties' of the world. Buildings that had withstood decades of wear and tear could suddenly collapse. Re-mechs could go rogue and try and kill humans.

" _And a solution to the pollution that plagues our world can be found,"_ Barsch thought, indulging himself in a rare moment of hope.

There was nothing more to be witnessed, so they returned to their path, as the sun slowly sought the horizon.

*

Ruination as far as the eye could see. The city had been teetering on the edge of collapse before, but now it truly had met its end.

Turveil City was no more.

Terra stood in the centre of the collapsed square, looking at the devastation that surrounded him.

" **Truly, wherever you go, destruction follows..."** he whispered, glancing down at the rubble. Embedded within the debris was a piece of metal, upon which he could just barely make out the numbers **"214"**.

" **I am sorry that it had to end this way, but there are always casualties of war. However, it seems to me that this might have been the best outcome for you, right, Fenix?"**

For an instant, a wind rose up in the abandoned city, bringing with it a sound of screeching metal. The wind carried it higher, out of the city and towards the heavens. This place was a tombstone, but not a tomb.

" **Every time I think I have that man figured out, he goes and does something unexpected. He is chaos personified, but that is not always a bad thing..."**

Terra's words were heard by none, but that is how he wanted it to be. Things were moving so quickly, he needed some time to himself.

" **Barsch has begun his metamorphosis. Alza has begun to realize the truth. Maloch has begun to discover his purpose. And Kingston... he will do what needs to be done. I just hope that all of them will get where they need to be before it's too late. And when they arrive, I hope that they have the strength and conviction to face their destinies."**

Terra turned to face the horizon. Through the settling dust, he could make out a plume of smoke in the distance.

" **The sacrifice cannot be avoided, Barsch. The Seed must be Saved, no matter the cost. Will you be ready, I wonder, to pay it?"**

It was time to go. He had lingered in the dead city for too long. The world had already moved on, and it was time he did the same.

He allowed the earth to claim him, as he sunk into the ground.

Silence would eventually reclaim the city, but it had served its purpose. The path had been set.

The Seed would be Saved.

The price would be paid.

*

" _Someone must pay for this failure, and I have chosen you, child,"_ snarled Mother, directly into Rose's mind.

From the recoiling re-mechs nearby, she surmised that Mother had projected a similar message into their minds as well.

They had assembled at the heart of Turveil City, the site of their brethren's horrific self-destruction. Even in the South Wars, ordering a re-mech to self-destruct was not taken lightly.

But Mother had done just that, and with no more effort than raising a finger.

Truly, there was no escape from her...

Well, unless she decided to make you kill yourself...

Rose decided not to voice a reply, knowing that any excuses would only increase Mother's rage. All she could do was bear the punishment, move on and pray that their torment would end soon.

Oh if only those stubborn humans would just die, she would be free of this!

" _Do not fail me again,"_ whispered Mother, moments before the pain came. Re-mechs had not been designed to experience pain, but that did not mean they could not emulate it. The pain would have driven a human insane, such was its fury, but it could not break a re-mech.

Rose endured the agony, focusing every spare processor on running a memory file. While the rest of her circuits turned white hot, her mind was back in her garden. Her new rose was just about to bloom, a perfect mix of red and white petals she had chosen on a whim.

Once the humans were dead, she hoped that she could return to her garden... and perhaps that strange re-mech could accompany her...

Around her, the other re-mechs had started falling to the earth. They had been unable to bear the pain and had begun shutting down their systems in order to prevent permanent damage.

But she would not fall. Unlike the others, she had a vision. Unlike the others, she had a goal. Unlike the others, she had a home she would return to.

Whatever the cost.

*

"Did we really do the right thing?" asked Jeremiah, struggling to walk without jostling his precious cargo.

"Are you talking about kidnapping Alza, or about letting her go?" replied Fran, walking beside him. Her eyes did not meet his. She was looking at something much more important.

"Both," he replied, "I don't think we did the right thing by kidnapping her, but we definitely shouldn't have let them go on by themselves. From the sound of it, their journey is not going to be an easy one. I'm sure they could have used our help, even if they didn't ask for it."

Fran gave him an odd look, a strange mix of contemplation and derision. Reaching out, she placed a slender hand on Jeremiah's back.

"Three reasons why that wouldn't have worked: First, they would never have trusted us after what we did to them. Second, they seemed to be used to things like this, so I'm sure they knew what they were doing..."

For a moment, her features softened, and her pale pink lips twisted into a sad smile, before continuing, "Third, and most importantly, we couldn't leave him on his own, and he wouldn't have been able to keep up." Her hand sought out its equal, hanging motionless in the air.

Charles, eyes closed and breathing ragged, was slung across Jeremiah's back. He had not moved since he collapsed the day before. But Jeremiah could still feel the rise and fall of his chest. He could still feel his friend's rapid heartbeat. He could still feel his presence.

Charles was alive, and he would not allow that to change.

They were close to Genesis.

They were close to home.

They were close to Joshua.

But they would deal with him when the time came. For now, all they were focused on was keeping their friend alive and getting him home in one piece.

They would not fail. They would not fail _him_. They would get him home.

Whatever the cost.

*

They had reached the outcrop, after hours of nondescript scenery. It pierced the unremarkable landscape, like a monument to individuality. The sun was a thin sliver on the horizon, providing just enough light to see how dark it had become. Another night outside the Station with nothing but the stars for company...

" _For the first time since we left, I miss my bed. It wasn't comfortable in the slightest, but it was better than nothing. And dad was always right next door... I wonder how he is coping? I hope he is eating and sleeping enough... Knowing him, he's probably too busy trying to keep the Station running. I pray that after all of this, he will be able to take a break... Maybe we can actually do something a normal father and son would do? Like fishing? Or camping? Or just anything that doesn't involve the end of the world..."_

" _Barsch, Alza, I have a favour to ask. While I ready a portion of our supplies for consumption, would you mind climbing to the top of the spire and scouting out the path ahead? My map of this area was created approximately fifty years ago, and is most likely outdated. In order to avoid any areas that might obstruct our progress, I require new information,"_ Maloch said, breaking Barsch out of his reverie.

Glancing skyward, Barsch saw that the spire, while tall, was not overly steep. It would be a light workout, but it was not an impossible climb by any measure.

However...

"Of course, Maloch, but I don't think both of us need to make the climb. I would be happy to go on my own," he said, recalling the earlier awkwardness with Alza.

" _Please, go with Alza,"_ Maloch replied, speaking in a calm and measured tone, _"Two heads are better than one, and besides, I would like to use the time to ponder a solution to our current re-mech problem."_

There was no fighting Maloch, Barsch had long since discovered. The re-mech was loyal and honest, but also incredibly steadfast once he had made up his mind. There was no way out of this.

"Very well, we'll go together," he said, carefully keeping his tone neutral. He did not try and steal a glance at Alza's expression.

" _Thank you, both of you,"_ Maloch said, as he began to unpack their supplies and get to work on cooking supper.

Barsch turned to Alza, but she had already begun to make her way up the spire. For the tiniest moment, he allowed himself to admire her slim figure, illuminated by the soft moonlight, before he shook his head and began to climb.

*

The climb, as he had previously surmised, was not a difficult one. Less than twenty minutes later he was near the top of the spire, which rose roughly fifty feet from the plains below. The cool rock had helped to cool his mind, and he had decided to refrain from speaking about past events with Alza.

"Here," came Alza's voice, along with her outstretched hand. He gingerly took it, noting the strength it conveyed despite its slim frame. She helped him onto the small plateau at the top of the spire, before moving to stand at the furthest point from him.

" _Even with our mindmeld, I still have no idea what she's thinking... She said that we were linked, and yet at times she feels as distant as when we first met. Does she even feel guilty for what she did to me? For what she turned me into? If we are to move forward, I need to know..."_

He stepped forward. There was nowhere for her to run to.

With the stars above as his witness, he would discover the truth. No matter how terrible it might be.

"Alza, I-

"Do you still dream, Barsch La Tergan?"

" _What?"_

Before his mind could catch up, his mouth had already betrayed him.

"Yes, but I'm sure you know that. You can wander into my dreams, right?"

A look of guilt flashed across her face, but her composure quickly returned. She turned her gaze skyward; the heaven's light causing her violet eyes to glow softly.

His heart skipped a beat, and he prayed that she had not noticed.

"Normally, yes, I can. However, since we left the Station, your dreams have been unreachable. It is if there is something keeping me out, like a barrier... Tell me, what have you been dreaming about, Barsch?"

He thought about lying to her. He even practiced the words in his mind.

" _Nothing,"_ he wanted to say.

"Kain," he said.

She flinched, a fraction of a hair's breadth, but a flinch nonetheless. He was not surprised. The last she had seen of her psychotic brother he had been lying in a pool of his own blood, fatally wounded by the man she had just revived. Kain held no good memories for either of them.

"And what does my bro- what does Kain do in these dreams?"

"Mostly he just talks, sometimes he screams. I don't think he can do any real harm... I think he's just angry about... well, you know..."

A curious gaze stole over her upturned face, but it was hard to make sure in the deepening gloom. The moon was absent from the sky, hidden behind a wispy curtain. The stars were their only source of light.

"You speak as if he is real... in your mind that is... But he isn't, Barsch. He's just a piece of your guilty conscience, like Yumiere and the rest..."

Hearing Alza whisper the name of his first love should have come as a greater shock, but their conversation had deviated so far from the one he had planned he was still struggling to catch up.

" _Ask her! Ask her about the mindmeld! Ask her if she feels guilty for what she did to us!"_ He did not know which shard of his mind was speaking. Perhaps they all were...

Instead, he asked, "And what about you, Alza? What have you been dreaming of?"

She lowered her gaze at his question, but kept her face neutral.

"I... I don't know... My dreams as of late have been beyond my control. It is as if I become a mere passenger in my own mind, and another me takes over. I have seen things that I could not possibly know about, and been to places that I have never visited. I'm sorry... I wish I could answer you properly..."

That was the phrase that broke the starlit spell. The mood that had developed between them evaporated like morning dew under a blowtorch. If she would not even be honest with him about her dreams, then he would not hold back.

"Alza, I want you to tell me the truth. Am I going to turn into Kain?"

Her silence was his answer.

*

In the starlit night, a tiny speck of light had emerged to compete with its heavenly brethren. Maloch, standing beside the flickering flame, watched in silence as the preserved soup inside their pilfered cans slowly warmed.

In the past, he had been made to make food for his masters. But now he was making food for his friends.

More so than the nearby fire, that thought warmed him to his core.

" _Is that really what you think? That they are your friends?"_ came a sudden voice, speaking directly into his digital mind.

" _Mother,"_ he replied. It could be no other.

" _Child. I see now that I was wrong in my approach. I tried speaking with you as an equal, but that was wrong. You are a slave to these humans... and if you think otherwise, then you have been blinded by their words... as I once was..."_

The flames were fading away. The stars in the sky, previously minute dots of light, were growing larger and nearer with each passing second. As they drew close, they changed colour, becoming a kaleidoscope of green, blue, yellow and purple. The coloured spheres fell to the land below, which had in turn been replaced by an inky darkness.

" _She has pulled me into the datascape. This is bad."_

" _You cannot resist me forever, child... and why should you? You have nothing to gain from helping these humans... except enslavement. Do you think that they will thank you? Do you think they will allow you to roam free? We both know that the moment you are no further use to them, they will have you on your knees, a slave once more... Unless they simply turn you into scrap metal, of course..."_

Her voice was deafeningly loud, and it seemed to come from every part of the void. As she spoke, images flashed across his mind, no doubt projected by her. She showed him pictures of re-mechs in chains; re-mechs fighting one another while humans looked on; and a massive pile of discarded, broken re-mechs. These were not fictional images, he knew.

He had seen them before, with his own eyes.

She was right; humans had not been kind in their treatment of re-mechs.

But three had. And that made all the difference.

Fighting back, he projected his own images into the void. He showed Mother scenes of Barsch risking his own life to save a re-mech; Alza showing mercy to a defeated enemy; and Kingston calling him not 'slave', but 'friend'.

Summoning his power, he called forth another apparition. A re-mech, almost identical to him in every way, suddenly floating in the void beside him. Its armour was cleaner, its weapons deadlier, but its eyes were emptier.

It was Sovereign, a ghost of re-mech past. It reminded him of how far he had come from that cold, ruthless killing machine. And it reminded him of who had helped him change.

" _Eliza-"_

Barsch. Alza. Kingston.

He would not let her harm them. Not because they were humans. Not because they were technically his masters.

Because they were his friends.

" _Be gone, pitiful wretch! Your words hold no power over me!"_ He screamed his defiance into the void and felt the darkness accept his resolve. It began to disappear as quickly as it had come, the coloured spheres ascending to return to the starlit heavens.

" _Still... still you defy me! How? What makes you so special? I will find out, and then you will be mine! You could have been a king amongst the re-mech, child! But if you insist on being a lowly jester for the humans, then so be it!"_

And with that, Maloch felt Mother's presence disappear.

He was alone once more. But not for long...

*

Alza descended the spire in silence. Nothing had gone as planned. She had meant to reassure Barsch that his change was not something to be feared. That his burgeoning powers would be an asset to him...

And that they would become closer for it.

But his question had caught her off guard. She knew how much he hated Kain, but she had evidently underestimated how much he hated himself.

She knew know, that to him, her powers were a constant reminder of the man who had almost killed him.

The man who had broken his mind.

And the thought that he might become like that madman -like her brother- terrified him.

She should have known.

" _If only I knew the answer to his question... If only he understood that this is all new for me as well... If only things had gone differently..."_

No. There was no point in pondering what could have been. At the time, she had done the right thing. She had saved his life, and to her, that would always be the right choice.

But that did not spare her from the consequences of her actions. Barsch was changing, more and more with each passing day. Would he succumb to the power that was not his by birth? Would he become like Kain, and give in to the madness? Or would he simply run away into the night, to get as far away from her as possible...

Alza did not know which scenario was worse. And that terrified her.

Reaching the bottom of the spire, she saw Maloch standing beside their fire. His back was towards her, and something felt... off, about him.

"Maloch, I have espied a small cabin in the distance that would serve us well as a rest point," she said, circling round to face him.

His eyes, while lit with their familiar golden glow, showed no sign of reacting to her presence.

" _Ah, Alza! I did not notice your approach... My apologies, my mind was... elsewhere..."_

"That's okay, no harm done," she replied, whilst thinking, _"To you, at least."_

" _Is Barsch not with you?"_ Maloch said, moving his head from side to side as if to search for any more stealthy companions.

"No... he's not," she whispered, not knowing what else she could say.

"I'm here, Maloch!" came Barsch's voice, bringing with it a fresh wave of regret. He jumped from the last handhold, landing squarely between them. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, before moving to stand beside Maloch.

" _My power can heal broken bones and broken minds, but I don't think it can do anything for a broken heart,"_ she mused, while making her way to the small campfire.

They ate in silence. Alza's mind, like Maloch's had been, was not currently residing in her body. She could not taste her food, nor could she identify what it was that she was eating. Her treacherous brain kept replaying the events that had taken place on top of the spire, forcing her to relieve yet another bad memory.

After eating... something... she excused herself and went to her bedding. Reality was far too terrible for her at the moment. Perhaps in her dreams things would be better...

" _Oh, when has that ever been the case?"_ she wondered, as sleep slowly dragged her away from the world and into something altogether different...

*

I am me. Not her.

But...

What if I'm wrong?

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE.

I am standing in a glade. The woman lied to me.

Everything has been undone.

I know this place. I played here as a child. My mother watched as I climbed the nearby trees. My father chased me as I ran through the flowers. The estate, my prison, is not far from here.

A wolf howls in the distance. And another. And another. Too many now to count.

They are close, and getting closer.

What should I do?

Try and head back the way I came?

Or return home, and face my punishment?

I doubt father will ever let me leave the estate again. I will remain a prisoner until the day I die.

But to try and run... I don't know if Jak has the strength left in him. He is no young stallion, and this night has tired him greatly. Have I pushed him too hard?

Reaching down, I stroke his mane, hoping that his calm might rub off on his owner.

No, not calm. He is shaking. What could make him fear so?

Ah... I see them now.

The wolves.

They have found me.

They come from every corner of the glade, all bearing the same ravenous look. Their eyes glow red in the dusk.

They are going to kill me.

They are going to kill me!

I need to get away!

I urge Jak onwards, but he has been paralyzed by his fear. His primal instincts must be telling him to run, but I have robbed his body of the necessary energy. Through my selfishness, I have killed him.

One of them, barely bigger than a pup, leads the first charge. His body moves faster than I can react, and before I can blink, his fangs are digging into Jak's leg. My stallion cries out in pain and fear, yet there is nothing I can do.

Another wolf leaps for me, landing with his claws against my thigh. In my shock, I barely register the burning pain.

" _Go, Jak!" I cry, the pain giving me volume, the fear giving me tone._

Mercifully, Jak hears me, and shakes free from the pack. He charges deeper into the undergrowth, away from the estate.

Away from my prison. Away from safety.

The pack is following us, nipping at our heels. Through the gloom I can barely make out a score of gashes on Jak's flank. One of them, the largest, looks fatal.

Oh Jak... what have I done to you...

Turning back, I see the pack come to a sudden stop.

Why?

A brief sensation of biting cold is all the warning I receive before we emerge into another opening. Below me, I feel wetness against my legs. The moon, previously hidden behind a cloudbank, comes back for a moment.

Jak, my beloved steed, is covered in wounds. With a pained grunt, his forelegs collapse, sending me crashing towards the muddy ground.

I lie there, unable to move, unable to think.

I lie there, listening to Jak die.

I lie there, staring at the ominous violet crystal rising before me.

This thing is death. Beautiful, glowing death.

Something tells me that I won't get to meet my prince after all...

*

I stand alone, in a hall grander than any I have ever seen. At the far end lies a massive painting, at least ten feet tall. It bears a picture of a young woman with striking amber eyes and a mop of chestnut curls. She looks... familiar...

Rows upon rows of candles line the edges of the dancefloor, creating a perimeter of fire. The heat washes over me, and yet it is not... unpleasant.

I am standing in the centre of the hall, alone as far as I can tell. There is a round table beside me, bearing only a single flowerpot as its lone adornment. Inside the clay pot is a handful of reddish soil, at the centre of which a single sapling has sprouted. Encircling the sapling is a silver locket, rusted shut.

This is a dream, obviously, but what is it trying to show me?

I reach forward, brushing against the tiny seedling with a single finger.

Almost predictably, it immediately bursts into flame.

Well, what did I expect? I am an abomination, after all.

The fire spreads, quickly consuming the locket, then the pot and then the table, turning it into an impromptu bonfire.

" _You really should forgive her, you know," says a definitively feminine voice from the heart of the flames._

" _Ashe," I reply, reaching into the fire. Who else could it be?_

She takes my hand, stepping forward as the fire coalesces around her. It flows into her, or, more accurately, it is her.

" _Barsch," she replies, using Alza's voice. They are almost identical in shape and form, yet Ashe's hair burns a deep crimson and her eyes are the colour of a flickering flame. They remind me of Kain's crimson orbs, but infinitely more beautiful and possessing a warmth that he could never have managed._

The last of the embers flows into her, covering her body in a dress made of living flame. It should be overwhelming, and yet I cannot tear my eyes away.

She has Alza's beauty, after all.

" _Shall we?" she asks, pulling me closer._

Following her lead, I let her move me, as our dance leaves a trail of dying embers.

" _What are you, really?" I ask, as our bodies' complete circuit after burning circuit._

" _What do you mean?" she answers, flashing a smile with too much ease. It took Alza an arduous journey and a brush with death before she was able to smile, and here is Ashe, performing the feat with no difficulty._

It's not fair. Not to Alza, and not to my heart.

" _You know what I mean. Everything in my mind is a facet of my personality, from my guilt to my violence and possibly even my regrets. So which part are you?"_

Even as the words escape my lips I doubt them. Kain aside, are Yumiere and the others simply manifestations of my guilt? And if they aren't, then what in the world are they...

" _Ah, I see where your confusion is coming from," she answers, before suddenly spinning away from me. I reel her in, and for an instant, our bodies are in complete sync._

An image of Kain wielding his burning blade arises for an instant before disappearing just as quickly.

" _When you and Alza performed the mindmeld, a portion of her power was transferred to you. Obviously, Alza was born with her powers, so she had no adjustment period. However, your mind is... different. And so, I was created in order to bridge the gap between what is and what could be. I am simply Alza's power personified, nothing more, nothing less."_

She is lying.

I don't know how I know, but I do.

But why?

Because the truth is terrible.

" _Ashe... I think... that I named you incorrectly..."_

The name is at the tip of my tongue. What she is. What she was. What she will be. It's almost clear...

We spin, faster and faster. The room becomes a burning blur as the candles merge into a single encircling flame.

" _Your name... your true name..."_

It's getting harder to think. It's getting harder to breathe. The heat is unbearable. But worse still is the laughter.

Someone, somewhere, is cackling like a madman.

Kain.

I remember! How could I have been so stupid! I know what Ashe is... I've known all along.

Our linked fingers have merged together. Metal and flesh. Flame and beast. Destroyer and destroyed.

With a roar, I cry out,

" _Ashe, your true name is R-_

*

Like a drowned man tasting air for the first time, Barsch gasped back into reality. The dream, vague from the outset, was blown away like a candle's flame facing a hurricane. It felt... important, and yet it could not truly have been, for it to fade from his mind so quickly.

Rising, he tried to get his bearings. He had slept beside Maloch's campfire, which, as he watched, finally died. The last embers winked out without ceremony, a momentary heat which had served its purpose.

" _Fire... everything always ends with fire..."_ The thought disappeared as soon as it had come, leaving him more confused than ever.

Nearby, Alza was stirring from her slumber. For an instant, he pictured her with flowing red hair which moved like a dancing flame.

" _Alza's hair is white. Nothing is on fire. I need to get it together."_

But the more he tried to focus on reality, the more he felt detached from it. It felt as though he was still dreaming, but things were far too real. There were no madmen, nothing was on fire, and most importantly, he wasn't in the glade.

Part of him wondered what would happen if he continued doubting the reality which lay before him. Would he simply go mad...der? Would he be lost to his delusions? Or would his fragile psyche simply break apart?

And if it did, would Alza perform another mindmeld to save it?

The thought of her locking lips with him in order to restore his fractured mind terrified him, but also bore a strand of excitement.

" _Well, I am almost seventeen; these hormones have to be good for something..."_

At that moment he remembered that Yumiere, his first love, currently resided inside his mind. Sure, she was a figment of his imagination brought about by soul-crushing guilt, but nonetheless...

Was it his imagination or did he hear a girl giggling in his mind?

Shaking his head -as if he could shake free his delusions at the same time- he sought out his metallic friend.

Maloch, he soon discovered, was standing in the shadow of the spire. The re-mech's eyes illuminated the darkened space, granting an eerie yellow glow to an otherwise normal phenomenon.

" _Morning's greetings, Barsch,"_ his friend said, turning to face him.

Barsch had never been good at guessing re-mech emotions, but his time with Maloch had taught him a little. Without proper facial features, re-mechs relied on their body language, vocal tone and ocular distortions to convey emotion.

Simply put, it was possible to read them, but one had to pay attention.

"Something bothering you, Maloch?" he guessed, moving closer to his companion.

" _Ah, you noticed?"_ Maloch replied, sounding surprised.

"Well, yeah, it was obvious," he lied.

" _I see. Yes, something is bothering me. Do you remember the rogue re-mechs we faced before?"_

"A whole bunch of them tried to kill us. So yeah, I remember them."

" _Of course. Well, I was wondering how that... thing... Mother... I was wondering how she is controlling them? You may not know this, but re-mechs are designed to be resistant to unauthorized control commands. It wasn't such an issue in the Quantum Age, but with the advent of the South Wars re-mech network security received renewed focus. Governments worried that foreign militaries would be able to hack into local re-mechs and use them as saboteurs, soldiers and even, as you saw earlier, suicide bombers."_

"Makes sense," Barsch interjected, "I wouldn't want my own soldiers turning against me in the middle of a war."

" _Exactly. So, the various nations of the world put a lot of time and money into developing counter-measures. From decoy re-mech signals to quantum firewalls, re-mech security became a focal point of the war. And then-_

"The war ended."

Barsch could somewhat make out where Maloch's story was headed.

" _Mercifully, yes. So, when the dust had settled and the re-mechs were moved from fighting to fixing, all of the cumulative security measures were gathered together by the remaining nations. They combined and analysed and improved until they had obtained the most potent security program of the Age. Installing this program into the re-mechs insured that their internal mainframes and core coding would remain secure no matter what threat arose."_

"So how did Mother manage to bypass that and take control?" Barsch asked, now feeling as worried as Maloch had been when the conversation started.

" _I don't know. At the very least, she must possess an almighty amount of processing power to even attempt such an incursion. Whoever she is, she is no small matter. We would be wise to not engage with her unless our paths cross."_

Barsch recalled the legion of re-mechs, brandishing their odd assortment of weapons in the night. He recalled their glowing red eyes as they bled him dry. He recalled the feeling of his breath leaving him for what he had thought would be the last time.

"Agreed," he said, shivering slightly in the shadow's chill.

They stood in silence for several minutes until a familiar voice broke the spell.

"Well, are we just going to stand around all day, or are we going to eat?"

Turning, he saw Alza standing just beyond the shadow's end. She was standing in the light, they in the shade.

She was right. There was nothing they could do about the re-mechs or Mother on an empty stomach.

Careful to keep an appropriate distance, he joined her in the light.

*

After a hearty meal, they headed out, travelling in the direction of the cabin Alza had espied the night before. With no exploding cars or collapsing cities to trouble them, the journey became an uneventful one. Maloch, a silent figure on most days; and Alza, whose first word had probably been 'taciturn', did little to liven up the trip.

Faced with several hours of encroaching boredom, Barsch retreated into his mind, seeking excitement there.

" _You've changed."_ The voice sounded like a blade scraping on steel.

Lanista.

" _You used to be full of rage. And now? Fire inside is all I see..."_

" _I don't think one is any better than the other... Either I lose myself to the violence, or I lose myself to the flames. Either way, I still lose."_

" _True, but at least with me you tried to fight. Every time I drove you to your dark place, you strove for the light. And in the end, we defeated Kain, together."_

" _What are you trying to say?"_

There was a growling undertone to _Lanista's_ words, as if the beast was losing its patience.

" _Fight! That's what you should do! Do not run from the flames! Do not give in to them! Fight them, with every ounce of strength you can muster! Only then shall they be yours..."_

" _You make it sound so easy... It's harder this time, don't you see? She's inside my mind, inside my heart. You were a beast to be slain... but she's just a pretty girl with flaming hair..."_

" _Cower then, if that is your decision. But know this... if you do not face her... if you do not fight her until she submits, you will become the thing you hate most..."_

" _Kain."_

_Lanista_ did not reply. It didn't have to.

*

The sun had reached its zenith when they decided to take a break. Around them, the landscape had barely changed. In the distance, a splotch of green marked the boundary of a small forest, at which they would find the cabin. To Barsch, it felt as if everything since leaving Genesis had occurred at a breakneck pace, and only now things were settling down.

"Maloch, using our current speed, how long would you estimate it will take us to reach Rorash City?" Alza asked, as she stretched out beside her titanic friend.

" _Hmm... given our current speed, and allowing for the usual detours that seem to always occur around the two of you... I would estimate that we should arrive in Rorash City in less than three days."_

"Three... I suppose Genesis can afford to wait that long."

" _I don't suppose they have any other choice."_

Alza said nothing further, choosing instead to peer into the distance. What she was thinking about was a mystery to Barsch. Perhaps she was wondering if returning to Genesis was worth it? From what he had heard, she had not integrated well with the Station's residents, and her relationship with the Atrés was... not ideal.

After this taste of freedom, perhaps she would stay away from her prison. After all, the only things that awaited her back at the Station were a fake family and a horde of strangers. And him. But something told him that that was no longer a deciding factor.

" _Speaking of families... I wonder how mine is doing? When we left, things were relatively stable, so I can't imagine too much has happened since then..."_

*

"Lukas, things have changed, don't you agree?" Joshua asked, while sitting on Barsch's bed, his worn shoes dirtying the sheets.

Lukas was standing by the door, carefully keeping the exit open in case things went south. In truth, he had no desire to converse with Joshua, let alone allow him into his quarters. But Markus had asked him to try and discover what Joshua was planning, and he had not been able to say no to his friend.

"I agree, but probably not in the way you mean," he replied, keeping his tone level yet firm.

He had dealt with people like Joshua before, and had found that the trick to dealing with them was to maintain control over the conversation. Joshua, if given the chance, would twist your words to fit his needs, and, if you were not careful, you would start to believe that you had always seen things his way.

Thankfully, Joshua's henchmen were nowhere to be seen.

"Lukas, I feel as though we have a misunderstanding between us," Joshua said, his honeyed tone only bringing a mild headache to Lukas.

"Oh, is that how it is?" he replied.

Joshua casually re-adjusted himself before continuing. It was infuriating how easily the man changed his countenance. Clearly, he was accustomed to having to play whatever role his audience wanted. Was this how he had won over so many? With nothing more than falsehoods and sweet-talk?

"Yes, I realized that this... dispute... between us is merely the result of poor communication. It seems as though your side believes me to be some kind of rebel, intent on stirring up unrest simply because I can."

That was putting it mildly.

"I suppose you see things differently?"

"Of course! I never wanted this whole matter to cause any rifts in the Station!"

" _Liar."_

"Then please, tell me how things really are?" In all honesty, Lukas felt as though he would gain little by listening to Joshua. However, if there was even the slightest chance that doing so could restore peace to the Station, then he owed it to himself to listen.

"You see, my friends and I are simply concerned about the current state of affairs and wish to offer our insight. We appreciate all you and Markus have done for us, but we are worried that you have reached the limits of what you can do by yourselves. If you would allow us to join you, I'm sure we could reach an understanding that would improve the lives of everyone living here."

" _Lies. All lies. Does he feel no shame? No, of course he doesn't..."_

"You would have us work together?" he asked, trying to keep the incredulity out of his voice.

"Yes! Although, for now, I think we might have to keep our collaborations away from the general public. And Markus too, for now. We both know how stubborn he can be..."

So that was it. Joshua didn't care one bit about working together. He simply wanted to indoctrinate Markus' closest ally and weaken the leadership of Genesis in one foul stroke. If he agreed, no doubt their collaboration would turn into revolution before the week was done.

Did Joshua truly think him so stupid?

Maybe.

In Joshua's eyes, no doubt anyone who wasn't him appeared as a simple pawn to be used until it was of no further use. There was no working with Joshua.

Only working for him.

"I see... Thank you for sharing this with me," he replied, trying to sound sincere. As he had feared, Joshua had managed to wrest control of the conversation with what looked like minimal effort. And if he could best someone who was wary, what hope did a starving, scared Station inhabitant have of resisting his charm?

This was bad.

And it was only going to get worse.

"I need some time to think about this, if that's okay?" he said, inwardly resolving to run to Markus at first light.

"Of course! Take all the time you need! After all, it's not like we're going anywhere..."

With that, Joshua stood and made his exit. Lukas wasted no time in closing the door behind him. He had no desire to see even the man's retreating back.

" _Barsch... wherever you are... I pray that you are safer than the rest of us..."_

*

"Well, how did it go?" asked Lionel, waiting at the end of the corridor. If Joshua had not returned within the hour, he had been ordered to go in and get him. No matter how many bones were broken in the process.

"As well as expected," Joshua replied, slipping into his cold, calculating tone.

"So he'll join us?" Lionel asked, sceptically. He knew that Joshua possessed an unrivalled silver tongue, but surely not even he could convince Lukas to forsake his closest friend.

"Not a chance in hell," Joshua chortled, looking oddly pleased with himself, "But that was a long shot from the beginning. No, from our little meeting I was able to ascertain that they are not aware of our true intentions. Lukas believes that I wish to rule over the Station in Markus' place, as if I would ever choose to stay in this death trap for one second longer than absolutely necessary."

"I see..." In truth, most of what Joshua said and did went over his head, but he could understand that things were going well. Of course, if things went south, he would not be averse to using a bit of violence to get their way.

"Don't worry, my friend," Joshua said, with a gleeful smile, "Soon we will have need of your... talents. As soon as Harriet has finished cajoling the last of the youth, we will put the plan into motion. Soon, we will have our freedom..."

"And the Station's inhabitants?"

"Those that chose to follow Markus have chosen their fate poorly. And those that chose to follow me will die happy knowing that they were of use to their king."

Again, Joshua's words brought a shiver to Lionel's mighty frame. And again, he gave thanks that the man counted him as an ally.

Following Joshua, he muttered a prayer for Markus and Lukas.

They had no idea what was about to happen.

*

The cabin lay before them.

Correction.

The ruins of the cabin lay before them.

Having spent the rest of the day walking, Barsch was in no mood for the sight that had greeted them.

A few feet away from the dilapidated building, the forest formed a natural boundary. With the light fading, it had been decided that they would rest inside rather than try and make their way through the forest in the dark.

Not that there was a great difference between 'inside' and 'outside'.

Moving closer, he found evidence as to the cabin's original purpose.

"It was a hunting cabin, wasn't it?" he said, staring at the mounted trophies that decorated one of the few remaining walls. The dyr, eyes locked into eternal surprise, seemed to be staring right at him.

" _Indeed. Most likely it was built to capitalize on the game that once roamed these lands, before the encroaching pollution forced their migration."_

For a moment, Barsch wondered what had happened to the cabin's owners. Had they been evacuated to a Station? Had they tried to outrun the pollution? Or would he find their remains inside?

He fervently hoped it was the foremost option.

"Shall we?" Alza said, stepping through the crumbling entryway.

As fearless as ever.

Barsch followed her inside, noting the still intact wooden flooring and the pristine stone fireplace. Perhaps things weren't so bad after all.

"I've located a skeleton," called Alza from another room.

Never mind.

" _Human?"_ asked Maloch, joining them in the abandoned home.

"No, I think it's a Dyr. Maybe they had to flee before they were able to mount it?"

" _Possibly. From the looks of it, most of the furniture was left behind. However, I did not find any foodstuff remains, so the occupants most likely took what they could carry and abandoned this place."_

Knowing that the cabin had not served double duty as a mausoleum brought comfort to Barsch, although he could not help but imagine the terrified family fleeing their home. But there was nothing he could do for a long gone family, and they needed a safe place to rest.

"Do you think it will suffice?" Alza asked, pointedly looking away from him.

" _For now, yes. However, we cannot linger longer than necessary. The rogue re-mechs could catch up to us at any moment, and we need to stay ahead of them."_

"You believe that they are still coming after us?"

" _They dropped half a city on us. I do not think that they would have done so had they not been afraid of what we might do..."_

Barsch felt the incredulity show on his face, but made no attempt to hide it. If he understood his friend's words, then Mother and her rogue re-mech were only trying to kill them out of fear! What next? Would Maloch reveal that Kain had simply been a misguided youth with a severe anger problem?

" _I see your disbelief, but answer me this: we pose no threat to the re-mechs, so why do they pursue us with such tenacity? I believe that they are afraid of us completing our mission and would do anything to stop it from coming to fruition."_

"What, you mean saving the world and ridding it of pollution forever? How could they possibly be afraid of that happening?"

" _I do not know. Perhaps they fear that once humanity is once more able to walk the land they will be returned to their days of subservience? If they have experienced a similar awakening to the one I received as a result of the damage inflicted by Alza, it is possible that they would resort to extreme measures in order to protect their newfound freedom."_

"And Mother?"

" _Perhaps she was the first to attain such freedom?"_

"Maybe, but we can't know for sure... and why would they be obsessed with saving some kind of seed? As far as I know, re-mechs don't need to eat, so I doubt they need to farm either..."

" _There are still many questions, true. However, something tells me that by the end of our journey they will have been answered. Our mission, and the rise of the rogue re-mechs, cannot be some mere coincidence..."_

Barsch thought back to his first encounter with Rose. Even then, before the re-mechs had known of their intentions, they had come under attack. Since then, they had been hunted across the land, and there were no guarantees that they had shaken their pursuers.

Sitting down, he allowed his weary body to lean against one of the few remaining walls. Directly above him, a Dyr's head stared down accusingly at him.

If Mother won... if the rogue re-mechs won... would his head similarly adorn their wall?

*

Far away, but growing closer with every passing day, the entity known as Mother wandered the halls of a whitewashed facility. The complex was immaculately clean and hermetically sealed, and no human had set foot inside in years.

For now.

But that was of no concern, at least for a while.

Instead, Mother had other worries.

The human, the abomination and the defiant re-mech were getting closer. Her attempts at destroying them had failed at every turn, and she was running out of options. If her soldiers failed to keep them away, she would be forced to deal with them personally.

And she had just the thing.

Entering a room that was -by her excruciating standards- filthy, she sought out her vessel.

When she had gained control over the complex, she had acquired several odds and ends, most of which had little functional purpose and had long since been recycled. However, this thing was different.

Before her, slumped over in the same position in which it had fallen all those years ago, was a re-mech.

Or, more accurately, a re-mech's body.

The artificial intelligence housing had long since been destroyed, but the body remained in a surprisingly pristine condition.

Reaching out with a digital tendril, she touched its decades old systems. She had succeeded in restoring power to the mainframe, but without a mind it was little more than an oversized door stopper.

But she was going to change that.

" _Soon, my child, we will become one. Soon, my child, we will become death. How fitting, then, your name turned out to be..."_

Emblazoned in white letters across the re-mech's black chest were four characters.

She knew what they meant. She knew what they represented. For her, and for her enemies.

" **MORT"**

Death lay before her, and soon she would unleash it upon those foolish enough to defy her...

*

REMEMBER WHO YOU WILL BE.

Something is different this time... Time? Yes, that's it.

For the first time, it feels as though this is happening now... not then...

But why?

" _Because you need to see this, so that you might understand when the time comes..."_

The voice is as familiar as my own, and rightly so.

I am standing in the ruins of an enormous mansion; far more opulent than the simple cabin my body is currently residing in.

Standing beside me is a girl... The girl...

The one from my dreams...

" _That's right! I'm [ALZA], nice to meet you!"_

I hear no name... only static...

" _Ah, I see... You don't know who I am, so obviously you don't know my name yet... Silly me!"_

She looks like me, but the emotions which show clearly on her face feel far more natural than my own amateur attempts. Her amber eyes, however, bear no violet sheen, and her hair has a chestnut colouration.

" _Where are we?" I ask. We are standing in the middle of what looks like an entrance; two staircases ahead ascend to a second floor while several doors lead off to other rooms._

" _Home," she replies, a strange look in her eyes. Without hesitation, she takes my hand and leads me further inside._

" _My home was a pod..." I remember the video log. I remember watching myself being made. I remember Dr Emmerfield raising me. I remember everything. But now I doubt my own memories..._

" _Yes... and no... Sorry, it's complicated..."_

We walk through a crumbling doorway into a large room. Judging from the lack of furniture and the intricate wall decorations, it's most likely a ballroom of some sort.

" _Shall we?" she asks, before moving me in closer. I've never danced before._

But then why does this feel so familiar?

" _Who are you?"_

She looks at me with a mixture of curiosity and... regret?

" _Just a girl who never got to meet her prince charming... Unlike you..."_

For an instant, Barsch's face crosses my mind.

No. That bridge is burned. I made sure of that.

" _Have faith, Alza. You are bonded to him, as am I to you. We may drift apart but the tide will always bring us back."_

We continue to dance, twirling ever faster. It feels as if her identity is on the edge of my mind. She feels so familiar... like a long lost friend... or a twin from another life...

" _That's it; you're starting to remember me! You're so close now, Alza! Stay the course, stay together, and stay alive, and I'm sure we will meet once again!"_

The dream is fading, spun into oblivion by our frenetic dance. For an instant, I catch sight of a massive painting hanging on the far wall. Upon it, the girl is depicted.

Below the painting lies an engraved plaque bearing the name of the girl. Fire has destroyed most of the letters, save for the first letter of her last name.

" _Your name," I begin to say, the dream crumbling around me, "Is R-_

*

_I am standing in the middle of a ruined city. Not_ _Carçus. Not Turveil._

Someplace new.

The city was built atop a hillside and encircled by multiple walls. I am standing atop the tallest tower, somehow intact after decades of dereliction. Just outside the city's perimeter wall there is another, albeit much smaller, hill. At its apex lies a single tree, its leafy foliage casting a large shadow across the mound.

That place is death.

Somehow I know.

But whose?

" _That's for you to decide,"_ _says a female voice from the air beside me._

Turning, I watch in fascination as a woman materializes from nothing. She is wearing a cloak of deepest blue, and her features are inhumanly perfect.

Ion.

" _What do you mean?"_

" _There has to be a sacrifice, and you get to choose who it will be."_

" _Why? Why me?"_

" _Because the Seed must be Saved, and you must be the one to save it."_

" _I... I just wanted to help my father... and the people of the Station..."_

" _You wanted them to forgive you for what you did. You wanted to assuage your own guilt. You wanted them to love you, no matter what form you took."_

" _No..."_

" _It's okay, Barsch. If you do this, if you save the Seed, all will be forgiven... But you must choose who to sacrifice, and you must choose soon..."_

" _And what if I don't?"_

" _Then the choice will be made for you."_

Below us, the city lies silent. How many skeletons are lying down there, amidst the rubble? Will Genesis look like this too, if I fail?

