Lore And Depression

On a lazy day where he wasn’t too busy, Sylus realized he had not gotten the notification that she entered her apartment yet, despite it being almost an hour since she got off work. He currently had Mephisto on a reconnaissance mission instead of following his favorite Hunter so he shot off a quick text to ask if she was running errands. No response, but it was read. Odd.

By the second hour he was already out the door and on the way to the Association, despite her protests she always nagged him with. With his contacts he was able to deduce she was sent out on a group mission that was under the radar. No big deal, she was a top performer in UNICORNS so of course she would be given difficult and secret missions. 

What was odd was that she never mentioned it. She frequently disclosed information that was probably NDA protected to him like it was nothing, trusting he would keep it secret (he always did). But she didn't mention any new mission or ask him to stock up on snacks like she usually did so afterwards she could crash and relax after a difficult assignment. Everything about this felt off.

Trusting his gut, he hacked into the Associations mission database to see where she would have gone.He felt something twist in his gut when the report showed that the mission was half baked at best, showing holes in the planning and even execution stages. How was something like this signed off by Captain Jenna?  Even the names of her partners were mostly foreign to him, not ones he recognized as a part of the main task force of UNICORNS anyway.

He then tracked every single Association vehicle that left the building, taking note of the carry capacity of the cars and when they were reserved. One was obviously out of place, having been reserved only an hour before use, the mission it was stated to be used for was obscure, and there were four confirmed individuals using the car despite the report saying it was supposed to be a quick in and out mission. 

Sylus had enough. He sped off on his motorcycle, traffic laws be damned, in the general direction of where the car was reportedly going, pulling Mephisto and the twins from their current missions to rendezvous with him.

This could all be nothing, a bizarre reporting error that the Association let slide.

But since it concerned her, he wasn't taking any chances.

When he arrived in a secluded part of the city, the first thing he noticed was the uncharacteristic silence. As if the surroundings were holding its breath. He was used to the loud buzz and chaos of the N-109 Zone, so this was more than unsettling. It was on the outskirts of Linkon, still somewhat nice looking compared to areas in the N-109 Zone, but just enough wear and tear to discourage normal civilians from visiting.

A perfect place to hide.

Mephisto arrived just in time to start scanning the surroundings with his built-in infrared eyes. His mechanical companion was quickly able to find activity not far from where Sylus was standing in an unassuming gray building. He was on his way, quickly and silently, using his Evol to stifle noises and clearing a path for him. The hallways of the building were worn, stray wires peeking out of the ceiling and windows had bullet holes littered throughout. This was a base, presumably for tenebra.

What awaited him was something out of a horror story. As he looked into the room where Mephisto reported movement, his Evol moved faster than him. Blood covered the floor, the lights were too bright, sterile walls and tables out of place in the dilapidated building. And her, unmoving, tied down on a gurney.

Rage doesn't even begin to explain what Sylus felt the moment he stepped into the room. Red mist ripped through the air, surrounding the culprits in an instant as if the entire force of his draconic power was pouring out. Any living being caught was snuffed out, not even allowed to scream. What remained of their bodies were blown out of the now shattered windows, reduced to nothing but red ash. The entire building shuddered under the pressure, threatening to collapse in on itself. Even Mephisto steered clear, the waves of energy enough to overload his Protocore.

Her body was free of the belts holding her down and in his arms, but he could already tell she was far gone, rigor mortis just beginning to set in. Her wrists had bruises and her face has tear stains. Sylus felt as if he couldn’t get enough air in his lungs.

There was a large, nasty cut on her chest, digging down to her heart. It was made with a blade that was not sharp enough, so whoever dared hurt her had to tear apart her chest to get to what they were after.

Her aether core was ripped from her body. 

It was in his hands after another second, away from the grimey floor, away from the greed that took it from her. It shined brightly, its energy still intact. He felt as if he couldn’t breathe, hands shaking. Did they knock her out or make her watch while they cut her open? The possibilities were endless, and all horrible thoughts.

Sylus could only stand there with her body in his arms. His expression was gaunt, his brows furrowed, and a frown settled into his lips. His current reaction seemed too little, but he was never one for theatrics, not even now. All he could feel now was a deep seated sorrow, an unbearable ache that now lived in his chest. 

There were no tears, no cries, though Sylus could now understand why humans did those things. Is this what his Sorceress felt after he left her time and time again? How could he do this to her?

Sylus thought he knew pain, of suffering. And maybe he did. But loss was different. Loss didn’t claw at him, leaving physical scars and bullet wounds. It hollowed him out, forcing him to look at life in a different light. A dark, meaningless life without her.

