Neckmarks

> `***"Forgive me, my dear Elysia, but I must do this for our future."***` -Ridley Vermillion
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# Prologue

Hollow walks around Seraphina's house to go practice his nail skills(again) and is interrupted to see Sera and Akira chatting. He looks to see that they always cover the right side of their necks from everyone else. Deep at night. Hollow tries to sneak around to get a better look at them both. As Sera and Akira are very deep sleepers, it's very hard to wake them up. Hollow towers them and proceeds to lift Sera's head first to see the initials '067-S'. He quietly chirps in curiosity as he carefully sets her head back down and then looks at Akira's, and it says '066-A'. As he sets his head back down, he carefully and quickly retreats back to his room.

The next morning was strangely quiet until a conversation ensues as Akira just got a new cup of coffee and Hollow signs to Sera, questioning about their marks.

Sera: *"WHAT!? YOU KNOW ABOUT OUR MARKS!?!"*

Akira spits out the coffee he drank.

Sera: *"Hollow, those are very private! You can't just go up in the middle of the night and look at them?"*

Akira: **"Sera calm down. He didn't mean to cause any harm. He was just curious is all... I mean, I told Phoenix and Alice about them, and it didn't MARK them as surprising."**

Sera: *"Of all the times you make a bad joke Aki! We promised not to tell ANYONE!!"*

Hollow: \*signs\* \*Why is it that you do not like them so much?\*

Sera: *"I just don't like looking at them, that's why! It just makes me feel like I'm forgetting...."*

As she speaks, sounds of a heart monitor beeping, a glass vial shatters, and a laser whirring up forms in her mind. Both of them when they are young are shown holding each other in fear in front of a familiar shadow.

Sera: *"Something..... important...."*

Akira: **"Hey, don't worry big sis.... it's probably nothing. Hey, didn't you want to show Hollow that restaurant you and your friends like?"**

Sera: *"Oh yeah! You're right Akira! Come on Hollow, you're gonna LOVE it! The pancakes are to DIE for."*

She grabs Hollow's hand and she drags him out where he accidentally hits his head on the door, because of his uh, "current size".

Akira: **"(sigh) If only you still remembered everything, Seraphina..... Although, I believe it's best if those kinds of things lay... forgotten."**

# Part I

## -Entry Number #####

Interesting find today.

A human speculative fiction book that theorized about creating artificial beings in a human's image. Homunculi. Clearly impossible, particularly with how vague the the book was about the process. It does make one wonder why humans would be interested in such a thing. Perhaps they lack purpose without lesser creatures to lord over. It's impossible to say.

## -Entry Number #####

Still need to adjust the core output levels. I keep returning to that human's idea... homunculi. Would such a being have an aura? It wasn't mentioned.

## -Entry Number #####

Auras are consistent in their shape. If an aura is like a biological cell, then there appears to be a standard internal structure between humans and abilitators containing that entity's power. If a similar structure or container were created artificially.

Could a powerful aura be transferred from one being to another? Could an aura survive a theoretical transplant? How much of an aura could survive the process?

Would our barriers consider a transplanted aura a living thing? Would it be possible to use the artificial container to change the properties of that being and the aura inside it? How exactly do the barriers determine what is animate or inanimate? Is it based on the aura, or something else?

## -Entry Number #####

Another one that couldn't pass the Trial of the Chosen.

Another child of the King, dead....

The Chosen Vessel hasn't been found yet.

I need to hurry....

## -Entry Number #####

I need to stop thinking about this.

I can't focus.

## -Entry Number #####

I've run every permutation of every variation on my theory. And all the simulations lead to the same conclusion...

It is possible.

Using the came principles from the capsules, remodeled into the proper shape and size, with the correct starting material and the proper environment to encourage growth. Life can begin. If I can get those other AURA remains from the "failed", to augment the flow... the potential power channeled through this being could be enough to change the future of science. The world could be at peace.

To set us free.

Not to mention, the new lifeform in and of itself would be completely invaluable. An unprecedented breakthrough in the field of artificial biology. The amount of information that could be learned from this new lifeform would be immeasurable. The possibilities thrill me. I've forgotten what this feels like.

## -Entry Number #####

Another failure. There must be something missing. I should stop before this goes too far.

No. I won't give up. I only need the DNA of my "actual children". It'll be easier to harvest it now that they are...

gone...

## -Entry Number #####

I keep asking myself what an actual human would do in this situation. What would a human do to try and protect someone they loved?

To find an answer?

To find freedom?

They don't believe in limitations.

## -Entry Number #####

I do not believe in fate.

There is only a lack of options.

## -Entry Number #####

Drawing up a list of the requirements for this experiment, I find that I am not only the ideal candidate, but the only candidate. Only I can do this. Even if I had a willing assistant to allow me to use their aura, only a powerful aura will be able to withstand the procedure. And even then, survival is not 100% certain. I am the only one left with a strong enough aura that is an option. It must be me. Even my physical body is uniquely designed and suited to donate material to this cause.

There will be an emotional cost as well, of course. And even in that regard, I am best suited. When a hypothesis is proven incorrect, one must take the new data and construct a new hypothesis based on new evidence. This applies to all things, even the concept of the self. Events have proven that I am selfish, cold, and incapable of true emotional connection with any living being.

Given previous data, it is not unreasonable to assume that I have not achieved the limits of my own capacity for cruelty. My level of violence prevents me from feeling anything for anyone, and makes me uniquely suited to what this experiment would require. Logically, I am the only one who can do this. And the best suited to do this. It may cost me my life, `but I guess I never earned it in the first place now, did I?`

## -Entry Number #####

Before I begin this project... I need to understand the costs. If I have even a fraction of a doubt about any of this... then I lack the conviction to continue, and the project is doomed from the beginning. I can't do something like this unless I'm willing to see it through to the end. Otherwise it will all be for nothing. To get the material required, I will have to mutilate myself physically... and permanently. It will likely be excruciating. Although simulations I've been running suggest I won't suffer and loss to dexterity. Getting the aura material runs a not insignificant chance of death. I've left a 10% margin of error... but even a small mistake would easily kill me. If I'm going to do this, then I must be willing to pay with my life. I must be realistic about the end results.

Even in the best case scenario, even if everything goes exactly to plan, and everything works out in the most ideal way for everyone... no one will ever forgive me for what I did to get us there. The experiments and tests I will run on this final "being" or "beings"... the environment I'll keep them in... creating life to use as a tool for other's ends... that is not something that can be forgiven. Even if salvation is found for everyone else... there will be no salvation for me. My family would never forgive me, even in death. The Pale King will never forgive me. Cardinal will never forgive me. My name will be condemned. I will be stricken from the historical records. Banned from pursuing my life's passion ever after. Definitely imprisoned. Possibly executed. And that is the best case scenario. All for the possibility of a solution. Not even a guaranteed success.

I must be willing to maintain a strict level of emotional and physical distance from the being(s) at all times... To prevent any risk of doubting myself or my course of action. I may have to do reprehensible, cruel, unbelievable things to another living being... over a sustained period of time. Do determine its limitations and potential as a tool.

I will have to turn off every emotion I have... and focus solely on my goal.

I will have to become entirely "human" in my thinking and approach to the being(s). I cannot show any signs of weakness. I cannot turn back until it is done.

I need to understand this. I need to understand and know this before I can begin.

I cannot do this unless I understand.

I cannot do this if I doubt. And I cannot do this if I am not willing to pay the price.

I can only move forward if I am truly determined to do whatever it takes to achieve my goals.

There is no point in further speculation until I've made my choice.

## -Entry Number #####

Over and over again, I have stood by and cowered helplessly while the people I loved suffered and died in front of me.

I watched families be destroyed... and said nothing. Did nothing to prevent it.

The blood is on my shoulders.

Again. And again.

I've stood by and watched these tragedies happen. Unable to care enough to try and prevent them. Time is rapidly running out. This will be my last chance to try and do something. To justify my continued existence at others' expense. I am capable of doing something. It may not succeed... but I can still act. Doing so will destroy my life. But I can still make that choice.

I am running out of time. Am I willing to risk everything on this one long shot?

Either way in the end I will lose what I love.

Is it better to try and fail or to let tragedy take it's course?

I can't sleep.

## -Entry Number #####

No turning back.

Forgive me, my dear Elysia, but I must do this. The world will finally be at peace once it's over, and our family can finally be together again.

# Part II

## -Entry Number #####

After several gruesome failures and trials, the first two 'perfect' specimens have finally developed. The consequences may have been... dire on both myself and my own emotional being, it's worth that I got two that are a success. One being a male with black hair and orange eyes, and will be identified in these notes as '**Subject 66-A''*. The other is a female with pink hair and bright cerulean eyes which are oddly brighter than the other. Perhaps a defective side effect. I shall refer to it as* 'Subject 67-S**. I've made sure both were injected with the Malice Solution before full development. The solutions inside them are to limit their Abilities from ever getting out of control, IF they can ever conjure any.

It's been 6 hours since I've removed them from the M-D solution. They are clumsy and confused, fearful. ~~They stumble and trip like chil~~

As expected, little experience in non-suspension has lead to a difficult adjustment period, particularly regarding ambulatory motion. It will come in time, I'm sure.

They are currently separated, as the nature of their interest in each other is unclear at this point. I will investigate this more carefully at a later date after they've mastered movement. They do not appear to understand me or be capable of speech - they may not be truly sentient. It will be easier if they are not.

It does not matter anyway. The line was crossed long ago, and there is no turning back now.

The male one is needier than I'd like... I need to take steps to prevent attachment.

Seven hours since removal.

The female is awake. I'm surprised that she survived at all, given her frailty, and that she's woken up again so quickly. She may be hardier than I initially thought. Which will be promising later on.

I went to observe her in person. A transcript of my notes follows.

I am keeping my distance at first. She is poking and prodding at the walls and the floor. Though she does not come near the forcefield. Maybe she senses the aura it gives off. I get the impression she is trying to find a way out. Perhaps she wants to go back to suspension? She has yet to make any sound. It's preferable to the other one's constant whining and crying. She may not be capable of it, or she may just be too focused on her exploration. I've come closer and she's caught sight of me. She's wary and suspicious, Though still silent. Obviously she sees me as a potential threat. So she's more perceptive than the other one, at least. I've taken a step closer. Her eyes flared a deep blue, interlaced with turquoise, and she backed up against the wall. Another step closer, her eyes are glowing brighter. I can sense power gathering within her AURA, but she's too ~~young~~ new to know how to make it manifest into an ability. If she could open her mouth she'd snap at me. You can't use an ability yet to defend yourself yet, as much as you try. I wonder what you'll do if I keep approaching? Closer still. She is getting quite frantic. She seems to be vibrating and shaking lightly at me, like some kind of dog. Though with the long pink hair, it doesn't seem to move as much. She stumbles onto the ground in failure. *"Hah."* At that point I decided to leave her be to attend to other matters.

The two of them differ strikingly in temperament, one docile, one hostile. Whether that will make things easier or harder, I will have to see...

An unexpected development. I left them within earshot of one another while I was clearing one of the work rooms for future use. It didn't take them long to realize the other was nearby - perhaps a side-effect of the nature of their AURAs. They made meaningless animal noises at each other. (It seems Specimen 067 IS capable of it after all) nothing unusual or noteworthy, but then... They begin to babble. I could recognize the noises they were stringing together. Bits and pieces of things I'd said to them... They even mimicked my tone of voice, though clearly without understanding. ***They can speak. They can learn. They are sentient after all.*** I specifically accelerated their growth because I didn't want them to look like children, I don't want them to SOUND like children-! It's.... unnecessary. I will introduce them to each other tomorrow with the proper precautions in place. This wasn't in my plans, but one must always be ready to improvise. We'll see what happens.

This is it. Subjects 66 and 67 are going to meet.

I'm keeping a tight hold on both their auras.

So if they fall to fighting it should be a matter of moments to separate them before either is hurt. It's best to be prepared. I'm not entirely sure what to expect. They've seen each other... they seem at a loss for what to do. Specimen 67 seems wary. Subject 66's eyes have begun glowing a warm red-orange color. Subject 67 began glowing a light blue in response. This seems to have calmed them a little. They are approaching each other... and 66 puts his hand on her face. They are curious about the other, as one may expect. They are the first living thing they've seen aside from myself, after all. They are very eager and quick to learn. Already their level of speech has advanced at an astonishing rate just by speaking to each other. '66 accidentally steps on 67's foot, and that gives her a sharp pain. She yelps but 66 quiets her quickly.'

A: **"Shh! Shh!! No cry!!** 'He rubs on her foot to ease the pain.' **See. One okay. One no-mal."**

As one learns something new, so the other builds off of what they've learned to new heights; A mutual scaffolding.

'Shockingly, 66-A embraces 67-S quickly between his arms. She looks up at him and smiles. As they continue, a small blueish orange light begins to radiate around them.'

...And they are getting very attached to each other very quickly. If I want the two to mentally mature rapidly, leaving them together seems the most obvious choice. At the same time... emotional bonds like this carry their own risks. On the other hand... Perhaps those bonds can be exploited later? Should the need arise.

## -Entry Number #####

Steady progress at a rapid rate. They can speak in sentences now.

Specimen 66 is quiet and soft spoken. A lower-caser, I'm sure. Without much attention to detail and taken to mumbling. 67, however, is more confident and clear-uppercase, like myself, a voice that demands attention, yet is also attentive to detail.

It doesn't matter what their fonts are, I did not notice, and it does not matter.

