your local fluxbuddy

> You step out into the clearing, and—

> Who is that?

...

Stay here, Nebula.

> You lift an arm in their direction, to keep them from going further.

> then, you’re trudging forward, cautious eyes staring at the stranger.

... a husk?... you guys haven’t been messing with clones, have you? Wait, you wouldn’t know, you’ve been hangin’ out with me.

> You step closer.

Oh god, it’s...

...

Virus.

You’re defending the guy who literally has been lying to you ever since you met him. The guy who faked his own death. The guy who forced me to work at his stupid lab until my brain melted.

> You step out into the clearing, and—

> Who is that?

...

Stay here, Nebula.

> You lift an arm in their direction, to keep them from going further.

> then, you’re trudging forward, cautious eyes staring at the stranger.

... a husk?... you guys haven’t been messing with clones, have you? Wait, you wouldn’t know, you’ve been hangin’ out with me.

> You step closer.

Oh god, it’s...

> Thankfully, there’s a tree to catch your fall.

> Steadying yourself, and holding your knuckle to the blood trickling down your nose, you glare at the one who’d punched you.

the hell are you?... wait, you’re Virus, right? Xeph’s——

> Your eyes widen as they land on Virus’ companion.

...Xephos.

> your hand lowers, turning into a fist.

I’d recognize your original anywhere.

> YOU WERE RIGHT about your theory earlier. You choke back a laugh.

>You point a claw in husk’s direction, before slowly dragging it along the air and point it in Lalna’s direction, snarling.

A̡nd̢ ̷I̧ ̸w̨i͟l̨l t̸e̕a̶r yo̡u ap͝art̡ b́y͏ ͞my͏ ̧o̴wn h̵an̢d͏s͜.͘ ̕G͡ot ̧i͟t?

>You’re glaring daggers, and it takes you a few moments to recognise what he was saying.

>Your face falls, for only a moment, but you look back with a sharper glare and even sharper claws.

Wa̸i̛t, th̛e̶ ҉O͘r̕i̢g̶in̕al? Did ҉that͠ b͠l̵ow t̸o ͟th͏e ́he͞a͟d͝ ̶hurt ͞you͢ ҉more th҉a͡n ̷I ͜th̀ou͢ght,̢ La̡lna?

>You pause, looking back over at the man, then back to Lalna.

>You look at Nebula, and a wave of slight calm seemed to rush over you, thank god at least they’re here.

>You close your eyes and take a few calming breaths, dimming the light in your eyes and the fire in your soul.

He’s come to, from what I’ve heard, find the Xephos here that....

>You grip your claw-fists tighter.

...Him. He was sent here with a crew to look for Him. They’ve been in space for a while, and everything I’ve heard about it suggests this man must be some... clone from another planet.

>You reveal slightly sharper than usual teeth in a small smirk, oh thats new, as you’d step forwards, beckoning Lalna closer.

> You look at Nebula, knowing you shared that feeling of helplessness they had on their face.

> Utter helpless confusion.

> Except this wasn’t their fault.

> It was yours.

Um... Virus...

> You look at Husk. Disgust and guilt and confusion is filling you, until it’s all you can think of.

>Getting in between whatever Virus is becoming and their.. prey is a terrible idea, and your whole nervous system is screaming that loud and clear, but it’s not like you can just watch them kill each other! 

Don’t you get it? He tricked you! All of that is just a lie! I didn’t work in that damn cloning lab for all my life just for some kid to— to—

SHUT UP!

> You hate being interrupted. Even by your-

> Your...

> ...Nebula.

> you squeeze your eyes shut, then turn your head towards Virus and Xephos.

He must’ve gone into his original clone and left the one you were familiar with to die. Then, you brought the decoy back to life. Clones can be brought back, but they just become husks if they don’t have nuthin in them. The Husk is proof that the guy next to you is Xephos. It means he’s back, he never left, he never died.

> You wipe the blood on your face, but it only creates a crimson smear.

your friend and I have unfinished business. He’s coming with me.

> You step out into the clearing, and—

> Who is that?

...

Stay here, Nebula.

> You lift an arm in their direction, to keep them from going further.

> then, you’re trudging forward, cautious eyes staring at the stranger.

... a husk?... you guys haven’t been messing with clones, have you? Wait, you wouldn’t know, you’ve been hangin’ out with me.

> You step closer.

Oh god, it’s...

> Thankfully, there’s a tree to catch your fall.

> Steadying yourself, and holding your knuckle to the blood trickling down your nose, you glare at the one who’d punched you.

the hell are you?... wait, you’re Virus, right? Xeph’s——

> Your eyes widen as they land on Virus’ companion.

...Xephos.

> your hand lowers, turning into a fist.

I’d recognize your original anywhere.

> YOU WERE RIGHT about your theory earlier. You choke back a laugh.

> You step out into the clearing, and—

> Who is that?

...

Stay here, Nebula.

> You lift an arm in their direction, to keep them from going further.

> then, you’re trudging forward, cautious eyes staring at the stranger.

... a husk?... you guys haven’t been messing with clones, have you? Wait, you wouldn’t know, you’ve been hangin’ out with me.

> You step closer.

Oh god, it’s...

