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{{EpRewrite}}
 
 
{{Episode
 
{{Episode
 
|episodeNumber = 8
 
|episodeNumber = 8
|nextEpisode = ''[[In Somnis Veritas]]''
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|nextEpisode = ''[[Saccharine]]''
 
|partOfSeason = 1
 
|partOfSeason = 1
|previousEpisode = ''[[Exit Music]]''
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|previousEpisode = ''[[The Hounds]]''
  +
}}
}}"'''Reunion'''" is the eighth episode of [[Season One]] of {{TDL}}.
 
  +
"'''Reunion'''" is the eighth episode of [[Season One]] of {{TDL}}.
   
 
== Synopsis ==
 
== Synopsis ==
After everyone reunites in the [[Silivia#Masquerade Hospital|Silivian Masquerade Hospital]], [[Steven Devlin|Steven]] tells an abridged history of [[Euclid|Euclid.]]
+
[[Chris Wellington]] seeks help at the [[Silivia#Masquerade Hospital|Silivian Masquerade Hospital]], and an unexpected reunion occurs.
  +
  +
== Prologue ==
  +
Carrying [[Savannah Whitesmith]]'s body in his arms, Chris could barely focus. The pouring rain had him extremely hot and tired, thoughts barely forming anything coherent. The weather was finally making him feel his age; he was more damaged than he had originally thought. Chris understood that he didn't have much longer: his system was beginning to short circuit, and he would soon crash. While [[Alchemilia Corporation]] was likely still on his trail, he didn't care anymore.
  +
  +
Although he had only been in the outskirts for a short time, [[Silivia]] had fallen into chaos during his absence. Though it was heavily raining, fires raged through crumbling buildings as rubble poured from their walls into the streets. Bodies of soldiers and civilians were scattered across the street, soaked red with blood and rainwater. People stood in groups, holding each other and crying, as rescue teams worked through the rubble. In the sky, large carriers were visible. They were heading away from the city and flying south.
  +
  +
Pausing on a sidewalk, Chris watched one of the rescue teams. Eventually, one of the workers stopped and noticed him standing there.
  +
  +
"I need some help," Chris managed to say.
  +
  +
Unable to hear him, the man appeared confused and began to climb down the rubble. Once he was standing on the road, he walked over to Chris. He appeared to be in his thirties and wore a yellow hazard suit.
  +
  +
"I need help! My friend is dead!"
  +
  +
The man glanced at Savannah and nodded. "I'm sorry for your loss. The hospital has started taking bodies. You should take her there, and then get some rest. I'm sure you served her well during her life."
  +
  +
----
  +
  +
Following the man's directions, Chris could finally see the hospital looming in the distance. It was large and had several floors, with a gray exterior that showed hundreds of windows. In the front of the hospital, a large crowd had assembled. Feeling hopeful, Chris began to run towards them. As he started to get closer, his vision flickered out. While it returned in an instant, Chris started to feel more tired and suddenly didn't have the strength to keep moving. Feeling weak, he crumpled to the ground, dropping Savannah. His vision went out.
   
 
== Narrative ==
 
== Narrative ==
=== '''Part I''' ===
+
=== Part I ===
  +
''Sitting in the passenger's seat, [[Atticus Anoethite|Atticus]] watched as various buildings flashed by. It was the dead of the night. The lack of traffic allowed the boys to develop a sense of freedom.''
"[[Atticus Anoethite|Atticus]]? Come on, please!"
 
   
  +
''Late at night., the city was lit up. Streetlights on every corner and then some. It was a sight to see for any tourist — even the residents could enjoy its beauty.''
Feeling strangely comfortable and laying under warm blankets, Atticus ignored the calling and continued to drift into sleep. Feeling a force grab his arm and shake it while calling his name out even louder than before, he quickly opened his eyes and sat up in the bed. Momentarily blinded by the bright lights that flooded into his vision, he winced and stammered out a single word: "What?"
 
   
  +
''"We're almost there," his companion stated. The boy was close to his age, with buzzed brown hair. However, his face was blurry and Atticus couldn't make sense of any of his defining facial features.''
With his eyes adjusting to the light, he noticed he was in a hospital room, surrounded by white walls. A long purple curtain cut the room in half, preventing him from seeing the other side. At the side of his bed, with her grip on the railing of it still, he noticed a former companion that he had not seen in some time — [[Melissa Devlin|Melissa]].
 
   
  +
''"Good, I can't wait," Atticus replied, holding up a large bundle of cash.''
"Melissa?" he asked, his voice slightly hoarse due to the dryness of his throat. "What are you doing here? How did I get here?"
 
   
  +
''"Wow, you really got that much? How did you convince your dad to give you that?" The boy swerved onto a new road and started speeding up.''
"You're awake!" Melissa yelled. "I'm so relieved to see you, I was so worried! I really thought [[Marshall Rooke|Marshall]] had killed you..." she said, her voice quavering.
 
   
  +
''"I didn't, I asked my mom for it and gave a bullshit excuse. Of course, she believed it," Atticus started laughing. Before anything else was said, the scene became blurry and eventually shifted to a new one. This time, Atticus was leaning against a park bench, with two teenagers sitting beside him. One was a black-haired girl, while the other was a dark-skinned young man. Similar to the first boy, Atticus failed to recognize either of them.''
Atticus rubbed his eyes as he continued to grasp his surroundings.
 
   
  +
''"Are you serious?" the girl asked. "We talked about this before."''
"Good to see you too. But how did I get here? Marshall, [[Chris Wellington|Chris]], where are they?"
 
   
  +
''"I did something stupid, I gotta go. I don't have a choice."''
"Marshall's next to us, beside the curtain," replied Melissa. The girl paused for a moment, as she began to dictate the events of the previous night. "You — you, I saw you being carried in here. I — I tried to find Chris last night, but the attack, the rain it... I tried, but I couldn't find him. I wanted to keep looking, but my brother Steven made me come here after I twisted my leg. When I saw you two, I made sure to visit in the morning."
 
   
  +
''"I understand," the boy spoke up, motioning for Atticus to sit down. "But you don't have to leave just because your dad is angry at you. He'll get over it."''
Atticus placed his hand on his forehead, rubbing it slightly as he thought the latest events over. Marshall's status gave him relief, but he felt unsure about Chris. "Attack? [[Alchemilia Corporation|Alchem]]'s attack? Last I saw was a blinding flash of light and then I was here."
 
   
  +
''"No, he won't, not this time."''
Looking over at the curtain, Atticus thought of more questions to ask. Melissa's explanations only left him with more questions. "Do you think Chris is alright? Did you get to see him here? Marshall and I saw the announcement Alchem made about him. And uh, brother?"
 
