Chapter 2: The Other Side

Ziekary was leaning against my doorstep in the quiet residential area of

Seiku Old Town. The evening was serene, the air filled with a sense of

calm.

Everything was just as it should be, or so she thought.

"Huh?" she muttered to herself, a perplexed look on her face. "Wait, I

think

I'm forgetting something." Ziekary stood there for a moment in silence,

as if

searching my mind for the elusive missing piece.

Her gaze shifted towards my modest board house. "I forgot to ask for his

number!"

she exclaimed suddenly, a mixture of regret and confusion swirling

within

her. "But why would I even bother asking his number?"

she wondered aloud, feeling a strange sense of longing she couldn't

quite

comprehend. Ziekary turned her attention to the window as though

expecting an answer to materialize from the outside world.

The night was dark and peaceful as she found herself at Seiku Fountain

Park, lost in a sea of memories.

This was a flashback, a recollection of a peculiar encounter that had left

a mark on us. She and I (Kyrie)

Ziekary could see herself, running away from me. "Hey, wait!" I had

called out to her, my voice carrying an air of urgency.

Breathing heavily, Ziekary had come to a stop, her heart pounding in her

chest. "Stay away! I meant it!" she had warned me, her voice trembling

with fear. "Who are you?! Ok, this is freaking me out!" I had whispered,

"Hush! Don't start a commotion, please?" I remember the

way my voice had tried to soothe her.

"Why should I listen to you? It's easier this way, help!" she had pleaded,

her desperation apparent.

"Look, I'm not some crazy ass psycho who targets women for pleasure,

alright?" I had assured her, extending my open palms as a gesture of

peace.

Slowly, she had begun to inch away from me, still suspicious and fearful.

"Then if you're not a pervert, why are you targeting me? And why do you

look so much like him? You're really freaking me out!"

"This is wrong. I should have gone home," she muttered to herself, tornbetween curiosity and caution.

"Relax," I implored. "I'm not going to harm you. Why are you running

away?" I asked, his expression a mixture of concern and confusion.

Ziekary looked left and right, scanning for any signs of danger. "Because

you're following me, and you seem suspicious,"she replied, her voice

quivering.

Gently, she pointed out the uncanny resemblance between my face and

her phone's background, which was a picture of me.

"I'll tell you everything about me if you'll calm down," I offered, a warm

smile gracing my lips.

She sighed, feeling a strange connection between us. It was as if fate had

thrown us together in this unexpected encounter, and she had no choice

but to trust me. "Okay," she said, her apprehension slowly giving way to

curiosity and a hint of excitement.With a reassuring smile and both

hands raised in a gesture of peace, I spoke

softly, "I promise, you have nothing to fear."

The flashback had come to an end, and Ziekary found herself back in the

present, in the serene Seiku Old Town Residential Area 3. she lay in her

bed, the memories of that peculiar encounter still fresh in her mind. She

couldn't

help but glance at her phone's background, a picture of me. The name

echoed in her thoughts, and she wondered about the guy she met.

The next morning, Ziekary made her way to the Seiku Old Town

Academy of

Sciences, walking through the school campus under the bright morning

sun.

"This is the first time I wasn't able to sleep well last night," she sighed,

the

remnants of the past night's memories still lingering.

She gazed at the sky, lost in thought. "I wonder, when will I see him

again? I

has a lot of questions." Her mind was filled with curiosity and intrigue,

and I

couldn't shake the feeling that this connection wasn't something

ordinary.

"Am I dreaming?"

Suddenly, a voice called out to her, snapping her out of her reverie.

"Ziekary! We're gonna be late." It was Charlotte, her friend, reminding

her

of their busy day at the academy.In another part of Seiku, in Residential Area 4, Rylee was on the phone,

her

tone filled with concern. "You've what?"

I replied with a sense of assurance, "Yeah, I met someone. It's a girl."

A flashback briefly clouded my thoughts, an image of Ziekary, the girl

from last night.

As the flashback ended, I continued, "I think her name is Ziekary."Rylee's

voice held a hint of worry as she replied, "Helping someone again,

even though you're in a bad situation? How could you even relax?"

I shrugged off her concern, feeling a sense of responsibility for Ziekary.

"There's nothing wrong with helping someone, even if it's just for a short

time. I mean, she was crying, and I feel like she could use some

company."