They cry and carry on whenever I have to separate them, but I cannot risk leaving them alone unsupervised until Specimen 66 can understand 67's condition.

A: **"What's that mean?"**

Vermillion: ***"It means that even if you accidentally hurt Specimen 67 even a little bit, she will die."***

A: **"What's 'die'?"**

Vermillion: ***"It means that she will shut down, and you will never see her again."***

\*66-A begins to shake up and cry\*

Vermillion: ***"Stop crying. I'm talking to you."***

Since our little "chat", 66 has been has been very careful around 67. It's good to know they could learn at least to *some* extent.

## -Entry Number #####

Since I moved them into the same room, they are much quieter and easier to work with.

They chatter constantly.

## -Entry Number #####

Whenever I go to see them, they are holding or touching each other. They are desperate for physical contact. At least they won't ask it from me.

They even sleep like that.

It doesn't seem like it'd be comfortable.

Sometimes, I can feel their auras growing in unison.

I believe it is when they are dreaming.

## -Entry Number #####

They are voracious eaters and given their rapid development, it makes sense.

Out of curiosity, I gave them half a portion one night to see what they would do. They split the difference.

I suspect given only a crumb, they'd find a way to share it, I don't know where they learned to be so selfless with each other.

It's not a trait I'd think would be inborn.

## -Entry Number #####

I gave them one pillow to see who'd assert dominance and claim it for their own.

When I checked on them, they had torn it up and were playing with the stuffing.

It seems both share everything.

## -Entry Number #####

They never stop asking me questions. At least their vocabulary is growing.

I did make an annoying error once while I was distracted.

A: **"What is she? What are we? Is she... me? Am I her?"**

Vermillion: ***"No, you are not the same person."***

A: **"Then what are we?"**

Vermillion: *"You are things. Though I suppose* technically *one could say you were siblings, like brother and sister-"*

S: *"Brother and sister? He's my brother?"*

A: **"Are you our brother too?"**

Vermillion: ***"I created you both."***

A: **"But... what are you? Are you us? What are you to us? And what are we to you?"**

Vermillion: ***"Quiet."***

They unfortunately latched onto the words...

Brother this, sister that.

Perhaps they'll grow out of it.

I should've been more careful with my wording.

*Things cannot be siblings.*

## -Entry Number #####

They're starting to read.

I'm being careful about what I give them. I don't want them getting ideas about the outside world.

Specimen 67 is a fast learner. 66, less so. He struggles minorly with reading, and my hope is that he ~~inherited my~~ It's a physical problem with his eyes and not a mental one. Bad eyes can be fixed.

Even with 67's help, he still experiences difficulty.

He interprets even the clearest directions in strange ways.

He seems intent on sabotaging himself at every turn.

67, at least seems very clever....

S: "Why don't we ever see anyone else down here? Are we a secret or something?"

Perhaps too much so for her own good at times.

## -Entry Number #####

They smile when I come to see them.

They ask me what I do outside.

They ask me if they can go outside.

## -Entry Number #####

I've made a huge mistake...

I've waited too long. The Project is in danger. My objectivity has-is at risk of being compromised. I cannot afford further delay.

They are still childlike, but no more time can be wasted. Even this, in the end, was a foolish diversion.

It does not matter if they can understand. It does not matter what they look like or if they can think, and what they feel.

This is not what I made them for.

I need to regain my focus. I need to regain control. I need to remember why I am doing this.

'I begin to measure 66's neck, readying him for the operation.'

A: **"Why don't my hands look like yours?"**

Vermillion: ***"You and Specimen 67 don't look alike, do you?"***

A: **"I guess not-"**

I knew when I began what this would entail. I knew what I'd have to do. I knew there'd be no going back, no forgiveness. Decisions were made all for the greater purpose, to create these living tools to even consider... such selfish sentimentality gets people killed.

There can be only one choice. There is *only* one choice.

I told myself I'd make whatever sacrifices necessary to achieve my goals. I'm not going back on my word.

I'm the only one who can do this. Who WILL do this. There are no other options.

I'm going to bring peace to this world, and the ones beyond it.

No matter what it takes... the greatest test of my strength...

I. AM. DETERMINED.

'66 is strapped to his side where only his neck is exposed.'

Vermillion: ***"Can you move?"***

A: **"N... No. It... It's hard to breathe... I... I'm scared."**

Vermillion: ***"....Good. You should be scared of me."***

'The laser drill in my hands begins to whir and start as 66 looks at me with trembling fear.'

I. Can't. Fail.

It is done. They asked me, begged me, screamed at me to stop. When I did not, they called out for their "sibling" to save them. When they did not, they called out for someone, *anyone*, to help them, BUT NOBODY CAME.

A lesson we all must learn at some point. It is done, and I must admit, a part of me is curious now what they will do. Their limited worldview must be completely shattered. What will they build out of the pieces? Can they even understand what just happened to them? How will they adapt the this new paradigm? What will change?

## In their cell

A: **"Nngh-! My neck hurts, it won't come off- I hate it! I hate it, why did he do this to us???"**

S: *"I knew it, I knew it, I knew we shouldn't - I knew we couldn't trust him-"*

A: **"What did we do wrong??? I don't understand, we... we were good, weren't we?**

S: "It wasn't us, WE didn't do anything wrong. It was HIM, he *wanted* to-to do this to us-"

A: **"Maybe... Maybe he was worried we'd get lost, or, or, it's magic and will protects us from something, or-"**

S: "Are you serious!? How can you even say that?! How long were you screaming while he was burning that into your neck?!"

A: **"Maybe he had to do it that way!"**

S: "Yeah, but not for the reason you think. We're just things to him... he's always said that. He doesn't care about us- he's never cared about us, and who's going to stop him? No one even knows we're down here, and it's not like we can get out-"

realization kicks in\*

S: "God, oh my god... What is he going to do to us? This isn't going to stop, it's just going to get worse... Oh god-"

A: **"No... No, no, he won't! He won't, he's not like that! He's not- he's not going to-"**

S: "Look at your neck, for god's sake!! Don't you get what's going on here?! Don't you get what we ARE to him??"

A: **"That's not- that's not what's going to happen- He's not going to hurt us anymore!"**

'They both start to talk over each other at this point, as 66 covers his ears from 67's rambling. Both begin to form tears over their eyes as they argue.'

S: "Are you JOKING?!? What do you think just happened!!! What on Earth do you think is going to make him STOP??

A: **"He's not- He's not going to hurt us anymore, I know it, he helped me once, he's not a bad person, he's-"**

\*They stop talking over each other as 67 continues\*

S: "Not a bad person except for *these*. Open your eyes!! Can't you tell, he's not going to stop, why would he?"

A: **"He's not- He's-"**

S: "What has he ever done for us except-"

A: "He's not going to- He's not-"

'66 suddenly gets PTSD, and he keeps breathing quickly as his eyes become bright orange while 67 tries to calm him'

S: "Woah, woah, woah hey, are you okay? Jeez- calm down, calm down, hey, can you hear me?"

'67's eyes glow a dull blue as she keeps holding him to her.'

S: "Hey shhh, shh calm down, come on. Deep breaths okay? I'm scared too, alright? But we're okay. We're both okay. I'll figure something out. Don't worry, calm down."

A: **"It can't, he can't... there has to be good in him, there has to be, there just has to be..."**

S: "Shhhh, shhhhhh. Breathe okay? Just try to breathe."

A: **"He has to stop, he has to stop, he has to. He... He..... It... It won't get any worse than this... right...?"**

'Both 67 and Vermillion conversate with each other some time after.'

S: "Why did you do that to him? He never did anything to you. He didn't deserve that."

Vermillion: *"And you did? Does only his suffering matter to you? Interesting."*

S: "Why did you make us? Why are you doing this to us? . . .Is someone making you do this? Is that it? Do you not have a choice?"

\*In an instant, the doctor's phone rings\*

Vermillion: *"I thought I turned this off-"*

\*He picks it up\*

Vermillion: *"Yes Dr. Cardinal, what is it? Yes... I'm fine. Is something wrong? ...Late? Late for what? ...Yes, but that's tomorrow, isn't it? ...Is it really...? Are you sure?"*

\*67 looks to her right and quietly dashes out of the room, heading towards the forcefield room where her brother is locked in\*

Vermillion: *"...I... I must have lost track of time... ...I know, it's not like me, but I... I haven't gotten much sleep lately."*

\*As 67 dashes across the halls, he voice fades\*

Vermillion: *"...No, I'm alright, don't worry. I'm fine. I've just... had a lot on my mind..."*

S: Bro! Bro!

A: **"Sister!! How did you get outside?"**

S: "I snuck away while he wasn't looking- I'm gonna get you out, okay? Then we're gonna get out of here!

A: **"Oh, yay! But... how?"**

S: "Um... I'm still working on that part. Uh... he does something to the wall when he opens it, doesn't he?"

A: **"Yeah, he touches that thing over there, I think. Maybe put your hand on it!"**

S: "Ok... mmph! It's not working, only one of the lights went on!"

A: **"Try using two hands!"**

S: "He only uses one though."

A: **"Well his hands are big, and you have little baby hands."**

S: "I do not have baby hands!"

A: **"You have the most itty bitty hands, sister, like tiny little- AAAHH!!"**

\*Suddenly, 67 is picked up from the ground\*

S: "Hgh- NO!!!"

Vermillion: *"Apparently I'm going to have to keep a closer eye on you. You're slipperier than I thought."*

A: **"Are... are we in trouble...?"**

Vermillion: *"Yes. Under other circumstances, it'd be sufficient to punish only you, Specimen 67, but your 'frailty' makes it difficult. So.... you BOTH will be coming with me!"*

S: Don't- don't hurt him!! He didn't do anything he didn't DO ANYTHING!!

\*He gives a sharp look at 67 as she is in his grasp\*

Vermillion: "Think about that the next time you run from me."

## -Entry Number #####

I have a theory. Both subjects glow unnaturally and powerfully, unusually so from the last test subjects.

Although admittedly... There aren't many left of them us to compare.

I do suspect the unique nature of their AURAs has something to do with it, but it needs proper investigation.

67's eyes are large, and the AURA from her glow is quite strong. She seems to be the best candidate. If the healing tinge I sensed is truly present, it can be replicated, or even enhanced...

Maybe there's hope for my body after all...

## -Entry Number #####

Failure.

67 seems to be more fragile than I thought. The right eye is broken. Preliminary tests indicate temporary blindness, and the AURA will eventually heal in time.

I suppose we're a matching set.

\*A looks at her as she cries. Both of his eyes glow a bright orange at her where when she glows, only her left eye glows blue."

Knowledge always comes at a price. Sometimes that is the nature of things. One cannot always expect perfect answers. I was not able to find and isolate the healing aspect as I'd hoped, but I believe I may be onto something that is very, very, interesting.

I will need to observe her carefully while she recovers. And if I'm correct, well... it could change everything.

As for the damage, well... analysis suggests that eyeglowing is essential to to a prototype's emotional well-being. Without full access to the ABILITY, 67-S may develop... problems.

Well... that's why I made two of them this time.

\*in a testing room\*

Vermillion: *"Stay still.":*

A: **"Are you listening to me?! You broke her eye! You broke my sister's eye! She needed that to glow!!"**

Vermillion: *(sigh) Yes, that was unfortunate. She's weaker than I thought..."*

A: **"How could you?? How could you, she needed that eye!!"**

Vermillion: *"She'll just have to deal with it. The damage is already done, it's too late now."*

A: **"WHY!? What did you do to her!?"**

Vermillion: *"The same thing I'm going to do to you. Stop squirming, you do not want to be out of alignment when the emitter is on."*

A: **"WHAT. NO!! NO, NO!! STOP!! WHAT IF YOU BREAK MY EYE TOO???"**

Vermillion: *"Then we'll have just three between us all I suppose. But I don't intend to make the same mistake again. I've adjusted the output, and you're much stronger than Specimen 67. I think time, I'm going to make a breakthrough."*

A: **"NO! NO, DON'T!! DON'T!! PLEASE, STOP!!"**

Vermillion: *"What did I say about squirming?"*

A: **"PLEASE, DON'T!! I NEED MY EYES!! I NEED BOTH OF THEM SO I CAN GLOW FOR HER! PLEASE!! PLEASE I HAVE TO!! I *HAVE* TO!!"**

Vermillion: *"I already told you, I have no intention of blinding you. In fact quite the opposite. But if you don't follow my directions very carefully, you may blind yourself regardless. Do you understand?"*

A: **"Please... Please, don't, she needs me to... she needs me..."**

\*the machine whirs loud\*

Vermillion: *"Now, eyes forward. Don't move. And no matter what you do,* don't *blink."*

\*an hour later\*

Vermillion: *"Are you awake?"*

A: **"Hngh. Ugh... Nngh... What happened? Why can't I see?"**

Vermillion: *"There was a malfunction and all the energy flowed into your other eye during the procedure."*

\*66 freaks out in pain as the light pours out of his eyes like a giant liquid flame as Vermillion takes notes in the corner\*

Vermillion: "It was a rather spectacular lightshow, actually."