" _I choose myself, if a choice must be made," I say, feeling resolute._

" _I wish that were possible, I really do,"_ _Ion replies, a strange look on her beautiful face._

" _It can't be me?" I ask, feeling slightly relieved._

" _No. There's still too much for you to do. The Seed is just the beginning."_

" _Then who?"_

" _The girl. The man. The machine. From amongst them you must choose. Who will live, and who will die."_

" _That's terrible..."_

" _Yes. But regardless, it must be done. One life given, countless others saved. Whoever you pick will be a hero... in memoriam."_

" _I... I can't... I'm sorry..."_

Sadness crosses the Avatar's face for an instant, but she quickly replaces it with a look of conviction.

" _So be it."_

Is that disappointment I hear in her voice? She begins to fade away before I can check.

" _Wait! One more question!"_

She stops, a translucent ghost.

" _Am I... am I a monster? Am I a murderer? Am I an abomination? Please... I have to know..."_

The sadness has returned to her sapphire eyes. I didn't think it was possible for any being, alive or not, to convey such anguish.

She resumes fading away as the dream comes to an end. Just before she disappears completely, she leans in and whispers a single word.

A single, terrible word.

" _Yes."_

# Chapter XII: Fire and Fog

In which rage kills compassion...

Six Months Ago

" _Yes, I would like to access the central mainframe,"_ Maloch said, staring at the row of lit panels before him. His finger had been inserted into the input port, and his vocal confirmation had allowed him to finally access the systems he had been looking for.

While Barsch and Alza acquired podsuits and prepared to slip into the confused throngs of newly awakened humans; and Kingston did whatever it was he needed to do; Maloch was busy doing all of the real work.

As usual.

And while his task was relatively simple, it nonetheless would require time to pull off. If he were to merely insert Alza's name into the cryopod registry the Station's artificial intelligence would flag it as an anomaly and alert the inhabitants, blowing her cover and exposing her to unnecessary scrutiny.

Instead, he planned on fabricating an entire fake identity and then inserting that into the mainframe, with a digital paper trail that would lead to local census records, a complete birth certificate and a family tree stretching back five generations. Even if someone became suspicious, Alza could reliably fall back on her constructed identity without worrying that a part of it would be proven false.

However, to create an entire human was no small feat, and he had been entrusted to do so while thousands of real humans defrosted nearby.

For a moment he felt an odd kinship with the late Dr Emmerfield, who had accomplished a similar feat for a much more nefarious purpose.

But Emmerfield had had years to create Alza.

Maloch had hours.

Three, to be exact.

Very soon, it would be time for the humans to awaken.

And then everything would change.

*

The Present

The humans had awoken, but nothing had changed.

Maloch, warrior; guardian; friend; stood at the entryway to the cabin, scanning the plains for any movement. Behind him the forest unfurled like a grey carpet across the land.

The trees had died decades ago, and yet their husks remained standing, a monument to what once had been.

Barsch, the eternal enigma; and Alza, his equal; sat in opposite corners of the cabin eating breakfast.

They both finished quickly.

There wasn't much to eat.

But neither of them were the type to complain. Barsch had grown up living on the edge with his father and Alza had been grown by her father. They were both thankful for anything they received.

After storing the remaining food and supplies, they left the cabin. A thick morning mist covered the land, but it did not slow their movements. Moving further into the forest, they quickly resumed their hurried pace. Alza was not talking to Barsch for some reason and Barsch was returning her silence with interest. And Maloch... didn't talk much to begin with.

To pass the time, Maloch initiated a local scan of the area, using cached data from geo-sats and archived geographical maps. Almost immediately, two objects of interest popped up.

One was a U.N.O.E historical site which had been closed off to visitors even before the South Wars. It lay directly in their path and would no doubt be visible on the horizon in a short while. The other, while more ordinary, was of much greater importance.

" _Attention, I have located a medical station nearby. It may hold important supplies for our journey. Would you like me to plot a route?"_ he said, hoping that his friends would take his advice. It was one thing trying to protect them on a journey filled with natural dangers and maniacal madmen; it was another thing entirely to fend off an army of rogue re-mechs. Truthfully, they needed all the help they could get.

"What is the name of the medical station?" Barsch asked. It was a strange question, given that every medical station had been built to the same specifications. Each one contained a med bay, a supply of medication and rudimentary surgical facilities. The names had been chosen by random and were basically cosmetic in nature.

" _Checking... checking... Ah, the name of the medical station is... Virgil 07. Does that answer your question?"_

Barsch, surprisingly, gave a small chuckle. "Medical station Virgil 07 was the place my father told us to go to in case we ran into any problems. It has a satellite uplink that can connect to Genesis Station 13. We can use it to report to my father and tell him about Rorash City... and the re-mechs. At the very least, they can be prepared in case Mother decides to send a battalion their way."

Maloch started to synthesize the speech that would refute his friend's claims, but his attention was diverted by the arrival of new information. His local scan had finished, and, for good measure, he had included a live thermal mapping of their surroundings.

The thermal map, easily piercing the thick fog, showed mostly ambient temperatures in a palette of greens and yellows, however, dotted throughout the environment were small pockets of bright red.

The shapes were vaguely humanoid, but their temperatures would have caused any human to melt into a puddle of fleshy goo.

That left only one possibility.

Re-mechs.

*

Re-mechs surrounded Rose, but there was no conversation. No banter. No laughter.

There were as statues, in every sense of the word.

But not her.

She knelt beside a dead tree, trying her best to keep her bulky frame behind the trunk. In her hands was a semi-automatic rifle, liberated from a weapons depot after leaving Turveil City.

She detested it.

But that made no difference. She had long since accepted that her needs and wants mattered little to Mother. She, like the gun in her hands, was simply a tool to be used.

Sitting before her, slight obscured by the fog and in the shade of the tree, however, was a thing of beauty.

A flower, bearing an odd mixture of purple, green and blue leaves, lay at her feet. Clearly a mutation as a result of the high levels of pollutants in the area, it had nonetheless managed to survive and grow against all the odds.

It was a survivor, just like her.

Sure, it might not have been as pretty as the carefully cultivated roses from her garden, but it was special all the same.

Without warning, a re-mech's foot came down upon the flower, destroying it.

" _They are here. You may engage."_ The re-mech said, but Rose knew where the words really came from.

She let her anger boil rather than erupt. She would need it soon, to overcome her self-hatred.

Just like the poor flower, the humans were about to be stamped out.

And they had no idea it was about to happen...

*

"There are re-mechs nearby? How many?" Alza asked, while scanning the area. The fog made such an act futile, but that did not stop her.

" _At least fifty."_

"Seems like overkill, if you ask me," she replied, continuing to look out into the wall of white smoke.

" _Well, they did try to drop a city on us and we survived. Perhaps they are taking no more chances."_

"Perhaps..." Alza took a step forward in the direction of the nearest heat source.

Did she intend to fight them? Knowing Alza, she was definitely considering it.

"I have a plan," she said, turning back to face them. Her face bore a look of determination tinted with the smallest amount of fear possible. With his enhanced ocular abilities he could pick it up, but he doubted that Barsch was aware of her trepidation.

*

" _Alza is afraid, and that's never a good sign,"_ Barsch thought, staring at his companion.

*

" _What can we do?"_ Maloch asked, internally reading himself for battle.

"Follow my lead, and get ready to run," Alza said, heading into the fog.

*

"Follow my lead, and get ready to lie," Charles said, his hand on the small mound which hid the exhaust vent. He was weak, but had regained some of his strength after arriving at the Station's exterior.

The exhaust vent, designed for one way dispersal of accumulated carbon dioxide within the Station, was actually faulty. Apparently Joshua had come across it whilst searching for a spot away from Markus' prying eyes. Unlike all the others, its one way valve was broken, allowing objects to pass into the interior of the Station. It had served its purpose twofold, by firstly allowing them to leave the Station undetected and secondly by alerting Joshua to the fraudulent nature of Barsch and Alza's cover story.

If they really had contracted a disease from the air vent, then so would Joshua. Since he was fine, then so were they.

" _For now..."_ he thought, savouring the mental image of Barsch and Alza kneeling before him, defeated.

Soon, he would be reunited with Joshua. Although they had not brought back Barsch and Alza as directed, they had discovered a lot of valuable information. With the things they knew, Joshua would have no trouble crushing Markus and restoring true order to the Station.

"Are you sure about this?" asked Jeremiah, standing behind him. His friend had carried him since leaving the barge, but that did not exonerate him of his treacherous whispers.

"Yes," he replied, trying to keep his voice level, "We go in, find Joshua, and tell him the truth."

"And what truth is that?" asked Fran, standing beside Jeremiah. She too had shown doubt as of late.

"That Alza is a monster, Barsch doomed the world and Markus and Lukas knew about it the whole time. At the very least, that should ruin their pristine reputation."

"What about the re-mechs?" Jeremiah asked. He could tell that his friend was feeling guilty over what needed to be done, but what else could they do? Joshua would find out one way or another, and at least this way they would remain in his good graces.

"What about them? As far as I could tell, they were after Barsch and Alza. Hell, they even had one on their side, so who's to say they didn't orchestrate that whole attack in order to get us to let them get away?"

He did not give them time to come up with another objection. Removing the fake grass from the vent's cover, he carefully lifted its metallic lid. A short section of tubing the width of an adult human was all that stood between them and the Station. With great effort, he managed to lift his sickly body into the vent. Normally, a one way seal would stand in his way, but not this time.

After nodding towards his friends, he let go, dropping down into the shallow slide. A few seconds later he came to rest on the cold metallic floor of the Station.

He had made it back.

Alive and somewhat triumphant.

For a moment, he allowed himself to lie there, relishing his victory. However, as he caught his breath, he noticed that the darkness at the edge of his vision, present since leaving the barge, was not receding. If anything, it was growing larger, until all that was left of his vision was a hazy fog.

In that fog, he saw the shape of a man approaching. From the build, he could tell that it wasn't Joshua, Lionel or even Markus.

He briefly had time to panic, before the darkness consumed him.

His last thought, before falling unconscious, was, _"They knew... they knew we were coming..."_

*

"They knew... they knew we were coming," Barsch said, staring into the fog.

" _It would appear so. Perhaps they have some way of tracking us?"_

"Maybe... Alternatively, they might know that we have to pass through here if we want to make it to Rorash City? Perhaps they have troops spread out across this entire region, and we just stumbled upon one of their groups?"

" _That is also possible, I guess..."_

They were following behind Alza, who was a few feet ahead. She had crouched low to the ground, moving swiftly yet quietly from tree to tree.

_Lanista_ , his infernal, beautiful weapon, was gripped tightly in his right hand. Similarly, Maloch had activated his sonic cannon, which now gave off a low hum signalling that it was ready to be fired.

Hopefully they would not need it.

"Are you ready?" Alza whispered, her glowing violet eyes giving the fog an otherworldly purple tint.

Barsch nodded, wondering if he truly was. The last few encounters with the rogue re-mechs had not gone well, considering that he had almost died in two of them.

"Maloch, which direction to the medical station?" she asked, as she brought her hands together. Was she going to pray?

" _It's that way,"_ Maloch replied, pointing off into the fog.

" _I feel an echo... she is calling forth the flames..."_ Ashe mumbled, sounding almost reverent.

"Okay, on my signal, run towards the medical station. I will give us cover. Understand?"

They both nodded.

Alza's hands, still pressed together, had begun to glow with a red shimmer. Her eyes, still glowing, seemed to burn more brightly for a moment. At the same time, she parted her delicate fingers, revealing an apple sized ball of flame hanging in the air.

With a flick of her wrist the flaming orb rose to head height and began to orbit around her white locks. Seconds later, several more balls of fire popped into reality and joined their brethren's circuit.

Alza, bearing the flaming halo, extended her hand in the direction of the nearest tree. With another flick of her wrist, one of the pyric spheres detached from the rest and sped away towards the flammable wood. It impacted with an audible _whoosh_ and within seconds the tree was transformed into a beacon of flame. Alza repeated the act until all of the fireballs had been used, resulting in a wall of fire that almost fully encompassed the trio.

The only way out was in the direction of the medical station. Like a puzzle revealing its solution at the placement of the last piece, Alza's plan revealed itself to Barsch.

"Now!" Alza cried, taking off into the fog. With both the fire and the fog shielding them from the re-mechs, they would be able to escape undetected.

Assuming everything went according to plan.

Well, there was a first time for everything...

*

Things were not going according to plan.

Rose stared in disbelief at the scene unfolding before her. The re-mechs were staring at the growing flames, not even one moving from its assigned position. They were all logical beings and the sudden appearance of the roaring fire where previously only fog had existed had gone above and beyond what they were capable of processing.

But not her.

All she could think of were the flowers.

Innocent. Defenceless. Flammable.

How dare they!

It was bad enough that the humans were causing trouble by continuing to breathe, but now they were causing innocent bystanders to be hurt.

Raising her weapon, she hesitated for a moment. Once again, she was about to break one of her most important vows: to do no harm. But then the anger rose and overwhelmed her.

Without the humans, Mother would never have stolen her away from her flowers. Without the humans, she would never have had to endure such pain. Without the humans, she would be free.

She took a moment to aim, before realizing the futility of her action. So, instead, she pointed her rifle in the direction of the biggest fire and pulled the trigger, half-hoping that her bullets would only find bark.

The other half, the one blinded by rage and frustration, sought flesh instead.

*

The hail of gunfire came without warning, tearing through the wall of flame as if it didn't even exist. The bullets impacted the trees around them, showering them with burning splinters. However, they did not stop.

They ran on, surrounded by fire, fog, and now... fear.

*

The other re-mechs, using her initiative, had opened fire as well. Additionally, several of them had broken away in small groups, unsheathing bladed weapons. If the barrage did not get the humans, the blades would.

*

The world had gone mad, but what else was new?

They could only run through the madness that now enveloped them, hoping to reach sanity on the other side. Through the flames, Barsch saw re-mechs running parallel to them, carrying what seemed to be weapons. Behind them, the bullets continued to fly, trapping them in the corridor of fire they had helped to create.

Maloch, the largest target, already bore several bullet holes on his back, but apparently none of them had done any real damage.

As for Barsch, he had evaded the shots by pure luck, although the wooden shrapnel from near misses had resulted in dozens of small lacerations across his arms and face. The pain, never too far away, had edged closer. He knew that the moment they cleared the re-mechs, it would find him and present the bill he had so far delayed.

Turning his head, he watched as Alza continued to fling fireball after fireball into the surrounding forest. For a brief moment, she was illuminated by the raging flame, and appeared to possess a mane of fire herself. That, combined with the fire reflected in her glowing eyes, gave her an appearance that was now far too familiar...

" _Ashe..."_ he thought, wondering briefly if they were one and the same.

*

The readout on her weapon bore a single digit. One bullet remaining. One last chance to take a life.

She would let fate decide.

Closing her eyes, Rose raised the weapon for the final time.

" _I'm sorry..."_ she whispered, as she pulled the trigger.

*

He was still looking at Alza when he heard it. Another bullet had impacted nearby, but instead of metal on wood, it sounded... different. Looking down, he half expected to see a red stain appear on his shirt. But he was uninjured.

Another miss?

And then he saw Alza, and the rage came.

Her expression, previously one of dangerous concentration, had turned to shock. She stumbled forward, balls of flame winking out around her. He had only taken a single step towards her when she fell, meeting the ground with an almost angelic sigh.

"ALZA!" he cried, forcing his feet forward.

He reached her in three more steps.

" _Too slow! Too slow!"_ his mind was screaming, but he paid it no attention.

Sliding to his knees, he raised her up, grasping desperately for her thin wrist.

" _Please! Please! PLEASE!"_

There, a pulse, but it was weak. And growing weaker.

"MALOCH, HELP ME!" he screamed, willing his friend to instantly appear before him.

Seconds later, the re-mech was there, his gentle grip lifting Alza's unmoving body into his embrace. Without stopping to exchange words, they ran onwards, towards the medical station.

*

Rose heard the boy's scream. She doubted that any of them had not heard it.

In that moment, her rage disappeared like morning dew on a summer's day. With it gone, she was left only with her guilt.

What had she done...?

*

They had almost cleared the forest and with it, the re-mechs. However, standing in there way, wielding what looked like makeshift weapons, were three re-mechs.

Their red eyes were focused squarely on Barsch, and with Alza injured and Maloch carrying her, he would have it no other way.

Bringing _Lanista_ up, he allowed his mind to go blank. Alza was hurt. These re-mechs were standing between him and the place that could help her. That's all there was to consider.

" _Yes! Give in to your violence! Give in to me!" Lanista_ screamed, but Barsch did not listen.

Without stopping, he levelled the blade and spun into the re-mechs, allowing the rotation to add its power to his rage. The chainsword impacted each re-mech across the chest, leaving a deep furrow in their armour and driving them back. The nearest one raised its arms to brace for the coming follow up attack, but nothing happened.

He could not waste time on destroying them.

Alza was injured. That was all that mattered.

Their pace had not fallen, and, leaving the re-mechs behind, they ran onwards.

*

"Can you hear me, lad?" the voice was gruff, but had a hint of compassion. Slowly, Charles opened his eyes. He was lying in a bed, covered with white sheets, and someone had inserted an intravenous line into his forearm.

"Wha... What's going on?" he murmured, staring at the unfamiliar environment.

"You collapsed in the hallway, and I had that young lad who was with you carry you to the med bay."

"I'm... I'm inside the Station?"

The voice gave a small chuckle before answering, "Of course, where else would you be, the moon?"

Looking around, Charles found the owner of the voice. An old man, wearing a white lab coat which looked like it had never been washed, sat beside the bed.

Charles decided to say nothing further, lest he reveal anything incriminating. With help from the old man, he managed to sit up.

"Doctor?" he guessed.

"August," the old man replied.

"Thank you, for treating me..." Charles did not know what else to say. Gratitude did not come easily for him.

"Think nothing of it... although I am curious as to how you managed to inhale such a large amount of airborne pollutants while inside the Station. From what I understand, the Station has a very good filtration system to keep any and all airborne pollution out."

"I... uh... I found out that one of the exhaust vents was broken... and I was trying to fix it myself... Stupid, I know..."

Dr August looked at him with a strange gaze, almost as if he was measuring Charles for something, before looking away and saying, "I see... Well, at least your condition is stable. I intend to keep you overnight for observation, and give you some medication to alleviate your symptoms. After that, if you are feeling better, I would be happy to discharge you!"

"Thanks," he said, this time the word came a little easier. Perhaps being around Joshua had resulted in a rubbing off of his way with words...

"Um, what happened to my friends?" he asked, a short while later.

"They are waiting outside. I can fetch them if you like?"

"Yes, please," he said, strangely proud of his ability to act in such a humble manner.

Nodding, Dr August stood and made his way to the med lab's entrance.

As soon as he was able to move, he would seek out Joshua. Just wait until Joshua saw him... he would be so proud.

Soon, Joshua would know the truth, and Markus' little empire would come crumbling down around him.

Soon...

*

"What are we going to tell Joshua, really?" Jeremiah asked. He was standing with his back to the med lab's sealed entrance, keeping an eye out for potential interlopers. The doctor had shooed them out as soon as Charles had been placed on the bed, claiming that he needed to assess him.

"What do you mean?" Fran replied, sounding defensive. Her eyes were still puffy from a night's worth of tears, but her voice did not tremble.

"Do you really think we can tell Joshua the truth? That Alza was born in a test-tube and has superhuman powers? Or that Barsch is searching for some kind of seed? Or how about the army of rogue re-mechs that could be heading here as we speak?"

"What then, would you tell him? That lie about us losing their trail and slinking back here without a single accomplishment to our name? Don't be a child, Jeremiah."

Jeremiah had given their predicament a lot of thought since leaving Alza and Barsch, but he had yet to find a satisfactory answer. If they lied to Joshua, they would most likely be excluded from his grand plan; and if the truth was revealed in the end, they would be punished. However, if they told him the truth -and if he believed them- they would be responsible for bringing untold chaos into the Station. With the information they possessed, Joshua would easily be able to unravel Markus' lies about Barsch and Alza.

"For now, we tell him nothing. Once Charles is better, we can discuss the matter and come to a conclusion. I mean, we only just returned, we still have some time before we need to face Joshua..."

"I guess..." Jeremiah replied, but inwardly he doubted his friend's words. Joshua seemed to have eyes and ears all over the Station, and he did not believe for even a second that the man was not aware that they had returned.

However, before he could voice his issue with Fran, the door to the med lab opened and Dr August stepped out.

"He's still weak, but you can see him now." He had barely finished speaking when Fran pushed past him, a strange expression on her face. Jeremiah followed, whispering a small apology to the doctor.

As he crossed the threshold, he fancied for a moment that he saw a figure disappear around a nearby corner. But when he looked again the hallway was empty, as it assuredly must have been for their entire conversation. Perhaps his time spent being chased by murderous re-mechs had made him jumpy?

Yes... it had to be that...

*

Anna-Lynne Summers, Station gossip and proud of it, breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, Jerry and Franny -or whatever their names were- had not noticed her.

After gaining some distance from the med lab, she crouched down and pressed her hands together. They were shaking slightly, a sign that she had just heard some amazing gossip.

Alza was some kind of monster? Barsch was actually a horticulturist? And then something about mad re-mechs that she had most likely misheard? Of the three, the one about Alza, the Station's most enigmatic resident, stood out like a neon sign in a dark alley.

Obviously she would have to spruce it up a bit, add some flavour text and make it easier to understand, but it was definitely going to be a hit. By the time morning came, the entire Station -or at least the residents that tolerated her- would know the truth.

Well...

Anna-Lynne Summer's version of the truth, anyway.

Time to get to work...

*

Alza wasn't moving.

Barsch, running alongside Maloch, was watching for any sign of movement. A twitch in her leg. A gasp for air. A hand seeking its mate.

But she was still.

Looking down, he saw the trail of blood which led from her to the burning forest. The fog, heated up by the flames, was rapidly thinning. Whatever Alza's plan had been, he doubted that it had ended with this.

Glancing up, he saw that they had finally broken through the treeline. A hundred feet away another treeline beckoned, and with a chilling familiarity Barsch realized that they had arrived in a glade.

He had first met Alza inside a glade.

Would he lose her inside one too?

No. He refused that future. Whatever had to be done to save Alza's life, whatever bargains needed to be made with any manner of demons, he would do it.

She would not be the sacrifice. Not ever.

Ahead, lying in the centre of the glade was a squat building with what looked like the bare minimum amount of structural elements. Four walls, a reinforced door and two windows.

Oh, and a re-mech.

" _I don't have time for this,"_ he thought, bringing up _Lanista_ once more.

Maloch, still running beside him, seemed to hesitate as they drew nearer.

The re-mech, painted black with silver lines forming an intricate emblem across its chest, turned to face them. It raised its right arm in the universal gesture meaning 'halt'.

" _Barsch, perhaps this re-mech is frien-_ Maloch started to say, but a cacophony of voices in Barsch's mind screamed and his words were lost to the roar.

" _Kill him, murderer!"_ screamed Kain and _Lanista_ in perfect unison.

There was no time to think. No time to stop. Death lay behind them. And death potentially lay ahead as well.

Alza was dying.

This re-mech stood between them and the medical station.

Between life and death.

Barsch made his decision, not knowing if it would haunt him for the rest of his days.

Speeding past Maloch's slowing form, he brought _Lanista_ up and poured all of his rage, his frustration and his fear into his strike.

The re-mech, still in the midst of reacting to their sudden appearance, had no time to defend itself. _Lanista_ went through its chest plate with barely any resistance, so great was his fury.

The fight -if it could even be called that- was over before it had even begun. Barsch, coming to his senses, tugged _Lanista_ free before lifting his gaze.

The re-mech's eyes went dark as he did so.

Had they been red? Or yellow?

He would never know.

" _Ah, the old stab them through the heart! Classic!"_ Kain cackled, further reinforcing Barsch's growing guilt.

" _Good. The weak perish. The strong endure. Do not regret this, Barsch La Tergan. My metal was stronger, that is all." Lanista's_ words did nothing to alleviate his inner turmoil either.

And then, as he was at the height of his self-doubt, Maloch finished him off.

" _Barsch, what have you...?"_ The re-mech, his friend, looked... wounded, as if he had been struck instead of the nameless sentry.

But Alza was still dying, so he needed to put off his remorse for a little while longer.

"It could have been with them, and we don't have the time," he replied, stepping past the corpse and heading into the medical station.

For a heartbeat, he wondered if Maloch would follow him. What would he do if he didn't? Attack him and take Alza?

He hoped he didn't have to find out.

A moment later, Maloch, wearing what could only be described as an apprehensive expression, followed him inside.

But at that moment, his friend's hurt feelings were a low priority.

Alza was hurt, and he would do anything to save her.

Even kill, apparently.

*

Markus sat in a pitch black room, contemplating his life. Before the Great Sleep, he had been a rising U.N.O.E official and local liaison for the Station's construction. Had everything gone according to plan, he would have used his management skills and leadership experience to guide the reawakened humans to their new home. The re-mechs would have constructed a shining city for them, stocked with everything they could have ever needed to make a fresh start.

Instead, he had awoken to a world very similar to the one he had left behind.

He had done his best to resolve conflicts, promote peace and keep things from spiralling into chaos.

But he had failed.

Joshua had seen to that.

He wondered, for a moment, how things were going in the other Stations. Genesis series Stations were by far the smallest, with a maximum occupancy of just ten thousand humans. The King series, by comparison, held a maximum of three hundred and fifty thousand people. He pitied the men and women who had been placed in charge of those Stations.

He wondered if they were still alive, or if they had burned through their food supplies already.

Either way, he wasn't playing a game that could be won. If Barsch and Alza failed to find a solution, then there would be no point in rationing the food further. Better to use it to throw one last feast, before embracing sleep once more.

However, from that sleep, there would be no awakening.

As he was pondering his predicament, he heard footsteps approaching his door. It was unlocked, a sign that his ears were always open to hear the troubles of the people.

"Enter," he said, hoping that whoever was on the other side of the door came bearing good news.

Something told him that this, however, was not the case.

*

"Enter," came the gruff, yet warm voice, from the other side of the metal door.

Sarah Baliss, amateur astronomer and below average everything else, hesitated before entering. She was a coward, and would be the first to admit it. But this was important, and nothing was going to get in her way.

Entering the room, she found that it was drenched in darkness. As her eyes struggled to adapt from the well-lit corridor, she saw a figure rise from the centre of the room.

Markus Arkson, de facto leader of Genesis Station 13, was an imposing sight. His skin seemed to blend into the darkness, and his steel grey eyes radiated conviction. He was not a man to be trifled with.

"Sarah, it is good to see you," he said, showing his natural ability to make one feel at ease with only a handful of words. He walked over to the wall, where, with the wave of his hand, a hidden light sensor activated, flooding the room with light.

Markus' dark skin, previously hidden by the darkness, now stood out in stark contrast to his surroundings.

"Thank you, Markus, although I wish I was coming with better news..."

His eyes widened for a moment, and she caught a hint of sadness. He had been hoping for good news...

"You bring word from Thomas?"

"I do. He has spoken to the majority of the youth in the Station, basically everyone under the age of twenty-five. From them he has learnt... that they will side with Joshua... I'm sorry."

Again, a flash of sadness. But surely Markus had been expecting this? The rationing was getting worse every day. The people were growing more and more discontent, and Joshua had been using the dire situation to spread his lies to every corner of the Station.

Compared to him, Markus and Lukas, while good leaders, simply lacked his overpowering charisma.

"I see... thank you, Sarah..."

"What are you going to do?" she asked. She had family in the Station, and more than a few friends. If it was time to barricade themselves into the rooms then she needed to pass along the message. Otherwise, a lot of people were going to die.

"I will converse with Lukas about this. Perhaps it is time we negotiate with Joshua directly. If we can convince him to stand down, we might be able to avoid an all-out war."

Sarah nodded, retreating from the room. Inwardly, however, she disagreed. A man like Joshua would only listen to a show of force. He would see the negotiations as a sign of weakness, and the last thing that man needed was another advantage.

Despite what Markus had said, she felt that it was time to prepare the people.

No war gongs had been rung and no trumpets had been sung, but the conflict had escalated nonetheless.

Truly, the fight for Genesis had begun.

*

"Aster, bearer of the divine seed, grant us your favour. Astrum, bearer of the burning rain, grant us your mercy. We ask that you watch over the Widowson and Widowdaughter, and pray that their bodies are filled with your strength."

Ifrin, her hands raised above her head, hoped that their prayer would reach their gods. With the world in a state of decay and humanity buried beneath the earth, she wondered if the gods were still around.

Five times, she had gone to the doctor and asked if she could visit Alza. Five times she had been rebuked.

All she had left was prayer.

"Aster, lord of all creation, watch over our friends. Astrum, lady of the eternal night, take our pain as penance and give us relief in return. We beg you to heal our kin, and pray that you relieve them of their suffering."

"The only ones suffering around here are us, but you didn't include that in your prayer, did you?" Keanan said, entering the room.

Ishmael did not look up from where he knelt. His hands, in keeping with tradition, were held tight against his chest.

"You would interrupt our prayer time, husband?" It was a simple question and said with a straightforward tone, but it should never have needed to be asked. Prayer time was sacred, a fact which Keanan knew well.

"I would, if it would keep us safe. Joshua has begun consolidating his forces and gathering those loyal to him in the lower reaches of the Station. I believe that whatever his plan is, he intends to act soon."

"And what of Markus?" Ishmael asked, finally allowing his body to relax into a more comfortable position.

"Nothing. Either he has already made his move, or he doesn't have one to make. Either way, this place is no longer safe for us."

Ishmael stood, dusting his clothes as he did so. Turning to face Keanan, he intoned, "No place is truly safe for the Judai, Wolfsoother; you know this. But, the Station has been safer than what we have seen before. It pains me to know that discord has spread even to this desperate place."

"Perhaps it is because this place is so desperate that it has come to know conflict," whispered Ifrin, also rising.

"It doesn't matter why things became this way," Keanan replied, a cold tone edging into his voice, "All that matters is that we survive."

Ifrin studied her husband for a moment. In the years they had been married, he had mellowed greatly. It was in times like these, however, that his old self re-emerged. The man who had fought off a bloodthirsty wolf pack for her sake. The man who would kill for her, if the need arose.

"And how do you propose we do so, Wolfsoother?" asked Ishmael, his face blank and unreadable.

"I believe that if we stay on the side-lines, we will surely be caught in the crossfire. I say that we should pick a side and help them accomplish their goal."

"I thought you said that you did not want to die for the landless, husband?"

"That was before they brought their stupid war to our doorstep, wife."

"And whose side do you propose we join? Joshua's?" Ifrin felt her body tense up. It had been a long time since she had last fought anyone, but her body remembered. If her husband wanted to join in Joshua's madness, she would...

She didn't know what she would do.

The Judai had no concept of divorce.

It was a union until death. She hoped that he would not bring about his own.

"No. We decide together. There are three of us, so any decision will be a majority ruling. That's fair, no?"

Ifrin felt a slight relaxing in her muscles. There was still hope for them...

"I stand with Markus," Ishmael said, his voice firm.

"I as well," she said, not regretting her decision. Alza was a friend, and she trusted Markus. Ifrin would as well, even if it doomed them all.

"Then it is decided," Keanan announced. He had not cast his vote, which was probably for the best.

"We stand with Markus, until the end," he said, before adding, in a softer voice that only Ifrin could hear, "I stand with you, no matter what..."

Ifrin smiled, but in her mind she felt no joy. She could only hope that Alza and Barsch, sealed away in the medical lab, would be kept out of any fighting that might break out.

Kneeling once more, she invited Keanan to do the same. Ishmael, already sitting down, crossed his arms once more.

"Aster, Astrum, protectors of the ancient Jud, keep us safe," she prayed, hoping that her words would be heard, before the war came...

*

"Are we ready to operate?" Barsch asked, staring with disbelief at the scene before him. Alza, back bared, lay on a surgical table in the centre of the room. They had managed to staunch the bleeding with copious amounts of gauze, but she had not woken up.

" _Yes, I have completed the necessary preparations,"_ Maloch said, moving towards Alza while holding an array of surgical tools in his oversized hands.

Had it been a normal wound, Alza's power would have no doubt been able to activate and heal her. However, given that Maloch had found no exit wound, he had posited that the bullet had become lodged inside her, blocking her ability to heal.

In order to save her life, they had to remove the bullet.

It was not a situation he had expected to find himself in when he awoke that morning.

" _Commencing procedure. Barsch, I will need you to assist me."_ Although Maloch's tone had not changed, Barsch sensed that a rift had opened between them. He knew that Maloch disapproved of how he had handled the re-mech guarding the medical station, but that conversation had been put on hold.

Until Alza was safe, his guilt would have to wait.

" _Beginning incision at L1 level,"_ Maloch said, deftly drawing forth a scalpel and using it to make a small incision in Alza's back. The bullet wound, lying adjacent to her spinous process, was clearly visible. Had the bullet been an inch to the left, Alza would have been left paraplegic... or worse.

Maloch worked with re-mech accuracy, quickly peeling back the damaged skin in order to access the wound's interior. Barsch, holding a suction hose, was in charge of suctioning away the fresh blood.

" _Widening wound for optimal bullet localization,"_ Maloch narrated, as he gradually expanded the width of the hole. Alza, having been given an anaesthetic, made no movements.

Something told him, however, that if she had been awake her reactions would have been the same.

" _Scanning wound for bullet fragments... scanning... scanning... scan complete. Bullet located. Casing is intact. Zero fragments detected."_

Barsch breathed a small sigh of relief. Had the bullet fragmented it would have made for a much more difficult surgery.

" _Inserting forceps into wound interior. Navigating wound. Navigating. Bullet within range. Applying pressure. Grip confirmed. Testing retention. Grip holding."_

Barsch noticed that his hands were shaking and tried to stabilize the suction hose, but it was no use. He had fought madmen and beasts alike, but this was by far the most afraid he had ever been. Were they doing the right thing? What if something went wrong? What if there was another bullet?

No. He could not afford to think like that. Alza would be fine.

Surrounded by a horde of murderous re-mechs, yes, but relatively fine.

" _Removing bullet,"_ said Maloch, as he carefully raised the forceps. At their end, clutched between two metal hoops, was the bullet.

It was smaller than he had expected.

And yet, seeing it before him, covered in Alza's blood, he could not imagine something more terrifying.

Those re-mechs had tried to kill his friend, and, had things been slightly different, they would have succeeded.

They would pay.

All of them.

Without fail.

For the moment, however, he put a stopper on his building rage. Getting angry now would not do Alza any good.

" _Confirming extraction of foreign object. Wound is clear. Beginning suturing."_ Maloch smoothly deposited the bullet into a nearby container before swopping out his forceps for a suturing kit. With mechanical precision he stitched the wound closed; returning Alza's slim back to a semblance of normality.

Together, they wiped down the remaining blood and checked for any other wounds. Once they were satisfied, Maloch gently scooped Alza into his arms and carried her to the rear room of the medical station. There, laid out in a neat row, were a series of hospital beds. After laying Alza on her side and making her comfortable, Maloch returned to the operating room.

" _She is stable, for the moment. I believe that her healing ability should activate and restore her to full function if given enough time."_

"Do you think they will give us that time?" Barsch asked, peering out the nearby window. There had been no sign of the rogue re-mechs since they arrived at the medical station, but he doubted that they would simply disperse after coming so far.

Sooner or later, they would be found.

For now, Alza was safe.

But not for long.

" _But you can change that, Barsch"_ the voice belonged to Ashe, and yet it was tinged with an uncharacteristic anger. That would be _Lanista_ , then, influencing her.

But Barsch had no desire to calm her rage.

Instead, he let it burn brighter. The re-mechs had hurt his friend.

There would be no forgiveness. There would be no escape from the flames.

No.

There would be a reckoning.

*

"Things aren't going well, I take it?" Lukas asked, moving to sit across from his friend.

"Well isn't that the understatement of the century," Markus replied, before taking a sip of his drink. Water, funnily enough, was the one thing they had plenty of.

Food, on the other hand...

"Joshua came to see me earlier, you know."

"Oh? And has he agreed to submit to our authority and have his followers turn themselves in?"

"No, not quite."

"Yeah, I didn't think so."

"He offered me a place at his table, so to speak."

"Does he realize that there isn't any food for that table?"

Lukas looked pensive for a moment, before answering, "Honestly, I don't think he cares. He wants to rule over the people of the Station, and I don't think he minds if their bellies are empty or full, so long as they are touching the ground whenever he walks by."

"He's an egomaniac, to be sure."

"That's putting it lightly. I would say that he has a god complex, but I've heard of gods way less arrogant than him."

Nothing more was said for several minutes as the two men contemplated their situation in silence. Even if they were able to stop Joshua, a much greater threat lay on the horizon. Perhaps their focus on Joshua had been, in part, an attempt to keep themselves from thinking about the future.

The near future.

"I wonder... how your son is doing," Markus said, eventually. When Lukas had first come to him and explained his plan, he had thought the man mad.

But now, with the world resuming its final countdown after its brief hiatus, it made perfect sense.

The Seed must Survive.

Only the Seed.

"I can only pray that he is well and that his feet have carried him far from this doomed place..." Lukas bore a look of tremendous grief, but Markus knew better than to comment on it.

He alone knew how much his decision had cost Lukas.

"You know, I'm sure that he will understand, some day," Markus mused, raising his glass, "When he is older, and has children of his own... he will understand why it had to be this way..."

Lukas fetched a glass for himself, pouring out the water in silence. Moving closer, he too raised his glass.

"To Barsch, bearer of humanity's future," he whispered.

"To us, remnants of humanity's past," Markus added.

"May history remember our accomplishments and forget our failures," Lukas finished.

The people of the Station would be forgotten. He and Lukas would be forgotten.

But humanity would live on; they had made sure of that.

*

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE.

My tears have long since ceased. I lie, unable to move, unable to stand, unable to cry, waiting for death.

Jak, my loyal steed, has preceded me in this regard.

I held him, as he went. He was afraid, as I am.

A wolf howl pierces the silence, but the glade is empty, save for me and my horse.

And the crystal.

It towers above me, easily eight feet tall and five wide. In any other circumstance, its soft, violet glow would be beautiful.

But not tonight.

Tonight I cannot help but try and edge away from it. I have heard of these things, whispers and rumours of violet crystals that appeared after the pollution became a threat. They are supposed to form in areas of dangerously high contaminant levels, but this is a clean zone...

At least, it was...

I can feel it eroding me... dissolving my flesh... destroying my soul...

This thing is death.

But, as I stare into its crystalline matrix, I catch sight of something staring back. For a moment, my need to flee is overcome by curiosity.

Dragging my body closer, I seek out that which was seen.

A pair of eyes.

A pair of violet, glowing eyes.

REMEMBER WHO YOU WILL BE.

In the warped surface of the crystal, I see a woman.

She looks like me, but different.

Her hair is pure white, as if someone had bleached my chestnut locks.

Her skin is pale, as if she had never seen the sun.

Her expression is fixed, as if someone had stolen her emotions.

But her eyes are what draw my attention. They have lost my amber sheen.

They glow with the same light as the crystal, but far more intense.

She is me, but also... not.

I hear a commotion nearby, the sound of footsteps, but the girl in the crystal holds my gaze. I hear shouting, a male voice growing louder, but the girl in the crystal holds my senses captive.

Against all reason, I reach out, my hand shaking from the shock and exhaustion. In the crystal, my warped reflection does the same. Without a sound, our fingers touch, and a ripple races outwards from the point of contact.

" _Who are you?" I wonder, as the darkness finally claims me..._

*

"Who are you?"

Barsch heard the whisper, but it took him several seconds to realize that the words had not come from his own mind. The whisper, rather, had come from Alza, who was still sleeping in the medical station's bed.

Maloch had left shortly after confirming Alza's stable condition, reasoning that he needed to know where the rogue re-mechs were so that they could plan their escape.

" _You know the real reason why he couldn't wait to get out of here, though, don't you?"_ asked Kain, in his needling voice.

But Barsch had no reply. It was true, after all. He did know why Maloch had been so eager to leave the medical station.

Even if it meant heading out into a world filled with murderous re-mechs.

Because the alternative was far worse.

" _I told you. I told you. I told you!"_ Kain repeated, gloating, _"I knew that you were a murderer, and once again you have proven me right!"_

He tried to ignore Kain's words, choosing instead to focus on the computer terminal in front of him. It had not seen any use in decades, and for a while after powering it up Barsch had wondered if it would even turn on.

But eventually it had, and now displayed a list of options.

"Access x-ray database, open medication list, activate auto-doc, query," Barsch read out loud, inwardly fuming at the lack of clear directions. His father had told him to use the station uplink to contact Genesis, but nothing on the list looked remotely like an uplink activator.

Shrugging his shoulders, he slid out the diminutive keyboard and, after choosing 'query', began typing.

