Archive of Our Own

Eyes fluttering open he tries to remember what happened yesterday, but he couldn’t... He’s taken out of his thoughts when he feels her climb unto his lap. Draped in bed sheets he makes out her pajamas as she gently lays her head in the crook of his neck. A few moments later she lifts her head and stares at him as she realizes he’s crying. Her hand settles on his cheek as she wipes away his tears with her lips pecking his own.

“Do you remember when we first joined the Penrose Project?” 

Snow white hair cascading down her face as it tickles him. His arms are around her waist as the two are breathing heavily. 

“Yeah, why do you ask?”

Her lips trailing dangerously close to his as the two of them want to give in.

“I still remember meeting you for the first time. You were absorbed in one of your books.”

And when they do give in their lips are on each other as they give into their animalistic urges. The kiss is lurid and intense as the two crosses that boundary.

“And I remember how you carried that massive radio twice your size. You looked cute.”

Their tongues meet and it becomes clear that he takes the lead as she’s happy to surrender to him. The kiss is broken as they both stare at the other with lidded eyes and a thirst neither can quench on their own.

“I-I was cute?” 

His hands settle on her butt as he tells her to hold him tight.

“You were.” 

They crash into every desk and wall as he carries them to his room.

“...I thought you were handsome.”

Frustration eating away at both of them they decide to just do it in the Gallery. So, when he shoves her up against one of the tables kissing her all the while undressing her pajamas.

“Hey, stop! I-I’m still sensitive...!”

Helping her out her pajamas he can’t help but admire her slender figure. Her teddy-bear themed bra and panties catching his eye as he tries to hold his amusement. But before he can she’s unbuckling his belt as she pulls down his pants.

“If you keep flattering me like that, I’ll just have to make you cum over and over again.”

The embarrassed look on his face as she smirked up at him all while sticking out her tongue. It just meant that she could take the lead if she wanted to. 

“Meanie...”

Pulling her up he drew her taut against himself as he captures her lips once again. All the while as he unclasps her bra and lifts her up using her thighs as leverage.

“Sorry. I got carried away.”

As he placed her on the table for the second time, he stares at her and finds an out of breath Ariane staring up at him her bra hanging loosely as she tries to keep her modesty. Her hair looks as disheveled as her clothes. 

“I love you, Ariane.”

“I love you, Kira.”

/

Blood was falling from his shoulder as he spied the knife sticking in it. He grunts in annoyance as the corrupted Eule charges him again. His gun is empty, so he pulls out the knife, biting back the pain as he runs forward to meet the Eule. The both of them crash into each other as he stabs the Replika in her chest tackling her over as he falls on top of her. He can hear the scream of pain, but he doesn’t relent as the Replika begins to struggle hoping to get him off.

“Die.” He demands, sounding more like a prayer than anything else, “Just die...” And it does with a single cry.

Taking a moment, he rises to his knees hovering over the dead Replika as he catches his breath. Mind racing, he wonders what the hell just happened. Where was this place? Where was Ariane? Looking to his side, he sees the wound on his arm still leaking blood and he knows he needs to get it patched up. So, he gets to his feet and luckily, he spots a medical kit lying haphazardly on the floor a few feet away.

Oh right, the Medical Ward was just around the corner. Tapping his wrist his terminal flared to life as it brought up the floor’s layout. At the top stood the name of this facility The S-23 Sierpinski. The name sounded familiar, but he didn’t know where.

Picking up his gun he made his way to the med-kit hoping to find some bandages and gauze. He found bandages but no gauze. Clicking his tongue in annoyance he decided to make his way to the Medical Ward. Knowing that he only had a knife at him he proceeded with caution.

In the corner of his eye, he caught someone wearing white but then the person was gone as soon as he looked. Chalking it up to his eyes playing tricks on him, he rounded the corner not noticing a girl with snow-white hair staring sadly at him.

He makes it to the Medical Wing and luckily, it’s not crawling with those monsters, so he barricades the door and takes a few minutes to rest. He crashes onto his butt, breathing heavily as he begins to stitch up his arm. Wincing, he bites down on the cloth as he threads the needle through skin. Being an orphan, he was used to fighting and that included all the moments where he would have to patch himself up.

After a few moments he relaxes as he tries to reorganize his thoughts as he bites into his ration bar. 

“Where are you, Ari?” He pulled out their photo.

It was a photo the two of them took together a few months into the Penrose Project. He was seated in his chair in the cockpit as Ariane sat on his lap the both of them smiling happily as they enjoyed some hot chocolate.

“I will find you...” He muttered, adding more fuel to his resolve. Getting up, he decides he’s had enough of a rest and heads to the cabinets for any supplies. He finds a cartridge of handgun ammo and a shotgun with four shots left.

Lucky him...

A few minutes later he notes that he has everything as he takes one last look at his photo. He vows to himself that he will find her. And with that he leaves the Medical Wing.

/

Screaming, he was screaming and there was no way he could stop. She was on the other side of the door staring at him a small gentle smile on her face. 

“For fuck’s sake!” He screamed, when a Replika grabbed him by his shoulder, “Fuck off!” He turned around taking his shotgun as he fired it point blank into its head. He could see more coming around the corner, but he didn’t care, “Ari! I’ll find you! God, I’ll find you!” His fist cracked into the reinforced glass, “I-It’s not your fault! It was never your fault!”

Hearing the screeching, he had to move so steeling himself he smiled at her through the glass and mouthed goodbye. And then, he was running down the hallway cursing under his breath as he holstered his shotgun as he pulled out his handgun.

The footsteps behind him got louder as they began to chase him. They weren’t gonna stop him, no one was gonna stop him from getting back to her... He sees a STAR-unit, and he can’t afford to waste time, so he exerts himself running faster and faster as he slides under it at the same moment cuts her ankle hoping that he tore the ligament.

Looking back, he sees the STAR fall as he succeeded in immobilizing her but then he sees the countless Replika units right behind her.

He’s already rounding another corner opening his map as he takes a quick glance already memorized where he’s been and hasn’t been. He has an Elevator keycard so all he has to do is get to it. Shutting down his wrist display he makes his way for a staircase. He slams the door shut locking it as he knows that it won’t even do anything. 

But every second counts...

He’s speeding down the stairs holding the rail as he leaps six to seven steps not even stopping for anything. Even when he stumbles, he’s back on his feet running like a man on a mission.

As he crashes through the first-floor door, he clenches his fist as he needs to make it to her. He will find her and find out just what the hell is going on.

/

“Why are you torturing him like this?” Alina questions her, “Do you hate him that much?”

The two of them were on the Penrose-512 standing in the Personnel quarters. The one who asked the question was leaning against a wall with a despondent look on her face. The other one was standing by the window as she looked at the blizzard raging outside.

They both were wearing white dresses as three bandages were visible on their faces. Their hands were utterly black, signifying the intensity of the cell damage.

“...I don’t hate him...”

“Real funny way of showing it.” Alina said, kicking the floor in annoyance, “Just admit you never loved him...”

“Shut up!” Ariane yelled, shoving one of her books at the door.

“So quick to anger.” Alina muttered, leaning against the wall, “If you really loved him, you wouldn’t be putting him through that.” She pointed at the TV Monitor.

Ariane turned around and looked at the screen as Kira shot an ARAR-unit in the head as she tried to force her way into the Elevator. He was breathing heavily, and she could see the blood staining his suit. Seeing the various scratch marks littering his face from all the scratching and clawing, the Replika put him through.

“What more can I do...?” Ariane asked herself, kneeling down as her hand touched the monitor, “This is all I can do but he keeps coming back. He keeps hurting himself just to save me.”

“And what’s wrong with that?” 

“I’m a sinner...” Ariane confessed, tears falling from her face, “My actions... What I did was unforgivable... You know that.”

“Do you really think he’ll hold that against you?”

“Who else then?!” Ariane screamed, the entire ship shaking, “I’d rather die alone then let him see me again.”

“Says the girl that keeps checking in on him.” The Alina said, pushing off the wall, “You’re fooling no one you want him to find you. You want him to judge you, right?” The blizzard was picking up, “You’ve locked yourself away, but you did a terrible job. Either it was intentional or you subconsciously did it without knowing.” Alina was standing above her.

“T-That’s not true...” Ariane began, blocking her ears as she tried to not listen. 

“Admit it you’re happy he chose you... It’s a sick and twisted love for you after all. You love torturing him.” She knelt down infront of Ariane a sick smile on her face.

“I-I...” Ariane muttered, eyes wide as she stared at the ground hearing her heart break into a million pieces.

“The seals on his memories... You put him through this without even knowing what this even is.” Alina said, lifting up Ariane’s face, “You love and trust him why hide his memories, is it because you’re scared that he will truly leave you in this Hell...” Alina said, looking like a monster, “Or did you enjoy watching him scramble just to survive so he can find out what’s going on?” Cruel smile twisting her face as Ariane stared up at her mirror self the cold grip of terror dousing her bones.

She closes her eyes as tears fall to the ground as she begs for someone anyone to help her – for him to help her... But why would he? She was trying to protect him but what if what her other self was saying was true what did that mean for her? Was she a soulless and heartless monster that enjoyed his suffering? Her mind drowning and drowning in self-destroying thoughts she prayed for him to come through the door

But he didn’t... And then, she’s left to scream an anguished cry full of rage and sadness. As the world shifts around her and she’s back in the cryo-pod as it’s filling with reddened liquid.

