An endless grid.

The darkness of space was all around Iker, Bastian, and Uzi as they floated together. Nebulae and distant constellations was all that was beneath them. There was an eerie silence until the death of cosmic reverberations reached Iker's ears.

"I am not supposed to be here with you two," Uzi said. "This timeline is unfamiliar to me."

Uzi's fear was palpable through vis mindlink. Ve was not used to being as clueless and as confused as Iker or Bastian was ve? Now the arak was as uncertain as to what was happening as the humans were. If anyone dealt with uncertainty worse than Iker, it was ve. Vis gaze wandered off as vis torso deflated.

"An esper ability must have dragged you in here Uzi," Iker said. Uzi was not in the felixboys asset. "Stay strong and follow the first rule of temporal missions. Always."

Actually, Iker had no idea where the term felixboys asset came from. Not anymore.

As he tried to remember where it came from... Iker's subconscious came back with the word... magical bag? Why did he randomly think of the word splatting? Like splatting a bug?

As he kept racing through his mind, all Iker could think about was Mami and Papá.

Why in the hell did he keep thinking about a magical bag?

It was not a good time for Iker to think of such random ass words.

His parents trained him and Bastian in the dreary computer lab in the basement, where more humans were coming in and being sold off.

How would one even get trained in a magical bag?

Or were those humans actually talking animals?

Was Iker losing his mind?

Uzi was tilting upwards to stare above ver.

"There's someone else with us," Bastian whispered. As Iker glanced over to his brother, Bastian's eyes could not be any wider. Even with all the times he restarted his life without telling Iker about it, Bastian appeared astonished. His face said that this was an unfamiliar timeline to him too.

Everyone was as perplexed as Iker.

Iker kept turning until he saw a familiar silhouette bathed in the maroon flares of a passing red dwarf. A boy, now a few years younger than Iker rather than older, was sitting on his rear facing the two humans and the arak. However, the way he was sitting now was not familiar at all as his posture was much better than Pager's, and Pager would always have his back turned for the sake of being edgy.

He resembled Pager, but he was not Pager.

Follow my lead, Iker commanded. I think I know who it is but I need you two to play stupid.

Roger Roger, Bastian said. Iker had to take the lead; Uzi's morale was as deflated as vis torso and bubble wrap lookin' eyes.

The jet black haired boy that was pretending to be Pager was not containing his emotions any longer. His shoulders began to twitch.

If I give away that I know it's him shapeshifted, I might get him to double down on pretending to be Pager, Iker thought. If I rile him up and pretend I don't know who he is...

He did not feel good about what he was about to do, but Iker had to confirm his identity. If Iker was sick of anything, it was having even more unanswered questions, and playing nice may do just that if the shapeshifter did not confirm who he actually was.

The way... "Pager" sat... he sat the exact same way as a boy Iker had a crush on a long time ago.

"Pager, you already had Dominic under your control?" Iker asked.

"Do not play stupid with me Iker. Why did you do this to me?"

The Colombian accent was there.

It had to be Camilo.

It seemed Camilo had yet to acquire the other skills required to be a successful shapeshifter, or perhaps he had no desire or determination to play the role. As he stood up the same way Camilo would by using the sides of his soles to lift himself up, it was all confirmation to Iker that it was not Pager. However, his question made it clear that Camilo did not care to hide his identity. If anything, what he said made it obvious that Camilo wanted Iker to know that it was him.

"What do you mean?" Iker asked gently. "Do you have any idea how much I had to resist looking for you after I joined Ember Tree's army? Especially when I never was given the reason as to why I couldn't look for you?"

"Whatever you did to me..."

Camilo's voice, which was Pager's voice with a Colombian accent, tapered off.

"Camilo," Bastian pleaded. "Iker was made to forget what you are talking about. He did what he had to do to save your life."

"I have become immortal. I can't fucking die," Camilo cried. "You should have let me die to that gun shot. I am always either in pain or just numb."

Usually shapeshifter subjects on the dark earthplexus would no longer be able to form a coherent sentence after four years... but Camilo was here being an exception. Iker deduced that the dysphoria was still tormenting him, but he was retaining some form of an identity. As Camilo turned his baleful eyes that once belonged to Pager, his glare showed bloodlust as he met eyes with Iker.

Indeed, Iker recognized his childhood crush, but he was a different man now. The Camilo he used to know was long gone. Iker's chest might as well have been replaced with concrete... he could almost swear that his carbon body was with him in this simulation as his heart sank.

"In this timeline... it seems Bastian and Uzi were not expecting you to be here," Iker said. "However, we travelled back in time before Pager captured Dominic's mind, then we got here by trying to give Dominic a sanctuary simulation. Your shapeshifting lets you use the powers of the influx user you changed to doesn't it Camilo? You already killed Pager's mind. Why do you want his esper powers?"

