Chapter Text
Large sliding doors stood in Keres' path. They were more prominent than the rest of the facility, with yellow and black striped tape around their edges. This had to be what she was looking for. She still didn't know where Magnifico was, and wasn't sure where to go looking for him. If she tracked down the main computers, perhaps she'd also find a set of security cameras. At the moment, that was her best bet.
Flik chittered from her shoulder. He noticed the same thing Keres did. There was something dark behind the door in front of them. It wasn't festering, but dormant. Keres was certain that, whatever it was, this was what caused the strange dark shift in Marluxia. She was still coming to terms with the fact she'd told him to find help from Jumba. Part of her knew it was the right thing to do, a deeper part worried if she'd just sealed a certain doom for her friends. Now wasn't the time to consider it.
She placed her hands along the door. The metal was thick and strong. It would take time for her hands to melt through it, though it would be possible. Beside the door was a handprint scanner, already lit up and awaiting her to place her palm there. She knew better than to try. If there was anyone left in the facility, it would likely alert them to her presence, if they didn't know about her being there already.
"I guess I'm melting through," she muttered to herself. Her hands began to glow a deep orange, steam hissing from her fingers.
"Keres!" Magnifico called out.
The heat from Keres' hands melted away. Had she heard that right? She turned around and saw the unbelievable: Magnifico walking towards her.
"You're alright," she breathed out, getting the sudden urge to give him a hug, but she didn't act on it.
"I think so," he replied with a chuckle of his own. He patted his chest. "I'm in one piece. And you?"
"I-I'm fine," she stammered, shaking her head. "What happened back there? Did Zexion-"
"Yes," he cut her off, clearing his throat. His hand went through his hair, his gaze averted. "But I managed to talk my way out of it. You know how I am."
He wasn't telling her the full truth. She saw it in his eyes. "Talked your way out…?" she repeated slowly. "How-"
Lights above the door behind them flashed a bright yellow. Keres spun around, watching as the door she'd been trying to get through simply hissed open.
"What…?" she whispered.
Magnifico walked past her into the lab. The walking space was sparse. Dozens of computer screens covered the white walls. In the center was a single metal door with large thick windows on either side of it. Through the windows, Keres saw a leather bound tome on a pedestal. Gold adorned its edges. Even from several feet away, she could see the gold plated dragon on its cover. It spiraled around a round green gem in its center. The same shade that surrounded Marluxia.
"It's really here," Magnifico murmured, his hand gently pressed against the glass.
"What is it?" Keres asked, joining him in looking.
"A tome filled with forbidden magic," he explained. "Pure dark power. Simply reading the pages imbues its power within its reader."
A chill coursed through Keres, trilling up her back and releasing with a hitched breath.
"I've read about its existence," he continued. "There's legends about it in our history books. And there it is…"
Keres swallowed hard and stepped away. There was no doubt in her mind that this was what caused the rageful magic inside of Marluxia. She went over to the computers, trying to focus over the way her heart was beginning to pound. Someone opened the door for them. They wanted Keres and Magnifico to see it. She knew it had to be Zexion.
Her fingers trembled as she typed. Reports of the book filled the screens. She pushed them out of the way, they weren't what she was looking for. Magnifico came up behind her, watching with wonderment. His presence unnerved her, she wasn't sure why. Something had shifted. To keep him distracted, she pulled up a report of the tome and placed it prominently on one of the screens.
"What are you searching for?" he asked after a couple minutes.
"A way to delete everything," she replied. "And maybe a little bit about me."
"And the book?"
She glanced over, seeing him once again staring at the book. "I'd recommend finding a way to destroy it."
Magnifico scoffed, but Keres didn't inquire as to why.
"It's meant to be in this world, so I'll leave it up to you," she settled. "I'm only here to stop what the Organization is doing with it."