   
  +
''"Why?"''
Melissa leaned in closer to Atticus. "I don't know.. Lots of stuff happened last night." She took a brief sigh. "They say — creatures called [[angels]], they attacked the city. A few minutes after I looked for Chris, there was a bright light.." Atticus listened closely to her slow speech. "I — couldn't see much, but I know hundreds died... I — c-could h-hear screams through the rain." Melissa stopped as her voice degraded to a sad quiver. She took a breath, wiping away tears. After stopping for a moment, she decided to change her focus. "When I first made it to the city, I met this [[Richard Devlin|guy]]. He turned out to be my uncle and he brought me to a [[Laboratory of the Unexplainable|lab]] and I met a boy there — turns out, I have a twin brother."
 
  +
  +
''"I don't want to explain, I've made my decision. I'm leaving tonight."''
   
 
----
 
----
   
  +
"Atticus, come on... Is he dead?" A female voice suddenly interrupted Atticus' dream.
Marshall's eyes shuttered, then opened. He looked to his right to see a purple curtain. He heard what seemed to be Atticus' and Melissa's voice on the other side.
 
   
  +
"Who knows?"
"Why the hell am I in a hospital?!"
 
   
  +
Wincing as he opened his eyes, Atticus noticed that he was laying in a bed, with [[Marshall Rooke|Marshall]] seated on one beside him. They were in a decently sized white room that had various tables, cabinets and a small TV attached to the wall. At the end of their beds, standing in the middle, he noticed [[Melissa Devlin|Melissa]] was there, her forehead furrowed in concern.
Marshall looked down at his bed-ridden self. He noticed scrapes all over himself and felt a pain in his left arm.
 
   
  +
"Melissa?" he asked, his voice hoarse and dry. "Are we... in a hospital?"
"Agh. Dammit, how did this happen?'"
 
   
  +
"No, this is the carnival," Marshall interjected. The boy furiously flipped through the TV channels, station after station. "We were attacked by [[angels]]. Big ones. And if the pigs hadn't shown up when they did, we'd be dead by now. Bastards."
----
 
   
Taken aback by Melissa's story, Atticus sat in his bed confused. Quickly thinking of a reply, he looked back at her after hearing Marshall from the other side of the room. "Just slow down. You're not making any sense. What the hell is an 'angel'?"
+
"Yeah," Melissa said, sighing. "I don't understand what happened, but it's a mess out there. I'm just glad to see you guys again. Marshall explained to me everything that has happened since, well, since we were in the woods. It's good to see you again."
   
  +
"But how did you find us?" Atticus rubbed his eyes, attempting to sit upwards before a sharp pain in his left leg made him stop. Glancing down, he noticed a bandage wrapped around his knee.
Melissa looked at Atticus, she was slightly annoyed at the fact she had to explain again. "I'm as confused as you are, Atticus. But I saw the attack. The 'angels' — I didn't know what they were until Steven told me. He should be outside, you might meet him soon."
 
   
  +
"Savannah and I made it here shortly after we separated from the two of you," Melissa explained, sitting on the end of Atticus' bed. "We saw the announcement about Chris and decided to look for him. We split up, and I haven't seen her since."
=== '''Part II''' ===
 
In the dilapidated, rarely-used android wing of the Masquerade Hospital, Chris Wellington lay on a vertically standing silver table. Shocked by the location, he attempted to move — but metal restraints restricted his arms and legs. Looking down, Chris was surprised to see he did not possess his usual attire. Rather than his orange and blue outfit, he now wore primarily black. Chris wore dark, baggy sweatpants, and a tight short-sleeved sweater with a large hood. A Silivian emblem was embroiled on the left arm. Perhaps if he had the chance, he would get something more like his original clothing.
 
   
  +
"Melissa was looking for Savannah in the hospital after the attack," Marshall said. "That's how she found us."
Adjusting to the unique environment, Chris checked his watch. Looking at it, he knew it had been several hours since the encounter with [[John Fontaine|Fontaine]], so the water must have had quite the effect to get him put in here. He sighed with relief, then looked closely at the doorway. Would he ever see Savannah, Atticus, Marshall, or Melissa again?
 
   
  +
"Okay. I assume there hasn't been any contact from Savannah or Chris?"
With the room's silence being broke by Chris' awakening, a man rose from a table and approached the android. The man was the only other person in the large, dusty room. On his table, the man's strange work was showcased. Beakers containing liquids of different colors were being warmed by etnas. He had left his notebook on the table, filled with scribbles of equations and notes.
 
   
  +
"No," Melissa said, frowning. "And I'm worried they got caught up in the disorder outside."
The thin man stood above the plans and papers littered throughout the room. He appeared to be young and had tanned skin, with dark hair and eyes.
 
   
  +
"Or worse. Alchemilia workers tried to arrest us earlier, we managed to get away due to the angels."
"You're alive," he said.
 
   
  +
"You might wanna watch this. The pigs are talking," Marshall pointed towards the TV. A press conference was being held, and a tall, dark-haired man approached a podium. As he prepared to speak, his name flashed at the bottom of the screen.
"Uh.. just who do I have the honor of addressing?" Chris asked as he investigated the man in more careful detail. "Because, if you must know, I have a rather urgent matter to attend to."
 
   
  +
''Governor [[Theodore Rosington]].''
The man was amused at the android's vocabulary. "Honor?" replied the man, amused. "This is the Masquerade Hospital, and I'm the one who brought you here."
 
   
  +
Behind him, [[Gabriel Arsene]] and another man, the Lieutenant Governor Ibrahim Dan, were seen. Arsene was dressed in a dark red suit, patiently waiting as the governor started.
"Thank you very much for your assistance," Chris said. "Now, could you please undo the ropes tied around my levers.. er, arms?" He eyed the door carefully.
 
   
  +
"What's going on?" Melissa asked. "Why is he there?"
"Very well," the man walked over to the android, undoing his restraints and allowing him to stand.
 
   
  +
No one answered as they continued to watch.
"Thank you," Chris said, getting off the bed. He cast a glance towards the door. Turning around, he looked back at the man. "I am appreciative, but I really need to depart from here." He prepared himself to leave the room, before realizing he had forgotten something important. "What do they call you?"
 
   
  +
"Good evening. It's heartbreaking to come to you at a time like this. Earlier today, the [[Sabaoth]] launched an attack on our city. We were caught off guard by the unprovoked assault. However, we were quick to respond, with aerial retaliation ready within minutes. Alchemilia Corporation was informed of the attack and promptly joined in the city's defense.
The man looked closely at the android. "I'm Doctor Picciotto. Nice meeting you."
 
   
  +
"With this amount of force, we had the angels retreating within forty minutes. However, this is no time for celebration. We've lost countless lives. While the death toll hasn't been officially tallied yet, it's believed to be in the hundreds. Damage across the city will take many months, if not years, to repair. Critical public services may be impeded over the next few weeks as we manage the aftermath of this crisis.
"A pleasure to meet you, Doctor Picciotto. Farewell," Chris said, as he twisted the doorknob and opened the door, preparing to head out into the decrepit hallway.
 
