DUET :Chapter 5:

Maggie

Everything is blurry. No matter how much I try to recall what exactly just happened to me, my memory dissolves like sand in my grip. The last thing I remember is that I was being held like a money in a cage above a pool of water. That, and I heard Goro screaming my name.

That's it.

Despite my best efforts, I can't seem to open my eyes either, or move to make it better. Every once in a while, I can make out people talking, but it's to muttled for me to make out what's being said. I can hear a few voices, two sticking out immediately; Kasami and Goro. Then, after a while, I can hear HERA. She and Goro go back and forth for a while, so I suppose they're arguing about something. Though, I have no chance to decipher the mumbling, as unconsciousness takes me again.

Here, I'm at peace. I relive life as I loved it, back home in Anchorage. I find myself on the couch, the sun filtering through the windows that face out towards the lake and hillside. The smell of freshly brewed coffee wafts from the kitchen, and I skip around the counter to see Mom standing in front of the microwave, holding her cup as she waits for the milk to get done warming up. Her shoulder length brown hair is tied up in a messy bun, her worn out pink robe tied loose around her slim body.

I hurry over as fast as I can and hug her, her eyes widening in surprise as I basically pounce on her. I wasn't ever a clingy child, especially the older I got, but when my time with her is limited to only passing meetings, I hold on to her for dear life. I hear her set down her cup and laugh, her arms wrapping around me as she asks me why I'm being weird. I simply look up at her. She and I share many features, I have her Inuit complexion, her eyes and hair color, her build, as well as her lack of height. I nuzzle her, causing her to chuckle as she runs a hand through my hair.

"Maggie," she says in her sweet tone, "I know you feel bad about going to Los Angeles, but we'll be ok."

That's right, I was going to leave soon for L.A. so that I could take part in the Live Finals. Even though there was no guarantee that I was going to win the competition, it seemed that doors were already opening up for me. I had received many calls already from agents, which just made Julie mad. She didn't want anyone trying to snatch her job, though I assured her she was fine. She would scold me anyway, reminding me how it was her that got me in the competition in the first place. In response, my best friend and I simply laughed. Julie was stubborn and a bit serious, but she looked out for me. Hell, she looked out for both of us.

"Hey, Pola!"

My heart jumps as Mom and I are ambushed from behind, and my nose is attacked by the odor of mud and musk. I laugh instinctively, recognizing the mixture as my dad's smell after he returned from a morning stroll to see if he'd caught anything in the traps around our house. I turn my head and look up, happy to see my dad smiling down at me with his familiar pale green eyes as he towers over both of us. He takes off his hat, revealing his receding curly dirty blonde hair as he places it on the counter beside the coffee maker. He places his warm but leathered palm on the top of my head, and messes up my hair, causing me to laugh.

"Hey, stop!" I shout.

"Wha? I can't hear you Pola," Dad says as he points to his ears, pushing my buttons like he always did.

Pola is my nickname, when I was little, my dad would take Charlie, Sarah, and I out at night and show us stars, and for some reason, I could never say Polaris. Instead, I called the north star "Pola", and because my dad thought it was cute or something, he started calling me that. I got annoyed by it sometimes, but I usually passed it off as my dad just being, well, Dad.

Mom pushes Dad off of us with a chuckle, putting a hand to his cheek as she gives him a look, "Honey, you need to shave, you're starting to look like a caveman again."

"Nah, I'm an outdoorsman, there's a difference!" Dad retorts.

"None the less, you need to shave," Mom replies, playfully flicking his nose as she lets go of me, "Now, go clean up."

I grin as I watch them. Mom and Dad, though definitely not perfect, have always been very loving. Mom has had to put up with a lot since Dad isn't home a lot, but he makes up for it by being supportive and spoiling all of us when he is here.

"Maggie."

My eyes open abruptly, met with a harsh light beaming straight into my eyes. I jolt, covering my face as I groan, "What the Hell, are you trying to blind me?"

"Well, it seems you're back to yourself."

I pause, before I look over to see HERA staring me down. I can tell I'm laying down, and from a quick glance around the room, I can recognize that we're in a medical room. My eyes widen, and as I prop myself up on my side, I look down to see my hand. My skin is paled. Close by I see a lock of my hair. It's blue. When I gaze back up, I see a mirror behind HERA in which I find my reflection.

I'm LAPIS.

"Ugh," I sigh, running a hand through my loose curls, before I reconnect with HERA's stare, "What happened?"

She unfolds her arms and walks closer as she starts, "Well, you went through the first half of final testing, and were found to a have a major water Kink." She picks up a glass on the side table and holds it front of me, perplexing me. "Use your capability," she instructs.

