Location: Terra Colony Andromeda

North Sector - Draco Outpost - Private ICU

Date: January 31, 2050

Time - Midnight

“Bubi! Garnt!” Arielle called out to them, her hands plunged into the mess of wires under the medical console. “Get into position. I think I got the override ready. That, or we’ll need to start planning a funeral. 00, how much time is left?”

“Query.. You have 67.234 seconds remaining.” Said the AI from the room’s speakers. “I have isolated the minor layers of the failsafes to give you higher access to the console’s systems, but my contingent firewalls and logical loops will not hold. Work quickly User Arielle, or this will all be for nothing.”

An electrical spark flashed against Arielle’s fingers. She winced, not in pain, more that she was surprised and annoyed. Tense situations were the worst, and she tried to avoid them like the plague. But today just wasn’t one of those days. It was one battle onto the next and the next. “You don’t have to tell me twice.” She said, “Garnt? Bubi? Are you ready?”

“Yeah.” Garnt replied, standing at one side of the medical vat with Bubi on the other. Bubi double checked the hospital bed they had prepped and gave him a nod, to which Garnt returned in kind. “We’re ready. Hit the release, and we’ll get Itsuki out of there.”

Arielle, working as fast as she could, twisted two lines of wiring and shot a pulse of core energy into the console’s underlying circuitry. Her cyberkinesis took the reins, and following her will, it ripped every control back from the failsafe’s programmed orders. She flashed a thumbs up to Haruka and said, “Now!”

Haruka flipped open the emergency release cover and slapped the big red button. Sinder held her breath in tense concern, as did Ironmouse, Hime, Vienna, Tricky, Bao, Numi, and Yuzu. While they all had beef with Itsuki, it wasn’t to the point they wouldn’t worry when his life hung in the balance.

The medical vat hissed as the sterile, green transparent liquid drained out of the cylindrical container. Itsuki’s body, no longer buoyant, leaned forward and was held up by the medical devices, cables, and wiring connecting him to the ceiling of the vat. The glass barrier retracted up until the ceiling, and one by one the connections holding his body up popped and came away. Bubi and Garnt caught a shoulder each, hauling the unconscious patient into the hospital bed.

Sinder stepped to one side, watching as they rolled Itsuki to a corner of the room where Hime hooked Itsuki up to a heart rate monitor and an IV. For a second, Sinder seemed sure Itsuki was dead. He was limp and didn’t even twitch. She couldn’t even tell if he was breathing.

“Is he..” Sinder was unsure if she should finish her sentence.

“Dead?” Hime cut in, flipping the heart monitor on. “We’ll see, and we’ll have to hold onto hope.”

At first, a long sharp ringing haunted everyone’s ears. A flat line on the heart rate monitor wasn’t a good sign, it only reminded them how fragile life was. Everyday was a blessing and could be brought to an end with a mere handful of unfortunate circumstances. They tried to convince themselves that the machine was broken, or that the device was just warming up. But as one second became two, then three, it dawned on them. A sombrous mood fell on the room.

He’s dead. Sinder found it odd that this thought struck her so deeply. Was it an instinctual reaction to seeing someone you know die? If it was, then it would’ve been less profound and there wouldn’t be this stabbing pain in her chest. Maybe it was because she blamed herself? She was the one who had pushed him to his limits during the training exercise. Though, that didn’t fit. So why? Why now?

A tear almost fell from her eyes. Numi and Yuzu, the good friends they are, came to her side and held onto her hands to ground her. She was about ready to break down into tears. This is.. This is.. So cruel.. Damnit!

Beep!

That familiar sound was refreshing and broke everyone out of their slump.

Arielle swung the heart monitor toward her, a wry smile taking shape on her lips. “Heh, he really had us going, didn’t he?”

Haruka caught on to her humorous tone. “You got that right. Did you really think anything could kill him?” She crossed her arms, nodding to herself like a smartass. “Yup, he’s stubborn to a T, like gum you can’t get off your shoe.”