   
  +
"Yet we shall persist. Silivia has withstood centuries of conflict and strife, even before the time of angels and demons. I'd like to conclude by welcoming my great friend, Gabriel Arsene. Without him, we would have been alone in this battle." Gabriel walked forward and stopped when he was at Rosington's side.
Chris walked slowly past the messy walls, keeping his eye on the rickety staircase at the end of the corridor. He detected a very putrid odor coming from the ground, which increased the rundown effect of this place. As he got closer to the staircase, Chris noticed that it had yellow caution tape all over it. He would have to devise an easier method of getting out.
 
   
  +
"Thank you, Governor Rosington. For the first time in three hundred years, we have been attacked on our own soil. The angels have breached man's greatest stronghold, but I implore you all to look forward. Yes, the war that had seemed so far away has come to our front doors. But we are not fighting this battle on our own.
Finally, Chris found another set of stairs a little ways past the first, and carefully climbed upwards. Opening the door, he found himself in a spacious waiting room with a large crowd of people. They crowded themselves near chairs and the front-desk, each hoping to meet a friend or relative. In one of the room's chairs sat a blond boy who looked to the floor, with a middle-aged older man standing next to him. Opting not to wait at the crowded front-desk for help, Chris approached the two. "Pardon me, sir. Are you able to provide me with directions?"
 
   
  +
"Security measures may seem extreme in the coming months. I understand the frustration many of you will no doubt feel. The Sabaoth — the angels' military — hit us for forty minutes and retreated with most of their forces intact. This was a preliminary strike; They will return, and we must be stronger when they do. In light of this recent event, I'd like to mention that Alchemilia Corporation will be suspending our recent activity here and focus on other tasks, such as enhancing security."
The boy instinctively looked up from his seat. He prepared to say something, but briefly paused upon seeing Chris' face. "Sure. What are you looking for? Exit, patient rooms?"
 
   
  +
"We'll take a few questions now," Rosington announced.
"Looking for my friends Atticus, Melissa, and some others. Perhaps the exit out of this large facility would be best."
 
   
  +
As the camera showed a crowd of journalists, a blonde woman in the midst of it raised her hand. Her name, [[Minor Characters#Danica Bash|Danica Bash]], briefly flashed.
The boy's suspicions were confirmed. While he did not wish to jump on the fact the boy's appearance was similar, the names "Atticus" and "Melissa" confirmed the identity of the man in front of him. "Wait. Are you Chris Wellington?"
 
   
  +
"During the Sabaoth's attack, we heard reports about Alchemilia chasing two suspects through the city. Is there any information to give on this?"
Chris felt surprised at the boy's knowledge of his name. Unsure of how he came to know, he questioned him. "Well ⁠— yes, that would be a term for my classification. How exactly do you know that?"
 
   
  +
"You shouldn't believe everything you hear," Gabriel answered, laughing.
The boy stood up and offered his hand to Chris. The name "Chris" ⁠— it reminded him of guilt and conflict of the night prior. "My name's Steven, and I'm Melissa's brother. This is our uncle, Doctor Richard Devlin. I can bring you to the room where Melissa and the others are," revealed the boy.
 
   
  +
At this point, Marshall turned the television off.
"Well, I'd appreciate you taking me there very much," Chris lightly shook Steven's hand.
 
   
  +
There was a pause, all three lost in their own heads. Finally, Melissa stood up suddenly and walked to the door.
Steven nodded and motioned for Chris to follow him. The three moved past the reception area's frantic crowd, and they walked towards a turquoise door that led to a stairwell. Making sure Chris and Richard were behind, Steven pushed the door open, and they began to climb the stairs. Chris caught up to Richard, following Steven by his side.
 
   
  +
"I'll go find your doctor or something, we can work on getting you guys out of here."
"You know, it's crazy when you think about it," Steven said to Chris, as the three began to approach a set of stairs "The past few days have been pretty mundane, and all of a sudden my sister shows up and changes everything. Are you ⁠able to relate, Chris?"
 
   
  +
Not seconds after Melissa had left the room, she returned with a nurse.
Chris briefly pondered the thought. "Well, it has been approximately three hundred years since I was activated for an extended period, so I am unsure. I suppose the meeting of Melissa and the others was a catalyst similar to yours." Steven smiled with interest.
 
   
  +
The nurse was holding a clipboard and dressed in sand green scrubs. "I'm glad to see you're awake now, Mr...?"
=== '''Part III''' ===
 
Steven pushed the door to the hospital's fifth floor open, and they entered into the white hallway.
 
   
  +
"Uh, Anoethite," Atticus responded.
They quickly searched for room number 562. Machines and murmurs were the only sounds that could be heard as the three walked. Bodies in stretchers would occasionally be carried past — survivors of last night's decimation.
 
   
  +
"Good. Let me just do a few quick checkups, see how you're doing. How do you feel?"
Steven stopped walking. To his right, a wooden door engraved with the numbers "562."
 
   
  +
"Tired," Atticus answered. "Woozy. Like I woke up from a really long nap."
"I suppose I'll stay out here for the time being. Go ahead, boys," Richard told them.
 
   
  +
The nurse nodded as she listened. Melissa stood behind, trying to catch a peek as the nurse took Atticus's blood pressure, pulse and checked his breathing.
The sight of the door left Steven slightly nervous, unsure of what was to be expected. "This is it, Chris. They'll be happy to see you, so you can knock if you want."
 
   
  +
"I'll have you stay for a bit longer, just to monitor you because your blood pressure is a bit low. Do you want me to call your parents?"
"I suppose I shall," replied Chris.
 
   
  +
"No, thank you."
Chris walked towards the door and began to lightly tap his hand. A muffled female voice called out. "Who is it?"
 
   
  +
Atticus paused, thinking about his dream and the mention of his parents.
Confidently, the android swung open the door. "It's me, Chris. I am relieved to have discovered your present location."
 
   
  +
The nurse frowned in confusion and turned to Melissa and Marshall.
Melissa perked up upon seeing the recognizable face of Chris. She jumped up from her seat and ran over to him, hugging him tightly. "Thank God you're okay! I was so, so worried!"
 
   
  +
"You kids want to stay a bit?"
"Relieved that you're okay as well, Melissa," Chris responded. "I hope Atticus and everyone else is alright." Chris looked out into the hallway for a second. "Steven, would you mind coming in?"
 
   
  +
"Yes," Melissa said, while Marshall shrugged.
Steven nodded and followed Chris into the room.
 
   
  +
The nurse exited the room, humming an unfamiliar song, and Marshall scowled at Atticus.
Atticus looked up from his bed as the two boys entered the room. "Chris? How are you here? How did you find us? And is that—"
 
   
  +
"Get better quickly. I want to get out of this hellhole."
Melissa looked into the hallway and noticed the boy emerging behind Chris. She gasped softly at the sight of her brother. Smiling, she skipped over to him. "Steven! Glad to see you," she said happily, to his surprise. "Come on in, I want to introduce you to everyone."
 
   
  +
=== Part II ===
Steven nodded, smiling. He followed Melissa into the room and took a seat.
 
