Pabloc silently stood over the medical equipment, his hands tapping on its controls as if he was playing a piano. The many small floating screens accompanying him were constantly changing their display, from diagrams and spreadsheets to camera feeds and medical scans and so on and so forth. Sometimes one of them flew into his view, but after a quick side-glance he sent it back and his gaze returned to the machinery.

The machine itself was huge; nothing like what one would expect cutting-edge technology to be. It seemed like the bespectacled man was operating some sort of industrial apparatus rather than a diagnostic tool as Soketsu was quietly lying on his bed behind him.

Most of his cast and bandages have been removed a few minutes earlier and he was breathing steadily in his seemingly peaceful sleep.

Ahazkun: "How is he?"

Pabloc glanced up from his task in response to the oracle’s muffled whisper and let out a small sigh.

Pabloc: "Physically? Surprisingly well, actually. At this rate, the regenerative treatment will be done by tomorrow morning."

Ahazkun: "I see. Good."

Pabloc: "His mental state though… I can’t say anything yet. I have absolutely no idea how to interpret these readings."

Ahazkun: "We should just wait. Sleeping is the best way to sort one’s own mind."

Pabloc: "I suppose. Still, I would feel a lot more comfortable if I could at least understand what’s going on in his head." The man let out a small sigh. "If nothing more, it would be fascinating to analyze the effects of the transfer in process."

Ahazkun: "But you can’t."

Pabloc: "… No, I can’t."

He turned his attention to the interface once again as three small screens surrounded him.

Pabloc: "If I could only take him back to the main laboratory…"

Ahazkun: "You should concentrate on searching for any tracking imprints on him instead of agonizing like that." The oracle dryly stated as his fingers kept drumming on his crossed arm. "Wasn’t that what you were supposed to do anyway?"

The scientist quietly readjusted his glasses and answered without turning.

Pabloc: "Yes, I did that already. And yes, I checked Kay too. Twice. There is no tracking device or imprint on them, in them or around them."

Ahazkun: "Yet the chance of the facility being discovered still rises."

Pabloc: "What was that chance again?"

Ahazkun: "At the moment? Zero point nine percent."

Pabloc turned back to the oracle and silently groaned.

Pabloc: "Really? You are making a fuss about a chance that is even less than one percent?"

Ahazkun: "It’s not zero."

Pabloc: "It might as well be. I checked them four times in total. There is nothing."

For a few seconds the two of them locked their gazes together in a silent tug-of-war, but it was quite obvious that Ahazkun was on the losing side.

Ahazkun: "Fine."

Even though the man apparently gave up with a tiny shrug, grudging as he might have been, Pabloc continued to gaze at him with a small frown. He didn’t want to criticize the man, certainly not to his face, but his obsession with small chances and their possible repercussions was becoming more and more of a hassle lately.

That said, the reason behind the scientist’s frown was something completely different this time around. With a small motion the bespectacled man swept his hand towards the table. An empty vial rose to the air in accordance with the motion and suddenly cut through the airspace of the infirmary, heading towards Ahazkun.

The oracle caught the vial out of the air with his left hand while barely looking. The motion was simple and straightforward, yet at the same time somewhat tense. Ahazkun glanced at the empty vial and then back at the scientist.

Ahazkun: "What was that about?"

Pabloc glared back at him.

Pabloc: "I was right after all. You caught that with your left hand."

The tall man’s eyes suddenly twitched as he looked at the vial in his hand again.

Pabloc: "You have been favoring your right arm ever since you came back. Did you really think I wouldn’t notice?"

For a moment there seemed to be a guilty expression running over Ahazkun’s face, so quick and subtle that even Pabloc could barely catch it.

Ahazkun: "It has nothing to do with the topic at hand."

His tone was dismissive, obviously trying to downplay the issue, but the scientist was not going to let things slide like that.