/

“Who are you?” Kira asks, the Replika, a man greeting him politely.

“My name is Adler and I’m an ally.”

Scoffing at his words, Kira proceeds forward with caution. Holding out his gun, he gestures for the man to keep walking as well.

“It has been so long since I’ve spoken to another person.” Adler said, holding his hand over his chest as he closes his eyes, “But I must ask how did you come to be at S-23 Sierpinski?”

“...I... I can’t remember...” Kira replies, holding his head as a sharp shooting pain tears through his head but only for a second.

“Then may I ask why you’ve come to this Hellhole?”

“I’m looking for someone.” Kira answered, pulling out their photo, “I’m looking for this Gestalt.” He showed Adler the photo and although it was miniscule he saw Adler tense.

“All Gestalts were sent down into the mines.” Adler said, crossing his arms, “If she was here, she’ll be in the mine.” 

“How can I get there?”

“The only way down is with Elevator access.” Adler replied, as he handed over the keycard, “You can have mine.”

“Why are you giving this to me?”

“...You feel different.” Adler answered, “And I’m so tired...” Taking a step back Kira saw the opened Elevator doors but there was no elevator. Rushing forward he tried to save Adler from committing suicide but then a horrendous scream tore through the entire facility.

Clutching his ears, he saw Adler fall as the man was crying? He couldn’t focus on it long as the scream was immensely loud. It went on for a few minutes then it stopped and as he got to his feet, he was pretty sure his eardrums just burst. Pulling back his hand he saw that there was no blood.

“Adler...? He muttered, confusion playing on his face.

Walking over to the elevator he stared down and saw nothing but pitch-black darkness...

That guy knew Ari he was sure of it, but if he did, why didn’t he say anything?

Shaking his head, he thanked the Replika as he moved to the elevator that leads to the mine. Making sure to check his equipment and resources he fails to notice an LSTR-unit staring at him from behind a wall.

/

He couldn’t breathe... the punch to his gut stinging as he tries and fails to reach for his gun. At the very same moment he gets kicked in the face as he’s pretty sure that he just lost a tooth.

Cursing under his breath, he breaks into a backwards roll as he pulls out his knife. Still disoriented he can hardly stand but he has to, he must find her.

“Leave.” He hears a feminine voice as the person pulls out s shock baton, “Go back to the entrance and forget about her.” 

“Y-You know where she is?”

“Stop it, please.” She walks into the light as he finds and LSTR-unit glaring at him, “She’ll never dance with us again, and deep down you know it.”

Wiping his mouth, he centres himself realizing that this person has been his only clue to the whereabouts of Ari. Resolve coursing in his eyes and veins he pushes himself to stand.  

“I don’t know why you’re doing this.” Kira says, taking a deep breath as he sizes her up, “But I will find her, that’s a promise.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” The LSTR-unit says a disgust in her voice at saying the word promise.

A tense minute before the two of them speed at each other. He goes to stab her, but the shock baton glides dangerously close to his face as he prioritizes dodging. He skids past her his heart beating a mile a minute as he turns back only to see her foot aiming for his head. 

He knows he won’t make it but then something odd happens as he sees her miss the kick. Intentional or not he retreats backwards processing what just happened. Her foot was coming for his head, and he knew he could do nothing. This was either gonna kill him or knock him out.

But then, he notices her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. And in the next second her kick is sailing past his head. He recovers as he tumbles backwards quickly adopting his kneeling position from just moments ago. 

What was that?

Replika’s were peak performance they were two times stronger than any Gestalt and their reflexes was top tier.

Getting back up, he readied his knife once more debating on whether he needs to use his shotgun or run for the handgun. The shotgun only has two more shots he tallies off in his head. And he’d rather save up bullets if he’s to fight one of those STRC-units or MNHR-units after this.

He knows she’s not gonna make it easy and he’s always heavily fatigued on account of the Replikas that he had to fight before running into her.

It was weird that she didn’t kick him right then and there because she had all the cards in that situation.

“Turn back.” She warned him, “Leave now or the next kick won’t miss.”

“Who are you?” He asks, “You know Ariane so answer me.” He shook his head with determination, “From the way you’re talking you’ve met her. I need to meet her as we-!”

“There’s nothing there for you.”  She said, a despairing look on hr face, “Trust me, that road leads to the Promise.”

“Promise?”

“Heh heh.” She laughed under her breath, “There wasn’t even a Promise for you...” Her hand dragging over her face, “I don’t know what this is, but I will keep the Promise. I won’t fail again.”

This time there was a sort of spark in her eyes, and he just knew that she had become serious. Gulping, he steels his nerves and realizes that from this point on she’s aiming to kill him. 

/ 

“W-What are you doing?” Ariane asks, an icy cold terror etched on her face, “D-Don’t hurt him!” She yelled struggling against the cryo-chamber.

“Do you remember why you created me?” Alina asked, leaning over the cryo-pod, “Back when you hated yourself, when you hated everything, you made me.” Ariane was banging against the chamber as it filled with liquid, “I was your enforcer, remember? I was the one that held true to the Hatred in your heart.”

“But I’ve changed!” Ariane cried out, tears streaming down her face, “I woke up from that nightmare!”

“Did you?” Alina asked, shrugging her shoulders, “If you did you would’ve stopped it immediately.” Alina’s hands were on her shoulders, “But look. He’s getting beaten to a pulp because you want him to hate you. You want him to leave.”

“I-I...”

“Your Consciousness and Subconsciousness are fighting against each other.” Alina explained, emphasizing the situation they’re in, “You want him to hold you and love you, but you also hate him and yourself.”

“I-I don’t hate him!”

“You hate him because of... you know...”

The gears turning in Ariane’s head as it all clicked together. 

“It was my fault! Mine! I would never blame him for something he had no way of stopping!” Ariane screamed, as the cryo-pod’s glass gave way as the reddened liquid stained the floor like blood.

“Maybe you didn’t but I did.” Alina said, tears streaming down her face, “He left us. We were all alone not knowing if we were gonna die or live another day...” Alina rushed at Ariane grabbing her by her neck as she pushed her against a wall, “Do you remember how scared we were?!”

“It... It wasn’t his fault...!” Ariane yelled, smashing her precious vase of white lilies into Alina’s head. Alina screamed in pain as she stumbled backwards, “We weren’t strong enough to do anything! And because of that... because of that...”

Ariane was on top of Alina strangling her as Alina fought back kicking and screaming. 

She had the upper hand when Alina’s hand grabbed a fistful of her hair and dragged her to the side. Crashing to the ground she tried to fight back when Alina got on top of her this time.

Alina was taller than her and she used it to her advantage as she went for Ariane’s neck. She was struggling against Alina’s strength as the girl had a deranged look on her face.

“You remember why you made me?!” She was insane as Ariane tried to fight back, “I’m your hatred, Ariane. I’m your hatred to yourself and Kira!”

“S-Stop...” Ariane begged, clawing at her hands as she started to get lightheaded. Her eyes closing as she calls out to Kira to save her. A realization setting in her stomach as she knows he won’t come. And in that realization, she gives up as tears stream down her face.

But then, the door to the room opens up as she finds a shocked Alina.

“Get the fuck away from her!” Kira screams, rushing towards Alina as he clotheslines her against the wall and in the very next moment, he’s unloading all his bullets into her stomach.

Alina falls to the ground cursing as the light leaves her eyes as blood is splattered all over his suit. Breathing heavily, he turns around and runs towards Ariane. She jolts awake and finds him staring at her with a worry laced expression.

It happens in an instant as she hugs him tight crying as she keeps calling out his name.

“I’m here!” He tosses the handgun as his hands envelop her.

“K-Kira...?” Her voice is meek, barely a whisper.

“Yeah, it’s me.” 

Her face was in the crook of his neck as she breathed in his scent, along with the pungent smell of blood. The lifeless body of Alina lying on the cold hard floor. And then, she finds the bruises and claw marks littering his body.

Tears forming in her eyes as she thought back to Alina’s words... You love torturing him.

It happened suddenly as she pulled away looking like she’s seen a ghost as she shakes her head. Hands covering her ears she shakes her head letting her darkest thoughts in. Sighing, Kira moved forward taking both her hands in his as he kisses her. Her resistance is futile as he forces his tongue inside her mouth as his right-hand loops around her waist.

“You can be an idiot, you know that.” He says, a trail of saliva still connecting them. Ariane, for her part can only stare up at him wide-eyed while breathing heavily. 

“W-Wha?”

She couldn’t even finish as he kissed her again an almost primal need in his actions. She couldn’t even fight back punching his chest with shallow blows as he kept on kissing her. The more and more he kissed her the weaker her resistance as he holds her tight.

“I remember everything...” His lips were mere inches from hers as they both were breathing heavily, “And it wasn’t your fault, it was never your fault.” He pulled her up off the ground, “I should’ve been honest with you from the start...” He dragged her to the cryo-chamber.

“K-Kira...?”

/

“This is where I died?” The two of them stared at the cryo-pod housing two bodies they lay side by side holding each other’s hands, “Actually kind of jealous of him.” She was wearing her wedding dress as the dead body of Kira wore his tuxedo, “I forgot we went into cryo sleep the night we exchanged our vows...” He remembered it the two of them standing before the cryo-pods as they kissed one last time while holding hands, “We were so stressed out we never exchanged vows before but that night... that night we just had to...”