He hummed in reply and walked back to the glass to look in at the tome. Keres peeked over at him, but then focused back on the computer. She deleted files as she found them. There had to be a way to wipe everything, but Keres had to admit she didn't know much about computers. She searched for any mention of her, but the files seemed to only focus on Rosas and the book itself. It was a small fact she was thankful for. She didn't want to imagine the book in tandem with the parasite inside of her.
A world map appeared on the screens. It showed small villages along with a list of people they'd taken to conduct experiments on. She glanced over at Magnifico, unsure if she should tell him about what she'd found. It seemed Marluxia wasn't the only one infested by the book. With a click, she filed it away. She'd leave it for Magnifico to find on his own when he would inevitably try to search the computer of his own accord after she left.
Another map appeared, this one of the dozens of worlds across the galaxies. A few familiar ones stood out to Keres. They lit up with an alert of an active facility. Unlike the map she already possessed, this one came with a description of what each lab studied. Pulling out the tracker from her pocket, she tried to find a way to plug it in. A USB hatch did the trick and she tried to figure out how to download it. Knowing their purpose could help her narrow down where to head next.
"I never told you what I did during the Wish Ceremony," Magnifico said.
Keres paused. It seemed like a random thing to bring up, but she didn't stop him from talking.
"I possess the ability, something I've perfected over the course of my studies, to hold pieces of people," he explained, turning towards her despite her attention being on the computer. His hands cupped in front of him, as if he were holding what he described. "Not physical parts, but emotions, wishes. Things they strive for and wish for themselves. I protect them, in my kingdom. They provide me with their deepest desire and I keep it safe. In return, they can live a life of paradise in Rosas. No rent, no worries, no danger from anyone from the outside."
She wasn't sure why he was telling her this. Even with the sentiment behind the transaction with his people, she couldn't shake the uneasiness inside her gut. Still, she remained silent and continued searching the computer for anything relevant.
"I can only do this if both myself and my people are fully willing. They have to hold their wish in their heart and focus on it. And combined with my magic, it forms into a physical… well, I guess you might call it an orb." He began to pace, his hands animated as he talked. "Every month, sometimes more than once a month, I hold a Wish Ceremony to grant a wish of my choice. It's my way of giving back and it gets everyone in the kingdom excited…" He slowed to a stop and let out a breath. Something about telling her this was making him nervous. "But any wishes I don't grant, the ones that are too dangerous or vague, I keep them safe. Nothing will ever happen to them."
Going beside Keres, his hand gently fell over hers, stopping her typing.
"What I'm trying to say, Keres," he said, leaning over so she'd stop and look over at him finally, "I can do the same for you."
She blinked. Once, then again. "Me…?"
His eyes flicked to her inhibitor. She pulled back from him, her hand going over it.
"It's holding it back, isn't it?" he asked.
Keres stared at him, her breaths becoming heavier. "How…" She swallowed, thinking about it. "Zexion told you, didn't he?"
"Keres-"
"What did he tell you?" Keres cut him off.
"It doesn't matter what he showed me." He stepped towards her, but she matched the distance by backing away. Putting up his hands, he explained, "What matters is that I might be able to help you."
She let out a breath. "Zexion shows nothing but illusions."
Magnifico scoffed with a laugh, his hands flinging up. "You're not even listening to me! I'm saying I want to help you, Keres."
Her throat tightened, her eyes frantically dashing over the lab. Flik chirped from the computer desk. He urged her to hear him out. "My…" she swallowed hard and licked her lips, "the thing inside of me, it… reacted, to the ceremony. Whatever help you're thinking of, I don't think it will work."
"I have to try," he pushed, stepping forward once again. This time Keres didn't fall back. "If there's even a chance we could remove that thing inside you, isn't it worth it?"
The parasite begged her not to do it, though its voice was hollow compared to the overwhelming muck it had been before.
"You really think you can remove it?" she asked after a moment.
"If that's your greatest wish," he replied.
Her fingers traced the indentations of the inhibitor. She so dearly wanted to be rid of it. Yet, something in her hesitated. "I…" her voice dried in her throat. "I don't know."
That wasn't what he expected to hear. His hands fell down to his sides, his expression blank.