Caught off guard, I'm surprised as she throws the glass up in the air. Doing what I've repeatedly trained, I focus in on it, but to my shock, nothing happens. Unable to react quick enough, I watch helplessly as it falls to the floor, shattering into numerous pieces. HERA doesn't react, appearing unphased as normal. She sighs, then looks up at me, "When a Jeweloid is exposed to their Kink, depending on how long, they lose their powers for a little while."

"W-What?!" I say, shocked.

She nods, "Indeed. Right now, you are basically human status. You can't heal very well, your Ability of Mind is basically useless, your strength has been zapped, and your powers are gone."

I find my eyes trailing down to see proof of her claims. I have bandages wrapped around my chest, and when I touch my head again, I feel another stuck to my forehead, meaning I haven't healed like normal. As I let it sink in, I do recognize that I do feel a bit different. The static sensation that usually runs through my hands is gone, as well as the pressure in my mind brought on my Ability of Mind. I feel . . . normal.

I feel human.

HERA seems to notice my relief, and in response, I find myself pinned to the wall, her fingers gripped around my neck as she glares me down. "Excuse me, are you still unable to accept that you're not a weak little Human?" she says, her voice low but powerful.

In the beginning, when she would do this I would be cringing, shaking like a leaf in the wind. Luckily, as time went on, I became numb to her power, I became oblivious to her stare, and she realized what is now a fact. 

I am far stronger than she is. 

I sigh, and meet her eyes, replying calmly, "I believe you just said I'm at human status, so if I am to make the comparison, it was because you brought up the link."

She watches me a moment longer, caught in the truth I just laid out in front of her. But, it's not long before she seems angry again, squeezing her fingers tighter around my neck. Then, in juxtaposition, she smiles at me, appearing amused. "I thought Maggie Smith was dead, my dear LAPIS," she says with a chuckle.

"She's not dead, she's simply been put to the side-" I start.

She pushes me hard against the wall, silencing me as she speaks, "She must die if you're to make that boy regret the day he met you. You seem to have forgotten what you wanted to do when you came back here." I don't say anything, prompting her to continue her rant on Goro. "You've only made it harder for yourself. In your carelessness, you actually let him do something right," HERA comments.

I blink, looking at her, "What?"

After watching me a moment, a look of genuine surprise crosses her face. "Wait . . . you really don't remember anything?" she asks.

I shake my head then reply, "No, I don't. I thought I made that rather obvious when I asked what happened."

HERA slaps me upside the head. "Don't be smart with me," she says as she releases her hold on me, allowing me to fall back on the sheets. I sit up without a moment lost, unphased. After staring at me a minute or so longer, she sighs, and explains, "During the test for water, you were dropped into a pool, in which you instantly reacted with a violent power meltdown. Normally, when that happens, Jeweloids aren't fished out of the pool until the powers are all drained, and you've basically drowned."

"Why?" I ask.

"Because the meltdown is very similar to an electricity poll falling into the water. A regular human or a Jeweloid of a lower power would potentially be fried alive if they went in," she explains, "Which makes his actions even more amazing."

"What?" I say, "What did Isugoro do?"

HERA's countenance becomes a combination of acceptance and irritability, looking back up at me as she says simply, "He jumped in after you."

My eyes widen in shock. "H-He what?!" I shout, "Wait, is he ok?-"

"Will you calm down?" HERA interrupts, "Yes, he's perfectly fine. Amazingly, he wasn't affected by the meltdown at all."

"But how is that possible?" I ask.

"He appears to be immune to it," HERA explains, "As you're well aware, Jintez isn't easily affected by power shocks. I mean, the boy only dropped to his knees when I let mine out the first time I met him. Anyone else would usually be knocked out. Though, I'm not very surprised, considering."

"Considering what?"

"His records, more specifically, his background. It appears he has had a knack for healing quickly for since his mid-teens, not to mention his unusually young instatement into the military at the age of sixteen," HERA says, "Plus the locked information on his hometown and family paint a pretty depressing picture."

"What do you mean?" I ask.

It takes a moment for HERA to answer me, making me feel a bit off. She sighs, then meets my gaze, "Only people who have had a previous encounter with Noxcus, and received Infection can be instated under the required battle age."

"Infection?" I repeat.

"What, you don't know what Infection is?" HERA asks with annoyance in her tone, "The person is infected by a weapon used by the Noxcus, causing some type of physical or mental change."

"Wait, don't soldiers who are injured have Infection then?" I question.