“Because the end was coming...”

Sighing, he kissed her forehead as he locked their fingers together. 

“But I’m here now and I’m never letting go, ever.” He said, as she laid her head against his chest, “There’s something I wanna show you.” He ushered her closer as he pointed at his neck, “If you focus right there, you’ll be able to see it.” 

She was like a lost puppy staring up at him as she couldn’t make out this situation. Bending down a bit, she focussed on where he was pointing too. And then she saw it a pinprick resembling three dots.

“Listen,” He took her hands in his own, “I had a blood clotting disorder, Ari...” Her eyes widened, “I tried to keep it a secret because I didn’t want you to worry.” He laughs a self-deprecating laugh as he stares at the ceiling, “I tried to ration the medicine some I got through legal means and some I bought off the black market.” He looked at his hands, “When we chose to go into cryo-sleep I took the last of it. But it didn’t matter the radiation killed me it may even have exacerbated the symptoms.” He pulled her close as he hung his head on her shoulder, “It was never your fault, Ari. And it will never be yours.”

“I... I thought you died because of the loops...” She said, holding unto his sleeve, “When my power first activated and I couldn’t control it I made a similar nightmare and in it you died countless times.” She was a frantic mess, “I kept trying to change it, but I couldn’t... I remember every death...”

“Your guilt stems from that...” Kira kissed her forehead, understanding it better, “And when you woke up you found out I was dead.” His right-arm hugging her close as his left-hand took her right-hand as their fingers intertwined, “Regardless, I still love you.”

“But I’m a monster...” 

“You’re not.” His lips kissing her forehead, “My life was a constant fight for survival. I lost my parents in the war, and I was an orphan for half my life.” He began to dance with her as she clumsily at first tried to keep up, “But when I was with you the world had colour in it. You loved me and that’s all I could ask for.” And as they danced more her worries and doubts disappeared. 

And when it does the ship is blanketed in a stream of light and when it fades the ship looks as clean as the day, they departed. 

/

It’s an hour later and the two are still in the shower as Kira has her up against the shower door. Grunts of exertion and pleasure leaks out as the two indulge in each other. Her nails tearing into his back as their tongues fight for dominance.

The two are engrossed in the other their bodies melding together as they give in to their desires. And when he starts to move again, she screams but before it gets too loud, he’s silencing her with his mouth.

Bruise marks stain her thighs as he’s held her in the air with her legs and arms wrapped around him. She’s insatiable, but then so is he the two of them quenching a thirst they didn’t even know they had.

And then, it reaches a climax as he hilts himself fully inside of her a scream, the only scream that successfully rings throughout the entire ship. Spent and drained the two hold each other as the warm water rains down from above. They’re breathing heavily the both of them shaking in their afterglow.

“...I needed that.” Kira whispers, gently lowering her so she can stand.

“Me too.” She smiled, her arms around his neck, “It felt nice...” 

“God, I love you.” He said, his lips drifting close to her own, “Can we go again?”

“Nuh-uh!” She shushed him, “Let’s go make us something to eat.”

“I guess you have a point.” He smiled, hearing his stomach rumble. Turning off the shower both of them step out into the hallway covered in their towels.

It’s a few minutes later when the two of them are standing in the kitchen. Ariane next to him wearing pyjama shorts and one of his shirts. While he has on his boxers and a vest. The both of them making hot chocolate as she’s clinging to him with her head lying on his arm. Pouring the hot chocolate, he hears her run to his bed giggling as she pulled the covers over her.

“You’re in a good mood.” Kira pointed out, setting their cups on his bedside table.

“You’re here.” She smiled, pulling him on the bed, “I forgot how warm and fuzzy it was to just be with you.” He falls next to her as she giggles into his chest.

“I’m not planning on leaving.” He kisses her head as she snuggles closer to him.

And for a long while the two of them are just lying down as they stare out into space. Their cups already empty as she’s asleep in his arms. He smiles to himself realizing that despite the hell he’s been through just being here with her erases all of that.

/

“How did you learn to control your powers?”

“I think it happened somewhere after the 3500th cycle.” She said, looking at her wedding ring, “Took me so long just to control it. I wanted you to hate me you know. I wanted you to leave me in this hell alone.” She explains a sad look on her face. 

“Like I’d ever leave my wife.” Kira hugged her close as he took a bite of his sandwich.  Ariane was sat between his legs her back towards him, “So, you can conjure up anything?” 

“Anything I can think of, yeah.” Ariane answered, taking a sip of her tea, “Within reason.”

“That’s so cool.” He rested his chin on her shoulder.

“But... it will eventually end...” She lay into him, “My physical body is deteriorating. And if I die...”

“This dream will end...”

“Yeah...” 

“So, why don’t we make the most of it?” Kira asked, taking her hands in his own, “Make us a Dream where we can be together all the way to the end.” He sounded sombre all things considered.

“It never occurred to me... I wanted you to hate me that’s why I created that horrific nightmare...” Her eyes downcast, as she linked their fingers together, “Do you hate me for that?”

“I don’t.” 

“Alina, she... she said I loved watching you get tortured...” Her She said trying to hide in his shoulder.

“Then make me happy.” His hand touched her cheek as he kissed her forehead, “As long as I can be with you that will be all I need.” Pulling her close he drapes the blanket over both of them.

“...Is that really all you need?” 

“I do.” Kira answered, a lightbulb flashing in his head as he pulled out a picture, “Is it possible to help them as well?”

Ariane took the photo her eyes widening as she instantly recognized herself. The photo was of an LSTR-unit standing beside herself?

“What the?” Ariane asked, looking shocked, “That’s... me?”

“Trust me, that’s the same face I made.” Kira said, looking down at the photo, “Did you know an LSTR-unit from Rotfront or Leng?”

“...There were LSTR-units back on Rotfront but I never... I don’t know what’s going on...” Ariane muttered, crossing her arms over her chest, “I have no idea why I Dreamed this into existence...”

“She sounded so sad there at the end...” Kira muttered, his eyes downcast, “She kept talking about the Promise.” He felt Ariane interlocking their fingers together, “I just feel bad, you know.”

“Let me guess, you want them to have a happy ending?” Ariane asked, smiling up at him.

“Is that too much to ask?”

“I could give it a try.” Ariane shrugged, radiant smile on her face, “All those people...” The smile on her face disappeared right then and there, “Were they people in my subconscious I gave meanings and stories too?” She asked herself as oddities began to creep into her mind, “I-I was never at S23 Sierpinski...?”

Jumping up from the bed she looked as though a realization, cold and chilling hit her right in the face. Kira was next to her trying to calm her as she kept pacing around, kept muttering stuff about her Nightmare.

“You finally figured it out...” 

Kira was infront of her grabbing the gun from the counter as he aimed it at a bloody Alina. She stood in the doorway as behind her the ship began to resemble the Nightmare.

“Wha?”

“You subconsciously, that’s to say I kept that nagging feeling at bay.” Alina began, leaning against the wall, “How could you conjure a Nightmare as intricate as that with people you’ve never met? You didn’t.” Alina laughed as Ariane shook her head, “I’m your power, Ariane. I activated that day in response to you desperately hoping to stay alive, with him.”

“I-I remember... I was so scared, scared that I would die, that he would die.” Ariane clung to him an almost frantic way in her touch and words.

“So, why the Nightmare and not a Dream?” Kira asked, lowering the gun slightly.

“Her mind was racing with death.” Alina answered, a broken smile on her face, “Her powers activated and because she was so steeped in the thought of death that’s all it could replicate.” She explained as Ariane’s eyes widened as tears began to streak down her cheeks, “Bioresonance is the song of the Universe. Not very often is someone born with the ability to conduct that song.”

“So, Ariane is a conductor?”

“She’s strong, quite possibly the strongest one there is.” Alina said, a finality in her voice, “You were so obsessed with me, remember? Kept thinking how my life was different than yours how you would daydream about it.”

“Ariane?” Kira asked, looking back at her with a worried look.

“...I remember.” She said, hugging Kira tightly.

“That was when your power reached S23-Sierpinski in search of Alina Seo.” Alina said, as Ariane’s eyes widened, “You conduct the Universe, so distance is meaningless to your power.”

“That means...” Kira started but was stopped.

“That Nightmare kept on repeating over and over...” Ariane muttered, falling to her knees as Kira bent down and hugged her side.

“Your power was so strong it affected them and they were pulled into your Nightmare like a vortex.” Alina began, sliding down unto her butt, “It brushed past the Commander of that facility a Replika called Falke... And I think you know the rest.”

“I was trapped in that Nightmare because she couldn’t control her powers.” Kira answered, no heat in his words as he held a sobbing Ariane in his arms, “But I wasn’t the only one...”

“Every person you’ve shot and kill to get here was stationed at that facility...” Alina said, a tired laugh escaping her lips.

“Time and space were so irrevocably destroyed by her power that you thought you were in a Nightmare...” Alina muttered, coughing up blood as she held her stomach, “Through the Red Gate and that hole lies S23-Sierpinski... The real S23-Sierpinski.” Alina said as both his and Ariane’s eyes widened, “But it’s the Nightmare I created...” A self-deprecating laugh leaves her mouth.

“But how?”