After what felt like another millenia passed, he carefully placed the aether core back in her chest, where it belonged. He knew that would do nothing, but it felt wrong to do anything else with it. 

He glanced over the room one more time before turning on his heels and leaving. It was an insult for her to be in this place any longer.

As he slowly carried her out of the building, his eyes never left her. She looked peaceful enough but he knew she suffered. His soul told him so.

As he looked, he was aware of a strange energy coalescing around him…no, her. It was slow, but strong and it was familiar. The aether core.

Her body became weightless in his arms. He had to grasp at what remained of her uniform to keep her from floating away. It would've been comical had the both of them not been covered in blood and her chest not torn open like a flock of vultures dug into her. 

The energy in his eyes glowed with a bright gold, just like her Evol. He felt his energy get swirled into the mix, his desires painted in with the aether cores power. If this was her final goodbye, Sylus would savor it, burn it into his memory and then some.

The energy flowed throughout her body until it burst out, shattering what remained of the windows in the building and managed to knock Sylus back a bit before his hands grasped at her again. A soon as she brushed his fingertips, he could smell life in her again, her pulse weak but steady. The incision on her chest was gone, not even a blemish left behind, instead he could feel the aether core pulse in her heart again, releasing more energy, tying the two together with their Evols. Resonance swirled around him, and he accepted, giving whatever power she needed , or rather, the aether core needed.

Her body was shaking and a strangled noise came from her chapped lips. Tears began to streak down her face but she remained unconscious, the trauma of the past still engrained in her body. Sylus didn't know when he started crying either. It wasn't loud nor dramatic, just quiet tears mingling with hers. He wasn't able to move until the twins reached them, ordering them to prepare the medical room.

Afterwards: 

She requested extended leave, having no choice as she was basically kidnapped by Sylus. He was glued to her, bringing her around everywhere with him, tightly wrapped up in his arms. Not that she minded. When she woke up, he was right by her, looking at her with reverence. They didn’t speak about it, or much of anything, just silently acknowledged they would in the future.

“…Sylus?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you.” He just looked at her gently, a soft smile reserved only for her gracing the exchange. He didn’t feel like he deserved her thanks after failing her so catastrophically, but he drank in her words regardless.

“Of course, my love.”

—————

What she didn't know was he was streamlining and overloading his schedule so he could leave with her on a retreat, somewhere, just the two of them. 

The next couple weeks were spent out of the cities, away from everything but each other. They both needed time after what happened. Sylus had never felt more vulnerable and broken than when he found her like that, not even when she pierced his heart for the first time. In that moment he had a purpose, to protect her, but when he saw her already lifeless body lying in a place she had no business being in, something akin to fear enveloped him and never left. It left him uncomfortable and unable to sit still, his only peace being her heartbeat, strong and steady.

They would have to work hard to move past this, the air surrounding them still charged with uncertainty and hurt, but for now, all they needed was time away from the noise of the cities. 

To just love and cherish one another.

——————————————————————————

Xavier

I think Vs DJ Subatomic Supernova mostly bc of the space vibes

The entire boss fight is space themed so

Zayne

Vs Yinu bc of the kind of boss battle sophisticated it is. I think it’s the right amount of hopeful and tragic

Also the irony that Zayne can’t play the piano well is really funny

Sylus

Vs Tatiana bc he is the final boss lol (the edm ver is good too)

The chorus really sells it, kind of Tomorrows Catch-22 vibes

Caleb

Vs 1010 (totally not bc of the robot theme) But also I think the rock version is a good fit, I dunno might just be me

Goofy ah boy band

Anyways yeah, I have an all LI’s story prompt coming out, this was just filler

“Don’t be too shocked.” Dr. Greyson thought it odd, but maintaining an air of professionalism, rushed to get the new patient to an examination room. There had been an influx of people arriving at the hospital, the only way to get to them all was to quickly treat and move on. 

From the very brief rundown Dr. Zayne gave, Greyson went to work undoing the bandages around the man’s arm to assess the cut. It wasn’t too deep but definitely needed stitches. With practiced hands, the cut was cleaned, disinfected, and stitched in no time. But as Greyson was stitching, he could practically feel how cold the man’s arm was. It was an unnatural cold, not only because it was the middle of summer, but also it emanated off in waves, the cool air making Greyson shiver.

Also the way this man was dressed was strangely familiar… 

Finally looking at who he was treating, he almost stumbled back in surprise.

Zayne?? 

No wonder Dr. Zayne felt the need to warn him. The sight in front of him was almost too absurd to be real.