"No, because registered soldiers are given vaccinations that prevent Infection before they go into active duty," she explains, "Jintez was instated at the age of sixteen, meaning he had Infection. Infection is probably the reason he doesn't react to power shock, as well as why he heals as quickly as he does."

I don't reply quickly, allowing all the information to sink in. Goro has never said a word about having said "Infection" or made a single indication that he had had an encounter with a Noxcus before he became a soldier. I had access to his records since he was made the candidate to become my Partner, and I remember being surprised by the age, but I just thought that since everything here is screwed up anyway, that it was normal for people to enter the military before turning the legal age of eighteen. I never realized that Goro was actually an exception. As I linger on the thought, another forms as I recall his strange actions whenever I had asked him about his past.

What happened to him?

HERA turns away, looking toward the door as she speaks up again, returning to the original subject, "So, Jintez went in after you, and fished you out before you could drown . . . He saved you a lot of pain." I look over at her, and she slumps a bit. "As much as I hate to say it, I was impressed. He didn't want to hear their bullshit. It didn't take a rocket scientist to see that what they did really pissed him off. Hell, he wouldn't let the doctor near you, and Kasami had to get him to back off . . . " HERA trails off, "He got himself a backbone since the last time we saw him."

"That doesn't change what he did," I say without thinking. HERA looks over at me, surprised by my words. Slowly, her expression softens, and she walks back over to the side of the bed.

"True, it doesn't, but it's definitely become clear that he's trying to get back on your good side," she says, "You need to kill Maggie Smith, or else it won't be long before he has you back wrapped tight around his finger." With that, she walks away, opening the door. Before she steps through the threshold, she pauses, speaking quietly, "He'll be here soon to escort you to the final part of the test . . . I'll give you one last chance to be Maggie."

"Why would you want me to be?" I ask, perplexed by her words.

She doesn't move as she answers me, "If this goes like the Kink test . . . It would serve you better to have him at your side." Then, she's gone, her footsteps fading as she continues down the hall. I stay sitting against the wall for a while, unsure what to do. Although I know in the last few moments of the conversation, she was attempting to be a little sentimental, HERA's words have just left me more confused than ever. I swear the woman is bipolar; one minute she's raging about how humans are awful and how she wishes they'd just disappear . . . and then there are moments like just now, when she seems hesitant.

My hypothesis; she's really messed up about something.

JEREM told me once about how HERA used to have a boyfriend, but he was killed in some accident. My thought is that HERA probably blames herself. Why? Who really knows, I've never tried to ask. The only thing I ever got out of her about a boy was only said recently, and honestly she didn't even say it to me. When I had pushed Goro away after my introduction, HERA was butt hurt about him snapping at her. I hadn't been paying much attention, as I was trying to focus on not bawling my eyes out, but something caught my ear. When she said it, her voice became softer, in a way I had never heard. She sounded like an awkward teenage girl when talking about her crush, though the tone was much sadder. On the key, she said simply, "Damn him . . . now he even sounds like him."

Ever since, whenever Goro comes up, she gets . . . weird. I don't know, maybe it's just because I haven't been around as long as everyone else. No one else has made a big deal of it, in fact, some Jeweloids I've talked to have said it's made her less scary, and like it.

I personally don't care, as long as it means I don't have to listen to any more rants than usual. I groan, and fall over on my side, meeting the bedding with a short bounce. I close my eyes, done with everything. I just want to sleep for a whole day, that sounds nice. Slowly, my breathing eases and unconsciousness begins to take over. After a short while, I begin to feel presences again, but I don't react, not wanting to alert that I'm not fully asleep yet. Then, the presence gets closer, and it's not long before I sense someone in the room. The source is calming for some reason, and I relax naturally. Though, it's then that I feel something touch my arm. Instantly I connect who the presence is.

Goro.

Instinctively, I tense, panic consuming me as I try to figure out what to do. I can't jerk up, I don't want to start anything again. Especially now that I know he saved my ass, my morals won't allow it. I have no choice but play opossum, keeping my breathing even as I sense him looking over me. It's then I hear a sigh.

"Maggie . . . I'm sorry."

I'm surprised. Why is he apologizing?

He continues speaking softly, "I should've asked Kasami what the test was. If I had known the possibility that you'd get hurt, I would've been paying better attention to what that doctor was doing . . ." When he brings up the doctor, his tone develops a slight edge of anger. HERA's words rewind in my head to when she mentioned his outburst after I had passed out, and my heart cracks a bit.

You really are good at making me feel like a bitch, aren't you Goro?