“Reality was shattered into a million pieces.” Alina answered, coughing up blood, “Your powers are so strong and potent, after all.” Her eyes locked unto Ariane.

Ariane was hyperventilating as she stared down at her hands. She had always thought it was just people her mind created. But as Alina spoke the doubt and ugliness of herself slowly began to creep back in. 

“T-They were real people...” 

The world began to shift back to that hellhole of the Penrose-512 as she stared at her darkened and bloodied hands. But before she could sink deeper, he scooted closer and placed a kiss on her forehead.

“Kira...?” Tears were stinging her eyes.

“Calm down...” He rubbed circles on her back, “Don’t get drowned by it.” He lifted her head by her chin as he began to kiss her. But this isn’t like last time as she pushes him away with tears in her eyes.

“How can I?!” She yelled, getting to her feet, “T-Those were real people! Real people, Kira!” She was an erratic mess as tears fell to the ground, “I-I really am a monster...”

“You’re not.” He said, walking over to her as she tried to push him back, “You’re not a monster, Ariane.” He caught her chin as he lifted her head all while she was struggling to push him off her.

“G-Get away from me!” She yelled, as he enveloped her in hug, “I-It’s not gonna work! I’m a monster and you need to get away from me!” He captured her lips, as she fought against his touch. His kiss was deep, forceful in a way, “S-Stop... Stop, Kira... For God’s sake can you... please stop...” Her strength was waning as she pointedly avoided his gaze. 

He deepened the kiss forcing his tongue into her mouth as her face shot tomato-red. She was like a scared puppy the way she avoided his gaze. Her hands had settle on his chest, and he knew that all her resistance had fallen away. But he was here to prove a point.

Tears were running down her face as she felt his hands settle on her thighs. And despite the anger in her veins, she allowed him to pick her up. 

“I know you’re sad...” He said, his forehead against hers, “I keep telling you that you need to calm down, don’t I?” He held her aloft as she looked in his eyes, “Even if all that’s true you had no idea, Ariane. It may be your powers, but you weren’t in control then, you’re in control now.” Gently he bumped his forehead against hers, “Think, idiot.”

“You can be so annoying!” Ariane yelled, beating his chest, “Meanie...” She was crying but the ship and her body had once again return to its normal state, “But you always know what to say.” She kissed him as he sat her down.

“I absolutely despise you two...” Alina spat, venom in her words. She was covered in blood her head hanging forward.

“I hate you too...” Ariane said, walking over to the girl, “But... I created you while I was drowning in pain...” She lifted her hand as she touched Alina’s forehead. A flash of light and Alina sat before her completely healed, “And punishing you for that just feels wrong.”

“W-Why?”

“I want to end the Nightmare...” Ariane answered, holding Alina’s hand, “Will you help me?” A small smile on her face, “You’re my subconscious but also my power.”

“...I can try.”

“I’ll go make some coffee.” 

/

She was busy dismantling the Nightmare he could see the Red Gate crumbling away. The reddened sky was receding as he could see sunlight peeking from behind the clouds. 

Spotting Alina, he finds her picking up a handful of sand as she lets it run through her fingers.

But then, his eyes drift towards Ariane as she’s standing before him deep in thought. Seeing her powers in action didn’t seem so monumental but it was like he could feel it... He had no idea what it was, but it was almost like he was witnessing something not meant for human eyes.

All around him the world returned to normal as he could spot birds flying in the distance. He could even make out rabbits hopping a few feet away. It still freaked him out to find that this planet they were on was her psyche. And to see it being repaired and restored in real time must’ve meant that she was working through it in her mind.

He's so preoccupied by the world that when she hugs him, he smiles almost immediately. 

“How are you feeling?”  

“Exhausted...” She mumbles, as he picks her up bridal carry, “But happy, really happy.” 

“Let’s get you in bed.” Kira says, kissing her forehead, “I’ll make you some hot chocolate.”

“Thank you.”

Behind Ariane, he found Alina making retching noises as she imitated throwing up. Sticking out his tongue at her he makes his way towards the Penrose-512. 

It had been a week since Ariane had asked for her help. At first, they had to restore and mend her broken mind, the very same mind that was still seeped in the fear of death and craving of death. He could actually see the difference as both Alina and Ariane had grown closer an almost friendship developing between the two of them. The world felt easier to breathe in almost like a suffocating pressure disappeared from around them.

Placing the mug of hot chocolate on the night stand he found her smiling up at him. She was under the covers wiggling around with a warmth fuzzy feeling. She pulled him by his wrist as he sat beside her.

“Stay with me...” 

“You can be so clingy, you know.” Kira said, smiling to himself, “But I will always be here when you want me.” He allowed himself to be pulled down beside her.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

The two of them were enjoying the peace before it was soundly interrupted when Alina yelled at Ariane to conjure some alcohol for her. 

“She’s gonna be the death of me...” Ariane complained, groaning in annoyance.

“She likes to drink...” Kira pointed out, “I guess I should ask if you are an alcoholic.” He muttered lying on his side as he stared at Ariane with a knowing grin, “It’s worth a shot considering she’s technically you.”

“She makes me want to drink...” 

For a long while the two of them just lie there as Ariane shortly after falls asleep.

“Can we talk?” Alina asks, standing at the doorway a serious look on her face.

Staring down at the sleeping Ariane he kisses her head as he nods at Alina.

“What’s up?” Kira asked, as he closed the door behind him.

“There’s something I need to tell you...”

“Does it have to do with Ariane?”

“It has to do with me...” Alina answered, crossing her arms over her chest.

A few minutes later Alina and him were in the kitchen as he handed over a cup of coffee. He could tell she was deep in thought, so he opted to wait for her to begin. A few moments later after sipping some of her coffee she closed her eyes.

“It’s probably best I tell this to her...” Alina said, sighing, “You know that I’m Ariane’s subconscious, right? Well, I am and not.” 

“Wait, what?” Kira asked, confused.

“I am all the things I’ve told her but I’m also... Alina Seo.” She stared down at her cup of coffee, “Or at least I was before all this...”

“What do you mean?”

“When her powers activated, she subconsciously sought out Alina Seo.” She explained but continued, “It’s why her Nightmare connected to S23 Sierpinski. I was stationed there for re-education with some of my friends in my unit.” Her eyes downcast as a saddened look came on her face.

Kira could only stare at her as his mind was racing.

“Our Commander was a pig he was scum through and through.” Alina said, an enraged look on her face, “He would always leer at us and try and grope some of the new recruits. Long story short he tried to force himself on one of my friends and some of us intervened.” She smiled as she pulled out a locket containing a photo of her and her squad, “We almost killed him and despite coming forward with the truth it didn’t matter. He was from some high and powerful family so of course we were punished and sent to Sierpinski...”

He had met his fair share of pompous asshats in his life as well. 

“...Oh God.”

“Yep, we were all at Sierpinski.” Alina said, a hollow laugh, “I remember Ariane’s memories flooding my mind and then I collapsed.” She continued clenching her fist, “And then, I woke up here being the other half of that little girl.” The way she said it he could feel the venom in her words, “I know it’s wrong to hate someone that went through a hell like what she went through, but... but I can’t just forgive her, you know...”

“That means... it’s you...” Kira whispered, the pieces all falling together.

“I-I was wondering if I could just leave from here...” Alina muttered, her hands gripping her coffee mug tightly, “Before the Nightmare ceases I wanna go back. If the Nightmare stops the world may return to normal.” 

Kira stared at her as he took a sip of his coffee. It was wishful thinking, he thought to himself. She had said it clear as ay Ariane’s powers had broken all of reality. Did they even have a world to go back to? He didn’t know...

All he did know was that Ariane sometime in the Penrose Project’s timeline unlocked Bioresonance and it was so strong that it broke reality. They weren’t even in the real world they were in her psyche onboard the Penrose-512. 

“And if the Nightmare ends and you die?”

“I’m willing to risk it.”

She was serious, he could tell. 

“So, why come to me?” Kira asked, taking the final sip of his coffee.

“I’m a living person given the lock and key to her powers.” Alina said, resting her chin on her hand, “The only way for me to go back is to hand it over to someone else. Preferably someone that’s a creation of her mind.” There it was a confirmation that he was created by Ariane’s powers.

“Still not sure why you could’ve just gone to Ariane with this?” Kira asked, crossing his arms, “Isn’t it her power in the first place?”

“She needs someone she can trust to keep her in check.” Alina said, looking at him with seriousness, “You saw what happened to the S23 Sierpinski what if she gets overwhelmed by her emotions again and this time it’s the whole Eusan that gets pulled into the vortex?” 

Gulp! He doubts he could even calm her then...

“She can’t control it, it’s too much for her but you’ll act like a tap for her.” Alina explained, getting to her feet, “She has the intent, and you’ll be the fuel. Or more precisely you’re the battery.” 

“So, you’re going now?”

“I have to go she’s gonna end the Nightmare in two days.” Alina said, serious look on her face, “Even if what awaits me is death, I have to go my friends, no, my family is back there.” He could hear the resolve in her voice.

“She’s gonna be pissed off...” He said, rubbing the back of his head, “Oh yeah, I-I’m sorry about shooting you when we first met.” He laughed awkwardly, “You were strangling my wife.”

“Well, she does piss me off.” Alina said, cracking a grin.

“This is exactly why I shot you.” Kira muttered, “And now I feel like an idiot for apologizing.” He said as they made their way outside the ship.