  +
On a red operating table, Chris awoke from his slumber. The room around him was spacious but sparsely decorated, with power tools and metal limbs hanging on the walls. On either side of him were what appeared to be deactivated androids, both missing any human features. His clothes were gone, and he now wore a hospital gown. Chris raised his hands, seeing synthetic human skin covering his mechanical skeleton. Curious, he deployed his sword.
  +
  +
Nearby, a man stood from his computer and approached Chris. He was young and had tanned skin, with dark hair and eyes. The table showcased his work: motors and actuators with various wires laid strewn around the counters. Schematics and notes littered about, showing the android's status.
  +
  +
"Good, you're online," the thin man said. "And put that away, would you?"
  +
  +
"Who do I have the honor of addressing?" Chris asked, retracting the blue blade. "Where am I?"
  +
  +
"''Honor?''" the man replied, amused. "I'm Doctor Picciotto and this is the Masquerade Hospital. You were brought to the android repair wing after they found you outside. Let's unplug these, sound good?" Picciotto pulled the wires connected to the android, motioning for him to get down.
  +
  +
"Thank you," Chris said, getting off the table. "The new covering looks very lifelike. Did you make any other modifications?"
  +
  +
"Water damage has been eroding your chassis for decades, so I replaced it with a modern standard issue that should provide better protection and last longer. Most of your internal systems were similarly swapped for the latest. Personality, memory and non-standard combat modules were left mostly unchanged."
  +
  +
"Well, I suppose it was about time for an upgrade," Chris remarked. "The new components will be put to good use."
  +
  +
Picciotto picked up a schematic. "It was well past time. The dates on your memory files go back centuries and use a very outdated format. Whoever wrote your code had no idea what they were doing, probably. Nothing like I've ever seen before. You might be the oldest android I've ever looked at."
  +
  +
"You viewed my memories?" The android asked, concerned.
  +
  +
"No, there was no need," the doctor explained.
  +
  +
"I see. Can I have my clothes back?"
  +
  +
"Of course," Picciotto pulled a transparent box from under his desk. It contained a stack of folded outfits, ranging from casual attire to uniforms. He combed through until he found the stolen clothes and handed them to Chris.
  +
  +
"Before you go, can you tell me who your owner is?" he added after Chris changed. "I assume it was the girl you were with."
  +
  +
"Savannah Whitesmith, yes."
  +
  +
Picciotto gave Chris a sympathetic look. "Her body hasn't been officially identified, but she didn't make it. I'm sorry."
  +
  +
''Savannah mentioned Melissa was in the city searching for me. Maybe she looked here.''
  +
  +
"Is Melissa Devlin in the hospital? She's one of Savannah's friends. I would like to break the news to her."
  +
  +
"Can't help you there," Picciotto said, "You could try the front desk. You can leave through that door."
  +
  +
"Thank you," Chris made his way to the door that Picciotto pointed out. "Have a nice day."
  +
  +
After a long hallway, the waiting room appeared as he walked through a double swinging door. He noticed the room was flooded with people and briefly wondered if asking the receptionist was a good idea. If anyone noticed him, he could easily be reported to Alchemilia Corporation. Taking his chance, he walked over to her. She seemed to be in her thirties and had a tanned skin tone, with long dark hair.
  +
  +
"How can I help you?" the receptionist, Anna as her name tag read, asked.
  +
  +
"I'm looking for Melissa Devlin."
  +
  +
Anna typed into the computer in front of her and frowned. "We don't have any patients by that name. However, our logs show that a Melissa Devlin did come through not that long ago as a visitor. Are you family?"
  +
  +
"No."
  +
  +
"Right. Can I get your name?"
  +
  +
"Ch-"
  +
  +
''Wait, I shouldn't give my real name.''
  +
  +
"Lewis Johnson," he lied, "I work for her family."
  +
  +
"Alright," she clicked her computer mouse. "She's visiting Marshall Rooke in Room 237."
  +
  +
Chris thanked the receptionist and headed to the aforementioned room.
   
 
----
 
----
   
  +
Standing in front of the door, Chris paused.
"Because of my malfunctions, I can only remember them shooting at me. I blacked out after my encounter with them."
 
  +
  +
''Is it wise to talk to them again? Due to the search, anyone that is around me could be put in danger.''
  +
  +
Going against his instincts, he knocked on the door and opened it. He discovered Melissa standing near a pair of beds, which contained Atticus and Token. Beside her were two men he did not recognize — one was a well-dressed middle-aged man and the other was a teenager with short blond hair. Chris approached the group cautiously.
  +
  +
"Hello? Excuse me?"
  +
  +
As soon as Chris spoke, everyone in the room turned their attention to him. Surprise lit across their faces, almost in unison.
  +
  +
"Looks like we have company," the blond boy announced.
  +
  +
"Chris, you're okay!" Melissa ran at him and hugged tightly. "We were so worried." Shocked at her reaction, Chris quickly hugged her back.
   
  +
"Yeah, it's good to see you again," Atticus said.
The four others in the room listened with interest as Chris finished telling the events after his separation. For Atticus, Marshall, and Melissa, the day they were without Chris was like an eternity.
 
   
  +
"What are you doing here?" Token asked, leaning forward to get a better view.
"What did the guy look like?" questioned Marshall.
 
   
  +
"Well," Chris began. "It's a long story. Due to my age and the current weather, I took some damage. After passing out, I was brought here, and I was upgraded."
"I don't know. In the pouring rain, I think I saw them wearing a mask," Chris responded.
 
   
  +
Chris proudly held his arm upwards, showing off his new skin.
Atticus sat up on the edge of his bed. He had listened closely to the others in the room, not wanting to interrupt anyone with questions. With Chris finished, however, Atticus wanted answers on a selection of things. "Wow," Atticus said, speaking up. "Seems everyone had their own struggles. But, I still have things to ask. What, exactly, are angels and [[demons]]? Are they what we saw in the forest?"
 
   
  +
"That's… cool," Token answered, focusing on the television.
The room went quiet on Atticus' question.
 
   
  +
"But what happened with Alchemilia Corporation?" Melissa asked. "The last time we saw you, you were with Gabriel Arsene and now there's a manhunt for you."
"I could answer, if you want," The voice of Steven broke the silence and everyone turned to him. "Beings like those are the main focus of the laboratory."
 
   
  +
Chris immediately closed the door behind him. "Melissa, be careful, I might be reported if anyone knows I am here."
"Oh come on, is this really—" Marshall began.
 
   
  +
"I believe Alchemilia paused their search for you. It may have something to do with the attack." the white haired man replied. Stepping forward, he held his hand outwards. "I'm Richard Devlin, their uncle."
"Enough, Marshall," said Atticus. Ignoring him, he looked at Steven. "I woke up in a barn barely remembering who I was. It would be nice for any form of explanation on what I've been hearing and seeing."
 