Pabloc: "Oh, but it does," Pabloc walked over to Ahazkun and took the vial from him. After setting said vial back to its place with a quick flight he moved his hands over the tall man’s injured shoulder and suddenly gasped. "This isn’t just a simple bruise, is it?"

Ahazkun didn’t answer, only glanced away with something of a remorseful expression reflecting on his otherwise emotionless face.

Pabloc: "I’m not even going to ask what happened… Get off you shirt and let me take a closer look."

The oracle obediently followed Pabloc’s orders and let the man examine his shoulder. The scientist’s expression became grimmer with each passing second.

Pabloc: "It looks pretty bad. When did you get this?"

Ahazkun: "Five days ago. I had to take a calculated risk and throw a Type-O."

Pabloc stopped like he was waiting for a punch-line, but as it became obvious there wasn’t one his brows quickly knit into a disapproving frown.

Pabloc: "… That’s not a calculated risk, that’s just insane."

Ahazkun: "I had little choice."

The bespectacled man didn’t react this time; instead he just continued to examine the man’s shoulder with his lips pursed into thin line.

Pabloc: "It seems like the muscles are bruised, possibly even torn, and the joint looks badly inflamed. I cannot say much more without a proper examination, but it will certainly need treatment."

Ahazkun kept silent for a few more seconds then looked up at the scientist with firm eyes.

Ahazkun: "Can it wait until tomorrow?"

Pabloc: "Are you seriously asking that?" He glared at the oracle with eyes that would make a starving bear think twice before approaching. "I am just about to chew your head off for not telling me about this the moment you arrived!"

Ahazkun: "I know, but can it wait until tomorrow?"

Pabloc rolled his eyes and theatrically opened his arms.

Pabloc: "Ah yes. Of course it can! In fact, I was only joking when I told you it was bad and needs treatment ASAP! Couldn’t you tell?"

Ahazkun: "That’s good then."

For a moment Pabloc could only blink at the man in silence with a blank expression. In the end he just let down his arms and sighed while readjusting his glasses.

Pabloc: "Sometimes I have to wonder of you are really bad with sarcasm or you are making fun of me on purpose…"

Ahazkun: "That’s irrelevant." After a moment of contemplation Ahazkun continued. "Are you sure it cannot wait?"

Pabloc: "Why?"

The tall man glanced over to Soketsu’s bed then back to the scientist.

Ahazkun: "You need to focus on him now. My problems would be a distraction."

Pabloc: "Oh for the love of—" The man audibly groaned and glared at Ahazkun again. "Is this another of your calculated risks?"

Ahazkun: "No. He simply needs your attention more."

For a few seconds the men locked their gazes again, but this time it was Pabloc who gave in.

Pabloc: "Fine. But there are three conditions."

Ahazkun: "Yes?"

Pabloc: "First off, tomorrow morning the first thing you are going to do will be coming here and receiving proper treatment."

Ahazkun: "Fair enough."

Pabloc: "Secondly, the next time something like this happens you will be telling me the moment you arrive."

Ahazkun only nodded in agreement this time.

Pabloc: "Finally, stop putting your plans above your health. They will do no good to anyone if you are dead."

This time the oracle seemed to be conflicted, but under the overbearing glare of the scientist he finally nodded, though it could have been called anything but enthusiastic consent.

Pabloc: "Good. I’m glad we could come to an agreement." Saying so, the man extended his hand and a small, white tube of salve flew over to him from one of the medical cupboards. "Here, this should lessen the pain and the swelling a little."

Ahazkun: "Thank you."

The scientist didn’t answer, though his expression has thawed out considerably compared to his previous scowls. He nodded to Ahazkun and glanced back at Soketsu’s bed. The man was still sleeping, though he seemed to be somewhat restless.

He returned to the medical equipment and started a new process with a faint sigh. In the meantime the oracle carefully rubbed the salve into his aching shoulder and began dressing up again.

Pabloc couldn’t help but feel conflicted. He knew Ahazkun for a long time. In fact he might have been his oldest acquaintance, and not just by the three hundred year standard. He knew how the man was thinking and it worried him greatly.