“Give me your hand.” Alina said, holding out her own hand, “I’m transferring her power to you.”

“Is it really okay for me to take it?”

“Didn’t you hear what I said a few minutes ago?” Alina asked, but shook her head, “As long as you’re not a Bioresonant everything will be fine. If I’m completely honest, I think the powers belong with you.“ 

“What do you mean?” 

“She loves you and you love her back.” Alina answered, smiling despite her hatred towards the two of them, “You’re probably the only person that can calm her down and get her out of her emotions.” Alina continued, “She’s powerful no doubt but if she has the lock and key to all her powers she can change anything and everything with a thought.”

“B-But-!”

“She’s right, Kira...” Ariane appeared by the hangar door.

“Ariane?” Kira called out, walking towards her, “Should you be up?”

“I’m fine.” She answered, as he took her hands, “Are you leaving?”

“I am.” Alina answered, “I already talked to Kira about it.” 

“If that’s what you want to do, I won’t stop you.” Ariane said, a troubled look on her face, “You already know this, but... my life was horrible and then one day I found a photo of you and I became obsessed. You had achieved things with my face, and it was almost like a light in the dark for me...” Ariane explained, twiddling with her thumbs as a hollow laugh escaped her lips, “My life meant nothing to the people around me all the things I accomplished were of no real value so I sought value in you.”

It was the first time Kira heard about any of this as he hugged her close just as tears were falling to the ground. She was a wreck as she explained her life to Alina and him. Placing a kiss on her forehead he told her that he was here and that she mattered to him.

“Thank you...” Her fingers tightened around his own, “It was stupid of me, I know. But I would fall back on that without even thinking. And when my powers manifested, I must’ve done it then as well.” She bowed in an apologetic manner, “I’m sorry for dragging you into this, Alina Seo.”

For a few minutes no one said anything until Alina stepped forward and flicked Ariane’s forehead. 

“I won’t forgive you, but... I can understand where you’re coming from.” Alina said, with a smirk, “I hope you two find happiness...” She smiled at the two of them waving as she turned and walked towards the Red Gate, “Bye...”

“Before you go.” Kira began as he walked up to her, “Mining Storage Room Two.” He replied, crossing his arms, “You kept saying you were Ariane’s subconscious, so I thought you were just a creation and not a real person.” He explained, smiling to himself, “But then it all clicked. You’ll find Elster in Mining Storage Room Two.”

Alina’s eyes widens as she freezes up.

“At least I think she should still be there she was a little roughed last I spoke to her.”

“Y-You met Elster...?”

“Tell her hi for me.” He smiled, handing over the polaroid, “I think... that’s you and her, right?” Tears falling as she holds the polaroid close, “Ari must’ve altered the photo but I’m pretty sure that’s you standing beside Elster.”

“She’s alive...” Alina said, wiping her eyes, “Okay then, bye.”

“I am sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused you, Alina Seo.” Ariane bowed, but she was taken aback when Alina flicked her forehead.

She said nothing when she turned around and walked up the stairs to the Red Gate waving the two of them goodbye.

/ 

She was on top of him stabbing his arm as he tried to push her off, but who was he kidding a Gestalt stood no chance against a Replika. Wincing, he punches her in the gut realizing that he’s gonna die if he doesn’t make a stand.

But he can’t... that is when his polaroid falls to the ground out of his pocket.

He can see the way the LSTR-unit freezes when she sees the polaroid of both him and Ariane. Taking his chance, he pushes her off and while getting up he pulls out the knife and stabs her in the stomach. 

The both of them crash to the ground as he falls atop her shoving the knife further into her. Breathing heavily, he tries to catch his breath as he finds the LSTR-unit coughing up oxidant. 

Getting up he runs to the polaroid staring at it as his face softens. 

“S-She looks happy.” He hears the LSTR-unit say as she pulls herself into a sitting position against a wall, “I can tell... W-Who are you?”

“K-Kira Heatherford.” He answered, walking to her and kneeling. She was his enemy a second ago, but she wasn’t a monster, “And you? Do you have a name?”

“S-She called me Elster...” She was coughing up oxidant and as he looked down, she was bleeding profusely, “My... My Ariane...”

He had no idea what was going on but he could see the tears and he felt terrible... Pulling out a repair patch he quickly patches her up as she stares at him with confusion. Just as he walks over to retrieve his handgun on the ground.

“W-Why...?”

“You cared about her.” Kira answered, smiling at her, “And I have this weird feeling that we would’ve been good friends.” 

“...I couldn’t keep my Promise, you know...” She pulled out a polaroid of her own as she handed it over to him. Eyes widening, he finds Elster standing next to Ariane?

“What the hell?”

“I don’t know where she went...” Elster muttered, tears leaking down her eyes, “I promised I wouldn’t leave her alone...” He hands the polaroid back as she pockets it.

That’s when he hears it a massive number of footsteps coming from where he climbed down. He can hear the screams and knows its Replikas. Holstering his handgun, he looks around for any place to hide and finds a manhole. Bending down he picks her up hearing her wince as she tries to protest. He’s not in a good condition either as he pushes through the pain making his way to the manhole. With a warning he jumps down into the hole while holding Elster.

They crash against the hard ground, but he can’t afford to slow down as he looks around him noting that he must’ve dislocated his shoulder. He finds a hole dug into the wall so without thinking twice he heads to it carrying a dazed Elster. Barely inside he hears the screech from the room above and shortly after the distinct breaking of ground. 

A massive crash resounds from all around him accompanied by a painful screech that grates his ears. Dust has been kicked up so his visibility is poor. But he can hear and feel that something massive is infront of him. So, he crawls in deeper pulling Elster along as he spies a creature wobbling on three legs with arms sticking out of its head? Chest?

“What the?” He whispers to himself. Pulling Elster and himself further into the hole and prays that it doesn’t see them.

A few tense minutes later he spies the thing heading towards the door and he can hear it screaming as it wobbles down the hallway. Giving it a few minutes he climbs out the hole as he catches his breath. He can see Elster’s still unconscious but the only thing running through his mind is what the hell was that thing. 

Looking above the door, he reads the sign as it designates this as Mining Storage Room 2. But he doesn’t leave instead he closes the door and pulls Elster in one of the corners behind a locker of sorts. For a long while he sits with her making sure, his guns are reloaded and that he has all the necessary equipment.

A few minutes later Elster wakes up as he hands her his machine gun and a few supplies. 

“What?”

“Take it.” Kira said, smiling at her, “All you have is the knife and if you saw what I saw I doubt its gonna do much.” He explained the image of that monstrosity still running through his head, “I still have to keep my Promise so I’m going ahead...” He said as Elster stared at the ground a despondent and dead look in her eyes, “I think giving up is worse than not trying. Even if you failed the Promise you have to try again and again.”

“But I’m so tired...”

“Then rest.” Kira answered, as her eyes widened, “Take the time you need to get back up.” He laughed, remembering his friend’s words “I grew up in an orphanage and every time a kid would be adopted one of my friends told me that. It was soul crushing being a kid that no one wanted.” Kira explained, laughing under his breath, “But we never let it weigh us down we always bounced back.”

Elster stared at him a sort of awe in her eyes as she listened to his words.

“I have no idea if I’ll ever meet you again...” Kira muttered, handing her the submachine gun, “But I hope we do. Bye Elster.”

“Bye...” Elster muttered, smiling as Kira left.

A few hours later while she’s still trying to recover, she hears the door to the room open as she lifts up her gun. But she’s stopped when she sees who it is. Without warning, or even words they both run to the other tears falling from their eyes as she and Alina hug each other close.

“Y-You kept your Promise of finding me...” Alina mumbles, as they both kneel while hugging each other.

“I-I missed you so much, Ariane...”

“Me too.” Alina answered as they both kissed.

Just as the world began to dissolve into droplets of light. The both of them staring up at the sky while interlocking their fingers together. And for all but a second Alina gets superimposed by Ariane’s visage. Just as a set of white armour becomes visible on Elster’s chest.

“Now I get it...” Ariane muttered, smiling as their foreheads touch together, “Guess she really broke all of reality...” She giggles to herself as both herself and Elster begin to dissolve as well.

/

He comes out into the hallway taking caution to shut the door behind him as he pulls out his rifle in case things go sideways. Going down the side that the monster didn’t go he finds a door and opens it. It’s a large room as he spies a pedestal in the middle of the room. Infront of it he spies a door. Cursing under his breath he figures that the door has some sort of locking mechanism.

Shaking his head, he heads to the door and upon inspecting it he finds that the door can hold six plates, only to find the six plates lying on the ground covered in blood?

“The hell?” Bending down he makes out the symbols and finds them to correspond with the door’s holes.

Looking around, he can’t help but think that someone’s watching him. But before he can focus on it further, he hears the screaming of that goddamn monster. Cursing he makes his choice as he picks up the plates and matches them to their symbols. 

So lost in figuring it out he fails to notice someone placing something on the pedestal behind him. But he does notice the footsteps as someone’s running to the door he came in through. Readying his gun, he makes his way to the door just as it closes.

“Shocking, isn’t it?”

“W-Who?”

“Never thought I could look and sound like such an idiot...” 

Looking through the window he finds someone that looks just like him. Only this guy is covered in scratches and bruises. And what’s more terrifying is the fact that he’s stained in blood.