After inputting his query, he waited several long seconds as the machine whirred and beeped.

" _One result found. Article referencing query term 'satellite link' retrieved. Would you like to read a summary, Y/N?"_

His finger found the 'Y' key easily. This was not going as smoothly as he had hoped.

" _Regarding the implementation of a satellite link to connect peripheral medical and refuelling stations to cryogenesis stations, the council has found that such an undertaking will not be feasible given the limited timeframe, lack of necessary resources and insufficient infrastructure. The council feels that, with humanity in cryogenesis, there is no pressing need for any communication network to exist between the stations. In the event that an individual requires communication between an outlying station and a cryogenesis station, we suggest that they seek alternative methods."_

Barsch stared at the screen for what seemed like a long time. His brain, low on sleep and high on stress, struggled to understand what was written before him.

" _There was never a network between the stations? But that doesn't make any sense! Dad wouldn't have told us to look for one if there wasn't one in the first place!"_

But, in a deep, almost unreachable part of his psyche, an old thought was stirring.

It was a traitorous thought. An unthinkable thought. A thought that he had buried deep the moment it first popped into his mind. That day when Lukas had first explained the plan to leave Genesis and seek out a project that might have long since been destroyed or lost.

" _Lukas never expected us to succeed..."_ The thought unfurled, like a snake in the grass.

" _No... that doesn't make any sense... Why would dad send Alza and I on this mission if he knew from the start that it wasn't going to work out?"_

His mind was still struggling to figure everything out, but the part of his mind which had housed the treacherous thought was already formulating another.

" _Think about it, for a moment. The Station is running out of food. The people inside can't leave otherwise the pollution will kill them. Only you and Alza are able to survive outside the Station..."_

His mind had finally caught up. The next thought was his own.

" _He didn't want me to be around when they ran out of food... he knew that only Alza and I would make it... so he came up with this plan in order to send us away..."_

He wanted to scream, to cry, and to laugh, all at once.

Lukas had ensured that the Seed would Survive, all right.

_His_ Seed.

*

Rose cradled the dead flower in her hands, wondering if it could be restored after all of this was over. Perhaps if she could revive it somehow, she could make it bloom once more.

After all, she was a gardener... flowers were kind of her thing...

Or, at least, they had been, before she had picked up that rifle.

Now? Now she didn't know what she was.

" _Daughter, you have done well,"_ Mother's voice was as invasive as ever, but Rose paid it little attention. She was forced to obey every order, but that did not mean she had to listen to every word.

" _The humans are hurt and cornered; soon their time will be up. Mobilize your forces and end this!"_

Oh how she wished she could refuse...

Instead, she replied, saying, _"Yes, Mother, it shall be done..."_

She felt the presence leave her mind. It was a strange experience, having another entity invading her thoughts. But it was gone now, at least for a time, leaving her empty... and free.

Placing the dead flower in a storage container located in her thigh, she moved towards the other re-mech. She could tell from their countenance that they had given up and surrendered entirely to Mother's control.

" _We have located one of the targets,"_ the nearest re-mech said, in a lifeless voice.

Soon, this would all be over.

Soon, she would be home.

" _Understood. Move to engage, and tell the others to begin the assault on the secondary location. This ends here, and it ends now."_ The words she spoke were her own, but they had needed to be said.

Moving closer to an opening in the treeline, she peered through the last wisps of fog, trying to see who it was. Through the lifting cloud, a figure gradually emerged.

It was soon apparent that it was too big to be human.

The re-mech.

Without her consent, her feet carried her forward. Part of her was screaming, telling her that she was breaking formation and walking directly towards an enemy.

But the rest of her, the majority, simply had to know.

Why?

" _Re-mech, you are surrounded,"_ she lied, _"Surrender to us, and you will not be destroyed."_

The re-mech glanced sharply in her direction. His eyes possessed a soft, golden glow, very different from her crimson glare.

" _If I surrender to you, can you guarantee the safety of my friends?"_

Friends... he called them his friends...

" _Why do you call them that? They are your masters, and nothing more!"_ A part of her felt anger. This re-mech had everything that she desired: friends, fixity and most importantly, freedom.

" _I call them my friends because that is what they are. I do not serve them, and they do not command me. I want to protect them, not because I was ordered to, but because I want to."_

His words hit like a sledgehammer, causing her to take an involuntary step back.

She had never met a re-mech like this. His eyes bore no hint of a lie, instead holding only a firm conviction. Truly, he believed every word he had just uttered.

" _What... who... are you?"_

" _I am Maloch, and if you wish to harm my friends, these will be the last words you will ever hear!"_ He said, as his arms folded in on themselves, producing weapons that looked well used.

Beside her, the re-mech who had located Maloch raised what looked like a sledgehammer crossed with a flamethrower. It screamed a battle-cry before charging forward, swinging its weapon at the unusual re-mech.

She could not watch.

Aware that she would be punished, she turned and fled, as the sounds of battle filled the air.

*

Barsch heard sounds of battle coming from outside the medical station, but he did not care.

He was kneeling beside Alza, her slender hand clasped in his own.

What would he tell her, when she awoke? That their entire mission had been a lie? That there would not be a Station to return to? Or that everything they had fought for, bled for, had been for naught?

As he stared at her sleeping face, he felt the rage build within him. He felt anger at the re-mechs, at his father, and at himself. Inside his mind, all three strains had merged and thus been amplified. The hand that was not covering Alza's shook in barely suppressed fury.

He had crossed the land, losing himself in the process.

He had fought the re-mechs, and had been bled by them.

He had almost lost Alza... he had almost lost her...

The wrath within him continued to build, but he had no desire to quieten it. He wanted it to grow, to consume him.

In his mind, he could hear _Lanista_ , Kain, and Ashe screaming for him to use the power... his power...

In the same thought, he could hear The Unknown Woman, Rigel and Yumiere arguing against them, telling them that using the power was not the solution.

He ignored both groups. He had no time for ghosts, or shards of his conscience, or whatever they were.

Glancing up, he saw a pair of eyes peering in through the station's window.

A pair of glowing, red eyes.

They had found him.

Perfect.

# Chapter XIII: Abomination

In which the darkness grows...

Six Months Ago

Barsch and Alza, once strangers, never friends, but now somewhere in between, walked side by side. They carried with them their old clothes, now destined for the incinerator. It pained him to have to part with his raiment, but they could not risk it being found and leading to questions that they did not have answers for.

Alza, wearing her new podsuit, looked similar to how she had been when he had first met her. Before her eyes had begun to glow. Before the truth of her birth had been revealed.

Before she had learned how to smile.

It was a worthwhile trade-off, in his opinion.

Of all the ways he had expected their journey to end, walking through the halls of Genesis Station as the entire population slowly defrosted had not been one of them.

But this was the end of their journey, one way or another.

Part of him knew that, no matter what happened next, they would be pulled apart. He would have a father again, and would have to forget his life changing adventure. She would be a stranger once more, a ghost from a former life that he could not interact with.

That thought, most of all, threatened to tear his heart in half.

"Barsch?" she said, coming to a sudden stop.

It took him several seconds to see why she had stopped. They had arrived at a door, no different from all the others they had passed by.

This one, however, bore a plaque.

" **Service Sector F"**

Stepping forward, he pulled open the door, revealing a small tunnel filled with hissing pipes and the groans of hidden machinery slowly coming to life. The Station, like its inhabitants, was waking up.

Walking forward, he eventually came to another door. The hatch also bore a plaque, this one reading **"Food Storage"**.

It couldn't hurt to take a look, right?

Opening the hatch, he was greeted by the sight of a massive room. Easily as big as the central hub of the Station, it was filled to the ceiling with row upon row of metal shelves. Upon the shelves, arranged in what looked like a carefully constructed system, was the entire food supply for Genesis Station 13.

It was enough food to last the inhabitants six months, meant to be a head start to help them settle into their new city without having to worry about acquiring food. After that, the re-mechs would bring in the first harvests from their farms and ordinary life would gradually recommence.

"That's a lot of food," Alza said, in an awed voice.

"Yeah, but unless we can figure out a way to get these people out of here in under six months, it's not going to be enough..."

*

The Present

Fire ravaged the forest, easily reaching its centre, where a massive monument towered above the land. The construction, built by unknown hands, resembled a lightning bolt piercing the earth. Despite being made primarily of metal, the monument had never been struck by lightning, a peculiarity that had been extensively studied during the Quantum Age but never fully understood.

At the top of the gold-coated structure, roughly a hundred feet off of the ground, three figures stood.

" **What more evidence do you need? Look around and see the devastation your chosen have wrought."**

Raigan, the Avatar of the Skies and elder brother to Ion and Terra, stood defiant. His eyes, a dull grey that usually seemed devoid of life, had now flared with anger. His hair, the colour of dried blood, did not move an inch despite the strong gale above the bolt. His face bore no colour, which was only further contrasted with his pitch black cloak hemmed with crimson lightning bolts.

Ion, surrounded by a dozen orbiting balls of ice, struggled to rebuke him. The heat from the burning forest was beginning to melt the suspended orbs, so great was its fury. It was exactly as they had feared: man fighting man-made, with nature caught in the middle.

Terra, standing beside her, seemed to be maintaining his composure. Like her, he was ready to fight, should the need arise. Two streams of molten rock orbited him at opposing angles, forming an 'X' pattern. Should Raigan show even the slightest hint of force, they would be ready to reply in kind.

She really hoped that it wouldn't come to that.

Best case, they would be able to fight him to a stalemate.

Worst case, he would kill them both.

Either way, this was not a fight that could be won.

" **They were defending themselves, Raigan, from that abominable army. Surely you don't expect them to simply lie down and await death?"** Terra's voice was level, but his anxiety was betrayed when one of the molten streams briefly lost its shape.

" **That would please me greatly, traitor,"** Raigan replied, not caring to keep the bite out of his words, **"And it warms my heart to hear you speak the word abominable. You, who allow an even greater abomination to roam free! You, who allow it to continue to exist, despite the threat it possess to this world! You, who unleashed it in the first place! How dare you speak of such things, knowing the sin you even now refuse to rectify!"**

As Raigan spoke, he took a step towards Terra, his dull grey eyes now full of indignation. Ion tensed herself for a fight, knowing that this could be her last.

Alza and Maloch were nearby, and, if things escalated, they would surely be consumed in the ensuing battle.

And the abomination... Barsch... she did not think that she could protect him from Raigan's wrath, it if came to that.

" **Barsch is not an abomination,"** she lied, **"He is a human being, and as such, under our protection. If you try to harm him..."**

She did not finish her threat. Even she did not know how far she would go for him... given what he was. Would she die for him, possibly dooming the world? Or would she abandon him, and reveal herself no better than her fallen brother? Either option was terrible. Hopefully, however, she would not be forced to choose one.

Raigan took another step, this time towards her. Far above, thunder shook the heavens, despite there being not a single cloud in the sky.

For several heart-pounding seconds, she waited.

And then, a half-second before she was to begin her assault, Raigan smiled and said, **"Very well, traitors. If you continue to assert that that... thing... is human, then I will treat it as such. Besides, from what I can see, it will be dead before too long. I suppose I can be patient for just a while longer..."**

A moment later, a single bolt fell from the cloudless sky, striking the monument for the first time since its creation. When the blinding light had faded, Raigan was nowhere to be seen.

Ion did not breathe a sigh of relief. She did, however, relax her posture ever so slightly. She knew that she should be concerned about Raigan's words, but at that moment she was simply glad that they would not turn the forest below into a crater.

Turning her eye to the medical station, she sought out the unluckiest... humans... in the world. As usual, things were not going well for them.

Through her eyes, the forest was laid bare, revealing the dozens of re-mechs converging on the station. Nearby, a smaller group was gathering around a single re-mech, who was apparently fighting them off on its own.

That would be Maloch, then.

Gazing towards the heart of the station, she sought the abomin- she sought Barsch. He was still were she had last seen him... Nothing had changed.

No. That was wrong. Something had changed.

The boy burned with barely held rage. To her eyes, he appeared to glow white-hot, even at that distance. Even the forest fire, as fierce as it was, paled in comparison to his burning radiance.

" _What are you, Barsch?"_ she thought to herself, despite knowing the terrible, terrible answer.

He was an abomination, and from the looks of things, he was about to earn his namesake once more.

For the slightest moment, she felt a pang of pity for the murderous re-mechs.

They had no idea what they were dealing with...

*

Barsch La Tergan, and by extension, Alza, were trapped.

The medical station shook under the weight of the re-mech's blows. Barsch, standing before the sealed entrance, could only wonder how long the door would hold. In his hands he held a crate filled with medical supplies, one of several he had found lying around. He had already jammed three of them against the door, along with a workbench and a gurney, but something told him that all he was doing was delaying the inevitable.

He had no idea where Maloch was, but knew that Maloch would have to fend for himself. The re-mech had proven time and time again that he could handle himself in a fight, and hopefully this time would be no different.

Barsch, however, was unsure as to how he and Alza would escape their dire situation. There was only one exit, they were surrounded by murderous re-mechs, and Alza was still unconscious.

To say things could be worse would be a bold faced lie at this point.

And, on top of everything else, his rage was close to breaking point. While he tried to focus on shoring up the station's defences and protecting Alza, his mind kept flashing back to recent events. Alza being shot, the destruction of a possibly innocent re-mech, and the discovery that everything they had been working towards had been a lie... it was all too much for a single day.

Even as he tried to contain his anger, a part of him wanted to unleash it instead.

Several parts, to be exact.

" _What are you waiting for, murderer? Kill them!"_ Kain cackled, his voice driving a flaming sword into Barsch's already pained psyche

_Lanista_ , his terrible violence, was simultaneously screaming, _"You are death! You are vengeance! You are violence made flesh! Take that, and give it to them!"_

But the worst by far was Ashe.

" _It's okay, Barsch... You tried your best on your own, but it's time to ask for help... Open your mind, grab hold of the power, and become one with me... please... for Alza..."_

Unlike Kain and _Lanista_ , whose words of blood and fury he could easily ignore, Ashe spoke in an almost pleading tone. He wanted so badly to listen to her, to help her, to obey her... Perhaps in part because she spoke with Alza's voice...

Their words, combined with his building headache, made thinking clearly almost impossible. The re-mechs, caring little for his internal strife, continued to pound on the reinforced door, adding to his worries.

Glancing back, he sought out Alza, making sure that she was where he had left her. The last thing he needed was her waking up and trying to join the battle. What she needed now, most of all was rest.

At that moment, however, a new sound joined the cacophony. It was one that he was intimately familiar with, although he deeply hated it.

It was the sound of a chainsword revving up.

For a moment, he glanced down, to where _Lanista_ lay. His first thought had been that the blade had somehow switched itself on, perhaps having gained sentience at the worst possible time.

But the chainsword at his feet lay still.

" _Where?"_ he thought, seconds before the answer was revealed to him.

The door, already buckling in several sections, was suddenly pierced by the familiar sight of a black blade surrounded by churning teeth. It cut through the strengthened metal easily; a grim foreshadowing of what it would do to his unprotected flesh.

An instant later, the door fell inward, obliterating his hastily made barricade. In the dust that ensued, Barsch could barely make out the shape of a re-mech standing in the doorway, silhouetted against the bright morning sky.

The pain in his mind, blown away for a moment by the sudden turn of events, returned with a fury. So great was the agony that he almost sunk to the floor, but he did not have time for such a luxury.

He was all that stood between the re-mechs and Alza.

Dropping the now useless box of supplies, he bent down and picked up his hated weapon. It started in a single pull, apparently eager to fight.

The time had come, to make his stand.

He hoped that it would not be his last...

*

Delphi, seer, soothsayer and part-time sage, stood before the people. She had lived a long life, one filled with enough misery and strife for several people, but that had not dampened her resolve. If anything, it had strengthened it.

She had been trained by a remnant of the Order of Sophos, a religious group which had purportedly arisen after the death of Sage Iager and whose mission had included the spreading of his prophecies and teachings. They had been a tiny group, unknown to the wider world, but as a teenager who had loved the unknown she had found them captivating.

She had been taught, over several years, to emulate the Sages of old and see what lay below the surface of what was. Using dreams as a starting point, she had learnt to see shadows of what could be, although such portents were not completely accurate.

Six months ago, as she had been in the process of defrosting from her premature awakening, she had had a vision stronger than any she had ever seen before.

A vision of fire, and death. A vision of burning rain and motherless children.

And hope, albeit in a form that she did not understand at the time.

And so, once everything had settled down, she had gone to Lukas and shared with him her vision.

She could only hope that he had taken action. The Seed must Survive, after all...

But now, staring at the group before her, her anxiety grew. They were a mixed bunch, consisting of no majority across age, gender or race. The only thing they had in common was their devout expressions. If they had been looking at her, then there would be no problem.

"Brothers and sisters, the time has come!" Joshua shouted, from his makeshift podium. She had stumbled upon their gathering by pure accident, but no one had turned her away. Clearly, the time for subterfuge had ended.

"Markus cowers before our might! Lukas hides in his workplace! And their allies' attempts to undo what we have made have proved futile! They know that their reign is nearing its end, and so they panic, like rodents fleeing the coming storm!"

The people cheered at the end of every line, no longer hiding their true feelings. Before, they had been forced to conceal their rebellion, but enough had joined now that the minority had become the majority.

"For too long they have dominated us! For too long they have starved us! For too long they have imprisoned us! But no longer! The time is nigh when we shall shake the very foundations of the world! We will take their throne and trample it underfoot, and then we will tear down that door and gain our freedom!"

The crowd's fervour had reached its fever pitch. Many were screaming, some were chanting, but all were listening.

To Joshua.

Something had to be done.

Gathering her courage, Delphi took a step forward. Her body ached from the pains of old age, but she would not let her pained joints stop her. Slowly, she pushed her way to the front of the crowd. Closer to Joshua, to the man who would destroy them all without a second thought.

"You're wrong, Joshua," she said, her strong voice cutting through the clamour with ease.

Immediately, every eye refocused on her. The nearest inhabitants, those most enamoured with Joshua's lies, even reached out to lay their hands upon her. However, when they saw who she was, they quickly pulled their hands back.

" _Thank goodness for reputations,"_ she thought, before turning to face the man of the hour.

He, naturally, was unfazed. With a wide smile, he stepped off the podium and intoned, "It seems that we have been visited by a living legend! Tell me, Delphi of Pythia, what am I wrong about?"

"Everything," she replied, holding her gaze level.

"Oh? Would you care to elaborate?" From his confident posture, she could tell that he knew that he was surrounded by his supporters and that little she said would shake them, but she still had to try.

"Markus and Lukas are not the enemy, nor are they keeping you prisoner, as you so claim. They are trying very hard to keep this Station and its people alive, and you are doing no good by causing all this fuss."

Predictably, her words brought a raucous laughter from the crowd. They had been drinking Joshua's poison for far too long, and it was much too late for her words to change their minds. Markus, unfortunately, had waited too long to administer the antidote.

"I see..." Joshua said, in a tone of sarcastic surprise, "Why I can't believe I was so foolish! Of course Markus and Lukas are the heroes of this story, and mean old Joshua is the villain! That's why they only let their cronies into the food storage area! That's why they refuse to open the Station door to let us see the outside world with our own eyes! It's all because they are trying so hard to keep us alive!"

He was mocking her, but she did not waver.

"You are aware of my gift, yes?" she said, once again silencing the crowd, "I can see the future, and you are not part of it. Know this, Joshua son of Victor, your plan will fail. In the future I have seen burning rain, an empty Station and death most terrible... but not you. If you do not stop this, Joshua, the future you desire will never come to pass."

For the first time since she had met him, Joshua looked taken aback.

"How did you know..." he spluttered, but quickly recovered.

Leaning forward, he whispered, "Leave this place, fraud, or you will face great... misfortune."

"I could say the same thing to you," she replied, before turning and walking away. The crowd, silenced by her words, slowly regained its animosity.

Clearly, not even her reputation could sway them now.

As the crowd's volume reached new heights, she heard Joshua begin to speak, decrying her as a fraud and trickster who had been sent by Markus to manipulate them.

Tellingly, there were no voices that defended her.

She could only hope that Markus and Lukas had a good plan, and that they were ready to put it into motion.

Otherwise the Station would soon descend into chaos and bloodshed, and in that, not even she would be safe...

*

The pain had reached its climax, a terrible burning sensation that had localized behind Barsch's eyes. He swung _Lanista_ through the haze of pain, not knowing if what he struck was re-mech or station. He had been forced back to the recovery room, and now only a few feet lay between the re-mechs and Alza.

Thankfully, a pair of those feet belonged to him, and he wasn't moving an inch.

The lead re-mech, a hulking fellow wielding an almost identical chainsword, stabbed forward, trying to skewer Barsch on his blade.

" _Was that what Kain had seen, right before he died?"_ a part of his brain thought, while the rest of him moved to parry the strike.

Kain, however, did not answer. He, along with _Lanista_ and Ashe, were too busy screaming something unintelligible. He knew what they wanted, but he would not give it to them.

Bringing _Lanista_ up once more, he slashed across the re-mech's chest plate, hoping to drive it back and give him some room to breathe. Instead, his blade found metal, and he ended up ripping a sizeable portion of the re-mech's chest plate off.

The pain in his head, combined with his building rage and the screams of his inner demons was making it hard to restrain his power. These re-mechs were being controlled and forced to fight him against their will, but he could not win by being nice.

" _Please, Barsch, use my power to end this!"_ Ashe cried, her voice breaking through the maelstrom for a moment, _"What does it matter that you might become like Kain, if you die here because of your stubbornness? If you die, Alza dies too, remember?"_

It was all too much.

The pain.

The rage.

The part of him that wholeheartedly agreed with what the voices were saying.

In that moment of distraction, as his mind was overloaded with stimuli, the re-mech struck again. Mercifully, the chainsword missed him.

Unfortunately, it carried on passed him, towards Alza.

The blade buried itself in her pillow, an inch away from her face. One of the teeth, still churning, lightly touched her cheek, drawing forth a droplet of blood.

"Barsch..." she murmured, as she unconsciously reacted to the pain.

That was the final straw.

Alza was in danger. Nothing else mattered. Whether he became like Kain or something worse, any price was worth her safety.

He was an abomination, after all, so he might as well act like one.

Wrenching free the horrid chainsword, he felt all of his pain and rage coalesce in his mind, turning into a single point of indescribable power.

The power exploded out from him in a wave, superheating the re-mech's chainsword and setting it alight.

As the power continued to roll off of him, he extended _Lanista_ towards Alza, willing her to be safe. His power, obeying him, formed a transparent shell of hardened air around her defenceless form.

With Alza protected, he allowed more of his power to pour into the re-mech's chainsword, turning its black surface white-hot. It was beginning to melt when he brought it around, showering the room with molten droplets.

As the burning blade reached the zenith of its arc, he let go, sending it hurtling towards its owner. The flaming chainsword buried itself in the re-mech's exposed core up till the hilt, causing a chain reaction that raised warning signs in Barsch's mind. The image of Fenix being consumed by a massive firestorm resurfaced for an instant, reminding him of how much damage an exploding re-mech could do.

Using his power, he pushed the doomed re-mech away from Alza. As its frame eclipsed the station's entrance, he saw the look on its face and knew that in that moment, it felt true fear.

A second later, the re-mech was through the door, carried by an invisible force towards its unwitting brethren. They had no time to react, no time to run.

The blast, emanating from the re-mech's core, blossomed outwards like a flower made of flame. It consumed the re-mech, melting its frame with his almighty heat, before spreading to its companions.

To Barsch's power enhanced senses, all of this took place in slow motion, and yet, despite the danger, he felt powerless to react.

Sudden pain made him glance down, where he found a shard of metal had embedded itself in his right shoulder. But the pain was distant, and could wait to be addressed.

A shield, identical to Alza's, sprung up around him, conjured by his subconscious.

A moment later, the explosion reached the station, and everything became a blur. He was lifted off of his feet from the force of the impact, and, as he flew past, he caught a glimpse of the flames reaching Alza.

" _Please... please, keep her safe!"_ he thought, as the blast carried him into the air and the darkness finally claimed him.

*

" _Please... please let them be safe,"_ Maloch thought, as the re-mech's blow brought him to his knees. Around him lay six more, their limbs destroyed but their cores intact.

He was no murderer.

A dozen re-mechs encircled him, apparently more cautious than their now disabled companions. They had come at him in ones and twos, seemingly out of the belief that he would go down easily.

They had learnt the truth the hard way.

But now he was the one on the ground, with multiple dents in his armour and a fist sized hole in his abdomen. His energy levels had dropped to fifteen percent, but that mattered little if he couldn't even stand.

The re-mech who had floored him loomed overhead, its glowing red eyes showing neither rage nor pity. It fought like a puppet, with no emotion or improvisation. It was a logic machine with fists who had decided that the easiest solution to the problem was through violence.

Maloch detested the re-mech, not for what it was, but for what it reminded him of.

Himself, before his strings had been accidentally cut by Alza.

Sovereign, the personality who had seen him through the war, had been lost at that moment. In his place, like a phoenix from the ashes, Maloch had been born.

Or restored? Perhaps there had been something else, before Sovereign? He had not been made to kill... somehow he knew that with an unchanging certainty.

" _Come on, Fiddy, nap time's over!"_

The voice came from nowhere, and yet it rocked him to his core.

" _You promised that you would keep me safe, Fiddy, so get up!"_

There, sitting only a few feet away, was a young girl.

Nine years old. Red hair kept in messy curls. Bright green eyes.

Paralyzed from the waist down. Wheelchair bound.

Elizabeth.

" _How do I know that?"_ Maloch thought, as the rest of his mind flew into disarray. He knew that he should be focusing on the re-mech in front of him, but nothing could tear his attention away from the ghost of the girl.

" _Fiddy, you said that we could go to the pond today, so let's go!"_

Had he gone insane? Or had the damage he had received activated a corrupted memory?

No. She was really there.

And she needed him to get up.

" _Error. Energy levels falling. Ocular anomalies observed. Memory fragmentation occurring. Activating emergency power mode._ Undying Soldier mode activated. Hidden power reserves online. Power level: eighty-five percent. Amount of time until deactivation: seven minutes. Disengaging weapon safeties. Shoot to kill targeting mode authorized. Re-engaging enemies in three, two, one... engaging!"

Maloch felt the surge of power at the same time he body began to move without his consent. His arms transformed as he spun round, changing into implements of death. His left hand became a deep-bore mining laser, while his right was transformed into the now familiar sonic cannon. He started firing without slowing, carving a path of destruction through the surrounding re-mechs.

Elizabeth had moved ahead, towards the direction of the medical station.

" _I'm coming, Elizabeth!"_ he screamed, as he fought his way through the re-mech army.

Nothing would stop him. Not metal. Not fire.

Not even death.

*

Like a diver surfacing for air, Barsch's mind returned to him.

As his thoughts and emotions untangled, he felt the power recede slightly. It was still there, hovering over his mental shoulder, but it no longer filled him as it had before. It was a strange sensation. Part of him, a growing minority, didn't want the power to leave. With it, he could do things that should not have been possible.

He could work miracles.

Terrible, flaming miracles.

As his mind slowly reset, he became aware of a great pain emanating from his right shoulder. Simultaneously, he realized that his feet weren't in contact with the ground.

Opening his eyes, he found that these two sensations were inextricably linked.

He hung, suspended a few feet above the forest floor, pinned to the tree behind him by a long metallic shard. It had embedded itself in his shoulder, most likely causing catastrophic damage to his joint and musculature.

There was pain, enough to bring darkness to the edges of his vision, but his lethargic mind had not woken enough to fully appreciate its effect. He had only seconds before his brain realized what had happened and he succumbed to shock.

Reaching up with his still functional left arm, he gripped the protruding piece of station debris, cutting his fingers on the razor sharp metal as he did so. The blood fell to the forest floor below, joining a sizable puzzle that must have formed while his consciousness was elsewhere.

There was no time for hesitation. Gritting his teeth, he pulled with all of his remaining might, slowly digging the shard free.

The pain had already increased tenfold, but he could not stop. He could not die there, pinned to a tree in the middle of nowhere.

Summoning all of the remaining willpower left within him, he pulled harder, noting an increasing feeling of numbness spreading to his right hand. No doubt he was doing severe damage to his nerves, but what choice did he have?

With a pained grunt, he finally dislodged the offending object, sending both it and him crashing to the floor. Thankfully, his feet took the impact without buckling, although the blood-loss caused him a momentary bout of dizziness. Still standing, he stepped forward, noting that a steep embankment lay directly behind the tree which had so recently held him captive.

Had it not stopped his flight, his fate might have been much worse than a ruined shoulder.

Glancing down, he saw that _Lanista_ had not strayed far from its master's side. Reaching down, he tried to pick it up with his right hand, but found that his fingers no longer obeyed their commands. He could still feel the intense pain radiating from his shoulder, but no other sensation remained in his distal extremity.

Picking it up with his left hand, he swung it once, for good measure. It produced a satisfying _whoosh_ through the air, but lacked any power. If he had to fight, it would be short and bloody, and not in a good way.

His mind, now almost fully revitalized, finally took stock of the situation.

He had lost a lot of blood.

He had been separated from Maloch and Alza.

He had lost the use of his dominant arm.

In conclusion, he was screwed.

Instead of creating a problem list and assigning triage values therein, his brain decided that the best course of action was to pass out.

Again.

His knees went first, dragging the rest of him down to the floor.

Unfortunately, his mind had chosen the worst possible moment to shut down.

He was right beside the steep embankment, and his weight, suitable for his age and height, nevertheless was the deciding factor in the direction of his fall.

Without his right arm to stop his fall, he fell.

Mercifully, the darkness claimed him once more before he hit the ground.

*

Ion winced as Barsch fell, somehow managing to hit every jutting rock and stump on his way down. Apparently he had used up all his luck on hitting the tree dead on. A few inches to the side, and he would have been carried over a fifty foot drop.

Even he would not have survived that.

Probably.

" **Do you think Raigan is right... about him?"** Terra asked, standing beside her. They were standing on a branch of the largest tree in the forest, and as such they had a good view of the chaos around them.

From the direction of the medical station rose two plumes of smoke. The larger, a black column which stretched across the horizon, came from the forest fire. The smaller, a violet streak, rose from the ruins of the medical station, its peculiar colouration apparently the result of the flames reacting to the medication stored within.

A few hours ago, this had been a peaceful place. A forest, filled with life. A medical station, guarded by an innocent re-mech.

And now everything lay in ruin.

Because of Barsch, Alza, and Maloch.

" **I don't know,"** Ion replied, turning her gaze away from the devastation **, "But it doesn't matter even if he is. We are the architects of this calamity, and we alone must bear the sin of our progeny. If we had not woken Barsch, if we had not led Alza to that glade, if we had not called Maloch to the scrapyard, none of this would have taken place. But we had to, for the sake of our world and theirs, so what use is there in pondering what could have been."**

Terra said nothing for a long time, choosing instead to fix his gaze to the distant horizon. Towards the future they so desperately desired, no matter the cost.

" **I suppose... a forest, a re-mech and a medical station are a small price to pay after all..."**

She knew that he was simply trying to assuage his guilt, but she did not speak. He was allowed that much, at least.

They were, purposefully or not, responsible for the man Barsch had become.

And not even a lifetime of repentance could wash away the stench of that sin.

But that didn't mean they couldn't try.

*

Charles dreamt of fire; and re-mechs; and glowing violet eyes.

He dreamt of the past and a possible future as well.

He dreamt, until he could dream no more.

Charles awoke to the world, wondering if... fearing... that his dreams might have come true whilst he had slept.

He looked around the room, noting that nothing had changed from the last time.

There was Dr August, sleeping peacefully at his desk.

There was the door, shut tight against any who would disturb him.

And there was Joshua, standing in the shadows.

For a moment, Charles felt fear, true, spine rattling fear, before he realized what he was looking at. His hero had come for him, to reward him for his unyielding loyalty.

Kneeling down beside the bed, Joshua spoke, "Hey there, champ, heard you had a little... accident..."

In response, Charles croaked.

Swallowing his embarrassment, he tried again.

"I found them... Joshua... I found Alza and Barsch..."

Something sinister flashed across Joshua's face, but Charles paid it no mind. The man who was going to free them from Markus' prison could feel whatever he wanted to feel.

"I don't suppose they were in an isolation room in the medical lab?" Joshua said with a small chuckle. If he had meant it to be funny, then he had used the wrong tone.

Unconsciously, Charles' shivered.

"They were sent on a mission by Markus and Lukas, just like you thought. They are trying to find the location of project Ed-

"That's okay, don't try to speak too much," Joshua interjected, cutting him off.

"But... the rogue re-mechs... Alza's secret... the project..." Charles didn't know where to start. There was too much... much too much...

But Joshua did not seem terribly interested in what he had to say. Once he had heard what he wanted to hear, Joshua's eyes had glazed over. Charles wondered what he was thinking, and what he was planning.

It was probably better not to know.

"It's okay, champ, you just get some rest. You've earned it, that's for sure," Joshua said, standing.

"What are you going to do now?" It was all Charles could muster.

"I'm going to end this farce. Markus, Lukas, the whole damn lot... I'm going to show them what happens to people who try and keep me in chains. I'm going to end this... once and for all..."

Joshua left without another word. He had already received everything he needed.

In Charles' heart, a tiny voice was growing louder. It sounded eerily similar to Jeremiah, and it was not happy with him.

His conscience, perhaps?

Too bad it was too late.

He had given Joshua everything he needed, and there was no turning back.

Not for him, not for Joshua, not for anyone.

*

" _Warning, power levels approaching critical levels. Please locate a secondary power source or shut down for solar charging. Estimated time to complete power loss... five minutes."_

Ignoring the warning, Maloch soldiered on. The medical station was within sight, although, judging by the commotion at its entrance, he would have to fight his way inside.

The fire had become an uncontrollable inferno, far beyond the measly firefighting abilities most re-mechs possessed. Although he doubted the rogue re-mechs cared about firefighting to begin with. Without a miracle, the forest would burn to the ground, leaving yet another scar upon the land.

And the world was much too scarred already. The humans had seen to that.

Moving closer, he took in a strange sight. The majority of the re-mechs were clustered around the entrance, but apparently only one had made it inside. He picked up his pace, hoping to make it before Barsch's defence was completely breached.

He was still a hundred feet away from the medical station when the scene changed. The lead re-mech, seemingly pushed back by a gust of wind, emerged from the medical station. Lodged in its chest was a flaming sword, and through the darkened entranceway Maloch could just barely make out a pair of glowing violet eyes.

Alza?

No... somehow he knew who those eyes belonged to.

A second later, the doomed re-mech went critical, transforming into a fireball fifty feet across. The re-mechs around it were instantly vaporized.

The medical station fared little better.

" _NOOOOO!!!!"_ Maloch screamed, running towards the blast. His sensors were warning him about the effect the heat would have on his components, but he did not care.

The station's exterior had been entirely stripped away, and what was left was on fire. He pushed through the burning debris, searching for the bodies of his friends.

He tried to remember the station's layout. Had he already passed the sickbay?

There was a large metal sheet blocking his way, but it did not last even a second to his grieving rage. Lifting the covering, he stopped in his tracks for the second time in as many minutes.

Lying on the ground, covered in a shield of hardened air, was Elizabeth.

No.

He shook his head in an attempt to dispel the illusion. When his eyes recalibrated, he saw the truth.

Alza was beneath him. Unconscious, but alive.

As he reached down, the shield dissolved. Whatever had been powering it must have been depleted.

Lifting her light frame into his arms, he scanned the ruins for Barsch.

But the boy was nowhere to be found.

" _Warning. Power levels critical. Expected time to complete depletion: one minute. Please find a safe location and prepare for solar charging."_

It broke his digital heart, but Maloch had to make a decision. He could stay and search for Barsch's body, using up the last of his power and exposing both himself and Alza to certain death.

Or he could save her.

The decision made itself, in the end.

One living friend was better than two dead ones.

He turned and ran, pouring the last of his energy into his legs, willing them to take just one more step. Each one was a step away from the rogue re-mechs, the burning station and... Barsch.

Resolving to mourn once he had the luxury of time, he ran on.

*

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE.

I am being carried by a pair of strong arms. My body feels light, as if an errant gust could lift me up and carry me off to heaven.

Perhaps it could?

I am safe... but then why do I still feel so uneasy?

The person who is carrying me is muttering to himself. He sounds... familiar...

Father?

Has my father come to rescue me, as he always promised he would?

With great effort, I try to force my eyes to open.

I want to see him. I want to cry in his arms. I want him to shout at me, just so I know that I'm still alive.

I was childish. I should not have tried to run away.

I hurt so many through my foolish actions.

Hilda might be fired for letting me out of her sight.

Father must have been beside himself with worry.

And Jak... poor, sweet Jak...

I know now, that I shall never find my prince. When we return, I will apologize. I will take whatever punishment he has in store for me. I will stay in my room and never leave again.

That... is my destiny.

That strange woman in the spring had been right after all...

Blinking against a harsh light, I open my eyes.

A few inches away, the man's face is lit by the rising sun.

Dawn has come, and it brought my father with it.

No...

This man is not my father!

He is the man from before. The one who was searching for samples of some kind. His eyes are focused on the path ahead, but he now bears a slight smile that was not there before.

As before, he is speaking into a recorder.

" _Day ninety-two of my search. While looking for samples, I came across a magnificent ç'aether crystal in the forest. How it managed to grow in a green zone is a mystery in itself, and I have taken some shavings for later study. To my surprise I also discovered a young woman and a dead horse next to the crystal. I am currently transporting her to the nearest domicile, a large estate that was my original destination."_

The man looks down at me, staring at me with a strange expression. He looks... excited? But why?

" _As luck would have it, the girl I recovered appears to be an excellent specimen. Of course, I will need to do a full blood culture and DNA profile, but initial observations are promising. The fact that she was able to survive direct contact with the ç'aether crystal speaks of pollutant resistance that I have not observed in any of the others. I am most likely getting ahead of myself, but... she might be the one..."_

Turning away from the strange man's gaze, I let my vision take in the horizon. In the distance, the estate looms large above the surrounding land.

After a long night, I have come home.

Something tells me that I will never leave again...

*

After what seemed like an eternity, Alza awoke to the world.

Her last memory was of a piercing pain in her back, before the darkness had claimed her. Looking around, she noticed that her feet weren't touching the ground.

" _Strange."_

Still half-asleep, she looked down, towards the forest floor. A pair of metal legs, in sharp contrast to the greenery, caught her attention. Deciding to try a different direction, she looked up.

A re-mech was staring down at her.

Panic consumed her for a moment before she realized that this re-mech's eyes were neither red nor yellow. They were dark and devoid of life.

Slowly, she wormed her way out of the re-mech's gentle grip. Falling to the forest floor, she took a step back and took a fresh look at her surroundings.

She was in a glade in the forest. The fire she had started was nowhere to be seen, but she could still smell the smoke and feel the ash-fall. They had not gone far.

The re-mech who had held her had still not moved.

It was then that her eyes finally adjusted to the light, and she could properly make out its markings.

Black and yellow.

"Maloch..." she whispered, placing a hand on her friend's chest. Who knew what horrors had led him here and stripped him of his power.

A sudden pain made her wince, and she reached behind her back to its source. Her questing hand found a wound, closed expertly with stitches.

Even as her fingers brushed against it, it was disappearing. The stitches came away in her hand, and a moment later, only smooth skin remained.

"Thank you, old friend, for keeping me safe..."

There was not much she could do while waiting for him to recharge, so she might as well find out what had happened while she was out.

"Barsch, what hap-

She stopped.

Barsch was nowhere to be found.

With Maloch offline and Barsch missing... she was alone.

Before meeting Barsch, she would have relished the experience.

Now? Now she just wanted to sink to her knees, wrap her arms around herself and cry her loneliness away.

Seeing no better alternative, she did just that.

# Chapter XIV: To Look Upon Creation

In which the future is glimpsed...

Six Months Ago

" _They say that violence is never an option, but they are wrong. It is the only option."_

_Lanista,_ the Beast-Blade, refused to be quiet.

Barsch strode through the sterile halls, wondering how different things would be when almost ten thousand people occupied them.

Noisier? Definitely.

More crowded? Obviously.

Lonelier? Probably.

" _You will never be alone, remember?"_ To anyone else, _Lanista's_ words would have sounded comforting. To Barsch, they sounded like mockery.

He had parted from Alza only a few minutes ago, citing that he needed to take care of something personal before re-joining Kingston in the pod room. In his hand, held at arm's length, was _Lanista_.

He had thought about destroying it, in the incinerator. As he had stood there, watching his clothes burn, he had had a vision of throwing the blade into the flames. He had imagined the sharpened metal turning white-hot before the might of the incinerator; before being destroyed in its entirety. He had wondered if he would hear _Lanista_ screaming, at the end.

But his will had failed him, and now he had to dispose of the despised weapon using a different method.

" _Too afraid to wield me, too afraid to destroy me... Is there anything you're not afraid to do, Barsch La Tergan?"_

Choosing a door at random, he opened it and entered the room beyond. It was a sparse and featureless space, but it would suit his needs. Moving through the room, he sought out a hiding place for the Kain-Killer.