He knew that out of the four of them it was Ahazkun who took the Devastation the hardest. By far. Needless to say, Pabloc was quite sure that he was still blaming himself for not foreseeing it. They all knew it was irrational, especially Ahazkun himself, but it was something he probably couldn’t help. If all one needed to get rid of complexes was rational thought, there would be no need for mental therapy. Not that the oracle was in the need of one, but it might have helped a bit.

Ever since the Bahden Glis incident the man have been obsessed with perfection and having contingency plans within contingency plans, working himself to the bone in order to ensure that all his myriad plans were running flawlessly all the time, seemingly not even caring about his own wellbeing. Pabloc, on the other hand, felt it was his calling to remind the man that he had to take care of himself from time to time, though he never had to be this forceful before. It was probably the strain of the last few days, he thought, but he was still vexed by it.

In the end though it was still something he felt compelled to do, no small part thanks to the oracle’s companion. They had this unspoken understanding with Tiari after all. The girl took care of the man on the field while Pabloc’s job was to take care of him once they returned, and by all means he was going to get it done even if he personally had to hammer self-preservation back into his thick skull.

Soketsu: "Hah…"

The scientist’s thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the echo of a heavy exhalation. A moment later Soketsu probingly raised his hand to his head and let out an equally heavy groan.

Soketsu: "Damn… I feel like I someone put a shovelful of embers into my brain… and the poured kerosene on them… while my head was in a furnace…" He stopped for a second, and then added, "…on the surface of the sun."

As he was about to sit up Ahazkun came to his help and gently helped him up into a sitting position.

Ahazkun: "Sounds unpleasant."

Soketsu: "You have no idea..."

Ahazkun: "You are right. In my case the transfer was actually quite a pleasant experience."

Soketsu rolled his eyes at the comment, but then another wave of blunt pain assaulted his skull, prompting a low hiss from his lips.

Soketsu: "Go to hell…"

Pabloc: "Now, now. No need to lose your temper." The man in the white coat interrupted with a chiding voice.

Soketsu: "Do you have any painkillers? It might help me find my temper again." Soketsu spoke in a low hiss, struggling to get the words through his lips.

Pabloc walked to the back of the room by the curtain without further ado and returned with an IV package. After a little fumbling he inserted the pack into the needle already in Soketsu’s arm and threw the old package away. After only a few seconds the man’s expression finally eased up.

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Soketsu: "Thanks. It’s already better. A little bit, at least."

Pabloc: "You are welcome."

Soketsu: "How long was I out this time?"

Ahazkun: "A little more than four hours. It’s past noon now."

Soketsu: "I see…"

As the pain slowly faded from his head Soketsu drew a huge breath and began carefully limbering up his stiff joints. In the meantime Ahazkun moved to the end of his bed and sat down there.

Ahazkun: "How do you feel?"

The oracle’s face was as deadpan as ever, but this time Soketsu could actually recognize the tiny hints of concern on the man’s expression. It prompted him to smile in response, apparently taking Ahazkun by surprise.

Soketsu: "Better."

Ahazkun visibly pondered for a moment, carefully studying Soketsu’s face before speaking again.

Ahazkun: "Your memories?"

Soketsu: "I— came to terms with most of them. They still feel a little strange but I think I got all the most important ones. That is, all until when I was blown into chunks the size of…" He paused for a moment and visibly shuddered. "Damn, that’s one weird thing to remember."

Pabloc: "Just for the record, can you answer a few questions?"

Soketsu looked blankly at Pabloc as the scientist readied another of those note-boards he had used when he question him before.

Soketsu: "Is this really necessary?"

Pabloc: "Well, not really." The man said apologetically. "You can consider it a preliminary check-up on your mental state, but it’s really just a bit of scientific curiosity on my part."

Soketsu: "As in?"

Pabloc: "Nothing major. I am just interested to see how accurate your memories are after an accelerated transfer from a broken Soul Core."