The uncanny resemblance made it seem like he was just staring at Dr. Zayne but like you, Greyson caught on to some discrepancies that separated this man from the doctor. 

Still, looking at a carbon copy of his coworker was strange. Genetics were scary. Dr. Greyson decided to move the man to a proper hospital bed as the cold was concerning, possibly early signs of Evol sickness or Protocore Syndrome.

What are the chances Dr. Zayne’s doppelgänger had a cold Evol as well? 

—————————

 Dawnbreaker couldn’t move. The flashes of light blended together into a mess he cared not to try and understand. He briefly heard his own voice hurriedly speak before vanishing, leaving him to swim in the murky depths of his consciousness. 

He could hear his own heart beat, faster than it should. Feel how his Evol still chilled his skin. But all he could see in his mind's eye was you.

 When he first heard shots ring out in the Protofield, he thought he was hallucinating, his brain finally shutting down after days of just seeing Wanderers. Then someone burst through the hoard and reached out to him. Who could be so reckless as to do that? 

When your hand touched his, it felt as if the hours of the hell induced, desperate fighting washed off of him. His Evol felt a little less heavy in his chest. Like ice being cracked and melted off of a lake's surface. It felt familiar, as if he experienced it before in a dream. He knew it was you in a heartbeat.

 It felt as if his soul was being hugged, comforting him in a way that made him feel unbelievably vulnerable. He reached out, trying to gain more, feel more, until you collapsed, breaking him out of his stupor. It wasn’t his intention to take more than you could give, just after years of looking through a blurry window of shattered dreams and nightmares, having you tangible? Physically in his hands? He relished the feeling.

 You were the beacon of hope and light he crawled to, his one last string of sanity. All of the awful things he subjected himself to were bearable when you appeared before him, even if it was just a fleeting moment. Every wound, blemish, and scar that riddled his body was worth it. In his dreams he had memorized every detail he could. Your face, the way your eyes crinkled when you laughed. How the sun kissed your skin when you twirled around outside, laughing and joking to...him. The doctor. 

That strange, familiar feeling festered inside him. Jealousy. Despair even. He wasn’t meant to be here.

Dawnbreaker felt as if he was standing in a stolen spotlight, on a stage not meant for him, the audience being you. The way your eyes flickered up to meet his after you took away the pain. There was confusion and distant recognition, but it was nowhere near the warm familiar gaze you looked at the doctor with. 

It was selfish. It was ridiculous. To think you would look at him with the same care as you did with his counterpart. To be the recipient of your heartwarming laugh and bright eyes. 

Should he just go back to the Protofield? 

As much as he wanted, needed, to see you again, Dawnbreaker knew he would be better suited for the front lines. He was a fighter, if the past decade of his life was anything to go by.

 ————————— 

He snapped back to reality with a sharp inhale. The smell of antibacterial sanitizers and cleaners filled his nose. He was lying on a bed, a hospital bed, hooked up to machines and monitors. Cushioned restraints wrapped around wrists and tied him to the bed.

 Out the window to his left he could see the horizon swim with orange and yellow, the sun not yet peeking out yet. The room was washed with warm colors, in stark contrast to how cold the room felt, metaphorically and physically.

 He heard the sound of a book closing to his right. Turning his head he saw the doctor, sitting none too comfortably in a standard hospital chair facing the bed. Their eyes met and the silence in the room was only broken by the occasional beep and buzz of the machinery hooked up to his arms.

It was as if they were studying each other, trying to see, to understand. 

Dr. Zayne was the first to look away, taking off his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose, taking a deep breath. Dawnbreaker looked away as well, looking down at his wrists that were confined, flexing his fingers. He noticed he couldn’t call on his Evol, as if it was packed away somewhere inside him.

“Did you resonate with her?” Hearing his own voice ring out in the quiet room was an interesting experience. It was quiet but held a tense undertone. 

Resonate? Is that what he did with you?

 "...I didn't mean to." The short, vague confirmation was less of a confession and more of a lament. He had a faint idea of why you collapsed. While he didn't quite understand resonating or your Evol, he knew that warmth he felt in the Protofield was because of you. It had made his long dormant heart flutter in a way that felt almost immature, like a middle schooler getting their first crush. 

But did he hurt you by resonating? What kind of Evol was that? 

Dr. Zayne sighed again, closing his eyes. 

“…is she alright?” The last moment he had with you was your freezing body collapsing against his.

“She’s stable for now.” No thanks to you. Dr. Zayne shook his head and put the book he was reading on the table next to him, its title something about astronomy.  

“There was too much energy in her heart. We had to draw it out over the course of five hours.” The doctor looked at his own hands.

