A New Year, a New Season of Chapters

Hello faithful readers,

To all of you all over the globe, I hope you the best in this New Year! The first climax of Scratch happened just a week ago or so and now after a week of rest, I, the Author, have decided on the new chapters and the new posting order for the 2011 year. Of course it is subject to change like always, but I like to stay consistent within the month.

Anyway, I don't want to drag this on, as I'm sure you are probably wanting to read what is going to happen next with my somewhat of a cliff-hanger post in chapter 21. [And I have the strange suspicion that someone is out there copying and pasting my work and rewriting it into a variety of languages], a lot of the traffic websites are from Russia, so I like to imagine myself having a lot of Russian readers. I'm sure but I actually don't have any Russian in me, though I do believe my ancestors lived in Russia as farmers, they were Polish or German, but they lived there. I myself have never cross over seas...wait why am I getting into this?

Most important thing is, I don't want to end up writing this massive story [which is about 140+ pages typed already], and have someone make money off of it. It will be published eventually maybe if I get around to editing the thing, and making sense of it all. Anyway, anyway,anyway. Chapter 22 will be released on Tuesday of next week, if my counting skills are right on, that means it comes out on the 4th of January. The second day I will post will be Friday, which is the 7th. Tuesdays and Fridays. Mark your calendar.

As to what the chapter is about...well, I know in chapter twenty one I babbled on about 'stories' and things, but I don't like having ideas set in stone in till I actually sit down and write up the rough. So right now, I have a rough for chapter 22...I wont spoil it, but let's just say I've sort of scraped the original story idea. I have a feeling that people aren't happy with Rey, just a vibe. I poorly wrote her section and her father's words [he isn't actually dead yet!] were kind of half-assed to get to the point. Who would have thought that he had connections over there? Don't worry, the relocation of the story is vital to the plot. You'll understand...

Maybe I should help you out with one of Trey's inner monologues as he was racing through the twisted Domes he probably thought about it: 'Stadweld was an attempt at a full out control scheme, and this was only the second time they had tried to do something like that.' Well I'll let you pick up at what I'm hinting at, but don't make any assumptions, this series is supposed to be unpredictable. 


Wow. A lot of time has passed it seemed since I started this blog. I am going to continue running it in till I run out of ideas. 


Keep reading. Keep sharing it with friends. Tell the world. 


P.S. Sorry this blog isn't about Scratching or DJing. XD


-Ryan K. [Dark Ryan Smiling]

Chapter Twenty One: The invisible reunion.

The lone military truck rolled over the smooth freeway as a light snow fell from the silent gray clouds that hovered ominously above them. It was an early snow, unexpected and the cold was definitely unwelcoming. Aside from the driver, the vehicle carried four passengers who wished to return to Stadweld one last time. Unsatisfying news had reached them as they had heard that a massive amount of chemical gas was pumped into the city, and used during a variety of events. Almost all of the population were being stricken by a crippling coma, making them unable to recover. The four sat looking out of their respected windows, hoping to catch a glimpse of the city they had called home for so many years. Not all of the refugees were as lucky as they were; many were still in the hospital, and waiting to be transported to another city in Minnesota. The state national guard had showed up after the Senba private army had done their job, and there were talks of a personal investigation of the two dome structures. Though little news was brought to the young survivors. All that was said was that they would have to relocate to a new city, in particular, there was one city which was willing to take them in. It was a suburb of the twin cities, which means they would be traveling east, but it may ease their wounds as an incident like this wouldn't be likely to happen again in a city where there were many neighboring towns.

A new life could be exciting, but nobody likes to be forced to do anything. The vehicle came to a stop near the edge of the city and the drive told them that this was their stop, and he needed to go back now to get more refugees who wanted to come and collect their items or find out who was on the disabled list, some even overacted to the chemical and had died. The line was quite long already, people had drive here despite the many road blocks issued around the city. It was a huge deal, but it had been a week or so since the initial incident had happened, so hopefully there wouldn't be any gas left. They four stood close to each other in the howling snow; despite their statuses or upbringings the four had gotten to talking to one another about the crazy events which had taken place on that fateful Wednesday afternoon. Toru was the first to speak up to them now that they were out of earshot of the driver. "I'd hate to say it after such a thing." He started to say darkly, which was unusual for the care free somewhat rash executive to be. Dressed in a black, well stuffed coat, with a black baseball cap titled off to the side, none would have taken Toru as a business man. He gave off the impression of a gangster more than anything. "Say what?" Rey asked, looking down at the frozen ground she was prodding with the tip of her boot. In great contrast to the other boy, she was wearing a white coat, with a pink scarf wrapped around her neck. "I don't think it's over yet." He shoved his hands into his pockets and glanced upward. "Whether it's over or not, I don't want to do anything more with this." Kaz muttered, and Hiro remained silent as he watched the men in military uniforms direct the people through to the city. "To be honest, I didn't really like this place much." Toru said as he began to walk towards the designated entryway. "I don't have any great ties here, just a nobody rich kid." Upon hearing the word nobody, Rey reflected upon the silent browned haired girl she had encountered in the domes. There was a rumor that they never made it out. Her half sister should have made it out safely, but if she was in the hands of the enemy, what good would she serve now? Stadweld is gone. "Home is home...I hate to see it ruined." Hiro finally spoke following after Toru as the group made their way toward the line. People were shouting, and asking questions, and the understaffed men were trying to calm them down as best they could. As they tried to see what the system was working a woman came walking over to Kaz, and tapped him on the shoulder. "Kaz?" She asked and as he turned his eyes widened with surprise. "Mom?" He asked, and she hugged him. The others instinctively drifted away. There was much worry and relief in his mothers eyes, and he was surprised at how beautiful she still was considering the time they had spent away from each other--she was still the same woman she was back then. Stepping up beside her was a young high school freshmen of a girl who had dyed her hair black. It was tied up into a ponytail and she smiled and waved sheepishly, and Kaz couldn't help himself. "Jess..." He embraced her, feeling a tinge of happiness. He had missed her greatly. Then he tried to smile but he couldn't get it to stay, for some reason he felt sad. He remember the guilt he felt considering his father. "We were so worried, nobody would tell us anything about you or your father. Is he alright?" His mom asked and he looked down at the ground feeling that guilt grow. "I...I don't know, mom. A lot of things happened." He felt her hug him tightly again. "I'm just so glad that you're safe...come on, we'll get a chance to look at the list." They waited in line a while, without speaking much. Jessica seemed to be on edge a bit too, though it was clear she was happy that he was alive, but from what he knew of her, she would be worried about dad. She always was worried about him. She was his little girl, and even when she was taken away, she was still, daddy's little girl. There had been times when she'd call. It made him wish he could go back in time to try and remedy the situation.

Twenty minutes passed in till they finally got to the list. They searched the safely evacuated list, and then sinking back to the crippled list, and then disheartened, they scanned the deceased list. His heart pounded in his chest, as he read the name "Reinfold" near the end and he was taken aback. His father was dead. He stood there motionless and in shock, and even while his mom was pushing him to a private area he felt all the guilt he had built up pouring out. Jessica was holding onto his arm, and after they had moved into the city and away from the crowd at the gate they stuck together like magnets. Their pain was very different, but the cause was the same. Kaz was filled with regret of things he wish he could have said, could have done. What did his dad die for? Jess was filled with a similar regret, but it wasn't her fault. She wanted to be there, but she had no choice. After a few minutes to trying to absorb their pain, they were hurried out of the cold, as a man in a different military vehicle took them to the address of their home. Here they would be given a chance to retrieve any valuables, assuming they'd have the proper identification. Nothing would be moved for weeks to come, as they needed to prevent any theft or robbery. A medical staff had filed a report that the man had suffered from some kind of heart attack late evening on Wednesday. They body never made it to a hospital. Kaz sat in his living room watching as Jess walked around as if it were an enchanted forest. The girl had spend her childhood here, and even though she was heartbroken by the death of her father, the girl was overcome with nostalgia. His mother too, but on a less exuberant level. The woman would just stare off into space from time to time, unsure of what to say. Kaz had a good feeling of what was going on in his mother and sister's minds. He felt the pain, the shock the grief, but somehow he had built up a resistance to it. Maybe it was because a week ago he had beat his best friend lifeless. The virginity of experiencing death had been broken.

"So Ed didn't come?" Kaz asked and the woman shook her head. "You know we moved back to Minnesota." She suddenly brought up. "I just wasn't sure, so I wanted to ask...are you coming with us?" She asked and he leaned back shrugging. "I don't know what else to do. I have nowhere else to go mom." He scratched his head and nodded. "I can't stay here...so...I go with you." He wondered if there was another man in his mother's life. Still as soon as he graduated from high school he would probably be gone. He had wanted a chance to live with his family again as a whole but...now that it was here, he didn't feel right. Jess placed a hand on his shoulder. "I've missed you." She said with a smile, and he nodded. "I've missed you too, Jess."