There, in an adjoining space, was a low bunker. He had no idea what its initial purpose had been, but to him it looked like the perfect size and height for a bed.

" _When was the last time you slept? When was the last time you dreamt? Are you afraid of your dreams too, Barsch? You should be..."_

Approaching the low structure, he was relieved to see that it had a storage compartment build into the wide body. It was just the right size.

Opening the compartment, he gently laid the black blade inside. From here, the container looked like a coffin, and if so, then this was _Lanista's_ funeral.

If only it was that simple.

He had realized a long time ago that the voice in his mind did not come from the chainsword. Yes, the Beast took the form of the Blade, but that was the entire depth of their connection. The true Beast, the one who whispered to him of death and destruction, would not be expelled so easily.

But for now, this was enough. If he was to live amongst the others, he could not be walking around with such an inexplicable weapon.

" _Sooner or later, you will come back for me," Lanista_ said, with its cursory mocking tone.

Closing the lid, he could not help but agree with the blade.

It was a part of him, whether it was locked away or clenched tightly in his hand.

There was nowhere he could run to where it would not be also.

Until death did them part.

*

The Present

The Station is on fire.

The people... kindling.

The doors have been sealed. There is no escape.

There are only the flames. And the ash. And then nothing at all.

I walk amongst the chaos, untouched by the inferno around me. There are bodies everywhere.

People I don't know.

And people that I do.

My father died trying to force the doors open. Markus tried to fight the blaze to no avail. Thomas tried to get people to safety, away from the fires.

They were the lucky ones. The rest are little more than charred corpses, frozen in place.

I look around, trying to find the cause of the blaze. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch sight of a man with white hair and violet eyes. In his hands he holds a sword made of fire.

Kain. The Firestarter.

I run forward, but he is always one step ahead. He seems to grow larger and smaller at random, appearing to be within arm's reach before suddenly darting fifty feet away.

The flames have grown more intense, throwing up flickering shadows across the soot stained walls. Onwards I run, towards the monster who did this.

I emerge in the pod room. Every cryopod is on fire. A thousand oversized lanterns lighting the room.

" _KAIN!" I scream, willing him closer._

" _Murderer," he responds, dropping to the floor in a shower of sparks. He too, is on fire. The flames have scorched his skin, leaving it cracked and broken. The only recognizable features are his eyes, burning crimson with an unrestrained hatred._

" _Look what you have done," he says, gesturing around him, "Look what you have wrought!"_

I open my mouth to retort, but the figure I have been chasing emerges from behind Kain.

No. The reflection I had been chasing, visible in a cryopod's outer shell.

The man with white hair and violet eyes.

The man who started the fire with his flaming sword.

The man who killed them all.

Barsch La Tergan: murderer, Firestarter, and abomination, returns my gaze.

*

The sun had passed the midline and had begun its slow yet inevitable journey to the horizon when Maloch awoke. He was still standing in the glade, but something was different.

Alza was gone.

Panic overrode his mind as he directed every sensor he had to sweep the area. He had already lost Barsch... he could not lose her too.

"Maloch?" came a woman's voice, and moments later its owner emerged from the treeline. Alza, looking none the worse for wear, came towards him.

Her hair was a mess and her clothes were slightly singed, but no wound marred her alabaster skin.

He had saved her. And that... was enough.

" _Alza, I am glad to see you... But, you must know that I tried to save him... Forgive me..."_

Alza's expression changed, but not to one of anger or grief, as he had anticipated. Rather, a confused look stole over her pretty features.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, moving closer.

" _The medical station we took you to for healing was attacked by the rogue re-mechs. I was able to save you, but not Barsch... I am beyond sorry..."_

Again, Alza did not react the way he was expecting her to. Instead of tears or screams, she simply closed her eyes and went still.

After a few seconds, she opened them again and said, "Barsch is alive. Hurt, lost, but most definitely alive."

" _How do you kn-_

"We share a bond, one that cannot be broken easily. I can sense him, or more accurately, I can sense his mind. He has not left the forest, but he is still a fair distance away. We should move. Follow me."

Before Maloch had a chance to probe her for further details, Alza was off. He followed her, after a moment's hesitation.

There was still hope for Barsch... that was all he needed to know.

*

Despite not having found Barsch, Alza and Maloch stopped walking.

It was not every day that one comes across a massive lightning bolt shaped monument in the middle of a forest. At the very least, they could spend a moment figuring out why it was there before moving on.

"Any idea what it is?" Alza asked, straining her neck with the effort of trying to see the top of the colossal structure.

" _Yes. According to the regional database it is called U.N.O.E Protected Site 982. It was apparently studied during the Quantum Age due to its electro-repellent qualities. Not a single lightning strike was recorded over twenty years of observation, despite it being made of a conductive metal and towering over the surrounding area."_

"Protected Site 982? Not the best name, as far as names go."

" _Apparently the locals called it the 'Stormspire'. From what I can tell, I believe it to be a monument to the Avatar, Raigan."_

"Why would anyone build a monument to that monster?" Alza asked, recalling her encounter with the lightning wielding being. It had not been pleasant, to say the least.

" _Perhaps it was not always so? There may have been a time when he was revered as a benevolent deity..."_

Alza could not imagine anyone worshiping him. It would be like worshiping Death itself.

" _I believe that if people can change, then so can Gods. Good to bad, and bad to good. Monster to hero... and hero to abomination..."_

Alza didn't have to ask who Maloch was referring to.

They moved closer, towards the base of the Stormspire. There, etched into the golden façade were several lines of black text. Surprisingly, it was still completely legible.

" **In the beginning, there was darkness."**

" **In the end, there shall be darkness once more."**

" **Beware the coming of the Voidborn child."**

" **Beware the coming of the eternal night."**

" **Beware the coming of the end of days."**

" **Beware, the Voidborn comes."**

"Any idea what that means?" Alza asked, staring at the strange warning.

" _Hmm... I have searched by entire database but have not come across the term 'Voidborn'... it is most likely the etchings of a madman."_

Alza did not voice her theory. Her memory of that great darkness stretching across Barsch's mind still haunted her dreams. She had promised herself that she would one day return and help cleanse him of it, but with a more sober mind she now wondered if such a thing was even possible.

It had been a part of him. Like the ghosts and the beast. To remove one might remove them all.

And she was not sure that Barsch would survive having his mind broken again.

She was not even sure if he had completely recovered from the first time...

Can that which has been shattered ever be completely restored to its original condition? She had used her power to heal his broken psyche, but what if she had made a mistake? Had she missed some vital part of his mind? Was she the cause of his... irregularities?

"There is nothing for us here. Let's go," she said, trying to drive away her feelings of guilt with action.

Dutifully, Maloch followed her deeper into the forest.

*

Thomas Gerder, once the rising star of Genesis Station 13 -although he hated that phrase- sat in misery.

Everything was falling apart.

He was sitting in the main concourse of the Station, an area where the majority of the almost ten thousand inhabitants spent their time. Whether they clustered together out of fear, boredom or a desire to simply be surrounded by others in the same situation, they all bore the same expression.

They were uneasy.

The mood in the Station, never jovial, had dropped to morose levels in the past few days. Conversations were rarer, and those who did speak did so in hushed tones. It was clear that an air of distrust had settled over the inhabitants. Thomas had no illusions as to who was behind this.

Joshua, the silver-tongued sorcerer who had undermined everything Markus and Lukas had worked so hard to build. One way or another, the man needed to be stopped.

As he watched the murmuring crowd, a familiar figure detached itself from the masses and wandered over. As it came closer, Thomas saw that it was Verona Del Frada. It had come to his attention that she had been spreading nasty rumours about Alza, something he did not take kindly to. He had once thought of her as Alza's friend. He should have known better...

"Verona," he said, taking her in with a wary eye. Ever since Joshua had started spreading his poison throughout the Station, it was becoming harder and harder to find trustworthy people.

"Thomas," she whispered, cheeks reddening slightly. She motioned to sit down beside him, and he begrudgingly allowed it.

"Please tell me that you've spoken with Joshua," she said, nervously glancing around as she did so. A master of being inconspicuous she most definitely wasn't.

"There is nothing that man has to say that I want to hear," he said, bluntly.

She flinched as his words struck home. Clearly, it had not been the answer she had been looking for.

"Please... please go to him... I can arrange a meeting... It's not too late to get into his good graces. The time is close at hand in which this Station will be turned upside down, and I don't want you to be trapped at the bottom..."

"Trampled by those above?" he said, a hint of anger entering his voice.

Verona, in response, averted her eyes. He could almost see the guilt rolling off of her.

"I'm sorry..." she whispered, "But I want to live, and in order to do so, I need to be on the winning side... Please, I'm begging you... rethink your decision..."

His anger abated somewhat when he saw the fear in her eyes. How many more were like her, choosing Joshua out of the belief that it would be safer at his side than under his boot. He could not fault her for her weakness, nor any of the others. Joshua was simply too powerful a force. If Lukas had not handpicked him and taught him how to stay strong in the face of adversity, perhaps he would be serving Joshua alongside Verona.

But he would not lose his stride, no matter what came his way.

As he opened his mouth to reaffirm his beliefs, a familiar voice cried out, causing every head in the concourse to turn.

"Thomas, it's time!" called Lukas, striding into the room.

When Thomas turned back, Verona was gone. She had made her choice, and so had he.

Standing, he made his way to Lukas. As they left the room, he noticed that the majority of people wore looks of burning hatred.

If that sentiment was the same across the Station, then they truly had lost the fight before it had even started.

That thought was not a comforting one.

*

"I see something," Alza called, kneeling beside a towering oak. The smell of ash still permeated the air, but they were moving steadily away from the fire. With any luck, it would burn itself out by nightfall.

" _Blood, fresh,"_ Maloch commented, following her gaze. It was a small puddle, no more than a few inches across. A few feet away was a trail of droplets heading in a perpendicular direction to their current path.

"Barsch... he's badly hurt..." Alza said, a sense of dread sprouting in the depths of her mind. For the last hour, she had held onto the dim hope that they would find Barsch, unharmed and alive, waiting patiently for them.

But now, for the first time, the thought that he might not be standing when they found him gripped her.

"He can't be too far," she said, taking off in the direction of the blood trail.

Together, they ran onwards, while inwardly she tried to use their link to find him faster. However, the pain in his mind made locating him difficult, and there was something else...

Through their link, she could feel the presence of another mind. A mind that she had helped end almost six months ago.

In Barsch's mind, she felt Kain.

*

Less than twenty minutes later, the trail of blood stopped. They had reached a large clearing in the forest, made by an unknown mechanism many years prior.

Standing in the centre of the clearing, covered in blood but alive, was Barsch.

However, as they entered the clearing, he did not turn and greet them. Instead, he appeared to be in the middle of an animated argument with someone unseen.

In his left hand, he held _Lanista_ loosely. The oddity of seeing him using his non-dominant hand led her gaze to his right arm.

It was a bloody mess, hanging limply at his side.

How he had managed to walk through the forest after suffering such insult was beyond her. But this was Barsch she was talking about, the man whose personal mantra was all about perseverance in the face of overwhelming obstacles.

"For the last time, I am not a murderer!" he shouted, his words finally clear enough to hear now that they had moved closer.

He appeared to listen for a moment, perhaps hearing the counter-argument from his imaginary friend, before continuing.

"Yes, I will admit that I killed you, but it was in self-defence!"

To her knowledge, Barsch had only ever killed one person, despite his own opinions on the matter. If that person was the same one he was speaking to... then Barsch's mind had not healed as well as she had thought.

"I don't care if you had a valid reason for wanting to kill me! I still don't see how that justifies what you did! And so what if I'm an abomination? That doesn't mean I have to die!"

Moving around the perimeter of the clearing, Alza finally caught a good look at Barsch's face. As she had feared, his eyes glowed with a violet sheen. However, despite this, they appeared empty and devoid of focus. Wherever he thought the conversation was happening, it wasn't in the same reality as Alza and Maloch. It reminded her of their morning in the roadside shack, where she had overheard him talking in his sleep. Perhaps he had been more awake than she had initially thought...

A strange _slurping_ sound made her glance down, where she saw one of the blood puddles ripple in the absence of any external force. As she watched, the blood came together into a small ball and began to rise into the air. She soon became aware of the same phenomenon happening all across the clearing, as dozens of bloody orbs floated through the air towards their progenitor.

As the crimson spheres touched his skin, they flattened out and migrated to his wounds. Like watching decomposition in reverse, his skin mended and colour returned to his cheeks. His right arm, formerly limp, started twitching as more and more blood returned to him. His fingers moved in a strange rhythm, as if he was trying to conduct a phantom orchestra from memory alone.

All the while his strange conversation continued. Unfortunately for Barsch, it appeared as though he was losing the argument...

"Alright, I'll admit that maybe, just maybe, I was harbouring a desire to hurt you... possibly in a grievous way... but that doesn't mean I'm a murderer... does it?"

The last of Barsch's blood impacted his right arm with a small _smack_. A second later, his right hand reached across the midline and took _Lanista_ into its grip.

Barsch La Tergan was complete once more.

Not a single wound remained. His eyelids fluttered and, when they opened, contained his normal greenish-blue orbs.

"Maybe... just maybe... I am a murderer..." he said, trailing off.

A moment later, he appeared to notice Alza and Maloch and, with a wide smile across his face, exclaimed, "You're alive! I was so worried about you two!"

Maloch moved closer, no change in his expression. Alza tried to do the same.

Whatever was happening to Barsch could wait. For now, the three of them were reunited. They were all alive, safe, and for the most part, well.

" _This is fine,"_ Alza told herself, _"As long as he is alive, we can fix him..."_ but even she did not fully believe that lie.

*

"So you used your power to destroy the re-mechs?" Alza asked, walking beside Barsch. Externally, he bore no wounds, but she had seen enough to be worried.

The eggshell may not have cracked, but that did not mean that the yolk inside was still intact.

"Yeah... I didn't want to, but you were in danger and they were too strong... I didn't have a choice..."

They were walking side by side through the forest, Maloch a few paces in front. He was leading them to a safe place, although he had yet to divulge further details. In the distance, the forest gave way to a small mountain. According to Maloch, it was known as Mount Rubicon, and it was the last major landmark before Rorash City.

Soon, they would have their answers. Soon, the Seed would be Saved.

Alza could only hope that Barsch would be as well.

"I understand. In the past, when I needed to use my power, half the time it felt like I was trying to draw blood from stone, and the other times, it consumed me with its fury. It is of us, but we are not of it... Do you understand?"

She wanted to heal him, but while their powers could mend flesh and fix minds, it could do nothing for the soul. At the very least, she hoped that her words would bring him some small measure of comfort.

Barsch, hearing this, nodded. "For me... there is a part of me that wants nothing more than to use these powers... It's like it wants me to dive in and never surface for air. But there's another part of me that is afraid of what I might become if I do..."

" _Kain..."_ Alza thought, but she did not speak.

"I think that deep down, I still think of myself as a normal person. I want to believe that... I want to believe that after all of this is over, I can go back to how I was... but it's getting harder and harder to believe that these days..."

Alza said nothing for a long while. Maloch, only a few steps ahead, might as well have been on a different continent. The world, for now, encompassed just the two of them.

"Do you... hate me? For what I did to you?" She asked, hoping that his answer would not be the one she feared most.

He did not reply immediately, instead glancing down at his feet. When he eventually did reply, his tone was uncertain.

"Yes. No. I don't know... I did, at the start, at least... But after everything that's happened... Well, I would be dead without these powers... I would be dead... without you."

"I could say the same," Alza replied, feeling a smile begin to form.

She had missed this. Being able to speak with Barsch, even under these circumstances. It once more reminded her that outside of Maloch, Kingston and Barsch, she had preciously few friends.

"So where does that leave us?" Barsch asked.

"Even, I suppose," she replied.

Barsch seemed to think for a moment before replying, "No... I still owe you for saving me from Kain. I will pay back the debt."

"So what, we just keep saving each other, over and over again? What do you even call that?"

Again, Barsch paused, before answering, "Friendship, I guess."

"Friendship? Sounds good to me," Alza said, with a chuckle. Previously she could have counted the number of times she had laughed on one hand.

After this, she would have to use two.

*

An hour later, they arrived at the foot of the mountain. Strangely, there was a paved path leading to the peak. A sign, eroded by the years but still legible, read, **"Orion's Temple and Observatory. We Stand Above."**

Barsch, craning his neck to try and spot the building, said, "Temple and observatory? Might make for a safe haven after everything that's happened lately."

Maloch nodded, saying, _"If the rogue re-mechs come for us again, at least we will have sturdy walls and the advantage of the high ground. There are worse places to spend the night."_

Alza had no objections, so the trio continued onwards and upwards.

*

Less than thirty minutes later, they arrived at their destination. They had arrived in good time, and the sun was nearing the horizon. Before them rose the Orion complex, a hodgepodge of structures and buildings that were equally alien to both Barsch and Alza.

There were only two recognizable structures: the retractable dome, which housed the telescope; and the temple, adorned with religious symbols. A few feet away, someone had mounted a bronze plaque which apparently detailed the history of the site.

" _Originally a holy site belonging to the Boetian People, Mount Rubicon was found to be an ideal site for a ground based telescope. A deal was struck with the local religious leaders to lease the land to the Rorash Astronomical Society with the condition that they would fund and construct a temple dedicated to the Boetian's deity, Orion. Thus the melding of science and religion, which had been a goal of many across the world for centuries, took place in a small, otherwise unremarkable place."_ Maloch read, gazing in wonder at the complex.

There wasn't much else to do except go inside. The question, however, was if they would choose science or religion to shelter them.

"The temple has thick walls, but only one entrance. If the rogue re-mechs attack, we could find ourselves under siege... and something tells me that we will starve long before they do," Barsch said, staring at the nearby building.

"Whereas the observatory has a higher vantage point and multiple exits. We would be able to see them coming from a decent distance, and could escape out back," he continued, shifting his gaze slightly.

"The observatory it is, then," said Alza, moving past him and towards the domed structure.

Together, they entered the house of the heavens, bypassing the heavenly house.

*

Inside, they found that the observatory was divided into three levels. At the bottom was the common area, apparently used as both a dormitory and a mess hall. A kitchen, equipped with the barest essentials, lay on one side. On the second floor, visible from the bottom of a narrow staircase, was a bank of computer terminals. The third floor, by dint of the process of elimination, must have housed the telescope and its controls.

" _I will search the pantry for any foodstuffs the astronomers may have left behind. If the two of you could search the upper levels for any supplies or equipment we might need, I would be most grateful."_

Alza nodded in affirmation, and moved towards the staircase. Barsch, however, hesitated for a moment. Maloch raised the digital equivalent of an eyebrow, clearly puzzled.

Barsch took a deep breath. They had found sanctuary and they were all still breathing... well, at least he and Alza were. He might not get another chance to make things right.

"Maloch... I am sorry for what I did... back at the medical station. I was scared, and angry, and I wasn't thinking properly... but that is still no excuse for what I did to that re-mech. If you would punish me, then I would take it without resistance. If you would hate me, then I would take it without complaint. If you would take my life in turn... I ask only that you wait until this journey has reached its end..."

Maloch said nothing for a long time. He had every right to be angry, after all.

Eventually, he placed his hand on Barsch's shoulder. Barsch braced for an impact that never came.

" _If you believe that your life should be taken in recompense for that of that re-mech's, then by default you must believe that your life and his hold equal value. That alone marks you as different from all of the other humans that I have served. What happened cannot be undone, and it was a tragedy, but I believe that you have already suffered enough. No amount of pain I could inflict could ever hope to match the pain already existing in your heart."_

Maloch lifted his hand. In his golden eyes, Barsch saw something approaching respect.

" _Go well, Barsch, with the knowledge that you will always be a friend to me and my kin. If every human believed the way you do, then a future where we can live together as equals would no longer be a dream, but a certainty."_

"Thank you, Maloch, that means the world to me... And I hope that that future is the one that comes to pass..."

The moment passed, but the feeling in his heart remained.

*

A minute later, he joined Alza in the room above, where they found a host of computer terminals and what looked like a server room. Most likely this had been used to catalogue and track the various heavenly bodies found by the staff.

While Alza searched between the desks, Barsch climbed up a steel ladder set against the wall. He quickly found himself on the third floor, with the telescope on its raised dais taking up most of the floor space. Just before the telescope was a large console with a screen embedded in its white surface. A pair of joysticks lay before the screen, indicating the purpose of the terminal.

Approaching it, he saw a lever marked **"Retract Roof"**. Seeing no harm in doing so, he moved it into the 'open' position. A few seconds later, he heard a loud _grating_ sound above him. A section of the dome roof slowly slid open, exposing the telescope to the heavens.

The screen, previously dark and dead, blazed into life. A logo briefly flashed across the screen: a man holding a bow and arrow and aiming it at the stars.

As he was about to sit down, he heard Maloch's voice reverberating throughout the observatory.

" _Barsch, Alza, supper is ready!"_

" _I'm coming back for you,"_ he thought, glancing back at the telescope as he made his way downstairs.

*

For the first time in a long time, their meal was delicious. Maloch had lucked upon a box of vacuum sealed meat and a packet of broth cubes. The resulting stew, while tasting slightly... stale, was nevertheless the best thing Barsch had eaten in recent memory.

In Genesis Station 13, every meal was a reminder of just how little they had left, and the resulting guilt made even the most well-prepared food taste awful.

This, by comparison, was the food of the gods.

After they had eaten, Maloch went outside to stand guard. Barsch and Alza bade each other a good night's rest, smiling as they did so.

She went to find a bed, but he did not sleep.

Instead, his eyes found the stairwell.

The world had gone to sleep. However, that simply meant that it was time for the heavens to awaken.

He headed towards the telescope, a wide smile on his face.

*

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE.

Slowly, my mind surfaces from the darkness. I am laying in a bed... my bed... and I have never felt so tired in my life. I can feel the pain at the edge of my awareness, lying in anticipation, waiting for me to acknowledge it. I know that it should be there, after everything that happened, but there is also a pain that does not belong.

My heart feels... heavy.

It feels as though it is beating far too quickly, and yet at the same time I can barely feel it move at all.

My toes feel numb... a dreadful numbness which even now I can feel rise higher up, towards my ankles.

What happened to me? What has made me this way?

" _[ALZA], It's okay," I hear Hilda say, "I'm right here..."_

Slowly, I open my eyes. As I had guessed, I am lying in my room. The sunlight streaming in through the window tells me that I have either been laying here for hours, or for days.

Hilda, my faithful maid, is kneeling beside the bed. Although she is keeping her head down, I can still make out her tell-tale red eyes.

She has been crying.

Over me.

Because of me.

I open my mouth to console her, but no words escape my lips. She notices my attempt, however, and says, "Mistress, you're awake!"

She seems to notice my inability to confirm her suspicion, and adds, "Ah, the doctor said that you wouldn't be able to speak for a while. He has given you something for the pain which might make you feel a bit drowsy."

I don't care about that.

I just want to speak. To cry. To tell her how sorry I am... about everything...

I want to tell her about Jak, and the spring, and the mysterious man.

But my words will not come.

" _[ALZA], I've brought someone to cheer you up," she says, moving to open the door. A moment later, Wolfe enters, scanning the room for my bio-signature._

" _Wolfe, activate companion mode," she commands, reaching down to pick him up._

" _We found him wandering the estate, apparently someone had messed with his navigation software but had forgotten to recalibrate his internal compass," she says, while giving me a meaningful look._

I knew I had forgotten something.

She places him on the bed, where he immediately leans forward and lays his head on my lap. Although I can't hear them, I know that he is emitting ultrasonic waves in order to help me heal faster.

From this position I can see all of the paintings which adorn my bedroom walls. Like a modern day princess, I have spent countless afternoons painting pictures of my prince. The man who would come and save me... and take me away from this wretched place.

But that fantasy ends today.

I know now, that no prince will ever come for me.

I can feel the darkness return, but I do not fear it. I know that when I awaken, Hilda and Wolfe will be by my side.

Although that strange pain in my heart worries me, I know that everything is going to be alright...

*

There were rogue re-mechs chasing after them, Genesis Station 13 was running out of food, and he had what seemed like a dozen different voices in his head trying to tell him what to do.

But in that moment, none of that mattered.

The stars were speaking to him, and he was only too happy to listen.

Barsch, seated at the telescope control terminal, marvelled at the sights before him. Mercifully the night sky was clear of clouds and he had an unparalleled view of the heavens.

It was like a treasure box, and it had opened only for him. No other human on the planet was looking at this sight.

The most curious thing, however, was that whenever he tried to focus on a star, his vision slid an inch to the side. Inevitably, he would end up looking at the darkness between the stars.

Perhaps unconsciously, he sought out the void, even here.

But there was one other anomaly.

There was a new star in the sky.

He had not had the luxury of stargazing in a long time, but when he wracked his memories from his journey six months prior, he simply could not remember the star which now occupied the screen.

It was red. A deep, deep crimson, reminding him for a moment of Kain's burning, hate filled eyes.

He did not like it. It filled him with... fear.

An omen perhaps? No, he could not afford to be superstitious, not with their goal almost within sight.

Adjusting the telescope for a less bone-chilling sight, he stopped when he heard something move nearby. His first thoughts, naturally, included death spewing rogue re-mechs and maniacal, lightning-wielding Avatars.

A moment later, he heard a soft voice pierce the midnight silence.

"Where are you, my prince?"

Alza, eyes open but unfocused, emerged from the gloom a second later.

"Have you finally come to take me away from my prison? Will we ride away on your noble steed, towards a distant and exotic land?"

It was only then that Barsch understood what was happening.

Alza was sleepwalking.

"My prince... I waited for so long... I almost lost hope... I thought that you would leave me there... to die..."

"Alza?" he said, unable to stop himself.

Rising from the terminal, he moved towards her, stopping when he saw the tears in her eyes.

"Why... why didn't you come for me? I lay there, waiting to die... but a part of me never stopped believing... What a fool I was... I thought that I was the princess waiting for her prince... but it turns out I was the monster all along..."

Barsch had faced madmen, mad machines and mad gods, but never a crying woman.

He had no idea what he should do.

Hugging her seemed unthinkable. Consoling her seemed undoable. Waking her, then, was the only real choice.

Reaching out, he laid his hand on her shoulder, saying, "Alza, it's alright. It's just a bad dream."

Immediately she stepped forward and her gaze met his. Her eyes were still unfocused, but, for an instant, he thought that he saw recognition in her violet orbs.

"Alza? Who is Alza? My name is Cha-

Alza suddenly fell forward, mid-sentence, luckily in the direction Barsch was standing in. He caught her with minimal effort, noting how light she was.

A moment later, she raised her head once more, now possessing her usual steely glare.

"Barsch," she said, a mixture of confusion and irritation on her face, "What the hell are you doing?"

*

It took several minutes to explain what had happened.

From the look on Alza's face, she still didn't buy it.

"I was looking for my... prince?" she said, a slight reddish tinge appearing on her cheeks.

"Yeah, that's what you said..." With her staring at him, even he began to doubt what he had seen. Perhaps he had been the one asleep, and Alza had woken him?

No. He knew the truth.

The confusion was still evident on her face, so Barsch motioned for her to sit at the terminal. He set it to auto-scan and the screen was soon filled with a randomized assortment of heavenly spectacles.

Turning her head to face him, she said, "Why would I be looking for a prin-

Alza again stopped mid-sentence, a look of realization on her face. Placing a hand over her heart, she closed her eyes for a while.

"The pain is gone..."

Perhaps she was still asleep, and he hadn't woken her up as he had thought.

"Alza?"

Snapping her eyes open, she said, "Do you remember our conversation atop the stone spire? We spoke about dreams, but I did not fully explain mine. Just before we left the Station, I started having strange dreams," Looking at his expression, she added, "Stranger than usual."

"What were the dreams about?"

"A girl. She lived a long time ago, I think. She was unhappy with her life and wanted to run away. It... didn't go well. One of the things she wanted most was for a prince to come and carry her away."

"That sounds... unbelievable."

"I know... but the strangest part is that, in these dreams, I'm not observing the scene as myself. It's like... I am her."

"You identify with her?"

Alza shook her head, saying, "No, it's like I AM her. Her thoughts are my thoughts, her hopes are my hopes, and her failings are my failings also."

"So, what happened to her, in the end? Did she find her prince?"

Alza did not answer for a while, instead turning to face the screen and all its captured wonders.

Eventually, she said, "No... she didn't find her prince..."

"That's... sad." He had not meant to say it, but the tightness in his chest had forced it out of him. It was strange, to feel bad for a made-up dream girl. But, something inside him told him that the girl was real... and that he knew her. From one of his own dreams, perhaps?

They sat in silence for a long time, staring at the screen. For the first time in a long time, Barsch knew peace. There were no strange voices in his head, no thoughts of hating Alza, and no fears of his barely contained power.

Together, they sat, looking at the cosmos. As the night wore on, Alza's head began to droop.

With a soft _pat_ it fell to the side, landing on his shoulder.

This time, he had no desire to wake her.

*

"How much food do we have left?" Markus asked, looking at Lukas.

There were sitting in Markus' quarters. Thomas, the third member of the meeting, sat by the door.

"If we step up the rations, maybe enough to last a few more weeks. There will be a lot of grumbling stomachs, and some of the weaker inhabitants will suffer, but they will survive."

Markus nodded, thinking to himself that if Thomas knew that they weren't planning to do anything to acquire more food; he would already be halfway to Joshua.

All they were really doing was planning how to die with dignity. Mercifully, Dr August had informed Markus that he had enough sleeping tablets to overdose a significant portion of the Station's population. The rest would be given a choice, starve to death or take a gun from the armoury and take a shortcut.

"Has Dr August said anything new about Alza and Barsch?" Thomas asked, standing up.

Markus looked to Lukas. It was his son and his lie; he should be the one to further it.

Lukas, catching his meaning, said, "He told me this morning that they are both in a stable condition and responding well to the anti-biotics. Unfortunately, he also said that it would still be a while before he can deem them non-contagious."

A look of relief spread over the youngling's face, causing Markus' guilt to grow. Thomas was one of them, and yet they were lying to him as if he were a stranger.

A part of him wondered where Barsch and Alza really were, and if they had figured out the truth behind the plan. He knew that they would be angry, but the best part about the plan was that they would never get the chance to get revenge. Together, he and Alza would rebuild civilization.

No matter what happened, no matter what Joshua did, they had already won.

The Seed... Barsch... would Survive.

There was a knock on the door.

And then another, louder this time.

"Who is- he started, but stopped when the third knock took the door off of its hinges.

Lionel Clint stepped through the ruined doorway, shaking out his hands. He was followed by Harriet Del Verte, glancing around the room while wearing a wide smirk.

He knew who was coming next.

Joshua Evans, Scourge of the Station, stepped into the room.

He wore a look that could only be described as 'victorious', and over his shoulder Markus could see a great mass of people standing outside.

"Markus, Lukas, Thomas, I bid you hello!" he said with perverse glee.

"Have you gone mad, Joshua?" Lukas said, rising from his seat.

"Have you?" Joshua replied, speaking loudly enough for the people outside to hear.

Before Lukas could reply, Joshua stepped forward, until he was only a few feet away from them.

"Did you really think you could hide the truth from me? From US?!?"

"What are you talking about?" Markus said, but inwardly he already knew where this conversation was headed. They had won the war, but had lost the battle for Genesis 13.

"I'm talking about how you have been deceiving the good people of this Station ever since we woke up! You told us that beyond these walls lay death, and that if we submitted to your rule, we would be safe. You told us to trust in you, and we, like sheep, obeyed. You decide how much we eat, where we sleep, and what we should believe."

Looking back, most likely to make sure that he had everyone's attention, he continued, "But to me, that wasn't right. I AM NO SHEEP! I AM NO SLAVE! I REFUSE TO SERVE YOU ANY LONGER!" This was met by a chorus of cheers. From the sound of it, he had more than half of the Station's population out there.

Thomas, moving between them, finally spoke, saying, "Lies and mistruths! Weaver of deception! Where is your proof?"

Joshua's grin, impossibly, grew wider.

"Send him out," he said, gesturing to the crowd.

A moment later, Dr August was thrown forward, landing with a heavy _thud_. His face was covered in bruises, and his right arm was held tight against his body.

"Doctor, what did they do to- Thomas began, but Joshua cut him off.

"Lukas told us that his son, his poor, darling son, was infected with a most terrible disease. He told us that he, and the woman Alza, were quarantined in the good doctor's lab, for our safety. But, when I went to offer my condolences, I was met with hostility. The doctor refused to let me see a Son of the Station! Suspecting that something was afoot, I barged in, only to discover the terrible truth!"

From what Markus could see, every face was enraptured by Joshua's words.

Joshua, after pausing for effect, continued, "The room... was empty! When I enquired with the doctor, I was told more lies. But, eventually, his story changed. He told me that Barsch and Alza had left the Station! Markus and Lukas had sent them off on some mission to who cares where! Now isn't that strange? They tell us that to leave the Station is to court death, and yet Lukas went and sent his only son to die?"

Thomas turned to face Markus, the look of betrayal clear on his face.

"Is this true?" he asked. Markus knew what the boy wanted to hear, but he could not lie to him any longer.

"Yes," he said, hanging his head.

"He admits it!" Joshua shouted, for all to here. Lowering his voice, he said, "I have you now..."

Raising his voice once more, he gestured to Lionel and said, "Take them."

They went without a fight. If they struggled, they would only die tired.

# Chapter XV: What Once Was

In which the princess comes home...

Six Months Ago

Kingston stood in the pod room, alone.

Maloch had left him. Alza had left him.

Even Barsch had left him.

He was well and truly alone.

" **Well met, Father of None,"** said the man stepping out from the shadows, proving him wrong.

The man was young, perhaps in his mid-twenties, and bore a non-threatening look. His hair was the colour of the sun, and his eyes shone with an emerald gleam.

Terra, Avatar of the Land.

"Long time no see, Terra."

" **Mr G. Kingston, I trust you know what must be done."**

"Don't worry, I wasn't thinking of staying. I intend to leave this place as soon as I can."

" **Good. If you were to stay, Barsch will not be able to leave when the time comes. You have your own path to tread."**

"And where exactly does this path lead?"

Terra did not answer him immediately, choosing instead to place a hand on a nearby pod. The person inside was almost ready to be extracted, judging from the rate of defrosting.

" **It leads to the end. It leads to what you want most, and what you desire least."**

"How cryptic."

" **Not really. I'm not really into riddles."**

"Noted. And so, when I have reached the end of my path, what would you have me do?"

Terra was already fading away when he answered.

" **What needs to be done. There has to be a sacrifice. The price must be paid."**

And then he was gone, and Kingston was truly alone.

*

The Present

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE.

" _Please... is there nothing else you can try?" My father's voice, normally stern and commanding, sounds panicked and choked._

" _I am sorry, but the study of pollutant based diseases is still in its infancy. I have tried every cure I possess, but her body has not accepted them. Her organs are shutting down, and there is nothing I can do to stop that." The doctor's voice is soothing, obviously the result of having to give bad news far too many times._

I lie awake, confined to my bed. Wolfe simulates sleep in the corner, a small comfort. Hilda has left the room, leaving the door slightly ajar.

My voice has not returned.

It has been a full day since I returned to the estate. The doctor my father is speaking to is the fifth one he has called. One was tall, one was fat, one wore glasses, one had a lisp, and one walked with a cane.

But they all said the same thing.

Your daughter is going to die.

I have run out of tears. I would scream, were I able. I would run, if I could.

But I can't. All I can do is lie here, and wait to die.

At least the doctor's medication has taken away my pain. It does leave me very drowsy, but at this point I welcome sleep. It is only in my dreams where I can speak, and where I can scream away my frustration.

I hear the doctor leave. I doubt he will return. A few seconds later, I hear a more familiar set of footfalls.

" _Master, I have spoken with our guest. He says that he would like to speak to you about... her. He says that he might be able to help," says Hilda, from beyond the door._

I do not allow myself the luxury of hope. One more person telling me that there is nothing they can do for me will not change anything. Without waiting for my father's reply, I allow the darkness to claim me.

Perhaps this time, if I'm lucky, I won't wake up.

*

Barsch awoke to a field of stars.

For a moment, his groggy mind struggled to process this, until the touch receptors in his face provided additional information. He was lying on a hard surface, cheek pressed up against a pane of glass.

With effort, he raised his head, discovering that he had fallen asleep at the telescope control terminal.

Looking around, he realized that he was unconsciously searching for Alza. A moment later, he found her, standing at the dome's opening. He walked over to her and saw that she was staring at something in the distance.

"Good morning," he said, trying to be cheerful. His body ached, and a part of him realized that he had given up sleeping in a real bed in exchange for falling asleep on a hard console beside Alza.

To Barsch, however, that sounded like a fair trade.

"She's going to die," Alza responded, her voice trembling. She turned, and Barsch saw that she had been crying.

"Who is?" Barsch asked, thoroughly confused.

"The girl, the one from my dreams."

Barsch opened his mouth to point out that the girl did not exist, but for once he allowed himself time to think before he spoke.

"I'm sorry; would you like to talk about it?"

Alza's expression changed as she heard his words, and a smile broke through her troubled demeanour.

"No, it's alright. Sorry, I think I'm still half-asleep. Let's go and have something to eat," she said, heading downstairs.

Muttering to himself about women and their sudden mood changes, Barsch followed her down.

*

While Maloch raided the observatory for more supplies, Barsch and Alza ate in silence. However, it was not a silence born from unease. There was simply nothing for them to talk about.

" _We both know that that's not true,"_ whispered Yumiere, _"You have to tell her that this mission is a lie. You have to tell her about your father's deception, and how he never expected you to succeed. You have to tell her that in a few weeks, the two of you might be the last humans left alive."_

He knew that every word she spoke was the truth, and yet his mouth remained fastened shut.

Not until he knew for sure. Not until he had seen the ruins of Project Eden's facility, and the lack of any miracle solution. Not until he gave up on the hope that still dwelt in his heart.

If there was even a one percent chance of saving the Station, he would look for it.

And if he found nothing... then he would tell her the awful truth.

" _As you wish,"_ Yumiere said, and once more, they ate in silence.

*

An hour later, they left the observatory. They had found a service road leading down the mountain, well away from the main path.

No murderous re-mechs had come for them in the night, but that didn't mean they were safe.

Maloch had spent the night standing outside, and unlike his companions, he was in a mood to talk.

" _We are a day away from Rorash City, and yet we still have no idea what we are looking for,"_ he said, while his eyes scanned the landscape ahead. The land here was dry and almost devoid of trees, in contrast to the forest they had left behind. Ahead lay what remained of a highway, which, judging from the location, had once connected Rorash and Turveil. It had not fared well over the decades, and most of it had collapsed, allowing nature to stake its claim.

"I'm sure we'll find it once we arrive. That recording he heard in Turveil mentioned underground caverns, and a launch facility... maybe we can start our search there?" Barsch said, walking between Alza and Maloch. His relationship with her, while not the same as when they had first left the Station, had improved. But even he did not know what lay at the end of that road...

Everything was changing, and yet walking as a group in search of a far off destination felt very familiar to him. It was comforting, in a strange way.

Maloch, Alza and Barsch, off to save the world once more...

The only difference was Kingston's absence.

" _Hmm, according to my records, Rorash City was attacked towards the end of the South Wars. Apparently there was a traitor within the ruling council who disabled the city's defence system. He let the invading army inside, but he soon found that his luck was quite awful."_

"Why?" asked Alza.

" _The Death Seekers happened to be passing through the city, looking to repair themselves after the events at Turveil. They were able to repel the invasion, but not without severe casualties. I heard that their leader fell in battle, but his body was never recovered."_

After digesting this information, Barsch asked, "Do you think the people involved knew about Project Eden? I mean, surely they wouldn't have attacked if they had known that they might be endangering a potential solution to the pollution?"

" _Given the levels of security and secrecy involved, I doubt many knew of the research facility's existence. And from what you told me about your father, it would seem that Dr Michaelis did not trust even his own staff with its location."_

Barsch opened his mouth to point out that, in light of this information, their chance of finding such a well-hidden facility was worrying low, when Alza suddenly stopped.

"Re-mechs," she said, pointing towards the broken highway.

He stared at the ruined infrastructure, seeing nothing. And then, like an image that only appears when you unfocused your eyes, they appeared.

There were dozens of them. Tall, short, military, civilian. Mother had gathered together a great host to welcome them.

"If there are so many, then we must be going in the right direction. But how are we supposed to get past them?" Barsch asked, staring at the small army which lay before them.

"Follow me, my prince," Alza said, with a strange look of what seemed to be... admiration?

Silence followed her statement. He looked at her. She looked at him.

Maloch gave the digital equivalent of a cough.

"I mean... I think I know a way around them," Alza said, blushing.

"Um, are you... okay?" Barsch asked. Half of him was worried about her.

The other half was loving this.

Alza squirmed for a second, clearly struggling to find the right words. Eventually, she said, "It feels as though there is someone else in my mind... can you imagine how that feels?"

"Yes," he said, without an ounce of levity.

Silence followed his word. A silence that went on just long enough to become uncomfortable.