 “She almost…” He let those words fester. The thought of losing you, losing anyone, made him sick. That's the main reason he became a doctor, to help as many people as he could. After the incident when he was twelve and the Chronorift Catastrophe, he knew he wanted to be a doctor. After learning of your heart condition he swiftly switched focus from just a general practitioner to cardiology, rising the ranks to be the youngest lead cardiac surgeon in the city. 

And now it still did not feel like enough. He never imagined his own Evol would cause you to spiral, undoing all his work to keep you safe and healthy. Dr. Zayne wasn’t trying to guilt trip his doppelgänger. It wasn’t in his nature to point fingers. But at the same time he was. He wanted to be sure the man across from him knew the damage that had been done.

Along with your condition, the years of lingering nightmares still haunted him. The cause of fifteen years worth of sleepless nights was lying right in front of him.

Well, until a week ago that is. The nightmares and visions of his counterpart had stopped completely. Suddenly. It was as if they never happened in the first place. One night Dr. Zayne had gotten a full eight hours of sleep, if not more, after working back to back shifts. 

That never happened. 

Sure, some nights he might not remember what the nightmare was about but he always woke up with a sinking in his heart and a gut wrenching nagging in his head. 

Not that night. In fact, he felt refreshed, like how you should after sleeping. He sat up in bed, blinking the sleep out of his eyes and his gaze settled on the drawn curtains across the window. Dim light was beginning to seep through in the early morning glow. The room was quiet and for once it wasn’t deafening how alone and isolated he felt. For once he didn’t feel like he was fighting an internal battle.

 Peace. His body felt light and the fog that plagued his mind was gone. Just like that. And the peace continued for a week. Zayne had just thought it a cruel joke that the universe was playing and the nightmares would continue, but they never did.

 Soon the headache of his nightmares was replaced with something similar but different.

Confusion.  Anxiety. Why had the nightmares stopped? What did this mean?

 What happened? 

And now he was one step closer to figuring out why. His doppelgänger was with you at the entrance of the Protofield, looking just as concerned as he felt. It would be like you to just jump in and bring a strange man that looked like him, proudly showing him off like a trophy. 

While he wasn’t a physicist or parapsychologist, he understood the Deepspace Tunnel and Protofields bent time and space in such a way that could not be completely understood. And maybe that’s how he was in this overarching predicament.

Dawnbreaker could feel the icy glare the doctor gave him. There was the anger from having to deal with the flare up from your Protocore Syndrome, but also something else. Something much deeper than the current situation.

“...Are you wondering about those people?” Again, vague to anyone who might have happened to catch the conversation, but both men knew who those people were.

Dr. Zayne suddenly stood, a frigid wave of cold brushing past the curtains in the room, frost forming on the panes of glass in the window. His hands did not raise from their position next to his waist but he was tempted, oh so tempted to let his Evol go and put several icicles into the man's body. To lower the man's body temperature below freezing and let hypothermia take over, allowing him to go into shock. 

Intrusive thoughts raced in the doctor's head, only quelled from the years of self control he built up. 

“They weren’t people. Not when I…” Dr. Zayne paused. They weren't people? Weren’t human? 

The only reason Dawnbreaker was able to kill those people was because as soon as those blue crystalline tendrils consumed the body, they were no longer human. It was an Abomination, a sick twist of human limbs and Wanderer consciousness. As much as the police force liked to call him a mass murderer, he never killed a human. And he never would, no matter what.

Dawnbreaker wordlessly pointed at his coat that had been folded on a chair beside him. Dr. Zayne paused but circled the bed and reached into the pockets of the coat, his fingers brushing against something that made his skin tingle. Taking it out, a blue glow faintly danced across his vision. It was small, but unmistakably a shard of Protocore. It wasn't like any Protocore he’d seen but something about the way it was shaped was hauntingly familiar. 

“Those… things spread like a plague. It turns people into Wanderers.” Dr. Zayne looked at the fragment in silence, the frost retreating from the window. Was it like an advanced version of Protocore Syndrome? 

“Is there a cure?” 

“A bullet to the heart.” Being on the receiving end of his own dry, sarcastic humor made Dr. Zayne see why you always rolled your eyes at him. 

“So we have to worry about her Protocore Syndrome turning her into a Wanderer now?” he mused, though there was no humor in his words.

Dawnbreakers glanced up at the doctor in alarm.

 “Protocore Syndrome?” Did they have Abominations here? Is that what they called the sickness? Were you turning into one? He didn’t have his detector here so he couldn’t be sure. The doctor didn’t seem too concerned about it though. 