The group had split up ever since Kaz was taken away by his mom. Toru had waited in line, saying he didn't need to see some kind of god damn list, and he ignored the offer made by one of the drivers to take him to his destination. The son of the executive walked down the street with his hands in his coat pockets, and his eyes downcast. He could care less if his father was dead or alive. His man had completely lost it obviously. Unfit to continue with the company policy. The young man walked through the ghastly streets, and he occasionally would spot someone crying on the sidewalk or inside of a home rummaging through things, it was a real mess. He would have Keiko take him, Michi, and her mother to an airport to Japan. It was the least he could do considering that it was his father's own incompetence he felt, that had caused the entire mess to happen. Though he knew that the Senba army that had come in long before the national guard, was working for his father. Not his father's kid. That fact alone told him that this was far from over. Someone had definitely stormed the American Senba branch. It was best to return to their roots and keep it nice and simple in Japan. In Japan where things made sense, and none of this crazy bullshit happened. He would at least get to see his mom again. He came up to the mansion, which had been infiltrated by the private army no doubt. He was actually glad that Keiko had ignored his orders to stay locked up. Her performance had saved him in a way. He knew that there would be goons lurking around trying to bump off anyone who knew about their little experiments.  He had his gun reloaded, and occasionally he would give his former maid instructions. They were staying out near Fargo, and they'd come in once he was done here, and be on their way out before the Senba private army even knew where he went. It's not like they cared.

As he passed into the mansion he started his long and thorough search of each and every room. There were some extra rounds he placed into his backpack. No need to worry about stupid rules set up by the national guard. Stepping through to his own room he secured a few of his assists, and then the moment of truth had come. He stepped through the dining room and marched right up to the closest where he had forced his father to remain for a while. With great hesitation he reached and opened the door quickly. It was empty. He stood looking at the empty space where his father was trapped, and he sighed. "Damn it." He cursed slamming the door angrily.

"Hey, what are you doing in here?" One of the guards asked stepping into the room, his command like voice shocked Toru as the man had suddenly appeared. "What the hell? This is my own house damn it. I signed the god damn paper." He yelled. He was in a poor enough mood as it was. 'We have this mansion marked under the property of the Senba Organization's executive. He is listed as safely evacuated, now why are you here? Your assets will be moved at a later day--" Toru pulled out his gun without even thinking that he was pointing it at a trained soldier. "My father was bat shit crazy when I left here last. How the hell could he have 'safely' evacuated? Huh? I'm here because I've got a plane to catch in a few god damn days, and I can't wait a week to get some of my god damn assets." The man was put on the defensive. "Put down the gun sir." He said backing away. "Oh bullshit. It's not like I'm going to shoot a US citizen." He scoffed putting his gun into his back pocket. "You should seriously consider following the protocol. I could have reported your misconduct, but considering your urgency, I'll let it slide." The soldier said leaving Toru there and the boy sighed, falling back into one of the chairs. He tapped his fingers against the gun and wondered what he was going to do. He didn't feel like returning. He flipped out his phone. "Hey Keiko, how quickly can you get to Stadweld?" He asked and then he nodded. "Please do so. We're getting out here as soon as possible." He closed it and then stomped on the floor. "God damn it! Bastards! I'm going to fucking kill them! God damn old man!" He kicked back, storming around the house in till he finally grew tired and once more began stuffing his bag full of useful items that may come in handy in his uncertain future.

Rey was standing off to the side by herself when a black car drove up along the roadside and even though the military seemed wary of it, they didn't do anything about it. The black vehicle looked oddly familiar as he pulled up close to where she was standing and the window rolled down. "Miss Pichanto." One of the passengers stated, and she came up to the car looking irritated. "We request your presence in this most dire of times." The man said slowly opening the door of the car, and she looked around, noticing that Hiro was mindlessly staring up at the sky, and Toru had gone off on his own already. She slipped into the vehicle, and there were three men in the car all together, each wearing black fedoras and suits. It may have seemed like a classic mafia attire, if it were the 20's or 30's, but in truth it was a sign. She knew what it meant, and she felt extremely uncomfortable sitting in with some of her father's men. "What is the business, how does the family still have power if the city is under the jurisdiction of the national guard?" She asked and the man sitting next to her began to explain things while fixing himself with a cigar. "Your father's place among his other ownerships have all been accounted for thanks to our efforts on his behalf. The city is dead but we still have to keep the scroungers from digging out our gold." He said rolling down the window as he puffed smoke out into the cold air. "Truth be told Miss Pichanto, the gas never really did reach the ghetto, many of the poor folk were unaffected, some even went off robbing places before getting caught and imprisoned." He chuckled slightly, but all the while Rey looked irritated and cold. She was getting pissed off that this guy was smoking when it was so cold outside. "Yeah? Well what are we doing now?" She asked shifting around in the uncomfortable seat. "Paying a visit to your old man. He's dying." Dying? Meaning he isn't dead yet? She thought looking out of the window, wondering how she'd take it if he died, or rather, what would happen to her if she died. "I see."  The men in matching fedoras meant that someone was about to die, or had already died, so now it was just a matter of time. The car pulled up to the large house, and they all got out looking around. She took the lead ahead of them and burst into her house, not even bothering with removing her shoes. "You stay down there and keep watch. I don't want anyone to disturb us." She ordered, and with a smirk the talker obliged. She pressed onward into her father's room, where the delirious man rested.

His covers neatly folded over his graying body, the man looked sad as she entered the room. "Rey...my daughter...you're alive and safe...?" He asked and she walked over to him curtly, kneeling next to his bed, as she was taught to do. He took her hands into his, and she could feel them shaking. "Father..." She trailed off, keeping her head bent. "Who is it that has burdened you so?" She asked, feeling her black hair fall over her forehead. "The Senba...bastards nearly killed...us all...that gas, is dangerous..." he was coughing. She kept her head bent. "I shall avenge you father." She said tonelessly, though she wondered if she could actually feel like it. If anything she'd avenge her half sister's death, but that too was a diminishing bond. It seemed like there weren't any people left in this world for her to turn to. "A friend...you must...find...him..." He sputtered. "Who must I find, father?" She asked, and he pulled her up, away from her bowing motion, close to his body. "Rey...Reyna...my sweet angel..." He said kissing her on the forehead. "You must...find...Lavantes, Theo Lavantes." He coughed, and she pressed her own lips against his burning fever. "Rest." She soothed. "In Minneapolis." He breathed, before closing his eyes. She pondered about it. She didn't know what would happen to her after he died, but if he wanted to spend his last words instructing her, then it was fine by her.

She stepped down stairs in the company of the black suits, and she directed them to the billiards room. "Boys...we're moving to Minnesota. As a request of my father's dying words." She began their consul solemnly.

Hiro had taken up in the line about five minutes after he realized everyone had gone their separate ways. For him this was a real trial. The daydreamer had thought about his biography less and less, and it was strange because he life was getting more and more interesting from an outside point of view. When he found his parent's names on the disabled list he took his time in processing the information before taking a military escort to his home. There he found his parents being looked after by a medical personnel. He was shocked at first, and the doctor stopped to look at him. "Hiro Reder?" He asked, and the boy nodded, showing him his ID, and the doctor nodded. "Allow me to explain." He said quietly, sitting the boy down in his own kitchen. The military doctor was a bit gruff in his approach, but Hiro could deal with that. "It's a kind of coma, where the subject doesn't wake up in till everything is brought up to a functioning level, think of a deep sleep. The gas your family was exposed to isn't of a fatal kind. With proper medical treatment they can be sustained in till they come to, or, if things become worse, succumb to complications. We're working hard on moving them to a hospital location, but it may still be a while before they actually become conscious." During the entire explanation Hiro couldn't help but look sadly at his dad, who must have been suddenly onset by the mysterious gas while working on some minute program. Was it his fault? Had he caused this to happen? The doctors left after a while, to give him some time as he went up to his room, and fished through a variety of trinkets, many of them were bringing back memories of his mom and dad. He didn't really cry, he wasn't sure how he felt. Just how he didn't know how he felt during the events of the dome. Yet while he was digging around in his room, an envelope fell out of his coat pocket.