"Look," I added, "can't we arrange a video chat or something?"

Rylee, busy with her own tasks, responded, "Not right now. I'm in the

middle of a lab work."

I sensed there was more to her work than met the eye. "That and

figuring a

way to get me out of here?"

"Something like that," Rylee admitted. "I found something interesting."

"In order for me to make a significant effort," she explained, "I require

you to gather information about it, including its context within the

universe."

Rylee emphasized the importance of my mission, "Well, can I do it some

other time? I still have some homeless issues."

"Don't tell me you're really gonna settle in there?" Rylee questioned.

I realized the truth in her words. "Do I have any other choice?"

"At least," Rylee advised, "find out the current status of their

technology."

With a sense of duty, I confirmed, "Fine."

As the call ended, Rylee expressed her concern, "This is bad, really bad."

Back at the Seiku Academy of Sciences, the bell rang, signaling the end of

the day. As Ziekary tried to make her way home, she encountered a

drunken man stumbling towards her. She bumped into him, a look of

uncertainty on her face.

"Sorry, I'll be on my way now," she said, attempting to move past him.

But the drunken man wasn't ready to let her go. "Hey, you there!" he

called out. Ziekary stopped, her thoughts filled with apprehension.

"What does shewant now?" she wondered, a sense of unease creeping in.

"Think you could come with me? And have some fun?" the drunken man

slurred, his intentions far from clear.

Ziekary, polite but cautious, replied, "Sorry, no. No offense, sir, but I

don't even know you." She attempted to walk away.

The drunken man's mood shifted, and he reached out to hold her down,

causing both of them to fall to the ground. Panic filled Ziekary's voice as

she pleaded, "No, please, let me go, sir! Please."

"You know what I don't like?" the drunken man growled menacingly.

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"People who turn me down! And now, you've gotta get what you

deserve."

The alley was shrouded in silence, and the air was heavy with tension.

Ziekary had just witnessed the unimaginable the drunken man had been

stabbed in the head and lay lifeless on the ground. My heart raced as I

glanced at the piece of metal pipe I held in my hand.

"Well, what do you know, just in time, huh?" I said, attempting to break

the awkward silence. Ziekary, her face pale and shocked, was still

processing the

events that had unfolded before her."Why did you kill him?" she finally

managed to stammer, her voice trembling with fear and confusion.

I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at her question. "What kind of

question is that? I thought it's okay to kill someone."

"No, it's not!" Ziekary exclaimed, her eyes welling up with tears. "Killing

people here, it's a crime!"

With the sound of approaching citizens, Ziekary's cries for help grew

louder.

"Oh my god, it's blood! Somebody call the police!"

Panicked, I knew it was time to leave. I grabbed Ziekary and dragged her

along the streets as the citizens gathered around the gruesome scene.

"What did they do? This is horrible!" one of the onlookers remarked.

"Come on, you run too slow," I urged Ziekary as we sprinted through the

city

streets, away from the prying eyes of the crowd. As we turned into a

dead-end alley, a sense of relief washed over me. "Well,

that was close. So glad tha—"

My words trailed off as I noticed Ziekary, still trembling and crying.

Without

hesitation, she ran towards me and hugged me tightly. I wrapped my

arms

around her, providing what comfort I could in this strange and periloussituation.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I asked gently, trying to soothe her fears. "Come

on

now, you're safe."Ziekary continued to hold me tightly, her voice choked

with emotion. "If it

weren't for you, who knows if that man would do something terrible to

me."

I couldn't help but smile, grateful that I had been able to protect her in

that

moment of danger.

In the dimly lit Seiku Dead End Alley, our eyes met, and I could see the

relief

in Ziekary's gaze. Her tearful embrace had been an unspoken thank you

for

saving her from a potentially dire situation.

"Ziekary?" I spoke her name softly, wanting to clear the air after the

harrowing events. "Oh, right. You have something to tell me, as my

thanks,

I'll listen to you."

But I shook my head, her expression earnest. "No silly, you don't have to

owe me anything."

I couldn't ignore the questions burning in her mind. "Do you have a

plan?"

she inquired, her curiosity getting the better of me.

I sighed, my thoughts drifting. "Not at the moment, but I've got to ask

you

some questions."