   
  +
"Pleasure to meet you, Mister Devlin." Chris warily shook his hand. The blond boy approached Chris, extending his hand out as well.
Steven nodded and sat back in his chair as all eyes were on him. He placed his hand on his chin. "Well," he began. "we need to discuss [[Eden]]."
 
   
  +
"And I'm Steven Devlin, Melissa's brother."
Suddenly, the room was swept by confusion. Changing his mind, Marshall chose to engage in the conversation. "What?" he said, blankly.
 
   
  +
"Interesting," Chris said, shaking hands again. "But let's go back to what you just said, Mister Devlin, Alchemilia really paused their search for me?"
"Can you elaborate?" asked Chris.
 
   
  +
"Yes, he just said that," Token answered.
Atticus scratched his head. "I'm not following. Eden?"
 
   
  +
"We don't know how long you have before they start again, but you can relax for now," Atticus said.
"It's easier when you first learn it as a kid. With the state of everything now, this knowledge is hard to come by," explained Steven. "This world is one of many. I don't know how many there are, but there are more. Based on your descriptions, I think what you all saw in the forest were demons. Creatures from another world, Eden, that entered into Euclid."
 
   
  +
"But you shouldn't dawdle," Richard clutched a bouquet of flowers at in his palms. "I'm sure Alchemilia has their reasons for searching for you and you should turn yourself in when you get the chance. It'd be the best situation for everyone."
"Wait, if they're from Eden, how exactly did angels and demons come here?" asked Atticus. "When?"
 
   
  +
"But you don't understand," Chris said, shocked. "I didn't do anything wrong. Doctor Arsene's ancestor knew my father — or creator, speaking literally — and he appeared to be quite fascinated with my programming. He offered me a position in Alchemilia Corporation, the same rank as his, I believe. It didn't feel right to me. My life is my own." He paused. "So, I left. My father's descendant sacrificed his own status in the company to help me escape."
"Well, you see," began Steven, "Demons came first — they suddenly appeared sometime three hundred years ago. After they ravaged the planet for a few months, [[Gabriel Alchemilia]] created a portal to Eden. Led the angels to come here, and at that point, this planet changed forever. The existing war between angels and demons worsened, and now humans are caught in the middle. Angels usually don't care for humans, so the attack last night was very odd."
 
   
  +
"We got into some trouble there too," Token added. "Walked into something they didn't want us to."
The name "Alchemilia" set off some bells within the room. For everyone, the name represented the tumultuous times of the past few days. "Okay, okay ⁠— so demons just 'show up', and Gabriel makes a portal. How is that even possible? Angels and demons were at war? And if this was three hundred years ago, how the ''hell'' is Gabriel still alive?" asked Atticus, confused. "Could you just tell me more, if you can?"
 
   
  +
"That's interesting," Richard mused. "But you don't have to worry, I'm not going to report you. I already talked to my niece about it and while it goes against my better judgement, I've made an agreement with her."
"So, Gabriel was capable of travel between worlds?" added Chris.
 
   
  +
"I see, thank you for that," Chris nodded. "Are any of you injured? Why are you in this hospital?"
Steven chuckled, falling slightly back into his chair. "To tell the truth, I really can't answer all of your questions. I'm still learning things from Richard. Primary sources from the old Euclidean era are rare, so I'm still researching that. If you decide to look more thoroughly into this stuff, then you get into the theistic aspect of our history."
 
   
  +
"We were attacked by the angels, but we're doing better now. We should be getting out soon," Atticus answered.
"Theistic?" asked Melissa.
 
   
  +
"Chris," Token glared. "Name's not Token. It's Marshall Rooke."
"Relating to supposed [[Powers|deities]]. It's where things, in my opinion, really get ridiculous. For example — some people claim a hidden leader is behind the demon army, a former deity that became a beast after their soul was fragmented. Legends claim you can see their soul as a red light," Steven said. "This idea is taken seriously by many, even for those who are not religious. Eden is already evidence of there being many universes, so — makes you think, I guess."
 
   
  +
Before Chris could reply, Melissa interrupted. "Chris, have you seen Savannah?"
One of the words in Steven's explanation caused an alarm to go off within Chris' brain, much like the others in the room. "Red light? Specifically scarlet-colored?" Chris asked. "Back at the barn where we woke up, we saw the sky turn red and glow in a rather ominous way. Could this be connected?"
 
   
  +
"Er," Chris responded, looking downwards. Guilt washed over him again, and he thought about the fight. Savannah had been murdered because she was around him, and in return, Chris himself had killed someone. However, seeing his companions again, he felt happy. While he was worried for them, he didn't want to burden them with the knowledge of her murder.
All waited for an answer from Steven, for the sighting of that mysterious light was one of their earliest memories.
 
   
  +
"No, I haven't," Chris stammered. "When did you last see her?"
"I — don't know, really," Steven said, shrugging his shoulders. "Never thought about the connection until then. You picked my brain, I suppose."
 
   
  +
"We separated when we left my uncle's laboratory, we were searching for you after seeing Alchemilia's announcement."
All those in the room sat silent, for their idea on the nature of their world was completely changed. "''Wow,''" Atticus said, under his breath.
 
   
  +
"Laboratory?" Chris asked, wanting to change the subject as smoothly as possible. "What kind of work is the primary focus of your laboratory, Doctor Devlin?"
"Welp, I learned a few new things today," said Marshall, breaking the silence. "I've seen demons like, a few times in [[Gladea]]."
 
   
  +
"Mostly, it's research into the demons and angels. Not just their militaries — their technology, customs, everything," Richard began.
"It's an interesting topic," replied Steven. "If you want, you can come on over to the lab this afternoon. Also, don't you all need a place today? If you need somewhere to rest, I know a man with quite a few beds."
 
   
  +
"It's actually very interesting," Steven added, "They're a lot like us in some ways. They even worship the same gods."
Melissa perked up at the mention of a place to stay. "That would really help!" she exclaimed. "Finally have a bed to sleep on. Where is this guy?"
 
   
  +
"Gods?" Atticus asked.
Steven smiled. "Interesting fellow, he has his own laboratory. Knew him when I was younger. I can get Richard, our uncle, to drive us there."
 
   
  +
"Let me explain. [[Xeren]], their chief god, has been the creator god in [[Euclid]]'s mythos for as far back as the history books go," Steven continued, "It's probably what kicked off the Coalition."
"That's a really great idea, I know I'd appreciate having a real place to stay," Chris said, delighted.
 
   
  +
Melissa looked at Steven, confused. "What coalition?"
"Well, only if he approves me bringing all of you. Though I'm sure he might like new subjects," explained Steven.
 
   
  +
"Oh," Richard said. "Right. The [[Nuyö-Dyavol Coalition]] is the government behind the demon army."
"Subjects? I really don't like the sound of that," Chris said. "Are you saying he experiments on people?"
 
   
  +
"[[Euclid#Nuyö|Nuyö]] is a continent," Steven added.
Melissa looked at her brother confused. "What do you mean new subjects?" She asked.
 