The white, unstamped and un-licked envelope stared up at him as he looked bewildered at it. Carefully bending down he picked it up and found a piece of computer paper folded inside. It was a simple message, and it was clearly written in his father's poor handwriting. "The flash drive in the desk, third drawer down." Was all it said, and he wondered if this message was there before but he quickly threw it aside and bolted downstairs, finding the third drawer, he flung it open to find the flash drive there just as his father said. He put it into his pocket. Should I use it now? He thought to himself looking outside,  and realizing that the doctors had gone, now would be the time to make his move. He turned on his father's PC, and waited for the OS to boot up as he continued to look out of the window nervously. He inserted the flash drive into the USB port, and waited for the folder to appear on the screen. His heart was pounding in his chest, as he clicked open the folder. His eyes scanned the file names, and he scanned down looking at a notepad document called "For my Hiro." He opened it and read the message his father had left him.

If you are reading this, hopefully you are my son Hiro Reder. If you aren't, then please find him. Ha doesn't this sound like some kind of quest? Unfortunately I can't be that relaxed about something this important. Son, if you are reading this then I am most likely in a state where I can't be of much use to you. I know it must have been hard...I feel bad, but I had a feeling something like that would happen. You probably have a lot of questions about how I know this. That'll be for when you make things right, so I can tell you face to face! Please don't feel angry towards me...anyway. If you want to make things right again, there is something you have to do.

A few years back I worked on a project with a young woman named Amy. She might seem a bit...eccentric at times, but she is a very old friend of mine who knows a lot about the current situation no doubt, and she owes me one. Somehow, somehow you have to find this girl. I know there are people who are good at that sort of thing. You're a bright kid Hiro, me and your mom are real proud of you. If you return to this place in a few months, there will be someone here to meet with you. The specific date is January 12th. Don't forget Hiro. You need to come back here. The person will help you find Amy.

I'm counting on you.

-Dad [and Mom].

 

He was shaking. There wasn't any time to think, because the front door quickly opened and the military units had returned. He unplugged the flash drive quickly, and pocketed it. Without saying a word he left the house, and came out into the street, where he stopped in the cold snow. Whatever was going through his head he wasn't sure of. He wanted the world to just stop spinning right then and there so he'd have time to think. Make things right? How could he make things right? He must have made a lot of mistakes for things to get this way as it is...but...he had hope. No...it wasn't hope. It was a dream. A dream of a future he wanted. A future he was willing to fight for.

/end

Author's notes: 

Scratch will take a break for a while. In this chapter you get a prelude to what is happening to a small pool of characters only. As the author I am at a crossroads as the many characters I introduced so far will be going down different paths for now. There will be four small arcs I believe. Instead of doing alternative chapters each week, these small arcs will feature a single character or group of characters. The arc I lead off with is still undecided, but here is a little preview to what may be coming your way: 

Obviously the scope is changing from the Dakotas [?] to Minnesota. There are still many unanswered parts of the series! The story of Kaz. The young man is not at ease, despite claiming not to want to delve into the issues any further. When he receives an unwanted tip that something should come to his attention, he curiously goes to investigate...his investigation finds him face to face with someone he would rather not see...[may appear in the next issue] 

The story of Rey: Heading her father's words, the young tough girl surprisingly takes over as the head of the Pichanto family. She shows a great deal of power, which took those wishes to steal from her father's empire, it seems as if the Mafia is growing even more powerful as they move into Minnesota in search of a mysterious character; Theo Lavantes. [May appear in the next issue]

The story of Hiro: Living low, the proposed main character of the series sinks back to Stadweld with Norie in toe. When he encounters a person who is supposed to be in the know of things, and get him in touch with Amy...what surprising things will Hiro find? [May appear in the next issue]. 

Japan: A two part story including a short detail on Toru and Michi's return to Japan, as well as a mysterious young girl who is accompanied by two silver robed figures... 

Whichever I decide to go with, please continue to read! I am thankful that I even have any views at all. I'd like to think that people are enjoying it somewhat because the last chapter, the climax I proposed jumped to the top of the most viewed list on my blog in the shortest time. It gives me some confidence I think...

Chapter Twenty: To see the Light of Day

Dome B rests quietly on the surface, while just beneath that inflated canvas lies turmoil, and strife.

The two boys were panting heavily, as they watched the lights slowly blink out and dim, and the overwhelming whirring sound of the generator began to cease completely. Hiro couldn't help but smile to himself as he moved from the wall, walking towards the mysterious assistant. "So...how did you get down here?" He asked, whipping the sweat from his brow. He was surprised at how hot it had gotten, considering hours ago he was freezing inside of his dark cell.  The other boy was probably around his age. It was odd to see someone appear at the final moment of truth like that.  He hadn't seen him at school before, and he wondered if he was a Saxon student. Toru couldn't help but smile triumphantly as the annoying hissing sound began to die, and the two were completely engulfed in darkness. "Let me tell you about it later." He said reaching out for Hiro to make sure they didn't lose each other in the pitch darkness. The two boys continued along the concrete hallway, their eyes straining, and revealing nothing. Backing up to their left, and walking alongside the wall, they continued on a bit more, in the growing silence. All they could hear was their synchronized breathing. "Why is it so damn hot?" Toru swore as he could feel beads of sweat pour off his of brow, and his hands too, felt covered in sweat. "That generator might have controlled the cooling system in this place..." Hiro commented. "All this wiring, it's no surprised that an insulated place like this would heat up..." He was only speaking in theory, but it sounded about right in his mind [coming from someone who daydreams in chemistry]. They came across a sleeping Nadia, almost tripping over her extended legs. "We need to help her out of here, she's badly hurt." Hiro said to Toru, who had yet to introduce himself. It reminded him of a fireman's rescue operation, where you don't get the details in till the job is done. Here they were, two strangers, stuck in a 'metaphorical' fire, which they had hopefully doused by switching the generator off.

Each of them got underneath one of the girl's arms, and hoisted her up. She moaned slightly, but whether or not she was conscious could not be determined. "Hang in their Nadia, we'll get you out of here...I promise...I'll make things right." Hiro whispered to himself, as they continued to ascend through the darkness.

At per her request, Trey was moving back through the dome to locate Amy. The informant was a bit worried. If Toru, and Hiro had both worked together, then it would be possible to stop this dome from malfunctioning. That was one thing the higher ups at Hive wouldn't expect. Naturally when you are an organization bent on some crazed idealism that the world needs to go in a certain direction, failure must be covered up entirely to prevent any loose ends from figuring it out. They militarized the domes and other structures they built, and they knew that considering the mindlessness of their troops, it would be fairly easy for a plan to go the other way, all you needed was knowledge in computer programming. Especially in Stadweld, when so many things were being tested and experimented, they weren't focused enough to provide how they usually do when building these 'hives'. Trey knew this from his own experience with Hive. They were testing their limits, and it was surprising how close they came to success, but even still, they did not plant a counter measure inside of their structure. They never would do something like that. Which is why the informant snuck into the construction unit from the get-go, making sure that the generator, which could power the self destruct mechanism, could be in fact turned off. It was surprising still, at how many people had a piece in this game. Hive was betting against the combined forces of Cylinder, and the rag-tag team of 'experiments'. Though obviously, Cylinder can handle Hive without any inside help... he thought darkly.

As he continued to move through the twisted maze he had took so many months to memorize entirely, he kept his mind focused on the very significance of the Stadweld dome. He knew they worked in circuits. They'd nab a group of cities, usually only the important figures, to make the right decisions. Stadweld was an attempt at a full out control scheme, and this was only the second time they had tried to do something like that. The man stopped as the lights began to flicker and the hissing started to die down a bit. He was given his time it seemed. "Ah well, here we go, we still can't be around here when Senba's Army arrive..." he pressed on, in till he finally reached the computer technician room where he suspected Amy would be, considering the number of random power outages, the somewhat perfectionist would definitely try to get everything running up to speed. "Amy!" He called out and the girl, who had a battery powered flashlight turned with a look of surprise on her face as he appeared in the room. "Troy-Trey-tree!" She said in a sing-song voice. "What's happening to my precious hardware?" She moaned then as the power completely blanked out. "Just when I thought I could get the system back on." She sighed, slouching down in one of the swivel chairs. "We need to evacuate!" He said urgently. "Oh come on, don't act like it's gonna blow. I know you rigged the generator so it'd get turned off." She said with a smile, though it was hard to see considering they were only going by the power of the flashlight. "That won't stop Senba from kidnapping us and torturing us. The government isn't involved this time sweetie. Besides I promised Meredith I'd take you along." Amy stood up then. "Mere-bear asked for me to be rescued?" She giggled. "I'm so going to tease her about that!" And then she started off when she stopped. "Wait, wait, what about her? If she's left in the dark..." Amy said looking at Norie who, when the light was shined on her, blinked a few times slowly. "I'd hate to leave her..." She said quietly. 