The pressure on my arm, which I'm guessing is his hand, moves up, and he carefully adjusts my bangs so they no longer fall across my face. My heart beat suddenly starts to pick up as his hand stalls on my check, holding it tenderly. I can see him staring down at me in my mind's eye, just making the situation even more flustering. His blue eyes are warm . . . framed nicely but his blonde bangs that fall randomly. He's smiling, not all cheesy like when he's laughing or joking around, more content, calm, though it's broad enough that the dimple on his left cheek has come out-

No, no, stop, stop, stop!! You're just making this worse! Goro, go away!

My thoughts are going crazy, my nerves fried as all my emotions start to crash together. I suppose I'll look back on this mental implosion later and be impressed, as I'm making no physical notification, except for my frantic heart beat.

Suddenly, my attention is averted by a chuckle. "Heh, honestly, I don't want to wake you up . . ." he trails, "You look happier when you're sleeping . . . more like my Maggie."

And I'm done.

Did he just call me "my Maggie", like what the hell?! Is he trying to make me have a heart attack?! I'm already having enough issues as is trying to keep myself distant from him when I'm just standing beside him, he can't be adorable! It's not fair!

"Are you dreaming about your home?"

My thinking stops instantly as his words sink into my mind. Again, I hear a chuckle, but it sounds sadder, "I sometimes dream about home. I dream about my mom and dad . . . about my family. Heh, my favorite dreams are about Cent and I when we were about ten or eleven, when we found this creak on the way back from getting supplies for his mom. We built a few forts there on the bank out of fallen limbs and duct tape, and when we brought a few of the other guys from our neighborhood, we'd play this game where we'd each defend a fort and we had to take over the other's . . . Cent would always end up getting poison oak or something, 'cause he'd always want to play sniper, but with his awful balance, he'd fall out of the tree . . . he was an idiot, but we let him do it anyway. I guess we thought he'd eventually get that it was a bad idea."

I calm as I listen to him talk, surprised how similar his childhood sounds to mine. I never thought he was an outdoorsy kind of person, but he sounds happier as he recalls the memories, continuing on about play wars and cooling off in the creak, which in the end wound up becoming a splash fight. He recounts how the sun would make patterns on his legs as he and the others sat on the edge of the water, and admits how he liked to imagine the patches of shade were dancing, though he never mentioned it to the others because he felt embarrassed. He laughs a little at the end, though it sounds a bit forced. As if the more he remembers, the sadder his tone gradually becomes. The crack in my heart grows, empathy growing as I realize the common pain we share.

I'm going to take my last chance, I want to wave the white flag a little longer.

"Mmm . . ." I whisper as naturally as possible, trying my best to make it appear that I'm just now waking up. His hand jerks away, tension building in his presence as I rub my eyes, blinking. Just as I had imagine, he's standing over me, though he steps back cautiously. I meet his eyes for a moment, but he quickly looks away, appearing perplexed as he rubs his face, making his cheeks appear flush. I watch him a moment longer, then finally speak, "You ok?"

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine," Goro stutters, a lot jerkier than normal.

I grin, surprising him. "HERA came by earlier when I first woke up and told me what happened . . . thanks," I say, a bit taken back by how shy I sound. His expression of slight surprise quickly broadens to absolute shock. I'm not too surprised, looking back at how I've been acting I probably seem more bipolar than HERA. In fact, I'm probably worse than her. Once I establish with myself that I'm no better than an everyday psychopath, I put out my hand without really thinking about it. My action just seems to make him more confused, simply staring at it like it's an alien. I sigh, speaking as clear as I can, "I'm willing to bury the hatchet for now . . . I kinda owe it to you."

He blinks, apparently not expecting my offer. Though, it's not long before he seems to come to a decision, looking up at me. After a moment, his eyes soften, and a small grin rises on his face. He takes my hand and shakes it, his hold firm, but gentle. "I'll take what I can get," he says honestly, "So-"

"Yes, you can call me Maggie," I interrupt, "Just don't call me that in front of the Commander."

He laughs, "Actually, I was going to ask if HERA mentioned what your final test was about, but thanks for letting me know."

My confidence breaks a little, a little embarrassed by my comment. "N-No, she didn't," I say, "Do you know?"

"Yeah, but, um . . ." he trails.

I stare at him, unsure what he's trying to mumble. "What?" I ask.

After a moment, his eyes shift down, and I follow his gaze to see we're still holding hands. There's a pause, but I jolt, ripping my hand away unintentionally as my words stumble over themselves as I try to apologize, "I-I sorry, I didn't mean, I'm sorry-"

"Hey, hey, it's ok, relax," he interrupts, shushing me. I simply stare at him, trying to grasp my bearings as I do my best to slow my heart beat. I can sense my cheeks heating up, but I try my best to ignore it.