A: **"D-Does that mean?"**

Vermillion: *"You are not blind, if that's what you're afraid of. You can't see because of the bandages. It'll probably take a day or two for you to recover. Though, the power of that machine may have permanently damaged your vision, but not enough to the extent that you'll be blinded."*

A: **"Does... that mean I can still glow...?"**

Vermillion: *"...Yes, it shouldn't have affected that ability in any way."*

A: **"Then... what did you do to me?"**

Vermillion: *"When the bandages are off, and your eyes have healed... you will see."*

A: **"See...? You mean, because my eyes will be open?"**

Vermillion: *"In a sense. Come on. If you're awake, then you can go back to your cell. Specimen 67 can keep an eye on you. I have to get back to work."*

A: **"Uh... you aren't going to help carry me? Because, I can't really see..."**

Vermillion: *"... I've..."*

\*a heart monitor beeps as he heals 66-A\*

Vermillion: *"Expended a lot of AURA energy in me lately. I'm tired. You can walk."*

A: **"Um..."**

\*he almost reaches his hands out to 66-A but quickly pulls back\*

Vermillion: *"Here, Hold on to m-this."*

\*he expels a silent assistant drone to hold on to 66-A as he walks\*

A: **"...Can I ask you something?"**

Vermillion: *"..."*

A: **"You said, before, that you weren't going to make the same mistake again."**

Vermillion: *"Yes, and I did not. You will be able to see just fine."*

A: **"But, that means you hurt my brother by mistake, doesn't it? That you didn't mean to?"**

Vermillion: *"...Damaging her eye was not in my plans, no."*

A: **"So... you didn't want to hurt him."**

Vermillion: *"...Specimen 67 is too delicate to hurt carelessly."*

A: **"So, does that mean you won't hurt us anymore? Oh, that's such a relief! I knew-"**

Vermillion: *"I will do, what I have to. ...And what people need me to. If that requires hurting either of you then so be it. I will see this through the end. It's already too late to turn back."*

A: **"But... isn't there some other way? Maybe we can help you... It doesn't have to be like this. *You* don't have to be like this-"**

Vermillion: "If you want to help me, you will be silent and obedient. I don't have time for this."

A: "Do you... hate us?"

\*he stops for a moment, thinking about if things could be different. S sits on his lap as she reads a book to him. A laughs as he leans his head on Vermillion as he watches the book. Vermillion says *"Good job daughter. Oh come on, we got to get your dinner"*, and he happily chuckles a little. Another scene shows with him leaving his house as both of them say **"Bye Dad, see you after work!**" He smiles at them and closes the door.\*

Vermillion: "...I don't feel anything for you."

A: **". . .I'm going to tell my sister that you did it by accident. I'm going to tell her you didn't mean to hurt her."**

Vermillion: "...Tell her whatever you like. Come on."

\*meanwhile back at the cell\*

A: **"What do you think he meant? He said 'see' like it meant something more than just normal seeing."**

S: "I don't know... he didn't say that to me."

A: **"He said he'd fixed the... uh, laser thing, since the last time he... uh, did you. Did he tell you what he was doing?"**

S: "...I don't really remember. I passed out pretty fast."

A: **"Oh. But, uh... he said I could still glow! So, you don't have to worry about that."**

S: "That's not what I'm worried about."

A: **"Oh. Uh, he said I'm not blind either! He's going to take them off in a few days! He said I just need these things called 'glasses'. I think it's those things he has over his eyes. I'm fine!"**

S: "That's not it either."

A: **"?"**

S: "...Don't worry about it. It's probably nothing."

\*they both drift off to sleep until S notices two other people behind the force field. One of them is tall, with glasses and black hair, and a red bandana on their neck. He wears a short-sleeve and shorts. The other is a little shorter than the taller one. She has pink hair and bright blue eyes, and she looks at the cell in a strange nostalgic manner. She wears a regular long-sleeve and jeans. He tries to look closer and they disappear.\*

S: "Bro! Bro, wake up! Wake up!!!"

A: **"mmnh?"**

S: "Wake up! Wake up, I saw something!"

A: **"What do you mean?"**

S: "I saw something! I saw something outside the beams!"

A: **"Mmph, what'd you see?"**

S: "I saw... I think I saw us."

A: **"Us?"**

S: "Yeah, but... we looked different."

A: **"Different? What do you mean? Different how?"**

S: "...different."

A: **"Can you still see us? Maybe he put a mirror there. Maybe he's testing us."**

S: "No... It's gone now. I just saw it for a second."

A: **"That's weird... Do you think that's what he meant about seeing?"**

S: "... is that what he meant...? But, what does that mean?"

A: **"(yawn) Maybe you were dreaming?"**

S: "Maybe.....maybe.....let's keep this between you and me, alright?"

## \*Next Day\*

Vermillion: *"Subject 66, come out here."*

A: **"Uh, okay. Where are we going?"**

Vermillion: *"Shh. Now, I have opened several normally locked doors. You have three minutes to find a place to hide. When those minutes are up, I will come find you. Don't bother coming back to try and release Subject 67, the door lock will not open."*

A: **"Uh... okay. What if you don't find me? Do I win?"**

Vermillion: *"This isn't a game. Go."*

'The hiding places 66-A chose were as followed. In a cabinet, under a box, above a filing drawer, and behind a corner.'

Vermillion: *"Alright Subject 67, it's your turn. You have three minutes to go and hide."*

S: "What, not going to break my legs first? How thoughtful of you."

Vermillion: *"You're wasting time."*

'67-S was found trying to open one of the vents, I found her hiding under a desk, under a sheet, and I found her failing to open one of the door locks.'

Vermillion: *"Now, both of you go hide. You get five minutes. Four minutes and fifty five seconds."*

S: "What are you up to?"

A: **"Come on sister, I know a really good hiding spot this time!!"**

'I found both A and S trying to climb onto each other to a higher vantage point, found both trying to open one of the door locks, and both were found hiding inside a large cardboard box. Their glowing eyes and 66's spectacles gave off a hint.'

Vermillion (To himself): "Accounting for traveling the distance....hmm."

A: "Ugh, I really thought we'd really win that one for sure!"

S: "Why are we doing this?"

Vermillion: "To test something... and to prove a point."

A: "I had a really good spot that time, I don't get it!!! How do you keep finding us? It's not fair!"

Vermillion: "I will always find, no matter how far you run, and no matter where you hide."

A: "But why! Are you cheating or something? ...I don't get it."

## \*Next Day\*

S: "Hey, I don't know if you know this, but sticking stuff near someone's eye is kinda uncomfortable."

Vermillion: *"It'd be easier if you'd stop squirming."*

S: "Sorry, for some reason it's hard to relax whenever you're near my eyes. Can't imagine why."

Vermillion: *"Yes, yes, you'll just have to survive somehow. Stay still."*

S: "What are you even doing anyway?"

Vermillion: *"I'm setting up focal points for the energy matrix. Once complete, it'll deliver a low-level energy pulse through the designated area."*

S: "And... why? Do you even need a reason for the stuff you do?"

Vermillion: "I'm hoping it will draw a response from your AURA and rekindle the eye."

S: "...You're trying to fix me?"

Vermillion: "Yes. Your broken eye does me no more good than it does you, you know. It's very inconvenient."

S: "Inconvenient-"

Vermillion: "Physical damage is one thing, but impaired eye-glowing opens up a whole new host of potential emotional problems to deal with. . .And, as you've probably gathered, emotions aren't my strong suit?"

S: ". . .Did... you just make a joke?"

Vermillion: "Now, stay still and try to relax. It should be relatively painless at an intensity, then as time goes on-"

\*S sees the cord spark and notices it spark out of the outlet and her eyes widen in shock\*

S: "Look out!"

\*She shoves him off before an explosion occurs. He flies into the wall. As the mist clears, he sees 67-S on the floor with gray eyes, and her face being very injured. She has an emotionless, soulless face.\*

Vermillion: "No no NO-!"

\*A large, green & purple AURA forms around both, as Vermillion tries to heal 67-S, but it fails.\*

\*A black shade of 67-S is seen falling upside down, meaning she's fading.\*

Vermillion: *"I... I can't maintain this."*

\*A shade of his hand grabs her foot as the foot almost slips in his hand.\*

Vermillion: *"I've got to get her stabilized-"*

\*he quickly rushes to a room and he places her down onto a small platform. He puts a small breather mask on her and activates a glass veil that closes over her and the veil begins to fill with a very blue solution. Once its filled, small mechanical hands inside the machine work on stabilizing her. Vermillion sits down and leans on the regenerator, exhausted, and his phone rings\*

Vermillion: *"Yes, Cardinal, what is it...? Yes, I'm alright... it just startled me, that's all. . . .Well, if the power's still on, then the Core must have stabilized. Do you have any readings from before the surge...? . . .Yes, I'll meet you over there. Just. . . give me a few minutes."*

## \*Next Day\*

Vermillion: *"Failure, failure, failure. If enthusiasm equaled adeptness, you'd be less a disappointment, 66-A. Hmm? Where's my color cube?"*

\*A works on the color cube in his cell as he hums a little song until he's shocked by Vermillion\*

Vermillion: *"Subject 66."*

A: **"D-Don't be mad! Don't be mad, I, I just-"**

Vermillion: *"How did you get that without my noticing?"*

A: **"I really liked- I-I wanted to practice! So, so I can show you how good I am at puzzles, it seems I'm-I'm really good at these kinds of things-"**

Vermillion: *"Subject 66."*

A: **"I am, I really am, see, look. look, it's all X's! And, and to solve it you have to make them all O's, it-"**

Vermillion: *"Subject 66. Give me the cube."*

A: **"I... I think it's really clever, I don't think anyone could come up with a puzzle like this, I think it's really good...."**

\*He grabs him with his slender, long arm and pulls him to the force field bars\*

Vermillion: *"Give. Me. The cube."*

\*he gives Vermillion the cube\*

Vermillion: *"You are never to take anything back to your cell again, especially without informing me or the consequences will be dire. Do you understand?"*

A: **". . .I'm sorry."**

\*Vermillion shudders and his heart beats loudly as he hears 66-A said that, but he quickly shook it off and left\*

Vermillion: *". . .Don't do this again."*

A: **"...When will my sister come back? I... I wanted to show her my puzzle..."**

Vermillion: *"...67-S is healing poorly. She has yet to regain consciousness."*

A: **"Oh... I hope she comes back soon..."**\*he knees down in the cell and silently cries\*

(He looks at A crying and sighs)

Vermillion: *"If you behave, I may return the cube later."*

\*A's eyes glow bright orange with his tears running down his glasses\*

A: **"Really? You mean it??? Thank you!!"**

Vermillion: *"Never do this again...."*

\*he sits at his desk with a sad and stressed expression as 67's face is half healed in the back behind him.\*

Vermillion: *"...God, what am I doing?"*

## -Entry Number #####

67-S will not wake up.

She does not respond to any power or Abilities I can muster. It's like holding water in your hands. Her AURA is still intact, but she lingers between life and death, unable to commit to either. If she was doing this to spite me, I would not be surprised. This would be a less serious problem if that were the case.

The will to live is everything.... Without it....

I may have to consider. . . other methods.

Vermillion: *"Come with me."*

A: **"What is it?"**

Vermillion: *"Do not dawdle. Come on."*

A: **"Okay then... where are we going? Are we going to see my sister?"**

Vermillion: *"Yes."*

A: **"Oh yay!! I was really worried about her!! Is she okay, is she going to come back-"**

Vermillion: *"67-S is about to die."*

A: "**WHAT?!?! WHY?!? WHAT HAPPENED??? IS SHE-"**

Vermillion: *"Her AURA is intact, but she refuses to wake despite"*

A: **"I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO FIX HER!!! I-"**

Vermillion: *"Don't interrupt me. ...She refuses to wake despite my efforts. I need you to test my theory."*

A: **"What do you mean, how can you not- That doesn't make any sense, you're so much stronger than us!! You can do anything!! Why can't you heal her???"**

Vermillion: *"Power is an expression of a human's AURA. IT reflects the self like a mirror. As a person grows... or changes... so too does their Power develop and... shift. Certain consequences are unavoidable. Since I... ...began this project, I've lost- I'm losing the ability to heal."*

A: **"Really? That's... that's awful, I'm sorry."**

Vermillion: *"I knew there'd be a price to pay. I've made my choices, and I will live with them. But it means I have to resort to other methods."*

A: **"Like.... me?"**

Vermillion: *"Yes."*

A: **"But.... I've never healed anyone before! I don't even know how! What if I can't do it??"**

Vermillion: *"Then she will die."*

A: **"No.... no, she can't, she can't...."**

Vermillion: *"But I believe my theory will be correct."*

A: **"SISTER!!!"**

\*as A screams sister to S, Vermillion watches them. As he keeps telling her to wake up, a bright green aurora swirls around them both.\*

Just as I thought, I don't have to explain a single step. He already knows what to do, right down to his bones. His AURA lights up the air, with sparks of life. Protons, electrons. Effortless, as predicted.

\*A shade of A forms. He sees S's shade crouched in a fetal position. As A's shade runs towards her sister's. a wall of bars forms between them. A tries to reach for his sister, but its no use. The Shade looks at her brother reaching for her, but she becomes sad and turns back. S's shade stops, and is also sad. A is crying for his sister as he sobbingly says **"You have to..."**\*

It echoes within, distinct but familiar... and untouchable. But what else can one expect when sound hits an empty void.

\*S's shade still doesn't turn to look, and A's shade tries its hardest to reach her. S's shade turns to see her brother crying for her to reach, and she cries for him as well, and she slowly reaches her hand out. 66-A silently says **"Please, wake up...."** A small tear comes out and lands on S's face, as the two shades touch hands. S's eyes slowly open, and she weakly looks at her brother and smiles.\*

S: "Brother....?"