* * *

"Wait...Michi...where exactly are we going?" Kaz asked still feeling the wounds he received from his tussle with Jack, and his head was slow to clear as they pressed onward through the twisting and winding hallways. "I obtained a map from one of the unconscious personnel here...I think I know where to go..." She said trying to keep Kaz upright, while also keeping control of the emotional Kylie. It had been by mere speculation that she had even stumbled upon the room that Jack had been carried to. It was also through her interview with Trey or Troy, that she had come to a conclusion as to where Norie might be. He said she was currently undergoing tests, and even though that was probably a while back, she wouldn't have gotten far considering the high level of commotion which apparently had been erupting all over the domes since her brief interrogation of that mysterious young man. After leaving the room, she had found that the ticket usher was unconscious in his booth, a twisted smile still etched on his face. As well as the armed guard who barred their passage previously. Every single guard she encountered was on the ground, motionless. It gave her a disheartening feeling, yet it was good luck for them. All she wanted was to find Norie, and get out of here...but then again there was still Maki, and an entirely new dome structure to explore, but she had a sinking feeling that she wouldn't get the chance.

"What...what is that horrible sound?" Kylie asked taking her hands and covering her ears. The trio stopped looking around. "It's getting louder..." Kaz breathed. "It can't be good. We should try and hurry..." She said when Kaz stopped her. "Let me rest here...I'll just slow you down...you have to come back this way right?" He said with a smile. Michi was hesitant for a while when Kylie stood next to the young man. "Don't worry...I'll get him out of here..." The young girl said, and Michi nodded. "Alright...be careful you two!" She said before running off down the hallway.

 * * *

"Well what are we going to do?" Trey pondered out loud. "Time is running out." Amy thought for a moment. "We should at least take her halfway." The girl insisted. "Fine, fine...you do it. Let's be quick about it." He said, and Amy stood Norie up. "Up you go!" She sang. The weary Norie stumbled along with them as Trey lead the way through the darkness, with only Amy's flashlight as the only stable source of light. They pressed through the door, and into the laboratory chamber. Stepping over the bodies of the fallen guards, and near the exit they came face to face with a girl who was sprinting blindly through the darkness. They nearly collided, and at first there was some kind of fear as Amy shined her light on Michi Kasahara no less. She saw the gun in Trey's hand, and she saw the droopy Norie leaning against Amy, and she wondered what was going on. "Norie!" She exclaimed, and without further explaination, Amy playfully shoved the girl at Michi. "Sorry, it was nice babysitting. But we have a ride to catch~" While Michi was busy keeping Norie upright, the other two disappeared leaving them in the darkness. "Why the hell did you even want to bring her?" Trey asked, "If you were just waiting to dump her off?"

"I have a conscience too ya know."Amy retorted

"Norie! Norie!" Michi was saying to the girl she held in her arms, and the other reached up and touched her face. "Michi...? Michi...where is Maki? Where is my Maki?" She asked sounding confused. "Hold on, first let's get you out of here."

They reached the entrance to the tunnel, pressing through quickly, and quietly. It would be a long ways in till they reached the exit, and the car waiting for them. Meredith believed they would be taken away and reunited with Hive...but as Trey continued to escort Amy, in the darkness of the tunnel, a devious smile crossed his face. In the shadows of the Cylinder, there is another organization...

One more set on dismantling the world entirely.

This world is a failure. We will start the world from Scratch.

Scratch the world. To make a new one.

The crossroads.

The first to reach the exit happened to be Kaz, who with a great effort made by Kylie, had retraced his steps to the lobby, and there he found the exit he was looking for. He looked up at the slightly clouding sky, wondering how he must have felt hours ago when he was on his way in. He couldn't help but mutter apology after apology under his breath. He felt that Kylie knew...he wasn't really saying sorry to her. As his eyes looked up at the setting sun behind him, he wondered about Jack, if there was a heaven, was his best friend there? What would happen to Kylie? He had a sinking feeling that the girl who he had protected all these years...despite how much it angered him, that Jack was right about him. He missed Jessica. He wanted that sister figure back in his life, and he had found it...

What was I thinking? The lazy kind of guy closed his eyes, and let his body drop to the ground, even though he was still conscious. A slight smile crossed his face as he rolled onto his back and looked up at the sky. It's all too unreal for me...at this point, I could care less what happens.

Next to appear from the darkness of the domes were two boys, holding onto an unconscious girl. Kylie turned as they approached, both breathing heavily, and finally, free from the domes, they gently put their load down on the ground. One of the boys stood up and walked over to them, while the other seemed to tend to the girl they had dragged out. "Hey, are you okay?" The boy asked. "Yeah...we're fine...just a bit roughed up..." Kaz said tilting his head slightly. "That's fine and dandy then..." The boy walked away flipping out his phone. "God damn place is going to be swept up soon. Nothing will stop that army from reaching us then." He looked around for a moment. Nobody here would care if he ran away. Yet he...he was probably the only one who knew what was coming. A Senba personal army, under his father's control, yet who was controlling his father? There was still one dome left, he watched it burry underneath the ground. "Oh shit." He cursed. "Let's get out of here..." He said heading back towards Nadia. "Huh? Why?" Hiro asked. "There's another dome underneath us...who's to say that thing isn't about to blow up?! They wouldn't just blow up one." He said lifting up Nadia again and Hiro assisted. "You two better get out of here as well." He said to Kylie and Kaz who both started to navigate away from the dome structures. As they started to pull away, Michi and Norie emerged from the entrance of the structure. "Michi!" Kaz waved, and he found the strength to move over to her, and help with Norie.

It seems like everyone is beat up... Toru thought. Except for him of course, he must have been a prisoner...He looked at Hiro who was slaving over Nadia. The broken and wounded group found themselves moving towards what appeared to be a helicopter, that had slowly circled down. No chance at escaping my father's army then? The commercial helicopter dropped down near the outskirts of the structure, and it looked just big enough for them to pile into. Toru entered in next to the pilot, taking the passenger seat. "We didn't receive word from your father, but given the circumstances, I'm sure as hell glad we made it in time." The pilot said and Toru nodded slightly. "Yeah, we probably need to go to a hospital. That means away from Stadweld..." he said looking back as everyone, with a bit of confusion entered the helicopter. Kylie was next to Michi and Norie, while Kaz took the seat across from his best friend's sister, and next to Hiro and Nadia. They lurched up into the sky, the other passengers assumed that this was probably going to go to a hospital. They circled around the domes for a moment, when suddenly, in a massive plume of smoke and dirt, a pillar of fire became visible from where the second dome once stood. A resounding quake could be felt even in the air as everyone looked down at the swirling explosion.

Even in her delusional state, Norie knew. "Maki!" She screamed reached out, pressed against the seatbelt, that restrained her. "Maki! Maki! Maki! No! Maki!" She was reaching for the seatbelt, but Michi was holding her arm back. A steady stream of tears sprung from her fear stricken eyes. "Maki! MAKI! NO...NOT YET! PLEASE! SAVE MY SISTER! SHE'S MY SISTER! MAKI! SHE NEEDS YOUR HELP! DAMN NOBODY LISTENED TO ME! NOBODY SAVED MAKI!" She felt herself slipping as her body began to shake, and with one final scream, she fell back and her eyes closed. Michi was close to tears herself, seeing her friend in such a state, she could only place her hands firmly on her shoulder, holding her upright. As the helicopter spiraled around to check out the damages, Hiro, who was on that side of the explosion noticed something down there. "Hey! There's someone down there!" he pointed, and it brought everyone's attention to a tiny speck near the gaping hole of the destroyed domes. The pilot slowly circled around a few times. "Verified. There is some definitely down there. Someone go and secure their safety before any more cave ins occur."

"Copy that."

The endlessly burrowing roots; and the final moments of clarity.

"Self destruct? These buildings have that kind of system?" Dare asked sounding a bit skeptical, and Sen nodded darkly. "And unlike the movies, these domes are designed to blow up, and at that point it becomes unstoppable. We have a few options." He said pressing his glasses up against his eyes. "We can either go up the spiral, and climb the emergency ladder which exits near the top of the dome..." He said eying Maki carefully. "She won't make that kind of climb. She's exhausted!" Dare exclaimed and Sen nodded. "Or we can use the underground maintenance tunnel, which will lead us out of here hopefully." He looked at the group. "One is up, the other is down. So how do we proceed?" He asked and Rey closed her eyes. She felt compelled to stay, but something was tugging at her conscious. Something she couldn't explain entirely, but she shook her head turning to Dare, and then focusing on Lei, and a slight smile came across her face. "I don't like being underground. I'm going over the top." She said stepping past Sen who looked at her curiously. "Do you think you'll make it even after being in that memory chamber for so long?" He asked and she scoffed. "Don't try and convince me the other way. I don't trust you. Even if you apparently helped rescue me. I'll make it." She said, glancing back at Lei one last time. "Keep them safe for me." Was all she said before sprinting up the spiraling hallway and out of sight. My only sister can handle a simple task like that...besides, she still needs time...