“What the...?” Kira echoes, seeing that this Kira’s left-eye and right-arm was missing.

And then, he hears the screams again this time a whole lot closer as the other Kira stats coughing blood. Trying to open the door he finds the lock broken as he realizes that it only works one way.

“Go and save her.” Kira said, coughing blood as he smiled through the window, “Only you can.”

“A-Ariane?” Kira asked, slamming his hands against the door, “Do you know where she is?”

“She really did a number on you, huh?” He laughs through the pain, “I left it for you get your memories back and go to her.” He points at the pedestal behind Kira, “Please tell her it’s not her fault... She can get so gloomy if she’s left alone for too long.”

“I keep telling her that she needs to lighten up-!” Kira shuts his mouth a confused look on his face as his mouth moved on its own.

“I guess you are me.” He laughs, stopping when he hears the screaming, “I’m leaving it in your hands. Bye!” And suddenly, he’s running down one of the hallways yelling as he draws the monster’s attention.

“Wait-!”

Slamming his hands against the door he falls to his knees asking himself what the hell is going on? There’s no answer, of course there isn’t. But then, he remembers what the other Kira told him.

Getting up he makes his way over to the pedestal and finds his wrist terminal and a wedding ring? There’s a polaroid next to them and as he picks it up, he’s taken aback as he recognizes the cockpit in the frame and distinct uniforms they’re wearing. 

The very same uniform as he’s wearing right in that moment.

“The Penrose...”

Hearing the screaming he shakes his head refocussing himself as he pockets the polaroid and turns his attention back to the wrist terminal and the audio file queued. Picking it up, he presses the play button hoping to get to the bottom of whatever this is. 

/

“Ariane?” 

The Penrose-512 was drifting through space with only the hum of the engine and random terminals making white noise. At first, he hated it they were on this ship for God knows how long, but now he’s grown accustomed to the noise.

Peeking in through the cockpit he expects to find her, but he doesn’t. Instead, what he finds is that photo from a far better time. Smiling he takes a closer look as he sees her sat in his lap his arms around her waist as he plants a kiss on her neck.

They were just starting to date and in the beginning, they were still struggling with how relationships worked. But he remembers that on that day they started to break each other’s walls and for him she dug her way to the centre of his heart pretty easily. It will always be his favourite photo, even far above the risqué ones she liked to take. 

But he still has to find her, so he makes his way back into the hallway. And before he takes another detour, he hears the music coming from her room.

“Did you hear me calling you?” Kira asked, stopping dead in his tracks.

“S-So, how do you... l-like it...?” 

She’s infront of him in a white dress wearing a veil made out of curtains. Her bouquet of Lilies in her hand as a blush dusts her face.

“...”

“D-Don’t laugh!” She warns, a blubbering mess, “I found a book on sewing, so I taught myself... It took so many pinpricks and restless nights that I finally figured it out.” She was rambling as she avoided his gaze feeling like an idiot, “Y-You hate it, don’t you? I-I feel so stu-!”

She hardly finishes when he has her in his hold as he crashes their lips together. At first her eyes widens and she’s pretty sure she’s overheating as steam rises from her face. Not a moment later and she was returning the kiss.

“You look beautiful.” Kira answered, holding her in his arms as his forehead pressed against hers, “Where did you find the material though?”

“We had some extra materials in storage.”

“Should I go dress up?” Kira asked.

“I-It was supposed to be a surprise...” Ariane answered, blushing.

“W-Wait!” Kira’s eyes widened, “I have to go dress up, trust me, honey.” He pecked her cheek as he left.

And for a long while she was left there to ruminate over if it was a bad idea or not. She just wanted to show how much she loved him. She was never good with relationships partly because she never had one before.

Taken out of her thoughts as Kira comes walking in through the door. He’s wearing a tuxedo as he has a flower brooch tucked into his shirt. For a solid thirty seconds she can say nothing as her mouth is wide open marvelling at the sight of him.

And then, her heart skips a beat as he kneels in front of her.

“Ariane Yeong, would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?” He asked, pulling out a box and she recognized it immediately.

“B-But...” She stuttered, finding him brandishing his mother’s ring, “T-That’s...”

“Don’t worry I thought this over a long time ago.” Kira replied, smiling up at her, “We’re both saying yes, right?” She nodded as he smiled and placed the box on the table taking her hand in his own as he slid the ring unto her ring finger, “It fits like a charm.” He said kissing the ring on her finger.

He couldn’t even get to his feet before she tackled him as they both crashed to the ground. She was crying on top of him ruining both their outfits, but he didn’t care. She was clinging to him an almost superhuman strength behind her as she snuggled closer and closer to him.

A few minutes later she had cried herself to sleep on top of him the fatigue and emotions of being stuck on this ship taking their toll. They were on their 3000th cycle and they hadn’t made any leeway in finding a suitable planet to land on. Of course, nerves were high and stress was even higher so they did the best they could to cheer the other up. But it wasn’t even about cheering the other up it was the fact that they truly and dearly loved the other person.

He hated finding her in the medbay shaking in hopelessness as she tried to paint...

She hated finding him enraged punching the ship as if that would make it better...

Supplies were running low and nominal systems on the Penrose-512 were already becoming affected. All they had were each other so every day and night they would be the pillar supporting the other. He laid her down in his bed that night as he heard the communications array stirring to life. Walking over to the fax he found his worst fear coming to life.

Congratulations, Comrades! You've survived 3000 cycles, reaching the final phase of the Penrose Program. 

If you have not found a suitable world for landing by this point, accept that you will not. Find solace in the thought that others might be successful where you failed. As you are probably aware, your ship's spare parts and rations will soon be depleted.

Instead, make peace with your fate. We suggest that you and your Comrade take the Cyanide capsules provided to the two of you when you first began this glorious Mission. As well as take solace in the fact that you will not die alone.

And remember, you will die having served your Nation by partaking in a glorious demonstration of our power.

He crashes to his knees crying as it hits him that this was probably the reason for the Penrose Project in the first place. But he also cries as he knows that he has to break the news to Ariane. 

And just after the two of them got married...

“What kind of sick joke is this?” He laughs, humourless as he feels blood trickle out his nose. 

Oh good, more problems...

/

Crashing unto his butt all his memories come crashing down. He’s breathing heavily doused in sweat as he’s sure his heart is racing a mile a minute. Vision blurry from the shock he takes a few minutes to just refocus himself.

“I-I died...?” He asks himself, clutching his chest, “I died... I-I...” He’s beginning to hyperventilate so he needs to pull himself back together. A few minutes later he’s still on his butt but he’s breathing is better and his vision is no longer blurry. He can hear the screaming again, so he gets up an urgency in his movements.

The words from himself ringing in his ears that he has to tell her it’s not her fault. Eyes widening he remembers telling her those exact same words when he met her on the second floor of S23 Sierpinski. 

“D-Did my subconscious already know?”

He heard the screaming coming closer so he couldn’t worry about that now. Pocketing the wrist terminal, he ran to the door and pushed in the last two plates. In an almost ominous feeling the doors opened and as he ran through, he found the doors have disappeared.

There were lots of stuff happening he couldn’t explain but now with his memories back he hardly cared about it. All he had to do was get back to Ariane – his wife. Finding the only way forward is a hole in the wall and as he gets on his hands and knees he begins to crawl.

Making it to the other side he finds that he’s in a pit? He finds circular stairs leading up to the surface, so he runs up it. And what he finds is a desolate world with a blood-red sky. And then, he sees the Penrose-512 in the distance and with an almost possessed fervour he runs towards the ship. Almost tripping over some rocks, he pushes onward as he makes it to a gate of sorts?

“Y-You?” 

Kira stops in his tracks as he finds Adler sitting up against the Gate’s wall. Bending down, Kira scans him from torso to head. His lower body has been torn to shreds as he’s missing his right-arm and left-hand.

“Adler?” Kira calls out, a sad look in his eye, “You don’t look so good...” Kira bent down on one knee. 

“I must admit I’m not feeling well.” Adler replies, blinking, “I-I’m sorry I was expecting... someone else...?” Adler sounds confused almost like he doesn’t understand what’s going on, “Have you found the person you’re looking for?

“About to, actually.” Kira smiled, a sad look on his face, “And I have to tell her something... something very important...” He grimaced as he thought about it. 

“Then why do you look like the one that’ll be in pain?”

“I guess... because it’s something only, I can do...” Kira smiled sadly, taking out his wedding ring.

“Something only, you can do...?” Adler asked, looking like he didn’t understand.

“Sometimes people blame themselves for stuff out of their control.” Kira explained, staring at the wedding ring intensely, “They make themselves out to be this heartless monster that can’t see the big picture.”

“Monster?”

“If you are the only person that can get through to them you have to try with all your heart.” Kira said, pocketing the ring, “It’s like if you knew something bad was gonna happen would you stand idly by?”

Adler closed his eyes as he thought back on those countless resets... 

“No, you tell them they’re idiot.” Kira laughed, as Adler’s eyes widened considerably, “Make sure you have no regrets. Tell them when they mess up, tell them when they’re being an idiot. If you’re the only one that can get through their thick skulls than it has to be you no matter how painful it is.”

Adler was back there standing behind Falke as she headed through the Red Gate as he kept quiet knowing what was to come.

“And you definitely tell them when it’s not their fault!” Kira said, resolve on his face, “Oh, and you yell at them when it is their fault!” A bright smile on his face.

