Remington stood in the shower letting the hot water soak him for much longer than necessary. His face seemed to flare with hot burning pain as the water ran over the tender healing skin. He thought about how Rocks was defending him, insisting on using non-lethal force, to stand between him and Lucius while reminding him that Lucius was trying to provoke him into a fight so he could kill him. He wasn't giving up on Remington and as much as that was mildly comforting it also made him feel uneasy. Eventually he exited the shower into the locker room. Rocks had already finished and left to go and do other things he needed to do before the briefing and Remington was left alone to poke and prod at his skin in front of the mirror. After the battle and skipping so many meals his ribs were beginning to become visible again which gave him some satisfaction but his muscle tone was also diminishing along with his body fat. He needed to start lifting again to thicken up his muscles, but at the same time keep the fat off of his body and that was so difficult to do without Rocks's amazing knowledge of bodybuilding and nutrition. Before long Remington was sitting in the office waiting for the briefing to begin. Sigil was already on the computer at the desk looking very busy typing away at the keyboard. Remington sank into deep thought as he waited. Lux was coming back soon and he wondered what kind of reaction he would have to waking up a zombie. He was also stewing over the fact that he was excited to see him alive again, and not for some pointless reason but because he was genuinely and saturatingly attracted to him. The meeting started with Sigil talking about fixing all of the things Maxwell messed up on the computer. Zexich, Demetri and Skyler all found this very amusing. Next Sigil switched to the mission to save Maxwell. Demetri would be free the rest of the day to achieve this goal. Rocks talked about helping Remington to save Ziona from Reality, and Sigil made sure to give him the time he needed to do this. Next Sigil switched to Lux.

  “I assume you would like to be there so you may accompany Zexich in the laboratory and you will have a couple hours afterwards to make sure Lux is comfortable in his new situation. I have a keycard for him as well as a bedroom.

  “I would like to just switch bedrooms with him. He smokes and my bedroom already smells like cigarettes.” Remington said, trying to sound as respectful as possible. “….if that's alright with you.” He added.

  “Very well, give him your keycard. You may take this keycard that I will configure for you. It will have limited access until you are released from probation.” Sigil said as he made Remington a new keycard. He handed it to him.

  “Can I leave the base with this?” Remington asked.

  “You do not have that privilege yet until you are off of probation. You will need to be supervises if you would like to leave the base.” Sigil said.

  “Sure, well I need to go and buy Lux some cigarettes, like I said he smokes and I think he will end up wanting some right away.” Remington said in a mild polite voice.

  “Demetri can take you.” Sigil said.

  “Okay, thanks.” Remington said.

  “Excuse me, Lux was also a friend of mine.” Ava popped up in his soprano voice. “I would like to be there to see him too.” He continued very whimsically batting his long eyelashes.

  “You are more than welcome to join us in the laboratory.” Zexich said politely. The meeting was over shortly after. Ava followed Zexich to the laboratory and Demetri opened a portal taking Remington to Reality. They landed in an alley near the convenience store. Remington put his hood up and went inside and quickly filled his arms with convenience food, snacks and drinks then went to the register and asked for the cigarettes making sure to stock up since Lux seemed to be a chain smoker. He then left the store quickly before people could recognize him. He ran with Demetri back to the alley then through a portal and back to the base in the laboratory.

  “I'll be ready whenever you are to go on our mission.” Demetri said seriously. “Just go to the office and Sigil will let me know that you are ready.” Demetri said. Remington nodded. Demetri left the laboratory and Remington turned his attention to Zexich who was waiting for the printer to finish Lux's new body. Remington walked over to stand and watch next to Ava who was keenly focused on the new synthetic body that was finishing inside the printer.

  “He looks older.” Ava said softly.

  “Four years will do that to you.” Remington said mildly.

  “I wonder if he will be happy to see me.” Ava said wondrously.

  “I really don't know. I have no idea what sort of relationship you had with him before now.” Remington said.

  “Hmm.” Ava hummed thoughtfully. It was another two hours before Zexich was ready to activate Lux's synthetic body.

  “When he awakens, please let me speak with him first. After which I will let you take over Remington.” Zexich said once the conversion was completed, Lux was taken off of the sedation he was under. “It will take approximately 15 minutes for him to wake up.” Zexich added. Remington waited patiently for Lux to wake. Soon he was stirring around then finally his icy blue eyes opened.

  “Hello Lux, it is good to see you reanimated. I do hope that is alright of us to do. May I ask if you can speak?” Zexich said very upbeat and politely. Lux was quiet for a moment looking seriously at Zexich

  “I suppose this means that I am a zombie.” Lux said seriously.

  “If that is what you wish to call it.” Zexich said mildly, looking amused.

  “That's funny, I do not feel very zombied.” Lux said scrutinizingly.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  “Do you know what zombies feel like? Perhaps this is how zombies actually feel.” Zexich mused.

  “Touche smarty pants. Touche.” Lux said now looking amused. He then turned to look at Remington. “Somehow I knew you would be here.” Lux said with a soft smile.

  “I told you I didn't want you to kill yourself. You didn't listen to me.” Remington said, now overflowing with emotion.

  “It was more necessary than you know.” He said seriously. He then realized Ava was standing next to him slightly hiding and peeking out to see him.

  “Remington….” He paused. “…..is there someone standing next to you?” He asked suspiciously.

  “There is.” Remington confirmed, then he pulled Ava firmly in front of himself so he wouldn't be able to hide anymore.

  “Uh! Heh, hello Lux. Nice to see you again.” Ava said very sheepishly, now trying to hide behind his long hair.