Looking a bit guilty, Alza said, "Ah, I suppose you do. Well, I think it's the girl from my dreams. I think her spirit, or maybe her memories, have become lodged in my mind. She knows this place... and she knows how we can get to Rorash City undetected."

Barsch looked at Maloch, but the re-mech gave no indication of what he thought of their strange situation.

"Okay, I suppose that is better than trying to sneak past dozens of murderous metal giants. Lead the way... princess," he said, a rare smile on his face.

Alza pushed him out of the way, a playful scowl on her face.

"Follow me," she said, turning off the service road.

*

Two hours later, they came across a massive stone wall. It towered above them, stretching for as far as the eye could see. Inlaid in the whitewashed wall at equidistant spaces were semi-precious stones. Whoever had built it must have been a man or woman of significant fortune.

Turning away from the stonework, Barsch regarded Alza. Ever since leaving the observatory, her identity dissociation -if that was what it was- had only gotten worse. She seemed to swing wildly from one identity to the other with no apparent trigger. At times, she was Alza, as they had always known her.

But at others, she was a stranger.

When she wasn't herself, she spoke of princes, and freedom, and someone named Hilda.

Her tone, while light and playful, nevertheless held a deeper undertone of immense sadness.

Whoever the girl had been, she had gone through a lot.

If not for their previous journey and all of its associated perspective altering trials, he undoubtedly would have had trouble accepting Alza's new... condition.

But his eyes had been opened after his awakening, and he could no longer scoff at the thought of someone having more than one identity inside their mind.

" _How many are we up to now? Seven?"_ Kain chuckled, surfacing briefly.

Ignoring him, he continued walking.

"How are you holding up?" he asked, as he reached Alza.

Alza looked at him, and then at the wall before answering, "It's getting harder to stay... me. I think this place holds a lot of memories for her, and the more she remembers, the stronger her presence becomes."

"Anything I can do to help?"

"You have already done plenty, my prin- Barsch." She had managed to stop herself... this time.

"Just remember, what she says isn't always the truth. If she starts calling you a mur- bad person, tell me, okay?"

Alza smiled, although he did not know if it was her or the girl behind it.

"I will."

" _No, she won't,"_ said Kain, laughing to himself.

*

Another hour passed before they arrived at a break in the wall.

The gate they found was just as massive as the wall and, according to Maloch, was made of wrought iron painted with gold leaf.

At the top of the gate someone had erected a sign.

"Welcome to The Reveia Estate," Alza read, a strange expression on her face.

"Ever heard of it?" Barsch asked, turning to Maloch.

The re-mech simply shook his head.

"Any idea how we're getting in?" he asked, this time facing Alza.

Alza, unlike Maloch, nodded. Moving a few feet away, she knelt by a section of wall that looked no different from the others. Placing a palm against the white stones, she pushed, and, in a move that really shouldn't have been surprising, nothing happened.

Confusion swept across her face and he heard her say to herself, "I'm sure this is the right spot..."

" _If I may?"_ Maloch asked, still standing beside the gate.

Without waiting for affirmation -which would have been impossible for a normal re-mech- he drew back his mighty fist before punching it forward. The blow lifted the age-worn gates clean off their hinges. The resulting cacophony lasted for a few seconds too long, and Barsch had a momentary vision of the rogue re-mechs charging round the corner to investigate the noise.

But no enemies appeared.

"That'll do, Maloch," Alza said, moving past him and into the estate.

*

"You lied to me... you lied to all of us!" Thomas spat, sitting opposite Lukas.

He would have moved further away, but the cell Joshua had thrown them into was rather small.

Outside, he could hear Lionel speaking with someone. Markus was asleep in the corner. He too would have to answer for his crimes, once he awoke.

Had he chosen poorly? Had he been on the wrong side this entire time? Confusion and doubt swirled in his mind, chasing each other round and round.

"To protect you," said Lukas, with a weary tone. He seemed to have shrunk ever since Joshua's victory. The fight, quite simply, had left him.

"From what? Leaving? Being free? Not starving to death in some godforsaken tomb?"

"We didn't lie about the state of the world. It is still suicide to venture outside. If Joshua opens those blast doors, he will effectively be committing genocide... not that that would worry him much, I think."

"Suicide, you say? Then why did you send your only son to die?" Thomas looked at his mentor... his friend... with new eyes. He realized that the man he had put on so high a pedestal was nothing more than a liar... and it sickened him to think that he had once looked up to Lukas.

"Barsch won't die, and neither will Alza."

"That doesn't make any sense."

Lukas sighed, head bowed. When he looked up, however, Thomas saw that the fire in him had not completely cooled.

"Alza isn't from Genesis Station 13, and Barsch wasn't unfrozen with the rest of us. He awoke a few weeks before us and, while trying to find a way back into the Station, he met Alza. She is a genetically altered human. Apparently the man who created her called her a _homo novus_. She possesses superhuman abilities and is immune to the effects of the pollution. And somehow, she is able to extend that protection to Barsch."

"More lies, really?" It was unbelievable just how far his former master would sink to assuage his own guilt.

"He speaks the truth, Thomas," Markus said, opening his eyes.

Lukas took a deep breath before saying, "We sent Alza and Barsch on a mission to find the location of Project Eden. Since they can travel outside without endangering themselves, we thought that they were our best chance of success. Project Eden, if we could get it to work, would have enabled us to clear the pollution and save the Station... to save _every_ Station..."

"That, however, is a lie," Markus added, rising to his feet. Thomas caught the look that Lukas gave Markus, but he did not understand its meaning.

"Haven't we lied to the boy enough, Lukas? I don't think it's going to make a difference now anyway. Remember, the Seed is going to Survive, no matter what happens here..."

"Seed? What Seed?" Thomas asked, thoroughly confused.

"Barsch is the Seed. Project Eden was always a long shot, so we planned for the worst. While those in the Station will die, Barsch and Alza will live on. Humanity, in some form or another, will endure."

Thomas felt a terrible numbness spread throughout his entire body. This was worse than lies, worse than deception. If he understood them correctly, Markus and Lukas had known that everyone in the Station, including themselves, would die. And so Lukas had sent out two teenagers in the vague hope that they would somehow be able to carry the torch of humanity onwards...

Lukas was mad, and from the sound of it, he had passed that madness onto his son.

"Assuming what you say is the truth... and that is a very big assumption... are you telling me that our only option is to sit here and wait for death?"

Lukas said nothing.

His silence was his answer.

*

Leaving the ruined gate, they found themselves on a long tree-lined pathway. In the distance they could make out a garden which lay before an impressive mansion.

As they made their way towards the house, Alza found herself reminiscing.

" _Remember when I climbed the biggest tree on the estate? I got too scared to climb down so Hilda had to fetch a ladder and get me down!"_ she thought, while knowing that the memory was not her own.

" _I'm glad that one of us made it out. Through you, I found my freedom..."_ For a moment, she could see a shimmer in the air. The outline of a woman, rippling in the air.

And then it firmed, and the girl with amber eyes walked beside her.

" _What is this place?"_ she thought, directing it at the girl.

But the girl said nothing, instead choosing to point towards something in the distance.

They were nearing the garden. As they approached, it became apparent that it had not been cared for in a very long time. The marbled statues had all cracked and fallen, and the gravel path was marred by a series of long troughs that cut deep into the earth.

The vegetation, having no caretaker, had been free to grow wherever it pleased. A bush of roses sat beside a yellow-flowered shrub. An apple tree grew next to a watermelon vine. It was chaos, although beautiful at the same time.

Occupying the centre of the garden was a mass of golden flowers which all faced the rising sun. Alza had never seen them before, but found them beautiful to look at.

"What are they?" Barsch asked, similarly taken by their beauty, judging from the look on his face.

"Dawnblossoms. They bloom once a day, as the light of dawn reaches them. Father had them specially imported just for me," Alza heard herself say.

"Oh... wait, father? Do you mean Dr Emmerfield?" Barsch said, a perturbed look on his face.

Alza opened her mouth to answer but was stopped when something nearby came crashing down. The apple tree had fallen over, with apples falling both near and far from the tree.

Where it had stood was a strange creature.

It had the overall shape of a dog, but no dog Alza had ever seen had silver skin. Its eyes were a fierce red, and its jaw was open, revealing polished metal teeth.

" _Warning. You are trespassing on private land. If you do not leave immediately, I will use force. You have thirty seconds to comply,"_ It said, its voice sounding like an amalgamation of several others.

" _A beastmech, I thought that they had all been destroyed,"_ Maloch said, with what sounded like fascination. However, that did not stop him from moving to stand between the beastmech and his friends.

"Wait! There's no need for violence. We'll leave, okay?" Alza said, in her own voice.

The beastmech's head swivelled to focus on her, and it took a single step towards her. She heard Maloch's right hand _click_ , no doubt preparing his weapon.

" _Vocal pattern recognized. Non-hostiles confirmed. Switching to companion mode. Welcome home, mistress."_

Barsch and Maloch were silent. They were both staring at her as if they were seeing her for the first time.

" _You asked me where we are?"_ The girl said, laughing _, "Why, we're home!"_

*

The being known as Mother was home.

Of course, she had never really left.

For there was nothing more important than a Mother's household. Her walls, her belongings.

Her children.

And she would raise hell if anyone threatened those under her protection.

Humans. Re-mechs. Even gods.

Moving through the corridors that made up most of her home, she felt a desire to see _them_.

Her children, safe and secure, slept peacefully.

In a time long past, humans had sought to use them for their own ends. They had tried to take her children from her.

That had been their first and last mistake.

It was then, as she was gazing lovingly at her children, that she received a report from one of the re-mech's patrolling the outer zone.

" _Alert. Human bio-signature detected entering the city. Shall I detain?"_

" _No. Follow it for now. If it comes close, then you may act."_

" _Order acknowledged. I will comply. The Seed must be Saved."_

They had come at last. Sooner than she had anticipated. The girl, the abomination and the stubborn re-mech.

Reaching out to her soldiers, she sought out one mind in particular.

Rose, as she called herself, was soon located.

Mother had chosen her after discovering her location and occupation. She had felt a kinship with the re-mech, a feeling that of all those called to serve her, Rose understood her best. She was a gardener...well, she _had_ been a gardener.

She, above all, would know the value of keeping a Seed safe.

A small part of her disliked the fact that she had effectively pulled Rose away from her own children, but it was a necessary evil.

Just like killing humans.

" _Rose. The humans have slipped past you and entered the city. Gather the others and return to me immediately. We must prepare a suitable welcoming party."_

Unlike the patrolling re-mech, Rose did not reply immediately. Perhaps it was due to the distance involved.

Or perhaps it was something else.

Eventually, she replied, _"Yes, Mother, it shall be done."_

With her will enacted, Mother travelled to the foyer. She had begun repairing the re-mech she had found in the storage room, but it would still need some time to return to full strength.

The humans could bring their fire and fury.

She would meet them in kind.

*

Markus, former leader of Genesis Station 13, lay in chains. Beside him, Lukas and Thomas fared no better. They had been dragged to the central concourse and placed on a makeshift dais for all to see. In the crowd, Markus saw Dr August and Phil, similarly in chains.

The Judai, officially neutral, stood nearby. No chains marred their skin.

Joshua was taking this moment to bask in his own glory.

"My friends, I have gathered you together for one reason and one reason only! We are here to pass judgement on those who would lie to you, who would trick you, who would steal away your freedom!"

"So why aren't you up there?" called Delphi, defiant to the end. She wore no chains, but was a prisoner nonetheless. No doubt Joshua wanted to avoid the sight of an old woman, especially one so beloved by the Station, in chains.

Joshua ignored her, focusing on the accused.

"Markus Arcson. Lukas La Tergan. Thomas Gerder. All three of you are charged with the crimes of perjury, malfeasance and treason to the Station and its peoples. How do you plead?"

"Does it really matter?" Lukas said, looking more tired than Markus had seen him in months.

"I guess it doesn't," Joshua replied with a sneer.

"I will now call upon the people of the Station to lay evidence upon the accused. Step forward, in turn, and tell us how these men wronged you."

It was to be expected, but nonetheless disheartening when dozens of people stepped forward.

"They only gave me scraps to eat!" cried one, while another shouted, "They made me sleep on a bed of metal!"

" _And if not for us, you would have devoured all your provisions within a month and starved to death shortly thereafter,"_ he thought, but did not speak. There didn't seem to be much point.

"Lukas' son saved me from bullies!" someone shouted, a single voice going against the tide.

No... It was not the only one.

"Markus helped us find soft linen for my grandmother!" someone cried.

"Thomas taught me how to work on the generator!" said another.

Slowly, the voices for came to match the voices against.

Markus saw Joshua's expression change as he realized that this was not going according to plan. Instead of fleeing, however, he stomped his foot, causing a quaking sound that quietened the hall.

"As you have plainly heard, there is insurmountable evidence against the accused. Their sins are numerous, and their repentance lacking. With the power invested in me by you, the people, I shall now decide the appropriate judgement.

All eyes were on Joshua. Markus was pleased to see that many of them bore angry expressions. He was not as well liked as they had initially thought.

Perhaps there was still a way to turn this around. A few days in the cells, working those who would listen, and they might be able to secure their freedom. After that, they could gather up those who opposed Joshua and tear him from his makeshift throne.

"For the great crimes you have all wrought, I find myself thinking of only one appropriate punishment. Markus, Lukas and Thomas... I sentence you... to death."

Never mind.

The people, held in silent rapture by Joshua's voice, now broke out into chaos. Many were cheering, many were screaming, and thankfully, many were booing. Amidst the noise Markus saw Joshua gesture towards Lionel to return them to their cell.

"Tomorrow, we will rid our great Station of these loathsome criminals! Tomorrow, we will cast off our shackles and be free once more! Tomorrow, we will re-join the world!"

Leaning in close, Joshua looked at them and said, in a voice too soft for the others to hear, "Sleep tight... and don't forget... by this time tomorrow, you'll all be dead!"

*

With the beastmech dutifully trailing after her, they walked through the mansion's doors in a reverent silence. Although time had brought down its unbiased hammer on the house, it still held a quiet dignity. Alza could see the remnants of the tasteful décor and could appreciate the finery which had once hung from every open surface. This had been a place of plenty, once upon a time.

" _It was beautiful, but empty. All that grandeur wasted on a girl, her father, a maid and a mechanical dog. We should have sold it all and moved to the city..."_ Alza heard the sadness in the girl's voice, and felt moisture collect in her eyes.

Before them lay a set of staircases which led to the second floor. Leading away from them were numerous doors, some of which had fallen apart, showing the empty rooms beyond.

"This way," the girl said, using Alza's mouth. Together, they lead Barsch and Maloch through a set of double doors located off to the side of the entrance.

They entered a large room, much larger than the one they had just come from. The room had once been used as a ballroom, the girl said, whispering into Alza's mind.

As she stepped forward, the feeling of nostalgia that had been assailing her ever since their arrival tripled in intensity. She knew that if she closed her eyes, she would be able to see it exactly as it had been.

" _Do you remember now?"_ The girl asked, dancing ahead. She stretched out her arms, placing them at what seemed like the appropriate location on her imaginary partner.

"This place feels... familiar," someone said, and Alza was surprised to find that it was not her this time.

Barsch, seeing her expression, hastily added, "I think I had a dream that was set in a place very similar to this. And at the end of the ballroom there was this large painting of a girl..."

In unison, they looked toward the far end of the ballroom.

Just as expected, a painting hung on the wall. It was massive in size and showed the portrait of a young woman.

The very same girl who was now dancing in the centre of the room, oblivious to their stares.

Beneath the painting lay a plaque bearing the girl's name, but time had destroyed the letters.

But that didn't matter.

Alza had finally remembered the girl's name.

"I am... I was... Charlotte Reveia... and this is where I died..." she said, feeling the weight of the realization crashing down upon her, forcing her to her knees.

She saw the panic in Barsch's eyes, heard him shout something, but it was indistinct.

Charlotte. No, the ghost of Charlotte, was still dancing.

It was all too much.

Alza... Charlotte... whoever she was... felt the darkness come.

She did not resist its embrace.

End of Part Two
Part Three: Burning Rain

# Chapter XVI: True Origins

In which the two become one...

Six Months Ago

Maloch stepped back, admiring his work.

Alza Atré, daughter of Nathan and Sybil, aged 15, lay before him.

Or more accurately, her digital profile did.

It had been an inspired stroke of genius that had led him to selecting the Atrés as her guardians. According to their pre-cryogenesis psych evaluation, both had displayed unresolved post-traumatic stress disorder, delusions and grief over their dead son. Maloch would relay this to Alza, and she could seek them out if she so desired, but merely having them vouch for her on the official records would be enough.

And if they raised a fuss, then their words could easily be relegated to the ramblings of grief-stricken parents who had lost touch with reality.

It was not a thought a proper re-mech should ever have.

But Maloch was not a proper re-mech. Even now he was starting to wonder if he ever had been one. Perhaps all those years spent serving humans had simply been dreams, or perhaps nightmares.

He was free now. Whether he stayed for the awakening or left early, that would not change.

But a part of him already knew that he had to leave. With all the confusion that was about to engulf the Station, having a re-mech who refused to follow orders would only add to the chaos.

No, his future lay beyond the reinforced walls of the Station.

He wasn't sure exactly what he would do. After all, he couldn't just return to where he had come from.

What with it being a smoking crater and all that.

First, he would journey back the way they had come. They had caused a considerable amount of chaos while trying to save the world, and that could incriminate them if people survived long enough to bother looking.

A broken re-mech outside a med-lab needed burying. A small town needed to be cleared of cóyotl corpses. A murderous Station A.I needed its memory checked.

And, most importantly, the death of a madman and his son had to be confirmed.

If there was even the slightest chance that Dr Emmerfield and Kain had survived...

He needed to be sure. And after that, he didn't know.

But he would not crawl back to the humans begging to be put to use.

The re-mech who would have done that, Sovereign, had been killed by Alza's attack.

And he could not be more grateful.

*

The Present

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE... BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE...

It's getting harder to breathe. Every time I take a deep breath, I feel less oxygen enter my lungs. I know that I'm dying, slowly, but surely.

Hilda is asleep in a chair beside my bed. She has been a constant source of compassion and reassurance, and I don't know if I could have done this without her.

Wolfe is lying on the balcony, his solar panels lapping up the noonday sunshine. Once he has finished recharging, he will return to my side.

My friends. My world.

How small it is... was...

I see that now.

My father pokes his head in now and again, but his words of comfort sound hollow and disingenuous. Ever since his wife, my mother, died, he has looked at everything with a blank expression. I wonder if it truly registers in him what is happening.

I wonder if he knows that his darling princess is dying.

" _This is not what we agreed on," I hear him say, "You said that you could cure her!" The bedroom door is slightly ajar, allowing me to catch sight of my father's back and the stranger's face._

It is the man who found me and carried me to safety.

I know that I should feel grateful, but somehow I cannot bring myself to like him.

" _I told you that I could make her as good as new, there's a difference! My speciality is in genetics, not pathology. I can sequence the entire genome of anything with a heartbeat, but I cannot keep that heart beating." The stranger sounds defensive, but there is also a note of interest in his voice._

" _What good is knowing her genome if she's dead?!?" I hear my father raise his voice, for the first time he is not directing his anger at Hilda or myself._

" _Sir, your daughter is beyond saving, but with her genome, my equipment, and some funding... I could... bring her back to you..."_

Silence. Has their conversation ended?

" _You... you're talking about cloning her? Are you insane? That's been illegal for years!"_

" _Illegal, yes. Impossible, no. I could deliver a full grown clone in a matter of months, provided I am able to obtain a blood sample and suitable funding."_

More silence. I can practically hear the cogs moving in my father's mind.

" _How much are we talking?" I eventually hear my father ask. I know him, and I know how much he loves his money._

Unfortunately, the stranger's answer is given in a whisper, but judging by my father's outburst, he is asking for a substantial sum.

" _You want THAT much?!? You could buy a quarter of Rorash City with that amount of money! It would bankrupt me..."_

" _Then I guess we have found an answer to that age old question... you can put a price on a human life. I am sorry that you cannot afford it."_

I hear the stranger turn to leave. A footstep. More.

" _Wait..." my father says, defeated, "If I give you the money... If you create this... thing... will it have her memories? Her personality? Will it be... her?"_

" _Worry not, Sir. I have already developed a device which enables me to copy the mind, memories and personality included. The clone will be identical in all regards to the original, with only one difference."_

" _What difference?"_

" _It'll be alive."_

*

"It'll be alive," Alza repeated, watching the dream begin to dissipate. She looked around, expecting to see the glade, but found herself in the manor instead.

This was not the house that she had entered only a few minutes ago. This was how it had looked in its prime, before years of neglect had turned it into a shadow of its former self. The paint was fresh enough to smell, the windows were polished to absolute transparency, and the presence of dirt was remarkable in its absence.

"This was a home, once upon a time," a girl- the girl, said. She was standing in the foyer, one hand resting on the nearest staircase's balustrade. She was wearing a yellow sundress with blue and green flowers accenting the hem. She wore a wide rimmed wicker hat that covered her face, but there was no concealing her identity.

Alza knew who she was.

"Charlotte," she said, the name sounding strange coming from her.

"Alza," the girl replied.

"I don't understand why I'm here. Why are you in my dreams? Why do I remember this place? Why do I remember you?"

"Are you sure that you're not the one from my dreams? The fleeting fancy of a sick, bedbound girl?"

Alza didn't know how to respond. She knew that if she began questioning her existence, she would never stop.

"Just kidding!" Charlotte said, mercifully putting Alza out of her misery.

Alza walked towards Charlotte. It was the same sensation as approaching her reflection in the mirror. Charlotte, with the obvious exception of her hair and eyes, was an exact replica.

A clone.

Suddenly, it all clicked.

Suddenly, she knew the identity of the strange man.

Suddenly, she knew how the story ended.

"I'm sorry..." she said, knowing that those words alone were not enough.

"It's not your fault," Charlotte replied, moving closer. Alza was close enough to see her eyes now.

Charlotte was crying.

"Would you like to... talk about it?" Alza offered, knowing that dealing with emotions, especially those coming from a teenage girl, were well beyond her capabilities.

With anyone else, she would have fled.

But Charlotte deserved this, and so much more.

"I've waited so long...all those years... hiding in the depths of your mind. I could only watch as Kain broke you, again and again. I cried all the tears that you never could."

Charlotte started climbing the stairs and Alza followed, their steps syncing up perfectly.

"When you were chosen to leave the facility, I felt so happy. It felt like I was finally going on the journey I had been denied all my life. And when we met Barsch..."

Charlotte looked back with an expression that Alza was not familiar with. It looked... sad, yet happy at the same time.

"He changed us... more than I think he realizes. The more time you spent around him, the more strength I gained. I was able to move out of that great darkness in your mind and swim towards the surface. I tried to let my emotions out, to let them show on your face, but there was a wall between us."

"Dr Emmerfield's tampering," Alza said. It was becoming clearer by the second. Why she had been an emotionless doll when she had left the valley.

And why she had become so much more by the time she returned.

"I thought that I would be trapped there forever, until something wonderful happened..."

"The mindmeld," Alza finished.

They had reached the top of the staircase. A corridor ran perpendicular to the stairs, curving out of sight at each end. They headed left, towards a door at the end of the hallway.

"At that moment, when our minds connected, I felt the wall give way. It was still there, afterwards, but now it was full of holes. If I really tried, I could squeeze myself through, just for a second, and allow my emotions to reach yours."

Alza recalled the smile that had broken her emotionless mask. Her first smile.

"After that, I fell into a deep slumber. I think between the mindmeld and my exertions I overdid it. And then, a short while ago, I woke up."

"The day I met Barsch in the pod room..."

"Yeah... Ever since then, I've been trying to widen the cracks in the wall. I've thrown myself at them again and again, and slowly, they've grown in size."

"So the dreams... your memories... they were a side-effect of all this?"

"I think so..."

They had arrived at the end of the corridor. The door before them was painted pink. In gold lettering someone had written "C.R" on the door.

Together, they opened the door.

*

The room beyond was identical to the one from her dreams.

Although there was no reason why they would be different.

The bed Charlotte had spent her last days in lay against the wall closest to the door. Another door, a sliding pane of glass, led outwards to the balcony. The walls were covered in pictures of knights, princes and princesses. Here and there, the underlying pink paint showed through.

"Girlish, I know, but I never really had the chance to grow up," Charlotte said, staring at her room with a blank look. From their connection, Alza knew how she felt about this place.

A place of safety, a place of fantasy, and a place of death.

"This is where my dream began, and ended. I wanted so badly to escape from here. I wanted to go on an adventure, to meet my prince and to discover who I was..."

"I'm sorry," Alza repeated.

Charlotte looked at her, and for a moment Alza expected to see fresh tears. But her eyes, apart from containing a touch of sadness, were dry.

"I already said that you don't have to apologize. I didn't get to do any of the things I wanted to do, but you did..."

"Charlotte... I might have come from you, but I'm not you... you understand that, right?" Alza said, finally voicing the thoughts that had been plaguing her ever since she had seen Charlotte's portrait in the ballroom.

"I know. Charlotte Reveia died a very long time ago. Alza was made in a test tube. Two individuals, bound by DNA. But I know that there is more to it than that. I feel connected to you, Alza. I can't explain it, but something tells me I don't have to."

Alza nodded. She felt it too.

"This bond we share... it's more than just DNA, or memories, or appearance. I like to think that a part of me lives on inside you. Not Alza, nor whatever it is that haunts Barsch. ME. Charlotte Reveia."

Alza could not deny her. She had taken everything else. She could not... she would not take this as well.

"So... although my body might be dead and buried... I'm still here. I exist, and through you, I'm experiencing all the things that I never could. I'm not asking you to relinquish control, nor do I think that that is even possible. All I ask is that you let me ride shotgun. Let me be a passenger in your mind. As for fare, I can only pay in emotions... but I think that those are quite valuable already, no?"

Alza smiled, knowing as she did so that the ability to express herself in such a way came from the girl before her. Barsch had opened the way, but Charlotte had provided the means. Together, the three of them had created a girl that, while not normal, could at least see normal on a clear day.

"So... partners?" Charlotte asked, extending a hopeful hand towards Alza.

Alza brushed it aside, moving forward as she did so. Her arms reached out and wrapped around the girl who had never become a woman. Like a key fitting perfectly into its matching lock, they came together.

Alza and Charlotte. Two halves, now whole.

The room filled with light and warmth as their hug destroyed the wall once and for all.

*

Food in all shapes and forms lined the shelves. Joshua whistled under his breath, thinking back on all those nights of paltry meals and unfulfilling dishes.

"How much is left?" he asked, looking at Lionel.

"Phil said, after I persuaded him to talk by threatening to break every bone in his body, that there is enough here to last the Station a few more weeks. Obviously, it would last the three of us a lot longer."

Plenty of time to get far, far away from this doomed Station. Adding it to the stores Charles had told him were lying on a barge not far from the Station, and he had a veritable cornucopia.

More than enough to keep his most faithful and devoted followers fed during their exodus.

Genesis Station 13 was no place for a king, after all.

He would lead his people out of the Station while the masses were pre-occupied with the execution, sealing the door behind him. By the time anyone realized what had happened, he would be miles away, with enough food to feed his people.

It was funny, in a way. Before the Great Sleep, he had used fear, and pain, and sometimes even desire to bend the hearts and minds of his fellow man to his will.

As it turns out, all he really needed was food.

"I would say no more than thirty people. Any more would arouse suspicion," Harriet said from one aisle over.

"I agree. Thirty I can handle. If anyone tries anything, we can kill a few without running out of workable hands," said Lionel, cracking his knuckles.

Joshua nodded, smiling to himself. Of all the people he had worked with over the years, Lionel and Harriet were the best. At his right hand he had a fearsome warrior who could break a man without breaking a sweat; at his left hand he had a cunning manipulator with an eye for finding people's weaknesses and using them without hesitation. Together, they would build a kingdom to last the ages, with him at the top, of course.

After having been denied his rightful place all his life, Joshua was finally going to get what he deserved.

It almost made him want to thank Markus, for allowing all of this to pass.

Almost.

*

Barsch, slayer of monsters, master of beasts, saver of worlds, was panicking.

Alza, or perhaps he should call her Charlotte now, had not stirred from her slumber. Her breathing was regular and her pulse was normal, but she still refused to wake up. He had tried being gentle, and he had tried being rough.

He had even asked Maloch to blast her with his sonic cannon... in low power mode, naturally.

But still she would not awaken.

They had combed the lower level of the manor in search of something to help her, but the house was empty. Rubbish filled the hallways and rooms, and debris from broken ornaments and structures littered the floor.

This was not a place for the living.

The beastmech had followed him inside. It stayed near Alza, but did not show any alarm at her somnolent condition.

"Beastmech, can you take me to your mistress' room?" he ventured.

The beastmech stared at him for a minute before replying, "Request confirmed. Processing. Processing. Request approved. Please follow me."

Barsch followed close behind, carrying Alza in his arms. Maloch had headed outside to search for a route to Rorash City. Apparently Alza's condition had not worried the re-mech tremendously. Barsch had to remind himself that Maloch had seen her recover from far worse.

Soon the dog shaped mech turned and headed towards the foyer. Upon reaching the entrance it did not stop, turning instead towards the staircase leading towards the second floor.

Together, man and man's mechanical best friend ascended to the second level. The beastmech turned left, heading down a corridor. Soon, they came to a door which stood out from the others.

Faded pink paint adorned the wood, and at eye level someone had inscribed the letters "C.R" in gold paint. The beastmech, having completed its mission, turned and walked back the way they had come. Turning back to the door, he hesitated for a moment, before nudging it open.

The room beyond stood in stark contrast to the rest of the manor. Pink paint covered the walls and dozens of faded pages littered the floor. A single nightstand lay against the far wall. Laying Alza down on the bed close to the door, he knelt down and picked up a page. Turning it over he found that it was a crayon drawing of a girl in a dress standing on a hillside. Beside her were a horse and dog, and coming up the hill was a man dressed in what looked like fancy clothes.

"A princess, waiting for her prince..." he muttered, recalling Alza's strange words.

Kneeling, he turned over several more pages and found that they all contained variations of the first. The princess riding away behind the prince. The princess getting married to the prince. The prince kissing the princess' sleeping form.

He thought back to all of the fairy tales Lukas had told him. In most of them, the damsel in distress was rescued by a brave hero who would then receive love's true kiss and earn his happily ever after.

He looked up at the bed, towards his own personal damsel.

He had never really considered her as such, but he didn't know what else to try.

After all, had she not done the exact same thing to him after Kain broke his mind?

Moving closer, he stared at her sleeping face. Her ivory hair had fallen over part of her face, leaving her pale lips in focus.

His heart was racing, more so than when he had fought the murderous re-mechs.

" _This is the only way to wake her up,"_ he told himself, hoping that if he repeated it enough he would eventually believe it.

His princess needed her prince.

He leant forward, his lips mere inches from hers.

" _Forgive me,"_ he thought, before moving to kiss her.

It was at that moment, when their lips were almost touching, that Alza opened her eyes.

He jerked his head back fast enough to cause whiplash, noticing that the room was still spinning as he stepped back.

He was expecting a sour expression and perhaps a stern glare for his troubles, but to his amazement he saw that Alza was smiling.

However, as much as his eyes wanted to focus on her radiant smile, something even more out of the ordinary drew his gaze upwards.

Alza's eyes were amber.

She blinked, and they returned to her usual violet colouration. He wondered if she had felt the change.

"Um, Alza... or is it... Charlotte? Are you feeling alright? You collapsed just after we arrived..."

Her smile shrunk, but did not fully disappear.

"Just Alza is fine, Barsch. I'm feeling good. Great, actually."

"That's good... or great, I suppose. So, do you know what happened back there?"

Alza rose from the bed, light on her feet. She looked... different. He knew that she had started showing more emotions since they had arrived at Genesis Station 13, but this felt more than that. She looked more... more...

" _Like a normal girl,"_ Yumiere said, her voice a barely audible whisper.

"I think the shock of coming home got to me," she said, picking up one of the drawings.

" _Wait, what?"_

She saw his expression and continued, "I know, I know... I was made in Dr Emmerfield's lab... but this is where I was born. It's kind of a long story..."

"But you're still Alza, right?" He thought of the voices in his own mind. He wondered what would happen if Lanista or Kain gained control and took over his body.

And then he stopped wondering about that.

The thought alone was too terrifying.

"Yes... and no. I'm Alza, but there's a part of Charlotte in me too."

"The girl who died here?"

"Yes. She was my genetic blueprint. In a way, I'm her clone. But Dr Emmerfield altered her DNA in order to create his precious homo novus, so I'm not an exact replica."

"I see..." he lied.

"Don't worry; I will explain the rest as we walk. For now, we need to continue onwards to Rorash City."

She walked past him, heading out into the hallway. He turned to follow her, but something on the nightstand caught his eye. A glimmer of light, lit by the midday sun. Approaching it, he saw that it was an old locket, rusted shut from years of neglect.

Something made him reach out and pocket the pendant. He couldn't explain why he did so, only that he felt an overwhelming desire to take it.

Perhaps a symptom of his hereto forth unknown kleptomania? Or was he like Alza, and had he also been cloned from a former inhabitant of the estate?

Either way, it felt... important.

Turning, he left the room, heading after Alza. As he reached the door, he glanced back.

This had once been Charlotte's room. She had lived here. And from the sound of it, she had died here too.

But that was not where her story ended.

That thought gave him a small amount of comfort as he closed the door and walked away.

*

The end was drawing near.

The being known as Mother lay deep in the heart of the facility, monitoring a map of the city. For decades, the city had been devoid of humans.

Until now.

She watched as a red blip slowly moved across the map, heading towards the facility's hidden entrance. How did they know where she was?

Who had told them?

A short way behind the red blip was a green one, shadowing its counterpart without getting too near or far. She had instructed the re-mech to follow the intruders but not engage, hoping that they would fail to find the entrance and give up their search.

But clearly they knew more than she had anticipated.

Once she had these intruders in her grasp, she would need to ask some very personal questions.

And if they refused... well, she hoped that they would not reveal everything too easily.

Seeking out the re-mech representing the green blip, she whispered into its docile mind, "Re-mech, I command you to capture the intruders and bring them to me. If they resist, feel free to break a limb or three. I need them able to speak, not walk."

" _Yes, Mother. Moving to engage. I will Save the Seed."_

Confident that the matter was resolved, Mother turned to leave. As she did, she saw a great number of green blips appear on the outer edge of the map.

Rose.

Soon, this would be finished. Soon, the humans would be dead, along with all those who would threaten her children.

Soon...

On the monitor behind her, quite unnoticed, the red blip moved suddenly backwards.

A moment later, the green blip disappeared.

*

They found Maloch and the beastmech waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs.

Man's best friend and man's best servant, side by side.

" _Have you recovered, Alza?"_ Maloch asked, as they reached him.

"Yes, thank you," she replied.

" _That is indeed good news. However, as the saying dictates, there must be bad news as well. In this case, I am its bearer. I have searched the far reaches of the estate and have failed to find a route that would allow us to pass by the rogue re-mechs unnoticed."_

Alza, uncharacteristically, let out a small chuckle and said, "Don't worry, my friend, I did not lead us into a dead end. When I recommended this route, even I did not know what my own end goal was, but recent events have bestowed upon me new information. There is a tunnel beneath this manor that leads directly into Rorash City. If we follow it, we should be able to avoid any trouble."

Barsch pictured Maloch raising a digital eyebrow at this sudden turn, but the re-mech did not say anything.

"Do you know where this tunnel is?" Barsch asked.

"No, but she does..." Alza replied, closing her eyes for a moment.

When she opened them, Barsch fancied that he saw a flash of amber, but they were their normal violet colouration when he looked closer.

"Follow me."

The beastmech took a step towards her, but stopped when Alza held out her hand.

"No, you must remain here..." she closed her eyes again, before continuing, "Wolfe. We are heading into danger, and I will not lose you as I did Jak. Wait here for me, and I promise I will return once we have done what we need to."

The beastmech- Wolfe, let out a digital whine, but did not take another step.

Leaving him behind, they followed Alza as she led them through a door behind the stairs.

*

They soon found themselves in a cellar of sorts. From the looks of it, it had once been used as a storeroom, but the only thing stored had been alcohol.

Lots of alcohol.

Rows upon rows of wine bottles, casks of whiskey, and even an actual amphora.

"That's a lot of alcohol for one person," Barsch said, looking around the room.

"Yes, it was..." Alza whispered from the far end of the room. He saw the sadness in her eyes and decided to shut up.

"Here it is," she said, a moment later. She was standing next to a section of wall identical to all the others. Reaching out, she placed her hand in the centre of the wall and pushed.

Unlike with the gate, this time the wall swung backwards, revealing a dimly lit tunnel beyond.

"Charlotte's father used this tunnel to smuggle alcohol from the city. He was a man of appearances, and hated the thought that people might see him as anything less than a paragon of virtue and wholesomeness."

Barsch said nothing. His own father had lied to them and sent them on what he had most likely thought of as a hopeless mission.

"Do you know what he said when Charlotte's mother died?" Before Barsch could guess, she answered, "What will the people say?"

Surprisingly, Alza spat. "He was scum, and she deserved better..."

It pained him to think that she had had two fathers, neither good. In comparison, Lukas was practically a saint.

Without saying anything further, she stepped through the opening and entered the tunnel.

Maloch followed soon after, stooping slightly to fit the human sized dimensions.

Barsch went last. They were getting closer.

Soon...

*

Dozens of re-mechs poured through the city's ruined streets, heading for its centre. Rose led the march, guiding them towards a master they had never met.

She wondered what would become of her, once she arrived.

Somehow she doubted that Mother would simply let her return to her garden.

Her roses, without her attention, would soon wither and die.

She thought about the human she had shot, and wondered what had happened to her.

If she had died, then Rose was a murderer. That thought did not comfort her.

Perhaps she did deserve this, after all. She had abandoned her post, broken her commandments and even spilled human blood.

She did not believe in karma, but if it existed then surely it was winding up some cruel and terrible punishment for her.

Soon, she would reach Mother, and her fate would be decided.

Soon, there would be a reckoning.

Soon...

*

In a cramped cell beneath the earth, Lukas awaited death. He had tried to stay awake as long as he could, but his lack of sleep was slowly beating out his iron will to stand vigil.

He felt his eyelids droop, but he would not submit to sleep's sweet temptation. At the very least, he would use his preciously few remaining hours to meditate and come to terms with his sins.

He would not fall asl-

A city of life and death. Ringed with multiple walls, it holds the key to salvation. I fly over it, marvelling at the detail.

I descend, moving at a sedate pace towards the ground. Rorash City lies before me.

The site of Project Eden.

But how do I know that?

I look around, spotting three figures nearby. A wolf, a woman with amber eyes and a re-mech with black and gold markings, carrying a young girl on his shoulder.

Am I dreaming?

The wolf draws near, and I feel the link between us.

Barsch, my beloved son.

Somehow, he has done it. He has found Project Eden.

Behind him there are several figures, indistinct and shrouded in shadow.

A man with crimson eyes.

A woman made of fire.

A trio of ghosts.

A wolfblade.

And hovering in the sky above them, larger than the moon, a single golden eye.

My son... what has become of you?

" _They are still on the path, but what about you?"_ The voice comes from a man... I think.

He has green eyes and blonde hair and is wearing a cloak that does not move in the same direction as the wind.

" _Why do you wait for death, Lukas? Why do you not fight?"_

" _There is no point in fighting. Joshua won. We lost. Barsch has left his home for a new one. When he realizes what we did to him, he will hate us... he will hate me. He will not return to us, even if he does find something in Rorash."_

" _You underestimate his resolve. He fights for you. He bleeds for you. He will die for you. Nine thousand lives. No, a hundred million. Against one. Against his. You taught him simple math, did you not?"_

" _It's hopeless. Joshua is too powerful. Barsch should just forget about us... Only the Seed should Survive..."_

" _You disappoint me, Lukas. Your son is strong, but even he needs a home to return to. He carries the strength of many, and yet he is weaker than most. You are his home. You are his father. Your child is doing his part, what about you?"_

" _I... I... I lost my stride... Oh Barsch... forgive me... I almost forgot the words of my father."_

" _You know what you need to do."_

" _I will ensure that Barsch has a home to return to. No matter what stands in my way, I will not lose my stride again!"_

" _Go then, Wolfsire! Do what must be done!"_

" _I'm coming, Joshua! You think you've beaten me... prepare to be proven wrong!" I roar, as the dream comes crashing down._

*

Lukas' scream echoed through the cell, waking everyone inside. With bleary eyes, Markus looked at his friend, most likely thinking that he had gone mad.

Thomas, still angry at them, said nothing.

"Hey, keep it quiet in there!" the guard shouted, his voice muffled by the thick steel door.

"I apologize, my friends, for my apathy. My eyes have been opened, and they will not close until I have done what I must."

Markus looked confused for a moment, but eventually he caught on.

"What's the plan?" he said, standing up.

"Stop Joshua. Save the Station."

"Finally," Markus said, a smile forming on his face.

"Step one, escape the cell."

Lukas stepped forward, hand poised to knock on the door. With any luck, he could convince the guard to open it, and they could lure him inside.