"Ask me anything," she assured me, eager to understand the mysteries

of

this world I had stumbled into.

I hesitated for a moment, my eyes filled with doubt. "Do you know

where

the lab is?"

She sensed a hint of urgency in my question. "Why ask some random

questions?" she replied, puzzled but willing to entertain my query."It's

not a random question," I explained, my voice growing more serious.

"But I need you to take me there right now."

Concerned about my well-being, Ziekary felt the need to defend her

actions. "Are you going to do something even crazier? And also, you

committed a crime! I bet the police are going to be looking for you!"I grinned, my nonchalant attitude not helping the situation. "Oh, come

on,

it's just one person, no big deal."

Ziekary was not amused. "No! You could've just put him to sleep or

something! It's better that way. Geez, you moron!"

My smile remained, but I couldn't help but notice her unease. "Hmm, it's

evident that you're feeling nervous. Are you suggesting that I shouldn't

have

come to your rescue earlier?"

Ziekary's response was heartfelt. "No, it's not that. I'm thankful that you

saved me. It's just I've never gotten in trouble before, and I don't want to

get involved in any violence."

"Sorry," I said sincerely, realizing the weight of my actions.

She sighed, torn between her gratitude and the overwhelming reality of

the

situation. "Oh gosh."

With the tension slightly diffused, I refocused on our mission. "So, got

any

information for me? You know something helpful?"

Ziekary looked away for a moment, hesitating before turning back to me.

"Well, since you're very valuable and a rare guest of Mother Earth, I

might

as well tell you something."I was all ears, eager to uncover the mysteries

of this world. "I'm listening."

She leaned in, her voice hushed. "Have you heard of S.E.S?"

I was taken aback, my curiosity piqued. "No, I've never heard of S.E.S.

The

hell is that? Is it something I can eat to teleport back?"

Ziekary laughed, her laughter a refreshing sound in the midst of our

uncertainties. "No! You know what? You're funny."

I couldn't help but chuckle along with her. "Hey, smiling is a healthy

thing.

You should do it often."

Her blush was endearing. "But seriously, what is S.E.S?"

Meanwhile, at Xenovert, Storm Point, Upper Deck Lounge, a

conversation

was unfolding between Live Wire and Kiyon, concerning my

disappearance.

"You got rid of Kyrie that easy?" Live Wire questioned, a hint of

skepticismin his voice.

Kiyon, the mastermind behind my disappearance, remained confident.

"It

was a one-shot chance. He was inside of that simulation room."

Live Wire, however, saw the bigger picture. "He's going to kill you once

he

finds a way back."

Kiyon couldn't help but chuckle at the notion. "If he finds a way back,

that

is," he taunted. "That was a black hole that he got warped into, but it

might

not last so—"

Live Wire, always the pragmatist, reminded Kiyon of the importance of

my

unique abilities. "You know we need him at some point. What, did

jealousy

get into you?"Kiyon waved off the suggestion. "What? Why would I get

jealous with a

specimen like him?"

Live Wire made a valid point, emphasizing the significance of my role in

their plans. "That's the point. He's a specimen. He's the key to developing

more hybrids."

Kiyon, despite his nonchalance, realized the truth in Live Wire's words.

"Don't give me that crap!"

As their conversation continued, the fate of my return remained

uncertain.

The tranquility of Seiku Fountain Park was occasionally interrupted by

the

sound of Ziekary's munching on a snack. She sat on the same bench as

before, lost in her thoughts about the upcoming holiday.

"What should I do for the coming holiday, visit the mall, the arcade, or

maybe my grandma?" she pondered aloud, her sigh carrying a hint of

loneliness.

Despite the encroaching darkness, she hesitated to leave the park.

"Despite

the darkness setting in, I still don't feel like going home just yet," she

mumbled to herself between bites of her snack.

As if summoned by her thoughts, my voice broke the silence. "You know

what, you shouldn't be eating all by yourself."Startled, Ziekary turned to

see me just a couple of feet away. "Huh? Oh, hey,I thought you went to find out an answer."

I took a seat next to her, unfazed by her previous inquiry. "Nah. Anyways,

don't you have any other friends? You're always alone everywhere you

go."

Ziekary explained her situation, "I have Charlotte, who tries her best to

be

with me, but she has a part-time job, so I'm only with her when inside the

campus."

