It's late at night. The day? They don't track that here. The time? Also untraceable - the local sun doesn't move an inch, and even then, Ika's in an underground facility, getting some sleep. Or, she would be. The chronic insomnia strikes again. Instead of sleeping in the same bed, Ika and her partner are situated in Bunk Beds. Mako requested the top (Ika always wondered if she hadn't had a proper childhood, since she's always in the mood to playfully bicker over menial things like the top bunk), and so, Ika had the bottom to herself. Sleeping alone was nice, but she wasn't sleeping. The only lights on illuminated the edges of the floor, making the outline of the walkable area visible, but not much else. She could see, in the corner, their bags and various other items they accumulated during the adventure they'd both had... Ika had asked over and over, and Mako clearly insists on tagging along, despite the harm that could potentially befall her. Well, potentially - there hadn't been much of a fight at all in the desert. You could have seen the occasional camp out there, but for the most part, it was just Gramps on the surface, and The Evergreens in the facility. She still couldn't sleep. Against probably all good advice, she got out of bed and decided to peruse what the place had to offer, on her own. Her loafers made little sound against the metallic floor, but it wasn't like she was missing the creaky floorboards of their own cabin by now. Before leaving the room, she decided to check on Mako, just to be sure. Her eyes, adjusting to the darkness, still couldn't see that well, but she did see that Mako was fast asleep, unmoving, unblinking. She reached out to touch her - nothing. It was... just the blankets? Where *was* she, then? Maybe she's also awake, probably. Hopefully. Right? Surely she wasn't *kidnapped* or- or *left* her for someone else- No, no, she's definitely still awake. Ika knew she had to stop thinking about the "What-Ifs" - to worry without a way to solve anything probably damages her more than it helps. She just needed to put her mind at ease... maybe they have something in the communal kitchen to help. She carefully walked out the door, being mindful of the boundaries of the floor. The dorm the two were staying in exited directly to a hallway - to the left, more dorms, and another hallway on the right leading to the main stage. To the right, was more dorms, sure, but also the kitchen and lounge areas. She could see that a light was on. She figured it'd probably just be Mako, but figured it would be best if she said "Hi!" first. She wandered over, keeping her arms on her body, making sure not to take up too much space in the "night". She reached the designated living space - to her right was a kitchen, complete with cupboards and an island, and in the center, a fruit bowl - she couldn't identify some of the fruits, but she could make out that one was a "Banana", and another was just an Apple. She then looked to the left. Illuminated by a fire, held inside a strange construct made of brick and some kind of clay, was a decent set of cushy chairs, two couches, flanking each other, and a table in the middle. On one of the couches was- that's not Mako, that's Velvet! "Vel...?" Velvet jumped. "Oh, sorry, am I keeping you up?" Ika shook her head. "No, it's..." she sighed. "I just don't sleep that much." "You alright?" "I'm good, honest. I just sleep less." She readjusted her position, walking closer to the fire. "What are you doing up?" "Oh, I don't go to bed until way after everyone else does. I just need my 'Me' time, you get me?" "I'm not interrupting that, am I...?" "No, no- in fact, please, have a seat." Velvet patted a spot next to them on the couch. Ika obliged, taking a seat as quietly as she could. "Something bothering you, Ika?" "Couldn't find Mako in her bed." "She said she wanted to go see her grandfather again, but didn't want to leave you alone, so I told her I'd keep you company for the time being. She said she'll be back by... what was it, not *this* next morning, but the following one." Ika sighed. "So she's not mad at me?" "Not really, no. She figured you could use some time alone, though." "She's... probably right." Ika looked into the fire. "Velvet, what do you think of me?" "What do you mean?" "Well..." Ika knew she had to be careful with the question. "I know Mako loves me, there's not doubt about it. I'm not saying you *have* to, I'm just wondering... Do you... still harbor resentment against me? For what I did?" Velvet got it. "Ah. You mean Era." "Era. Me. Whatever. Same person, right? Same killer?" Velvet took a deep breath - in, then out. "Maybe I should put it to you like this, Ika. I don't think you and Era are the same person. Same *body*, sure, but different person. Like... do you know what a deadname is?" Ika just shook her head. "A deadname, it's a name for someone that is... well, they