"I needed it to fight Marluxia," she explained, her voice shaking. "It saved me in the last facility. I… I hate what it is, I hate what it does to me… But…"
"Stay here. Train with me. You don't need it!" he pleaded with her, his hands going to his chest. "Keres, I saw what it destroyed. I know what it's taken from you. I can't let you leave, knowing the damage it could cause!"
There it was. The truth that he didn't care about her well being, but for the destruction she could cause. She couldn't blame him. He was right. The parasite had done nothing but destroy everything she allowed it to touch. It gave her power, but at the cost of her autonomy.
She couldn't fathom why Zexion would show any of that to Magnifico. He could show up at any moment and there they were arguing about something that lost them precious time. She looked around. There was no sign of the Organization anywhere. What were they after?
"Why are we talking about this right now?" she asked, tears soaked in her voice. "We need to get out of here!"
Magnifico let out a breath. "I need your answer."
"What aren't you telling me?" Keres asked, her eyes studying him. "Something happened with Zexion…"
"You have to trust me."
"If he's wanting you to do this, there is a reason!" Keres cried out, her eyes shutting tight. "I want to trust this. I want to get rid of this. But I can't if the Organization has a hand in it."
He opened his mouth to argue, but the words never came. His hand went over his face, defeated. "They want your wish."
Keres opened her eyes to look at him. "The parasite."
"Yes," he admitted. "They will leave this place. Leave me the tome and you untouched."
"And just put the parasite into someone else," Keres said. "That's what they'll do, you realize that, don't you?"
His eyes averted from hers. There was no doubt in Keres' mind that was exactly what the Organization would do with the parasite. They'd create a new Replica. A better one. One that would obey their every command and destroy anything they wished.
"You said you protected the wishes of your people, to keep them safe," she continued. "If you do this, you're dooming the lives of thousands."
"I AM KING!" he yelled over her. "My devotion is to my people. To Rosas! I cannot be expected to protect the entire world. These… these, NOBODIES, have been here in hiding. Creating things I cannot even begin to comprehend. This deal frees you, it frees Rosas from their influence. A King knows when his hands are tied and must make the difficult decisions." He walked forward, towering over her. "So Keres, I'll ask you once more. Do you accept my deal, or not?"
Keres backed up, hitting the wall behind her. Flik asked her to consider. Even the parasite seemed to like the idea. They'd get a new host, a willing host, and Keres would be free. Could it really be possible? It would be so easy to give in. The chance to live a normal life. Her hand reached out in front of her. It was slow, hesitant. Magnifico softened, his face showing visible relief. He held out his hand in turn, awaiting hers.
They want the parasite….
She paused, her hand mere inches away from his. If she gave in, someone else would be forced to live with the parasite. Someone else that might revel in its power. Could she live with that knowledge? That she doomed another to her own fate.
"I can't…" the words slipped out. Her hand drew back. "I'm sorry."
Magnifico's hand closed into a fist, shaking. "No," he replied, lowering his hand back down to his side. He turned around and walked away. "I'm sorry."
The lights overhead flickered. Magnifico didn't react, but Keres gasped, looking up at the ceiling before everything went black. The wall behind Keres disappeared. She fell back, the ground cold and thick with darkness.
"I had hoped you would take the King's offer," Zexion said. His voice carried through the darkness with no source. "You should know he fought valiantly for your so-called soul. As worthless of an endeavor as it was."
Keres tried to look around. There was nothing. She couldn't even see her own hand in front of her face. It was a thick, inky black. And she was utterly alone. Getting to her feet, she ran blindly into the dark. Even in an illusion, something in her surroundings had to be real. She had to get away.
"There is no where you can run," Zexion taunted her.
She didn't give him a response. Even if there was no where to truly escape, she wasn't going to sit there and let him win. Zexion appeared, his body fully illuminated as if he were in a fully lit room. He walked towards her. Keres slid to a stop and turned to run the other way. Zexion simply laughed, disappearing and reappearing on the other side of her.