A tinge of sympathy colored my response. "That's sad."

Ziekary continued, "Once we're outside, we go our separate ways. So, I

don't have really that many friends, not really."

I observed her introverted nature with a playful smile. "You're pretty

much

an introvert."

She chuckled in agreement, "Hehe, yeah, pretty much."

I shared a bit about myself, "I can be both introvert and an extrovert,

ambivert"

Ziekary nodded, appreciating my ability to connect with her. "Makes

sense,

that you can relate to me."

I contemplated the idea that being alone wasn't inherently negative. "I

suppose there's no inherent issue with being alone constantly, as long as

it

doesn't have detrimental effects on your well-being."

Quickly, Ziekary clarified her own perspective. "Oh, I'm not the type to

behave that way. I would never show disrespect to someone, unless they

try

1. I just communicate fine with most people around me."I looked into

her eyes and remarked, "Please don't pity me, as I'm feeling

perfectly fine."

She hesitated for a moment, and I couldn't help but smile. "You're really

good at hiding your feelings."

Ziekary denied it, "What?! N-no, it's not like that, really."

I leaned in and reassured her, "You don't need to hide it, 'cause I can

tell."

She looked surprised, her curiosity piqued. "Is it genuinely true? Are you

suggesting that you possess psychic abilities related to what we're

studying?"

I acknowledged her question, "Hmm, yeah, I guess you could say that."

She leaned in closer, intrigued. "So you're really not a human then?"I hesitated for a moment before confessing, "I'm a mixture between an

alien and a human." Ziekary nodded knowingly, "It's called Hybrid,

right?" I raised an eyebrow, impressed by her knowledge. "Hm, is that a

guess, or did it come from a book you said was part of your science

class?" She smiled, enjoying the connection we were forming. "Well, as I

said, we

know the entire history of your extraterrestrial civilization and its

technologies, yet we haven't discovered a means of progress. That study

is

all that it is, and it doesn't really inform us how to advance our

technology.”Ziekary and I continued our conversation, delving into the

mysteries of my

origin. She revealed the extent of her knowledge, saying, "However, we

naturally solely focused on your involvement and the adversaries you

battled against with. Oh, and how it relates to the Fermi Paradox as

well."

I couldn't help but admire her intellectual curiosity. "Smart."

She acknowledged the skepticism that still lingered, "Yeah, the lack of

clear

evidence of extraterrestrial life. And I'm looking at you right now, who

claims to be a half-alien."

I grinned, playfully teasing her, "Oh, so you still don't believe me?"

Ziekary admitted, "Yeah, honestly? I still have doubts that you're from

another world and that you're a hybrid."

With a gentle touch, I patted her head. She looked up in surprise, "Huh?"

I reassured her, "I won't try to talk you out of it, so it's best to

demonstrate

it to you. I won't do it right away, but I'll do it when the right time comes,

I

promise."

Ziekary hesitated, her past experiences with promises clearly affecting

her.

"A promise, huh?"

I met her gaze with sincerity, "Yeah, it's a promise."

She shared her reservations, "I'm tired of hearing promises because most

people continue to break them. Nobody has ever kept a promise to me

before, and it's all in the past."

I leaned closer, seeking to assure her, "Well now, I'm not from the past.

I'mwith you at present, right here, Ziekary?."Her interest was piqued as she

looked at me with newfound curiosity.

I continued, "But don't worry. I'll make sure that I don't break my

promise to you, no matter how hard the situation is."

Ziekary blushed, and her tone lightened. "We'll see about that!"

Changing the subject, she asked, "Anyways, are you still going to the

lab?"

I contemplated the question, "Do I really need to?"

Confused, she probed further, "What do you mean?"

I revealed my findings, "I already found the answer. I don't need to go

there anymore." Ziekary's curiosity got the better of her, "Well, did you

find something else instead?" My thoughts wandered back to a recent

flashback as I explained to Ziekary,

"Yes, I found something else, a glimpse into the past."

In the flashback, I stood in a busy city street, observing the hustle and

bustle of daily life. My attention was drawn to an elderly man, struggling

to

carry his belongings in a trolley. The sight of his resilience in the face of

adversity made me reflect on the human spirit.