"T-The test, Goro," I say, letting his nickname once again slip through my lips. My inner rage cringes, but otherwise, I make no move to alert that I messed up. Goro seems to have caught my bluff, but he wisely avoids it.

"Yes, the test," he begins to explain, "This is the final part of the entrance testing, and it's the most important as I've been told."

"Well, what do I do?" I ask.

"They're going to put you under and you're going to have to go through some trial-"

"Wait a second, they're gonna sedate me?" I say without thinking.

"Yes, that's what I meant by "put you under," he continues, "But-"

"What the heck? Let me guess, now you're gonna tell me that I'm gonna find out if I'm generous, brave, intelligent, truthful, or homeless, right?" I say, seeing many parallels between the start of this conversation and something I recall from when I was growing up.

He just looks unsure of what to say, reminding me that he has absolutely no idea what I'm referencing. "No, actually it's gonna reveal what you may want to protect unless you want to die," he says bluntly.

I blink, "Oh . . . well, that's . . . a lot darker than the other."

"Basically, this test reveals something called a "Death Point," he says, "This point is a part of your body that if injured, you'll not be able to heal . . . and you'll die. It's different for every Jeweloid apparently."

"Oh," I say.

Neither of us say anything for a little bit, though he ends the silence, gesturing to me, "We should go ahead and go."

"Y-Yeah," I say, standing up. I take a step forward, but I'm caught off guard as I find my legs are asleep, crumbling underneath my weight. It's almost instant that Goro has me propped in his arms, holding me up.

"Are you alright?" he asks.

"Uh, yeah, legs are asleep, no biggie," I answer quickly, trying my best to walk off, though I fail under my shaky footing. He offers me a hand, catching me off guard as I take it to prevent myself from falling flat on my face. I look up at him without thinking, unsure how to respond to his concerned expression.

"Are you sure?" he says, his tone a bit more serious than before.

I nod then reply, "Yes, I haven't been up at all so my legs are a bit weird. I'm ok, really. I just have to walk a little ways then I should be just fine."

He seems a bit unsure, but doesn't say anything else, staying close to my side to lend me his arm as a support. Although I don't say anything, his actions make me feel better. Even though I've been so harsh with him, he is quite a gentleman, keeping me out of view until I'm able to walk somewhat normal so no one stares, but still has his arm out a little just in case I want to take hold again.

I smile to myself as I can't help but think of my mom.

She would be whooping and hollering if she was here to see me with Goro. Her taste was quite funny, no different than that of a fourteen year old girl. She loved the idea of an attractive, fit young man, coming and sweeping her off her feet, just like Prince Charming does in all the fairy tales. And while Goro has definitely not tried to court me in any shape or form, I believe his kindness and drive to make sure I'm ok would have easily gained Mom's approval with the biggest stamp she could possibly find. Dad on the other hand . . .

My mind pauses as I realize I'm thinking about the situation as if Goro was a potential boyfriend, and I instantly refuse to think on the topic any more. I sneak a glance up at him, taken back by how relaxed he is now. Since I shook his hand, he's been himself, comfortable at my side. His eyes are focused forward, but I can tell he's mindful of me, keeping a stride that I can match without much difficulty. It's now I finally grasp something else that seems rather obvious. He's tall as hell. I don't know why, or how, I never really noticed before, but damn, he's a skyscraper! He's a good foot or so taller than I am, the top of my head barely higher than his shoulder. Taking that into account, I guess I can see how he could be intimidating to some people if he needed to be. He's definitely big enough to take on a regular soldier, his build a bit broader than it had been when we double-teamed that Marcus guy. I've seen him stare down a Noxcus, and I could sense his anger when he stood up to HERA, and neither are things I want turned on me.

Both seemed terrifying.

I trip up a little as I'm caught in thought, and I unconsciously take hold of him again, pulling myself closer than before. I drop my gaze instantly, but I can feel his eyes now focused on me. Slowly he stops us, and leans over slightly, but I won't look at him, feeling more embarrassed by the second. Then, he totally catches me off guard, leaning farther to be eye-level. I do all I can to avert my gaze, prompting him to tilt his head slightly so he can whisper in my ear. "What is it?" he asks, the low baritone of his voice making me even more frazzled as I feel his breath on my skin.

I brace myself as I respond quietly, "I just tripped, I'm fine."