don't use it anymore. In your case, 'Era' is a deadname - nobody *calls* you that anymore, you're Ika, always will be." "Yeah, but... wouldn't I still be responsible for... all that?" "No, Era is. And you're not Era. I think of you as more like... Second life, given into a body, a body who just so happens to have, you know, done some bad things, but that's not your fault. You'd never kill someone right?" "I only carry weapons for self defense. I would never intentionally try to end someone's life." "Right... well, Era would, and has, and did. That's why I see a difference between you two - you've sworn not to do any wrong, while Era, as a young child, did. You've effectively skipped over your own childhood, Ika." Ika thought about this. She relaxed herself fully on the couch, giving all her energy towards working it out in her head. Velvet probably wasn't wrong, in saying that they were two separate people... As far as Ika could remember about her *own* life, before Era, she hasn't killed anyone, harmed anyone she didn't need to - not physically, at least, and she definitely wasn't involved in... "I've been meaning to ask, that file you showed me... what's 'Project Spread the Light'?" Velvet rolled their eyes. "What don't we know about PSL? We don't know anything about it. We literally have only overheard it from dangers, back when The Lady was hellbent on trying to murder people." Velvet looked to the side. "It must be some kind of brain washing, or something. We don't know. We just know people can be exposed to it, and it... changes them. That's it." Ika had another moment to think. She stared at the glowing lights that dotted the walls near the floor, pulsing, almost. She probably could go to bed, but... she felt like she was so close to getting answers. She was just... so close... so, so close... it was almost beautiful... so... so beautiful. "Ika?? Your hair, it's-!" "So... beautiful..." In the dim firelight, Ika's hair started to blacken, stared to grow... "I-Ika! Are you okay??" Velvet knew she wasn't. Something wasn't right, the air didn't feel right, the world didn't feel right, she didn't- Velvet hugged Ika, as tight as she could. "Come back to earth, Ika. Please." Ika's eyes widened. The tears that needed to come, started to form. The color returned to her hair, slowly. She felt like she was out - for how long, she couldn't say, though Velvet could - just a few seconds. "Am... Was I... Did I...? Velvet, what happened...?" "You almost... bursted, Ika." Ika shook her head, as if unconvinced. "Wha...?" "Your hair, it... it turned grey, and you started saying something about being beautiful..." Velvet moved back to they could put their hands on Ika's shoulders. "I think there's something running deep that's been plaguing you, am I right?" Ika didn't say anything. Couldn't say anything. She didn't even know if Velvet was right. She didn't know what was [[Right]]. Didn't know what was <font color="#e64539"><u>Real</u></font>. "Sorry..." Velvet jumped back a little. "Oh, no, don't be sorry! Maybe you're just sleep deprived right now?" Ika simply nodded, pulling her legs to be fully on the couch, wrapping her arms around them, looking nowhere in particular, feeling like a shawl of bleakness was draped over her eyes. "I appreciate the help, Velvet, but... there's no saving me. I'm not worth it. I'll just do the thing for you guys and go home." Velvet looked into the fire. "Do you know what it's like to be an Evergreen, Ika?" She shook her head, no. "It's not all fun and games here. We do yoga, but mostly, it's a lot of paperwork. Everyone here always has something different they want out of the group. Some people just want Cyborgs allowed into the city, some people want the city blown up. There's a lot of infighting, surprisingly. It's... somewhat tiring, trying to rope everyone together under a common cause. None of us can actually go there... But you two, they don't know about you and Mako, which is why I want you guys to go there and help us out. Ika, you're really important in this whole scheme, and... If it still gets you down that Era did some bad things, at least you'll be doing some really good things as an Evergreen, alright? I mean, that's why you signed up, am I wrong?" Ika didn't want to say anything. Velvet was right - she did sign up just to do some good. But, still, it all felt too complicated for her. She just wanted to have a *normal* life, free from insomnia, free from not knowing anything, free from being annoying and mixing up what is and is not real. "I think I'm gonna call it a night. I appreciate the talk, Vel." Vel nodded. "Of course. I should probably be catching some sleep myself, heh. Say, did you wanna join us in the morning for the commune? I think you'd be great up there, talking to everyone." "I'm not much of a public speaker... I can *try*, though." "Sure, sure. Goodnight, Ika." "Night, Vel."