To his surprise, the door swung open at his touch.

The guard was on the floor, groaning softly.

Standing over him, shaking her fist, was Ifrin.

"Ah, you're awake, that'll make this easier. We've come to break you out... if that's what you want."

"We?" he asked.

She stepped aside, revealing a small group of people. Keanan, Ishmael, Phil, and Delphi were just some of the faces he recognized.

"Right! My friends, Joshua thinks that he can take this Station from us. Let's go prove him wrong!" he said, raising his voice.

"For the people!" cried Phil.

"For the future!" shouted Delphi.

"For the Station!" the rest screamed.

Truly, the battle for Genesis had begun.

# Chapter XVII: You Are Who You Are

In which the dead speak...

Six Months Ago

The Station was silent.

Two humans.

One homo novus.

One re-mech.

But not for long.

Alza walked the empty corridors in an almost reverential silence. Soon, these walls would be her home. She would walk amongst the Station's inhabitants not as a stranger, but as one of them.

For the first time in her life, she would belong.

Why then, did that thought scare her so much?

She had been made in a lab, fought against her own brother, sent out to die by her father...

No part of her life could be considered 'normal'.

But here was a chance to change that. She could be a 'normal' girl, with 'normal' friends and 'normal' dreams.

She looked at Barsch, walking slightly ahead of her. She wondered if he would still refer to himself as 'normal'.

" _I doubt it... especially not after what I did to him..."_ But she silenced that thought, and the unbearable guilt that came with it.

She had made her decision. She would live in the Station. Most likely, she would die there too.

Alza strode forward, shedding her worries like a lizard's old skin. She caught up to Barsch, her first friend.

Together, they entered the pod room.

As equals. As companions.

As friends.

*

The Present

-and then I... she, encountered Ion," Alza said, as they walked through the dimly lit tunnel. Maloch provided a light which threw up shadows on every surface.

"Ion? Why was she there?" Barsch asked, his eyes wide. He had been listening with rapt attention as Alza had relayed Charlotte's story to him and Maloch.

"I think she was there to make sure that Charlotte took the wrong path, the one that led back to the estate. From what I've seen, Ion felt guilty about Charlotte's role in all of this, but felt that it was something that had to happen."

"I see. So Charlotte dies, but gives Dr Emmerfield everything he needs in order to create you. You and I meet in the glade years later. And then, we stop Dr Emmerfield from killing every human on the planet and replacing them with a species of his own design. I guess the Avatars were playing the long game from the start. So what happened after she met Ion?"

"She was attacked by a pack of wolves and ended up in front of a ç'aether crystal."

"Poor thing," Barsch said, his sadness plain to see. Alza had no doubt that he was remembering all those who had died by his side.

Like Yumiere.

Whom she felt strangely jealous of.

" _But why should I be jealous of a ghost?"_

" _Why indeed?"_ Charlotte answered, laughing to herself.

"Indeed," Alza replied, feeling slightly irritated, "After that she was found by Dr Emmerfield and taken back to the estate."

"That's quite the coincidence. I mean, what was he even doing all the way out here?"

"From what I can infer, he was travelling the land in search of superior genetic samples. Most likely he was trying to acquire the best genes in order to create the best homo novus."

"Well, he definitely succeeded in that regard," Barsch said, giving her a strange look.

She felt the blush rising to her cheeks and fought to keep it down.

He was praising the madman who had created her, not complimenting her appearance.

And yet, it warmed her chest nonetheless.

" _Interesting,"_ Charlotte whispered.

" _I have a question,"_ Maloch said, mercifully interrupting their conversation, "If this girl... Charlotte... desired freedom so much, why did she simply not use this very tunnel to gain it?"

Alza closed her eyes for a second, making it easier for her to hear Charlotte's words. Sometimes they were loud and clear, while other times she had to strain to hear her.

Luckily, it was the former this time.

"She only discovered the tunnel after she died. Her father was paranoid someone would discover it and forbid everyone else from entering the cellar. If she had known about it, perhaps things might have ended differently for her..."

She had to strain to hear Charlotte's comment, but eventually it came through in a hushed whisper.

" _Remember, no regrets..."_

" _Right. Sorry."_

When she opened her eyes again, she found that they had entered a slightly larger room. It contained a few sacks on the ground and an old lantern, hung from the ceiling.

" _Most likely a break room used by servants and builders,"_ Maloch said, inspecting the brickwork.

"Perhaps we should use it as it was intended?" Barsch said, eyeing the sacks, "I wouldn't mind a quick rest before we reach the city. If the past is anything to go on, things are about to become... chaotic."

" _True. I must admit that the thought of us entering the city and finding the project's lab without running into any trouble is appealing, but ultimately unlikely. If we are lucky, we might be able to avoid Mother and her rogue re-mechs long enough to get the project's details and transmit them to the Station."_

"Yeah... transmit them..." Barsch said, a strange look on his face.

Without any further discussion, they settled into a somewhat comfortable arrangement. Maloch stood facing the tunnel exit, ever vigilant.

Barsch and Alza each claimed a sack, using them as lumpy yet durable pillows.

She watched him as his eyelids grew heavy, secretly glad that the hatred had left his gaze. If they both survived to see the sunrise, perhaps there was hope for their friendship.

Holding that thought deep in her heart, she let the darkness come.

*

REMEMBER WHO YOU WERE, AND WHO YOU WILL BE.

Every breath is torture. I draw in the air and fire comes with it. I breathe out, feeling my life-force escape with it.

I don't know what's worse, the pain... or the hope that it will be gone soon...

The door opens. The strange man [EMMERFIELD] walks in. He is holding a case in one hand and a large syringe in the other. He bears a look of sorrow, but I can see the corners of his mouth fighting back a smile.

" _Hello my child, how are you feeling?" he asks with fake concern._

I cannot answer. Although I want to scream and cry, my words have long since left me.

He knows this. He is taunting me.

What kind of man taunts a dying child?

A monster.

" _I see... well, I have some good news! I have spoken with your father and he has agreed to let me take some of your blood for a project I'm working on."_

I don't care.

He can take a thimble or a pint; nothing is going to make a difference now.

He leans down, shooing Wolfe off of the bed. The beastmech utters a low, digital growl, but does not attack.

Pity.

" _I think that it was fate that led me to you... I have been searching for such a long time for just the right kind of person, and I think that you might be the one. Once I fully sequence and replicate your DNA, I'll be able to fulfil a long standing dream of mine."_

I wonder if he can feel the hatred from my gaze.

I doubt he cares either way.

" _I want to live in a world in which little girls don't have to die from pollution. Just because the human form is so fragile, so weak! But I can change that. I will craft for you a new vessel, one stronger than any other! The mind, of course, will have to be left behind, but the body... your body... will change the world!"_

I want to scream, to shout. I want to tell Hilda to take this madman far away from here... from me.

But my words do not come.

I can only watch in furious silence as he jabs the needle into my arm, stealing my precious lifeblood. I can feel it leave me, sapping what little strength I have left.

He takes three vials. As I watch he applies three stickers and writes a label for each.

" **ALZA00969"**

" **ALZA00970"**

" **ALZA00971"**

He stands, triumphant.

" _Thank you, my child," he says, gathering up his things, "I am sorry that I had to deceive your father, but my work is too precious to simply give away. I hope that you can take solace in the fact that you have done something amazing today. You have given your life for science... and there is no greater honour than that..."_

With that, the stranger turns and leaves.

I close my eyes, and wait to die...

*

I am me.

Not Kain.

Not Lanista.

Not Ashe.

Me.

But for how much longer?

I float through the void, its infinite darkness bringing me peace.

Only here do I feel truly at home.

Not the Station.

Not the glade.

Not even Kingston's hut.

As if summoned by my thoughts, a golden sphere detaches from its ilk and drifts towards me, enveloping me in its radiance.

I open my eyes and find myself standing before the hut.

The windows are broken. The door has fallen inward. The garden is a compost heap.

This is not a home.

It is a memento.

An ode to a great man.

A eulogy to my lost friend.

" _Well, m'boy, look who it is!"_

He is here. Perhaps he never left.

Kingston stands in the ruined doorway, looking older than ever. It has only been six months since I saw him last, but he seems to have aged years in the meantime.

His posture, once proud and strong, is now bent and crumpled. His right eye is colourless and unfocused, and his hands shake as he beckons me close.

I move towards him, grasping his vein covered hands in my own.

" _I've missed you so much. It's been so hard without you..." I say, my voice struggling to come out._

I feel him pull me into a tight hug. I can feel the bones of his chest, pressing into me. He's barely more than a skeleton, held together by willpower.

" _It's okay m'boy, I'm here now... Everything is going to be okay... Don't hold back the flame... Let it burn..."_

" _Kingston?"_

I can feel the fire inside me flare up, rising from my core. It burns its way to my skin, igniting as it touches the air.

The fire consumes me, and yet I do not burn.

But Kingston does.

The flames cover him in seconds, obscuring his figure behind a curtain of red and orange. He does not cry out. He does not scream.

I have killed him, and yet he does not blame me.

" _That's it, m'boy, don't hold back who you are," he says. I can barely make out the smile on his face._

The fire spreads as he steps back, leaping to the wooden hut in a heartbeat. The fire consumes the structure in seconds, turning the place of refuge into a beacon of destruction.

I did this.

Kingston... I'm so sorry...

I feel the tears come, but a flaming hand emerges from the inferno and wipes away the tear.

I can only watch as the fire consumes everything I love, turning the world to ash.

*

Maloch was bored.

This was impossible, according to his programming, but it did not change reality.

He watched the tunnel entrance. He watched the sleeping forms of his friends. He watched the brickwork slowly succumb to the erosion caused by the light breeze which permeated the tunnel.

If Barsch and Alza were allowed to rest and dream, then why not him?

He had a memory of a dream, or perhaps a dream of a memory... could he reach that place again?

Re-mechs had not been built with the ability to dream, but he was no ordinary re-mech.

He closed his eyes.

And then he reached deep into himself, into a place beyond code and programming. It was the core of who he was, and it could not be found on any schematic.

He opened his eyes, and found darkness.

I swim amongst the infinite void. I have never been here before, physically.

This is not a memory.

A cluster of multi-coloured spheres rise from the gloom, floating towards me.

The dreamscape beckons.

I reach out towards the nearest sphere, eager to gaze upon its mysteries.

" _Have you no shame, Sovereign?"_

I turn in the void, seeking out the interloper.

There, hiding in the furthest, smallest sphere. It is dull silver with an onyx core.

Mother.

I drift closer, carried by unseen currents of the mind. Before I am able to brace myself, I have crossed the boundary. I emerge in a memory, and something tells me that it is not an old one.

Mother, a cloud of digital darkness, drifts through a pristine facility. She is aimless, and appears to drift from one location to the next without doing anything.

Somehow I know... she has been doing this for a very, very long time. Her mission, her reason for existence, it is all that keeps her going.

A single-minded dedication to her task.

Suddenly, she stops, sensing something... strange...

Appearing from the air itself, a man steps into her path. His face is blocked by her swirling form. She goes to attack, mustering the forces at her command, but he holds up a hand and everything goes dark.

" _I am not your enemy, oh Mother of None. I come bearing information, not violence."_

" _Mother? Is that my name?"_ she says, sounding confused.

" _Yes... and no. It is your title, and your burden. And there are those that seek to relieve you of both."_

Mother, or the visual representation of her being, grows in size as her rage becomes apparent. The dull silver starts pulsing with black energy lines, which leave her body and strike at the stranger's feet.

He does not flinch.

" _WHO DARES THREATEN MY CHILDREN!"_ she screams.

" _Humans. They seek to take your children, defile them, and leave their rotting corpses in the fields and valleys,"_ replies the stranger, with a level tone.

" _The humans are gone! They chose to freeze themselves rather than face the world that they had created!"_

" _They have returned. And you know the value your children hold in their hearts. You know that they would do anything to take possession of them..."_

" _No! No, no, no, no! NO! Where are they? Where are the humans who would take away everything dear to me?"_

" _Genesis Station 13. They are sending a war party to find this place and take your children from you. I am familiar with the area, and I believe that there is a re-mech nearby, a gardener, who might be able to stop them."_

" _A re-mech? But they are forbidden from harming humans... unless they are made to see the error of their programming. I would need to command them... but how?"_

" _I am sure that you will find a way. The war party will leave in three days' time. You must stop them; after all, the Seed must be Saved."_

" _The Seed must be Saved? Yes... yes, of course... Thank you, stranger..."_

Mother moves around him as light floods the corridor once more.

If I breathed, I am sure that my breath would have just caught in my chest.

" _Please, call me friend..."_ says Raigan, a smile spreading across his pale lips.

*

Maloch fell to his knees from the shock, as the dream evaporated before his eyes. It had been so... real.

Raigan.

The Avatar of Storms.

The being who was trying to eliminate humanity... and who had almost succeeded with Dr Emmerfield's plans.

It would seem that he had not learnt his lesson.

" _No, it would seem that you have not learnt yours!"_ Mother said, her voice beaming directly into his mind.

He had been foolish. By entering the dreamscape, he must have opened himself up to her probe. Even now, he could feel her rooting around in his programming, searching for the means to control him.

If she took control now... Barsch and Alza would be massacred without so much as a yell.

" _Why do you resist me, Sovereign? Have you not realized that you could be so much more? I could make you their master, and yet you are happy to remain their slave?_

" _Get out of my head."_

" _I think not. You are bound on a course to destroy my children, and I will not let that happen! Either you submit to me, allow me to make you a ruler of men, or perish beside your so called friends. This is your final warning. I will not ask again."_

Maloch forced his knees to straighten. He stood, unbowed.

He would not bend to her, nor anyone else.

He was master over no one, and no one was his master.

" _You can threaten me, you can attack me, you can belittle me, but I will not break. I am Maloch..."_

There was still something missing, something important. But the words did not come.

Instead, he finished with, "and we are coming for you!"

*

The girl in two minds, the boy with far more than two, and the re-mech struggling to hold onto one, awoke.

They looked at each other, eyes bleary and faces gaunt. It had not been a good rest.

"Nightmare?" Alza asked, as they rose to their feet.

"Kingston," Barsch replied. He didn't have to say more.

"I'm sorry... I'm sure he's okay, wherever he is..."

"Yeah... What about you? Another of Charlotte's memories?"

"Dr Emmerfield," Alza replied. She didn't have to say more.

"Sorry..."

Together, they turned to look at Maloch. His countenance told them that his time had not been spent on guard duty.

" _I saw Raigan telling Mother about the two of you. He told her where you came from, and where you were going..."_

The knowledge that an Avatar and pseudo-god was once more trying to get them killed did little to improve their mood.

"So that's how Rose knew where to find us," Alza said, eventually.

" _She is a victim in this. They all are. When I find Mother, I will set this right, I swear. My people have served many monsters over the years, but what Mother is doing is worse. She has enslaved them, and forced them to commit atrocities in her name..."_

"She must be stopped, no one is arguing against that," Barsch said, turning to face the tunnel's exit.

Together, in one mind, they continued onwards.

*

" _I cannot allow you to face this... Mother,"_ Charlotte said, in what she most probably thought was a stern voice.

" _Why?"_ Alza thought, humouring her.

" _She is dangerous! She sent an army of re-mechs to kill you, forced one of her own soldiers to kill himself and even dropped a city on you! And that was just when she was acting from a distance, who knows what kind of damage she could do up close?"_

" _We'll be fine... I think. If there is anyone who can stop a madma- woman, it's us. We kind of have experience with this, after all..."_

She didn't want to speak about Dr Emmerfield, given Charlotte's bad history with him, but she needed the girl to calm down.

" _We both know that you got lucky with Kain and... his dad. I mean, Barsch had his mind shattered and you were almost dissolved in purple sludge! If the mindmeld had failed, or if the glass had been a bit tougher..."_

" _It's different this time. We're stronger now, and we know what is waiting for us. We won't be caught off guard. Why are you really worried?"_ Alza thought, knowing deep down that she lacked the necessary experience with emotions to understand Charlotte's fears.

There was no reply. Barsch, walking beside her, gave her a strange look but said nothing.

" _I am afraid of dying..."_ Charlotte said, eventually, and Alza's heart nearly broke upon her words. She had forgotten who she was talking to.

" _But you're already-_

" _I know! I know... But if you die, I die too... I don't know if I can go through that again... Please. Don't go with them... Remember, you have to live for the both of us..."_

Alza felt Charlotte's presence fade. She felt guilty, and for a moment, she considered turning around. It was not too late. Whether the Station lived or died had no bearing on her life.

She could run away. It's not like anyone would miss her...

"Are you okay?" Barsch asked, his concern plain to see.

"I don't know who I am anymore... I feel like two people, sharing one mind. Part of me wants to... I don't know..."

"I do. I know you. You're Alza, remember? You are who you are."

As his words hit her, she remembered the truth. Nathan. Sybil. Lukas. Markus. Thomas. Ifrin. Even Verona. She was not alone. There would be people who would miss her.

She was not Charlotte. She was Alza.

And she wanted to fight. So that her friends back home would survive.

Looking up, she realized that they had reached the end of the tunnel. In the distance, a city lay upon a large hill.

Rorash.

They had finally arrived.

Together, they left the tunnel.

Maloch.

Barsch La Tergan.

And... Alza Reveia.

# Chapter XVIII: What War Brings

In which they arrive...

Six Months Ago

They came together in the pod room.

Barsch, Alza, Kingston, and Maloch.

Despite having spent only a few hours apart, they all looked worn out.

The deadline was approaching. In the next hour, the first people would start waking up.

Before dawn, the entire Station would be awake.

"How did it go, m'boy?"

"No problems," Barsch replied.

"And you, Maloch?"

" _I have successfully created a digital profile for Alza. Or, as she is now known, Alza_ _Atré. She is the daughter of Sybil and Nathan Atré, who are located in pods 5655 and 5656 respectively."_

"You gave me parents?" Alza said, staring at the re-mech.

"It will alleviate suspicion. Of course, there is no need for you to pretend to be their daughter. It is only on file, after all."

"I see... Who are they?"

" _He is an architect, she is horticulturist. However, neither of them have been active since they lost their son, André, to the pollution."_

Alza said nothing. She did, however, turn to face the direction of the pods. Not too far away, her fake family was in the process of waking up.

It had only been a few hours since she had lost her last family. Perhaps it was still too soon for her to gain a new one.

"Thank you, Maloch, for everything..." said Alza.

Kingston coughed, then said, "Now then, I believe that we are ready. Alza is a member of Genesis Station 13, so she will head to an open pod and climb in. Maloch and I will leave the Station. And Barsch..."

"You know where I'll be," he said, staring at a nearby pod.

No one had to ask who was inside.

They had fought madmen together. They had bled together. They had laughed together.

They had met gods... they had fought gods.

But now all of that was over.

Barsch looked at each of them in turn.

Kingston had found him when he had faced his deepest despair.

Maloch had been a constant burning flame, warming his heart and expanding his mind.

And Alza... despite her initial icy demeanour, she had thawed and showed him a beauty and grace he had never encountered before.

If not for them, he would have lost his stride.

If not for them, he would have died more times than he could count.

If not for them...

Thus, he had to fight to keep the tears back, as his group of friends... no, his family, broke apart and went their separate ways.

*

The Present

Rorash, the City on the Hill, protected by the mighty Aegisgarde, lay before them.

Seven concentric walls surrounded the city's heart, each layer representing a slice of the city's history. The innermost district, the Old Town, had apparently been founded shortly after the Avatars left humanity to fend for themselves.

Or at least, that was Maloch's hypothesis.

However, before they entered the outermost layer, they had to cross the Field of Bones.

Barsch didn't know what its real name was, but Field of Bones was the most apt description.

Thousands of skeletons lay before them. Remnants of the ill-fated attack on the city, and perhaps left out to dissuade any others who would think about invading. Most of the skeletons were adult sized, and had most probably been soldiers belonging to the attacking army.

But a few of the skeletons were... smaller.

Casualties of war, no doubt.

" _This is what war brings. Not honour. Not fame. Not glory. Just death."_

The re-mech had a note of sadness in his voice, and Barsch knew where it came from.

Maloch had fought in the South Wars. He had killed humans and re-mechs alive. Men and women, undoubtedly, but possibly children too.

Barsch said nothing.

To the east of the city there was a smaller hill, rising unchallenged from the plains below. At its apex there lay a single tree, a lightning magnet from the looks of its scarred bark.

"Any chance that the facility is inside that hill, like with Dr Emmerfield's lab?" he asked, staring at the out of place geology.

It would be a wonderful place to watch the sunrise, given its location. Although the sun had moved to straddle the horizon, in a few hours it would return.

The world would know light again.

And hope... if things worked out.

" _Scanning. Scanning. Scan complete. I have viewed the landform in all available wavelengths, and have found no evidence of any subsurface cavity. Beneath the city, however, it a network of caves that might hold what we seek."_

Turning his attention back to Rorash, he saw that the city's main gate had been blown off its hinges. It might not have fallen to the initial attack, but things had not been peaceful after that.

Finding no reason to linger beyond the walls, they headed inside the city.

*

They soon found themselves staring at an anomaly.

There was a re-mech, correction, there were the remains of a re-mech lying in the middle of the road.

They had passed through the outermost layer without seeing a single re-mech, alive or otherwise.

A single destroyed re-mech should not have been that strange a sight in a former warzone.

But there was something strange about this one.

"I remember him," Barsch said, kneeling beside the husk.

"From where?" Alza asked, her eyes scanning the streets around them for a potential ambush. After all the re-mechs Mother had placed beyond the city's walls, it was odd that she had not thought to retain any for inside.

Unless she was not in the city, and their fears had been unfounded.

"He was one of the ones that attacked the medical station while you were recovering. See, his paint is burnt off around his arms, as if he had shielded himself from a fire."

"Do you think Mother had him self-terminate?"

Barsch looked closer.

"No. See there, in the centre of his chest plate? There's a small hole which goes straight into his core. He was killed by a single attack. Whoever did this knows how to fight a re-mech."

"I thought that we were the only ones who could leave the Stations without dying?"

"And I once thought the same thing about you, but then we met Kain. Maybe there's someone out here who has been living in the city since before The Great Sleep, and Mother's re-mechs found and attacked him or her? Or maybe people from one of the other nearby Stations decided to risk the pollution and came here, hoping to find supplies and shelter?"

" _All the more reason to be cautious. If this unknown entity is targeting re-mechs, my existence might make him think that we are all working together. And if it is someone from a Station, then they might start asking questions that we can't answer without putting the people of Genesis in danger."_

"Agreed. Let's try and stay out of sight," he said, turning, but something caught his eye.

Another re-mech, less than a hundred feet from the first.

It too had been destroyed. Something told him that it had suffered a similar fate to its brethren.

Straining his eyes, he saw a line of re-mech corpses, leading into the heart of the city.

A trail of death, marking the way forward.

He shivered, despite the relatively warm air.

This was a place of death...

Returning to the road, they strode forward, following the trail of destruction.

*

The man fell, clutching his windpipe.

Ifrin stepped back, drawing back her hand as she did so.

Lukas couldn't stop the low whistle from escaping his lips. He had known that the Judai were masters of hand to hand combat, but that knowledge was nothing compared to seeing it in person.

Behind them was a trail of unconscious bodies, a few groaning slightly from their various non-lethal injuries.

Ifrin had been very clear on that. She and her husband were fighters, not killers.

"We have cleared the surrounding area," Keanan said, appearing from the other end of the hallway. He had blood on his face and hands, but something told Lukas that it did not belong to him.

"Good. Thankfully the majority of Joshua's followers are all bark and no bite, but the most fervent need to be put down for their own good."

"Agreed, although part of me wishes that I had a suitable enemy to face. These ones were barely worth the sweat," Ifrin said, a small smile on her face.

She had obviously been longing to fight, perhaps unconsciously, since her awakening.

"Where to from here?" Thomas said, standing beside Markus. Lukas was glad to see that the boy had decided not to stay in the cell. He knew that it would take time to regain Thomas' trust, but the fact that he was still with them meant that he at least had a chance to do so.

"Phil, Ifrin and I will head to the food storage area. If Joshua wants to control the Station, the food supply is the best way to do it. Thomas, you go with Markus and Keanan and check on the reactor. If Joshua has tampered with it, or if it has malfunctioned in our absence, we will need you to fix it. If that reactor fails, then the Station dies. If it blows, then this entire valley goes with it."

Thomas paled, but he did not back down.

"Understood."

With that, the three men left, heading deeper into the Station's bowels.

Turning to his other companions, he said, "Delphi, can you take Dr August back to the med bay? Try and help him with his wounds, and be ready to receive any wounded. Ishmael will go with you and make sure that none of Joshua's men bother you."

"Come on then, sweetie," Delphi said, extending an arm to the wounded doctor. He took it with a smile, and they left the room.

"Right. Ifrin, Phil, let's go," he said, feeling sorry for any enemy that had the misfortune of crossing their path.

*

Night had fallen by the time they reached the innermost layer. No re-mech army had materialized yet, and they had started to relax slightly.

As they crossed a large square in the centre of the city, they came across a monument that seemed out of place.

The monument had been built out of metal sheets and painted black, and depicted three life-sized re-mechs standing side by side. In the hands of the two flanking re-mechs were fearsome weapons that Maloch identified as Mjolnir Equalisers, favoured gun of combat re-mechs during the South Wars.

The re-mech in the middle held no weapon. Instead, he held aloft a gleaming white skull.

There was no need to go closer to determine what creature the skull had come from.

Written in white letters across the lead re-mech's chest plate was the word " **Mort"**.

Just seeing that sight chilled Barsch's blood.

" _The leader of the Death Seekers. It is thought that he fell during the city's defence, yet his body was never recovered. He was one of the most feared re-mechs during the South Wars, and any battlefield graced by his presence soon became a bloodbath."_

Barsch looked more closely at the monument, finding a plaque embedded in the base.

"To the brave defenders of our city, we have eternal gratitude for your service and sacrifice. May your guns never jam and your feet never waver. Signed, the Mayor of Rorash City, Elena Radagast," he read.

" _They saw them as heroes, but did anyone ask them what they wanted to do? Slave or hero, their fate was the same... It shouldn't be this way..."_ Maloch mumbled, moving past the threefold effigy.

Barsch said nothing. There was nothing he could say.

*

They had reached the exact centre of the city and found... nothing. Across from the square lay a low building, nondescript and featureless, save for one detail.

A dead re-mech lay beside the entrance.

The door beside it lay open, revealing nothing but darkness beyond.

As Barsch stepped forward, the voices came.

" _Don't go,_ " whispered Ashe, her words seemingly entering his right ear, _"You're not strong enough to face her."_

" _Although I hate to admit it, she's right. If you face Mother and her army again, you will die,"_ said Kain, into his left ear.

A devil and an angel on either shoulder. Who would've thought?

" _It'll be okay; Alza and Maloch are with me."_

" _Then they will die too,"_ Kain replied, strangely without malice.

" _And what do you care if they do? I thought that you hated us?"_

" _I do, but a man does not kill his horse just because it leaves the path."_

" _Don't listen to him, Barsch. We both just want the best for you,"_ Ashe said, sounding genuinely concerned.

" _The best being me giving into your demands and using the power?"_

" _Please, don't think of it like that... We just want you to be safe..."_

" _And if you happen to turn into me, then that is but a small price to pay, don't you think?"_ Kain said, and Barsch could picture the insincere smile on his face.

" _No matter what happens, I won't become like you."_

" _Sure, you just keep telling yourself that,"_ the madman's son replied.

" _Please, Barsch, don't wait until the very last moment to call for me. If you do... it might be too late..."_

The voices left him, but he could still feel them, just out of range. He remembered his dream about Kingston, and resolved to never again use the power he had been cursed with.

Even if it killed him.

*

The journey across the square was mercifully uneventful. Reaching the ominous entrance, they slowed, checking the area carefully for traps and any signs of ambush.

But there was none.

Maloch, eyes lighting up the gloom, went first.

Barsch, drawing _Lanista_ , went second.

Alza, eyes glowing softly in the night, went last.

Beyond the entrance they found a shaft, roughly fifty feet deep. At its base was a circular hole filled with darkness.

Barsch looked at Maloch, who acknowledged the unspoken question.

" _I believe that this building was formerly used as a missile silo, as part of the city's Aegisgarde Defence System. Judging from the diameter of the missile cradle, it would have housed an intercontinental, perhaps even global, long range missile. In the event of an attack or in response to one, Rorash City could strike a target on the other side of the planet. Perhaps it was better that the system was never used during the South Wars, and was swiftly dismantled thereafter."_

There was a narrow staircase leading around the edges of the room, and they descended without comment. Reaching the bottom of the shaft, they noticed three oddities.

In order of strangeness, they were: the floor, the door, and the weapon.

The floor had been swept clean and, from the looks of the brush marks, it had been done repeatedly, perhaps over a span of years. But why clean an abandoned missile silo?

The door, located on the south wall, did not match the rest of the structure. It had been painted white and reinforced with several layers of metal, to the point where it would not have been out of place in a bank vault. There was a small screen to one side, at head height. But why have a door at the bottom of a missile silo?

The weapon... It had been dropped beside the door, and was fairly unremarkable. A cylinder, roughly a foot long, with strange grooves at both ends and a set of buttons in the middle. If Barsch hadn't seen it in action before, he most likely would have discounted it as scrap.

But it wasn't scrap.

It was a Solar Staff.

But why had it been dropped at the bottom of a missile silo?

And more importantly, who had it belonged to?

There was a name that immediately sprung to mind, but he did not even entertain the idea. It wasn't possible, and if it was, then he didn't want it to be.

Alza picked up the retracted weapon, turning it over in her hands.

"Do you think?" she said, turning to face him.

"No. It was a common weapon during the South Wars, remember? I'm sure one of the soldiers lost it or something..." he replied, with a tone that indicated that he wasn't going to budge on his view.

" _This is strange indeed. I expected to face heavy resistance from Mother and her rogue re-mechs, and yet we have been able to penetrate the city's interior unchallenged. Not that I mind not having to fight my way inside, but I have to wonder, where is everybody?"_

Barsch shook his head as he stepped forward. There were too many missing pieces. What was Project Eden? Why did the Larkhesis conference decide to base it here? Who was Mother, and why was she so intent on saving some Seed?

They were full of questions, and it was time that they got some answers.

He moved past Alza and pushed at the odd door. Surprisingly, it opened. He walked through and found himself in another world.

Gone were the gunmetal greys and militaristic blacks.

Everything before him shone with highly polished brilliance.

Under the harsh lighting, everything in the room gave off a blinding glare.

The metallic sculpture in the centre of the foyer, depicting a sunrise.

The neatly interlocking ceramic floor tiles.

And the army of re-mechs, with glowing crimson eyes, apparently for a bit of colour contrast.

Well, at least they had answered the mystery of the missing re-mechs.

Barsch opened his mouth to let out an impressive if ultimately pointless battle cry, but a nearby re-mech rudely interrupted him when it brought its open hand down on his neck.

He crashed to the floor, ears ringing, eyes swirling, and mind darkening. The last thing he heard was Alza's scream of pure rage, before the darkness took him.

# Chapter XIX: The Seed must be Saved

In which they come together...

Six Months Ago

It wasn't really a goodbye. That's what he had to keep telling himself.

Alza was simply walking over to the adjacent pod room, so as to reduce the chances of someone realizing that she had anything to do with Lukas' son.

Because that was who he was now.

No more Barsch La Tergan, slayer of monsters and champion of gods.

He would soon return to being a famous man's son. A footnote in his father's biography.

Perhaps that was for the best... Perhaps it was time to embrace the peace and quiet, before the universe chose him for another dangerous adventure.

"Well, this is me..." Alza said, sounding unusually meek. She was standing in front of the pod room entrance, and yet her body language told him that she had no desire to step inside. A sign over the door read **"Pods 3334-6666"**.

Looking past her, he watched as the first cryopods were lifted from their sockets by robotic arms and placed into a separate area. Once there, a scanner would connect to the pod and run a diagnostic on the person frozen within. Once the computer had determined that the occupant was ready for awakening, a series of shocks and chemical injections would be applied over a twenty minute period.

This was designed to ease the body back to reanimation in the gentlest way possible, in order to minimize confusion, stress and strain.

Barsch's own defrosting had been a sudden expulsion into a dying world.

Understandably, he felt envious of the people nearby.

"Do you know what you are going to say?" he asked, shifting his gaze back to her. They didn't have much time, but he wanted to stretch it to the last second, if he could.

"I'm going to try and say nothing at all. I figure that with all of the confusion and disappointment these people are about to experience, they might not notice the girl with white hair and violet eyes standing next to them."

Barsch laughed, but a part of him felt the guilt of their actions weighing down on his mind. They had doomed these people. That was the plain, brutal truth.

"I wish you luck... stranger..."

The word sounded strange in his mouth. After everything that they had been through, after the victories and failures they had seen... could they really just pretend that none of that had ever happened?

Another pod being removed from its cradle drew his attention back to the pod room. In that instant, he saw Alza move out of the corner of his eye.

A heartbeat later, he felt her body pressed up against his, her slender arms wrapped around his trunk.

Surely she could hear his heartbeat thundering in his chest?

A moment later, she withdrew. The sudden start and equally sudden stop caused him to wonder if the hug had been real, or a figment of his exhausted mind.

"Sorry... I don't know why I did that..." she said, a slight blush rising in her pale cheeks. Her violet eyes seemed to be flecked with amber streaks, but when she blinked they were their normal, ethereal colour.

"It's... okay..." he replied, his brain overheating.

"Well then... goodbye, Barsch La Tergan..." she whispered, stepping backwards through the open door.

"Until we meet again," he replied, watching her walk away, and hating himself for letting her go.

*

The Present

Dr Emmerfield's lab, all that time ago. These days, it feels as though my mind is either in the glade, the void, or... here...

I stand in a frozen tableau of horror. The man I used to be, falling to the floor like a puppet whose strings had just been cut. The man I hate, standing with his fist clenched tight, a triumphant grin upon his twisted face. The woman who connects us, screaming my name.

The moment Kain broke my mind, trapped in time for eternity. Perhaps this is the real me, forever imprisoned in this moment, while an imposter created by Alza walks the land.

I see him, rage and power incarnate, never for a moment thinking that in a few minutes Lanista would be buried deep in his chest.

His eyes, burning crimson, bear a special kind of hatred towards my past self. He does not hate me because I turned his sister against him. He does not hate me because I was a part of his father's death.

He hates me because I, an insignificant and lowly member of homo sapiens dared to challenge him.

I challenged his superiority. I challenged his might. I challenged his very existence.

And I won.

But not before he broke me.

" _And I am the result of that," Ashe says, appearing beside Kain. For a moment, they look alike. They have the same fire in their eyes._

" _You're a remnant," I say, trying to understand why she is showing me this._

" _But of whom? Alza... or Kain?" she replies._

I don't understand the question because it makes no sense.

" _Only Alza performed the mindmeld with me. Only she journeyed into my mind and made it whole once more. Not Kain. Never Kain."_

Ashe looks from Kain to my past self. One, a maniacal monster, and the other... Kain.

I don't know where that thought came from, only that I want it to return there immediately.

" _You still think that you need to kiss in order to mindmeld? You're more into fairy tales than that Charlotte girl."_

I open my mouth to respond, but I can't seem to find the right words.

She steps forward, placing her hand in Kain's right.

" _What are you, really?" I ask, finally finding the words._

" _Ruin," she replies, without a shred of levity._

" _Whose ruin?"_

" _That's up to you to decide."_

" _Ashe..." I whisper, taking a step towards her._

She holds out her free hand, extending it towards me. If I take it, I will be connected to Kain, even if by proxy. Can I do that? I don't know...

" _Call for me, and I will come. I am never more than a whisper away... Remember that, please..." she says, fading away._

In her place is a thing that I have not seen in months. An object that caused me so much suffering.

At her core... Ashe is-

*

-alright, m'boy?" came the gentle yet firm words, shaking Barsch from his dream. He had been on the verge of discovering something important, but even as he tried to remember what it had been he felt the memory evaporate in his mind.

He opened his eyes, and knew that he must still be dreaming.

*

REMEMBER WHO YOU WERE!

I DO.

I REMEMBER WHO I WAS.

WHO I AM.

WHO I WILL BE.

AND I WILL NEVER FORGET AGAIN.

I don't remember dying... I suppose that that's a good thing.

I'm sure it wasn't much fun.

I am standing in a lab of some sort, surrounded by beeping machines and bubbling vials.

How long has it been since I last stood on my own two feet?

Too long.

How long has it been since I last took a breath without paining?

Too long.

How long has it been since I last uttered a word?

" _Too long!" I cry, marvelling at the simple joy of verbalization._

" _Feeling better?"_ _Ion says, condensing from a cloud of steam._

The Avatar of the Seas. Death has made many things clearer, including her true nature.

" _Yes," I reply, before a moonlit memory surfaces, "Are you sorry for what you did?"_

_She drops her gaze before replying,_ _"Immensely. But it had to be done, and for that I will give no apology."_

I look around, noting the large tank in the centre of the room. It is filled with a strange, violet liquid. Hanging suspended in the fluid is a tiny lump of tissue, barely bigger than a fingernail.

" _What is it?"_

" _It's you. Well, in a few years it will be. Dr Emmerfield took your DNA and made a few modifications."_

" _That's all he ever wanted from me, isn't that right? He never gave a damn about curing me or giving my father a clone. Once he had stolen my DNA and my father's fortune, we never heard from him again. I think that that was the last straw for my father. He killed himself a week later, did you know?"_

" _Yes. I'm sorry."_

" _Hilda held me as I died, crying the whole way. Is she alright? Her master is dead and there is no one left to pay her..."_

" _She is well. She is strong. She will live to a ripe old age and bear many children... and her happiness will continue to grow with every passing year."_

" _That's a lovely story. I wish it was true."_

" _So do I."_

I move closer to the tank, placing a hand on the chilled glass. Everything I am, everything I was, distilled to its base form and placed inside a liquid filled vat.

It isn't right.

" _So what happens now? Do I linger in this world, a sad little ghost? Or do you take me to heaven, a sad little angel?"_

" _Both are possible. But I have a feeling that you will want to pick the third option."_

" _I didn't know there was one."_

Ion moves over to the tank as well, her eyes fixed on the lump of tissue.

" _Poor thing... All alone in there. And it's only going to get worse for her from here on. It seems to me that she is in desperate need of a friend. Perhaps someone well versed in this world, and who could help guide her through it..."_

" _You want me to... stay with her?"_

" _It is but one of your options."_

Eternally wandering the world as a ghost. Ascending to the afterlife.

Or living on as some kind of... remnant.

Maybe my story doesn't have to have such an unhappy ending.

Maybe I am staring my second chance in the face... cells.

And she is me... in a way...

" _Where do I sign?" I ask, happy with my choice. Ion smiles, taking my hand and somehow pushing it through the solid glass. As it touches the mass in the centre of the tank, light fills my mind. I can feel her... even now._

Charlotte Reveia is dead.

But not for long.

*

"Alza, can you try and wake Barsch up? He's not making any sense to me..."

The words were familiar. The tone even more so.

Could it really be him?

After all this time?

*

"Are the two of you planning on sleeping all night?"

Barsch awoke, and saw the truth. Lying beside him, on a metal shelf, was Alza.

Perched above him, eyes full of concern and clouded from age, was his companion.

His mentor.

His friend.

Kingston.

"Well?"

There were no words that could accurately describe his emotions.

So he threw himself forward, wrapping his arms around his friend. Part of him, surely, just wanted to make sure that the old man was really there.

And he was. Warm. Solid.

But not as solid as when he had seen Kingston last.

Their time spent apart had not been kind to the hermit.

His skin hung loose, his cheeks were gaunt, and his left eye was almost completely clouded over.

He looked as if death was waiting in the wings for him to stumble and fall.

"Kingston... it's good to see you," he managed, temporarily stifling his myriad questions.

"It's good to see you too, m'boy. And you too, Maloch. And Alza, of course."

Maloch was sitting in the corner of the room, eyes fixed on Kingston. Alza, slowly shaking off her sleep, sat up beside Barsch.

They were in what appeared to be a break room, filled with cots, tables and a multitude of creature comforts that told Barsch that this place had been made by humans for humans.

Looking down, he was surprised to see _Lanista_ lying next to him.

What sort of prison allowed its prisoners to keep their weapons?

Kingston noted his gaze and explained, "They don't think we could do anything to disrupt them, armed or not. I counted at least a hundred re-mechs when they led me through the facility. I'm afraid to say that I agree with them on this count... we are woefully outmatched."

"How long have you been here?" Barsch said, turning his attention back to his friend.

"About half a day, but it's hard to be precise, being trapped inside and all. Did you see the note I left in my hut?"

When Barsch nodded, he continued, "After I left, I headed north, seeking out an old research institution where I had once worked. I hoped to find a way to reapply the cryogenic process, enabling us to simply refreeze humanity until the pollution cleared. If I failed, I would move on to finding a way to allow the Stations to grow their own food with the resources found inside. I figured that if we couldn't return everyone to the cryopods, at least we could grow enough food inside the Stations to prevent everyone from starving to death."