He doesn't reply for a moment, not moving as he speaks again, "Don't let go again, I don't want you to hurt yourself." It's not till I nod that he finally stands straight again, and takes the roll of escorting me, my arm looped around his. Luckily, no one walks by us as we continue down the way, making my heart slow a little. Though, something still feels like it's watching us, causing me to feel a bit uneasy. I glance around, and quickly spot a camera above us, the color in my face paling slightly as I watch the lifeless eye follow us all the way down the hall. Goro seems to sense my growing discomfort, and squeezes his hold on me. Not a lot, but it's just enough that I notice. "It's ok, just pretend not to notice," he whispers, "No one will touch you."

I'm a bit surprised by how protective he sounds. Although he may not have meant to, his tone became stronger, and his eyes met the camera as he said the second part, almost as if to show defiance. I don't comment though, I simply continue forward, holding on to him for a sense of safety. As we walk I glimpse HERA walking down an adjacent hall. She meets my eyes for a moment, appearing a bit taken back by seeing me so close to Goro. Though, nothing in her eyes reads anger or irritation, if anything she looks . . . sad.

I ignore it, continuing on with Goro until we reach Hanger 137. I tense a bit, and Goro quickly stops us, leaning over. "I already asked, and Kasami said I am allowed to go into the room with you. I won't be able to see the data being collected, but he said I should be able to tell if something is going wrong or not," he says, "But I only can go in if you want me to-"

"Of course I do, isn't it obvious?" I say without thinking, before I cover my mouth. He looks surprised, but it's not long before his expression softens, and he smiles.

"Well, your bluntness hasn't changed at all," he comments with a chuckle, "Just be careful not to get yourself into trouble with that, ok?" I blink, unsure how to respond as he straightens, taking my hand, then starts forward. "Just follow me, Kasami already showed me the way," he says.

"O-Ok," I reply, following closely as he leads us down an unfamiliar hallway. I'm unsure how to feel as I keep tight hold of his hand, the sensation running up my arm almost scary. This isn't the first time we've held hands, in fact, we've done it a strange amount lately, weird considering my current thoughts of him. But . . . I don't know, even though I really hate what he's done and know full well what his intentions probably are . . . that dumbass Maggie wants to believe in his kindness. She wants to be by his side, he makes her feel safe, he always has. Even now as we travel down a narrow hallway, which has made us walk in a line, he holds on to me tenderly as he leads me, and I can't help but feel my nerves calming as I watch his broad shoulders. Maggie's emotional attachment is deluding my thoughts.

Human emotions are becoming such a bother.

I misstep as the thought crosses my mind, but I catch myself before Goro can notice. I stare straight, unsure how to think. Just what am I becoming?

"We're here."

Thank God, Goro grabs my attention before I can freak out, and I find that we're walking through a high doorway to reveal a very simple room, a pale brown tint to the reflective walls. As we enter, I catch a glimpse of us in one of the panels, surprised by the sight of Goro and I being so close, our hands still clasped. While I should be put off by the view, I find my mind trying to put it to memory. I'm perplexed by my actions, but I quickly put together that Maggie loves what she sees.

"The doctor overlooking this test is the other woman you saw during your first test, Dr. Erise Karmida," Goro comments as he stops us in the middle of the room, "While Dr. Jedmir is going to be giving final verdict I believe."

"What about Dr. Roakler?" I ask without thinking.

Without warning, I feel Goro's hand tense, and when I look up at him, I'm surprised to see his expression has darkened. "She isn't permitted to be involved in person," he comments vaguely.

"Why?" I question.

He doesn't respond quickly, obviously bothered by something. "Her actions in the last test . . . were seen as wrong," he trails, picking his words carefully. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see he's hiding something. But it's then I recall HERA telling me about Goro getting angry at Dr. Roakler. Didn't she say Kasami had to intervene between the two? As I think on it, Goro sighs, and turns to look over in a parallel direction. Then, he whispers something, probably not meant for me to hear, "I didn't want you to get hurt again."

My eyes widen. Is he saying that he requested her not to be here for me?

Before I can ask, the door behind us opens, prompting us to drop hold of each other's hand, thus plaguing me with another lapse of a strange sensation. Turning, I see woman Goro had mentioned; Dr. Erise Karmida. She's a simple looking woman, average height and plainly clothed, though I wouldn't say she isn't pretty. She wears her medium length brunette locks down in natural waves, and her pale complexion just makes her warm hazel eyes stand out in a very attractive way. She smiles kindly, her voice light as she says, "Hello, I'm glad to see you're up and doing well, Miss LAPIS."

Her presence is so nice, I don't feel the same strong nature that I did from Dr. Roakler. I reach out a hand, and she shakes it, apparently aware of the dead custom. With that, she releases my hold and looks to Goro, who appears pleased by her actions. She gestures to the side, "If you could, Officer Jintez, step over here so I may set up Miss LAPIS for the test."