Soketsu paused with a curious expression.

Soketsu: "Soul Core? That sounds familiar…"

Pabloc: "Of course. It’s part of Gabe’s Core Theory. Most of our current tech here in the facility and the labs is running on it, as well as my telekinesis and all your combat tricks as well."

Soketsu: "So he actually finished it?"

Pabloc: "Yes. In fact he even wrote a number of books on it. But back to the original plans…" The scientist scribbled something onto the notepad. "Well, now we know you remember that particular topic, though it really wouldn’t have been one of my prime questions."

Soketsu: "Ask away then. It seems like I won’t be able to move just yet anyway, you might as well help me waste my time."

Pabloc: "Very well. First off, your name?"

Soketsu: "Huh?" Soketsu raised a single eyebrow to the question. "Which one?"

Pabloc: "I was thinking about the original, but you can tell me both if we are at that."

Soketsu: "Mikhail Mort, then Arlton Clarke."

Pabloc: "Correct. Do you remember when we first met?"

Soketsu: "Let’s see… It was a few years before the Reckoning War deal, when you looked me up to be your guinea pig in exchange of some power-ups. I can’t remember the exact date though."

Pabloc: "Me neither, but that’s not that important either. Now, as for the next question…"

The questionnaire continued for quite a while. Names, places, events, even small details about things. Soketsu had to admit the scientist was quite meticulous with his questions, but what really surprised him was how much he could remember. He didn’t even really need to think about most of the answers, they came to him without any problem— Yet, contrary to what one would have expected, he didn’t feel any different.

His old memories were just as vivid as the ones he gathered in his second childhood and during his duty as a Rover, neither felt any less real than the other.

In the meantime Ahazkun was intently listening to the back and forth between the two. He seemed to be deep in thought. Or he was calculating again, as Soketsu suspected. Either way, the oracle didn’t say a single word.

Pabloc: "How about your final battle against the Bahden Glis?"

Soketsu: "Not much to remember there. Lots of dodging and scaling buildings for vantage points. Some occasional hit-and-run strikes, then a big explosion and then the memories kind of just end." Soketsu suddenly stopped and arched his brows in contemplation as he spoke up again. "By the way, how the hell did you even manage to resurrect me? Was there even a recognizable piece left of me after the battle?"

Pabloc: "Recognizable? No." Pabloc finished writing and looked up at the man. "That was one of our greatest concerns to be honest. We barely managed to recollect half of your body. In pieces."

Hearing the scientist’s words put a difficult expression onto the man’s face, with traces of both amazement and worry mixed in it.

Soketsu: "And you still managed to do this…?" He raised his hand, but by the time he did that he realized that he had no good way of illustrating his point beside existing, so he lowered it back down in a second. "You know, I often said that you guys were crazy in the past, but now I feel I have to come up with a new word just to explain how crazy you are…"

The scientist’s lips were tugged upwards into a slightly conflicted smile.

Pabloc: "Even though I’m happy for the compliment, or at least I suppose it was a compliment, it was Gabe who had the whole idea of using our Soul Cores to send ourselves into the future and—"

Suddenly Ahazkun forcefully cleared his throat, cutting the scientist off mid-sentence.

Ahazkun: "We are getting sidetracked here." Rising from his seat on the bed he leveled his eyes on the scientist. "You forgot to ask him about his Core Pattern."

The bespectacled man sent a sharp glance in the oracle’s direction and deliberately cleared his throat.

Pabloc: "No, actually I didn’t forget. I simply judged it more fit for a later discussion, once he has completely absorbed his old memories."

Ahazkun: "I don’t see the issue." The oracle turned to Soketsu, followed by the slight frown of Pabloc, and spoke in a militant tone. "Soketsu, can you use your power?"

The injured man raised an eyebrow with a confused expression in face of the question.

Soketsu: "My power?"

Pabloc: "I think he means your runes."

After realizing what was going on, Soketsu quickly rebounded with an irritated grimace.