"I can no longer kill your father Iker since he is no longer around. They created me in the lab in your house," Camilo said. "Then they sold me off to that monster-"

"Stop!" Bastian yelled at Camilo, resting a reassuring grip on Iker's shoulder. "They did not know about the priest before-"

"I frankly don't care," Camilo interrupted. "Prophet Ameen has given me a new purpose. He saved me from falling into madness from what you did to me Iker. I understand now that Byza, Memoryfeed, the gay community, Candyland, the Felix Dynasty, and Infamogen... they have all been playing God. Creating and toying with life. My life was empty and meaningless back then. I don't have to be doomed to a life of sodomy or empty fame. If my faith is strong enough I will one day find a wife I will be attracted to and can hope to one day have a traditional family. Ameen has shown me that I can receive my own soul and get salvation."

What Camilo said further confused Iker. His breathing got shallower as he could not recollect any memories that confirmed anything Camilo said.

Tears were already at Iker's lips at this point. Silence fell over the cosmic grid as Iker sniffled and wiped his tears. "You're... you're one of them now?"

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"I am here to prove my loyalty by capturing you," Camilo declared while pointing a finger at Iker. "I was once lost like you. Ever since the second dark age started, everyone was lost trying to find the truth among the lies and deepfakes, but the only truth is that God is our lord and savior. I no longer have to figure out what is real or what is fake because at the end of it all, I am a sinner seeking forgiveness. It's all worldly things that will be left behind, it's the kingdom that awaits that matters. Prophet Ameen and God will show me the light always."

"Camilo," Iker murmured. "Don't you think people for decades now have been sick of not knowing what is real or fake anymore? Of constantly being left in the dark and being lied to? What makes you so fucking special? We all have gone through shit, society has been in shit for a full on century now if you were not aware pendejo. I may shit on religion and cults Camilo, but I am sure wanting easy answers is not a good reason to join one. I'd rather admit that I don't know anything than lie to myself with easy answers. You're a coward."

Camilo gripped his white hand into a tight quivering fist while still shapeshifted as Pager.

"You have ruined my life and now you dare insult me?" Camilo screamed. He flung his gripped fist forward towards Iker's direction and flared his teeth.

"You've made up your mind haven't you Camilo?" Iker asked, glaring right back into his eyes. It seemed Camilo had not bothered to make any kind of simulation as the endless grid still surrounded them, but Iker took a few steps towards Camilo on the invisible floor. Camilo responded with his own steps back.

"I would offer to apologize, but as I do trust Bastian, it seems I don't know what I did due to esper shenanigans," Iker said. "Camilo, let's pool our knowledge so we can start getting some answers as to what has happened since Ember and Ameen have been toying with the fabric of all the simulations that exist. You're not Alkrezian Camilo, you're one of us. You're our friend Camilo."

Camilo for the first time relaxed his posture, but it was to release a chilling laugh. As they watched what might as well be a stranger react to Iker's plea... Iker could hear Bastian sniffling as well.

"Camilo..." Bastian barely said.

"What was your shitty excuse again Iker? Your platoon didn't let you look for me for secret reasons?" Camilo asked. "Sounds like a load of shit to me. Your religion is your platoon. You're a military dog now. You have become Ember's bitch."

"Heh," Iker scoffed. "You think you got me there didn't you? The thing is, my platoon doesn't have any easy answers. I have yet to be any closer to understanding what the fuck is going on."

Uzi your mindlink?

Uzi was not responding. Monica, Fatima, Gabe, and Hunter were disconnected from the mindlink when this session began. Iker glanced at Bastian first who was already trying to shake Uzi out of vis daze.

"Oh fuck," Iker said, jogging to Uzi. "I order you to mindlink now! Immediately! I don't care what you are thinking right now."

Camilo said he had to capture Iker, but he was still not moving from his spot. Goosebumps struck Iker's back of the neck. He checked on the shapeshifter to find him still sitting. Relaxed even.

And Uzi's ramblings flooded in.

Why is this happening instead of us just creating Dominic's sanctuary simulation? Did Monica betray me? Is she a shapeshifter? Is she still on 1 platoon's side? What if shapeshifters are also a bullshit category and jaunters can shapeshift too? Is what I am experiencing a fake memory? Am I being mind controlled? Is this a simulation? What is a simulation? Where is reality? Was this all fake? Am I real?

Uzi had yet to recover from the shock of being on a different timeline than ve expected. Ve was questioning everything now.

The first rule of temporal missions was not to fall into mental rabbit holes. Whether it was the rabbit hole of figuring out what was real or what was a simulation, figuring out if there were any shapeshifters among vis allies, or if any of vis memories were planted without Uzi noticing... Uzi forgot that ve would not find the answers to those questions by speculating here. Without more data, Uzi was engaging in futile speculation.

Get it together buddy, Bastian said to Uzi while giving ve a small tap. Be more like me. Separate them brain cells so they don't rub. Weed helps.

Uzi, you are more scared of the unknown than I am, Iker said. But Camilo is up to something and I need you to be here with us right now.

Uzi's breathing began carrying a deep and ghastly static sound. The arak was hyperventilating. Bastian, through what seemed to be osmosis, began struggling to breathe as well.

Our carbon bodies that need oxygen are not here, this is a mental battle, Iker said as he grabbed both Bastian and Uzi. I believe in you two.