Hime, Garnt, and Bubi stifled a soft chuckle, hiding it behind their hands. Ironmouse turned away, puffing her cheeks as if she’d been slighted, though the hints of embarrassment didn’t escape Bubi. The mood was moving back to being amicable, and nothing was more amicable than a bit of dark humor that really shouldn’t be funny.

Yuzu and Numi sighed as Sinder pulled up a chair and sat down next to Itsuki. Bao joined her as Tricky and Vienna decided that they had had enough of a panic attack for one day and began raiding the cupboards for something to eat. Ration bars would have to do. Tasteless as they were, they just needed to chew on them to take the edge off their thoughts.

About an hour later, and after a run of medical tests, Itsuki had yet to wake up. That was an irregularity according to 00, the AI in charge of Itsuki’s treatment.

“Strange, his brain waves say he’s awake, but he’s not.. Quite a unique phenomena.” 00’s silver star avatar flitted atop Itsuki’s forehead. It nestled closer to the headwear-like medical device it had instructed Arielle to put around the back of Itsuki’s head. “I’m reading no discrepant errors in the data or the device’s functionality. User Arielle, did you perhaps put the device on backwards, or do anything unusual to it?”

Arielle scoffed. “I know how to put one of these on someone. Don’t come crying to me if you think it’s broken.”

“I didn’t say it was broken. Though, I am certain you may have tampered with it.”

Arielle’s brow twitched in anger. The damned AI was insinuating that she was digging for info at a time like this. Granted, she had a history of being nosey, but this accusation took the cake.

Bao sighed and broke in before Arielle could get out a retort. “So? When is he going to wake up?” She glanced over to Sinder, who was napping in her chair. “At this rate, we’ll be here all day.”

“You could leave.” Suggested the AI. “You all aren’t not.. Friends.. With User Itsuki, so it puzzles me on why you’d stay.”

Bao huffed. She doubted the AI would understand if she explained. She didn’t want to leave, not if Sinder was staying. Apparently, her friend wanted to speak to Itsuki on a certain matter. On what exactly? She didn’t know. Her best guess was that it had to do with the recent fight they had during the training exercise.

The sentiment was shared between the majority of everyone else. Besides Bubi, Hime, and Garnt, they hadn’t experienced or seen how Itsuki fought as he did with Sinder earlier today. It was a first. Usually, the maniac was all guns and grenades, so for him to use techniques that utilize core energy? That dazzled them, and they had questions. A lot of questions.

As the AI and Arielle went back to their bickering on the topic of security and confidential information, Bao rested her head on the hospital bed. If she was going to wait, then she might as well catch a few Zs. Tricky and Vienna were still snacking away, while Yuzu and Numi kept a supportive eye on Sinder from across the room.

Bao shifted to get herself comfortable, letting the soft and delicate cloth of the bedding soothe her. Just as she yawned, she felt a pinching sensation at the top of her head. She batted whoever it was. Of all the places, especially for a whale type beast human, the blue rubbery like flaps on top of Bao’s head were sensitive. She patted them down, then ran her fingers through her aqua blue, flattening it to the back of her neck so it wouldn’t tangle.

Again, there was that pinching sensation, and it was harder this time. Bao had had enough. She sat up and was about to yell at whoever was messing with her. The words froze in her throat as a pair of blank black eyes stared at her.

Bao made a soft whimper just loud enough that everyone in the room noticed. Vienna and Tricky, mid bite into their snacks, stopped and blinked in bewilderment. Yuzu and Numi clenched their hands, stepping closer to Sinder’s chair. As beast humans, every one of them had a keen sense for danger, and it was flaring like crazy.

Itsuki was up, back straight, and in a lazed sitting posture. He had woken up and had been so quiet and silent that it unnerved everyone, especially the beast humans. Arielle boldly came over and snapped her fingers in Itsuki’s face. There was no reaction, Itsuki only stared at the far wall. Hime hazarded to check him over. Surprisingly, Itsuki was compliant.