I glanced at a billboard that read "Save Mother Earth," a reminder of the

fragility of this planet and the importance of preserving it. The contrast

between the billboard's message and the man's struggle deepened my

understanding of the world.As I continued to observe, a car owner

cursed in frustration while trying to

fix his vehicle. The old car seemed to be giving him a hard time. I

couldn't

help but smirk, recognizing the humor in the situation.

With a sense of clarity, I realized that sometimes, it's the small moments

and the everyday struggles that define the human experience.

The flashback ended, and I turned my attention back to Ziekary, who

was eagerly awaiting my response. As Ziekary and I continued our

conversation, I couldn't help but reflect on

the technology and lifestyle of this world. "Based on how the people live,

the technology here isn't all that great. Damn, hate to admit it, but Rylee

is

right. It's deficient and far too outdated if you compare it to my world."

Ziekary accepted the reality with a touch of resignation, "Well, I guess

that's reality for us."

I shared my concerns about returning home, "If this is all you have, then

I've got a 0% chance of going back."Ziekary warned me about potential trouble, "If S.E.S finds out that you're

genuinely a different species, they might ask you a lot of questions and

might put you through testing."

I considered the complications, "I've got to avoid trouble, but I doubt if I

could hide all of me."

Ziekary suddenly covered her face, and I was puzzled. "Something wrong?

Your face is red."

She brushed it off, "Oh yeah, I'm fine. It's just...um."I noticed her

discomfort and decided to change the topic, "Let's move on

from the science conversation. Does that indicate you won't be leaving

anytime soon if you are unable to return?"

I couldn't provide a definitive answer, "Can't say, but we'll see."

Ziekary smiled, her warm demeanor putting me at ease.

As evening fell, I offered, "It's getting late. Would you appreciate me

accompanying you on your way home?"

Ziekary was surprised but delighted, "Huh? Is it okay?"

We began walking together along the streets, Ziekary leading the way

towards her apartment building. "Well, we're here."

I looked up at the unique structure, "So this is where you live?"

She explained its history, "It was a clock tower, but they couldn't get the

clock to work again, so the owner decided to turn it into an apartment

instead." I admired the building's aesthetics, "Damn, that is pretty neat.

I'm glad they didn't remove the giant clock up there, very aesthetic."

Ziekary noticed my fascination with the clock, "Yeah, you keep looking at

1. Something wrong?" I hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Say, do

you mind if I also accompany you to the front door?"

Ziekary blushed but agreed, leading me up to her front door, where we

stood together. "Here we are. This is where I live."I gazed at the view

from her apartment building, appreciating the stunning

sight. "We're not yet at the very top, but the view is already stunning up

here. Sweet!" Ziekary hesitated and decided to make a kind offer, "I

know we just met, and you seem like a nice guy." I wondered if she

would invite me inside. "Hm? You gonna invite me inside? Is that it?"

Ziekary was slightly flustered but replied, "That's, umm...well, yeah, ifyou

want." I declined her offer with a warm smile, "I'm grateful, but no

thanks. Smiles Maybe some other time? I want to explore more of the

city." She voiced her concern about the late hour, "This late? It could be

dangerous around these parts." I responded with confidence, "Do you

think that applies to me?"Realizing my intentions, Ziekary watched in surprise as I leaped down

from the height of her apartment building. She gasped, "Oh!"

I landed gracefully on the ground, looking up at her. She stared down at

me, a mixture of awe and concern in her eyes.

In the heart of Greed Haven's Xenovert, Kiyon found themselves deep

within an underground laboratory, at level 3. The room was vast, filled

with

advanced machinery and technology. The lighting was dim, casting long

shadows that accentuated the sense of secrecy and intrigue.Kiyon, the

mastermind behind this covert operation, surveyed the

expansive underground laboratory. His gaze was fixed on a sophisticated

simulation, the key to his elaborate plans.

The entire room buzzed with activity, its purpose hidden from the world

above. Kiyon, the enigmatic figure orchestrating this clandestine

operation,

held the answers to the mysteries that unfolded.

As we delved into the heart of Xenovert's underground laboratory, the

truth

behind Kiyon's actions began to surface. The room whispered secrets

and

concealed motives, leaving us with a sense of anticipation and

uncertainty.

And with that, the second chapter of our story came to an end, leaving

us eager to uncover the the mysteries that awaited me.