Sparks ignited around her when Zexion reached out. An electrifying pulse sent her flying in another direction. She rolled into a landing, unable to see anything except Zexion's form. He shook his head, disappearing only to reappear inches in front of her.
"What do you hope to achieve by this?" he asked her.
Keres scrambled back, desperate to remain out of reach. He toyed with her, seeming to enjoy it by the smirk in his visible eye. A faint golden glow caught the corner of her eyes. Flik bobbed up and down, only the glow of his belly appearing for Keres. He cried out for her, desperate and in a panic. Zexion followed her gaze, the smirk in his expression faltering.
"What?" he asked. "How-"
Keres zapped away before she heard the rest of his question. "Flik, go!" she cried.
He seemed to hear something from her and buzzed away at breathtaking speed. Keres pushed herself to follow. Zexion yelled after her, his voice fading. She didn't know why he didn't simply reappear in front of her, but she wasn't going to question it. The darkness around her wavered. Light leaked in around her, reforming the halls of the lab. She tripped on a doorway, reaching out and taking Flik down with her.
Footsteps echoed down the hall towards them. She wasn't sure if it was Zexion or Magnifico, but she wasn't going to stay long enough to find out. Reaching for her inhibitor, she lowered its hold just enough to get some of the parasite's power. It rushed into her, igniting her senses. Reaching out her hand, she summoned a Corridor.
It sprouted from the ground, flickering, but then fully forming. Holding Flik close, she threw both of them inside. The Corridor shut behind her and she fell onto her back. Flik nuzzled into her chest, his furry head beneath her chin. She stared up at the swirling darkness above her. Blues and purples mixed together in a beautiful symphony. She never thought she'd be relieved to see it.
"You chose to keep us," the parasite said to her. "We can help each other…"
Keres didn't reply. She didn't want to acknowledge it. Its voice made her feel sick. She chose to keep the parasite, to protect a hypothetical someone that she'd likely never cross paths with. It was a difficult thing to accept, but ultimately, she decided, was the right choice to make. Standing up, she and Flik made their way across the Corridor to the light.
They reappeared in the forest. Keres' ship was still concealed under the vines and leaves. She nearly cried when she saw it. Finally, they could leave. The Corridor fizzled away behind her and she grabbed her inhibitor, forcing the parasite back into its hold. Energy drained her system, she hated the sensation, but stomached it without a physical reaction.
Flik stayed behind as Keres walked to the ship. He chittered, hesitant to speak. "What about the king?" he asked in his own way.
Keres stopped beside the ship. Her hand went on the vines, recalling Magnifico placing them there when they first arrived. "There's nothing we can do…"
He didn't believe that. Flik turned around and looked in the direction of the facility. Keres followed his gaze, then diverted her attention back to the ship. She tore off the vines, freeing the bright red hull.
"What's going to happen to him?" Flik asked.
"I don't know," she answered honestly. "I can't risk going back there."
"But his kingdom…"
"The Organization knows the World Order better than I do," she tried to reason with both Flik and herself. "They won't risk killing a king. That would set the whole world off balance. Maybe… they'll make him forget. Or he fulfilled his part of the bargain by betraying me and… that's it. They'll let him leave and he'll pretend it never happened."
Flik whined, but didn't argue further. He gazed longingly at the forest a while longer before joining Keres and helping her remove the rest of the bindings over the ship. Within minutes it was freed. Keres scratched the top of his head as she opened the ship's hatch. It hissed open, the lights inside blooming to life.
Keres breathed in deeply once she boarded. Finally, she was safe and they could leave this place. She went to the cockpit and sat down, readying the engines. They roared to life and Keres took one last look out into the forest.
"Please be ok, Your Majesty," she whispered.
She and Flik watched the world shrink beneath them. The kingdom was the last thing to disappear behind the clouds. Then they were gone. The darkness of space greeted them, surrounding them with stars and possibility. Keres brought up the galaxy map. Over a dozen other facilities remained. Though, deep down she wasn't sure she could truly count Rosas off the list. She never did finish wiping everything. Had it all just been a waste of time?