The other four stood there for a moment. "What are we waiting for? Let's go down to the maintenance tunnel you speak of!" Dare said helping Maki along. "I have a friend I need to inform first. If you go all the way down, there's no way you'll miss it..." He said quietly before slipping off down the way Dare and Lei had come from earlier. Dare looked back at Lei for a moment. "Let's go Leila." She quietly consented, as they worked as quickly as they could down the hallway as it spiraled down.

Sen walked casually down the hallway, sidestepping a few rogue backpacks, and then coming up to the head of security's temporary 'office' where he tapped on the steel door with his knuckles. "Tama! You better not be asleep." He said with a smile, and after a loud groaning sound, the door slowly slid open and the head of security looked wearily at his long-time friend with a look of irritation. "What do you want? You lousy, good for nothing shady-job-offering piece of--." He stopped his tirade letting out a sigh. "What the hell is that horrible hissing sound?" He asked and Sen took him by the arm dislodging him from the security room. "The self destruct mechanism of course. Which means we've got to split." The head of security looked baffled by the concept. "What? Can't we just turn it off?" He asked as Sen lead them further down the passageway to where, if the dome was actually at ground level, the busses would be held in their concrete garage. "Where are we going?" Tama asked, still feeling a bit off balance. "It's high time we got out of this sticky situation. No doubt you've been cursing my name for landing you this job, forgive me." Sen said reaching the door, and revealing and elevator shaft which would go up. "Say, Sen...weren't there some kids running around causing trouble? It seems kind of sudden that we're evacuating...yeah? I mean sure it's gonna blow up, but did something happen?" The confused freeloading man leaned against the elevator wall as Sen pushed the buttons leading them upward. "I'm sure their somewhere..." He smiled slightly. It's a real gamble...but I'm curious as to how powerful her power really is... Yet he was disturbed. If she dies...that may spell out of a lot of trouble for me though. Well that's the risk of the entire situation I suppose. "What are we gonna do after all this Sen?" Tama asked, and the informant shrugged. "I'll probably drop you off in some nice tropical place to make up for all the trouble I've caused."

* * *

"Turn off the computer, Sader. We're done here." The boy turned up to look at his master. "Turn it off?" He asked quietly. "Yes, turn it off. We're leaving." The man, dressed in a white lab coat, with a graying beard, and shaggy hair resting on his balding head grabbed a stack of papers from his desk and shoved them into his briefcase. As he finished, the man turned to Sader who seemed to be hesitating in his task of turning off the dual monitor computer system.

"We're sealing this room off now, Sader. Nobody will be able to turn it on, in till you return." He assured, but the boy didn't seem to react. "Did you hear what I said?" The scientist inquired and the boy nodded finally shutting them off completely. "Yes...nobody, nobody but me will perform this task." He smiled to himself as he followed his master. The two left the room. The doors closed and then a hissing sound indicated that it was sealed officially. "Come, Sader, we have to get out of here before those little shits find us." He cursed under his breath.
"Yes. We shall leave." The pale boy echoed.

Doctor Einburg had been working on this project for almost four years nonstop now. It may seem short compared to other works, but he knew it well. He wasn't about to let it all go to hell. He was fully aware of the high chance of failure in this particular area. Hive was already being implemented on a world-wide scale. He didn't understand why some of them were immune to the effects, and others weren't. This was all a part of his study. Yet he was irritated that there was an antithesis to the perfect mind control simulator: A way of daily life without living. You'll never die by a simple thing like getting shot by a stranger, or run over by a car because everyone is programmed to do things right. Morality is set in stone now. The godless world has a god.

Yet, Doctor Einburg also knew that this world had more than one god in a manner of speaking.
He cursed, and marveled, at the geniuses who had created the nemesis to Hive, the silver and white clad Cylinder. Oh, how he loathed them so much, yet he had never met them face to face. He had heard that Cylinder was created initially for a single person, however it has grown out of control now. It was going to destroy everything that Hive stood for. Everything. It's years of research. It's successful implementation into society.
All of it would become useless, unless they were able to destroy Cylinder. The final moments of Hive were fast approaching. Yet...he knew that he owed Cylinder one basic security. The antidote to the mind chemical. It eradicated all connections to the program, and liberated the person entirely. Every senior staffed member had taken it. It was the only way for them to become the true masters of the world. However, inversely, every single member of Cylinder was also under the affects of the antidote, and were the only ones with the means of distributing it to others.

As he walked up the hallway his cell beeped and he paused to look at it. "Sen? That ungrateful wretch always prying into my business unwanted..." He grumbled as he read the message.

-Protocol Zero is now established. You better get out. The self destruct mechanism was tripped so I imagine that you've already locked up your room. Just letting you know it's not safe here anymore...the infiltration team is already on its way~-

The man closed the phone, and pocketed it in a hurry. "So, he's already left." He grumbled again finding a control panel on the wall, and during the interface with it, he opened a large door leading to a hanger of sorts. The Dome A maintenance tunnel. Johannes Einburg had made certain that even if the self destruct system used in the domes was activated, his laboratory would sustain any damage. The doorframe he used to seal it off was top grade. All of his precious files, and the program system, which was run by his own private generator, would remain safe for him to return.

He walked into the underground hanger and flipped on the lights. "Sader lock the door, use the security code I told you." The man ordered as he paced over to a helicopter-like machine. It shuddered to life as he positioned himself in the cockpit, pressing a variety of buttons. He was thankful that he was given the training to operate such a vehicle considering his age and otherwise normal occupation. Hive had given him the chance to do things he could only have dreamed of in the real world he was born into. The door to the hanger then closed and the young man came walking over to the helicopter. "Get in." The doctor ordered and the boy climbed aboard and buckled himself up as they sped down the darkened tunnel.

'If only the self destruct system could take out Sen... Why oh why did the higher ups place me with a bunch of drop outs? Tama plays around with women all day, Beatrice or Meredith, whatever her real name is, just struts around in a suit acting like she's important, and beats anyone who crosses her. And Sen...that slippery snake is up to no good. What a bunch of whelps. I wish I had a chance to work with Trey...I heard he was a brilliant young test subject, if any of those rumors are true...still it may be dangerous dealing with a person like that.'

"Excuse me but, where are we going?" Sader asked, and the man's eyes narrowed with impatience. "Be quiet. You'll know when we get there." He said. 'At least this young man turned out to be more than what I would have ever expected. Intelligent, obedient. Even if he is slightly infected with the serum...' The helicopter roared down the maintenance tunnel in till it reached day light and out and away, unseen from the eyes of Senba's private army.

* * *

The three came to a halt when the hallway seemed to come to an end, and they could readily see where to go to next. There was a steel door with a bright flashing red sign over it which said "emergency exit Hanger" and Dare and Lei approached it looking for some kind of control panel, only to quickly realize that there was no such pannel. Fear began to sink in as the hissing sound grew louder and louder. "Shit! Damn it! Damn it!" Dare yelled stomping on the floor. "I don't want to die in this place!" He growled. "We still may be able to live." Lei stated quietly. "Where the hell is Sen?" He asked, wishing that he'd show up and somehow get the door to open. Maki hung her head low. "I doubt it. He probably went to secure his own safety." She stated quietly, thinking of how well he had played his hand earlier. His keen observation and understanding of her power in such a short time frightened her greatly, as even she couldn't even comprehend it herself. As her mind began to recover from the trauma she had forced upon Mr. Calvin, she was quickly realizing that Sen had probably done that on purpose. It was foolish for them to have trusted that man so readily, they should have never let him out of their sight. "The hallway continues down a bit more, perhaps there's another way out." Dare said, taking Maki's hand, and leading them further down the spiraling corridor. The structure began to shake slightly as they reached the end of the hallway where a large blast door sealed off their path. "Damn it!" Dare cursed loudly, looking around feeling that his luck had finally run out, but there was so much he wanted to do. "I don't want to die!" Dare yelled pounding on the door with his fist, and Lei, veiled under her hood was also looking pale. She glanced back at the way they came, wondering to herself if there would be enough time to make it up. No chance. The three of them stood around, and Maki began to feel a bitterness fill her. As the hissing grew louder and louder, she reached out and took Dare and Lei's hand. The two didn't entirely understand why. "Our last stand...eh?" Dare thought looking at where he thought the explosion would come from. Even if they survived the blast, who knows how far underground they were? The entire structure would cave in, and they would be buried alive. Their chance of survival was dead set at zero percent. He began to shake, he was scared, he looked over at Lei as well. She too was scared out of her mind. What a horrible end. The only one who didn't seem all that frightened was the youngest of them; Maki stood between them holding onto their hands.