"Iker, this is why you were never cut to be a don," Camilo said. His flesh rippled, the skin around his skull opening up like a blossoming lotus flower as some of his tendons and muscles also shot out flesh strings. The fleshy pieces of rope resembled muscle strings that could be whipped for combat. His voice became ethereal as the lower jaw of his skull dropped to speak. "What Bastian and Uzi are going through is my doing. You should have attacked me instead of trying to bring me back into your life of sin Iker."

"Not only was I still a virgin, but you were the one that forced yourself on me Camilo," Iker said. "No amount of following the Alkrezian Odyssey will let you just conveniently forget what you did to me."

Was Camilo using a variation of Pager's ability to cast esper abilities from far away? It did not appear to have transported Uzi and Bastian to a stadium mentally, it was instead amplifying their fears.

"I need a fucking puffer," Bastian choked. His carbon body was back in the Fornia Sphere nightclub where the ballroom competition was; his current avatar did not require oxygen.

As panic set in, at least Iker was able to figure out why Camilo has not used any esper abilities on him. Camilo had to keep Iker's mind in the same condition for a reason. It was the only explanation Iker could come up with.

Wait, Iker thought. That's why Uzi and Monica manipulated my memories using my fetus clone to separate classified memories. Something bad tends to happen around this part of the timeline doesn't it? Will my capture be unfruitful for Camilo as well? Did they separate my memories because my capture was inevitable? A cannon event?

Iker stopped himself in a moment of self-awareness.

"Why won't you fight me?" Camilo asked.

Iker did not have his military drones, which he had barely used anyway since they always brought back bad memories. He dearly missed Hughmungus... getting all those alloy sheets again would cost a lot of r0cbytes.

Those military drones were in what Iker deemed reality, which was also a simulation that was far away. He also did not have his own influx that would be in his carbon body's nervous system, meaning no Kaya form. There was a small chance he could have had Kaya form as Uzi demonstrated the ability to create or teleport authentic carbon, but Uzi was trapped in whatever esper ability Camilo used.

Actually, it was possible it was not an esper ability at all. It was quite likely the simulation all four beings were in could have an entirely different magic system, and on top of that no announcer AI came to explain the game they had to play against Camilo.

Iker's best bet in this situation was either using the magic system of negotiation, or getting Camilo to accidentally reveal the rules or the magic system of the simulation.

"I asked you a question. No amount of thinking will prevent me from winning."

"I have no influx, no drones, and I have no idea what the rules of this simulation is," Iker said. He had come to terms that he had no good options. He was gambling either way. "I'll let you capture me if you let Bastian and Uzi live. Please lift off the ability you used on them before it affects them in reality."

Iker either had to gamble on winning a game he did not know the rules of, or hope that the fetus clone Monica and Uzi hid had the memories Camilo was looking for. The way Uzi and Bastian reacted to Camilo being here... it had to be the first time this had ever happened.

"You better fight me Iker, I'll kill them either way," Camilo threatened.

"I'll call your bluff then," Iker replied, locking glares with him.

Bastian and Uzi were coughing, but Iker did not budge.

"I am going to kill them!"

Iker did not blink.

Camilo, resembling a demonic lich, turned away as Bastian and Uzi gasped in as much of the virtual... space air that they could?

Swords of light fell from above, one sword piercing Uzi into the invisible ground while four pierced each of Bastian's limbs. Bastian and Uzi yelped from both the swords that stabbed them into the ground, and from the realization that Iker turned himself in to be captured by the Alkrezian inquisitors.

"They won't die. I am just keeping them in place," Camilo said under his breath. "How did you see through my bluff?"

"I just knew. You're just another hurt person hurting others."

Camilo kept his back turned, flesh strings dancing under his exposed shoulder blades to resemble webby wings.

"Sir-" Uzi said.

"I know," Iker interrupted ver. "I had to gamble either way. I have made my choice. Please listen to Tagore alright?"

"Boss..." Bastian mumbled. Even though he was walking towards Camilo, Iker looked back one last time to give his brother and Uzi an upnod.

"I could not fail you any further sir," Uzi whispered while trying to wriggle out of the magical sword. "I was able to create it for Dominic. I obviously won't say how in front of our enemy. The category is... cybernetic realness."

Iker glanced back at Camilo's exposed skull. He did not budge at all to the revelation.

A sad chuckle came from the young adult that neither had his magic fist or his drones in this simulation. "A voguing game for anyone that tries to steal or read Dominic's memories... sounds fun."

As Iker joined the shapeshifter's side, a portal behind them began to manifest. The rims were made of chalk.

"Ameen's inquisitor Feechi... is she using influx?" Iker asked as he observed the glowing dot that was growing into a circle. He was not expecting Camilo to answer.

Silence fell on the simulation before Camilo answered with his new grisly voice. His exposed mandible dropped to speak.

"Come with me."

As Bastian and Uzi yelled Iker's name for the last time, Iker and Camilo walked forward through the chalk circle, bringing session thirty-six to a close.