“Yeah, he’s awake.” Hime said, shining a light into his eyes. She checked his pulse. “Healthy too. The heart rate monitor is working fine, and the readings are all in the green. I don’t see any physical issues either.”

“Then why does he seem so.. Dead?” Haruka asked. “I’ve seen dolls with more life than him.”

Arielle shrugged, giving the AI a chance to explain as its silver star avatar settled on a tabletop next to Itsuki’s bed. “Query.. To my knowledge, I do not have a concrete answer. This is a first for me, and my databases do not have any relevant points on a situation such as this. My best guess is that we may have permanently caused brain damage with our interference.”

“How?” Asked Arielle. “I thought we got him out in time.”

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“We did, but did we do it correctly? There is no precedent for this. We halted the failsafes and his recovery was half done. Coupled with how User Itsuki’s ability deals in memory and recollection, he may have amnesia at present or a kind of brain disorder.”

“Jesus.” Arielle clasped her forehead, shaking it while feeling somewhat responsible. “Well, if he has a perfect memory, is there a chance he might go back to being normal in time? Or.. as normal as he was before?”

“That is unknown.”

With all the commotion, Sinder stirred awake. She wiped her eyes and found her back stiffening when Itsuki took notice of her. Slowly, Itsuki began to set his gaze on each of them. There was a lost air to him, as if he didn’t know who they were, that he was confused, dazed, his brain scrambled.

Sinder likened it to a lost or traumatic child. The metaphor was emphasized by how short and small Itsuki was. The guy was apparently a little over a decade older than her, yet he had the body and face of a young teenager.

“Itsuki?” Sinder muttered, getting his attention. “You okay?”

Itsuki tilted his head at her. First left then right, and then when he settled on left, a brief silver flash in his eyes made everyone gasp. Silver vertical slit pupils materialized in his gaze, it prickled their skin. Everyone except Sinder stepped back since this was new for them.

Sinder, keeping calm, held eye contact as Itsuki studied her. A couple seconds in, sudden tears welled in his eyes. They trickled like thin rivers down both his cheeks.

“Uh? Is he broken?” Haruka asked, unfazed and without any tact. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him cry, have any of you?”

Nope, No, and Nada were everyone’s responses.

00 interrupted. “Strange, I’m getting a different reading of his brain waves compared to before. They’ve.. Regressed?”

“And that means what exactly?” Asked Arielle.

“Unknown.”

Arielle rolled her eyes in fed up annoyance. “Is he going to be alright or not?”

“Unknown.”

Arielle muttered a cuss under her breath. “Great.. Just.. fucking great.”

Sinder reached out to wipe Itsuki’s cheek. That seemed to help, and his tears gradually stopped. Closing his eyes, he slowly rested his cheek in her hand. When he opened them, his pupils went back to being normal. Everyone breathed easier, though it only lasted until Itsuki attempted to speak.

“Sin.. der..” He said. “Sin.. der?”

The weak utterance made them all clench. It was unnerving to see him so helpless and weak. Normally, Itsuki was curt and to the point, not to mention emotionless and a hardass. Seeing him the way he was now was like meeting an old relative with dementia.

Sinder nodded to Itsuki. “Yeah, that’s me? Do you.. Remember me?” She then gestured to everyone. “Or anyone else here?”

Itsuki didn’t make any attempt to look at the others, his sole focus was on Sinder. His brow furrowed and he reached for her face. He pinched her cheeks gently, as if he were a curious child. The gesture seemed somewhat endearing. Itsuki was concerned about her for some reason.

His expression softened a moment later, and he smiled, he actually fucking smiled. It creeped everyone out, and not in the fearful way when he forced himself to smile. This was a true smile, a wide and gleeful one, of a person who was genuinely happy.

“You’re.. O.. k.. You’re.. Okay.” Itsuki stuttered the words, growing more confident with every syllable. He then did something no one expected. He grabbed Sinder and pulled her head to his chest. “You’re okay!”