He nods, then looks to me. I grin, signaling him that I'm fine, and with that he walks away. I keep my eyes on him, trying to focus on the calm atmosphere instead of the nerves that are threatening to spike if I even attempt to think of what this "Death Point" test will be like. Dr. Karmida seems to sense my concern, and says quietly as she reaches into the bag I hadn't notice she was carrying, "Don't worry, you will be completely safe."

Her reassurance makes me happy. I wish more of the people I was around were as quiet and peaceful as this woman. I'd probably sleep better. After a moment, I notice her setting some type of headpiece in my hair line, then she outfits both my wrists, ankles, and waist with similar looking bands. I raise an eyebrow, unsure what exactly the instruments have to do with my test. Again, Dr. Karmida is quick to pick up on my thoughts. "These have sensors woven in. With these, we'll be able to keep data on your physical and mental levels," she explains, before she picks out a remote like item from the bag, pushing a button on the top that causes all of the bands to light up. Seems to make the most sense out of anything I've been put through so far. With that, she presses another button, and a bit of the floor in the middle of the room rises, making me on edge. She points to it as she directs me, "Please step up here."

I look to Goro. He seems a bit reluctant as well, but after a moment, his expression calms, and he grins, mouthing simply, "I'll be right here."

His words give me a sense of safety, and with them in mind, I step up. Once I do, the door to the room opens again to reveal the male doctor, Dr. Tuka Jedmir. He looks kind, but when I see the syringe in his hand, my opinion goes south. Noticing my change, Dr. Karmida takes my hand, "You won't feel it, I promise. No one does."

I nod, looking back just in time to see Dr. Jedmir sticking the needle in my opposing arm. And, to my shock, just like Dr. Karmida said, I feel nothing. In fact, moments later, I see nothing. The world around me goes black, and I fall back, landing on something soft but firm. As I recoil, I'm amazed as I see my hair fading from blue to it's natural hue, chestnut brown, and my skin returning to my Inuit tan complexion. Once I hit, I blink a few times, in shock to find myself . . . in my room. Not my room of the base, but my old room, at home. I turn over, and I once again I'm on the couch in the living room, just as I had been in my dream earlier. Mom walks out from around the counter, her coffee cup in hand as she makes a beeline for me, smiling as she sits on the ottoman. "So, sweetheart, are you excited for L.A.?" she asks.

I'm unsure what to say, overwhelmed by the strange nostalgia of everything I see. I look over to the mirror that hangs by the front door, and am shocked to see that the face reflected is mine. Not LAPIS, it's Maggie. I turn back, seeing that Mom is still looking at me, anticipating an answer. I grin bittersweetly, and reply, "I suppose so."

Mom sighs slightly, "Ah, yes, I bet you're nervous. But you don't need to be . . . I mean, you won't be around to go."

"Yeah, I know-Wait, what?" I start, totally blind-sided as I register the last part of my mom's words. I lock eyes with her, unsure how to feel as she innocently smiles at me. She raises her hands to my cheeks to hold my face, and she lowers to kiss my forehead.

"Oh Sweetheart . . ." she trails, "You won't see another Alaskan night."

With that, a sharp cold breeze consumes Mom, as well as my home. I almost shout in fright, but it's not long before I'm somewhere outside, on a hill overlooking a familiar valley. Though, instead of just a serene scene of green grass and trees, as far as I can see, row after row of gravestones. I feel my throat drying, and a slight nauseous feeling spreading through my gut.

"Holy sh-" I start.

"You know people here as well?"

My eyes widen, but I feel relief welling up in me as I recognized Goro's voice. I turn in response, surprised as I see him wearing not the usual Gelus attire, but regular day to day clothes. Once he makes eye contact with me, his smile softens, and he walks closer. I can't stop a smiling from rising on my face as he reaches a hand out to me, and I take it eagerly. He chuckles warmly, joining me to look over the vast cemetery. I lean on him, feeling better to have him by side. Though, the warmth fades within moments, as he leans over, saying without sympathy, "You know this is an act, right?"

My heart literally stops for a moment, shocking me as much as his words. I jolt, looking up at his face for an answer. But, I receive nothing, simply a similar smile to the one Mom wore before she disappeared.

"What are you saying?" I ask.