There may be a way to save us. A voice was speaking in her ear. Why would you want to save us? Maki pondered. You are my master, little Maki, we are bound together...our souls are intertwined...there is no guarantee that those two will survive, but I can assure you it's better than burning here...

Dare looked at Maki nervously. "Maki...are you...?" He was starting to grow afraid of the girl who turned to look at him, and she smiled, with tears in her eyes. "Be strong..." She whispered before suddenly there was a dangerously loud sound as a wall of flame rained down on top of him, there was no chance to shield from it.

A roar as loud as thunder,

and then there was darkness, as a wall of debris fell upon them.

* * *

Rey had sprinted as fast her body would allow her, spiraling upward towards the escape ladder. Her mind ached, her body ached; an overwhelming tiring plague was spreading throughout her entire being as she continued to race through the rumbling structure. She hadn't looked back once, by now the others would have reached the hanger and to safety or she had hoped so...the dome jolted, and she was flung off to the side. She hardly had the strength to catch herself as she kept going. The memory chamber had taken its toll on her body, and now that she was exerting herself it was starting to show. "Be strong!" She screamed to herself, pushing onward in till she finally reached a gaping hole in the ceiling, where a ladder came down. She grasped the blackened steel rails and began to climb. Every rung she pulled herself up racked her arms and legs, but she continued. Beads of sweat poured down her face, as well as plumes of dirt as the small shaft which she was climbing up began to feel the tremors caused by the dome. It would happen within a minute or so she thought, and the top was quite a ways from her current position. "Hang in there girl." She tried to have confidence. One hand over the next. She coughed as dirt continued to pile down on top of her, and for a moment she thought the entrance had been closed off, but she kept climbing, and then...A loud sound and tremor shook and she was almost flung from the ladder. With one final surge she grasped the shaking ladder and pulled herself over the edge and rolled from the opening all the while coughing and wheezing. Her mind was all fuzzy as she started to crawl away from the dome, and her heart pounded inside of her chest. There was a large explosion under the ground, and she could feel the heat from the gravel she was on.

'I can't go on...if I'm not...far enough...then I'll die, as simple as that..I'll fall to my death.' A plume of smoke emerged from under the ground. She tried to crawl away, finding places where she could breath the air. There didn't seem to be any flames but it was still very hot it seemed. In a daze she continued to crawl, the rocks cutting into her palms, and she never could recall a time in her life, feeling this much pain. There were holes in her pants, her sweatshirt, and she felt that her shoes were probably severely broken into now. She placed her head on her sleeved arm and closed her eyes. It was here that Rey Pichanto succumbed to her injuries and passed out sprawled on the edge of the sunken dome structure.

A group of medical personnel where approaching the domes, trucks, and other heavily militarized vehicles suddenly began to approach. Whoever it was that built these structures, whatever purpose it stood for, it was all going down the drain. The final hour had passed. Now, only the uncertain aftermath remains...

/end

~Next Time on Scratch: The Invisible Reunion~
As the survivors of the dome incident are medically treated and cared for, the days pass full of uncertainty. Hiro, Kaz, Toru and Rey visit the city of Stadweld one last time...for their invisible reunion.


Author's Note: The majority of this post was not edited or peer reviewed. Please forgive me for any inconsistencies in the writing.  

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Chapter Nineteen: The Hero's Return

The power lock behind the door clicked and the massive, well polished steel frame slid back, and in the doorway of the darkened room stood a near invisible figure who peered into the silence tentatively, before turning on a tiny flashlight he held in his hand. Lying in the center of the symmetrical room which held a very unpleasant cool temperature and obscurity which would make anyone doubt their sanity, was a girl flat on her stomach, with her shirt pulled up halfway across her shoulders, and a severe looking burn etched into her torso. The figure whistled, as he was amazed by the scene, and then he came up to the girl and placed a hand on her back, slowly bringing her shirt down over her wound, careful not to disturb it. Then placing his hand on her shoulder firmly he bent down and whispered into her ear.

"Naida! Are you alright?" He asked, and she slowly opened her tear stained eyes, and blinked for a moment, unable to see the person who was leaning down next to her. They were kind words being spoken to her, and it was strange, did she know who this was? "Hiro...?" She mumbled, trying to discern the identity of the man. "You don't remember me, do you Nadia? We spoke just a few months ago, remember?" He asked, slowly standing her up, and she winced as the skin of her burn mark stretched, and yet she leaned on the man as he held her upright. She strained her tormented mind, trying to remember who this stranger was. A few names came to mind, as they made their way to the exit. "Troy?" She asked quietly, as he helped her to the threshold of the doorway. "Yes, that's right." He continued to soothe her, looking over her once more the man grimaced. "Jesus Christ, who did this to you?" He asked looking over her stressed face, and withering features and she shook her head. "I...I don't know, I can't think, my head..." She closed her eyes letting out a low sigh, feeling a fresh tear come to her eyes. The man, who called himself Troy wiped her tear away and brushed back her hair. Oh how I wish I could have gotten my hands on your well protected secrets, but there is still time for that. He thought looking sympathetically at her before standing up. "You need to get out of here..." He said quietly looking around to see if anyone was around. "The higher ups, my superiors, betrayed everyone. They are planning on destroying the domes." He knelt down next to her again. She tried hard to keep her eyes open, trying to listen to his words. "You need to get out of here Nadia..." He was saying, and she let out a gasp of pain and he looked around. "Do you hear that soft hissing sound? That's the warning..." He paused for a moment again, as if to check if anyone was coming before turning back to her. "There is a way to stop it Nadia." He was saying and she shook her head. "Troy, I...I can't move..." She spoke faintly, and he placed a shoulder on her arm. "You've got to try, I can't carry you out of here..." He said, looking fairly somber, and she had little idea as to why. A vague memory of a person, a man she only met a few times. "Hiro...get Hiro..." She said pointing behind her. "Please...Troy...he can save me...he must." She insisted, and the man nodded firmly grasping her shoulder. "It's getting worse Nadia, I need to finish up elsewhere." He said looking at the walls, as if expecting them to explode right then and there. "You have to tell him. There's a generator down the hall. I can open the door, but I have no time to explain it to him. Do you understand?" He asked. "Generator...down the hall..." She nodded. "Good luck Nadia..." he left her there, and walked away to the other door, and typed in a password on the keypad. He was surprised how little guards there were considering the intensity of the security. Most of them were connected to the Hive Net, and were probably unconscious, or being rehabilitated. No wonder the higher ups decided to trash the place. Everything had fallen to pieces, and even from his point of view, not all had gone as he would have liked. After the large steel door hissed, and began to swing outward, the man began to run away from the scene. Now I've got to grab Meredith, and get the hell out of here before anything unexpected happens. Wouldn't want the Big K. breathing down my neck...

The numbness that had claimed the dreamy seventeen year old was started to fade, as he had slipped off into a strange subconscious state. There were images of his mother and father smiling and waving to him, there were his own visualizations of Nadia being stretched out, tortured and beaten, and it had caused him to awake with a start as his eyes opened slowly to the sound of a large door opening. There was light filtering into his room, and quickly blinked off and on. He didn't want to think of who it was. His insides felt completely full of trash. Every single bad emotion had been drained into that overwhelming pit, which was expanding it felt like, and he wanted to explode. There were footsteps retreating off into the distance, quickly fading away, as if the person who had opened his door didn't want to be there when he woke up, or perhaps they were in a hurry. A revolution? It's not the police... His mind was torn to shreds, but somehow because of that he was able to think clearly for a change. Nadia...Nadia's door must be open too! But...what will I find? What is beyond that mysterious wall ? He was afraid of her. He was afraid that she'd be scarred beyond repair. He was afraid that she was not who he thought, maybe she was an actor, a spy? He felt so much for her, all of his guilt, and rage, he was beating himself up more and more. I can't..face her now can I? We're strangers...that only makes it worse...I have no chance at forgiveness. 


Her back against the wall, the girl could feel the stinging pain of the many burn marks etched across her body. They stung like a hornet's nest was glued to her body. Yet it was that very same pain which kept her away. She drew in breath, thinking of when she was first taken in. What was her purpose here? She used to know so much of this place, the people, their faces blended together, as if she was trying to look at them while riding on a carousel. Yet there was a name she knew, and she had to be strong. The hissing sound that Troy spoke of was growing increasingly urgent. Clenching her fist she mustered all of her strength bringing it to a peak, and releasing it out with as much vigor as she could bring forth. "Hiro!" She called out his name loudly. "Hiro!" She called again, wincing, keeping her fists clenched, and ignoring the tears rolling down her cheeks. "Hiro...come...save...us!" She cried out again. 