Keres picked a random facility, though she wasn't even sure she'd go down to the planet once they arrived. She just wanted to leave Rosas behind. The planet disappeared in the cosmos and Keres got out of her seat. She went to her cot and sat on the edge of the bed. Flik settled in her lap, letting out a purr. Keres stared absently at the wall. Tears welled up in her eyes, yet she didn't wipe them away. She blinked and they dripped down her cheeks.
Flik asked if she was alright, but she didn't reply. She simply cried, silent and still, while the ship flew through the stars.
Sam placed down her tools on the coffee table and sat back on the couch. The tracker sat there, its orbed form wobbling back and forth ever so slightly. Not a single screw remained out of place.
"Is it done…?" Lupe asked, breaking through Sam's quiet contemplation.
She startled, then blew out a breath through her nose, closing her eyes. The last couple hours she'd been in such a zone that she'd completely forgotten he was sitting there watching her work. Still, he was right to ask. Not a single piece of scrap remained. Every part was settled in exactly where it was designed to be.
"The build is done at least," she replied.
Reaching forward, she carefully picked up the device. Despite being crafted by metal, it wasn't too heavy. It fit easily in her palm and would be easy for them to carry around once they got it actually working.
"Wow, you actually did it," Lupe said. He held out his hand. "Can I?"
She handed it over, then fell back into the couch cushions. A long breath whistled out of her, the tension leaving her body. "Took long enough."
"It's way more intricate than I thought it'd be," Lupe noted, turning the orb over in between his hands. "I don't know how you kept up with it. I was lost just watching you."
A chuckle left her. "Nah, you should have seen some of the shit I dealed with back on Montressor. People that get the idea that they can keep fixing up the engine room in their ship themselves, then finally bring it in after they mucked it up. It'd take me and my dad a week to sort it out." She waved her hand flippantly. "This wasn't half that bad. Just took precision and me getting my head out of my ass. Which surprise, surprise, is usually the case."
"Hey don't do that." Lupe held out the device for her and she reluctantly took it back. "Give yourself some more credit."
Sam sighed as she sat up and held the orb with both her hands.
"We both know how hard it is to get your head out of your ass," he quipped, nudging her with his shoulder.
With a sudden snort, Sam shoved him away. "Shut up."
Lupe laughed, getting up from the couch. "I'll let Hina know you're done."
He left the living room and Sam's smile gradually softened when he was gone. She looked back at the tracker in her hands. The reality of its purpose was heavier than the device itself. If it worked… Sam struggled to finish the thought. She took a deep breath and placed it back on the coffee table. It was going to work, and she was going to be ready for what that meant. She had to be.
Lupe poked his head through the doorway to his room, beaming with a smile. "Hina wants us to bring the orb over to Vel's room. She's over there now."
"Makes sense," Sam said, getting up from the couch. She grabbed a cloth bag she'd been using to transfer parts to and from her workshop to Lupe's apartment. The orb fit perfectly inside. Sam looked at it a moment longer before clasping the bag shut and fastening it over her shoulder. "Ready to head out?"
Grabbing his keys, Lupe went over to the front door and opened it for Sam. The evening air greeted them. It felt nice to be outside again, even in a digital world. The stairwell creaked as they went down and neither of them talked. Not until they were walking through the streets, then Lupe spoke up.
"Hopefully we'll hear from Jarith soon," he mused aloud. "We'll need the Highwind ready if we want to follow the tracker."
"Ris said she'd be working on it," Sam replied, glancing up towards the sunset painted sky as they walked. "I might give dad a call later tonight though. I know he said he'd reach out, but… I should be helping repair the Highwind."
Lupe glanced over at her while they walked. "As long as you aren't pushing yourself too hard, I don't see why not. But Ris seems to know her way around fixing ships covered in that Gampassa spit. She's probably got it handled."