   
  +
"Pretty sure any smart person knows what it is," Marshall said. "That's where the [[Global Union]] is headquartered."
Steven was amused at their curiosity. He smiled, not wanting to reveal the secret of man's work. "Not anything bad. It will be fine, I promise. He studies.. a unique field."
 
   
  +
"They're ''our'' government," Richard commented, "Silivia is under Global Union jurisdiction. For a while, we were considered the safest place on Euclid to live."
"I guess we can do that, then," Chris said. "But we still have a major problem to deal with."
 
   
  +
"Guess that's changed," Marshall replied sarcastically.
"Hm?" questioned Steven. "What is it?"
 
   
  +
"Yeah," Steven responded, somberly, "I guess so."
Turning his attention to Steven again, he nodded. "This sounds interesting and all, but before we go there, we need to focus on our group. Savannah is still missing."
 
   
  +
There was a moment of silence, before Steven continued the conversation.
== Epilogue ==
 
Dressed in a green sweater and a black jacket was a tall man. He walked alone, wearing white gloves and a surgical mask both to conceal his identity and keep him safe from the germs a hospital would contain. His dark outfit contrasted greatly with the white hospital corridors as he watched for the room he'd arranged to visit — On a scrap of paper he held, "J. FONTAINE - ROOM 7" was scrawled messily in blue ink. He shook his long white hair out of his eyes as he opened the door to the room labeled '7' and stepped inside.
 
   
  +
"Our attackers were the Sabaoth, the angel army. We don't know as much about them — they're winning the war, and we can't get any intel from them."
As he sat down, a heavily bandaged man turned to look at him with great struggle. Apparently, this man had sustained his injuries about fifteen minutes before the invasion began. He was found heavily beaten at the sight of a house fire caused by a gas leak, presumably induced by damages caused by a stray bullet during whatever fight he was caught in. His skin, very few of it visible, was dark and burned, and his one eye was scarred and bloodshot. Fontaine could barely make out the face in front of him; He was high out of his mind on painkillers, after all, but he could tell he was being berated for... something. Maybe he'd just drift off. He didn't want to be here, anyways.
 
   
  +
Atticus nodded along to the explanation as a nurse knocked on his door and entered. "Mr. Anoethite, you've been cleared to leave."
Gabriel's lips moved fluently under his face mask, as though he'd rehearsed his speech multiple times in advance.
 
   
  +
The nurse left as quickly as she had entered.
"—In conclusion, John Fontaine, you are no longer necessary, and I'm afraid you know far, ''far'' too much." Fontaine's eyes began to focus as he noticed Gabriel twirling a wire between his fingers, unplugged from the wall. Fontaine attempted to muster a scream, though his lungs denied him the opportunity. "Shh, Fontaine, you're already dead. It would take a real miracle to save you now."
 
   
  +
"What now?" Marshall asked.
Gabriel dropped the cord, stood up, and exited without another word.
 
   
  +
"Well," Richard began. "My place is open, and you're all free to stay. At least, for a little while. We'll figure the rest out when we get there."
 
{{Episodes}}
 
{{Episodes}}
[[Category:Season One episodes]]
 

Revision as of 00:08, 21 December 2021

"Reunion" is the eighth episode of Season One of The Demon's Light.

Synopsis

Chris Wellington seeks help at the Silivian Masquerade Hospital, and an unexpected reunion occurs.

Prologue

Carrying Savannah Whitesmith's body in his arms, Chris could barely focus. The pouring rain had him extremely hot and tired, thoughts barely forming anything coherent. The weather was finally making him feel his age; he was more damaged than he had originally thought. Chris understood that he didn't have much longer: his system was beginning to short circuit, and he would soon crash. While Alchemilia Corporation was likely still on his trail, he didn't care anymore.

Although he had only been in the outskirts for a short time, Silivia had fallen into chaos during his absence. Though it was heavily raining, fires raged through crumbling buildings as rubble poured from their walls into the streets. Bodies of soldiers and civilians were scattered across the street, soaked red with blood and rainwater. People stood in groups, holding each other and crying, as rescue teams worked through the rubble. In the sky, large carriers were visible. They were heading away from the city and flying south.

Pausing on a sidewalk, Chris watched one of the rescue teams. Eventually, one of the workers stopped and noticed him standing there.

"I need some help," Chris managed to say.

Unable to hear him, the man appeared confused and began to climb down the rubble. Once he was standing on the road, he walked over to Chris. He appeared to be in his thirties and wore a yellow hazard suit.

"I need help! My friend is dead!"

The man glanced at Savannah and nodded. "I'm sorry for your loss. The hospital has started taking bodies. You should take her there, and then get some rest. I'm sure you served her well during her life."


Following the man's directions, Chris could finally see the hospital looming in the distance. It was large and had several floors, with a gray exterior that showed hundreds of windows. In the front of the hospital, a large crowd had assembled. Feeling hopeful, Chris began to run towards them. As he started to get closer, his vision flickered out. While it returned in an instant, Chris started to feel more tired and suddenly didn't have the strength to keep moving. Feeling weak, he crumpled to the ground, dropping Savannah. His vision went out.

Narrative

Part I

Sitting in the passenger's seat, Atticus watched as various buildings flashed by. It was the dead of the night. The lack of traffic allowed the boys to develop a sense of freedom.

Late at night., the city was lit up. Streetlights on every corner and then some. It was a sight to see for any tourist — even the residents could enjoy its beauty.

"We're almost there," his companion stated. The boy was close to his age, with buzzed brown hair. However, his face was blurry and Atticus couldn't make sense of any of his defining facial features.

"Good, I can't wait," Atticus replied, holding up a large bundle of cash.

"Wow, you really got that much? How did you convince your dad to give you that?" The boy swerved onto a new road and started speeding up.

"I didn't, I asked my mom for it and gave a bullshit excuse. Of course, she believed it," Atticus started laughing. Before anything else was said, the scene became blurry and eventually shifted to a new one. This time, Atticus was leaning against a park bench, with two teenagers sitting beside him. One was a black-haired girl, while the other was a dark-skinned young man. Similar to the first boy, Atticus failed to recognize either of them.

"Are you serious?" the girl asked. "We talked about this before."

"I did something stupid, I gotta go. I don't have a choice."

"I understand," the boy spoke up, motioning for Atticus to sit down. "But you don't have to leave just because your dad is angry at you. He'll get over it."

"No, he won't, not this time."

"Why?"

"I don't want to explain, I've made my decision. I'm leaving tonight."


"Atticus, come on... Is he dead?" A female voice suddenly interrupted Atticus' dream.

"Who knows?"

Wincing as he opened his eyes, Atticus noticed that he was laying in a bed, with Marshall seated on one beside him. They were in a decently sized white room that had various tables, cabinets and a small TV attached to the wall. At the end of their beds, standing in the middle, he noticed Melissa was there, her forehead furrowed in concern.