The moment a few days later before she falls into a coma and that she’s to blame for all of this...

“I see...” Adler smiles to himself like he’s just unlocked a secret only he knows, “Thank you, young man.”

“I hope you find peace, Adler.” Kira said, placing his hand on the man’s shoulder.

“Maybe in my next life I will try to do what you say.” Adler said, smiling peacefully, “If I can just be firm in my resolve and not falter before her maybe I can save her and everyone else.”

Kira had no idea what he was talking about, but he could tell they both her haunted by nightmares... He had his own promise... His words as much an encouragement for him as it was for Adler. Kira was dead after all what would happen if he told her that it wasn’t her fault? Would he cease to exist? There was no way of knowing... but he wasn’t gonna let her suffer because of his mistake.

Snapping out of his thoughts he wanted to say goodbye only to find that Adler was dead already. There was nothing he could do to help Adler he had thought of putting a bullet between his eyes just to spare him the pain... but it almost felt like Adler wanted to feel it. 

Closing the Replika’s eyes Kira stood up and trekked further down the hill all the way towards the Penrose.

“You look the same...” Kira muttered, smiling sadly as he kinda grew attached to the ship, “I’m back now, Ariane.” Climbing up the ship he made his way through the hatch struggling on the latches. 

A few times he fell backward until he pulled too hard and he was sure he was gonna fall off the ship. But for a split second he imagines feeling hands steadying him as he catches himself from falling. Turning to look behind him he finds no one, but he can hear the wind laughing?

Before he can think he hears something crash inside the ship. Cursing under his breath, he redoubles his effort hoping that nothing bad has happened to her. He opens the hatch with little to no problem as he jumps inside.

He’s met with the sounds of a blistering snowstorm? And looking around he can tell that it’s painfully cold. Then he hears a muffled scream as he hears someone crash to the ground.

Pulling out his gun he runs to where he heard the noise. And when he gets there, he finds a girl he doesn’t know strangling Ariane. In the next moment he’s running forward clotheslining her against the wall as he fires his four remaining bullets in her stomach. 

/

“Daddy?” He heard someone calling out to him, but he couldn’t bother to open his eyes, “Daddy?” There it was again he grumbled, “Daddy, wake up!” Jolting awake he expects to find an intruder but as he stares at his bedside, he finds his daughter.

“Amber?” He asks, wiping the sleep from his eyes, “What’s wrong?”

The little girl looks anxious as she doesn’t know where to start. Without even think about it he picks up his daughter and places her in his lap.

“You can tell me anything.” He ruffles her hair as the little girl giggles.

“I-I heard a strange noise coming from my closet...” She twiddles with her thumbs, “I got scared...” 

“Should we go check it out?” He asks Amber holding her in his arms.

“I’m scared daddy.”

“I’ll be right there with you.” Kira says, booping her nose, “I’ll protect you, always.” He gets up and out of bed still holding her in his arms. Looking behind him, he finds his wife still sound asleep.

As he makes his way down the hallways of the Penrose-512 he finds all his daughter’s drawings littering the hallways. He spots the graffiti of teddy bears and other animals. He scoffs smiling at his daughter’s artistic flair. She gets that from her mother he thinks to himself with a smile on his face.

Walking into her room he can’t help but giggle as he spots the massive plushies in the corner. Amber didn’t like the staleness of the ship, so when they left, she immediately begged for it to be painted. So, he obliged, smiling as he finds the Lilies his wife painted on one of the walls.

“You said it came from the closet?” They both heard shuffling come from the closet.

“It’s scary, daddy!”

“Then let me check it out.” He placed Amber on the bed smiling at her as he went to the closet. Opening the closet, he finds the culprit as his eye twitches in annoyance.

“Mr fluffles!” Amber yells, running to her cat as it meows up at him, “How did you get in there?” She was hugging the cat close as it purred.

He loved moving through the Penrose’s vents and considering the closet had a vent in it made sense that he would end up there. 

“So, do you think you can sleep again?” Kira asked, as Amber carried Fluffles to her bed.

“Thanks dad!” Amber said, climbing into bed as she pulled both her and Fluffles under the covers. The cat meowing at him as if it was crying for help.

Smiling deviously Kira bent down and placed a kiss on his daughter’s forehead. Waving bye to Fluffles and her. That damn cat always liked to pee on him, and he knew karma would take care of it. Just like it was doing now.

“C-Can you keep the light on?”

“Sure, sweetheart.” Kira replied, “Sweet dreams.”

“Night, daddy!”

He walks into the hallway stretching his arm above his head as he notes that he doesn’t even feel sleepy. Deciding to make himself a late-night snack he heads to the kitchen. And as he walks through the hallways, he’s pretty sure this is the Penrose-512 and if it wasn’t it looked eerily similar

The Penrose Project was cancelled in this life. He supposes he has to thank Ariane for that. It’s weird how much of a Godlike entity his wife has become but he doesn’t care about any of that. She’s his wife and the two of them are madly inlove.

Making it to the kitchen he turns on the kettle as he checks the fridge for anything to eat. Almost immediately he spies the ham as the image of the perfect sandwich jumps into his head. Pulling out the ham, lettuce, and mayo he laughs almost deviously as he aims to make the best sandwich.

/

“I missed you...” Her arms around his neck as she hugged him from behind, “I-I was scared...” She pulled out the chair next to him after they shared a kiss, “Why are you up?” 

“Fluffles was trapped in Amber’s closet.” He answered, “She woke me up an hour ago because she was scared.” 

“You could’ve woken me up too...” She was pouting as she glared up at him. 

“We’ll be arriving at Rotfront Interplanetar Station 06.” He said, as she clung to him with her head lying against his shoulder, “You told me how you wanted to show Amber everything. Well, you can’t do that if you’re a zombie the whole day.” He laughed at her cute pout.

“...Then let’s go to sleep.” She stood up dragging him by his arm.

“What about my sandwich?”

“You can put it in the fridge.” She said, an icy cold chill to her voice, “Are you saying a sandwich is more important than me?”

“I-I would never...” He laughed nervously as he felt his spine grow ice cold.

She waited patiently for him to put his food away and as he walked towards her, she grabbed his arm and pulled him back to bed. With an almost insane amount of strength. He was summarily tossed unto the bed like a piece of meat as she crawled on top of him.

“H-Honey?”

“We’re up and I’m feeling kinda hot...” Ariane said, blush on her face as she pulled his shirt over her head.

“But we did it last night?” 

“That was last night.” She answered, capturing his lips as she began to unbutton his shirt. 

Realizing that he wants it just as much as she does, he acquiesces to her actions as he deepens the kiss. His arms settling on her butt just as her arms latch onto his neck. Long white-hair cascading down her back she removes his buttoned shirt as her fingers trail his chest an almost animalistic urge to scratch him - mark him.

All while his lips traced kisses on her neck as his hands explored all of her groping her breasts. Yelping, she finds him squeezing her butt as he grins up at her.

“Oh, it’s on, Mr Heatherford.”

“Do your best, Mrs Heatherford.”

/

Amber sat in her lap as the radio recited numbers over and over. An almost peaceful atmosphere around them as she saw Amber try to imitate her actions. She was busy writing down the numbers and when her view panned to Amber’s page she couldn’t help but smile.

Amber was doodling drawing rabbits, ducks and whatever else came into her mind.

And she wonders if that was the same thing, she was doing all those many years ago. 

Out of the corner of her eye, she spies Kira making dinner and her heart almost jumps in joy at him just being here. She had told him countless times on the Penrose that she wanted to bring him here. To show him how fun and joyous her childhood was before everything... fell apart...

“Mommy!” Amber called out, shoving her book in her mom’s face, “Look what I drew!” With a smile she praises her daughter as Amber begins to get up and run to Fluffles. The cat is lying in the corner of the station a pillow fort erected by Amber and Kira earlier in the day.

“Food’s almost ready!” Kira announces, flipping over a pancake.

It’s weird... Back in the real world she hated becoming a Radio Officer believing that everyone had a pre-determined role in life. Her mother was a Radio Officer so it’s only natural she becomes one. She always scoffed at it, hated it with all her heart. Back then, she wanted to become a painter she hoped that she could follow her own dreams.

And look where that got you dying in space in a cryo-pod...

Flipping over the page she recalled the day of her wedding when her mom told her that she wanted to become a soldier on the frontline. She still remembers the shocked look on her face. How her mom told her that when she got pregnant with her, she had to give up on that dream of serving the Nation on the frontline.

But when her mom told her that she would give it up again in a heartbeat for her. She had never understood not until Amber was born, and she held that little bundle of joy in her arms. Her life in reality was horrible, and she remembers when she joined the Penrose Program, she just wanted to get away from anything and everything...

But in that moment where she held her daughter, she knew that life wasn’t always terrible and that it had moments of joy. Smiling, she finds her husband placing a kiss on her forehead as he reminded her of food.

/  

“She’s tuckered out.” Kira said, as Amber laid on the couch beside them under her blanket as Fluffles lay at her feet.

He was on the couch with Ariane against his side as she lay with her head in the crook of his neck. The snowstorm was raging outside as they were huddled under blankets.

“It’s amazing how she had so much to do with a snowstorm raging outside.” Ariane said, giggling as she took a sip of her hot chocolate, “I remember drawing and reading books. She built a pillow fort with you made weapons out of paper and went on a quest with Sir Fluffles the Brave!”