"Hiro!" He could hear her voice, it jolted him, as at first it sounded like an accusation, but then it came again, and it shocked him to his feet. It was a plea, a sound, a plea, was he hearing things? He crept to the entrance of his room, shaking the numbness from his body, he moved forward into the hallway, where he saw her arm, and foot, she was against her own doorway. He pressed forward, pausing momentarily. Nadia! He couldn't speak the words just yet, as he inched closer. "Hiro...come...save...us!" She breathed out, and he closed his eyes, and stepped beyond in front of her, leaning down next to her, opening his eyes, and seeing her now in front of him, looking at him with a smile on her face. That smile melted away his guilt and fear, he felt the overwhelming pit dissolve, as she took his hand into her own, and nodded. "I can see...it, in your eyes...what you wish to say..." She said quietly shaking her head. "It's not your fault Hiro..." She struck the final note, and he couldn't help but tear up a bit himself. It was odd to him, to him, he would have never thought to have actually been here, standing in front of the girl, the girl who had kept him company for so long. She looked okay, she would be okay, she would not die here, or at least he hoped not, if Nadia died, it would...it would bring the guilt back to him all over again. "I...I don't know what to say..." he admitted, feeling suddenly awkward, holding onto her arm, being her strength, being her crutch. She was in a lot of pain, he needed to get her out of here. "I need to get you out of here..." He echoed his mind, turning towards the spiraling hallway. It certainly wasn't the way he had come in, he looked back the other way, vaguely remembering the garage they had come in, and noticing that the door wasn't there anymore. "No...time...you must...stop the generator...down the hall..." she closed her eyes and slowly tipped her head back. "I...rest, okay?" She smiled slightly, and her hand slipped from his own, and he looked at her scared for a moment that she had actually died. But her soft breathing reassured him that it wasn't the case, and with some relief, he stood up. "Why do I have to stop the generator?" He asked out loud to nobody in particular, but he couldn't deny that what she told him was important. He would do anything for her. He knew it, that somewhere inside of him, that guilt persisted. It wasn't over in till it was over. 


Now, it's the Hero's turn to shine!

He came to the end of the hallway, which had been spiraling down the entire way, and he noticed a large door with a caution sign on it: "High voltage" it read, and he felt worried. He was no technician. He pressed his hand against the door as if it were a rabid beast, and with utmost care he pushed it open and found himself in a rather large room where a massive generator hummed violently. There was a large fence between him and the physical generator, and there were signs indicating that it wasn't safe to approach them with anything metallic. He inched forward, checking his pockets, to make sure there was nothing as such, even though he still felt a jolt of anxiety. He knew full well that this high powered generator was capable of zapping the very life out of him. It seemed to be under a lot of duress, as it was working extremely hard to keep the domes running. Sticking the back wall, he examined the room to see if there was any indication of a button he should press, if such a machine could be turned off that easily.

It was here that Hiro came across a dilemma. There were two glass boxes, which sat on the far ends of the room. As he examined them closely, he noticed that these were in fact, the off/on switches for the generator. If one were to pull them down simultaneously, it would cause the machine to power down in about a half-hour's time. Judging by the immense stress the generators appeared to be under, it was probably certain that even though it would take a half hour to cool down, the most laborious task would cease immediately. Meaning that by turning off the generator, the most important function the domes structure was caring out would be nullified. Yet how do I manage to pull down both levers at the same time?


The entire dome structure was starting to ring out a horrible sound, the high pitched hissing was replaced with a  blaring siren, that echoed throughout the entire building, many of which were full of motionless corpses. As Toru was venturing from the computer room, he had become reunited with his gas mask in the strange 'memory' laboratory.  Knowing that gas could easily be employed through the walls, and also knowing that the entire building was going berserk, it was probably  a good idea to pick up his gear, and head towards the coordinates Amy gave him. Once more he assumed that the woman would not harm the civilian he had liberated. Miss Gladrin seemed like a sweet girl after all. She supposedly had come all this way for her sister, who was supposedly, to be somewhere in this place. He had a feeling that whoever this Senba impostors were, they certainly wouldn't settle for just one test subject. There had to be more, and this 'prison' that assumed existed, was at the very bottom of the structure. His head was still a bit fuzzy from his knock out that he had recovered from minutes previously, however ff everything worked according to his sloppy, quickly thrown together plan, then he would be able to come out on top of all this. Though he had no idea what the blaring, obnoxious siren meant, he had a pretty bad feeling about what it was about. The entire building must be malfunctioning in a very drastic fashion. As he worked his way through the doors, and back into the spiraling hallway that he had first broken into, he came across someone who was running towards him in a frenzied sort of panic. Instinctively he raised his gun to challenge the runner, who stopped in his tracks as he realized he was being held up. It was a young man, clothed in street clothes, and he looked genuinely worried, and slightly familar, as Toru thought he had seen such a man right after he had been gassed. "It's you!" Toru exclaimed through the gas mask, and the young man shrugged. "What kind of greeting is that? Hey, I could've turned you in, you owe me one Senba kid." He said with a smile. "You do have a point, but I'd like to know what's going on first, before I go and make some more 'noise'" The young man smiled darkly. "The louder the noise gets, the closer this place gets to turning to ash, along with everyone who is unfortunate enough to be stuck inside." He scratched his head slightly. Damn it! I was right! They are trying to cover up the evidence by exploding the entire building! There are causalities in here, but it's not like I really care, but all of my hard earned evidence will be washed down the drain! I can't let that happen! "Is there a way to stop it?" He asked and the man shrugged. "Rumor has it that there is a generator running the electricity now that the direct power line was cut off...if two people were to trigger the switch, then it would power down, ultimately preventing it from self destruction..." What kind of rumor is that? Who does this punk think he is? "So what the hell are we waiting for? Let's go turn the damn think off!" Toru yelled, keeping his gun out on the man who shook his head. "Yeah right! It's all the way down on the bottom floor! It's too risky to make it there in time!" Toru paused. "You forget, there might be some kind of dirt on me here, I'd rather escape now, and let the damn thing blow up." He said side-stepping Toru expertly, and darting off into one of the other rooms. "Shit! Shit! Shit!" Toru put away his gun, not even bothering to go after the strange man, and he began to sprint down the spiraling hallway in hopes of reaching the generator in time, as well as a partner to help him. Double checking his phone, he knew that the prisons were in the same vacinity. If he was lucky, he could liberate a well minded civilian to help him. I wonder if it's because I'm acting like a commando, that I keep thinking of them as 'civilians?' 
 
 The man stalled for a moment behind the door he darted into, peering back as he watched Toru disappeared out of sight. "Well, well...unless my eyes are lying to me, that must have been the Senba executive's heir..." He said with a slight smile. "He may actually buy me some more time..." He then continued his quick pace up the dome, and in finding a room near the top, he entered a key-code and pressed into a room and he quickly closed the door. There were at least ten giant TV monitors, all hooked up large control panels. They were all showing different areas of the dome structure, and inside of the room there stood an irritated blonde woman, and a silent man who had been in command of the armed troops. "Trey! What the hell is going on?! Who tripped the self-destruct mechanism?" The blonde woman asked and Trey shook his head, pulling out his own gun and pointing at the superior. "Get out of here." He spoke to the man who looked surprised for a moment, but then reluctantly glancing at the woman he smiled slightly before walking out of the door. The woman looked even more irritated at the new development but Trey put the gun away and quickly shut off the monitoring system one by one. "Just what are you planning on doing?" She asked skeptically. "Listen Meredith, we don't have any time left. We have to get out of here." He was talking fast as he continued to shut down the monitors. "What do you mean?" She asked standing up, feeling a bit nervous now that Trey actually sounded worried. "It's the Big K's orders. They had their guy trip the self destruct. They're flushing us down the toilet." He finished up with the monitors, and he quickly opened the door, flashing out his gun to make sure that militant bastard wasn't still hanging around. "The Big K? You mean she...she cut us off?" Meredith sounded pissed off and frightened at the same time. "Yes. Stadweld is a failure." He commented leading them down the hallway. "And who's fault is that?" She asked, and Trey stopped and sighed. "If you really must point fingers, it was Cylinder." He said quietly. "Cylinder? No way. They were here? How did they know?" She asked and they continued to move. "I don't know, it was Sen's job to make sure that they didn't..." He said passing up one of the exits. "Where exactly are we going?" She asked looking around. "The maintenance tunnel. Luckily for us, everyone who knows about it is in the other dome." He smiled kicking down a door, revealing a long staircase leading down to a tunnel. "It takes us out of the city, there will be car there for us." He said and Meredith stopped suddenly. "We can't leave without Amy." She said firmly. "Amy is the only programmer we have left." She turned to Trey who looked a bit annoyed. "Do you really think they'll let us back in?" He asked, and she smirked. "If it really is Sen's fault, then of course. We know too much as it is." Thinking that stealing Amy away would definitely play a major role in crippling Hive, Trey nodded. "Alright, you get going, I'll go grab Amy and follow behind you." He said closing the door, and looking around before continuing off again.  