\*He looks at her surprised for a second and then sobbingly smiles at her" **"There you are! There you are... there you are..."**

We all make choices.

## -Entry Number #####

\*S and Vermillion were walking down the hallways to one of the testing rooms\*

S: "So hey, I noticed something new in that cozy little home of ours."

Vermillion: *"Oh here we go."*

S: "Oh, you already know what I'm talking about? So you're a mind reader, *and* a sadist. Did you have to kill *a lot* of babies to learn that, or just a few?"

Vermillion: *"Yes, yes, You're very clever and I'm deeply wounded. Let's not do this today."*

S: "Hey, I don't want lasers shot in my eye again either, but I get the feeling it's gonna happen anyway. Things don't work out the way you want sometimes, huh?"

Vermillion: *"I don't want to discuss it."*

S: "You're pretty good at the mind reading thing. But not so good at the whole, you know... 'kindness' thing. Which is why I'm wondering how my brother got that color cube. If he stole it, then you would've taken it back by now, right? But you seem pretty happy to let him keep it. Why is that?"

Vermillion: *"Subject 66 is an idiot. Practicing outside of the tests may improve his scores."*

S: "My brother's not dumb!"

Vermillion: *"His results say otherwise."*

S: "He's not dumb, you just don't get how he thinks"

Vermillion: *"Poorly by all measures."*

S: "But, okay. Fine, you say you gave it to him to practice with. Okay. Thing is, he told me..."

Vermillion: *"Ugh, you two talk too much."*

\*Vermillion picks up his coffee cup about to have a sip.\*

S: "Not like we got anything else to do. My bro said he apologized to you for taking the cube."

Vermillion: *"As well he should. I still don't know how he managed it."*

S: "You shouldn't underestimate him so much, you know."

Vermillion: *"Spare me your lectures."*

S: "He said you flinched when he apologized." \*He flinches and bumps his cup before he gets his sip.\* "Yeah, he noticed. He's more observant than you think, too. So then he said he asked you when I'd be coming back. And when you didn't know, he get real upset about it."

Vermillion: *"Subject 66 can be very emotional."*

S: "Not like you, huh? Which is what I don't get, because he told me that's when you offered to give him the cube. If I didn't know better, I'd think it was because you felt bad for him. But hey, you never feel bad about anything, do you?"

Vermillion: *"That's enough talking."*

## \*Next Day\*

\*Vermillion puts an eye bandage over 67's damaged eye.

S: "mmgh-Ow."

Vermillion: *"There, now leave it on this time."*

S: "Why, it's not like it can get anymore broken."

Vermillion: *"There's very little room for error with you when it comes to your health. Leave it on."*

S: "...Why am I like this?"

Vermillion: *"Be more specific."*

S: "Why am I so... small?"

Vermillion: *"Here."* \*he gives her a blank sheet of paper\* *"Rip this piece of paper exactly in half. Quickly, don't think about it."* \*she rips it and a small piece comes off\* *"You see? One piece is bigger. That is the nature of ripping things into pieces. You cannot expect precision. Come on, 66-A is waiting."*

\*in the cell\*

A: **"MMPH, OW!"**

S: "Stay still, I'm not as good at healing as you."

A: **"I know, it just stings a little."**

S: "It looks like the bruises are gone. How's the eye?"

A: **"Uh, better? It doesn't hurt. I keep seeing weird things. Like you and me, but we're not you and me. We look different. Weird."**

S: "Yeah, you'll learn to tune it out."

A: **"You know, I was talking to him today-"**

S: "Ugh, why even bother?"

A: **"And I think we made some progress! He hesitated for at least ten seconds before picking up the hammer, and he only told me to stop talking twice! I know I can get through to him, I just have to keep trying! I'm sure of it!!"**

\*S smiles at him\*

S: "I don't get how you do it."

A: **"Do what?"**

S: "You know... see what you see in him. Or in anything. He's never shown mercy to us before, I don't see him starting any time soon, you know?"

A: **"He has it in him somewhere, I'm sure of it. He could be good, if he wanted to. If he just tried."**

S: "I don't know how you can believe in anything good down here. Kindness, mercy.... when have we ever seen any of that?"

A: **"Don't be silly, sister! Of course I've seen goodness and kindness! I have you! And that's enough proof for me that the world isn't just meanness! He didn't have to make you too, right? But he did! He doesn't have to let us be together and help each other, but he does! He didn't have to give me this, but he did! And... you didn't have to be nice to me either, but you are. You always are, no matter what. So, if someone like you can exist in a place like this... Then there's something good in him still, I know it. There's hope for him, and there's hope for us! We just have to keep trying. I'm not going to give up."**

'S embraces A as she smiles to him.' S: "Heh. Well, who the hell could argue with that?"

## \*Next Night\*

A: **"Do you think he's gone?"**

She fidgets with the color cube. S: "Lights out usually means he's heading home. We should be good."

S hands the color cube over to A. S: "Want it? I'm bored."

A: **"Can you really not see anything?"**

S: "That's what I told him."

A: **"I want to try."**

S: "Come on bro, I'm tired."

A: **"Sister."**

S: "Ok, ok."

A: **"Take my hand."**

S: "Why?"

A: **"I think it'll help."**

S: "Heh, alright. If you say so."

Both close their eyes and are transferred to 67-S seeing herself becoming gut-punched by Phoenix as she kneels into the snow in a faze of red and white.

A: **"What do you see?"**

S: "I see.... red... and white... What about you?"

A: **"I see blue and yellow... and pink...and blue... Do you know what this means? Sister, we're not *here*. Someday we're going to get *out* of here. Someday we're going to be *free*."**

67-S begins to sob. S: "I hope so."

They both hug as 66-A's eyes begin to flash a bright orange.

S: "God I hope so..."

## \*Next Day\*

S: "HhHh I'm dying... I'm dying I'm dying...."

A: **"You're not dying. You're going to be okay. This happens every time he does one of these, remember? And you got through all of those okay. Don't worry."**

S: "IT's not the same, it's not... I saw.... I saw red and white again, red and white, red and white over and over. And then... and then it all just stopped, there was nothing. There was just- There was just...nothing and it won't... it won't go away...

A: **"What do you mean?"**

She grows hysterical as she babbles on.

S: "It won't... go away, I can't... I can't see. I can't see anything. I'm blind, I'm finally blind, he finally did it-"

A: **"Listen. You're going to be okay. Your vision's always come back before. You just need to calm down. Look, I'll tell you what I see okay? You trust me don't you?"**

S: "hhh... hh... yeah... yeah, I trust you..."

A: **"Do you know what I see? I see... A lot of white... There's a lot of white everywhere... That must be what the floor looks like outside. There's a big house... I can see it. It's all sorts of colors, just like our eyes. And there are... people, lots of nice people who want to be friends. But the most important thing I see is... you sister. You are with me, we are together, and we are safe. And you look happy. That... is what I see. You're going to be okay. I've got you. As long as we're together, we'll be okay."**

## \*Next Day\*

66-A's head is incredibly bruised and he's wearing a neck brace at the time. 67-S is fidgeting with the color cube again.

A: **"...Do you think I'm dumb?"**

S: "What makes you say that?"

A: **"When he took me in today... I asked him why he was doing this."**

Vermillion jots down notes as 66-A is strapped in the table.

A: **"And he said you were the smart one and I wouldn't understand even if he told me. So I asked him why he kept hurting us, since I don't remember doing anything wrong. And he said something like..... *'He could do all these things because he was strong, like people needed him to be. He'd committed a "level of violence" that made him like this'*... Something like that, and he said you can't go back. But... I don't think that's true. There has to be a way to make him go back! There just has to be. There has to be a way to make him stop. I thought, if he was like this because of violence, then maybe the way to fix it was... not that. So I told him, even if he'd done a lot of bad things, it wasn't too late and could still change and be good instead. Everyone can be good. I could even help him be good... if he wanted to... And he said I was even stupider than he thought. ...D-Do you think I'm stupid?"**

S: "No, brother, You're the brightest thing down here."

## \*Next Day\*

Vermillion is checking up on 66-A after the last test. He shines a flashlight at 66-A's eyes. 66-A's head is not bruised anymore, but he's still wearing the neck brace.

A: **"What's a 'level of violence'?"**

Vermillion: *"Mm?"*

A: **"You said, you'd committed a level of violence... what does that mean?"**

Vermillion: *"It means that once you commit an act of violence, it becomes easier to do so again."*

A: **"So, if you hurt someone-"**

Vermillion: *"Let's not be coy."* He reaches into a medical box. *"If you kill someone, it makes it easier to kill again."*

A: **"You... you've killed someone?"**

Vermillion: *"Yes."*

A: **"But... why? Why would you do something like that?"**

Vermillion: *"Does it really matter why? They are still dead because of me, and I'm still alive."* He picks up his coffee cup. *"Any reasons or justifications for doing so would only be for my emotional benefit. They are still dead. The damage done by the act will not change."*

A: **"Damage?"**

Vermillion: *"To kill leaves an indelible mark on the soul. Nothing you do can take it away. It is a permanent change in perspective."*

A: **"That's awful."**

Vermillion: *"There are benefits."*

A: **"WHAT?? How could there be-"**

Vermillion: *"I've been studying the effects of murder on the AURA for some time. I know it must sound impossible to you. But to kill inspires... strength, and a greater resolve to survive. It becomes harder for others to hurt you... and easier to hurt others. That can save you when nothing else will."*

A: **"W-Well I'm never going to kill anyone. I don't care what happens, I'm never going to kill anyone!"**

Vermillion: *"It's easy for you to say that, down here with only me and your sister. You may find, someday, that that's a much harder thing to do than you think."*

A: **"I'm *never* going to kill *anyone*."**

Vermillion: *"We'll see."*

## \*Next Test\*

67-S is asleep with 66-A awake with a somehow worried face. That is until he's shocked when Vermillion arrives to their cell. He grips onto 67-S and turns her away from him.

A: **"H-He's- H-He's sleeping! Come back later!"**

Vermillion: *"And what will you do if I don't?"*

A: **"Don't... Don't come any closer!!! DON'T!"**

He somehow forms a a complex barrier of white and orange small knives between him and Vermillion. It looks almost like a complicated cage wall. He is at first shocked to see it but now interested.

Vermillion: *"...Hmm."*

A: **"I-I told you! Just leave us alone!"**

Vermillion: *"And I didn't think you were capable of it. Much less a defensive structure this complicated... Impressive... Why haven't you done this before? It's not like I haven't given you an adequate cause."*

A: **"You... You told me to be careful..."**

Vermillion: *"...Of course. Hmm..."*

He touches one of the knives and it only hurts him a little.

Vermillion: *"You do more damage than 67-S, even without training or practice. That's very intriguing."*

A: **"Y...Yeah, you... You stay away from us! Or, or... or I'll... I'll make you! Stay away!!!"**

He swats the whole knife wall away like it was nothing.

Vermillion: *"I'll have to look into this later." He grabs 67-S with his long arms.*

A: **"No! No, don't!"**

Vermillion: *"Now-... how long has she been unconscious?"*

A: **"She... She wouldn't wake up when the lights came on."**

Vermillion: *"Why didn't you tell me?"*

A: **"I-I was scared you'd get mad, or you'd hurt her. I-I thought I could fix it but-"**

He walks away with 67-S in his arm while examining her.

Vermillion: *"Hmm... no apparent sign of injury..."*

A: **"What's wrong with her? Are you going to fix her? Can I come with you? Please, let me come with you! She'll be scared when she wakes up, please, I can help you-"**

Vermillion: *"It could be a side-effect... I'll have to run some tests..."*

He reactivates the cell's barrier.

A: **"Please! I can help! Don't go! Don't... Don't leave me here alone..."**

Later....

Vermillion: *"Are you awake?"*

S: "Ugh, I guess. My head hurts. What happened?"

Vermillion: *"You were unconscious for an unclear period of time. You appear to be uninjured, so I believe it was stress-related."*

S: "Stress, huh? Wonder how that happened. Maybe the lasers getting shot in my eyes all the time? Just a thought."

Vermillion: *"Well, I see it's no effect on your attitude. More's the pity."*

S: "Hey, maybe less stress would fix that too, huh? Maybe cut back on all the torturing and stuff? Could be worth a try, you know."

Vermillion: *"Enough. If you're awake, you can go back to your cell. I'm sure 66-A is very anxious for your return."*

S: "My brother-! Is he okay? Jeez, I must have scared him half to death..."

Vermillion: *"He's very invested in your well-being, you know. I wonder how far he'd be willing to go for you."*

S: "What's that supposed to mean?"

Vermillion: *"No more talking. Come on."*

66-A hugs 67-S very hard.

A: **"Oh sister I'm sorry, I tried to protect you, I really did but..."**

S: "Bro, I'm okay. I'm okay. I'm fine. Just calm down. I bet you did a great job... whatever you did."

A: **"You have to warn me before you do things like that, you scared me to death!"**

S: "Yeah I'll make sure to tell you next time before I *pass out for no reason*, alright?"

She squares Vermillion straight in the eyes with a blue flare coming out. He flinches for a bit.

A: **"YOU BETTER!!"**

A tiny bell rings as a shopkeeper's door opens.

Cashier: "Ahh! What a surprise seeing you in here again!"

Vermillion: *"Ah, yes, well... I'm in need of something specific..."*

Cashier: "Oh? Such as?"

Vermillion: *"Do you have... Ah! This one."*

A lot of squirming and growling is heard.