  “Ava? Is that really you?” Lux asked seriously.

  “Yes, I am definitely me.” Ava said, now looking bashful. Lux sat up now.

  “I didn't think I would ever see you again.” Lux said, looking suspicious.

  “Yeah…..me too.” Ava mumbled now growing very emotional. Lux stared at him broodingly, but eventually leaned back. He then suddenly seemed distracted for a long moment then rolling his eyes, looking mildly annoyed.

  “I know that.” He said as if talking to someone they could not see. “Don't worry I got this. I just need to sort some things out.” He continued. Ava looked bewildered, Remington only waited for the conversation to be over. “Ugh, you're so annoying, I've only been awake for five fucking minutes and already you won't shut the fuck up.”

  “What are the voices saying?” Remington asked curiously.

  “It's nothing. Dumb shit. Like some ridiculous checklist. Can I have a cigarette?” Lux rambled.

  “Sure I have a bag of stuff for you, some clothes, and here is a keycard to get to your bedroom. You can't smoke in here.” Remington said. Lux slid off the bed and began to dress himself. Ava seemed to be watching him as if he were a juicy piece of meat. Remington more like a tiger ready to pounce.

  “Come to the bedroom with me.” Lux said to Remington. He nodded and began to follow.

  “Can I come?” Ava asked eagerly. Lux paused and turned to Ava who was suddenly struck and nervous.

  “Sure Ava. Just behave.” Lux said seriously.

  “Do I normally not?” Ava said cheerfully.

  “Typically Ava, you end up starting fights.” Lux said then they all left for the bedroom.

  Lux went straight to the desk and sat down and lit a cigarette. He sat quietly in the room smoking his cigarette and listening to the chatter all around him, real and hallucinated. It was several minutes before he could comprehend the conversation going on in the room.

  “So I had a dream that he talked to me. It was very strange. He told me I could stay as long as I did what I was supposed to do. It was even stranger because he never actually said what I was supposed to be doing, and it didn't make any sense. It was just a dream though I guess.” Ava explained.

  “Hmm, weird. I saw him in my Mindscape. He wouldn't tell me if he was real or not, or if he was actually alive somewhere. He just told me he was dead and that I was crazy and I was a bad liar.” Remington said mildly but seriously.

  “That is true, Remi, you are terrible at lying.” Ava giggled.

  “Thanks for reinforcing that for me Ava.” Remington rolled his eye. There was an awkward silence now. Lux didn't seem to acknowledge that there were two people in the room with him.

  “Hey Lux…..how have you been?” Ava asked, trying to kill the awkward silence.

  “Shitty.” Lux said very shortly.

  “Ohh…..well what have you been doing? It's been years since I've seen you.” Ava continued hoping for more interaction.

  “I was shot, got arrested, went to jail, then prison, then a halfway house, then I came here and killed myself. Think that about sums it up.” Lux said.

  “Well that was short and to the fucking point.” Ava said flatly. It was a very Vezaias like tone. Both Remington and Lux caught the attitude and glanced at him. “Why did you kill yourself?” Ava asked, brushing off the sudden shift in attention.

  “Cause I wanted to not be alive anymore. Obviously.” Lux said, looking at Ava in irritation. The tension grew. The moment was very uncomfortable then Lux returned to ignoring his company. Ava sighed in frustration.

  “I was hoping you would be happy to see me again.” Ava said very meekly.

  “I don't think I know how to do that Ava.” Lux said seriously without looking at anyone. He was quiet again. Ava looked hurt now.

  “I bet you would be happy to see my brother though.” Ava said very flatly, once again sounding like Vezaias, gaining another glance from them both. Lux began to look stressed out.

  “Of course I would.” Lux said finally. “He is the only reason that I’m here.”

  “Well if he was here he wouldn't give a shit about you, because he fell in love with Remi.” Ava snapped then stood up and left quickly. Lux sighed. Remington felt terrible for what Ava said. It was meant to be a dagger. He hoped that it didn't hurt Lux.

  “He can never just behave can he?” Lux mumbled to himself.

  “He is probably angry. He was excited to see you again. I think he has some sort of expectations and I don't think he was very satisfied.” Remington highlighted.

  “Heh, pfff. He wasn't satisfied? Thats fucking hilarious.” Lux said very unamusingly.

  “He was hoping that you would be happy to see him.” Remington highlighted.

  “I was trying.” Lux said.

  “Oh, it was difficult to tell.” Remington said meekly. He watched as Lux didn't seem to acknowledge this notion. “I think he was also hoping that you missed him.” Remington paused again watching as Lux had very little reaction to this idea either.

  “Sure I missed him, along with all the fucking drama he causes whenever he is involved my life. How much more fucking self centered can he possibly be?” Lux said mildly, flicking a long wispy ash into the ashtray.

  “I don't know much about what happen. Was it bad?” Remington asked meekly.

  “It was alright, if you enjoy being a juicy steak that was dropped into the middle of a dog fighting arena. It really did a number on my sanity.” Lux mused with a chuckle. He then fell into aloofness. He didn't seem to take advantage of the social situation he was in and now it was almost as if he had forgotten that Remington was in the room with him.

  “I know that. You don't think I know that?” Lux muttered to himself with a sigh. Lux then seemed to notice something and shifted in his seat.

  “I'm alive….or at least I think I'm alive…..unless this is all some sort of trick.” Lux said seriously. “I'm gonna go with; I am awake.” Lux said, sounding amused. Remington listened curiously. “Alright…..I'm listening.” Lux continued. He seemed to listen for a long time. “Can you prove to me this is real….. because I am very skeptical.” Lux said seriously.