“He did look cool in his cape.” Mr Fluffles meowed as he turned on his back.

The both of them laughing as they looked at the cat.

“How was it being back here?” Kira asked.

“It felt nice... here at the end...” She said, taking his hand in her own, “As soon as we arrived the nostalgia hit me. I remember mom carrying me inside the first time.” A warm smile painted on her face, “It was the first time I went anywhere with her I was just so happy.” She laid her head on his chest as she looked outside as the snow crackled against the windows.

For a while the two just sat on the couch enjoying each other’s company as they finished their hot chocolate. That was when an alarm rang on Kira’s wrist and when he went to check it, he smiled shortly after.

“Look what you just got.” Kira said, as he handed over her terminal.

“Is that?” She asked, smiling.

Isa and Erika were next to each other taking a photo of themselves as they were celebrating Erika’s birthday. Typing a quick message, she told them how sorry she was that both herself and Kira couldn’t attend the birthday.

She received a reply as she began to giggle to herself as Kira thought back on how they got here. His eyes locked on the ceiling as he gets lost in his thoughts. 

“...ra?”

“...ira?”

“Kira?” He jolted out of his thoughts when he found her worried eyes on him, “Are you okay?”

“S-Sorry I was just thinking about when we met.” Kira said, kissing his wife to ease her worry, “I remember how you freaked out when I transferred to Rotfront Polytechnical.” He stood infront of the class as Ariane sat at her desk eyes wide as she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

“All I remember from that first day was that I clung to you like a koala.” Ariane admitted, smiling as the memories came flooding back, “When it rang for recess, I immediately tackled you.” A sheepish smile on her face as she hugged him close, “Isa and Erika were so confused that whole day.”

“To think that’s Eight years ago...” Kira said, as Ariane melted into him.

“And now we have a daughter.” Ariane mumbled into his chest as a sombre look crossed her face, “I-I don’t want it to end, Kira...” Her fingers tightening in his shirt, “...I can feel it my real body is giving in. It won’t be long till this Dream is over with...”

And there it was the reason the two of them came to Interplanetar Station 6 as a family. Ariane’s body was barely holding on out in the real world. The shadow of death all around her as she realized that the Dream was reaching its end.

“Look at me.” Kira said, tilting her head up, “We both knew it would eventually end... If the Dream could go on forever it’d be a miracle, but all good things must come to an end, eventually...”

“Is this your way of cheering me up?” Ariane asked, deadpanned stare on her face, “Because it’s not working.”

“S-Sorry I can’t really explain it well.” Kira said, rubbing his neck.

“I know what you mean, dummy.” Ariane replied, kissing his lips, “My real body needs to find peace, I’ve already accepted that.” She placed her head in the crook of his neck, “...I still think about those 3000 cycles... We were strangers at first but each day, each hour we opened up to the other.” She smiled as she lifted her hand and looked at her wedding ring, “We were inseparable but not only because we were on a ship, because we truly did love each other.” 

“Ariane...”

“I was always alone back on Rotfront... I was sitting on the train one day then I saw the poster for the Penrose-Project.” Ariane explained, as Kira kissed her forehead, “I figured nobody would miss me and I just wanted to be alone, you know.” She smiled as she took his hand and placed a kiss on it, “And then, I found this one guy always singing to himself in the most tone-deaf voice ever. Always burning the eggs when it came to breakfast as well.”

“Hey, that’s not true, I’ve gotten better at cooking.”  

“After I taught you.” She said, as they both shared a laugh and a kiss, “Thank you for being there with me.” She interlocked their fingers, “My life may have been terrible, but it was my life...” She thought back to her mom and time she spent here, “And there was joy in it that much I can see now.” 

She pulled the covers over them as she snuggled closer to him.

“I’m gonna sleep for a bit...” She says, lying against him as she suddenly felt tired, “Wake me up for dinner, please... Love you.”

The only thing Kira could do was hug her close as he whispered that he would be here, always. The snowstorm raged a lot harder and for some reason he felt icy cold. But he didn’t show it as the feeling of the end drew closer. Her powers were waning; he could feel it.

Closing his eyes, he awaits the end... He hears Ariane and his daughter’s breathing. Along with the snowstorm as it’s pelting the building. His wife is against him, and he can feel how her fingers tighten around his shirt. Sensing the fear radiating off her he places a kiss against her forehead as he whispers sweet nothings at her.

He's her powers and that means he can feel when she’s doused in ice-cold fear.

And then, for all but a moment utter blackness as it feels as if time has stopped. He can’t open his eyes afraid of what he might find. Ariane is infront of him tears streaming down her face.

Her self in reality just died...

Suddenly, they are taken aback each of them jolting awake as they hear Fluffles meowing as he stretches himself out. Eyes wide and minds racing they find the cat walking over to his food bowl. Time has resumed as the world marches onward.

“B-But I died...” Ariane mutters, lifting up her hands, “I felt it... I felt her die...” Her eyes turning to look up at him, “K-Kira?” 

“I felt it too...” Kira said, looking at his hands, “Not the moment of death but I no longer have your powers, Ariane...” 

“T-The Dream...?” Ariane asked, staring out the window, “...It’s not ending.” 

“Your powers are gone...” Kira muttered, the both of them staring at each other confused, “The Dream should’ve ended.” 

“But we’re still here...” Ariane muttered, staring at her daughter’s sleeping form, “What’s going on? You knew things about the Dream, remember?”

“I have no idea.” Kira answered, “All I do know is your power disappeared...” He looked at his hand finding nothing, “I honestly can’t tell you what’s going on, Ari.”

They were taken out of their thoughts when Amber woke up rubbing her eyes as she called for her mom. She looked around the room when her eyes landed on Ariane and what followed was Amber jumping into her mom’s arms. 

“Mommy!”

She tackled Ariane as they both giggled as Kira looked at his wife and daughter with a smile on his face.

“What’s wrong, honey?” Ariane asked, still giggling.

“I’m hungry!” Amber yelled, throwing up her arms.

“Before that me and you are gonna jump in the bath.” Ariane said, getting to her feet as she carried Amber. The little girl trying to wriggle out of her mother’s grip as she kept yelling that she didn’t want to, “Daddy will make you pancakes when we get out.”

“I will?”

“With lots of syrup?!”

“I’d hope so.” Ariane answered, glaring down at him.

“O-Okay!” He yelped as he got to his feet, “I am at your service, milady’s.” He bowed slightly as he pecked his daughter’s forehead followed by kissing Ariane on her lips.

They heard Amber yelling eww but didn’t stop as Ariane and Amber headed for the bathroom. Just as Kira headed to the kitchen starting on pancakes for his little Princess and Queen.

/

“Fluffy!” Amber yelled, carrying Fluffles as she ran through the snow, “It’s snow! Real snow, Fluffy!” She was giggling to herself as the cat meowed almost unenthusiastic-ally.

He was standing behind Ariane as he had his arms around her the both of them bunched up in a whole lot of winter-wear. Laughing at Fluffles’ behavior Kira smiled resting his chin on Ariane’s head.

“She’s really enjoying this.”

“I used to play in the snow all day long so she must get it from me.” Ariane replied, looking at the snowing sky, “You know Leng was a lot like this moon? It would snow almost every day.” 

Kira hummed as he saw Amber fall unto her back in the snow. Smiling, he saw her waving her arms and legs as she made a snow angel. Hus mind was still reeling from yesterday and the fact that Ariane had told him that her self in reality died.

What did that mean for them? There would always be that nagging fear in the back of their minds but as they looked at their daughter and felt the snow on their faces, they smiled to themselves. They had no idea why the Dream persisted even after her death...

And then, he thinks about last night with Ariane crying in his arms as she comes to terms that her body’s dead. But before she can wallow in sadness, he pulls her to her feet as he begins to hum a random tune. Smiling up at him, she lays her head against his chest as the two begin to dance. There are no words said between the two as they bask in the moment.

They’re brought back when they hear Amber running towards them yelling mommy as she spotted a deer. Taking her mom by her hand she pulls her mom to the treeline to get a better look.

All while Kira follows them a few feet behind shivering as a gust of cold wind hits him in the face.

/

There was a constant beeping signalling danger and if one were to look, they would know why. The Geiger counter on the ship’s onboard computer was going haywire. The ship’s inside looked rusted and dirt lined the floors and walls.

But even in that murk and grime there were memories long since broken down... Ariane’s record player and records lying strewn on the ground as turbulence did with all their stuff. A broke Television lying sideways as its screen was shattered. Unfinished graffiti littered the walls as multiple canvases of paintings strewn the ground. And yet, one canvas was on a stand as it bizarrely didn’t fall over.

It was of an island, nothing more and nothing less...

On a table in the corner were two mugs seeming like they were propping each other up as they lay shattered.

Then came the humming from the Cryogenic Chamber as the machine toiled away. In the chamber were two people lying side by side. Bandaged on their faces as bruising and scratches became visible. The girl had on an elaborate wedding dress as a bouquet of lilies laid on her chest. As next to her was a man wearing an elaborate suit the two of them holding hands.

They both wore peaceful and gentle smiles like they were having a blissful Dream. A note in a transparent case laid in between them as it showed the words:

-Here lies Kira Heatherford and Ariane Heatherford... Loving Husband and Wife.-