Cashier: "Nasty little guy, ain't he."

Vermillion: *"Well he certainly was what I was looking for."*

Cashier: "In that case, that'll be um... 50 Gold."

Vermillion: *"50 it is!"* The sounds of small metal coins are heard.

Cashier: "You have a good day sir!"

Vermillion: *"Thank you!"*

Cashier: "And wish the kids well for me!"

The door closes as the tiny bell rings.

Many deep breaths are heard as some screeching is heard too. It's seems the creature is being stabbed multiple times as he breathes.

Vermillion: *"Alright, initial reading is complete, all power readings are consistent with established baseline. High-intensity power emitters have been successfully tethered to subject."*

A: **"Does that mean I'm doing a good job?"**

Vermillion: *"Now to determine the level of control and effectiveness of the blast. Once the specimen is deceased, the capsule prototype will be used to store the AURA."*

A: **"What's that mean?"**

Vermillion: *"You will follow directions."*

A: **"That sounds like I'm supposed to hurt something."**

Vermillion: *"The specimen will die, yes."*

A: **"I don't want to do that!!!"**

Vermillion: *"Noted."*

Something whirs up in the distance.

Vermillion: *"Stand-by... carrier is in place, vital signs are normal."*

A low growling is heard from inside.

Vermillion: *"Subject 2, destroy the carrier and its contents."*

A: **"IS THERE SOMETHING ALIVE IN THERE??"**

Vermillion: *"Yes."*

A: **"I'm not going to attack that!! It might get hurt!"**

Vermillion: *"That is the point."*

A: **"That's awful!! I'm not going to do that!!!"**

Vermillion: *"Subject 66, you will follow directions."*

A: **"NO!! I'm not going to kill anything!!!"**

Vermillion: *"I will not repeat myself."*

A: **"NO!! I REFUSE!!"**

Vermillion: *"If you will not follow directions, Subject 2,"*

He grabs 67-S and puts her high onto the wall. She flinches from the pain.

Vermillion: *"there will be consequences."*

A: **"NO!! LEAVE HER ALONE!!"**

Small versions of his Uncorrupted Nail surround 67-S as she's too scared to even move.

Vermillion: *"All it will take is one touch. You will follow directions."*

A: **"I won't!! I won't!!! I'm not going to do it!! You can't make me, I'm not going to kill anything!! I.... I..."**

Back at their cell....

He has his head on his knees, half-sobbing. S comforts him for a bit.

## \*Next Day\*

Vermillion and 67-S are playing a game of Advanced Chess. Whereas S is the white, and Vermillion is the black.

S: "Why are you trying to get my brother to kill things?"

Vermillion: *"Because it serves my purposes."*

S: "Are you trying to make more like you?"

Vermillion: *"Interesting theory, but he's too-"*

S: "Because he's too brave to *eve*r be like you."

Vermillion: *"That's an interesting choice of words. What do you know of bravery?"*

S: "I know that no matter how many awful things you do to us, or all the awful things you put us through, he refuses to give in. He looks at all your darkness and he only sees light. And you try to drag him down into it and he always says **'NO'**. And that's braver than anything you've ever done, or anything you'll ever do."

Vermillion: *"Mm. So, tell me. What would* **you** *do?"*

S: "What?"

Vermillion: *"What would* **you** *do if someone tried to kill your "brother"? Would you fight to save someone you love? Or would you let him die to stay true to some imaginary ideal? What would* "bravery" *be then? Pacifism is nice in theory, but not so easy when it gets others killed. Others you could have saved, had you acted."*

\*S begins to have certain flashbacks. One where Misha dies on the battlefield and she sees it all. Another where Alice gets her head bashed into the wall, blood spilling onto the white snow, and where Akira gets impaled straight through the heart by Vermillion's own nail.\*

Vermillion: *"You are worthless in battle, but if you had the Abilities. If killing* **gave** *you the Ability... would you kill to protect him? What matters more to you, his life or his ideals? What would you do? How far would you go?"*

\*a vision of S forms with many long, broken swords impaling a person above them. Blood spills from the body, down the blades, and onto her hair and face. She smiles maniacally and she has a crazed look, with her eyes a bright blue. As he talks, a rhythmic drop occurs. He looks at A, who looks completely traumatized at the massacre his sister had done.

Vermillion: *"And more importantly... if you killed someone to protect him. Do you think he'd ever forgive you? What would "bravery" be then?"*

S: "H... He's a better person than you. He always has been."

Vermillion: *"You're not telling anything I don't already know. What you don't understand is that it doesn't matter. Good, bad, it always comes down to the same principle. You kill, or you are killed."*

S: "That can't be all there is."

Vermillion: *"That's all that matters. You call it bravery, I call it stupidity... but either way, one day he will end up dead because of it. And whether or not you could've done something about it... that question will haunt you, for however long you live afterwards; You need to make sure you can live with your choices."*

# Part III

A: **"Sister, have you seen my-"**

He sees S playing with the cube.

A: **"Sister!!"**

S: "What"

A: **"The cube- you ruined it!! I was working on that all day!!"**

S: "Oh, oops. I didn't know you were doing a thing with it, sorry. Uh, it was a spiral, right? Give me a second-"

A: **"NO!! No, no-"**

S: "There we go, fixed it. Here."

A: **"UGH!! I don't even want it anymore!!!"**

He storms off and sits at one of the corners.

S: "Come on, I said sorry. Please don't sulk."

She goes over and sits next to him while fidgeting with it again.

S: "Hey. Here. I reset it for you."

A: **"I"M NOT STUPID!!"**

S: "I didn't say you were."

A: **"I'M NOT STUPID!!! I'm not... I'm not stupid. My puzzles are really good... they're... really challenging and smart, and good."**

S: "Don't I always say that? ...Look, don't let him get to you, okay? We both know you're not dumb. Sorry for messing up your puzzle."

His frown changes to a smile.

A: **(sigh) "I'll just have to make a harder one next time."**

## After Training

66-A is playing with a small bunny made of the pillow stuffing. He hums a little song as he does it, until he notices his sister come in.

A: **"Oh, how did training go?"**

S: "Eh, same as always. You know me. I'm the best at being a disappointment."

A: **"Oh don't worry sister, you'll get better at it eventually! Did he give you one of the laser thingies?"**

S: "Oh. Yeah, but it didn't do much. I guess it was kinda funny to see the look on his face though. He really thought he was onto something. Looks like I can fail my way out of anything."

A: **"Does it look like mine? Can I see it? I want to see!!"**

S: "Eh... I'm not real good at it..."

A: **"Cmon, I want to see! I want to see!!! Show me show me show me show me-"**

S: "Okay, okay..."

She concentrates really hard. Until a small floating sword is summoned above her head. The curved blade forms a sort of jaw, and it eyes flash the same kind of blue as her. It floats around and nuzzles 66. It seems to be sentient. His eyes become beady as he's immersed in it. He puts his finger on its jaw and moves it gently.

S: "Yep, that's it. Doesn't quite match up to yours."

It blasts a hot beam into 66's face. His face is all smoked and his eyes are widened. The sword turns back and makes a sort-of giggle.

S: "Oh jeez- are you okay!? I didn't tell it to-"

A: **"I LOVE IT!!!"**

S lays down on the bed as A leans in front of her, fidgeting with the color cube. She notices something.

S: "...You have a scar on the back of your head."

A: **"What?"**

S: "You got a scar. Right here. There's a little line."

She lifts up his sleek, black hair and it reveals a small line there. He quickly covers it.

A: **"Oh... Oh, that's probably from when he... did that thing, you know..."**

S: "Yeah, when you had the head brace. ...It's my fault it didn't heal right. If I was better at healing I could've fixed it."

A: **"Oh nonsense sister, don't think that!! It's just, with your condition."**

S: "My "condition", my "condition"... he messed up when he created me, that's my condition! He messed up and now I can't do ANYthing right, I'm not good for ANYthing-"

A: **"That's not true!"**

S: "Let's face it. I'm not supposed to be here, okay?? I'm a mistake, I'm a prototype, I'm spare parts- whatever it is, it's real obvious I'm not like you, or him! So let's stop pretending, okay?"

A: **"That's not true, sister. You're not a mistake! Why would he have kept you if you were a mistake?"**

S: "To use against YOU. That's the only thing I'm good for. Everything else- I can't even heal you right- I can't help you and I want to and I can't- WHY DID HE MAKE ME LIKE THIS!! Why didn't he make me like you, then at least I could protect you... I could take some of it from you..."

A: **"Sister, listen. Look at me. What do you always tell me about him?"**

S: "Don't let him get to you."

A: **"That's right. You don't think I'm stupid, do you?"**

S: "No"

A: **"And I don't think you're worthless. It doesn't matter if you mean nothing to him. You mean *everything* to me. You're what keeps me alive and sane down here. Never forget that, okay?"**

As they talk, 66's eyes glow into a dark orange-red, whereas 67's eyes glow a dark blueish-green.

A: **"I'm the smartest person in the whole world, and you're the strongest, and someday we'll prove it to him. I know it. Just don't give up, okay?"**

S: "... okay"

## \*At night\*

A: **"So, we're both Abilitators, right?"**

S: "You and me?"

A: **"And him."**

S: "Yeah."

A: **"So, he can summon weapons, and we can summon weapons too, right?"**

S: "Uh huh."

A: **"So... do you think we can do that other thing he does? Where he grabs you and picks you up with magic?"**

S: "Huh... now that you mention it..."

A: **"We're all Abilitators, right? Maybe that's a thing abilitators can do!"**

S: "Hah, maybe. You want to give it a shot?"

A: **"Yeah! We don't know unless we try, right?"**

S: "... Guess so. So, how do we start?"

A: **"Hmm! Um... Well, it feels like he's grabbing your AURA and holding it. Try putting your hand on my AURA!"**

S: "Why you first?"

A: **"Because I won't die if something goes wrong! Put your hand on my AURA!"**

S: "Ok"

A: **"Uh... Now... Do magic stuff."**

S: "Eh, I'm not good at all this magic stu-"

As she finishes that sentence, both are shocked to see that it actually works.

A: **"Oh! It's working! Wow, it feels-"**

S: "It feels weird, right?"

A: **"Yeah! It's not cold or big or scary... it feels, um... familiar? Like it's my power, but not quite."**

S: "Yeah, it's like mine but... more? This is so weird."

A: **"Okay, So... try closing your power around me! See if you can hold onto me!"**

S: "Okay, okay.... umm...."

A: **"You're doing it!! Look, you're doing it!! Look at it glowing! Wow!!"**

S: "You doing okay?"

A: **"Yeah, it doesn't hurt or anything! It just feels... kind of heavy. OOO! Try to pick me up!"**

S: "Heh, maybe I've been trying this whole time and you haven't even noticed."

A: **"Really?"**

S: "Nah, I'm just messing with you."

A: **"Sister!! Fine, then maybe I'll just pick *you* up!"**

S: "Wait-"

Both of their AURAs emit a bright light around them for about a second as both hold each other. Both of their eyes flare into the same color as the light.

S: "What's happening"

A: **"I don't know... I feel kind of... fuzzy?"**

S: "Yeah... kind of blurry..."

It immediately stops when both let go of each other's AURAs.

A: **"Okay, maybe... I won't pick you up."**

## Checkup

`7:00 AM`

Lights on. Everything in order. Forgot to shut the main computer down the previous night. No apparent damage.

`7:15 AM`

Subject 66 is awake. Subject 67 is not. But their behavior indicates nothing is amiss. Breakfast and coffee. This headache won't go away.

`8:00 AM`

Subjects are both awake, and playing a ball tossing game. Unaware of how they even got it without my notice, but I do not mind. At least they're not asking me pointless questions. One episode from 67-S. Evidence points to an increasing trend following the incident. At predicted, 66-A's episode rate remains stable. They are eating normally, despite shivering more than usual.

`10:30 AM`

Fast forwarded through four hours of last weeks surveillance video. Roughly 120 more hours to catch up to today. Nothing of interest. Ran a technus peak-check over unwatched footage. No results. Still have a headache.

`11:00 AM`

Checkup on 66-A. He's healing very well.

A: **"I'm sorr-"**

Vermillion: *"Quiet. Be quiet please."*

He did not do anything.

`11:30 AM`

The panic attacks when they are picked up are growing shorter.

66-A's are worse than 67-S', as predicted.

Continued exposure should reduce the duration, though they are very obedient now to avoid being picked up, so it's not a priority. No threats or manufactured situations can get them to use it themselves. 66-A bursts into hysterical tears. 67-S shuts down into a near catatonic state. Success.

`12:00 PM`

Smoke break.

`12:37 PM`

Call with Cardinal to discuss core readings and development. Anomalous readings continue to plague me. Core is functioning but it could be better. Must figure out improvements.

`2:08 PM`

Forgot to eat, little progress. Fed subjects. Still eating normally.

`3:00 PM`

Living Sword tests.

When the two of them hold hands, 66-A's power output is greatly increased. 67-S' damage output remains capped, however. No matter how 66-A tries to assist, nothing seems capable of breaking 67-S' limitations. She's like a black hole when it comes to her power output. It's be fascinating if it weren't so annoying. Or perhaps she's only holding back on purpose almost. I'll have to observe this later. They ended up fighting when 67-S tried to zap me, as predicted, and 66-A interceded. I wasn't in the mood to mediate so I've separated them until they calm down.

`4:05 PM`

Still have a headache.

`4:15 PM`

Smoke break.