Couldn’t be Xephos in there, no, definitely not... a true husk, I think, but that means—

That... means...

> Are you... laughing from anger or genuine amusement?

> the question itself makes you laugh harder.

Why- why’s there zombies. Why is there a zombie at my house. >You kinda.. feel bad for it, as horrifying as the concept alone is. It’s not Xephos- it’s just.. a thing. And it looks scared. >Your flux flattens slowly, and you creep up closer to tug on Lalna’s coat

> You back away from the husk a few steps.

... We really should try to get it’s memories before it dies, though. These dudes only ever last a few hours.

> Oh. It’s ... writing something?

> the husk turns its notebook towards you.

> You step out into the clearing, and—

> Who is that?

...

Stay here, Nebula.

> You lift an arm in their direction, to keep them from going further.

> then, you’re trudging forward, cautious eyes staring at the stranger.

... a husk?... you guys haven’t been messing with clones, have you? Wait, you wouldn’t know, you’ve been hangin’ out with me.

> You step closer.

Oh god, it’s...

Couldn’t be Xephos in there, no, definitely not... a true husk, I think, but that means—

That... means...

> Are you... laughing from anger or genuine amusement?

> the question itself makes you laugh harder.

> You step out into the clearing, and—

> Who is that?

...

Stay here, Nebula.

> You lift an arm in their direction, to keep them from going further.

> then, you’re trudging forward, cautious eyes staring at the stranger.

... a husk?... you guys haven’t been messing with clones, have you? Wait, you wouldn’t know, you’ve been hangin’ out with me.

> You step closer.

Oh god, it’s...

Couldn’t be Xephos in there, no, definitely not... a true husk, I think, but that means—

That... means...

> Are you... laughing from anger or genuine amusement?

> the question itself makes you laugh harder.

> your laughter is more of a cackle.

Kidding! Yeah, that sounds uh, horrible. Can’t do spiders. Nasty buggers.

>It was kind of fun, being somewhere where everyone doesn't have to know where you are all the time

>Where you aren't the one putting out the fires.

>...well, thats just rude. You blame that particular section of bitterness on the flux, and promptly chuck it aside. You shouldn't ignore your new mentor, anyhow!

> You’re used to this journey, having visited multiple times, for various reasons. Sometimes it was more convenient to do your experiments in the clearings surrounding the base.

>Sometimes you just got lonely.

>Nevertheless, the trudge through the wilderness was simple now. You look behind to see how Nebula is doing.

>You’re getting closer. You slow your pace, so you have more time to talk.

I wonder if she’ll be home

>Your memories reach out towards someone much like Robothian, except less... metal.

>You would like to see if he’s like Rythian on the inside.

>Your smile dies down at the thought. Or perhaps you’re just biting it back. Not wanting to smile at the wrong time.

>It was kind of fun, being somewhere where everyone doesn't have to know where you are all the time

>Where you aren't the one putting out the fires.

>...well, thats just rude. You blame that particular section of bitterness on the flux, and promptly chuck it aside. You shouldn't ignore your new mentor, anyhow!

> You’re used to this journey, having visited multiple times, for various reasons. Sometimes it was more convenient to do your experiments in the clearings surrounding the base.

>Sometimes you just got lonely.

>Nevertheless, the trudge through the wilderness was simple now. You look behind to see how Nebula is doing.

>You’re getting closer. You slow your pace, so you have more time to talk.

I wonder if she’ll be home

>It was kind of fun, being somewhere where everyone doesn't have to know where you are all the time

>Where you aren't the one putting out the fires.

>...well, thats just rude. You blame that particular section of bitterness on the flux, and promptly chuck it aside. You shouldn't ignore your new mentor, anyhow!

> You’re used to this journey, having visited multiple times, for various reasons. Sometimes it was more convenient to do your experiments in the clearings surrounding the base.

>Sometimes you just got lonely.

>Nevertheless, the trudge through the wilderness was simple now. You look behind to see how Nebula is doing.

>which question was that reponse to? You’re not sure, and frankly, you’re not about to explore that part of yourself.

>As the two of you are picking up, silence rests in the air. It makes you uncomfortable, being lost in your thoughts; you don’t like to be confined in your head. With a sigh, you look over at Nebula.

>They don’t know yet.

>But they could know. They’d probably be okay with it.

Whoa! Um, no- no, I think I’m good- >He lets go of your hand, and you do a quick check of it, although you don’t feel anything wrong Yeah- yeah, I’m ok

>you start to walk towards Nebula’s room.

Oh, ok.. It did look kinda worrying, haha!

>You fiddle with the straps on your backpack

I, um, don’t have much stuff with me, so I don’t have too much to set up, but, it is.. pretty messy in there… Um, not that it’s a big deal! It’d just be nice to have some help cleaning it up n stuff… 

>You grab an empty box of Jaffa cakes and start deconstructing it for easier disposal.

Here, I can get a... bag or something, one sec

>You leave the room briefly and return with a trash bag

Whoa! Um, no- no, I think I’m good- >He lets go of your hand, and you do a quick check of it, although you don’t feel anything wrong Yeah- yeah, I’m ok

>you start to walk towards Nebula’s room.