Sinder immediately flushed red, the little flames in her wolf ears burned a smidge hotter. She flailed, trying to escape and get him to let go. But Itsuki had a firm grip and she wasn’t going anywhere. Yuzu and Numi sprung forward and helped to pull Sinder away.

“Hey! What’s the big idea!” Numi hissed.

“Let go!” Yuzu demanded. “Let go of her you creep!”

They tugged on Sinder together, but yet again it was no use. Itsuki wasn’t budging. He was surprisingly strong for someone who was recovering.

“Here, let me try.” Said Bao. She was about to reach for Sinder’s shoulder until Itsuki slapped her hand away. “Ow! What the? What was that for!?”

Itsuki shot a glare at her, the silver vertical slit pupils coming back to his eyes. “Pervert..” He said. “Degenerate.. Lewd.. Vulgar.”

The AI managed a dull chuckle. “Amazing.. So he does remember everyone.. Especially User Bao for some reason.”

Bao deflated, hanging her head in shame. “Of all things, why does he remember that?”

Vienna and Tricky were about to chip in with an answer. At the last second, they decided not to since everyone had a tacit understanding. With how grabby Bao could be in the shower and the kinds of furry men she was into, it was hard to argue that Itsuki wouldn’t recall her as the.. Unique.. character amongst everyone here.

“I’m not a pervert!” Bao said, almost convincingly. “I’m not, I swear! Numi? Yuzu? You agree, right?”

She turned to the others, hoping they’d take her side. They all attempted to not make eye contact, which felt like a blow to Bao’s spirits. Again, more silence. It was the only answer they needed to give, and it was the final hit that sent Bao into a fit. Before things got out of hand, Vienna and Tricky dragged her out of the room, kicking and screaming.

“Uh? Itsuki?” Sinder asked. “Could you let go?”

Itsuki only held onto her tighter, pressing her to his hospital gown. He was mumbling, You’re okay, over and over. His tone was consoling, as if he was trying to calm her down. Perhaps he was concerned with how injured she was during the training exercise. Cruel and unfriendly as he was, he did look out for people when he could.

A pang of nostalgia and an unknown guilt crept into Sinder’s chest again. This had been happening ever since her fight with him. It felt like a part inside her had been knocked loose, or in this case freed. She was about ready to cry for a reason she didn’t know. It was a good thing no one could see her face at the moment. Itsuki, as if he could tell she was down, gently scratched the back of her wolf ears. It stunned her because that spot in particular soothed her.

And only mom and dad know about that. They rubbed my ears there whenever I was down, and I..

Itsuki nuzzled the top of her head, repetitively caressing the back of her ears with a delicate and affirming care. Sinder melted into his chest, a lazy smile on her lips as she seemingly achieved nirvana.

“Uh? Sinder? Are you enjoying this?” Numi asked, sounding a little jealous.

“N-no.” Sinder stammered. “Not really, I just.. Uh.. um.. Well.. you see.. I.. hmmmm.” She cooed as another wave of satisfaction rolled in from Itsuki’s scratching. He’d hit a sweet spot. “Hmmmm.. Yeah.. that’s the spot.. Wait.. No.. no! Wait.. No, I mean.. This isn’t what it looks like.”

Numi was unconvinced, noting how bright the flame was on Sinder’s tail and how much it waggled. Sinder blushed, burying her face back into Itsuki’s chest like a child would with their parents. The whole scene seemed sweet to Yuzu, though Numi glared at Itsuki with all the intent of a woman who had been wronged.

Behind Yuzu, Arielle snapped a picture with her phone. Before she could save it, the screen went black as 00 forced her device to shut down. “Hey! What the heck!”

“Query.. Your level of intrusiveness has been detrimental this past hour. I will no longer tolerate your antics any longer.” The AI said, putting his foot down, and it meant it. “Attempt to do anything else and I will hack and drain your bank accounts.”