The young girl awoke to the sound of rushing water, and she thought for a moment that she was back home, and her brother was taking his morning shower, and that when he was done, he would come in and shake her awake so she could get ready for school. Even as she looked up at the dark ceiling, she knew that that wasn't the case. Despite the fogginess of her mind, she could feel the pit of despair rising in her stomach. The events which had unfolded the past week had frightened more so than any other in her short life. Carefully, she removed the covers of her bed, and timidly walked onto the carpet. Her door was slightly ajar, just how it was left when she was first put to rest there. Usually, her brother Jack would be waiting for her as she awoke. She knew that he would smile, and act nice, and give her breakfast, she knew that he would ask her to consider joining him, yet for some reason it frightened her. When they had taken him, he went with them, and when he came back he was not the same. He was a different person all together, and it frightened her so much, she wanted to cry, she wanted to scream...yet he was not here no, with that thinly veiled smile, masking his deceit and betrayal. There was only the sound of water, and feeling a bit dizzy, she pushed her way past the door and into the living room. As her eyes adjusted to the light, she soon grew terrified of something else. The table was broken, the chairs were flung about the room, it looked as if a tornado had ripped through their fake home. Her eyes trailed through the room in till they settled on a body, lying limp on the kitchen floor, and she quietly stepped forward, holding on her white night gown with trembling hands, as she turned around the corner of the counter, she saw her brother's empty stare look up at the ceiling, and she screamed from the top of her lungs. Beside his bleeding head, there was a large bowl, which was also cracked it seemed that someone had attacked her brother. Not far from his hand was a syringe, which was probably full of some kind of sedative. He must have gone after someone, someone...She turned around swiftly, looking at the open bathroom door, listening to the water run, and then she went back to her brother. Bending down slowly, she tapped his shoulder. "Jack." She called to him in her quiet voice. She shook him rigorously. "Jack. Jack. Jack." She said his name over and over again. She wondered if she could cry. She didn't feel the tears come to her eyes. There was a tinge of sorrow edging ever closer, in till finally it overcame her. She rubbed her eyes with her sweating palm, shaking his body again. "Jack!" She cried out. The attack was probably in the bathroom, she reached out for the syringe. She wasn't sure what she was thinking. She was angry. She was angry that her brother was dead, when he wasn't even himself. She at least wanted to see him against as he was. She wanted the normal Jack. The boy who had protected her for her entire life. He was dead, he was gone, there was no bringing Jack back to her now. 

She tip-toed quickly over the broken shards of glass, and slowly pressed back the door to the bathroom, and stepped onto the tile. Upon entering the bathroom, her rage turned to shock as she saw the sunken Kaz in the shower, his eyes could hardly look up at her, but he was entirely conscious. The syringe in her hand dropped to the floor. "...Kaz?" She asked quietly, and the boy didn't respond for a while, letting the cold water run over his head, he slowly looked up, a tired look in his eyes. "Kylie..." He replied, looking back down. "What the hell was I thinking..." He said closing his eyes, and shaking his head. A wave of emotion was pulsing through the girl. She wanted revenge for her brother, she wanted to kill the one who had brought a tragic end to the only one who stood up for her, but there was another, another who stood up for her. The balance between her, Jack, and Kaz, was unique. But now it was no more. She stood there shaking, shaking dropping to her knees. Her life, it seemed over. The water turned off, and she watched as Kaz dragged his soaking wet, battered body from the shower and he came over to her, wrapping his cold arms around her and whispered into her ear. "I...killed him. I had to. You...you have the right to hate me, Kylie...I wish...I wish I could have brought him back to you...what kind of friend am I?" He asked and she accepted his embrace, feeling the gravity of his own sorrow. "No Kaz...even though...it was you who killed my brother..." she sniffed, feeling the tears resurface again. "I can never hate you..." Those words may have brought them both to a resounding new light. But the scars of the incident would remain a burden in their minds for time to come. 


Then the door to the small living quarters burst open. "Kaz? Kaz are you in here?" A familiar voice called out, and the young man staggered to his feet. "Michi? Are you alright? What happened to you?" He asked, stumbling through the door, and a tear soaked Kylie followed. Michi had stopped dead in the room, looking at the boy lying dead near the kitchen cupboard, and then back at the weary Kaz, and the young girl, and all kinds of conclusions and thoughts passed through her already invigorated mind. There will be time for this later. "We need to go." She said urgently, coming up to him, offering him her support. She turned to the little girl who looked at her mysteriously almost. "You...must be Kylie." She said quietly, reaching out her hand. "Come on, we should leave." She tried to smile, and the girl timidly took it. 


The main event, is quickly approaching.

How do I trigger these simultaneously? "Hey! Is anyone here? Huh, who is this girl?" Someone was saying, and Hiro, looked out of the generator door, and looking up from the spiraling hallway, yelled out. "Hey! Down here, quick!" He was saying, and there were footsteps, quickly following down the hallway, and the two came face to face. "God damn that buzzing is annoying the fucking shit out of me!" The boy exclaimed, ripping off his gas mask, seeing that there was in fact a conscious person present down here. "Come on, we don't have much time!" Hiro was saying, leading the man into the generator room. "You see that glass box? Hold onto the switch, on the count of three, we just pull down." He said. "Got it. Alright, let's do this!" 
One
Two
Three!

/end


Sadly, the author of the series was running out of thought. There were probably some scenes which were rushed. The chapter is probably not as long as the standard chapter, [ever notice that for Hiro chapters?]. And seeing how the last chapter was 12 pages long, easily becoming the longest chapter written for the Scratch Series thus far. 

The next chapter is in fact the final chapter of the Dome Arc. [Remember the first ten chapters acted as a set-up for these chapters?]. To get you all on the same page...here is a little insight as to what's going on, especially since TIME is a big issue here. When did Kaz and Michi arrive, how long were they unconscious for? When did the buses arrive? When did Toru actually begin his infiltration? It can all get jumbled up as to where people are, and where people are going. Right now, Hiro and Toru are in the bottom most level of Dome B, where they are going to trigger the turning off of the generator. Trey, who used his alias Troy when speaking to Nadia, is proceeding to retrieve Meredith [the sadistic blonde woman] and Amy [the girl who is currently looking after Norie]. Meanwhile, Michi [who was literally given the opportunity to do whatever she wanted because Trey really enjoys the chaos of things don't you think?], somehow finds Kaz and Kylie [and the sadly deceased Jack]. She says they need to hurry. Because the place is going to explode. But who do you think Michi is? 

For the next chapter we have two very interesting parts: We have the events which take place in Dome B, [Toru, Hiro, Michi, Kaz, Kylie, Norie, Amy, Meredith, Trey, Nadia, and probably some other people I am totally forgetting about...>.<] and the events which take place in Dome A, [Dare, Lei, Rey, Sen and the lovable Maki!]. Sen mentioned in the previous chapter that the self destruct system had been tripped. Now remember, Dome A is underground, making escape not as easy as running out of the exit. There are also some other things to consider as well. Such as things like "Cylinder" and "Big K" these are set ups for the next arc, which will come after some afterward time, and hopefully everything will clear up...I don't know if this story makes very much sense. My bad habit of having characters appear is very strange. [Why was Trey in that security room before Toru arrived? Did that really happen? [reference: Secrets in Sedation]. So just understand that Trey likes Chaos. Is he really a dead boy? Well we all know he is a good actor...right? What am I even going on about? You know this is just the author trying to justify his own story. Were you surprised by Maki? Oh, oh! I'll give you a little hint about the next arc! Remember that chapter when Maki was in the school bathroom, and someone slipped her a note? [I believe it was in one of the connecting the dots chapters]. It said something like C#1. That is very crucial. :) 

Signing off, this is Dark Ryan Smiling smiles smile... something...Keep reading. It's coming to the climax, though I must say this chapter wasn't as well written I didn't think, or it was rushed towards the end. Sorry that's late. From my point of view, I missed Saturday by two hours. :(