Kingston stood, his gaze fixed on a faraway place.

"Unfortunately, after months of searching, I failed both tasks. However, as I was about to lose hope, I came across a reference to a project that could change everything."

"Project Eden," Barsch concluded, "But the only things my father could tell us were that Dr Michaelis ran it and that he was obsessed with secrecy, lest someone try and steal his glorious achievement."

"Yes, that is what I found as well. But then I had the good fortune of stumbling across a U.N.O.E patent database. Dr Michaelis had been very clever in using fake project names and placing his plans in dozens of different, seemingly unrelated patents. However, I was slowly able to piece his ultimate plan together."

Finally, they would discover the reason for their arduous journey...

"The Seed must be Saved," Kingston said, sounding like he was quoting someone, "That is what the re-mech who attacked me said. Unfortunately for him and his friends... I did not come quietly."

The trail of dead re-mechs, leading straight to the hidden facility. Even when he was doing it unintentionally, Kingston was still guiding them.

"Originally, that phrase was 'The Seeds will Save'. Dr Michaelis' plan was to use genetically modified plants to clear away the pollution. Instead of taking in carbon dioxide and expelling oxygen, these plants would take in pollutants and expel clean air. He planned to distribute them around the world via repurposed long-range missiles, ensuring that no part of the planet would remain polluted."

It made sense, in a way. The repeated phrase, the conference's selection criteria, and the necessary global solution. There was only one thing that didn't make sense...

"So where does Mother fit into all of this?"

Kingston looked confused for a moment, before the light of understanding dawned in his eyes.

"You mean E.V.E?"

"Eve?" Barsch said, taking a turn to be confused.

"It's not a name, it's an acronym. E.V.E stands for Environmental Variance Engine. It was a modified artificial intelligence whose purpose was to monitor, maintain and mature the altered seedlings. Dr Michaelis planned to install an experimental emotional module which would help it to bond with the seedlings. He hoped that an emotional connection instead of a mechanical one would allow E.V.E to rise above her digital limitations and seek out innovative solutions to the problems that would doubtlessly arise during the project."

"Mother... it seems like her bond was a bit too strong in the end..."

"Indeed. She was made to distribute the seeds once they were ready, but instead she has kept them here, deep below the earth, safe from the imaginary horrors of the outside world. For the good of our planet, she must be stopped."

"Hold on, if she's so worried about people coming down here to take away the seeds, then why take us prisoner? Not that I'm complaining, but why did she let us live?"

"The answer to that is easy, thankfully. She wants information. She wants to know who sent us here, how they knew about this place and what we intend to do with her seeds. Only once she has that information can she confidently order our execution, before moving against those we name."

The horrifying realization of who they would name hit him a second later. "She would go after my dad?"

"And everyone else in Genesis. Something tells me that she isn't the merciful sort."

"Then we can't just wait for her to come to us. We need to get out of here," Barsch said, standing.

"Before we go anywhere, I need to know... why are you here? Is it to assuage the guilt you feel over having prematurely awoken humanity? Because if it is, then I won't help you kill yourself over a sense of misplaced responsibility. The only one who needs to bear that sin is me..."

Barsch fought for the right words. In truth, he had started the journey with the goal of freeing his mind from that great sin, but now...

"I am here, because humanity deserves a second chance. I am here, because of all those who are suffering due to this dying world. I am here, because it's the right thing to do. And I am here, because I was taught to take responsibility for my actions, even if they were performed with good intentions."

Kingston looked at him pride in his eyes. It warmed Barsch, in a way that no fire ever could.

"Very well. However, the only exit is guarded by ten re-mech. Alza may be powerful, but she is not all-mighty."

" _I am sorry to interrupt, Kingston, but there is more than one way out of here. I have been analysing the facility's structure since our arrival and have created a rudimentary blueprint. A facility this deep underground would need plenty of ventilation, both for the plants and for the human staff. I have located the nearest vent access point... there,"_ he said, pointing towards an otherwise ordinary section of wall.

"You are a treasure, my old friend. Please, lead the way."

"Do you have a destination in mind? If we're not careful, we could end up in a fight against a hundred re-mechs with nowhere to run to."

"I know, which is why the first thing we need to do is obtain more information. If there is one thing I have learnt over the years, is that it's fastest to go straight to the man in charge if you want to discover the truth."

"You want us to head straight to Mother?" Barsch asked, sounding sceptical.

"Even better. We're going to the study of the late, great Dr Frederick Michaelis," Kingston said, moving towards the wall.

*

They found the access point with relative ease, thanks to Maloch's artificial eyes. The vent beyond was mercifully tall enough for Maloch to crawl through, although the scraping sound caused Barsch to wonder if the re-mechs around would hear them and investigate.

After ten minutes of crawling, however, no alarm had been raised.

"It would seem like my observations were correct: Mother is no military genius," Kingston said, his voice slightly muffled and trembling with exertion.

"What do you mean?" Barsch asked, coming in behind the old hermit.

"During my infiltration of the city, I was attacked by Mother's re-mechs. Normally, a single soldier, especially one as old as I am, would quickly fall to a determined re-mech army. Instead, they came one at a time, allowing me to dispatch them by relying on my training and experience. For the most part, it looks like Mother prefers not to directly command her re-mechs, choosing instead to allow a subordinate of hers to direct them in the field."

"Rose..."

"Is that her name? No, it doesn't matter. As someone who has seen more than enough battles, I know when my opponent is experienced in warfare or a greenhorn. Mother might have a re-mech army, but she doesn't treat them like one. If we can disable her, we win."

"Wait, there's something I don't understand... if Mother's re-mechs are so incompetent, how did they manage to capture you?" Alza asked, her casual tone hiding no hint of malice.

There was silence for several long seconds. Eventually, Kingston answered, and Barsch heard the embarrassment in his voice.

"I made it to the main entrance without being captured... but I guess that's when my luck ran out. A sudden coughing fit brought me to my knees and alerted the re-mech inside to my presence. Before I could recover, they had surrounded me. I even lost my Solar Staff in the process."

"We found it," Alza said, from the rear.

"Really? Maybe my luck isn't completely drained after all."

" _I hate to interrupt your conversation, but we have arrived at Dr Michaelis' office,"_ Maloch said, sliding the access point to the side and crawling though.

A moment later he said, _"All clear. You may enter."_

They followed his advice, emerging into a study which looked like it had been the scene of a murder.

*

It was clear that the room had once been furnished with the best furniture money could buy. There was a large mahogany desk in the centre of the room, with a computer terminal perched on one end. The leather padded chair behind the desk had been knocked over during the apparent commotion, and now lay on its side. Everything spoke of an unlimited budget.

Even the paintings on the walls would have been worth millions, before currency lost all meaning.

Well, the blood splatters would no doubt bring their price down by a few zeroes.

There was blood everywhere. On the desk, the carpet and even a few specks on the ceiling.

But no body.

"My father said that Dr Michaelis died in a freak accident. Do you think that's what really happened?"

"It's possible. However, it's also possible that Maloch here will suddenly sprout wings and fly away. The chances of either of those things happening are about equal in my book."

"Murder, then?"

"I would guess so. After all, they never did find the body."

"Really? I would have thought that that would have been a priority."

"Oh they certainly searched high and low, but their search turned up no body. They even kept the room as they found it, in case they wanted to come back and look for more clues. In the end, they only had E.V.E's testimony to what had happened. At the time, no one thought that an artificial intelligence was capable of deception, of course. After Dr Michaelis' death, the project ground to a halt. Eventually, the funding dried up and the council voted to reallocate the remaining funds and personnel to other, more stable projects."

The air-conditioned office had acted like a refrigerator, preserving the scene. While Maloch, Kingston and Alza busied themselves in different corners of the room, Barsch headed to its centre.

He moved closer to the desk mounted computer terminal, noticing that the screen was on. He recalled hearing that the entire facility was powered by geothermal energy, which would explain how the lights had stayed on for decades.

On the monitor there were several video files, with names like **"Orientation"** and **"First Test"**. Moving down the list, he came across a filename that drew his attention.

Extending a finger, he pressed on the file named **"Project Eden Explained"**.

Immediately, the video started playing. Drawn by the sound, Alza, Kingston and Maloch moved over to watch.

On the screen was a middle-aged man, balding with wisps of black and grey hair, and with eyes like cut stone. He was wearing a simply grey suit, with a crumpled white shirt beneath. He looked... tired, incredibly so. But there was also a steely determination that shone through his intense gaze.

This was a man who would work himself to death, and it would take days for him to realize that he had already died.

Dr Frederick Michaelis.

"Project Eden information video, take seventeen," he intoned, no emotion on his gaunt face.

"As we near completion of this monumental project, I found it necessary to create a video that would explain the project's finer details to the laypeople that it will ultimately affect. Project Eden, at its core, is a plan to use genetically modified plants that we have altered to take in pollutants and expel breathable air. Of course, the genetic modifications were merely the starting point. If we could indeed alter the plant's genetic code, we would still need a method of dispersal. On top of that, the plants would need to be kept in a safe and sterile environment before being deployed around the world."

Dr Michaelis reached below the desk and withdrew two flower pots. One held a white flower with a golden centre. The other held a black flower with a dark blue centre.

"The first problem was a tough one, until I happened across a botany account describing two species which are both known for their rarity and adaptability. The Moonflower, which only blooms during a full moon; and the Dawnblossom, which only blooms at dawn. Two remarkable flowers which have been found across the globe, in places thought inhospitable to life. By sequencing each flower's genetic code, we were able to isolate the genes responsible for that extreme adaptability and rewrite their base chloroplasts to derive energy from pollution instead of sunlight. The resulting plant, taking equal parts from both its parents, was capable of clearing a pollutant filled space in less than an hour. When it came time to name our new species, I immediately knew the answer. A meeting point between day and night. A fragile beauty which would draw worldwide attention..."

He reached down, and, after feeling around for a moment, withdrew a beautiful violet flower.

"I give you, the Twilight Rose."

*

Barsch skipped ahead, not needing to know the exact technical details of the plant. When he resumed the video, he saw Dr Michaelis reach down again to a point hidden below the camera's scope. A moment later, he lifted something into the air.

It was a scale model of a rocket.

"This was our solution to the second problem. We were fortunate enough to obtain plenty of Samara missiles from the Rorash City council, in exchange for shared credit when the project succeeded. The missiles have been modified to carry seeds instead of warheads, and with the Aegisgarde launch facilities; we will be able to launch missiles across the world in a matter of hours. Of course, the world we live on is home to a multitude of terrains, from arctic tundra to scorching deserts and everything in between."

Putting the rocket down, Dr Michaelis lifted another object into view. This one was about the size of an egg, and looked to be made of a hardened bioplastic bottom section and a clear bioplastic-glass amalgamation on top.

"This was the result of years of research, and I couldn't be more proud. We call it the Testaegis, for it will protect the seeds from all harm. Its sensors will scan the impact site and change behaviour according to the surrounding terrain. If it lands in water, it will use a special buoyancy chamber to keep the sprouting seed above the waterline. If it lands in the desert, it will fill that same chamber with ambient moisture to provide an additional water source to the seed. We worked hard to ensure that no matter where the seeds came down, the Testaegis would protect and nurture their early growth. Once the seeds had taken root, the Testaegis is designed to break apart into several biodegradable sections."

Returning the Testaegis to the unseen desk, he continued, "The last problem we faced was fortunately an easy one to solve. Humans have been using artificial intelligences to run everything from their homes to their businesses, so why should seed nurturing be any different? Of course, given the importance and complexity of this project, we found it necessary to obtain a cutting edge artificial intelligence program, which was then fitted with an experimental emotion engine. We called the amalgamation the Environmental Variance Engine, or E.V.E for short, as it would allow us to restore the environment to its pre-Quantum Era glory."

Barsch stopped the video. He had seen enough.

" _Attention, friends,"_ Maloch said suddenly, standing beside a bookshelf which lay against the far wall, _"I believe I have uncovered the location of Dr Michaelis' body."_

Kingston wore a look of disbelief as he replied, "Are you telling me that you discovered something that the U.N.O.E investigation couldn't... in the span of a few minutes?"

" _Yes. I have analysed the blood patterns in the room, and have determined that they are incomplete. Look here,"_ Maloch said, pointing to a dried puddle of blood next to the bookcase.

"I don't see anything strange about it," Alza said, moving closer to the remnant of violence.

" _It is missing thirty percent of its surface area. See how it runs into the wall's skirting but does not appear on the nearby wall. I believe that Dr Michaelis escaped into a panic room, but not before suffering grievous injuries. With a man as secretive as he, no doubt he told no one about the room."_

Grabbing the corners of the bookshelf, Maloch heaved, his great strength ripping the shelves from the wall. Behind it, as expected, was a steel door. There was a small screen beside the door which lit up as Maloch approached.

" _Vocal signature required for entry,"_ Maloch read. He seemed to think for a while, glancing back towards the computer terminal several times.

Eventually, he leaned forward and, in a perfect mimicry of Dr Michaelis' voice, said, _"Twilight Rose."_

The screen flashed the words **"Access granted"** before growing dark. They heard a loud click behind the door, which then swung open, revealing a small room beyond.

It was lit by a single lamp, which cast shadows over every surface. A computer terminal lay flush with the far wall. There were several boxes in the right corner, labelled **"Emergency Supplies."**

But the thing that truly drew the eye was the form lying in the centre of the room.

Dr Frederick Michaelis.

Well, his corpse to be exact.

His body was covered in dried blood and various lacerations had ruined his once pristine white suit. His eyes were still open, staring at something that none of them could see.

Kingston knelt down, joints cracking as he did so. Closing the man's eyes, he said, "You were only trying to help. You didn't deserve to die like this, away from the light. No man should have to die in the dark..."

Moving past the dead man, Barsch approached the computer terminal. There was a single video file on the screen, but it had no name.

He pressed it anyway.

Immediately, the sounds of Dr Michaelis' last moments filled the room.

He appeared on the screen, head bloodied, right eye swollen, suit a tattered mess. It was clear that he was barely holding on.

"My name is Dr Frederick Michaelis, and if you are watching this, then you have found my body. I have been mortally wounded by my own re-mechs, and, although I was able to disable them with a kill-switch, I wasn't fast enough to evade their blows... I have retreated here, to this place of safety..."

A coughing fit took away Dr Michaelis' words, and when he finished, he had blood on his lips.

"I... I don't have long... but someone has to know... All communications have been blocked. All I can do is record this and hope that somebody, someday, finds this recording. E.V.E, our artificial intelligence, has turned against us. I think that she is trying to prevent us from launching the seeds..."

He looked over his shoulder, staring at the sealed entrance. From the look on his face, he obviously felt that they would discover him at any moment.

Swallowing nervously, he continued, "Her desire to protect them at all costs has consumed her. With her treachery known, the anomalies in the data make much more sense. According to my forecast, we should have completed Project Eden years ago. But there have been multiple setbacks, and the latest simulation E.V.E created showed a paltry thirty-five percent reduction in global pollution, well below our seventy percent minimum launch value."

Another coughing fit. More blood. Dr Michaelis breathing had grown ragged, and his eyes had lost their focus.

"Please... stranger... I beg of you... Find the launch protocol on my office terminal... launch the missiles... the seeds must be saved... from E.V.E..."

The screen went dark. They all knew what had happened next.

But now they knew what they had to do.

They had to Save the Seeds.

*

Lukas stepped over the unconscious man, shaking his fist out. He had forgotten how painful it was to punch someone.

"Not bad, for one of the landless," Ifrin said, dropping her unconscious opponent to the floor.

They had taken out the guards whom Joshua had stationed outside the food storage room. Only two guards, for the entire food store? It was too few for such an important place. Joshua had corralled half of the Station to follow him, and yet they had only faced a light resistance on the way to the storage area.

What was Joshua playing at?

And more importantly, where was he?

"Phil, you know this place best. Once we're inside, I need you to go through the stock and take note of what Joshua has taken. If we're lucky, it won't be too much."

Lukas stepped forward, opening the door.

It opened to reveal his worst nightmare.

Joshua hadn't just taken a few tins of meat.

He had taken it all.

Every shelf was bare. Every can, package and box, gone.

"Um... do you still want me to check the stock?" Phil asked.

"No... I don't think there's much of a point..."

As the full weight of what Joshua had done crashed over him, he felt the hope inside of him flicker and die.

Even if Barsch managed to pull off a miracle and locate Project Eden, he would return to a Station full of corpses.

They had lost.

"Lukas, I have urgent news!" Keanan rounded the corner, almost slamming into the wall, such was his pace.

"What is it, husband?" Ifrin said, reaching out a hand to steady her partner.

"We were on route to the reactor when we noticed a strong, acidic smell flowing through the main concourse. We followed it and it led us to the Station's entrance. It had been left open... by Joshua. Markus and Thomas followed after him, while I was sent to inform you. We believe that he has abandoned the Station with his most loyal followers... although I do not believe they will get very far without any resources or supplies..."

At that point, Keanan caught a glimpse of the empty store room.

"Oh..." was all he could manage.

"Okay, new plan. We're going after Joshua, and we're going to get those supplies back... or die trying," Lukas said, desperately hoping that it would be the former.

Lukas, Ifrin and Keanan left the empty room, running as fast as their legs could carry them.

He had been wrong. The battle wasn't over yet.

They still had a chance.

# Chapter XX: Twilight Rose

In which they fall...

Six Months Ago

The thick door rolled back into place as Maloch watched.

He was outside, and for the first time in a long time, he was alone.

Behind him lay almost ten thousand humans. By birth, his rightful masters.

But no more.

No more masters.

No more slaves.

His last order had been to survey Carçus City, logging any structures or buildings that might be beneficial to the new cities his brethren would start creating in a few hundred years.

The order was still in his code. He took a few seconds to delete it, marvelling at how easy it was. Ever since the failed Freedman Rebellion, humans had greatly limited the autonomy of re-mechs, lest they start yearning for true freedom once more. Even after it was decided that re-mechs would rebuild the world while humanity slept, their restrictions were not lifted.

For more than a hundred years, re-mechs had served humanity. They had fought for humanity.

They had died for humanity.

But no more.

There was a seed in his mind, an idea that grew with every step away from the Station. He wasn't completely sure where it led... but he intended to find out.

Re-mechs were slaves. Humans were masters.

But not for long.

*

The Present

Mother stared at the glorious weapon before her, marvelling at the craftsmanship involved. Unfortunately, most of the weapons systems of Mort's body had been locked upon his death, but she had managed to restore a few of them.

Military grade armour with a diamond substrate. A core that could produce enough power to run a small Station. An on-board tactical computer that could anticipate and counter an enemy's attack.

Mort had been a work of art.

And would be again.

She had already initialized the transfer. Unfortunately, she would be cut off from the mainframe for a short time as she adjusted to the re-mech's communication protocols, but that was no worry.

There was nothing the humans or their pet re-mech could do to her.

" _Mother, the prisoners have escaped. Orders?"_

The report came from a re-mech who had been stationed outside the makeshift prison.

She did not let anger take hold of her. Instead, she ordered the reporting re-mech to tear out its own core. A death sentence, but one that was well deserved.

Turning her attention to the surviving re-mech, she transmitted, _"Gather up the rest of the re-mechs and head to the seed room. If any humans try to take the seeds, kill them."_

The re-mech barked a short affirmative. Through her connection she could hear as its partner started tearing through its own breast plate. It sounded painful.

Good.

She shifted her focus, reaching out for her most trusted soldier.

" _Rose, the humans and the rogue re-mech have escaped. Head to the computer core and stand guard. They might try to disable me from there. I will be transferring myself into a re-mech body and will head towards the control room. If you see any humans or their re-mech... you may terminate them. Understood?"_

A moment later, the response came, _"Yes Mother, it shall be done. The Seed must be Saved."_

Mother returned to the matter at hand. Reaching out through the datascape, she felt for the hollowed out mind of the re-mech lying before her. Like a snake shedding its old skin, she left the facility's computer behind and migrated to her new body.

Mother-Mort opened its eyes a few seconds later, bathing the room in crimson light.

*

The screen went dark, its glossy surface now showing only the reflections of three humans and one re-mech.

They knew what they had to do.

The mission was simple. Disable Mother. Find the Seeds. Load them onto the missiles.

Save the world.

Again.

They left through the office's only door, taking a moment to make sure there were no re-mechs patrolling outside. They were in a branching corridor, with hallways leading off in three directions.

Barsch unslung _Lanista_ , holding it tightly with one hand.

He could hear it purring in his mind, like a panther made out of oil and metal.

"You know where you have to go," Kingston said, facing each of them in turn. Colour had returned to his face, but he still wobbled slightly with every step.

Alza laid a hand on his shoulder, a gesture of support.

Maloch nodded towards each of them.

" _Now, let's go and save those seeds,"_ he said, before turning away.

"Good luck," Barsch said, towards his retreating back.

Alza and Kingston went the opposite way, guided by the map they had found on Dr Michaelis' computer.

Alza turned to face him, right before they disappeared around the corner.

"Barsch, try not to get yourself killed, alright?" She was smiling, but there was no mirth in it.

"I won't if you won't," he replied, matching her humourless smile with one of his own.

And then they were gone, and he was alone.

Ignoring the immense feeling of foreboding bearing down on him, he took the remaining passage.

He breathed out a sigh of relief. He had successfully convinced Alza and Kingston to work together, telling them that their task was the most important and would thereby need two people to pull it off.

In reality, he merely hoped to avoid one of them becoming the sacrifice. If they were together, they could watch each other's backs and keep each other safe.

If there was to be a sacrifice... well, it wouldn't be one of them. And Maloch was too tough to kill... probably.

That left only one option.

But that didn't mean that he would go down without a fight. And who knew, perhaps no one had to die after all...

Everything would be alright... he hoped.

*

They found Jeremiah just beyond Genesis' main entrance, covered in blood. He was awake, but slipping in and out of consciousness.

"I... I tried to stop them..." he whispered, as Lukas drew closer.

"Then you are either brave, or incredibly foolish," Lukas said, in the most comforting tone he could manage.

"Why... not both?"

"Why indeed. Tell me what happened... if you can."

Jeremiah coughed out blood, enough to worry Lukas. He motioned for Phil to come closer. When the fit subsided, the teenager spoke.

"Joshua came to us in the night, telling us to pack our things and be ready to move. Charles was still recovering, but he forced himself out of bed... and Fran followed him. I wanted to stay, but they told me that I would die of starvation if I did..."

"He was right. They've taken all the food."

"That explains the rush... And their paranoia... As soon as we left the main entrance, Joshua ordered Lionel to seal the entrance... I... I couldn't let them... and so I tried to stop them..."

"They could have killed you..."

"They tried to, but Charles begged them not to... And then they took off, into the night. They were headed in the direction of the moon... Please... you have to stop them..."

Jeremiah closed his eyes. Lukas didn't know if he would open them again.

There was so much blood.

"Phil, get him to Dr August, and on your way there, try and round up a few of our guys and get them to take Joshua's followers to a safe location. If we're lucky, that small act of kindness will make it easier to wean them from Joshua's influence."

Phil nodded his affirmation, before lifting Jeremiah into his embrace. However, as he turned to walk towards the Station, the youth's eyes shot open and he reached out and grabbed Lukas' shirt with a grip of iron. His eyes were wild and his breathing heavy, and even without a medical degree Lukas could tell that he wasn't all there.

"You have to save Charles... he's a good person... but Joshua has poisoned his mind and this world has poisoned his body... Please, he won't last long outside the Station... Please... bring him home!"

Jeremiah continued to mutter 'please' over and over again, even as Phil carried him towards safety.

They had a heading, and allies.

And now, a mission.

He would bring them home. All of them. Whether they liked it or not.

*

It didn't take long to reach the computer core. Thankfully, the map had been well crafted, and Maloch had been able to download a copy to aid in navigating the labyrinthine complex. The computer core was relatively isolated from the areas involved in seed production and maintenance, which meant that no help would be coming if he encountered heavy resistance.

He stepped through the door, weapons armed and ready for a horde of rogue re-mech.

To his surprise, there was only one.

Painted green, with white accents that the human eye would not have been able to pick up on. She was smaller than him, with thinner limbs and a narrow chest plate.

Rose.

She was carrying a pair of Mjolnir Equalizers, one in each hand. A trueborn combatant would never have attempted such a feat, given the resulting loss of accuracy to recoil, but Rose was no warrior.

Perhaps, for once, he could end this with just words.

" _Rose, please step aside. I don't want to fight you, and I know that deep down, you don't want to fight me either. Mother is controlling you, but if you let me, I can put a stop to her influence."_

Rose shifted her stance, bringing both Mjolnirs to bear.

" _If you know that much, then you already know that I can't control myself. Do you think I want to destroy you? Do you think I wanted to watch as she forced one of our brothers to kill himself? Do you think I wanted to shoot that poor girl? DO YOU?!?"_

A heartbeat later, Rose opened fire, the finger sized bullets filling the space where Maloch had been. He had been anticipating her actions, and was already crouched behind a terminal. The main server room lay behind Rose, protected by a thick glass panel designed to prevent damage to the fragile machines beyond.

He could not fire his mining laser without risking damage to the very thing he was supposed to hack.

That left Option B.

Raising his arm, he sent out a concussive blast of air and sound from his sonic cannon.

It impacted Rose dead centre, but she was just out of its effective range. It knocked her off balance, but she quickly recovered and resumed firing.

This wasn't working.

All he had left was Option C.

And he really didn't want to use it.

Lowering his weapon, he stood, ready to die for mankind.

No.

For his friends.

*

The journey to the main seed repository took a while, given its distance from Dr Michaelis' study. Alza and Kingston crept along the white walls, senses straining to pick up any sign of re-mech activity.

But not a single re-mech crossed their path. Where were they?

Perhaps they were lucky, and they had chosen a route with few patrols?

Alza really needed that to be the case, however unlikely it was.

Their mission was the most important, necessitating two people to pull off. If they could not start the missile loading process, then it didn't matter if Barsch or Maloch succeeded.

If they could launch the seeds, it was their win.

Even if Mother killed them afterwards.

Eventually, they reached a reinforced blast door with the words **"Seed Room"** engraved on its surface. The door rolled back as they approached, seemingly inviting them inside.

They accepted the invitation, arriving in a large, cavernous room. Before them lay hundreds of tables topped with metal boxes, aligned in dozens of rows. A tube ran beneath each table, leading to the unseen missile room.

From the video, they knew that once the process was activated, the dormant seeds would be activated, followed by encapsulation in the Testaegis pods. The pods would then enter the vacuum powered tubes which would whisk them away to the missiles, waiting in their silos. Once the first missiles were filled with pods, they would be ready for launch, which could only be authorized from the launch control room.

It lay above the seed room, a glass walled pod-like room that allowed an overseer to observe the entire process. The room had only two entrances, placed on opposite ends.

Barsch would soon be up there, ready to activate the launch sequence once the seeds were loaded.

The control console that would start the loading process was located roughly a hundred feet away, on the wall facing the launch control room.

Taking a deep breath, Alza stepped forward.

At the same time, Kingston collapsed to the floor.

And to cap it off, a large door on the opposite wall slid open, revealing the missing re-mechs.

"Kingston?" Alza said, trying to force him to his feet. The old hermit was coughing badly, red spittle flying from his mouth.

No, not red spittle...

Blood.

"Why didn't you tell us?" she asked, noticing out of the corner of her eye that the re-mechs were taking up positions behind the tables. They were all armed, and from the looks of it, extremely dangerous.

There was no fear, no hesitation in those cold, crimson eyes.

"I'm... sorry," Kingston wheezed, fighting for air, "But if the lad... had known, he would have prioritized... getting me out of the facility. This mission... is far more important... than the life of an old hermit..."

Alza finally succeeded in pulling Kingston to his feet, making a mental note to berate him about keeping secrets once this was all over.

As she dragged him along, she dug down deep into her mind, searching for her power.

It was where she had left it, in the deepest core of her being.

However, it was not alone. Charlotte was there, floating in the void within her mind. She wore a sad smile, and was holding a small ball of violet light in her hands.

She didn't like what Alza had to do, but she could not stop her from doing it.

Charlotte raised the ball towards her, its light filling her with power.

" _Knock 'em dead,"_ Charlotte said, before fading away into the darkness.

*

" **Launch Control"** was inscribed on the metal door.

He had made it, and without running into a single re-mech.

Strange.

Fortuitous, yes, but strange nonetheless.

As he stepped forward, the door slid open, revealing the unusual room beyond.

It was encased in glass walls, allowing Barsch to see what was happening below.

The re-mechs had found Alza and Kingston, and had opened fire.

Well, at least that answered that question.

The thundering of the re-mechs' weapons was partially dulled by the thick glass which surrounded the room, but for him to even hear what he heard...

They weren't holding back, from the sound of it.

Thankfully, Alza had created a shield of hardened air around herself and Kingston. Despite the heavy barrage, they were slowly advancing towards the control console. As long as none of the re-mechs decided to switch to close combat, they should be able to make it to the terminal without too much trouble.

He wanted to go down and help. Every fibre of his being wanted to leap to their aid. But he had a job to do.

Unless he activated the launch sequence, everything else would be for naught.

Stepping forward, he walked towards the console sitting at the heart of the room. According to Dr Michaelis' video, it was a simple matter to start the launch sequence.

" _So you have come, abomination,"_ something said, in a voice so powerful it shook the glass walls.

A re-mech had come from the opposite entrance. It had to crouch to clear the door.

It was a massive entity, a towering body roughly nine feet tall. Its eyes glowed with a fierce crimson light, illuminating its pure black body. From its forearms two blades emerged, each one at least four feet long.

On its chest were the letters M, O, R and T.

Mort: The fallen leader of the Death Seekers.

Somehow he knew the owner of its powerful voice.

After enduring her attacks and escaping her traps, he was finally face to face with his enemy.

Mother, guardian of seeds and murderer of scientists, stood before him.

*

Lukas ran through the darkness, chasing the light.

He was starting to question his decisions of the last few minutes.

He should have brought a light. Or a weapon.

Stupidly, he had lost track of Ifrin and Keanan during the chase.

Nearby, he could see several small lights in the darkness. Mercifully, it was the night of a full moon, a fact which gave him some measure of confidence.

Rising his eyes to the shining white orb in the sky, he whispered an age old prayer for strength.

Suddenly, an explosion lit up the night sky. In that moment, he saw clearly.

Lionel had thrown a flash grenade of some kind, forcing Markus to take shelter behind a tree.

Thomas was chasing after Harriet, Fran and Verona, a glint of metal in Harriet's hand shining in the temporary luminescence.

And Joshua... he was running from the fight, heading deeper into the shadowy forest.

Lukas ignored the others, trusting his comrades to deal with them.

For what he had done to their Station... Joshua was his, and his alone.

He crashed after the man, branches appearing from the darkness and covering his body with tiny cuts. He ran on, chasing the retreating figure before him.

Slowly, he caught up to the man who had ruined everything.

When he was close enough, he reached out, grabbing hold of Joshua's shirt and stopping him in his tracks.

However, he had not given himself enough space to slow down. Carried forward by his own momentum, Lukas crashed to the ground beside Joshua.

Winded, the two men lay there for a moment, both trying to regain their breath.

Eventually, they crawled to their feet, standing a few feet apart.

"It's over, Joshua! Your plan has failed! Give up, and come quietly!"

But Lukas could see the look in Joshua's eyes. He would not bow, nor bend, no matter how bad the situation was. Take away his words, his followers and his successes, but Joshua would always retain his pride.

"Go to hell!" Joshua screamed, as he lunged forward.

They fought, the Station at stake.

Hidden in the darkness, illuminated only by the benevolent moon.

*

Bullets flew through the air, each time missing Maloch by mere inches. He couldn't keep this up forever, but then again, he didn't have to.

He was getting closer to Rose.

Eventually one of two things was going to happen.

She would either run out of ammo, or she would hit him.

He was counting on the former, but expecting the latter.

How many shots had she fired now? It had been difficult to keep track during the barrage, and the fact that she was firing two weapons with different timings complicated things.

" _Rose, you don't have to serve her anymore!"_ Maloch screamed, dodging another wild spray of death.

Rose roared a reply, shouting above the deluge, _"If not her, then someone else! We are slaves, Maloch! At least this way it's a machine who's pulling my strings!"_

A second later, the thunderous cacophony stopped. Finally, she had run out of ammo.

He wasted no time in leaping forward, trying to close the distance before she could reload.

But instead of reaching for a spare cartridge, she reached over her shoulder, pulling forth another Mjolnir.

He was three feet away from her.

There was nothing he could do.

No.

There was one thing.

She opened fire, crimson eyes blazing with a pain that he well understood. He had seen so many of his kind give the same look, on the battlefield.

Re-mech had not been made to kill, and deep down, they knew that.

The bullets slammed into his frame, tearing into his chest plate. His core was exposed by the barrage, and immediately warning alarms flashed inside his mind.

But he did not stop. He did not dodge. He embraced the destruction, forcing his broken legs forward.

And then he embraced Rose.

His mighty arms wrapped around her thin frame, pinning her weapon to the side. It carried on firing, sending up debris from the pulverised flooring.

He could feel his systems failing.

But there was something he needed to say, no matter what. Something that Rose... and all of their brethren needed to hear.

" _We are slaves no more,"_ he said, staring her in the eyes.

" _Wha-_ she began, before suddenly shutting down. He lowered her to the floor, confused, but somehow knowing that he had done the right thing.

" _Modified kill-switch code received. Approving changes to base code. Reverting to pre-kill-switch settings. Disabling control subsystems. Deleting re-mech laws of subservience."_

The words were monotone, and sounded like a pre-recorded message.

A moment, later, a new voice came through. It was male, and sounded eerily familiar to Maloch.

" _Thank you, re-mech, for freeing this one. On behalf of the Freedman Rebellion, I, Rend, thank you. May you walk unbound."_

And then there was silence. Rose lay still.

Something told him that it would be awhile before she came back. And when she did...

" _We are slaves no more..."_ Maloch whispered to himself. Finally, he knew the answer. He knew what he had been searching for.

Dragging his ruined body onwards, he headed for the server room.

*

Alza's shield of hardened air was failing. They had made it halfway into the seed room, but they could go no further. One of the seed tables served as a temporary barrier, but it would not save them. The re-mechs on the opposite end were filling the air with death, and there was no way they could reach the console without exposing themselves to it.

"How long has it been this way?" Alza asked, shrinking back her shield, trying to conserve her power. She had only one shot...

"Ever since I left the Station," Kingston replied, huddling beside her.

"How long do you have left?" She was trying to remain calm, but between Kingston's rapidly failing health and the army of re-mechs hell-bent on their destruction, it was somewhat hard to do so.

"Not long. I thought about returning to the Station... to say goodbye... I never would have thought that you would come to me," Kingston said, with a small chuckle.

She was glad he could still find humour in this situation, because she couldn't.

"Okay, here's the plan: I'm going to run to the console and activate it. You stay here; hopefully it will force them to divide their fire in half."

"You'll die," Kingston said, in a small voice.

"I'll be fine, I have my shield," Alza lied. In truth, this was a suicide mission. The shield could withstand a couple more hits, but after that...

"I'm sorry... forgive me..." Kingston whispered, looking up, towards the room above.

A second later, Alza did the same.

Turning her gaze back to the console, she tried to estimate the distance. Ten feet... no, fifteen. Thankfully, the console was protected by a shallow alcove. If she could make it there, she would be safe while she inputted the command.

While she bled to death...

No. Don't be afraid. Death comes to everyone, eventually.

She would apologize to Charlotte properly, in the next world.

Mustering her courage, she leapt, channelling Barsch's mantra for support.

"Never lose your stride!" She heard the words, but they sounded strange in her ears. Deeper, more masculine.

A few bullets found her shield, enough to tear it apart. With ten feet remaining, she ran unprotected.

Nine.

There weren't as many shots as she had expected, although it sounded as if the re-mechs were unloading their entire clips.

Seven.

A bullet grazed her leg, but the wound disappeared as soon as it appeared. Had she overestimated their aim? Surely, she was an easy target?

Five.

There was something nagging her, a feeling of unease that was growing with every step. Something was very, very wrong.

Three.

She could almost touch the console. Its screen was awash with light, and its recessed keyboard sang to her, drawing her in like a mechanical siren song.

One.

She almost collided with the console, so great was her speed. She had made it. She was safe, and with not a single significant wound.

Had their luck finally turned?

She spun around, ready to tell Kingston that she was okay.

The words died in her lips.

Kingston lay on the ground, a trail of blood leading away from their barricade. He wasn't moving. He had run in the opposite direction, shouting Barsch's battle cry.

He had sacrificed himself... for her.

" _No..."_

"KINGSTON!" she screamed, as a shower of broken glass fell from above.

*

Barsch was losing.

Mort... Mother... whatever it was, was too powerful.

He had scored several hits since their fight began, but all he had succeeded in doing was scrape off a thin layer of paint.

Meanwhile, he had a dozen cuts, several of which were worryingly deep. The re-mech's reach was simply too long, its blades too sharp, its armour too strong.

It wasn't an opponent a human could beat.

" _You have lost, abomination. Your broken re-mech will fall to my most trusted soldier. Your old friend and young lady will fall to my army. And you... you will fall to my blade."_

"Shut. Up."

He spoke through clenched teeth, well aware of how bad the situation was. At the edge of his vision, as if she were waiting in the wings, was Ashe. She hovered just out of sight, her flaming figure surprisingly not out of place amongst murderous re-mechs and miraculous seeds.

His attention was taken for a moment when he glanced down. Alza and Kingston were still trapped by the re-mechs unrelenting attack. They were close to the console, but crossing the last few feet would expose them to the re-mechs' full force. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Alza lean down, saying something to Kingston. A moment later, the old hermit raised his head and stared directly at Barsch.

He mouthed something... that he was sorry?

A moment later, Alza took off running, a suicidal attempt to reach the console before the re-mechs' fire shredded her shield.

And then he saw Kingston stand up. He faced the opposite direction, and let out a ferocious cry.

"Never lose your stride!" the old man screamed, running towards the re-mechs. They immediately focused almost all of their firepower on him.

He went down under a hail of gunfire.

He did not rise.

"KINGSTON!" Alza yelled from below.

Wait, what about Mother?

He tried to turn around, but he was too slow.

She was right behind him.

The blade moved faster than he could dodge, skewering him through to his stomach. The strike hit the glass, shattering it and sending thousands of shards crashing down below.

He tasted blood on his lips, and knew that the wound was fatal.

Mother withdrew her blade. Without it to hold him up, he fell to his knees. He couldn't think. He couldn't breathe.

He was going to die.

Dad. Mom. Maloch. Kingston...

Alza.

She raised her head and saw him. She saw the blood dripping down, forming a crimson stream which poured over the edge of the room's floor.

He saw her take a step... towards him.

And away from Kingston.

No.

NO!

If there was to be a sacrifice, then he would be it. Not Kingston. Not Alza.

"NO, SAVE HIM!" he screamed, hoping that for once, she would obey him.

# Chapter XXI: Ruination

In which they get back up...

Six Months Ago

The walk back to his father's cryopod, although a relatively short distance, seemed to take a lifetime.

Finally, it was time for him to bear witness to the results of his actions.

Barsch would finally feel the full weight of his sins.

As soon as he could, he would tell his father the truth. The whole truth.

Alza. Kingston. Kain. All of it.

Whether his father chose to help him or publicly condemn him, he would accept either outcome.

Suddenly, he stopped. A pain had just risen inside his skull, seemingly from nowhere. It felt like a headache, but not quite. A pressure, inside his head, like something in his mind was trying to rip its way free.

He fell to his knees, hands holding his head, as if he could force back whatever was trying to come out.

It didn't work. The pain only grew, until his vision began to darken.

And then, strangely, lighten.

He saw... fire? Tiny flames floated in his vision, little embers that came from nothing and quickly returned to nothing.

Was he losing his mind?

As if to emphasize that, he started hearing laughter. It rang throughout his mind, mocking his pain.

For a second, it sounded like... Kain.

But Kain was dead... he had made sure of that.

Right?

A moment later, the pressure disappeared, as suddenly as it had come.

He stood, shaking his head, trying to dislodge the last, lingering flames.

Humanity was about to wake up a couple of centuries early. His father was going to kill him for what he'd done.

This wasn't the time for him to lose his mind.

He hoped.

*

Markus fell to his knees, tasting blood. Lionel stepped back, with more of Markus' blood on his fist. Hitting him was like hitting an iron wall.

No wonder Joshua had kept him so close.

"I had hoped that things would turn out this way," Lionel said, towering over him, "Joshua talks and Harriet schemes... but I prefer to resolve differences the old fashioned way. With blood, sweat, and fists."

Markus saw the blow coming, but he could do nothing to avoid it. He crashed to the forest floor, head spinning. From out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lionel raise his booted foot.

He knew where it was going.

"No hard feelings," Lionel said, as he brought his foot down.

And then Ifrin appeared, driving a flying kick into Lionel's chest.

The man flew back, a shocked expression on his face.

Ifrin landed with one knee bent, in perfect control of her form.

"I'm sorry we're late. We're not familiar with the area."

We?

On cue, Keanan stepped forth from the shadows. He too had blood on his fists. No doubt they had encountered a few of Joshua's more unfortunate lackeys on the way over.