`6:15 PM`

Progress made with DT-EM IDF theory. Cooling conveyance nearly complete. Still can't figure out what's wrong with the core. My personal aura signature is still completely absent from both TML files. Can't track down the bug that's causing this.

`6:20 PM`

Call with King. Wants to meet to discuss power emitters. Told him I was very busy but he insisted. Need to get rid of the smoke smell.

`7:45 PM`

Return from meeting/dinner. Ran longer than anticipated. Will have to move the laser session to tomorrow. Just remembered I left 66 and 67 separated this whole time.

`8:00 PM`

Reunited subjects and fed them. Argument has been apparently, forgotten.

`9:00 PM`

Another 2 hours of footage fast forwarded. Nothing of note. This would be easier if I could work more effectively while checking these, but they make it impossible to focus. 118 more hours to go. Not counting today's. Subjects are currently talking about their days. Prolonged separation prompted an extra episode from both of them. Not counting it towards their normal rate.

`11:00 PM`

Work

Headache

Smoke

`12:00 PM`

Tired... Just tired.

## Checkup with S

Vermillion and S are in the Platform room where he's taking off her gown for her as she complains about this test.

S: "There's no point in saying I hate this, right?"

Vermillion: *"No, not really."*

S: "I hate this."

Vermillion: *"Thanks for the input. I'll make sure to jot that down for next session."*

He helps her up on the platform.

S: "You have a reason for whatever you're doing this time, or are you just bored and got nothing to better to do? Hey, maybe you can saw my brain out too so me and my bro can have matching scars. That'd be interesting for you, right?"

Vermillion: *"I always have reasons for what I do. Now, put this on."*

He deploys a purifier mask designed to be a breather mask from a tube on the ceiling and gives it to her and she puts it on.

S: "Mind sharing them for once? Or are you gonna go "You wouldn't understand" for the eightieth time?"

Vermillion: *"You wouldn't understand. Not completely."*

The glass closes down on her.

S: "Eighty-one."

The water fills the room as she floats around in there.

S: "Mind if I stretch around for a bit?"

Vermillion: *"Of course. Just make sure not to get that tube tied up. It's the only thing keeping you alive right now, and I don't feel like breaking the news to your brother."*

She carefully swims around for a bit and puts a thumbs up for him. Small robotic arms put little life monitoring stickers on her forehead and body.

S: "If we reach a hundred, do I get a prize?"

Vermillion: *"....(sigh)"*

S: "Well?"

Vermillion: *"...I don't know why I indulge either of you. It's of no use to me in the long run. It's probably detrimental, honestly...."*

S: "Hey, what are we going to do even if you tell us, huh? Nothin'. You got all the power down here. So why not?"

Vermillion: *"Do you remember what I've told you about AURAs?"*

S: "They're the culmination of our beings, or something?"

Vermillion: *"Yes. That applies both to humans, and to abilitators, and to you. The two of you are... unique. There's never been anything like you before, and there never will be anything like you again, most likely."*

S: "....We're things, you said."

Vermillion: *"Yes. You are constructs, artificial beings created following a human's blueprints. Now, do you recall what humans are made of?"*

A syringe gets injected into her arm as she talks.

S: "Blood, guts, organs, all that stuff."

Vermillion: *"Yes, and that 'stuff' is created and maintained by our AURAs. A human's body, therefore, is a direct manifestation of their AURA. And the two of you have unique AURA, unlike any other human or creature that's ever lived.... therefore your bodies, and their potential strengths, and weaknesses, and limitations, especially yours, are completely unknown. I've already made unexpected discoveries by pushing your limits. So I'm continuing to explore my options. Now are you satisfied?"*

S: "....Did you ever enjoy it?"

Vermillion: *"Excuse me?"*

S: "Did you ever enjoy hurting us?"

Vermillion: *"...I do what I have to."*

S: "That's not an answer."

Vermillion: *"..."*

S: "...but it's the only one you got, isn't it?"

## Betrayal, Separation, and Isolation

Vermillion and 66-A are walking down the hall back to the cell to see 67-S strangely near the beams while fidgeting with the color cube.

Vermillion: *"Come on, we've wasted enough time- nn, oh, Subject 67, give me the color cube. I'm going to need it later."*

She was about to slowly give it to him until she grabbed his hand and pulled him into the beams. A large explosion occurs, 67 and 66 were flown back.

A: **"Sister, are you okay?"**

S: "Ugh, yeah I'm fine, I let go in time- "

Vermillion lays on the floor unconscious and terribly wounded. His lab coat is ruined and charred. Smoke seems to be coming out of him. A large scar on his face that looks like a crack is shown.

S: "His hand! Get his hand and turn off the beams! Quick! This is our chance!!"

A: **"...He's hurt..."**

S: "Who cares?! Get his hand!! Come on! Hurry-!...What are you doing?!"

A: **"H-He's hurt really bad, I can't-I can't just leave him like this-"**

S: "What-?! NO!! Turn off the beams!! What are you doing-Are you listening?!?! BROTHER!!!! Brother, come on, don't- don't you- What do you think's going to happen if you help him, huh? He's not going to let us go!! He's not going to change!! THINK ABOUT WHAT HE DID TO YOU!! This is our chance, this is our only chance to get out of here- Brother, PLEASE!!! I'm begging you!! Just leave him! Please!! Please! Please..."

He kneels down to heal Vermillion. A shade of 66 looks around a distorted orange background to see a shade of Vermillion, but inside of a clear box with long nails as the sides. It walks closer and the caged shade notices. 66's shade lets out it's hand to see if it would, instead it refused and leapt back. Vermillion woke up and shoved 66-A away from him.

S: "No, no no no no....."

Vermillion: *"Why... why did you do that?"*

A: **"You were hurt... I couldn't just..."**

Vermillion: *"You 'couldn't'... I can't believe it... even when it costs you everything, still...* still*, you..."*

A: **"I... I don't understand..."**

Vermillion: *"After everything I've-.... Where does that blind, unthinking kindness come from...?"*

A: **"Well... you made me, so... it must've come from you, right?"**

He shudders and squeezes at his heart.

*Vermillion: "God, you don't understand. You really don't understand at all. A human would have escaped. A human would've let me die. Your mercy is going to get you killed. You may get us all killed."*

I took 66-A with me when I left. 67-S was too agitated to safely open the cell without chancing her escape, and I was...

\*He stumbles and 66-A helps him up.\*

Not at full strength. I locked 66-A in a room alone while I recuperated. Normally isolation is a punishment, but this time I..... wanted some time to myself.

\*He sits on a wall with his head tuckered between his arms and legs.\*

66-A was already upset when we left, and being left alone for so long did not do any favors.

A: **"Are you mad at us- Please don't hurt her, please don't hurt my sister, she didn't mean to, I swear-"**

Vermillion: *"I'm not angry. Come on."*

\*They both walk down the hallway to the cell.\*

A: **"Really? You aren't... mad at her?"**

Vermillion: *"...I would've done the same thing in her place. I'm in no position to judge, I should've been more careful."*

A: **"Are you mad at me?"**

Vermillion: *"No... just confused."*

Such a fragile state would lead to usual comforting on his return, or so I thought. This time, though...

A: **"Sister....?"**

S: "How could you do that?"

Things did not go as usual.

A: **"He... he was hurt, I..."**

S: "We could have escaped! We could have got out of here and you threw it away for HIM!"

A: **"Well what was I supposed to do??"**

S: "Let him DIE! It's not like he doesn't deserve it after everything he's done to you! He SHOULD have died, if *I* was the one out there I would have..."

He steps back, scared at the thought of what she said.

A: **"You... you would have...? How could you... how could you let some one..."**

S: "How could you choose him over me?"

They did not say anything more. When I checked in on them before I left, I saw for the first time that they were sleeping apart. I'd long assumed that the bond they'd developed was unbreakable, only strengthening under duress. Anything done to drive them apart would only bring them closer together. It appears I was wrong.

## Entry Number #####

This is becoming a ~~worrisome~~ a potential problem. The two of them have not reconciled, and as a result they are doing poorly. I remember being concerned about this earlier when I first introduced them to each other - My misgivings were not unfounded. Their first taste of loneliness is poisoning them.

67-S refuses to speak to me at all. She will follow directions, but she puts in only the barest minimum of effort. Regardless of threats or punishment. I've grown used to Normally she tries to engage me in debate, or get on my nerves in some attempt to prove something, but lately... nothing. She does not even seem angry... just lifeless. ~~Hopeless~~ Even the slightest movement seems to exhaust her. It is worryingly increasingly difficult to get her to even wake up each day.

66-A does not lack for energy, but it comes with a new fragility. He'd relied on ~~his s~~ 67-S's support before whenever he failed at something, and now, with nothing to bolster him... he is lost. He cannot focus, and even tests he used to pass are becoming impossible. With each new failure he gets worse. He's begun asking *me* for reassurance. Which certainly proves he's desperate.

It's strange to see them so quiet. ~~I wonder what they're thinking about~~

He gets out a sowing kit and puts down his lab coat.

I always thought I'd enjoy the day when 66-A realized that his mercy would have real consequences, that it would get people hurt. But now that it's come... it's just inconvenient. At this rate, little is going to be accomplished. I'm not sure they'll even heal each other properly like this The question is, what to do? These sorts of social dramas are, admittedly, not in my skillset. I'm not sure I wouldn't make things worse. I am the focal point of this entire argument, after all.

It looks as though 66-A is having a nightmare. Usually 67-S is so close by, she can wake him, but this time...

\*He heavily and quickly gasps as he's scared. He looks to see 67-S asleep in the other side of the room.\*

He is alone.

\*He cries hysterically, and S begins to feel bad for him.\*

S: "Come on brother, you got to breathe."

A: **"If- If I say you were right, will you stop hating me?"**

S: "Oh jeez, I don't hate you."

His eyes glow a bright orange as he's still in tears.

A: **"I just- I don't understand, you said- you said I was... You always understood before, when I didn't want to kill anything but this time, you..."**

S: "It wasn't the same, we could have-"

A: **"I know but, but I'd always be thinking about, how we left him, and you'd, your aura. I want to say whatever will make you stop being mad at me but I don't know what it is! I... I wish he was dead!"**

S: "Jeez, you don't have to do that."

A: **"I-I wish he was... I wish I'd left him."**

S: "Don't say that. You're just going to work yourself up again. And I know you don't mean that."

A: **"I-I do! I really... I really..."**

S: "You don't mean it. It's not in you. It's in him, but it's just not in you. I guess that's how you were made. And it wasn't really fair to ask you to in the first place, I guess. It's just... We were so close, we were so *close* to getting out of here, and never getting hurt again, and... I'm just... I'm sick of seeing you get hurt, you know? Sometimes I hate him so much for it it scares me, and seeing you heal him, it... thinking about it still makes me mad. He doesn't deserve it. He doesn't deserve someone like you caring about him after everything he's done. You have all this faith in him and he isn't ever going to pay it back to you. You're too good for him. And... I really would've let him die, if I was out there, so maybe you're too good for me too. I don't know. I don't get it. I don't get how you can be like that. I think I really messed this up."

A: **"I don't get how you could leave someone to die, either. But, I don't think that makes you bad. Just because you could, or... you think you could... that doesn't mean you will, right? You could make a good choice instead. And I know you'd make a good choice."**

S: "See, I don't get how you do that. Have faith in these things that just... hurt you."

A: **"You're my sister. I trust you. I know you'd make the right choice. Everyone can make the right choice, if they just try... I know they can. I know you can. Even if... you hurt people, or do bad things... that doesn't mean you still can't decide to be good instead."**

\*66-A's hand is seen reaching out for 67's hand. Her hand has blood all over it.\*

A: **"And, if it's too hard to be good, then I'll help you. You can trust me too."**

S: "I just don't understand it. Heh, me and him BOTH don't get it. God, we really are the same."

A: **"You're not the same, sister! You care about me!"**

\*Both have tears running down their faces.\*

A: **"You're the only one that's ever really cared about me."**

S: "Yeah.... you too..."

A: **"I'm sorry I disappointed you."**

S: "I'm sorry I asked you to do something like that. It probably wouldn't have worked out anyway... nothing ever does..."

When she looks up, she see A with his arms out for her. She slowly walks to him and kneels down to hug him.

A: **"We'll get out of here someday, I promise. Somehow."**

S: "Alright. I trust you bro."

## Next Day

Vermillion and 67-S are sitting together at a table. He takes notes as he watches her completing an IQ test.

Vermillion: *"It seems like you and your b- Subject 66 have reconciled."*

S: "I guess"

Vermillion: *"You don't sound very enthused."*

S: "Uh huh"

Vermillion: *"Well-No-!"*

\*He bumps into his coffee mug and it shatters on the ground.\*

Vermillion: *"Ah... and I liked that one, too..."*

\*He leans down to pick up the pieces. He looks up at S.\*

Vermillion: *"Hmm, nothing to say?"*

S: "Like what?"

Vermillion: *"Like some smart comment about my clumsiness, or perhaps a clever parallel drawn between breaking a cup and breaking your eye. Something of that nature. It's unlike you to pass up an opportunity to needle me."*

S: "Hmm."

Vermillion: *"How are you feeling?"*

S: "Why do you care exactly?"

Vermillion: *"I keep closer tabs on your emotional state than you might think, for a few different reasons. I assumed your energy level would improve after... it was resolved. But that seems not to be the case."*

S: "Guess so."

Vermillion: *"How* do *you feel?"*

S: "I don't feel anything... hey, guess we got something in common, huh?"