"Melissa?" he asked, his voice hoarse and dry. "Are we... in a hospital?"

"No, this is the carnival," Marshall interjected. The boy furiously flipped through the TV channels, station after station. "We were attacked by angels. Big ones. And if the pigs hadn't shown up when they did, we'd be dead by now. Bastards."

"Yeah," Melissa said, sighing. "I don't understand what happened, but it's a mess out there. I'm just glad to see you guys again. Marshall explained to me everything that has happened since, well, since we were in the woods. It's good to see you again."

"But how did you find us?" Atticus rubbed his eyes, attempting to sit upwards before a sharp pain in his left leg made him stop. Glancing down, he noticed a bandage wrapped around his knee.

"Savannah and I made it here shortly after we separated from the two of you," Melissa explained, sitting on the end of Atticus' bed. "We saw the announcement about Chris and decided to look for him. We split up, and I haven't seen her since."

"Melissa was looking for Savannah in the hospital after the attack," Marshall said. "That's how she found us."

"Okay. I assume there hasn't been any contact from Savannah or Chris?"

"No," Melissa said, frowning. "And I'm worried they got caught up in the disorder outside."

"Or worse. Alchemilia workers tried to arrest us earlier, we managed to get away due to the angels."

"You might wanna watch this. The pigs are talking," Marshall pointed towards the TV. A press conference was being held, and a tall, dark-haired man approached a podium. As he prepared to speak, his name flashed at the bottom of the screen.

Governor Theodore Rosington.

Behind him, Gabriel Arsene and another man, the Lieutenant Governor Ibrahim Dan, were seen. Arsene was dressed in a dark red suit, patiently waiting as the governor started.

"What's going on?" Melissa asked. "Why is he there?"

No one answered as they continued to watch.

"Good evening. It's heartbreaking to come to you at a time like this. Earlier today, the Sabaoth launched an attack on our city. We were caught off guard by the unprovoked assault. However, we were quick to respond, with aerial retaliation ready within minutes. Alchemilia Corporation was informed of the attack and promptly joined in the city's defense.

"With this amount of force, we had the angels retreating within forty minutes. However, this is no time for celebration. We've lost countless lives. While the death toll hasn't been officially tallied yet, it's believed to be in the hundreds. Damage across the city will take many months, if not years, to repair. Critical public services may be impeded over the next few weeks as we manage the aftermath of this crisis.

"Yet we shall persist. Silivia has withstood centuries of conflict and strife, even before the time of angels and demons. I'd like to conclude by welcoming my great friend, Gabriel Arsene. Without him, we would have been alone in this battle." Gabriel walked forward and stopped when he was at Rosington's side.

"Thank you, Governor Rosington. For the first time in three hundred years, we have been attacked on our own soil. The angels have breached man's greatest stronghold, but I implore you all to look forward. Yes, the war that had seemed so far away has come to our front doors. But we are not fighting this battle on our own.

"Security measures may seem extreme in the coming months. I understand the frustration many of you will no doubt feel. The Sabaoth — the angels' military — hit us for forty minutes and retreated with most of their forces intact. This was a preliminary strike; They will return, and we must be stronger when they do. In light of this recent event, I'd like to mention that Alchemilia Corporation will be suspending our recent activity here and focus on other tasks, such as enhancing security."

"We'll take a few questions now," Rosington announced.

As the camera showed a crowd of journalists, a blonde woman in the midst of it raised her hand. Her name, Danica Bash, briefly flashed.

"During the Sabaoth's attack, we heard reports about Alchemilia chasing two suspects through the city. Is there any information to give on this?"

"You shouldn't believe everything you hear," Gabriel answered, laughing.

At this point, Marshall turned the television off.

There was a pause, all three lost in their own heads. Finally, Melissa stood up suddenly and walked to the door.

"I'll go find your doctor or something, we can work on getting you guys out of here."

Not seconds after Melissa had left the room, she returned with a nurse.

The nurse was holding a clipboard and dressed in sand green scrubs. "I'm glad to see you're awake now, Mr...?"

"Uh, Anoethite," Atticus responded.

"Good. Let me just do a few quick checkups, see how you're doing. How do you feel?"

"Tired," Atticus answered. "Woozy. Like I woke up from a really long nap."

The nurse nodded as she listened. Melissa stood behind, trying to catch a peek as the nurse took Atticus's blood pressure, pulse and checked his breathing.

"I'll have you stay for a bit longer, just to monitor you because your blood pressure is a bit low. Do you want me to call your parents?"

"No, thank you."

Atticus paused, thinking about his dream and the mention of his parents.

The nurse frowned in confusion and turned to Melissa and Marshall.

"You kids want to stay a bit?"

"Yes," Melissa said, while Marshall shrugged.

The nurse exited the room, humming an unfamiliar song, and Marshall scowled at Atticus.

"Get better quickly. I want to get out of this hellhole."

Part II

On a red operating table, Chris awoke from his slumber. The room around him was spacious but sparsely decorated, with power tools and metal limbs hanging on the walls. On either side of him were what appeared to be deactivated androids, both missing any human features. His clothes were gone, and he now wore a hospital gown. Chris raised his hands, seeing synthetic human skin covering his mechanical skeleton. Curious, he deployed his sword.

Nearby, a man stood from his computer and approached Chris. He was young and had tanned skin, with dark hair and eyes. The table showcased his work: motors and actuators with various wires laid strewn around the counters. Schematics and notes littered about, showing the android's status.

"Good, you're online," the thin man said. "And put that away, would you?"

"Who do I have the honor of addressing?" Chris asked, retracting the blue blade. "Where am I?"

"Honor?" the man replied, amused. "I'm Doctor Picciotto and this is the Masquerade Hospital. You were brought to the android repair wing after they found you outside. Let's unplug these, sound good?" Picciotto pulled the wires connected to the android, motioning for him to get down.

"Thank you," Chris said, getting off the table. "The new covering looks very lifelike. Did you make any other modifications?"

"Water damage has been eroding your chassis for decades, so I replaced it with a modern standard issue that should provide better protection and last longer. Most of your internal systems were similarly swapped for the latest. Personality, memory and non-standard combat modules were left mostly unchanged."

"Well, I suppose it was about time for an upgrade," Chris remarked. "The new components will be put to good use."

Picciotto picked up a schematic. "It was well past time. The dates on your memory files go back centuries and use a very outdated format. Whoever wrote your code had no idea what they were doing, probably. Nothing like I've ever seen before. You might be the oldest android I've ever looked at."

"You viewed my memories?" The android asked, concerned.

"No, there was no need," the doctor explained.

"I see. Can I have my clothes back?"

"Of course," Picciotto pulled a transparent box from under his desk. It contained a stack of folded outfits, ranging from casual attire to uniforms. He combed through until he found the stolen clothes and handed them to Chris.

"Before you go, can you tell me who your owner is?" he added after Chris changed. "I assume it was the girl you were with."

"Savannah Whitesmith, yes."