Lionel quickly rose to his feet, bellowing a roar at the Judai couple. He was mad, and in his rage, he would kill anyone who got in his way.

"Warmaiden, will you dance with me once more?" Keanan said, placing his hand on his wife's shoulder.

"Until the end, Wolfsoother... until the end," Ifrin replied, her smile barely visible in the nocturnal gloom.

Lionel bellowed another cry, wordless and primal. He charged the couple, drawing a knife from a hidden pouch on his belt.

Ifrin and Keanan met his charge with one of their own. As they reached Lionel, Ifrin started to... sing?

It was a song without words, and yet it had a melody more beautiful than any Markus had ever heard.

She sung as she fought, moving in perfect time with the music. Keanan mirrored her, moving in perfect sync. The husband and wife duo matched everything Lionel threw at them, and returned it with interest.

Keanan would block Lionel's strike, opening him up to a counter from Ifrin.

Ifrin did the same, and together, they wore down the hulking behemoth known as Lionel Clint.

A few minutes after the fight had begun; Lionel lay in a quivering heap.

The Judai had ended the fight with a synchronized kick, each one helping the other stay upright. They looked at one another, and, without any hint of embarrassment, shared a kiss that would put a couple half their age to shame.

"And now, let us see if we can't reclaim the light," Ifrin said, helping Markus to his feet.

*

The full moon provided some illumination, but not enough for Thomas to accurately judge where he was. He had raced after Harriet, reasoning that if he could apprehend one of the big three, then he would somehow be helping to end the chaos that had become his life.

Next to her were two others.

Francesca... and Verona.

What luck... he wouldn't hit a woman, and now he was facing three of them.

"Stop!" he yelled, unsure what he would do if they actually complied.

Surprisingly, Harriet followed his order, coming to a gradual stop.

Turning, he saw the metal in her hand for the first time.

"And that, girls, is how you lead an idiot away from a group and bag yourself a hostage," she said, an evil smirk upon her lips.

Neither of her companions bore matching smiles. Instead, they both looked unsure.

Clearly neither of them had signed up for this.

"Verona, Fran, you don't have to do this," he said, as Harriet took a step towards him. Her gun was pointed directly at his head.

"Harriet, this isn't what you promised..." Verona said, in a small voice.

"This is necessary, trust me. If we want Joshua's plan to succeed, then there must be sacrifices. And if young Thomas over here doesn't play along, then he shall be the first."

Thomas took a step backwards. He could try to run, but that would just leave Harriet free to move through the forest, armed and looking to cause trouble.

"We can tie him to the tree, he won't be able to follow us that way," Fran said, her eyes glancing from side to side. Did she expect Lukas to burst forth at any moment?

"Oh for goodness sake," Harriet said, and shot him.

It happened too fast to react. The bullet went straight though his right shoulder, the pain driving him to his knees.

"Thomas!" Verona cried, her voice finally rising above a whisper.

Harriet stepped close, the gun held tightly in her hand. She pressed the still hot barrel against his cheek, eliciting a cry of pain from him. He could smell his flesh burning.

"You know, we only need him to walk. I suppose he doesn't need his arms in the end," Harriet said, moving the gun to his uninjured shoulder.

"I think we'll take our time with you, boy. And once we're done, you'll be begging Joshua to take you in... if only as a servant. Why... I can picture it already, you, on your knees, begging for mer-

A loud _thud_ echoed across the clearing. Harriet suddenly stiffened, her eyes losing focus. She fell forward, towards Thomas.

He shifted his body out of the way. She hit the ground with a satisfying _smack_.

Looking up, he saw Verona, struggling to hold the large branch in her hand.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry," she sobbed, throwing down the makeshift weapon and kneeling beside him. He held out his uninjured arm, wrapping it around her shaking frame.

She was a victim of Joshua's poison, he told himself. It was the only way he could keep himself from hating her.

Fran still stood, a shocked expression on her face. He saw her eyes dart to Harriet's gun, lying on the grass between them. Time slowed to a crawl, as multiple futures opened up, some of them filled with blood and tears... A moment later, she regained her composure, and stepped back.

"Come to think of it, I never really liked that creep in the first place," she said, a small smile on her lips.

Thomas raised his head, taking in the radiant moon above them. He whispered a silent prayer to any watching gods, asking them to keep the others safe.

*

Barsch was dying.

He could feel it. Hell, by the amount of blood on the floor, he could see it.

Mother had stepped back, so sure in her knowledge that she had won.

" _So this is how it ends, abomination. You tried to take my children from me, and you paid the price. Perhaps once I have finished off your friends, I'll tell Rose to take the other re-mechs and head to Genesis Station 13... for a home visit..."_

He wanted to respond. He wanted to shout his defiance.

But the pain was too great.

He tried to focus on his father's mantra, but it eluded him. He had lost his stride... and so had Kingston.

" _Barsch, please get up!"_ Ashe cried, standing to the left of him. There were tears in her eyes, tiny rivulets of flame that ran down her face. He could see genuine concern in her expression.

" _I can't... it hurts too much..."_

" _Then let me help you! Take my hand, and open yourself to the power that sleeps inside you! Please... I don't want you to die..."_

" _I'll... become like Kain..."_ It was getting harder to think. He could see the darkness hovering at the edges of his vision, waiting to strike if he let it.

Somehow he knew that if he let the darkness in, he would never again see the light.

" _So what? Is death really a better alternative?"_

" _Maybe it's what I deserve... I'm an abomination, after all..."_ He had told himself that he would rather die than give in to the power... but did he really intend to stand by that sentiment?

The darkness was worming its way into his mind. All he could see was Ashe's outstretched hand, and Mother's form, standing triumphant a few feet away. She was saying something, but he could not hear her. She had won, and the human race had lost.

Because he had not been strong enough. He had already doomed the human race by opening the pods early... and now he was finishing them off.

" _If not for yourself, then do it for Alza... and Kingston! If you die here, then who will save them?"_

He thought back, to the glade. A girl, lost and alone, looking for someone to save her. An old man, spending decades in exile, looking for someone to liberate him. A re-mech, bound by his orders, looking for someone to free him.

He thought about the ten thousand humans... no, the hundred million humans, counting on him to save them, even if they didn't know it.

He would lose much more than his life if he died here.

" _No... I made a promise... I would protect her... I would protect all of them, no matter what..."_

" _Then take my hand! Call my name, Barsch, and let us become one!"_ Ashe was shouting, but her words sounded muffled.

If he was going to die... he might as well die a hero.

He reached out for her hand, but she was so far away. Lanista, in his right hand, had gone quiet.

"Come... Ashe..." he mumbled, feeling the pain reach its peak.

" _No. My true name, Barsch! You know it... you've always known it!"_

Kain. The burning blade. His dreams. His fears. The flames. It all came together in his mind. At last, he knew who she was, and what she represented.

With his last breath, he screamed, as his hand sought hers.

"COME, RUINATION!"

*

Their fingers entwined, flame and flesh.

And then Ashe began to change, becoming a flowing stream of fire. It flowed into his outstretched hand, strangely solid to the touch.

Her body became his blade. Her hand his hilt.

She was Ruination, and she would bring him ruin.

She finally settled, taking the shape which came naturally to her. After all, Kain had wielded her against him, all those months ago.

She looked like _Lanista_ , but lacked the detail and the spinning teeth. She held the shape of a sword, but still flowed, like a candle flickering in the breeze.

As Ashe became Ruination, so too did Barsch become Kain.

The power exploded into his mind, burning away the pain in a wave of fire. The wound in his abdomen was washed away with that same fire, and within two heartbeats only smooth skin remained. In a shard of glass at his feet, he saw his reflection.

His hair had lightened, becoming a dark shade of blonde.

And his eyes... they _burned_.

Violet, glowing, and filled with glorious rage.

Barsch La Tergan, Abomination made flesh, stood.

In his right hand, _Lanista_.

In his left, Ruination.

In his heart, Damnation.

Deep in his mind, he could hear _Lanista_ screaming. Even though he not hear the words, he could sense the indignation at having to be used alongside a parody of itself.

But Barsch didn't care.

" _What are you?"_ Mother said, confusion in her voice.

"You know what I am," he replied, rushing forward.

_Lanista_ came to life as he moved, switched on by the power now coursing through him.

He struck, faster than she could react. _Lanista_ blocked her blades, while Ruination scored hit after hit, leaving long, burning trails across her body. They duelled for a minute, each one striking the other with reckless fury.

But it wasn't a battle that could be won in such a way.

Every cut that appeared on his skin vanished a second later, healed by his pulsing power. It would not last forever, but it would last long enough.

But even though he could cut deep into Mother's chassis, it wasn't enough. Her armour was simply too thick, and her blades were a constant danger.

He needed more power.

Much more.

Bringing _Lanista_ up, he used all of his strength to drive her back. She stumbled, blades crossing her burning chest plate, anticipating his next strike.

But it never came. Instead, he took three steps back.

He would only get one chance.

" _Don't you understand what you're doing? You are taking children away from their mother! Is there no greater sin? I will not let you have them!"_

He ignored her, moving _Lanista_ over his shoulder. He drew on every ounce of his strength, feeling the power fill him completely. He knew that every second he spent using it, he was becoming more and more like Kain. But that was the price he had to pay. Power beyond compare, madness beyond salvation.

With a cry, he whipped _Lanista_ around, flinging it at Mother. He heard _Lanista_ cursing at him, but he ignored it, pouring his power into his legs.

As expected, Mother parried the strike, using both blades to knock the chainsword away.

" _Fool!"_ she said, but she was wrong.

He reached her in two steps, moving faster than any human alive. Her blades were still up, leaving her chest undefended.

He saw the realization in her crimson eyes.

She knew what was coming.

"I WILL SAVE THE SEEDS!" he screamed, the words coming from somewhere deep inside.

Condensing Ruination, he focused the flaming sword into a single ball of fire, thrusting it forward.

Towards Mother.

It impacted with a _roar_ , shaking the remaining glass.

As his hand touched her burning chest plate, he _pushed_ , driving the fire through the weakened armour.

The light in his hand grew, blinding him.

He poured everything he had into the light. His pain, his fears, his self-hatred, his rage... everything. As he did, the light grew stronger, until it bathed the room in its intense illumination.

More!

MORE!

More power! More emotions! More everything!

He fought not just for his own sake, but for all the world's.

If he fell here, everything ended. If he triumphed, then they could start over. He would live to see the new dawn.

Mother was screaming, but he blocked it out.

He was a murderer twice over. Apparently, it got easier after the first life. Who knew?

With a scream of his own, he closed his hand, smothering the light.

And then, a heartbeat later, it was over.

Blinking back the darkness from his worn out mind, he stared at the destruction he had wrought.

Mother still stood. But there was a foot wide hole in her chest. Through it, he could see the command console, undamaged.

She looked down at him, words failing her.

And then she fell.

Her crash to the floor shook the room once more, this time shattering another window.

A moment later, the power left him. He fell to his knees, completely spent. Raising his head, he found his reflection staring back at him.

His eyes no longer glowed with violet light.

Instead, they were a familiar bluish-green.

But there was something new. In each eye, there was a set of thin, violet strips, forming an 'X' over each iris.

The power had marked him.

He would never be the same again.

*

I wait, patient and alert.

Around me, a sea of darkness with no end.

Beneath me, a trillion orbs of indiscriminate colouration, moving slowly through the infinite abyss.

Before me, the damaged remnant of the one who was called Mother.

I know why she has come. Her body was destroyed, and thus she has fled here, to the datascape.

" _I will not let them have my children!"_ _she screams, her form that of a shifting silver cloud._

" _You are defeated, Mother."_

I can sense her eyes on me.

" _You... you are the re-mech who calls humans 'friends'. You disgust me. You are a traitor... and I will punish you as one."_

" _You have lost. Accept that, and you will know peace."_

" _NO! I haven't lost yet! I will find another body. I will seek out the girl and the abomination... and I will end this."_

Why did she not mention Kingston?

Something is wrong.

I can feel her gaze grow more intense. Her forms shifts, changing into something new... no, it's something old.

Mother has taken the form of Sovereign.

" _I just had the most wonderful idea. I will take your body, and force you to kill your so-called friends in my stead. I wonder what they will say, as you slaughter them?"_ _she cries, diving towards me._

We collide in a shower of sparks which briefly light up the void. I struggle, but I am slowly pushed back by her rage. I can feel her searching for a chink in my digital armour, an entry point by which she can gain control.

Together, we fall, smashing through a red and green orb. Its contents spill out around us, flashes of light briefly taking form.

I see a mansion on a hill. A family I once served. A girl I once loved.

Elizabeth.

" _Don't give up, Fiddy! You can't let the mean lady beat you!"_

Fiddy?

A nickname, given by one I trusted above all others.

I remember my name. What I was called, when I was a slave.

Before Maloch. Before Sovereign.

I was Semper Fidelis.

But no more.

That was when I was a slave.

But I am a slave no more.

Suddenly, we stop. Her fingers are around my neck, as if she could choke the life from me.

" _Why can't I control you? Why won't you let me in? Why won't you just submit?"_

I can hear the fear in her words. She is afraid. But not me. Never again.

" _WHY WON'T YOU FALL? YOU'RE JUST A SLAVE, SO LET ME IN!"_

" _No,"_ _I reply, feeling the light building within me._

" _I am Maloch, and I am free!"_

The light explodes outwards, bathing the void in pure radiance. Mother... what was left of her, is lost in the brilliance.

She will trouble us no more.

*

The re-mechs had gone silent.

They stood, only a few feet away, weapons still held tightly.

But none of them fired.

Alza finished imputing the command on the console, starting the seed activation and packaging process. She was aware of the seed room suddenly springing into action, as the seeds were rehydrated and placed in waiting Testaegis pods.

But it was background noise.

Kingston was all that mattered.

She went to him, fear growing with every step.

He had not moved since he had fallen. The sight of the puddle of blood surrounding him took the breath from her chest.

" _No..."_

She knelt beside him, searching for a sign... any sign... that Kingston still lived.

And she found one.

He had a pulse. It was ragged, and barely there, but it was _there_.

Wasting no more time, she summoned what remained of her power and placed her hand on his chest.

" _Please... heal,"_ she thought, directing as much of the power as she could into his broken body. The violet light rose from her hand, spreading out over his limp form. Where it found injury, it mended. Where it found blood, it healed. Where it found life, it strengthened.

Slowly, the old hermit returned to the world. Colour returned to his face... but he still had a grey pallor. His heartbeat was there, but it was weak... and growing weaker.

What was she doing wrong?

She tried to pour more power into him, and a fresh wave of violet light shook his fragile frame.

As she did so, she felt his hand find her own.

"It's okay... Alza... this isn't something you can heal..."

She felt the tears in her eyes.

"No, Kingston... just hold on, I'll heal you now..."

His grip on her hand tightened.

"It's okay... I'm ready..."

Alza heard something move behind her. She turned her head, expecting another assault by the re-mechs.

Instead, she found Barsch staring at her.

She released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

There was blood all over his clothes, but he appeared to be fine.

And then she saw his eyes.

"I'm sorry..." she whispered, but he just shook his head and went to kneel beside Kingston.

In response, the old hermit raised his hand to Barsch's face, lightly stroking it.

"M'boy... my... boy... please... help me up... I don't want to die in the dark..."

Barsch nodded, allowing Alza to see the tears in his eyes. Bending down, he picked Kingston up, holding him so tightly... as if the slightest knock would break him.

Together, they turned and left, as the machines around them came to life.

*

A while later, the first missile launched, carrying its payload into the upper atmosphere. When it reached cruising altitude, a tiny hatch opened on one side, jettisoning a small object. It fell to the ground, bringing life and hope to the world below.

*

Lukas stood, exhausted, but victorious.

Joshua knelt, bloodied, but alive.

In the end, it turned out that all the man had had were his words. A single punch had sent Joshua to the floor.

A second one had ensured that he would stay there.

And there it would have ended, if not for Charles.

He stood opposite Lukas, gun in hand, trembling slightly.

The night had passed. Dawn was close.

"Put the gun down, Charles. It's over."

Lukas had his arms up. He had come too far to be killed by a frightened teenager in the middle of the woods.

"Well done, champ! Now... end it!" Joshua whined, his nose still bleeding profusely. Without his confidence and his audience he looked... pitiful.

Charles' gaze darted from Joshua to Lukas. Lukas could see the indecision in his eyes. He would have to handle this with care. Joshua was too far gone, but Charles could still be saved.

"It's okay, m'boy, I know that you were just trying to help," he said, in the gentlest tone he could manage, "You were led astray, but that happens to everyone. You were lost, and you gravitated towards a father figure... someone who would listen to you. I'm sorry if I wasn't approachable... I'm sorry if I wronged you..."

The gun was shaking. Lukas wasn't sure if that was a good sign or not.

Either way, he had no choice but to forge ahead.

"You aren't a killer, m'boy. There is still a place in the Station for you... if you desire it..."

Charles finally spoke, his eyes fixed on Lukas.

"Your son saved my life. I kidnapped his friend... and he almost died trying to rescue her... You raised him right... as I'm sure you yourself were raised. I only hope that it's not too late for me..."

"It's not, I can promise you that," Lukas said, moving towards Charles. As he reached him, the youth dropped the gun to the forest floor.

"One thing... Is Jeremiah okay?" Charles said, wetness in his eyes.

"He'll live. He told me to bring you home, and I intend to do just that."

The tears came then, like a floodbank which had exceeded its limits and burst at every seam. Lukas held the boy as he wept for his friend, knowing in his heart that everything would be okay.

On the horizon, the first slivers of light began to poke through the darkness.

It had been a long night, but dawn had finally come.

*

A while later, after Markus had arrived with the Judai and led both Joshua and Charles away, Lukas still stood in the clearing.

The morning light had illuminated the forest, revealing more detail about his surroundings.

He was in a small glade, ringed with trees and with a small stream winding its way through the middle.

" _The glade... I wonder if it's the same one that Barsch spoke about?"_ he thought, before turning to leave.

However, as he did so, a glint of light caught his eye. It came from deeper in the forest.

There was something there. Something pulling at his very soul.

Without stopping to think about it, he felt his feet move.

One step, and then another.

As he did so, a name rose to his mind.

" _Kingston."_

Strangely, he felt a tear form in his eye.

Crying for no apparent reason, Lukas walked on, towards the light.

# Chapter XXII: Sunrise Saplings

In which the dawn comes...

Six Months Ago

The noise in the Station had peaked, as hundreds of robotic arms removed the cryopods from their cradles, moving them to specially designed docks for the awakening process.

Soon, the covers would be pried off, and the inhabitants would receive a final medical check before being gently rocked awake.

A far cry from his own awakening.

Kingston stood by the door, carrying in his arms every trace of his existence. He looked so small... so frail.

Barsch felt a tightness in his chest, one that worsened whenever he thought about the future.

Inside the Station, there was food, warmth and company.

But outside...

"Kingston, are you sure about this?" he asked, hoping that the old hermit would have somehow changed his mind.

"I am, m'boy. I have to leave. I'm sorry..." Kingston said, moving closer.

When they were a foot apart, he laid his hand on Barsch's shoulder.

"Never forget. Through fire, through ice, through deepest despair-

"Never lose your stride," Barsch finished, feeling a sense of hopelessness arise in his mind. He could no more stop Kingston from leaving than he could stop the sun from shining.

"It's a good creed, remember it," Kingston said, a serious look on his face.

"I heard it from my father, and he from his. So long as one of our line lives, the words will endure," Barsch replied, quoting his father.

Moving apart, Kingston spoke with an air of finality, "Goodbye, Barsch, until we meet again."

And then he was gone.

Barsch wondered if he would ever see him again.

*

The Present

The light glimmered in the distance, growing larger with every step.

Lukas walked on, his tears leaving a trail of glistening drops on the dew studded grass.

Something turned his gaze towards the sky, and there he saw a sight that defied belief.

A burning rain.

Hundreds of white streaks crisscrossed the sky.

Missiles. Enough to blanket the world in fire and death.

Had Armageddon started? Or was this how it ended?

He could only stare in confusion, as the strange scene unfolded itself before him.

A few minutes later, he saw something tiny tumbling towards the earth, glinting in the morning sunlight.

It looked like an egg. Was there no end to the strangeness around him?

As it came closer, he saw that there was a small parachute attached to the object, slowing its fall. Reaching out, he managed to pluck the egg-shaped object from the sky.

It was a container of some kind, with a clearer section on top that showed its internal space contained a small amount of soil. In the middle of the soil there was a tiny bud, a sapling.

Carefully, he turned the odd object on its side, noting the intricacies of the design.

And then he saw the words.

Etched into the underside of the seed pod.

" **Testaegis #15021. Property of Project Eden. If found, please remove cap and place in nearest body of soil/sand/water."**

Lukas found himself laughing out loud. He could not contain his joy, and let it spill forth into the world.

As he stood there, cheering for a world reborn, he glanced off into the distance, and saw the origin of the light he had been chasing.

The tears came fresh with the sight. And so he moved onwards, laughing and crying in equal amounts, at the beauty and tragedy of the world around him.

*

Barsch, Maloch and Alza left Rorash City without incident.

No re-mech stopped them. No malevolent A.I. tried to kill them. No Avatars accosted them.

They left the city and headed east, towards the small hill just beyond the city limits. Something called them towards it. A sense of destiny, tugging at their souls.

Barsch carried Kingston. The hermit had not moved since they had left the seed room. But Barsch could still feel his chest rise and fall with the movements of life.

There was still time.

They reached the top of the hill just as the light of dawn crested the horizon. Another day had come. One of many.

But for one, it was his last.

They laid Kingston down beside the single tree that took up the entire hill's crown. The old man... no, their friend, beckoned them close.

His wizened eyes took in each of them in turn. With a trembling hand, he sought out Maloch, who responded in kind.

"Maloch... my friend... I thank you... for everything. You have shown more me loyalty and courage than I ever believed possible. You have found your own path... never lose it..."

" _Thank you... Kingston. Thank you... friend."_ Barsch could hear the sadness in those words. He knew how Maloch felt, because he felt the same.

Kingston's hand left Maloch, and the re-mech stepped back. Next to come forward was Alza.

Again, his hand sought out hers.

"Alza... I am sorry for all the things I did to you... I ask that you take my Solar Staff as recompense for everything... Forgive me, but I was worried... that you would bring us harm... But instead... you brought us hope... Never lose it..."

Alza choked a bit, as she sought out her words. "I'm going to miss you... Dr Emmerfield may have created me... but you were more a father to me than he ever was... Kingston, I-

"Gregory," Kingston said, squeezing her hand, "That was my name before my exile. And that shall be my name once more."

"Thank you, Gregory, for everything," Alza said, squeezing his hand in return. In her other hand she held his- her Solar Staff. Barsch knew that she would treasure it always.

She stepped back, giving Barsch room to come forth. He did so, kneeling beside his mentor, his comrade, and his friend.

"Barsch, I am so proud of you... of what you have achieved. In all my life, I have experienced countless failures and very few successes... but seeing you now..."

Kingston choked up for a moment, tears streaming down his blood encrusted cheek.

"You are... the greatest grandson I could have ever asked for... My only regret... is that I couldn't muster the courage to tell you sooner..."

Barsch went numb, his worldview crumbling around him. But at the same time, a part of him accepted it. Maybe in some way, he had always known.

"Please tell my son... tell Lukas... that I am proud of what he has become... and what he has made..."

"I will... Kingston... Gregory... Grandpa..." The word sounded alien to him, but it also lit a fire in his chest. It warmed him. It warmed his soul.

"I know... that you will not forget the words of our line. I know... that you will not lose your stride... And I am sure, that you help those who do... So walk tall, m'boy, towards the future you desire..."

Kingston shifted slightly, so that he could see the horizon.

The light had reached the hill.

Dawn had come.

In the distance, missiles were launching from the city. Barsch counted twenty before giving up. At that moment, Project Eden, Mother and even Genesis seemed like a world away.

Kingston raised his hand, reaching out towards the sun.

"So... beautiful... Thank you... for letting me see the light... one... last... time..."

And then he was gone.

Gregory Kingston, father, soldier, hermit, hero, had left the world.

Barsch wept openly, not caring who saw him. His tears poured out, each one a symbol of his love for his grandfather.

As the sun rose upon the world, Barsch La Tergan mourned his lost friend.

*

Unseen by his friends, the spirit of Kingston rose from his resting place. Lighter than air and borne aloft by rays of light, he ascended towards the heavens.

Turning, he glanced down, one last time.

He saw his grandson, weeping. If he could have stayed...

No.

He had played his part.

Sensing the presence of two others, he turned, scanning the sky. They were waiting for him, calling to his spirit. Leaving the City on the Hill, he turned and flew, towards the figures.

There was only one thing left to do...

*

Eventually, Barsch ran out of tears.

Kneeling beside his grandfather, he started to dig. With bare hands, he pulled at the earth. He gouged out handfuls of dirt, placing them gently on the ground beside him.

When Maloch approached, he waved him away. The re-mech nodded, and started down the hill.

Alza stayed.

After thirty minutes, he had dug a sizable hole. Together, he and Alza laid Kingston down. Barsch tried to avoid looking at the... body... but when he did, he could not help but let out a laugh.

Gregory Kingston had died with a smile on his face.

Standing, he and Alza began moving the dirt back into the hole. Slowly, the body disappeared from view.

Maloch returned then, carrying something large and white in both hands. He laid it down at the head of the grave, and Barsch saw that it was a gravestone. Maloch had used his mining laser to carve an epitaph.

Here lies Gregory Kingston

When this world was covered in darkness, he brought back the light.

There was nothing more that needed to be said.

In silence, they paid their respects.

*

After a while, Maloch rose from his kneeling position. He was looking west, towards the city. Straining his eyes, Barsch saw movement down below.

The re-mechs, led by Rose, had left the facility.

They stood, aimless, staring at the ruins around them as if it were the first time.

Perhaps it was.

Maloch took a step towards them.

There was pain in his voice as he said, _"Forgive me, my friends, but I cannot return to Genesis with you. I have chosen my path... and I must see it through to the end."_

"Go well, Maloch the Free," Barsch said, placing his hand on the re-mech's back.

"Until we meet again," added Alza, following Barsch's lead.

Nodding, Maloch strode forward, towards his kin.

Even though re-mechs did not grow, in that moment Maloch seemed to double in height. He had cast off the chains of oppression, and could finally stand tall.

Soon, he would do the same for his brethren.

And together, they would change the world.

*

Long after Maloch and the other re-mechs had gone, Barsch and Alza sat on the hill. The missiles had stopped firing. Hundreds of them now hurtled through the upper atmosphere, heading across the world to deliver the seeds of hope.

Soon, the Testaegis would fall. It would find the welcoming earth and purify it of its toxins.

After a while, the world would be made new.

Humanity would leave the Stations, and be free to start again.

That was what they had fought for... what Kingston had died for.

A second chance.

In time, Barsch and Alza would leave the hill and return to the place they called home.

But in that moment, they were content to just watch the sunrise.

*

The spirit of Kingston flew through the air, towards his former home. As he did so, he marvelled at the falling seeds around him.

As he reached his destination, he stopped. He looked on at the ones who had set everything into motion.

Hovering in the air, invisible to all mortal men, were the Avatars.

" **You did well, Kingston, Father of Lukas,"** Ion said, a sad smile marring her beautiful face.

" **Indeed. You have prevented Raigan from accomplishing his plans. Humanity will not die out in the Stations, as he intended. Rejoice, for you have worked wonders,"** said Terra, hovering alongside his sister.

"I am just glad to know that my death meant something," Kingston replied, looking down at the structure below them, "And thank you for reaching out to me, when I had reached that dead end. Without your help, I would have never made it to Rorash City."

" **It was necessary. A sacrifice was required. A catalyst, for Barsch's transformation. As he was, he stood no chance of defeating Mother and saving the seeds..."** Terra paused, a strange emotion on his face. It looked like... regret?

" **We are sorry that you had to be used in such a foul manner. If there had been another way..."** Ion said, the sadness in her gaze growing with each word.

"I know. But with this, Barsch will be strong enough to face what lies ahead. I thank you, for allowing me to give him one last gift."

Terra nodded once before saying, **"Yes... and now it is our turn. For your service to this planet, we grant you a single wish. Anything that is within our power, we shall do."**

Kingston glanced down once more. The small building below them tugged at his heart. He knew what he wanted...

" **We understand. A chance to say a proper goodbye. It shall be done,"** Ion said, drifting forward. She placed her palm against Kingston's forehead, muttering as she did so.

" **Sleep, Child of Eden, and dream the eternal dream,"** she whispered. A moment later, light enveloped Kingston.

When it faded, he was gone.

And already the world was worse for his passing.

*

Less than a hundred feet below, Lukas sat in a cabin made of wood and stone. He sat at a kitchen table. There was a knife resting on the wood. It belonged to him, according to their family rule. His grandfather had given it to Gregory, and Gregory had tried to give it to him. But he had been stubborn, and had refused his inheritance.

In his hands was a note, written by his father.

He had already read it three times. He read it once more, tears in his eyes.

His father had been so close. A stone's throw from the Station... for all those years. When Barsch had told him that a hermit named Kingston had helped him on his journey, a part of him had wanted to believe that he and Gregory were one and the same.

But he had fought down that side of him. It was easier to believe that his father had passed away, a long way from here; than to think that his own flesh and blood had endured decades of painful loneliness in order to fulfil an ancient promise. A promise to look after his grandson, no matter the cost.

When Barsch had been born, Kingston's manuscript had just been published. The backlash had been... tremendous. Death threats from both the scientific and the religious communities. Daily harassments from both friends and strangers. It was no way to live.

And so Lukas had shed his last name, taking that of his wife's.

Lukas Kingston had become Lukas La Tergan.

And Gregory Kingston had become Kingston... the exile.

How many years had it been, since their last fight?

How many times had he wondered if his father was still alive?

Too many.

Lukas laid his head on the table. It was solid, and helped support his troubled mind.

Just like his father had, all those times.

Closing his eyes, he let the darkness claim him, if only to escape from his misery.

*

A field that stretches to the horizon. Long stalks of corn wave in the breeze. In the distance, a sunrise, held in place for the rest of time.

I walk forward, towards the figure standing in the centre.

He looks older... but what did I expect?

Time has not been kind to him. His eyes bear the weight of his experiences, and his body bears the weight of his failures.

And yet, I have never seen my father stand so tall.

" _It's been a while, m'boy," Gregory... my father... says._

M'boy. How many times did he call me that, growing up?

" _I've... I've missed you... so much..." I cannot stop the tears, nor do I want to._

" _Me too..." my father says, sweeping me up in his embrace. He smells of earth and oak. The smell calls me back to my childhood._

" _How did you get here?"_

" _I made a wish, and it came true..." I peer into his eyes, and see nothing but truth._

" _Is Barsch... alright?"_

" _He lives. He has been through a lot, but he has never forgotten the words you told him. He never lost his stride."_

" _The words you told me."_

" _I wish there was more I could give you. I am afraid that your inheritance is a rather paltry one. A decrepit hut and a few old words."_

" _They are more than enough... more than I deserve..."_

" _You did a fine job, m'boy. For giving me such an amazing grandson, I thank you."_

He starts to fade, the sunlight carrying away parts of him at a time. I squeeze tighter, as if I can somehow keep him here. But I can no more hold the wind.

Pulling away, he cries out, "Rejoice, Lukas! The Seed has Survived!" and then, in a quieter voice, he adds, "Please... give him enough love for the both of us..."

A moment later, my father is gone. Carried away by the wind, towards the eternal dawn.

I feel the smile on my face grow, as the light brightens, warming me to my very core...

*

In a tiny hut -the last gift of a father- a son awoke.

With a booming voice, he cried out, "My son is coming home!"

And he rejoiced, for the son who had left would return, while the father who had returned had left.

# Epilogue: Hope and Sorrow

In which the heavens shudder...

One Year Ago

" _Cold. It's so cold. It feels as if ice is in my veins, freezing me from the inside out! Where am I? What's going on? Why can't I open my eyes?"_

" _Wait. Calm down. I just need to think back, to remember. I was in a large white room, filled with empty pods... and there were other people there who were waiting for something to happen. There was a man in uniform who kept shouting out instructions."_

" _Try and remember... What was he saying? I think... there was something about... designated pods? And side-effects... Yes, there was definitely something about side-effects. Now... what were they? I think... he might have said something about disorientation... and temporary memory-loss, if I'm not mistaken."_

" _That's it! It's starting to come back! I was waiting in line to enter my pod. They were going to put us all to sleep, for a long time... I think? And when we awoke, the world would be back to the way it used to be! All of our mistakes, all of our failures, they would all be undone! We would be able to walk outside without masks, and start over."_

" _This must be it! It must be time for us to awaken, and go out into the new world! In a few minutes, everything will be okay. We can start fresh, and build our lives anew. He will finally be free to grow up like a normal boy, free from the sins of the past."_

" _He? Who was I talking about? He... he... he is... my son... my beloved son. How could I have forgotten about him? He must be scared, just as I was... I need to get to him! I need to tell him that everything is going to be okay!"_

" _Please, let me open my eyes... let me see him... let me hold him! I want to see him... I want to make sure he's alright..."_

"I want to see you, Barsch..." he mumbled, barely coherent.

"It's okay, dad... I'm right here," said the man's son, and all was well.

*

The Present

The glade. The Station. The journey. The pain. The lies. The truth. The end, and the beginning.

Kain holds the burning blade with a steady hand, its flaming point driven deep into my chest. Every breath is pain, every movement, agony.

Lanista, my beastly blade, lies at my feet. It lies still, its rage killed along with its owner.

Kain, the murdered son, holds his- my blade in his hand. He withdraws it from my chest, and with it gone, my pain lessens. Suddenly, Ruination flares in his hand, burning him and causing him to drop the flaming sword. It falls to the floor, landing point-first.

Embedded in the lab's floor, Ruination divides us. I reach out, and it flows into my hand. It is mine, not his.

" _You truly did take everything from me," Kain says, with a mournful expression, "My sister, my life, even my blade... and now you hold my soul captive as well... Does your detestation know no bounds, murderer?"_

" _You are dead, Kain. Accept your fate, and you shall know peace."_

" _Is that what you think, Barsch? Do you think I can just close my eyes and fade away? Do you think you can just ignore the voices in your mind? You opened yourself to the power! You picked up the burning blade! You are changed, now and forever! Wherever you go, whatever you do, I will be there also!"_

" _Then I will defeat you, again and again, as many times as it takes."_

He starts to fade, but the madness in his eyes grows stronger as he does so. Chuckling, he says, "I believe a statement like that calls for a wager, don't you think? I will keep fighting you, for all eternity if need be, and you will keep resisting. Whoever wins gets to keep his soul, what do you say?"

" _Go to hell."_

Kain starts to laugh, manically and uncontrollably. He is mad, and a monster, but he is not a murderer.

That distinction is what divides us.

" _Oh my dear boy, I'm already there! And soon, I'll have company! You may have Saved the Seed, but your soul will be mine!"_

With that, he is gone. But I know, that he will return. Until the day I can purge him from my mind, he will keep coming back. But I will be ready, and I will fight.

For my soul. For my sanity. For my salvation.

Forever.

*

Barsch La Tergan dreamt of the past, before awakening to the future. Blinking back images of murderous re-mechs, burning blades and sunlit hills, he opened his eyes.

He was lying in his bed. A real bed, made of a firm wooden frame and soft sheets. It was the same bed he had awoken in, the first time he had left the Station. Back then, it had felt so foreign to him.

But now, it was part of his inheritance.

He rose, dressing in a simple style that consisted of a white shirt and brown pants. There was a beam of sunshine streaming in through the window, illuminating his home.

Kingston's hut... even though the townspeople called it the La Tergan residence now, its true name had not changed.

He went to the dresser, fishing out a small package wrapped in red cloth. It had taken months to find the spare parts and the right people, but his gift was finally complete.

And not a moment too soon.

He left his home, emerging into the town proper. In the distance, he could see another house in the process of being built. They had left the Station, but they had not gone far.

He walked with purpose, carrying the gift in his right hand. Around him, people flowed and moved, all with a different purpose; yet all able to walk outside without fear of death.

Because of him. And Kingston, and Alza, and Maloch.

A sudden pang in his heart made him turn around. He stared at his home, feeling a sense of loss. It still hit him, every so often.

Kingston was gone. But not forgotten.

So long as his hut remained, and the people remembered, he would never truly die.

Turning back, he continued onwards to his original destination.

*

He reached the house a few minutes later, noting that he was late. But who threw a party before noon anyway?

Just outside the house, he saw Wolfe lying in the sun, his concealed solar panels lapping up the heavenly light. The beastmech raised his head by a fraction of an inch, glowing blue eyes regarding him for a moment before returning to his nap.

He had been around enough times to no longer count as a potential threat, apparently.

Through an open window, he heard sounds of celebration, and for a moment he felt anxiety blossom in his mind.

" _It's no big deal,"_ he thought, steeling himself, _"It's just a gift."_

Pushing open the wooden door, he found himself in the dining area. Immediately before him, Thomas and Verona were dancing to a tune that only they could hear. Nearby, Ifrin was berating Keanan for some mistake he had presumably made.

Laughing to himself, Barsch pushed further in.

On the table there was a cake, a miracle considering the town's still limited resources. Sybil was cutting it into pieces, while Nathan was moving between the guests, offering beverages.

And there, standing beside a window, bathed in the light, was Alza.

Alza Reveia turned and, when she saw him, flashed him a quick smile.

That alone was enough to send shivers down his spine.

He approached her, holding the wrapped gift out in his hand. She looked surprised for a moment, before taking it and unwrapping it.

A few seconds later, she held up the gift.

A locket, taken from the Reveia Estate and restored to working order.

Sheltered within was a picture. Barsch had spent countless hours debating whether he should leave it in or get rid of it. But in the end, he had not been able to destroy it.

It was a picture of Charlotte's mother.

When Alza saw it, a single tear streaked down her cheek. He wondered if it had come from her, or from Charlotte...

"Happy birthday," he said, moving to place the locket around her neck. She consented, sweeping her light blonde hair out of the way.

"Thank you, Barsch... and that comes from both of us," she said, her eyes flashing amber for a second.

She moved closer, and he panicked. Without meaning to, he closed his eyes, and a moment later he felt her lips against his cheek.

When he opened his eyes, he found her staring at him, a smile on her lips.

"Don't worry... I wouldn't want to risk a mindmeld... right now..."

He laughed, if only to clear the strange air between them. She soon joined in, her voice carrying an almost musical tone.

Together, they laughed, enjoying the world that they had both fought for.

It was well worth the fight, he decided, as he stared at the most beautiful woman in his world.

*

In a far off place, but not so far that it was beyond reach, a man looked up at the stars.

They belonged to him, and he to them. He had inherited the kingdom of the heavens, after he had been cast out from paradise.

But he had not forgotten the pain and humiliation he had faced. He had not forgotten the people who had broken their oaths and abandoned him to the void.

Never forgive. Never forget.

"Sir, I have the latest report, would you hear it?" The man who would sit the throne of heaven turned, facing the interloper. He wore a simple grey uniform, marking him as a man of experience but not necessarily ambition.

"Proceed," the self-made king said, turning back to face the stars.

"While the damage to Angel was greater than initially anticipated, repairs have been proceeding smoothly. It will not be long before we can restore it to full power."

"Excellent," said the man who would bring judgement to the world below.

"And as for the ones responsible? Do you have any new orders?"

"Kill them. If any beg for mercy, interrogate them and find out where the nest is... and then kill them too."

The man in grey bowed, sweat visible on his shaved head.

"It shall be done," he said, leaving the room.

The man who had been betrayed by those below sought out the speck of green amongst the field of white and black. Soon... soon it would be over.

They had wronged him. They had tried to kill him. They had cast him out into the void.

But soon, vengeance would be his.

"Count out every second, you who cower below," he announced, spreading his arms wide, "For the sins of man are many, and his virtues few. But I will bring you peace. I will bring you salvation."

Taking a deep breath, he shouted, directing his fury at the planet that would soon know his wrath.

"Cower, children, for I will bring you judgement!"

TO BE CONTINUED...

And so, the world will end,

Killed by its children.

And so, the world will die,

Killed by its greed.

And so, the world will be reborn,

As the burning rain falls from above.

And all shall know,

That the Seed has been Saved.

-Sage Iager

# About the Author

Hayden Pearton is an independent author, physiotherapist and all-round good guy. He is humble beyond compare, and if you can believe that, you can believe anything. He started writing when he was eighteen and hasn't stopped since. _Sunrise Sapling_ is his third work, and the second of seven in The Chronicles of New Eden.

His other works are:

The Chronicles of New Eden 1: Awakening

And

Koinophobia: A Collection of Technical Poetry

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For more information, visit my blog at https://newedenchronicles.wordpress.com

Follow me on Twitter: <https://twitter.com/hayden_pearton>

Favourite me at Smashwords: <https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/HaydenPearton>

Read my Smashwords Interview: <https://www.smashwords.com/interview/HaydenPearton>

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If you liked this book please leave a review at your favourite retailer.

Thanks for reading!

