You walk out of the bunker with a small chip the size of your fingernail, and supposedly this chip contains all the different kinds of medicine and equipment you needed back at the bunker. You hold it in your hands and hold it up, gazing it. It reminds you of the small chip that Jesse had that contained your file. “I still can't believe it.”

“It's all stored right in there as code. The whole thing acts like a pocket dimension just full of storing things like that digitally.”

“Pocket dimension?”

“Well, there's rumor out there that there are whole other worlds out there just like our own. Alternate realities that are almost exactly alike, and connecting those worlds are spaces called Pocket Dimensions. They're like the bridges between worlds apparently.”

“Like gates almost?”

“I guess you could say that. This is of course if you believe all that stuff.”

“Do you?”

“I told you when we first met I'm a sucker for crazy. Pocket dimensions and alternate realities fall under that category,” he grins.

You look to him, and past him subconsciously. Your eyes set on a landmass that juts up almost fifty feet into the air. It's a spiral hill that stabs the purple sky as it fades into a bright golden at the horizon.

“Does that tie in at all to you being in the army?” You ask.

He smiles, “I should have known better than to think you would have forgotten me bringing that up.”

“I'm just curious, that's all. If it's a sore subject you don't have to talk about it.”

“It's not that. It's just I don't remember much about it.”

“Huh? Why's that?”

“Have you ever been a part of something that you thought would never end?”

“I...uh, maybe?”

“Something that seemed so surreal that seemed to almost be dreamlike? Like something you wouldn't do if you felt you had control? That was me and the army. Something that I felt I had to do instead of want to. You know, this planet is my home here, so I did what I could to protect it back when it was needed.”

“That's very noble of you,” you say.

“But honestly, if I could take it back I would.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I told you how I almost lost my fire for the impossible?”

“I seem to remember you mentioning it.”

“The army did that to me. It gave me a good job when I got out, sure, but I was so absolutely drained of everything I once was. Everything around me lost its wonder.”

“Is that why you acted so weird when we first met?” you ask.

“Huh?”

“When I woke up in the jail cell you acted really strange about giving me information. Looked like you were going to be sick.”

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He looks confused for a second before a flash of recognition passes across his face. “Oh...right. In that split second I just was reminded of someone I used to know.

“Who?”

“I'm sorry, but I'm not comfortable with sharing that right now,” he says, quiet.

“I'm sorry.”

There is an awkward silence for the rest of the walk back. You don't try to revive the conversation, it's as dead in the water as you want to be right now. His whole demeanor seems to shift as you can feel that he's self conscious, aware of how much he's letting out at once, and you want to be able to help him, but you realize that you aren't really in any position to be of any help.

You make it back to the bunker with no difficulty. The forest is silent, almost eerily so. Jesse's mood seems to have lightened up on the trip back, but you didn't dare say anything that might compromise it. Instead you kept to your thoughts and prepared yourself for what kinds of questions you would ask Andrew when you spoke to him. You're finally ready to learn what happened to Earth.

You step onto the elevator platform and Jesse presses the switch to send it down. The light from the outside fades into darkness as you swing your neck around to release the tension that's probably loaded in your joints.

“If you want I can take the medicine,” Jesse says, breaking his silence. You look over and catch a glance at him before the light disappears completely and shrouds you both in darkness.

“O-Okay. When we make it back to the common room I'm going to go talk to Andrew.”

“Thought you would. Make sure you share any details, okay? I'm curious about what happened.”

So he is going to gloss over the super-large awkward moment you two had. Seems it's the only way that's going to happen.

“Will do.”

The elevator stops and you see the bright white near-spotlight beams in your eyes. It's a real shitty spot for them to be set there on the inner walls of the bunker, but then again it is better to have bright light than no light at all.

The gates to the elevator swing open and you both step out, you hand the small chip over to Jesse and he nods his head, smiling at you. It's good to see him smile again, you were worried whatever was bothering him took it away.

You smile and nod back and he's off on his own pace, walking much faster than you were on the way back. So it turns out he was holding back waiting for you, go figure. You know you couldn't keep that kind of pace consistently, it's damn near jogging and unless you're being chased you're keeping your jogging to a minimum.

You walk down the hall and instead of continuing forward like Jesse is doing you hang a left. You go through the door that's right at the end of the hall and enter through the residential area. Inside you see Cardus sitting at a table close by with an Illith sitting next to him. If you remember right her name is Esio.

You walk up and nod your head, “Hey guys, how are you holding up?”

“Alex...right?” Cardus asks.

“Yeah,” you nod.

“I'm sorry, it's just strange seeing Roland's body and calling it by another name.”

“So this is the one that saved you at the Capitol?” Esio asks. Her voice is so high it's like she has a permanent supply of helium.

“Not just once, but twice he surprised us all and saved us from Cross,” Cardus nods.

“Well, it's very nice to meet you,” Esio says.

“You as well.” You turn to Cardus, “Do you know where Andrew is?”

“Yes, he should be in his room, I think he is reading. Did you both manage to get the medicine?”

“Yes, Jesse is going to bring it over right now. Before I go, what happened with Bartz's body?”

You can see him dip, “I brought him to the cold storage. He now sits alongside the others who have perished here. I don't know how we're going to break it to Jonan.”

“I'll buy you a drink when we're next available” Well Jonan, looks like that drink is never coming.

“Well, we're going to have to tell him when they get back.”

“Right...we'll get through it. Together,” Cardus says. You nod your head and begin to walk over towards Andrew's room. “Oh and Alex,” Cardus says. You turn back to look at him, “We're not going to let Cross get you. Whatever he wants with you is nothing good, so I'll do my best as leader of the Cæ to protect you as you have us.”

“Thank you, Cardus,” you say, smiling.