“That’s a bit harsh.” Arielle said. “Plus, I was only trying to get a harmless pic. It’s not everyday I can get dirt..” She coughed and corrected herself. “ I mean, content.. As good as this.”

00 stayed silent as it hovered in front of Arielle and faced her with its silver star avatar. The thing didn’t even have a face, yet she could understand it was telling her to just try it and see what happens.

Arielle sighed. Fuck around and find out, or don’t. She thought. Guess I’ll choose not to, for now. She stowed her phone away, deliberating on what else she could do to make the most of the situation. She studied Ironmouse, looking over her short skirt dress. An idea popped into her head. I could do that.

“Haruka? Did you bring any markers or a makeup kit?” She asked. “Mind if I could use it?”

Haruka nodded, suspicious of how sneakily Arielle was grinning. “Yeah, sure. Why? Need to redo your makeup?”

“Yeah, something like that.” Arielle waved Yuzu and Numi over, whispering so that 00 couldn’t hear. Numi flashed a grin at Itsuki as Yuzu snickered, they seemed to be in agreement with whatever Arielle had in store. Arielle gave Haruka a look, invitingly raising one of her brows. “What do you think? You in?”

Haruka broke out into hysterical laughter. “This is going to be great. I can’t wait to see how he reacts.”

Numi and Yuzu nodded, leaving in a rush with Haruka and Arielle in tow. Bubi watched them go and a part of him wanted to join in on the fun, though, he rather stayed out of any shenanigans directed at Itsuki. Sometimes getting on the bandwagon wasn’t a good idea if it was headed right for a lunatic. Waiting and seeing was more his style. He snickered to himself as he imagined how the outcome would play out.

A kick to his shin from Ironmouse brought him back.

“Ow! What?” Bubi asked, rubbing his leg. “Why’d you do that?”

Mousey stuck out her tongue at him as her answer and ran off without saying anything else. Bubi chased after her, with Garnt and Hime following them out. The space went quickly quiet, and felt emptier to Sinder as she realized it was only her and Itsuki left in the room. She was stuck, and Itsuki wouldn’t let go no matter how much she asked him to. She could’ve forced her way out but that would probably injure either of them.

“You’re okay.” Itsuki mumbled, again scratching the back of her ears. “You’re okay.. Sinder.”

His voice sounded so protective. Sinder wasn’t sure why, but it made her feel at home. Again, an emotion of guilt she didn’t know why crept into her chest. Something had been her fault, she just didn’t know what.

“I’m sorry.” She muttered, hoping it would take the weight off her chest. It didn’t, and she broke out sobbing into Itsuki’s chest. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m.. I’m sorry.”

Itsuki continued to hold her like her father did. Whenever she was sad or troubled, her parents did this for her. It was uncomfortable to be coddled at the age she was now, yet at this very moment her embarrassment fell away. She seemingly felt like she had turned back into that naive and younger version of herself. A child, who didn’t know how truly big the world was and how dangerous it could be.

“You’re okay.” Itsuki said. “You’re okay.. You’re.. Going.. To be.. Okay.” His words changed, there was a mixture of happiness and sorrow in them. “You’re going to be.. Okay. Sinder.. I promise.. I promise.. To protect.. You.. all.”

The hold he had over her lightened and Sinder noticed a shift in weight. Itsuki slump onto her, completely limp. Startled that he might have flatlined, she pulled away to check the heart rate monitor, and was relieved to find him just sleeping, as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

Sinder bonked him on the head for giving her a heart attack. “Idiot. Idiot, Idiot, Idiot.” She said scoldingly, caringly laying him down and covering him with a blanket. “Stupid idiot. Don’t scare me like that.”

Sinder paused, wondering what to do now. The guilt from before had retreated, though she knew it was still there. Buried. Forgotten. Obscured. But why? What is this? What happened back then? She went through her memories, trying to figure out when was the first time she met Itsuki, and was going through their interactions to figure out if she had regretted anything she did to feel so bad.

Nothing.. So why? What could I feel guilty about?