Soketsu: "Hey! They are not runes, they are called Sigils."

Ahazkun: "But can you use them? It’s really important."

Soketsu: "Hmmm… Good question." He pondered aloud. "Can you give me something to write on? Preferably something small?"

In response to the request Pabloc quickly threw a glance towards the table on the other end of the infirmary and one of the prescription-sheets quietly flew to his bedridden comrade and landed on his outstretched hand. After quickly examining the piece of paper Soketsu curtly nodded to himself.

Soketsu: "This’ll do. Now let me see…"

He closed his eyes while holding the piece of paper in one hand. As he concentrated, he could sense the reassuring feeling of viridia coursing through his veins. At first it was both familiar and strange, but he quickly realized why.

This was the first time since his ‘rebirth’ that he had been using his own viridia instead of Kay’s. It was a peculiar sensation, and even though he knew there was nothing wrong with it, it still felt a little uncomfortable. He didn’t dwell long on the issue.

At last he opened his eyes and focused them at the paper as the memories of his skill came back to him like a final piece of a puzzle falling into its place. His fingertips suddenly flared up with something that could be best described as translucent green flames, and with the precision of a seasoned artist he drew a strange, complex symbol onto the paper with one continuous stroke.

A ripple of green light washed over the prescription the moment his fingers left its surface, and with a faint metallic sound it suddenly became completely rigid.

With the Sigil weakly simmering on its middle Soketsu raised the paper and, with one sudden motion, he chopped a tiny piece off the corner of the small wooden night stand by his bed.

Soketsu: "Well, it seems to be working all right."

For a second everyone fell silent. The momentary standstill was finally broken by Ahazkun’s forced cough.

Ahazkun: "I’m glad to see you are back in shape, but I would advise against abusing the furniture. Pabloc can get a little—"

Pabloc: "Why the hell did you do that?!?!"

After his outcry, Pabloc promptly snatched the prescription from Soketsu’s hand and placed it on the table.

Ahazkun: "I told you so." The oracle nodded to himself with a small smile that was about as expressive as he usually got.

Pabloc: "Silence!" Pabloc glared at him. "Do you guys have any idea how hard it is to find quality furniture nowadays!? It’s mahogany! Mahogany!"

For a moment Soketsu stared at the scientist with a baffled expression and then slowly lowered his head.

Soketsu: "Sorry."

Pabloc looked down at him, first with a scowl, but then his expression slowly eased up as he let out a huge sigh.

Pabloc: "I hope it can be repaired…"

The scientist took the cut piece of wood into his hands and headed for the exit. As the door opened he quickly glanced back at the two.

Pabloc: "I’ll be back in a second. If there is as much a scratch more on my furniture by the time I get back, I will be really, really mad. Got it?"

Soketsu nodded in response, which apparently was enough for the scientist as he left without further ado. Once he was out of sight, Soketsu directed his attention towards Ahazkun.

Soketsu: "I don’t get it… Has he always been like this?"

Ahazkun: "You have to excuse him." The oracle gave a sagely nod to the man, though he couldn’t help but feel that there was something smug about his eyes. "Unlike you, we awakened on our own a long time ago and lived different lives. Pabloc’s just left him with a new… appreciation for furniture."

While he was sure the whole furniture deal was very riveting, there was something else that caught the man’s interest.

Soketsu: "You did?"

Ahazkun: "Yes. Project Rebirth worked that way. You too were supposed to gradually awaken on your own during puberty, but as you might have noticed there were complications."

Soketsu: "Gradually? Just how much time are we talking about?"

The oracle paused, like as if he was recalling some ages-old memories.

Ahazkun: "For me, I regained my memories in the span of two months without any side-effects. It was actually quite exciting when all my chaotic dreams started making sense."

Soketsu nodded but then immediately squinted at the man.

Soketsu: "U-huh… So I’m the only one who got the mother of all migraines?"

Ahazkun: "Apparently."