“…Protocore Syndrome is a disease that affects the body in different ways. In her case her body gets strained under intense Metaflux exposure. Along with her resonance Evol it can cause an influx of energy to be stored. Normally resonating is harmless unless the person she is resonating with has a build up of Evol energy.” Dr. Zayne gave Dawnbreaker a pointed look before continuing. 

“Resonating is like a door. She gains access to your Evol and you gain access to her power. Over time she stores energy and can transfer it by resonating. But too much on either side can cause side effects.” Dawnbreaker mulled over the new information, wincing slightly at the mention he did in fact hurt you, even unintentionally. 

So Abominations didn’t come from Protocore Syndrome here, it was just a medical disease caused by Metaflux. 

Dawnbreaker and Dr. Zayne both sighed, the amount of new information overwhelming them. Before either could say something, there was a knock on the door, which promptly opened to reveal Captain Jenna along with a group of Hunters. 

The two Hunters that had accompanied you reported back directly to Captain Jenna, causing her to assemble a team to go to Akso to investigate the mysterious person. Hearing of a person in the Protofield before the Association was suspicious, causing Jenna to worry if it was some sort of Wanderer trick or Metaflux hallucination. She also heard you collapsed soon after returning from the mission so she made it to the hospital as soon as she could. After learning the room from Yvonne, she braced herself for what she was about to find.

Nothing, however, could prepare her for the sight that graced her eyes. Standing by the window was Doctor Li. And in the bed next to him…

“Captain Jenna.” Dr. Zayne acknowledged. 

“Dr. Li. I received a report that the individual that came out of the Protofield with my Hunters was here.” Her eyes drifted to the man lying on the bed. His eyes were already on her, quietly observing with the same coolness as the doctor. 

“I see the rumors from the medical staff were true.” Dr. Zayne sighed. He knew hospital drama was hospital drama but still did not like the fact rumors were spreading around the hospital already. 

Captain Jenna walked up to the bed while the other Hunters took up posts by the door. She saw the man was already restrained to the bed which intrigued her. 

“My name is Captain Jenna. I am investigating your appearance at the entrance of the Protofield after my Hunters returned from their mission.” Dawnbreaker didn't give any indication he heard her. Thoughts of how he was going to explain where he came from and who he was made his head throb. She looked back at the doctor, silently asking for some space. Dr. Zayne nodded and left, after picking up his book from the table. 

—----------------------------------------------------------

Jenna took up residence in the seat Dr. Zayne left behind, smoothly crossing her legs and looking directly at the man on the bed. 

“Let's start with a name.” Dawnbreaker let out a quiet huff through his nose. 

“...Dawnbreaker.” he said after a pause. Jenna raised an eyebrow. Both at the name and that his voice was exactly like Dr. Li’s.

“An alias?” He didn't give an answer. 

“Alright. How did you end up in the Protofield?” Truthfully, he didn't quite know the answer himself. He was shoved in after dealing with an Abomination and the rest was filled with hours of killing Wanderers until you found him. 

“I fell in.” 

“Fell? Could you be more specific?” Another pause.

“I was fighting a Wanderer and was pushed into a Protofield. When your Hunters found me, they brought me out.” 

“You were fighting near a No-Hunt Zone? That makes you look highly suspicious.” Dawnbreaker didn't know what a No-Hunt Zone was so he couldn't comment.

“Are you related to Dr. Li? I have to admit your appearance is uncanny.” Related? More like he is Zayne Li in almost every aspect.

“We are not related.” Again, the truth, but he couldn't go into too much depth or everything would become too confusing.

“What is your Evol classification? You said you were fighting a Wanderer. I assume you have an Evol to do that.” Dawnbreaker would have shown the Captain but he was still unable to call on his Evol. He assumed the restraints were to blame for that.

“Ice.” Jenna wasn't able to contain the scoff that left her lips. For not being related, the two men had too many similar qualities to be a coincidence. If she hadn’t seen the doctor in the room when she walked in, she would have assumed that it was Dr. Li in the bed.  Maybe twins separated at birth. She would have to contact Dr. Li’s parents to be sure. 

“Well since we are unable to confirm your origins, we will need to run some tests and background checks. From now on you will be under the Hunters Association watch. Once you are discharged, you will be brought to headquarters and we will figure out what to do from there.” She promptly stood and with one last glance, left and stationed two Hunters outside the door as a precaution. 

Dawnbreaker closed his eyes. He had to savor this peace he could. When he was released from the hospital, it would probably all go downhill from there.

He missed you already.