Picciotto gave Chris a sympathetic look. "Her body hasn't been officially identified, but she didn't make it. I'm sorry."

Savannah mentioned Melissa was in the city searching for me. Maybe she looked here.

"Is Melissa Devlin in the hospital? She's one of Savannah's friends. I would like to break the news to her."

"Can't help you there," Picciotto said, "You could try the front desk. You can leave through that door."

"Thank you," Chris made his way to the door that Picciotto pointed out. "Have a nice day."

After a long hallway, the waiting room appeared as he walked through a double swinging door. He noticed the room was flooded with people and briefly wondered if asking the receptionist was a good idea. If anyone noticed him, he could easily be reported to Alchemilia Corporation. Taking his chance, he walked over to her. She seemed to be in her thirties and had a tanned skin tone, with long dark hair.

"How can I help you?" the receptionist, Anna as her name tag read, asked.

"I'm looking for Melissa Devlin."

Anna typed into the computer in front of her and frowned. "We don't have any patients by that name. However, our logs show that a Melissa Devlin did come through not that long ago as a visitor. Are you family?"

"No."

"Right. Can I get your name?"

"Ch-"

Wait, I shouldn't give my real name.

"Lewis Johnson," he lied, "I work for her family."

"Alright," she clicked her computer mouse. "She's visiting Marshall Rooke in Room 237."

Chris thanked the receptionist and headed to the aforementioned room.


Standing in front of the door, Chris paused.

Is it wise to talk to them again? Due to the search, anyone that is around me could be put in danger.

Going against his instincts, he knocked on the door and opened it. He discovered Melissa standing near a pair of beds, which contained Atticus and Token. Beside her were two men he did not recognize — one was a well-dressed middle-aged man and the other was a teenager with short blond hair. Chris approached the group cautiously.

"Hello? Excuse me?"

As soon as Chris spoke, everyone in the room turned their attention to him. Surprise lit across their faces, almost in unison.

"Looks like we have company," the blond boy announced.

"Chris, you're okay!" Melissa ran at him and hugged tightly. "We were so worried." Shocked at her reaction, Chris quickly hugged her back.

"Yeah, it's good to see you again," Atticus said.

"What are you doing here?" Token asked, leaning forward to get a better view.

"Well," Chris began. "It's a long story. Due to my age and the current weather, I took some damage. After passing out, I was brought here, and I was upgraded."

Chris proudly held his arm upwards, showing off his new skin.

"That's… cool," Token answered, focusing on the television.

"But what happened with Alchemilia Corporation?" Melissa asked. "The last time we saw you, you were with Gabriel Arsene and now there's a manhunt for you."

Chris immediately closed the door behind him. "Melissa, be careful, I might be reported if anyone knows I am here."

"I believe Alchemilia paused their search for you. It may have something to do with the attack." the white haired man replied. Stepping forward, he held his hand outwards. "I'm Richard Devlin, their uncle."

"Pleasure to meet you, Mister Devlin." Chris warily shook his hand. The blond boy approached Chris, extending his hand out as well.

"And I'm Steven Devlin, Melissa's brother."

"Interesting," Chris said, shaking hands again. "But let's go back to what you just said, Mister Devlin, Alchemilia really paused their search for me?"

"Yes, he just said that," Token answered.

"We don't know how long you have before they start again, but you can relax for now," Atticus said.

"But you shouldn't dawdle," Richard clutched a bouquet of flowers at in his palms. "I'm sure Alchemilia has their reasons for searching for you and you should turn yourself in when you get the chance. It'd be the best situation for everyone."

"But you don't understand," Chris said, shocked. "I didn't do anything wrong. Doctor Arsene's ancestor knew my father — or creator, speaking literally — and he appeared to be quite fascinated with my programming. He offered me a position in Alchemilia Corporation, the same rank as his, I believe. It didn't feel right to me. My life is my own." He paused. "So, I left. My father's descendant sacrificed his own status in the company to help me escape."

"We got into some trouble there too," Token added. "Walked into something they didn't want us to."

"That's interesting," Richard mused. "But you don't have to worry, I'm not going to report you. I already talked to my niece about it and while it goes against my better judgement, I've made an agreement with her."

"I see, thank you for that," Chris nodded. "Are any of you injured? Why are you in this hospital?"

"We were attacked by the angels, but we're doing better now. We should be getting out soon," Atticus answered.

"Chris," Token glared. "Name's not Token. It's Marshall Rooke."

Before Chris could reply, Melissa interrupted. "Chris, have you seen Savannah?"

"Er," Chris responded, looking downwards. Guilt washed over him again, and he thought about the fight. Savannah had been murdered because she was around him, and in return, Chris himself had killed someone. However, seeing his companions again, he felt happy. While he was worried for them, he didn't want to burden them with the knowledge of her murder.

"No, I haven't," Chris stammered. "When did you last see her?"

"We separated when we left my uncle's laboratory, we were searching for you after seeing Alchemilia's announcement."

"Laboratory?" Chris asked, wanting to change the subject as smoothly as possible. "What kind of work is the primary focus of your laboratory, Doctor Devlin?"

"Mostly, it's research into the demons and angels. Not just their militaries — their technology, customs, everything," Richard began.

"It's actually very interesting," Steven added, "They're a lot like us in some ways. They even worship the same gods."

"Gods?" Atticus asked.

"Let me explain. Xeren, their chief god, has been the creator god in Euclid's mythos for as far back as the history books go," Steven continued, "It's probably what kicked off the Coalition."

Melissa looked at Steven, confused. "What coalition?"

"Oh," Richard said. "Right. The Nuyö-Dyavol Coalition is the government behind the demon army."

"Nuyö is a continent," Steven added.

"Pretty sure any smart person knows what it is," Marshall said. "That's where the Global Union is headquartered."

"They're our government," Richard commented, "Silivia is under Global Union jurisdiction. For a while, we were considered the safest place on Euclid to live."

"Guess that's changed," Marshall replied sarcastically.

"Yeah," Steven responded, somberly, "I guess so."

There was a moment of silence, before Steven continued the conversation.

"Our attackers were the Sabaoth, the angel army. We don't know as much about them — they're winning the war, and we can't get any intel from them."

Atticus nodded along to the explanation as a nurse knocked on his door and entered. "Mr. Anoethite, you've been cleared to leave."

The nurse left as quickly as she had entered.

"What now?" Marshall asked.

"Well," Richard began. "My place is open, and you're all free to stay. At least, for a little while. We'll figure the rest out when we get there."

Episodes
Season One: Catching SmokeWhite RoomBare TreesOne Night in GladeaCeasefireHide & SeekThe HoundsReunionSaccharineIn Somnis VeritasCarpe DiemFormationPrimo VictoriaDon't Fear the Reaper
Season Two: Crumbling CastleRoaming KingSafe HavenMarked MapThe Less I Know the BetterRiding the WaveCenturies of DamnationHouse of the Rising SunThe MasterEverybody Plays the FoolLoyalty