Suddenly the bedridden man fell silent while visibly pondering. In the end he raised his eyes upon the oracle by his side with eyes wide open.

Soketsu: "Wait, I just got it…"

Ahazkun: "Yes?"

Soketsu: "You grew up again!"

Ahazkun cocked his head to the side with the same deadpan expression, though Soketsu could tell that he was at least moderately puzzled.

Ahazkun: "Yes. I just said that."

Soketsu: "But… Were you called Ahazkun as well?"

The oracle slightly cocked his head to the side, an expression that he reserved only to the sillies questions he had ever heard.

Ahazkun: "No, of course not. It’s wasn’t even my original name to begin with. My second parents actually gave me a proper name."

Soketsu: "Proper name, huh? So, what did they call you?"

This time Ahazkun also visibly arched one of his brows, an expression reserved only for questions that were both silly and pointless.

Ahazkun: "Why do you care? It’s not funny or anything…"

Soketsu: "Oh, come on! I’m just really curious."

The two kept staring at each other for long seconds in silence. In the end the oracle let out a huge sigh in resignation and spoke up with exasperation.

Ahazkun: "If you really want to know, my name was Marul Nitas. As far as the world knows I was but a simple farmboy who ran away from home at the age of fourteen to join a mercenary group never to be seen again."

Now it was the bedridden man’s turn to bob his head to the side, though he obviously couldn’t emulate the oracle’s specific expressions.

Soketsu: "That was... not what I expected."

Ahazkun: "Why? What were you expecting?"

Soketsu: "I don’t know… Something along the lines of the son of an influential bureaucrat you could manipulate or something."

Ahazkun: "Sadly we had no such control over our rebirth, we could only choose from the available children that would otherwise have been stillborns or unborn. If it was depending on me, I would have naturally chosen a family with influence and in a high position, but sadly we didn’t really have a choice."

Soketsu: "High position…?"

Soketsu’s brows rose with a sudden realization and he hit his forehead with his palm.

Ahazkun: "What is it?"

Soketsu: "My name!" Soketsu looked up with e pitiful expression. "How the hell didn’t I realize this sooner!? My old nickname is my military rank now!"

Ahazkun: "It’s not an accident."

Soketsu rolled his eyes like it was the most blatantly obvious thing he had heard in his entire life.

Soketsu: "Yeah, I figured that much. Was that set up by you?" The oracle glanced at the man in a manner that, if one looked very, very closely, could be called coy and lightly nodded. "Wow. It actually makes sense in retrospect. I mean, with Gabe starting the Order and all…"

Ahazkun: "It wasn’t his idea, but yes, you are on the right track. As I told you, we didn’t have complete control over where we would be reborn. That meant that we didn’t really know where you would have been reborn with certainty either, so we engineered the position of ‘Soketsu’ within the order that you would strive for, knowing your personality, and thus you would have found us on your own sooner or later."

Soketsu: "Clever."

Ahazkun: "Thank you."

Soketsu: "So that’s also the reason why ‘the Soketsu’ had to give away their own name and only use his title? To get me used to my own name?"

Ahazkun: "That part was Gabe’s idea, though I think it was less about reminding you but more about him finding the idea amusing."

Soketsu: "Seriously?"

Just as the oracle was about to answer, their conversation was cut short by the creaking of the door.

Kay: "Excuse me?"

Kay entered the room with small steps and Soketsu’s lips immediately curved into a warm smile.

Soketsu: "Come on in. We were just at the end of our current topic anyway."

The moment she got the word Kay immediately walked up to Soketsu bed with a concerned expression.

Kay: "Are you okay?"

Soketsu: "I’m fine, don’t worry. How about you?"

Kay: "I’m… all right."

Soketsu: "Good…"

Soketsu couldn’t help but notice that Kay wasn’t looking him in the eye. She was anxiously fidgeting beside his bed without a word.

Soketsu: "What’s the matter?"

Kay: "It… It’s nothing."