—-----------------------------------------------------------

Waking up in the hospital was unfortunately a regular occurrence for you by now. Whether it was from a Wanderer attack, that time you nearly broke your back climbing up a tree to get a cat down, or your Protocore Syndrome flaring, it wasn’t a shock to wake up with a hospital gown on instead of pajamas anymore. The familiar heaviness in your chest told you it was your Protocore Syndrome this time. Slowly the events surrounding the Protofield came back to you. 

Right.

The whole Protofield incident.

You opened your eyes groggily and took stock of your surroundings. Standard hospital room with the privacy curtain drawn with the only thing out of place was the machine attached to your chest. It was an Evol stabilizer, typically used for patients with end stage Evol sickness. It is similar to a flux stabilizer but reversed, instead using Metaflux and Protocores to draw out excess Evol to stabilize the Evolver. The last time you were hooked up to one of these was when you and Caleb were younger, messing around and got overwhelmed by his gravity Evol. Grandma was furious of course, but understood dumb kids will be dumb kids and gave the both of you a good scolding and a lesson on your Evol. Never happened again until now. 

Resonating with the other Zayne must have done something similar. Pressing the button to the side of your bed to call a nurse, you stretched out, feeling joint pop and dormant muscles ache. Your chest still ached but otherwise you felt fine, like you aren't just within an inch of your life when you arrived.

The door opened and a nurse greeted you, helping disconnect the machine from your chest. She said that you had to see Dr. Zayne before leaving since you were in critical condition not long ago but you assured her you were fine, telling her you would go to him yourself. That probably broke quite a few hospital protocols but you had to get out as soon as you could. It was a blessing you were not put out of commission, though you were not looking forward to the scolding from Zayne. Had he already figured out his doppelganger was here? Probably, he had a way with finding out things. 

Getting dressed in clothes presumably left by Zayne (he now kept spare clothes since you were at Akso so often), you left to go find the nurses station to tell Yvonne you needed to see Zayne. 

She smiled when she saw you, saying Dr. Zayne was free at the moment and to go directly to his office. Thanking her, you took the familiar route to his office, and knocked on the door. A tired “come in” responded and you pushed open the door. 

“You’re awake. How does your chest feel?” Diligent isn't he?

“A bit sore but isn't that normal from the procedure? Anyways did anything… weird happen while I was out?” Zayne looked up from his laptop briefly, the subtle bags under his eyes and his furrowed brows telling you that, yes, something did happen. It was just a matter of getting him to tell you.

“Were you expecting something out of the ordinary to happen? Other than the Protofield incident?” You roll your eyes. Zayne stood from his chair and rounded the desk, motioning you to sit on the small examination table. You obliged, still looking at him expectantly. 

“You know what I mean.” 

“Do I?” He sanitized his hands before gently pressing on your chest, checking for abnormalities before reaching for his stethoscope in his pocket. 

“Yes you do Doc-tor Zayne.” He shushed you so he could listen to your heart for a minute then sighed. 

“I’m surprised you haven't heard the staff talking about it on your way here.” You shifted. You were so focused on beelining it to Zayne, you tuned out all the hospital chatter and machine beeps. It was all white noise to you by now anyways.

“You truly have a knack for finding trouble.” Walking back around his desk slowly, each step heavier than normal, he hands you a folder. You look at him nervously, dreading that it would be about you but instead your eyes scanned over records of him.

Doppelganger Zayne. What treatment he had to undergo during his stay and when he was discharged. Swallowing thickly, your eyes hesitantly found Zayne’s, looking for any sort of reaction. But he remained as stoic as ever, looking back at you with an almost indifferent look. 

“Did you get tired of me and decide to get a replacement?” You shook your head furiously, stumbling over a convoluted explanation about what happened but Dr. Zayne stopped you.

“I know. Captain Jenna filled me in while you were unconscious. She told me to tell you to get some rest and report back in a day. Seems your vacation will be cut short.” His lips curled into a ghost of a smile, taking his glasses off and wiping them off. 

“Greeeaaatttt.” you huffed. Closing the folder and tossing it on the desk, you pressed your palms to your eyes, hoping you could wake up like this was all a dream. Cool hands pulled your hands away, a breathy laugh causing you to look up at him. 

“You’ll damage your eyes if you keep doing that.” He said quietly. His expression had softened, looking sympathetic in the face of your plight. You itched to hug him, to find some solace in his arms like when you were kids. He would always indulge you, whether you needed comfort from storms or when you got hurt. But things are different now and hugging your primary care doctor would be awkward. 

You settled with squeezing his hands slightly before pulling away, clearing your throat. 