Sam huffed out a short laugh. "Still hard to believe we actually got eaten by one of those things." Before Lupe could respond, she quickly added, "And yeah, I know what Kosh said. We were still inside its mouth. It ate us."
A laugh sputtered out of Lupe, the sound causing Sam to join in. "You're not wrong. For once, I think I was glad I wasn't there. You said it smelled awful."
She shuddered. "On second thought, maybe I will leave the ship for Ris to figure out."
Both of them laughed, their voices carrying across the town. The further they went, the more jovial and casual their discussion turned. By the time they reached the portal to the synthetic mansion, Sam had nearly forgotten her earlier anxiety. It inched its way back in when she saw the swirling green light beckoning her and she slowed to a stop.
"It'll be alright," Lupe assured her, one step ahead of her both figuratively and literally.
She looked over at him. He held out his hand for her, his eyes softened. She strained a smile and reached out, taking his hand. He gave her a squeeze and stepped through the portal, tugging her along. Sam's breath caught, coming out with a sudden yelp as she stumbled through after him.
"It's actually done." Hinata examined the device, slowly sitting down on the edge of Velcia's bed. "Sam, you did it."
"It was just following a blueprint." Sam shrugged. She pushed back her hair and joined Hinata on the side of the bed.
"It was way more than that," Lupe pointed out, reaching out to pinch Sam's leg. He was settled on a backwards chair. "The blueprint wasn't even finished."
"You should give yourself more credit, Sam," Velcia added. She coughed gently and shakily grabbed a sip of water.
Sam rolled her eyes, but smiled from the compliments regardless. They all sat there for a moment, staring silently at the device. Hinata took in a deep breath and blew it out. Each of them seemed to feel the weight of what would come next.
Holding out her hand beside her, Sam wordlessly asked for the device. Hinata handed it over and Sam pressed a few of the indented buttons. The top of the orb unlatched, lifting from its base. Sam turned it and clicked the top back into place. A blue light bloomed to life inside it, the seams of the orb igniting like circuits. Particles seeped out through the sides, forming a hologram that grew to take up the entire room.
Velcia gasped at the sight. Watching with wonder as the hologram formed planets and star systems around them. "This is… breathtaking," she whispered.
The others, besides Sam, all shared a similar sentiment. Hinata got up from the bed and turned while she walked. It truly was a surreal sight and brought her thoughts back to Treasure Planet. She wasn't sure when her dad would have possibly seen that map to know how to design the blueprint for Keres' tracker. Another mystery to add to the growing hoard.
"For now, we've got a galaxy map," Sam explained, placing the orb beside her on the bed. "Figured Hina and Velcia could figure out the spark of magic it needs to track our person."
"Hinata and Lupe mentioned the need for magic," Velcia replied. She was still staring in awe at the hologram, the stars reflecting in her wide eyes. Blinking, she forced herself to look away and focus instead on Sam. "I don't believe it's a spell that I can create."
"What do you mean?" Lupe asked.
"Well, I don't have any connection to Keres," Velcia explained. "I believe the spell will be similar to the tether spells we used back in Eos. If you recall, Hinata."
Hinata turned her attention away from the holograms as well, to look back at the others. She leaned against the bed post, arms crossed. "You needed something from each of us. Something that connected us back to you. I don't think we have anything from Keres."
"Well I mean, we have you," Sam pointed out. "She's literally a copy of you, isn't she?"
"But she isn't actually me," Hinata countered. "She's still her own person."
Velcia hummed, her gaze falling to the blanket covering her legs. The fabric bunched under her fingers while she thought. "In this case, Hinata, I wonder if there is a different sort of connection to her. One through your hearts."
"My…" Hinata placed her hand over her chest, her voice trailing.
"You did mention to me that you knew Keres was alright," Lupe said. "That your heart could sense it."
"You really think it's a strong enough connection for a spell?" Hinata asked.
"I mean, Naimine was able to connect one with you that one time," Sam recalled. "I think anyway, memory stuff is still…." She wiggled her hand and rolled her eyes.