\*He continues picking up the remaining pieces.\*

## King-Sized Problem

The Pale King and Dr. Cardinal are in a meeting room, discussing something involving Vermillion.

Pale King: "Where is he? He's been late more and more often lately... I'm starting-"

\*A door opens and a tired, limp Dr. Vermillion enters\*

Vermillion: *"Nh- I'm here, my* *apologies... I got caught up in something. I should have all the readings you requested.*

Both are shocked to see him.

Vermillion: *"Is.... something wrong?"*

Pale King: "D-Dr. Vermillion, w-what happened to your face? I-it's cracked..."

Vermillion: *"Oh... oh, nothing. Just an accident. I don't want to discuss it."*

Pale King: "And your coat..."

Vermillion: *"Ah- yes, I had to so some repairs... thankfully I still had the sewing box the white la-"*

He looks down with a saddened face, and Vermillion apologizes for bringing her up.

Vermillion: *"Well, I tried to fix it. Anyway, about the cores-"*

Pale King: "What happened?"

Vermillion: *"I told you, I don't want to discuss it."*

Pale King: "You were limping when you came in. You're shaking even now. You're still in pain, aren't you?"

Vermillion: *"This meeting isn't about my personal health. If we're not going to talk about the cores then I might as well leave."*

Pale King: "When did this accident occur? How serious was it?"

Cardinal: "I can g-give you this Healing Tea if you want-"

Vermillion: *"Fine. Call me when you want to be serious. I have work I need to get back to."*

Cardinal: "D-Dr. Vermillion-"

Pale King: "R. D. Vermillion, you will answer me when I speak to you. Are you still wounded, and how severely?"

Vermillion: *"I'll deal with it on my own. It's not your concern."*

Pale King: "You are being extremely childish right now. Come here."

Vermillion: *"It's not your concern-"*

Pale King: "Come here!"

Vermillion: *"No-!"*

Pale King: "Why is it so hard for you to take care of yourself?"

A shade of the King and Cardinal appear in the same distorted background as 66 was before.

Stop.

They see Vermillion's shade in the same box. It's kneeling down with it's hands on it's head looking at a crack in the box wall.

Vermillion: *"Stop it!"*

It starts to become hysterical and panic.

Vermillion: *"STOP."*

He gets the King to release him from his grip.

Vermillion: *"STOP!"*

He summons a sword wall between him and both the King and Cardinal.

Vermillion: *"Stop... stop* caring *about me. It'll be easier if you don't."*

When he leaves the room, both of them look at each other in worry.

Pale King: "I'm really worried about him. He can't keep this up much longer... he just can't."

## A Teaching Moment

Vermillion wakes up after a brief nap on his desk. His stomach rumbles and his phone rings from his pocket.

Vermillion: ***"...ngh, what time is it...? Ugh, when's the last time I ate...? When's the last time* they *ate? Did I do their tests today? Uuugh, if I miss a day it's going to throw the whole baseline off... Hmm..."***

He leaves his workroom and walks out down the hallway to S and A's cell.

S: *"I'm so hungry...."*

A: **"I know, I know, but I'm sure he'll come soon! Come on, try solving this one! I think it's really good."**

S: *"Maybe he forgot about us... maybe something happened to him."*

A: **"No, I won't have any of that! It's puzzle time now, focus! ..I'm sure he'll come, we just have to be patient..."**

Vermillion: ***"I'm here."***

A: **"Oh! See, I told you-"**

Vermillion: ***"Both of you, please come with me."***

S: *"Uh... okay, but... you know we haven't eaten anything since the lights came on, right? You didn't forget, did you?"*

A: **"Of course he wouldn't forget something that important, sister! Right...?"**

He leads them into a sort of kitchen room.

Vermillion: ***"Today we're going to do something different."***

S: *"Never seen this room before."*

Vermillion: ***"I've written up a set of directions here. They are very clear in every respect. I want you both to follow these directions while I observe."***

S: *"Is this a test?"*

Vermillion: ***"Correct, dear child."***

S: *"Um.... okay...."*

A: **"Ooh, there are even pictures! A... 'pot'? And a bunch of lines?"**

S: *"'Noodles' it says."*

A: **"Wow, I've never seen noodles before! What's it say to do?"**

S: *"Uh, put the pot under the "faucet"... this thing here, and... turn the knob?"*

He puts the pot under the faucet and turns it. Water begins to pour out.

A: **"Water's coming out!"**

S: *"Yeah, it says to fill it then..."*

After a couple minutes of cooking, the pot is done.

A: **"Woooow. Look at it! It smells good."**

S: *"Uh... can we...? Or, is it not for..."*

Vermillion: ***"Both of you, go sit down over there. At the table, in the chairs."***

A: **"Aww, do we not get any?"**

Vermillion: ***"I won't repeat myself. Sit."***

They both go to two chairs and they each sit down in one. He prepares three plates for them and him. Each are given one plate and a fork.

Vermillion: ***"...Alright, here."***

A: **"For us?"**

S: *"No... you get some too."*

A: **"I didn't know we could make food."**

Vermillion: ***"It's called cooking."***

S: *"But... all we did was follow the instructions."*

Vermillion: ***"That's all cooking is."***

A: **"Wow, so can we-"**

Vermillion: ***"No more talking, please."***

A: **"Well, okay... but, that was kind of fun, huh? I-"**

Vermillion: ***"What did I seriously just say?"***

They eat the pasta. It was indeed a delicious meal. It seems that even Vermillion's eyes were in awe of such delicious noodles.

## Remembering his Smiles

A: **"Do you remember back before we got the marks when he'd take us out and leave us in his work room while he worked on stuff, and he's talk to us and teach us things?"**

S: *"Yeah."*

A: **"Why do you think he did that?"**

S: *"Who knows why he does anything. It was probably some messed up experiment or something."*

A: **"Maybe he was lonely."**

S: *"If he was lonely, he would've created people, not things."*

A: **"Well, maybe he wanted to be friends with things anyway. He wasn't so bad to us back then."**

S: *"He wasn't real good to us either."*

A: **"No, but.... One time I remember, he was working on something and you were asleep, and he seemed really frustrated... He said he'd never figure it out. So I put my hand on his arm and I told him that I knew he could, and that I believed in him and his smartness. And he looked at me, and... he smiled at me. Sincerely. Did he ever smile at you like that?"**

A young 67-S and Vermillion are in a room together. He's teaching her about the color cube.

Vermillion: ***"Alright, watch carefully. You can rotate the sides of this cube to shift the colors around. The goal is to make each side one solid color."***

He gives her the cube. She quickly fidgets with it.

Vermillion: ***"Now... it make take you some time to solve, if you can at all, but-"***

S: *"Done."*

She gives a large smile at him filled with great accomplishment.

Vermillion: ***"Huh. That.... that's very impressive."***

S: *"Really?"*

He mixes it up as they talk.

Vermillion: ***"Yes. I thought it'd take much longer-..."***

He gives her the cube again.

Vermillion: ***"Here, try again."***

She works extremely quickly and once she finishes, she places it down on the table.

S: *"Done!"*

Vermillion: ***"...Astounding. Well done Subject 67."***

He smiles sincerely and pats her head as her eyes brighten with a big smile.

The memory ends with S looking like she blanked out for a moment. She sits there with the cube in her hands.

S: *"...Yeah, he did."*

A: **"I wonder why he stopped. Maybe people aren't allowed to be friends with things. Maybe that's why they made him give us the marks and stop being nice to us."**

S: *"Or maybe he did it because it made it easier for him to do all these messed up things to us. Maybe he planned on doing this the whole time."*

A: **"Do you think he planned on liking us?"**

S: *"I don't think he ever liked us."*

A: **"I mean, when he smiled at us, those times. Do you think he planned on that?"**

S: *"....No. Maybe that's why he did it then. To make himself stop."*

A: **"....I feel kind of sorry for him."**

Vermillion is seen putting away some files into a drawer as 66-A and 67-S talk.

S: *"He's not worth it. Don't bother bro."*

He tries putting one away on a high shelf until a small paper falls out.

A: **"It must be hard to be alone to be alone all the time."**

He picks it up to see that it's the drawing 66-A made for him. He is on the left, S is on the right, and he is in the middle. All three are holding hands. The drawing in his mind flashes from it to a photograph of him, his wife Elysia, and his two children smiling.

A: **"We've always got each other, but doesn't have anyone."**

Vermillion smiles a little as he opens the folder up, sticks the drawing inside, and puts the folder away.

A: **"I wonder if he misses us."**

## A Talk Between Family

As Vermillion puts up his lab coat and puts on his jacket, he organizes some papers for tomorrow. He prepares four hot dogs for 67 and 66 on a bowl and turns out the lights.

He walks down the hallway to their cell and opens it up. He puts down the plate only to see two glowing bright blue eyes. S is under A as he is sound asleep on her lap. He begins to leave until she speaks.

S: *"You know... you always go, **"People need me to do this, people need me to be like like"**, so what it sounds like is that you don't have a choice about doing all of this to us. Right?"*

She strokes his head slowly as he silently breathes.

S: *"But you know.... my brother, you control everything that happens to him, all day every day. But he still chooses to believe in you, that you can change. And he chooses... to believe in me. And to be kind, and to care. Every day he makes that choice, no matter what you do to him. And me, every day I choose to keep going.... for him. We're never getting out of here, we're never going to have any control over anything that happens to us.... But, we still make choices. Yet somewhere you out there, on the other side of the beams.... you want me to believe you have less freedom than us? It's because you don't. You've got choices. You're just not strong enough to make them."*

\*He looks at her with an emotionless face. He quietly closes the beams and leaves.\*

## The Saddened King

Vermillion: ***"Your Majesty, what is it you need? Seriously, I can't be away for lon-"***

He's shocked to see him holding a tiny AURA sealed away inside of a glass container in his arms. This one is yellow. He is crying as he holds it. Vermillion drops his notebook and has a shocked expression.

Vermillion: ***"Oh no..."***

Pale King: "They were so small, Vermillion. They didn't even want to fight. They were so scared. Just a child, just like my...."

Vermillion: ***"N- let me see it, let me see, I can- I can tell you more, let me look, let me.... let me look at it...."***

Pale King: It's the 5,036th tier, Vermillion. I tried to stop them.... but they refused so much.... He didn't want to give up. We're running out of time.

Vermillion: ***"Don't say that."***

Pale King: "I'm running out of time."

Vermillion: ***"Please don't say that. I-I'm sure I'm close to a breakthrough, I'll fins some other way, just.... please."***

Pale King: "There's no way we'll find them."

Vermillion: *"Your majesty, please..."*

Pale King: "Vermillion.... Whatever I become.... please, do not forget who I was. Promise me."

Vermillion: *"You... you won't, I won't let- I'll find another way. I'm close, I swear to you, I'm close. I know it. It's not too late."*

He gives the small AURA to the Pale King before he walks away.

Pale King: "It's already too late."

It can't be. I refuse to accept that! Failure is not an option! Quirrel.... Amber.... my dear Elysia, please.... just wait a little longer....

We will live in peace.

# Part IV

This is it... everything's coming to a close.... let's see how it all ends.

## Summoning True Evil

Vermillion: *"Alright, the darkness is clearing, I'm getting close. It's almost decipherable..."*

A: **"What is?"**

Vermillion: *"If I can keep it at this specific frequency, then it can be translated into proper images..."*

S: "What frequency?"

Just as she finishes her sentence, a small red crack in the room begins to open, and a small black tentacle appears out.

Vermillion: *"Don't distract me. Just stay focused on the dais."*

Both: ***"WHAT IS THAT!?"***

The tentacle just gets larger and larger and crack becomes so wide, it forms into an un-describable being made of nothing but black ink and the bones and skulls of creatures that one can make up in their head. The beast's 'head?' is a large, spiked tyrannosaurid-like skull with spikes protruding from it's back head. The eyeholes of the skull are red pupils with yellow irises. It begins to speak to the three.

???: ***"Hmm... two morsels."***

A: **"Look out!"**

66-A grabs 67-S and shields her.

As the creature opens it's blackened bottom jaw to release a sort of beam, only a large bellow was heard after.

Vermillion stands behind the two with a summoned Nail Wall.

Vermillion: *"Stay behind me, you two."*

???: ***"HN, IF IT ISN'T DR. R.D. VERMILLION. HOW YOUNG YOU LOOK! THESE TWO LITTLE ONES MUST BE YOUR CHILDREN."***

He winces when he hears those words come out of it's disgusting mouth.

Vermillion: *"I have no children."*

???: ***"HNN, YOU'RE VERY PROTECTIVE OF STRANGERS THEN."***

Vermillion: *"67-S, go to the terminal and shut down the program."*

S: "But..."

Long nails form between S and Vermillion as a trail to the terminal.

S: "Alright. Just please be careful."

She runs to the terminal without a second to spare.

Void: ***"HMM, YOU MUST STILL BE LINEAR AT THIS TIME... INTERESTING. DID YOU INTEND TO BRING ME HERE, NOW? A SHAME WE'VE NEVER DISCUSSED IT BEFORE."***

It's main skull changes form to a long-beak bird skull. It's red eyes gleam everywhere uncontrollably.

???: ***"HN, THIS PLANE IS NICELY PHYSICAL... IT MAKES ONE WANT TO STRETCH A LITTLE."***

The creature lengthens and widens to become even taller as it's tentacles become longer and more goopy. 66-A hides behind Vermillion in fear.