“Thank you for taking care of me..again.” You always worried him, what with you running off, becoming a Hunter and jumping into danger at every turn. But that is why he became a doctor. To care for you, should you need it. His chest tightened at the sight of you apologizing, your tired eyes meeting him again. He just shook his head and hesitantly patted your head. 

“You can tell me about it when you’ve dealt with the rest of your mission. For now, go get some rest. I already sent you your treatment plan.” You waved his hand off your head with a laugh. It was effortless how you bounced off each other, the way he effortlessly eased your mind. He was your rock when the explosion at your childhood house happened. And he still was now.

—---------------------------------------------------------

Waving to him as you left his office, you quickly exited the hospital and got on the train back to your apartment, only stopping to get some supplies at a convenience store. Once you step foot in your apartment, your legs felt like jelly. Carrying your groceries and the package the HA sent to your apartment with all your gear to the kitchen counter, you promptly fell back on the couch. 

You had one day of R&R before going back and trying to explain to Captain Jenna what happened and why you put all of Linkon in danger by bringing out a mysterious man that looked like your childhood best friend from a dangerous Protofield. The folder said the man was already discharged by the HA so he must be there now. It’s only been two days since you collapsed but anything could happen in that time. Were they interrogating him? Testing him? 

A plethora of ideas came to mind before you shoved it all down and got up to make some food. Your treatment plan included making nutritional food and you didn't want to incur the wrath of your doctor so you obliged, settling for a small meal before taking a nap. 

A phone call woke you up, riffling around your bed until you found it, wincing at how bright the screen was. It was Tara.

“Hey! Are you alright?! I heard you finally woke up, which is totally a relief, but give a girl some heads up yeah?” You mumbled before sitting up.

“Sorry, sorry. It's been a busy time. I’m fine, Akso took care of me like usual.” 

“That's good. Sooooo, when did Dr. Zayne have a twin?” You snorted. Since never, you thought. Wait.

“Oh shit, is everything alright over there?” Tara just laughed, easing some worries.

“Silly, everything's fine. If anything, he's having a hard time fighting off all the girls swooning over him.” You paused at that comment.

“What?” 

Tara then went off to update you that since the arrival of Dr. Zayne’s doppelganger, the Hunters Association has been abuzz with rumors and gossip. He was whisked away the first day for interrogation but afterwards they let him stay at the on-sight apartments after Dr. Zayne vouched for him. Rumors spread from Data Analytics that the man, Dawnbreaker, was Dr. Zayne’s long lost twin. He looked, sounded, and acted just like him, which raised some eyebrows but no one said it to his face. 

And after showing a prowess for battle and combat, Tara said Captain Jenna was trying to look into his history to make sure he wasn't a Tenebra so he could be put on unofficial hunting duty since the HA was short staffed. All the while Hunters had been bombarding him with questions and requests to practice and/or go on a date. 

The poor man spent all of his time in his apartment because of it. You groaned, mentally apologizing to Dawnbreaker. You would have to make it up to him, being the person who dragged him out of the Protofield in the first place. 

“Overall, I would say it's more of a positive change, with the threat of the Protofield still hanging over us.” 

“Have we figured out how to close it? Is there a final boss we have to kill?” Tara hummed over the phone.

“I haven’t been too involved in that aspect. I have been researching the Protocore’s that have been coming from the Wanderers. They act differently than normal Protocore’s, and the Metaflux is unstable, like the altered Protocore’s we got from Onychinus.” You thought about it for a bit, wondering if you would have to ask Sylus to research the Protocore’s, or if he was already looking into it. Tenebra had a knack for getting their hands on weird Protocore’s and taking them to the black market. Sylus should be at the very least intrigued. 

“I’m on leave for a day but I’m coming in to sort out some stuff.” You sighed for the up teenth time today. 

“It really sucks this had to happen right when our vacation was supposed to happen. I was reeaaally looking forward to getting drinks with you and the others.” You hummed in agreement, tossing the covers of your bed away and standing. 

“We’ll just have to request for an extension. Captain Jenna will be understanding right?” Tara laughs.

“Yeah right. I’m already working overtime over here. Focus on getting better and I'll see you tomorrow okay?” 

“Yes ma’am. Remember to drink water!” Laughing, you hang up and look out the window in your room. 

Dawnbreaker. A nickname maybe. And Dr. Zayne vouched for him? They must’ve met somewhere between the Protofield and Akso. What would one talk about with their copy? Perhaps you could coax those answers out of Zayne later. 