"No, you're right, she did," Hinata replied with a low, quiet voice. "I don't know how to pull something like that off." Taking a long breath, she closed her eyes. "I suppose, I need to focus on the connection. Like the elements on Eos."
Velcia hummed again, a smile in her voice. "I think you're right. That is how the tether spells work, as well. Though, I would recommend you at the very least sit down. Keres is likely very far away, we don't know how taxing it will be on you."
Hinata opened her eyes. "Right."
She stood up from the bed post and looked around at the holograms. They painted the room in blue. Everyone watched her with a combination of worry and encouragement. Velcia scooted over in her bed, allowing Hinata some room.
"Do you have any ethers we can grab, Vel?" Lupe asked. "Just to have on stand by."
"Oh!" Velcia realized. She looked around her room. "Up on the shelves. Third one down on the left."
Lupe shot up and went where he was instructed. Sure enough a handful of ethers left over from the Venator awaited him there. He carefully carried them over to the bedside table and placed them there within easy reach for Hinata.
She sent him a smile in thanks as she laid back in the bed. Her head rested on the pillow and she gazed up at the star spattered ceiling. Closing her eyes, she blew out a breath. She focused her thoughts on Keres. Alone on Enchanted Dominion. The moment Hinata finally saw Keres for who she was. She had to still be out there.
A dull throb of pain entered Hinata's mind. She winced, her arm twitching, but she didn't shy away from it. Instead she drew her attention on it. It grew, unfolding like a flower and pouring out a well of uncertainty and yearning. Hinata sucked in a sharp breath, her fingers digging into the comforter. Then the world around her disappeared.
Her feet landed on a hard surface and she found herself standing. Opening her eyes, she saw a starry aether in front of her. Starry mist swirled together with hues of blues and purples, and the sprinkling of silver. Hinata backed up, looking down. The same aether swirled beneath her, yet her feet felt as if she were on solid ground.
Swallowing hard, Hinata spun around. There was nothing. "Keres…?" she called out into the darkness. "Are you there?"
The stars swirled around her. Hinata took another breath, finding it harder than the last.
"Please, Keres!" Hinata called out again. "If you can hear me, we're trying to find you! We want to help. I meant what I said before!"
The darkness warbled, like a ripple in a pond. Hinata saw it and grinned.
"Yes! I know you can hear me!" Hinata's hands formed into fists. "We're here for you, Keres. Tell me where you are! Give me a sign. Anything!"
Through her excitement, Hinata hadn't realized she was now gasping for breath. This world, this darkness, it was suffocating her. She coughed, falling to her knees.
"Don't… push me away… please," Hinata begged between breaths.
Hinata collapsed, her vision fading. She was once again laying down, though the world spun until she was on her back. Pillows and blankets framed her. The murmuring, worried voices of her friends filled her ears. Her eyes blinked open. Everything was blurry.
"What world is that?" Sam asked, her voice seeming like an echo.
"She did it!" Velcia said with a laugh that tumbled into a cough. Her shaking hand went to Hinata's shoulder. "It really worked, Hinata."
"How do you feel?" Lupe asked, realizing Hinata was back with them. He helped her sit up.
Hinata swayed back and forth. Her vision gradually cleared and she saw a world with a blinking yellow dot on its surface. A soft smile formed. She'd made it through. "I'm alright," she whispered, despite the way her head throbbed.
Sam tapped her finger on the holographic world. Text compiled around it, and she read it aloud: "Hawaii… wait, didn't we go there before?" Sam sat back on the bed. "It was… when Riku first showed up on Montressor. Two of those Organization guys tried to take you and I got the smart idea to try to stop them."
Rather than reply out loud, Hinata nodded. They had been there before, though the visit was short. She wondered how Keres found herself there and if she had escaped the Organization. There was so much unknown. Even with making the connection, Hinata hadn't been able to see Keres. It worried her. She continued to sway and Lupe helped her lay back down, saying something about how she should rest.
"But… we have to go… to Hawaii," Hinata muttered as she fell asleep.