After watching the two of them for a while, Ahazkun abruptly turned round and started walking towards the door.

Ahazkun: "I go look for Pabloc. You must have a lot to talk about and I don’t want to get in your way."

With that, the man quietly left the room, leaving the pair alone in a slightly awkward situation without saying anything else. As he closed the door behind himself, Soketsu immediately shook his head and let out a sigh as he turned to his partner.

Soketsu: "I value the sentiment, but I hate when he does it so obviously." After the little grumbling the man turned to his partner. "Now then… is there something troubling you?"

The girl twitched and sheepishly looked over the man.

Kay: "Ummm… It’s nothing, just…"

Soketsu: "Just?"

Kay: "Gabe said that you might change a little after regaining your memories, so I don’t know what I should say."

After a brief moment of pondering, he just raised his hand and pulled Kay closer. For a few moments she blankly stared at the man, feeling too embarrassed to even speak, and by the time she would have shown any resistance she was already sitting on the bed by the man’s side.

Soketsu: "Silly." He gently patted her head but she apparently still wasn’t all that convinced. "Don’t worry. I’m still me; it’s just that I remember my previous life with these guys… Which is kind of weird, but it’s nothing you should be worried about."

For a second the girl’s face seemed to be alternating between being concerned and being suspicious, but she was only again cut off before she could speak up.

Soketsu: "Hey, don’t make that face! I’m seriously all right. My head is okay, and they even removed my cast. See? I’m fine."

To emphasize his point, he gently stroked Kay’s hair the same way he always used to. After that it didn’t take long for her expression to finally ease up.

Kay: "I’m glad, but… what’s going to happen now?"

Soketsu’s hand suddenly froze. This question was something he couldn’t answer. Sure, if he was alone there would have been no question, but the sudden realization that he had to take care of Kay as well made his response far more uncertain than he preferred.

Soketsu: "I… I don’t know. It all depends on what the others are planning, really."

Kay didn’t say anything, and thus an awkward silence fell upon them for a few minutes. In his head Soketsu was frantically trying to find some words to comfort his young partner but he soon had to realize he had none.

He knew she was worried. He could see it in her eyes no matter how brave she tried to act, and he wanted to say something encouraging to her… but then the truth slowly reared its ugly head: He had no idea what was going to happen either. He could faintly remember Ahaz mentioning something about some circumstances lining up again and them needing his help, but that could mean anything. Hell, knowing these guys he didn’t even want to guess; he would be probably way off the mark no matter what.

With that he also had to realize that with his memories regained he had no idea what to do. As Soketsu, his allegiance was to his comrades in this facility and he had already invested in their cause. As The Soketsu, his allegiance was to the Order… But then again, as far as he could gather the Order might have already been connected to Gabe and Ahazkun, so who’s whose ally again?

For a moment he almost chuckled up. The situation felt quite absurd. As a Rover, he disliked the lifestyle it forced on him, constantly moving and forcing Kay to fight with him, but now suddenly it seemed such a nice job. At least there he knew what he was in for. Right now he was just as uncertain and worried as Kay… and as such he decided on a different approach to calm the girl.

Kay: "Wha—?"

Kay’s reaction was flustered yet surprisingly meek at the same time when her partner suddenly put his arms around her shoulders and drew her closer to himself.

Kay: "Soketsu…?"

Soketsu: "Don’t worry." The man spoke with a very gentle voice, one that he only used on very rare occasions and only for Kay. "No matter what happens, we are still together, and that’s all we really need. Things will work out as they always do; we just have to stick together."

As he looked into his partner’s eyes Soketsu could still see the confusion deep inside her. He had nothing more to say, so instead he drew her even closer, and she didn’t put up a fight.

It took her a few more minutes of fidgeting, but at last Kay leaned on him with a blissful smile, resting her head on his shoulders. Feeling his small body right beside him, hearing her breathing and her heartbeat… It gave him the comfort he was looking for, and he hoped his presence was giving her the same. For now that was all that mattered.