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When arriving at the entrance of the Association, Tara wasn't kidding about people murmuring about the “new Hunter” that was brought in. Almost every small group you passed talked about Dawnbreaker. From his good looks, to his association with Dr. Li, to his combat abilities. You rolled your eyes and continued to the UNICORN’s offices, where you ran into Tara. Hugging you excitedly, she dragged you along while chatting about Dawnbreaker as well. 

“I saw him fight, it was unreal how powerful he was!” She kept talking until you reached Captain Jenna’s office. Giving you another hug, Tara waved and left you to suck in a breath before knocking on the door and walking in. 

“Good, you're here.” She looked up from her computer and smiled.

“Reporting for duty, Captain.” She gestured for you to sit.

“I want your side of the story. The other Hunters filled me in on their side of the story but had stated you were the one with the man before they found you.” You nodded and started formulating the story in your mind.

Starting from the beginning you recounted walking in, killing Wanderers, and the strange cold. All the way until you got to the part where you encountered Dawnbreaker. Omitting that you had just wanted to save the man that looked like your childhood best friend, you admitted to resonating with him and how it cleared out the Wanderers in an instant. Then the rest Captain Jenna already knew. She stayed quiet, mulling over the new information. 

“Your Hunter Watch didn't react to him at all when you met?” 

“No ma’am.” 

“Did you resonate with him because he looked like Dr. Li? I understand you were close with him when you were kids.” You nodded hesitantly. 

“I was.. caught up in the moment.” You admitted. She just nodded and went back to thinking. 

“Given the situation, I think you made the right call, even if it was a bit reckless.” she mused. “He’s not registered with any branch of combat specialists in or outside Linkon so he seems to be a vigilante of some sort. Also from what we gather, he is not related to the Li’s at all.” Captain Jenna pulled out a folder with more information. 

“The strangest part is that from the DNA and genetics checks, they all lead to Dr. Li. It is like he is the same man walking around in two bodies.” You nodded, skimming over the text.

“We’re still trying to get more information from him, but he’s being pretty tight lipped.” She looked up at you with interest. 

“He did ask about you though.” 

“Me?” The disbelief evident in your voice. Jenna hummed in response. 

“So, since he is interested in you, you will be responsible for looking after him while at the Association. I have approved a temporary license to be issued to him. In three days another team will be dispatched to the Protofield to do more research, primarily to search for the Wanderer or Protocore Clusters that are powering the Protofield. You will be part of the defense team since you just came out of the hospital.” trying to hide the surprise in your eyes, you nodded and handed the folder back. 

“I know you were looking forward to a break, trust me I was too, but I appreciate you coming in and sticking it out.”

“I understand Captain. Is there anything in particular I’m supposed to do concerning Dawnbreaker?” 

“Keep an eye on him and report to me if he tells you anything interesting. Any other questions?” Short, sweet, and to the point. It was up to you to make it all work out.

“No, that should be all.” Captain Jenna stood and you followed suit, giving a short salute before leaving the office. You rolled your shoulders before going into the office area you met back up with Tara at your desk. This was probably going to be your toughest assignment yet, and you weren't even thinking about the Protofield.

“Soooo, what's your new assignment?” Tara teased as if she already knew. You groaned while flopping down in your chair, pulling up your assignment details on your monitor. 

“Why ask when you already know?” Tara laughed, standing next to you to read the document as well.

3. Oversee individual [1], Name: Dawnbreaker, for duration of stay at HA, gather intel and report strictly to Captain Jenna with details concerning the suspect…

“So you are! Lucky you!” Tara shook your shoulders while jumping up and down. Seeing  it in type made the task seem even more daunting.

“Ugghhh Tarraa, what am I supposed to do? Just go up and talk to him? About what??” You would say your interpersonal skills were good, just not enough to go up to the man who looked like Dr. Zayne and maintain a conversation. What if you messed up and unconsciously mixed the two men up? Mortifying. Running your hands through your hair, you kicked your legs under your desk. 

“You’re thinking about it too much. Just fall into conversation like you always do! I’ve seen you talk to strangers and even Tenebra targets with ease, you’ll do great!” she gave you two thumbs up before handing you a piece of paper about the Protocore’s she was studying. It was typed in her signature unofficial way of typing, abbreviating and using shorthand most of the time, but you read it perfectly.

“This could be an interesting topic of conversation. The Protocore’s seem to be infected with something making the Metaflux go out of whack. It reacts to human touch so they are being quarantined in the research lab for now so I can’t get much more info except the reports they release to the database.” Now this was a lead. Hopefully Dawnbreaker knew more about this and that could lead to other topics of conversation. 

Scribbling down his apartment number, you stand to finally introduce yourself to the man after getting him in this mess. Tara pushes you on and returns to her floor after giving you another thumbs up.

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