He laughs, his eyes turning colder as he still mockingly smiles, "You've been a great help in getting me noticed by the Commander. I'll be rising in the ranks without much of an issue from now on thanks to you." I can't speak, too stunned to react as I simply hold his gaze. He leans back over, his face scarily close to mine. His smile darkens, looking more like the smirk a villain wears when they know they've won. "Playing with you is such an interesting game, dear Maggie," he whispers as he draws closer, his lips on an inch from mine, "I mean, you want me to kiss you right now, even though you tell yourself you hate me, right?"

I'm speechless as his arms wrap around me, trapping me in his embrace. For once, I want my powers. I want to throw him off of me and run away, but since I'm human at the moment, I'm powerless against his strength. But, despite all of this, I can't tear my eyes away from his, entranced by the deadly gaze. It's as he said, I want to despise him for what he's said, and his awful actions, yet I can feel my heart pounding as he's so close.

"I do . . ." I'm finally able to let out.

He chuckles, closing the gap, "You're weak."

Suddenly, I feel the haze crack, and I turn my head before he can kiss me. His eyes widen in surprise, looking more normal when I meet his eyes again. I stare him down as I speak, "I'm not weak. I just don't want to believe that this is the real you. Even if you don't deserve it, I still want to trust you, Goro."

He looks shocked by my words, but we're both caught off guard as the same wind from before, encasing us. I wrap my arms around him, not wanting him to disappear like Mom, despite his actions. His hold doesn't loosen either, burying his face in my hair as he hugs me tight to his chest. Then, just as sudden as the wind came, it's gone. Neither of us move for a moment, though he soon looks up, his hold loosening slightly as if to signal it's safe. Though, it's short lived, as he quickly pushes me, sending me tumbling to the cold hard ground. I'm taken back to find it's concrete, slowly raising myself and looking about to see we're now in a hall of Gelus. Then, I turn back to Goro.

A sword is through his chest, blood dripping in a steady river. Then, without warning, the blade turns, and with a cry of pain escaping Goro's throat, the unseen swordsmen pulls it out. Goro falls to his knees instantly, but before he can collapse entirely, I catch him in my arms. It's now I realize I'm crying, screaming his name as I try to hold him up. I hear a disturbing gurgling, then he weakly puts a hand on my cheek. I meet his eyes for an instant, sobbing now as I see they've returned to their kind hue of blue. He musters only a sentence before the wind appears, taking him from my trembling embrace, "I'm ashamed I said such things-"

I sit alone now, the front of my top and arms soaked in blood. Tears stream down my face as I'm unable to stop my cries, a feeling of depression consuming me. It's now I hear giggling, the strangest juxtaposition to my sobs. I look up, and I hold my breath.

It's me, but, not. It's my current self, the Jeweloid LAPIS. I look positively menacing, my eyes narrowed as a dark grin grows on my countenance. 

Maggie Smith is weak and naive.

The shadow of myself walks over to me, the sword still tight in her grip, blood dripping off the end of the curved steel. 

Kill off Maggie Smith and you can destroy him.

My blood in my body grows colder with each second, my face paling considerably. LAPIS stops right in front of me, staring down at me as if I was a bug. She then kneels, now at eye level with me as we stare at each other. 

You need to kill Maggie.

I can feel my heart racing, faster and faster as she lifts her free hand up, and places it against my shirt, right over my heart. She moves her gaze to her hand for a moment, then chuckles, looking back at me with horrible intentions.

"We're no longer human . . . so why have this?" she says, her voice identical to mine. Then, without warning, I feel a strange throbbing in my chest. My heart isn't beating normally, one moment slow then unnaturally fast. My breathing is basically pointless, and I begin coughing like crazy, petrified as blood begins to come up with each forced exhale. I look down and see that where she holds is turning black, the dark shading traveling over my skin as blood drips down my chin and onto my chest. I become colder by the moment, my eyes growing hazy as I find LAPIS' eyes again, simply staring as she smiles wickedly. "The heart is such a weak thing . . ." she trails.

Then, I can't exactly say what happens next.

I feel a horrible pain exploding through my body, but then all goes unnaturally silent. LAPIS is gone, as well as everything else around me. In fact, I'm consumed once again by a strange darkness, and I feel nothing. Nothing.

It's not peace, more emptiness that I feel as I'm suspended in this black place. Though, over time I begin to regain feeling in my limbs, then my torso. Its around the time I get a vague sense of feeling that a relieving sensation of warmth envelops me, holding me gently. Then, just as I begin to relax, my heart suddenly starts to pound, as if it was breaking free after being held from beating. Though, the worrying beating slowly returns to normal, but the rhythm's volume doesn't die down.

All I hear is my heart beat; b-bmp . . . b-bmp . . . b-bmp . . . on and on.

Then, I hear words repeated.

"The heart is such a weak thing."