???: ***"CASUALITY HAS ITS THREADS AROUND YOU, BUT NOW I WONDER, DOES IT OFFER YOUR SON THE SAME PROTECTION?"***

Vermillion: ***"He's not my son."***

???: ***"HE HAS A PIECE OF YOUR AURA, AS DOES THE OTHER. ISN'T IT SEMANTICS AT THIS POINT?"***

A: **"What do you want? Why did you attack us? Who even are you!?"**

It leans closer to them with a large, long-snouted dragon skull. It's teeth continually drip down drops of black goo on the floor as it's eyes stop darting around to look at A.

Void: ***"I GO BY MANY NAMES, CHILD... BUT YOU MAY CALL ME 'VOID.' AND WHY I ATTACKED YOU? I WAS CURIOUS, AS I'M CURIOUS NOW TO SEE HOW EASY IT WILL BE TO KILL YOU."***

A: **"Why?? We didn't do anything to you!"**

Void: ***"YOU'D BE SURPRISED HOW OFTEN THAT DOESN'T MATTER."***

A: **"That's not fair!"**

Void: ***"Yes dear child, that's correct."***

Vermillion steps behind him. He lets out his left hand to summon a large, long Nail unlike his other ones he has summoned. It glistens and gleams in slivered steel. 66-A notices that he's trembling a little.

A: **"You.... you leave us alone!! We're not scared of you!!"**

Void: ***"IS THAT SO? WHAT A LITTLE HERO YOU HAVE, VERMILLION. HE LOOKS LIKE YOU, YOU KNOW."***

It leans to their face, it's skull now a smaller dragon skull with only two crown horns.

Void: ***"YOU'RE VERY BRAVE, LITTLE ONE, BUT VERY FOOLISH. YOU MUST COME FROM POOR STOCK. HAHAHAHAHAA-"***

A large nail is impaled into the creature and it staggers back from the two. It immediately regenerates after a couple of seconds. It's skull is changed to what is now a four-eye-holed dinosaur skull with a long snout.

Void: ***"HNN... YOU HIT HARD... EVEN THIS FAR BACK."***

It leaps at them, ready to attack.

Void: ***"BUT NOT HARD ENOUGH!"***

S: *"Come on, come on.... one of these buttons has to be it...."*

The same large bellowing is heard from her left where they are both fighting.

A: **"ANY TIME NOW SISTER!!"**

S: *"I'M TRYING HERE!!!"*

A: **"WELL NOT HARD ENOUGH!!!"**

S: *"gh-come on, umm..."*

Vermillion: ***"Stay close to me-"***

S: "S-t-o-p?"

A: **"LOOK OUT!!"**

S: "D-o-n-t.... q-u-i-t.... come on!"

Void: ***"YOU'RE CERTAINLY MAKING THIS INTERESTING. YOU SHOULD BE PLEASED."***

Vermillion: *"Don't just stand there, dodge it-"*

One of it's goop tentacles blasts him into the wall and pin him there before he could react.

Void: ***"AND YOU'RE DOING QUITE WELL, CONSIDERING YOUR LIMITATIONS."***

As Vermillion tries to summon another nail, the creature breaks his arm, snapping it and the nail he was summoning.

Vermillion: *"HgGK-!"*

Void: ***"WHOOPS. I FORGOT HOW FRAGILE YOU ARE LIKE THIS. PHYSICAL BODIES CAN BE SOOO INCONVENIENT."***

Just then, a large knife was impaled into it's main skull and it appears that one of it's red eyes was destroyed. It shrieks in pain and turns its attention to 66-A.

A: **"Are you okay!?"**

He runs up to Vermillion to try and help him up. He pushes 66-A down quickly and gets smacked away like a toy from a black tentacle and gets hit into the wall. A huge crunch is heard from his body as he collides.

A: **"NO!!"**

As he falls to the ground, the creature takes the skull of a pincer beetle and it looks at him. Now five eyes are there instead of six. It bleeds a dark red at where the punctured eye was supposed to be. He readies up another large knife.

A: **"Leave us alone! Or else I'll kill you!"**

Void: ***"KILL ME? KILL ME!? HAHAHAHAHAAAAAA..... Child, I AM DEATHLESS. YOU COULD NOT KILL ME EVEN IF I WANTED YOU TO. BUT.... YOU ON THE OTHER HAND.... "***

Vermillion slowly stands back up.

Vermillion: \*Not again.... I won't lose you two again!\*

He stands in between the creature and 66-A.

It's skull now changes to the same horned Tyrannosaurid skull except instead, it's jaw is a little more elongated, and three horns spout from the tip of the upper jaw. It heightens and towers over the two, with tentacles and claws of bone on the edges, aimed at them.

Void: ***"STILL UP? CLEVER, USING DESTINY AS A SHIELD. UNLESS, IF YOU DON'T KNOW IT, IT'S A SINCERE GESTURE? ADORABLE. YOU HAVE A LOT OF LOVE FOR "STRANGERS", YOU KNOW."***

66-A's eyes flare a bright orange and Vermillion's flares a dull purple. Both are shaken and nervous.

S: "You can do this, come on, come on.... F1, where's F1....."

It turns it's glare at S, as she pays attention to the terminal.

Void: ***"AH, THE RIFT IS CLOSING... THE LITTLE ONE OVER THERE'S ALMOST FIGURED IT OUT. YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO GIVE A CRYPTIC WARNING... I GUESS NOW'S MY CHANCE."***

As it turns back to Vermillion, the rift behind it begins to slowly suck it back inside where it came from.

Void: ***"DR. VERMILLION. YOUR FUTURE DOESN'T LOOK VERY BRIGHT, BECAUSE ONE DAY, SOMEONE THAT YOU TRUST VERY MUCH, WILL BETRAY YOU, AND PUSH YOU STRAIGHT INTO MY ARMS. EVERY THING YOU'VE WORKED ON, EVERY THING YOU'VE CREATED. NONE OF IT NEEDS YOU. AND THEY WON'T REMEMBER YOU AS YOUR FATHER OR CREATOR ONCE YOUR IN MY GRASP. SO YOU MUST ASK YOURSELF, WAS IT WORTH IT?"***

Only a small dragon's skull remains of the beast in the room.

Void: ***"BE SEEING SO SOON. CHOSEN VESSEL. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAA...."***

The cracked rift closes up as fast as it had appeared. No remains of the beast had stayed. Vermillion fell to the ground. Both siblings embrace each other.

A: **"Are you okay?"**

S: "Who, or what WAS that?"

Vermillion: *"I have no idea. I didn't think there was enough energy for something to get through..."*

He picks up his broken glasses.

Vermillion: *"But from where exactly...? OR.... when....?"*

A: **"...You saved us."**

S: "Both of us."

Vermillion: *"... I... I've.... put too much work into this project to lose you both now."*

S: "What do you think that thing meant? About you being in it's grasp-"

Vermillion: *"That's enough for today. You two are going back to your cell. Come on."*

They both look at each other quickly and follow him back.

## A Healing Release

The orange distorted background appears again. A corner of his box shows only to be almost completely shattered.

S: "But why would he do that, I don't get-"

He appears behind them in an arm cast for his broken arm.

Vermillion: *"Subject 66, come with me."*

A: **"Uh... okay."**

They silently walk down the corridor.

A: **"I hope we're going to do some puzzles... are we going to do puzzles?"**

Vermillion: *"No."*

A: **"Oh... um. Well.... then, I hope it won't hurt too bad...."**

Vermillion: *"You won't be hurt either."*

A: **"I won't? Then... what are we doing?"**

Vermillion: *"(sigh)...I... I need you to heal me."*

A: **"You... you're asking me to...? But, last time-"**

Vermillion: *"Believe me, I don't want you to heal me either."*

A: **"I didn't say-"**

Vermillion: *"But I don't have a choice."*

A: **"Why not? What about the people outside? Can't they help you?"**

Vermillion: *"....I don't want them to know that I'm hurt. I can't.... handle it right now."*

A: **"Why? Are they bad?"**

Vermillion: *"No. They're not like me."*

A: **"...You know... I've told my sister this-"**

Vermillion: *"I know-"*

A: **"And I know you've done bad things... a *lot* of bad things.... a *lot* a lot of bad things-"**

Vermillion: *"Yeah, I get it-"*

A: **"But, I don't think that means you can *only* do bad things.**

He extends his hand to Vermillion and they hold.

A: **"I don't think that means you have to give up."**

A shade of 66-A is seen kneeing down to a shade of Vermillion in his box, impaled by many swords. 66 puts his hand on the box. Vermillion tries at his only strength to lift it's own up.

Vermillion: *"...You see things that aren't there. Just what you wish is true. There's **nothing good** left in me. It all went into you two. Everything else is ashes."*

A: **"...I think, when you make bad choices, you bad choices a lot of the time... almost all the time even... But, when that thing was going to kill us... you had to make a choice. And you made a good choice. You didn't have to protect us, but you did. And, if there really was nothing good in you... if you really didn't care about us at all, like you keep saying, you wouldn't have done that."**

Vermillion: *"...So, which is it? Is fighting good, or bad? I recall, when we talked about a young child during the war..."*

A: **"Well, since that.... I've thought a lot about it. It can depend on countless variables. If you're doing it to protect someone you really care about, then it can be good. If it is to kill for pleasure or just because you want to.... then it's different. It's complicated- and stop trying to trick me, that's not the point anyways and you know it! I know what you did this time was good, I just know it. And I know that means something, even if you don't want it to. And I think that if you really wanted to, you could do it again. And you could keep doing it, if you tried... If you really tried."**

Vermillion's hand comes out of the cage towards 66-A's.

Vermillion: "...I can never be what you want me to be."

A: **"I don't know about that, but.... you can be better you are right now. And I think you know that too. You can try a little harder."**

Vermillion: *"You're foolish for believing in me, I'm not your sister."*

A: **"Really?"**

Vermillion: *"You know I'm unable of changing to be a better person."*

A: **"Well.... I still believe that you can change..."**

He looks down and his eyes flash orange for a second.

A: **"Because.... no matter how much blood you have on your hands.... No matter how many lives you may have killed.... No matter how many of the hardships you had to endure over your very, very long life.... I will always be there for you... to lend a hand to heal those wounds away."**

The cage finally shatters, and both the two shades and the real ones embrace each other in sweet warmth.

A: **"W-Wha!! What is this!?"**

Vermillion: *"It's called a hug. Just.... please stop talking, son."*

A: **"S-Son....? Alright..... Father."**

He winces at the thought for only a second... but stops and actually smiles.

Vermillion: \*My dear Elysia.... if only you were here right now.... I love you, I always will.\*

## A Better Life

A wakes up in a bed this time in his cell. He sees his sister drawing with some paper. They are in actual clothes. She's wearing some small shorts and a long sleeved version of her hospital gown. He's wearing some long pants and a short sleeved version of his hospital gown.

A: **"Mmh...? Oh, sister, you're back! Why didn't you wake me up?"**

Vermillion sits by one of the docks holding a smoke while looking at the sea. He notices Dr. Cardinal nervously walking to him.

Vermillion: *"Dr. Cardinal?"*

Cardinal: "U-um, yeah, I thought I'd find you here, uh.... hi."

S: "...Meh, I didn't want to bother you. You don't get enough sleep anyways...."

Vermillion: *"Did you want something? Congrats on your robotics work, by the way. Everyone's very impressed with the latest model."*

Cardinal: "U-uh, thanks, uh, but, um, that's not why I..."

Vermillion: *"Er... don't tell the king I've been smoking, please."*

He throws the smoke into a nearby trash can.

Cardinal: "...Uh, I-I won't, but I mean, h-he already knows...."

A: **"What happened? What did he do to you this time?"**

Cardinal: "Uh, I just... wanted to ask about... h-how you're doing."

Vermillion: *"...You want to know about my emotional state."*

S: "Oh... nothing really. Just did some IQ tests and then he let me go. He gave me some more paper, I guess. You know, I don't think he's ever gonna come back for the others. I think he was lying-"

He runs up to S and hugs her.

A: **"Oh sister, sister!! THIS IS WONDERFUL!!"**

S: "Woah, what are you so happy about?"

Cardinal: "Uh, well I g-guess in many words... I mean, the king's really worried about you and uh, uh, he's not the only one, you know, I uh, I told you, uh, a while back that l-lots of people care about you, and uh.... we're just...."

Vermillion: *"I'm worrying people, am I?"*

A: **"Haven't you been counting, sister? It's been six days! Six whole days!!"**

Cardinal: "We just.... want to know your okay."

Vermillion: *"Well... I'm actually feeling quite fine..."*

S: "Uh... six days since what?"

A: **"Six days since he's hurt us, sister! Six whole days where he hasn't hurt us, even a little!!"**

S: "Huh... huh, you're right, I wasn't even...."

A: **"Oh, I knew it, I knew he could make the right choice! I knew he could do it! Oh sister, I'm so happy! Things are going to change, you'll see!"**

Vermillion: *"Well, I thank you for being there for me Cardinal. I remember when you were still that little Wellston... so curious about everything, and wanting to figure it all out. You are a stellar colleague. Thank you. And... thank you for caring about me. You didn't have to do that, and I know I didn't make it easy at times."*

Cardinal: "Of course, Dr. Vermillion. Of course."

He walks away as Vermillion continues to look at the beautiful horizon.

As Cardinal goes down a secret elevator, he smiles largely.

Cardinal: "Hahaha..... ***Oh Vermillion, you're such a fool.***"